Fated Bonds

Chapter 2: "The Weight of Decisions"

The news of his arranged marriage felt like a heavy weight pressing down on Xiao Zhan’s chest. His fork clattered onto his plate, his appetite disappearing instantly. His parents were watching him closely, as if expecting him to explode, but Zhan was too shocked to even react.

Marriage? To Wang Yibo?

Zhan barely knew the man. He had heard the name—Wang Yibo, heir to the Lan and Wang corporation, a giant in the business world. Yibo’s reputation preceded him: cold, distant, and strict, a man who rarely showed any emotion outside of his family. He was the opposite of Zhan in every way imaginable. Zhan’s mind raced as he tried to connect the dots. Why would his parents arrange such a thing?

“You can’t be serious,” Zhan finally managed to say, his voice shaky. He looked between his father and mother, hoping for some sign that this was all some terrible misunderstanding.

His father, Xiao Huang, sighed and leaned back in his chair. “Zhan, we’ve thought about this for a long time. It’s for your own good. That boy you’re with… he’s no good for you.”

Zhan flinched at the mention of Chen. Chen.His heart clenched, the memories of last night flashing before his eyes. He couldn’t deny that things between him and Chen weren’t what they used to be, but that didn’t mean his parents could just decide to marry him off to a complete stranger. Did they even know how he felt?

“I love Chen,” Zhan blurted out, his voice louder than intended. “I’m not going to marry someone I don’t even know! Especially not someone like Wang Yibo!”

His mother, Xiao Lee, reached out to place a gentle hand on his arm. “Zhan, we’re doing this to protect you. You don’t see it, but Chen is dangerous. He’s been manipulating you, and it’s gone too far.”

Zhan shook his head, not wanting to hear it. “No, you don’t understand! He’s just going through a rough time. He’ll come around. I… I can help him.”

“Zhan!” His father’s sharp tone cut through the air like a knife. His eyes were filled with a mixture of anger and concern. “You don’t know what Chen is capable of. He’s been blackmailing us for over a year. He threatened to hurt you, Zhan. Do you even realize that? He’s only with you for your money. We’ve been paying him to stay away from you.”

Zhan’s blood ran cold. Threatened? Blackmail? His eyes widened as he stared at his father in disbelief. “What are you talking about? That doesn’t make any sense! Chen would never—”

“We’ve kept quiet because we didn’t want to upset you,” his mother interrupted softly. “But it’s true, Zhan. He’s been extorting us for money, threatening to harm you if we didn’t give in. We couldn’t stand by and let you get hurt.”

The words hung in the air, heavy and suffocating. Zhan felt like he was drowning in a sea of confusion and betrayal. His mind whirled as he tried to make sense of everything. Had Chen really been using him all this time? Had he been so blind, so desperate to be loved, that he couldn’t see what was happening right in front of him?

His parents watched him, waiting for him to say something, but Zhan felt numb. The love he thought he had with Chen now felt like a cruel lie. A lie that had been slowly poisoning him for years. He wanted to cry, to scream, to lash out at someone—at his parents, at Chen, at himself for not realizing sooner.

But instead, he felt a strange sense of emptiness wash over him.

“You’re lying,” Zhan whispered, more to himself than to them. He stood up from the table, his legs shaky as he pushed his chair back. “I need to think. I can’t… I can’t do this right now.”

Without waiting for a response, Zhan rushed out of the room, his breath coming in shallow gasps. He needed space, needed air, needed to be alone with his thoughts. He could hear his mother calling after him, but he ignored her. How had everything gone so wrong?

---

Wang Yibo was not having a good day.

Sitting in his office at Lan and Wang corporation, Yibo stared at the mountain of paperwork on his desk. As the CEO, his life was filled with endless meetings, reports, and decisions that impacted the future of the company. He wasn’t one to complain—he knew his responsibilities and took them seriously—but today, his patience was wearing thin.

The phone on his desk rang, pulling him out of his thoughts. Lan Qiren, his uncle.

Yibo answered, his tone polite but distant. “Uncle, what is it?”

Qiren’s voice came through, calm but with an edge of excitement. “I just got off the phone with Xiao Huang. He’s agreed to the marriage proposal.”

Yibo’s brow furrowed. “Marriage proposal?”

“To Xiao Zhan, the son of my old friend. The boy is a good match for you. Smart, well-mannered, from a respectable family. I’ve spoken with his father, and they’re on board. All we need is your agreement.”

Yibo leaned back in his chair, pinching the bridge of his nose. Marriage. The last thing he wanted to think about. He had no interest in relationships, let alone getting tied down to someone he barely knew. His focus was on the company, on ensuring the success of the corporation that his father had built alongside Qiren.

“I don’t need a marriage,” Yibo said bluntly, his tone leaving no room for debate.

“Yibo, this isn’t just about you. This marriage will benefit both our families. And… there’s more to this than just business. Xiao Zhan needs this. You’re not aware of his situation, but the boy is in trouble. His parents believe this is the best way to protect him.”

Yibo frowned. Trouble? He didn’t like the sound of that, but he trusted his uncle’s judgment. If Qiren believed this was necessary, then perhaps there was more to the situation than Yibo was aware of. Still, the idea of being forced into marriage didn’t sit well with him.

“Fine,” Yibo finally said, though his voice held no enthusiasm. “I’ll meet him. But that’s all I’m agreeing to for now.”

Qiren chuckled on the other end of the line. “That’s all I’m asking. Once you meet him, I’m sure you’ll see that this is the right decision.”

Yibo hung up, his mind now occupied with thoughts of Xiao Zhan. He had never met the boy, but he knew the Xiao family well enough. If this marriage was truly necessary, then Yibo would do what was expected of him. Family duty always came first.

But that didn’t mean he had to like it.