Until Next Time - Yizhan

Chapter Forty One

Zhan finds himself unable to extricate himself from Yibo's embrace, suspecting that Yibo has no intention of letting him go despite the presence of his parents.

"Oh!" Carmen softly gasped upon witnessing the scene and instinctively began to withdraw while also pulling on her husband's arm, but Yibo stopped his mother.

"It is all right, Mom... Dad," said Yibo. He placed his hand on Zhan's waist, loosening his grip just a bit, yet Zhan remained unable to free from Yibo's hold. "There's no need to leave the room."

"What happened?" Quiren asked with curiosity. After a quick glance at his son, he shifted his attention to Zhan, who promptly lowered his gaze. "Darren said you fainted, Zhan..."

Zhan found himself at a loss for where to direct his gaze. He could not bring himself to look into the eyes of Carmen and Quiren, fully aware that he was blushing with embarrassment, yet he could not ascertain whether the telltale of Yibo's lovemaking was still visible on his face. And damn Yibo for putting him in this predicament!

"Y-yes. B-but-"

"It must be the heat..." Carmen said in a soothing tone upon noticing Zhan's uncertainty in finding words. She frowned and cast a doubtful glance at her son before her gaze shifted to Zhan. "or it could be from the unexpected announcement," she added with a hint of concern. "Are you all right, Zhan?"

"I-I'm fine, ma'am. T-thank you..." How Zhan desperately wished for the earth to swallow him whole, or to evaporate like a bubble, overwhelmed by his intense shame.

Zhan released himself from Yibo's hold and on shaky legs, made his way to the settee and sat down.

"What was that announcement all about, Yibo?" Carmen looked at her son. "Was it for real?"

"Absolutely, Mother," Yibo answered quickly. Zhan looked at Yibo, ready to contest, but his attempt at protest was promptly silenced. "An announcement of such importance could not be a joke. Could it?"

"Of course," said Quiren. A mysterious smile was lurking behind the formal tone. "In front of our relatives and friends, that's not a joke, darling," he said to Carmen.

"Then you both owe us an explanation." Carmen shook her head. "Why did the events turn around? Ziyi was supposed to be your fiancée, Yibo?"

"I-I can explain-"

"Allow me the explaining, sweetheart," Yibo interjected to what Zhan was saying, in a voice that was a little too sweet. There is an emphasis on endearment as a warning. Carmen and Quiren exchanged glances, observing the interaction of the two in front of them.

"Mom, Dad, Ziyi has a boyfriend and that is Zhoucheng, who followed her here from the US. She didn't want to go here but she was forced by her parents..."

"That was obvious," Carmen said with a sigh. "I'm really suspicious of the glances exchanged between those two. But how for a short moment you and Zhan were—"

"Darling," Quiren interrupted what his wife was going to say. "Do you really need to question every smallest detail? The important thing is that your son himself announced his engagement to Zhan. As your son wanted, he has chosen the one he wants to marry..."

"Marry!" Zhan exclaimed, nearly springing from his seat, his fist tightly holding the armrest.

"Sweetheart," Yibo said indulgently. "It isn't as if we are going to be married tomorrow. So calm down, babe..." Yibo stepped towards the settee and sat next to him. Yibo reached out his hand and squeezed it. Zhan knows that the squeeze is a warning.

Zhan groaned inwardly.

"But what about your parents, Zhan? I am sure they are not informed about this..." Carmen asked, observing Zhan's state of confusion.

"We will let them know, Mom." again it was Yibo who answered. "Maybe tomorrow." Carmen cast a glance at her son and gave him a suspicious look. She then directed her attention to Zhan. Although she doubted the confusion on Zhan's face and the speed of events, she chose to remain silent. She walked over to Zhan, smiled warmly, and kissed him softly on the cheek.

"Welcome to the family, Zhan..." she said sincerely though a little bit worried.

"T-thank you," he stammered, Zhan couldn't clear his confused thoughts. He couldn't believe that this was happening. Suddenly, he was officially engaged to one of the most famous bachelors in the world.

"Zhan, your parents will undoubtedly be surprised," said Quiren. "There are no media people at this party but I have no doubt that the announcement of your engagement will appear in the news within the next couple of days. How they do that, beat me. So, I would advise you to immediately reach out to your parents and inform Fengmian and Ziyuan about this."

Carmen asked her husband out back to the party. At the door, Carmen paused and looked back at the two.

"Please follow us shortly, meet those who wish to congratulate you, and meet your fiancé, Yibo. Your Auntie Xuan Lu is excited to meet Zhan."

When the couple got out, Zhan tried to withdraw his hand from Yibo's grip, yet Yibo continued to clasp it firmly.

"I could kill you for this!" Zhan stated vehemently.

Yibo simply smiled, bringing his hand to his lips and kissing his palm gently. "You do not actually mean that."

"I can't believe you did this," he said furiously. He forcefully pulled his hand away, trying to ignore the lingering warmth of Yibo's lips on his skin.

"I just followed your advice, sweetheart. I have set your cousin free for Zhoucheng. That's what you wanted, wasn't it?"

"But why do you have to announce that we're lovers? You know that's not true!"

Yibo's eyebrows rose. In front of my parents and relatives, we are now formally acknowledged as lovers. And I have indeed warned you about this, haven't I? You will take Ziyi's place..."

Just as Zhan was about to reply, Yibo's hand reached for his neck, pulling him closer and capturing his lips in a passionate kiss. After a moment, Yibo reluctantly let go. His thumb gently traced the moisture on Zhan's lips.

"You won't be as lucky next time, sweetheart." Yibo's voice and eyes reveal a promise that caused a shiver to travel down Zhan's spine.

Zhan did not need to ponder the implications of Yibo's. He almost gave himself to Yibo had Quiren and Carmen did not enter the room. In that fleeting moment, he was very grateful.

Yibo got to his feet and offered his hand to Zhan. "Come, sweetheart. Let's face them together."