Fated Bonds

Chapter 22: The Hidden Distance

Zhan sat across from Yibo in stunned silence. The weight of Yibo’s revelation hung in the air like a thick fog, suffocating him. Yibo knew? All this time, Zhan had thought his complicated past with Chen was something he had buried deep, far away from his new life. But the truth had been hovering over him, shadowing every step he took.

Yibo’s cold, steady gaze pierced through him. “Why didn’t you tell me?” Yibo’s voice was calm, but Zhan could sense the frustration lurking beneath the surface.

Zhan shifted uncomfortably in his seat. “I didn’t think... I mean, it’s not something I wanted to talk about. Chen is my past. I don’t... I don’t know what to say.”

Yibo’s expression didn’t change, but Zhan could see something flicker in his eyes. “You didn’t think it was important for me to know? After everything... after we’re married?”

Zhan’s chest tightened. He wanted to explain, to justify his actions, but the truth was, he didn’t have an excuse. Maybe part of him had been afraid—afraid of how Yibo would see him, of what their marriage would become if Yibo knew everything.

As Yibo sat there in silence, Zhan’s mind raced back to the past few weeks, trying to piece together why Yibo had been so distant lately. And then it hit him—Yibo had known all along.

Was that the reason Yibo had pulled away? The reason their interactions felt cold, their kisses fleeting and mechanical?

Zhan swallowed hard. “Is that why you’ve been so distant with me?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. “Because you know about Chen?”

Yibo didn’t respond right away, but his eyes softened, just a little. “It’s not just Chen,” he finally said. “But yes, it plays a part.”

Zhan felt a pang of guilt in his chest. He knew Yibo was right, but he wasn’t ready to face the full truth just yet. The emotions were too raw, too complicated.

“I thought... I thought we were starting to get closer,” Zhan muttered, more to himself than to Yibo. He remembered their kisses, their late-night talks, and how Yibo had taken care of him when he had been overwhelmed by his thoughts.

Flashback

It had been a few weeks after their wedding. Zhan had come home late, his steps unsteady, the smell of alcohol clinging to him. Yibo, who had been sitting in the living room reading through some work files, immediately noticed his state.

“Zhan?” Yibo stood up, a frown crossing his face as he watched his new husband stumble through the door.

Zhan giggled, his cheeks flushed from too much drinking. “Yibo!” he slurred, swaying as he tried to take off his shoes. “You’re home!”

Yibo’s frown deepened. “You’re drunk.”

“Yeah, just a little bit,” Zhan replied, laughing at nothing in particular. He walked toward Yibo, eyes glassy and unfocused. “Guess what, Yibo? I love Chen.”

The words hung in the air like a dark cloud. Yibo froze, his chest tightening as Zhan continued rambling, unaware of the impact of his words.

“He... he was my first everything, you know?” Zhan’s voice broke slightly as he spoke. “But he left me. Left me alone.”

Yibo’s heart clenched at the sight of Zhan like this—vulnerable, heartbroken, and still clinging to someone who had hurt him so deeply. Yibo reached out and gently steadied Zhan, helping him to the couch.

“Zhan, you’re drunk,” Yibo said quietly, trying to mask the pain in his voice.

“I love him,” Zhan whispered again, resting his head against Yibo’s shoulder, his breath warm against Yibo’s neck. “I love him so much...”

Yibo’s throat tightened, but he remained silent, holding Zhan as the younger man slowly drifted off to sleep.

That night, as Yibo sat there with Zhan resting in his arms, he made a decision. He wouldn’t push Zhan. He would give him space—space to heal, space to figure out his feelings. Even if it meant keeping his own growing emotions locked away.

He had realized, after that night, that his feelings for Zhan had started to change. He had begun to care—more than he should, more than he had anticipated. But Zhan still held onto Chen, and Yibo wasn’t going to force himself into Zhan’s heart.

End of Flashback

---

Back in the present, Yibo’s voice broke through Zhan’s thoughts. “You don’t realize how much I’ve been trying to give you space,” Yibo said, his tone measured. “You’ve been holding onto someone who doesn’t deserve you. But I didn’t want to make things more difficult for you.”

Zhan blinked, his mind swirling with memories of that drunken night and how distant Yibo had been since then. It all made sense now—the coldness, the way Yibo had pulled back just when they were starting to get closer. Zhan had unknowingly pushed Yibo away, not realizing how much his words had hurt him.

“Yibo...” Zhan started, but he didn’t know how to finish.

Yibo sighed, leaning back in his chair. “I’m not angry with you, Zhan. I just want you to understand that this—our marriage—it’s real. And I’m willing to give you time, but you need to figure out what you want.”

Zhan stared at him, feeling the weight of Yibo’s words. He wasn’t sure what he wanted anymore. Chen was a part of his past, a part that had been tainted by lies and manipulation. But Yibo... Yibo was something different. Something steady. Something real.

“I don’t... I don’t know what I want,” Zhan admitted, his voice trembling. “But I don’t want to keep hurting you.”

Yibo’s eyes softened for the first time that evening. “I’m not asking you to know everything right now. Just... don’t shut me out.”

Zhan nodded, feeling a wave of guilt wash over him. He had been so wrapped up in his own confusion and emotions that he hadn’t noticed how much he had been hurting Yibo in the process.

Before he could say anything more, Yibo’s phone buzzed. He glanced at it, frowning slightly.

“I have to take this,” Yibo said, standing up and moving a few steps away. Zhan sat there, his thoughts still swirling in his head.

He couldn’t deny the growing connection between him and Yibo, but his heart was still a tangled mess. The ghost of Chen lingered in his mind, but the reality of Yibo was becoming more difficult to ignore.

As Yibo stepped away, Zhan’s eyes followed him, his mind torn between the past and the present.

---

Later that evening, back at their shared apartment, Zhan found himself standing in the kitchen, absently staring at the sink, replaying the conversation in his mind. He hadn’t expected Yibo to be so honest with him, nor had he expected to feel so guilty about everything.

Yibo’s soft footsteps broke the silence, and Zhan turned to see him leaning against the doorframe, his expression unreadable once again.

“I’m going to bed,” Yibo said quietly. “You should rest too. We’ll figure this out... together.”

Zhan nodded, but as Yibo walked away, he couldn’t shake the feeling that things were only getting more complicated. He wasn’t sure where to go from here, but one thing was becoming clearer—his feelings for Yibo were changing, slowly but surely.

As Zhan stood alone in the dimly lit kitchen, he realized that he wasn’t just confused about Chen anymore. He was confused about everything. And Yibo... Yibo was at the center of it all.