1438 | YiZhan

Chapter 4

"A-Zhan, how are you feeling?" Xuan Lu said worriedly as she assists and gives her step-brother some water to drink. "It's alright, I'm sorry for calling you so suddenly," Xiao Zhan said with a hint of sadness in his voice.

"What happened? How come it turned out to be like this?" She asked. "Ah, I was too careless on cooking," Xiao Zhan lied and gave her a laugh to reassure her. His burnt hand was covered in bandages with a cold compress wrapped with it. Xuan Lu feels like her little brother is hiding something but he doesn't want to share it at all.

So with a sigh, "A-Zhan, remember, if you ever feel like you need help. Don't hesitate to ask, okay?" Xiao Zhan smiled at her words and nodded. "Thank you so much, Lu-jie," he says.

"Where's that husband of yours, anyways?"

Xiao Zhan flinched a bit and quickly recovered with a smile again, "Oh, he's been pretty busy lately. He went off to a business trip." His guilt was eating him alive and he felt bad for lying at his older sister. In reality, after Xiao Zhan and Wang Yibo's huge argument, Yibo didn't came back for 2 weeks until now. And Xuan Lu was checking on him every 2 days to fix and help treat his burn.

"He's taking quite long, isn't he?" Xuan Lu stated as she stood up, checking her iPhone. "Oh my, Pei is calling me to pick him up. I'm so sorry, A-Zhan."

"It's alright, Lu-jie. I'll walk you to the door, and send Pei my best regards."

"Of course!" Xuan Lu smiled and off the two headed out for the main door. "Stay safe," his sister says and gave him a warm hug. Ah, it's been a while since he felt warmth. It's been 2 weeks and Yibo still didn't comeback. Not a single phone call or message. Xiao Zhan still continued to prepare his meals and once again made paper cranes.

"Be safe, too, on your way," Xiao Zhan said and Xuan Lu smiled at him as she went inside her car and drove off.

Xiao Zhan felt loneliness eating him up once again. He doesn't care if Yibo comes home late anymore or he can't work at the urban place, he just wants him back. Xiao Zhan will be the one to adjust and stay up just to see his husband come home late at night. He just wants his warm embrace, to hear his voice and the lips he almost forgot what it tasted like. Xiao Zhan really missed him and he's really worried sick, he actually tried sending him calls everyday but none of them were answered. He even sent him a million of text messages but no reply.

His heart was slowly breaking even more and he always cried himself to sleep, the bed felt so empty and dull. Even the small amount of time feeling warmth beside him was no longer present. His heart ached so much, sometimes he doesn't even have the appetite to eat.

Wang Yibo, where are you?

• • •

It was the forth day of the third week that Yibo still didn't come back home. Good thing his hand already healed and he can start working a lot around the house again. Xiao Zhan was too busy washing the plates that he didn't notice the door open with a creak.

"Zhan," as he immediately heard his name from the person he has been longing all this time, he quickly turned around and saw the person he's been looking for. He felt his eyes get a bit blurry with tears. Wiping his hands quickly, he gave his husband a bone crushing hug. Who cares about arguments? Yibo's well-being is already enough.

Xiao Zhan couldn't afford to get angry anymore, he just wants his husband back. "Where have you been? I was so worried-"

He was cut off as Yibo slowly pulled away from him and didn't actually hugged him back. It was the first time that it happened. Xiao Zhan felt confused and looked at his husband with pained eyes. "Zhan, I want you to fill up and sign these papers," Wang Yibo said as he averted his gaze. He reached out a brown envelope.

Xiao Zhan was even more confused than before. "What's this for?" He asked as he slowly received the envelope. He moves near the dining table and sat down. He opens it slowly and to his surprise. His heart immediately fell and was battered. With bold looking words on top, DIVORCE CONTRACT.

His breath hitched as his hands started shaking and the corners of his beautiful black orbs started forming tears. Why must this happen to him? His husband actually came back and he truly felt happy and relieved but this wasn't the outcome he'd been praying for. "I.. I d-don't understand," he croaked out as he blinks a bit, trying to read the papers once more if his eyes were playing tricks on him.

"I want a divorce," Yibo said with no emotion and Xiao Zhan doesn't want to hear that coming from the very man he loves. "I've been thinking about it for the past 3 weeks," Wang Yibo reasons out, "Things aren't really going too well and I think it's the best way."

"Best way?" Xiao Zhan whispered as he almost crumpled the papers and Yibo immedaitely takes it away from his grasp. "Zhan, it's not working out. With this divorce, you'll finally have the freedom you've been asking for!"

"What the fuck, Wang Yibo!" Xiao Zhan cursed as he slammed both of his hands at the table and turned to his husband, tears were already flowing from his eyes and his face became a bit red from anger. Xiao Zhan wasn't actually looking too good, he looked pale and the dark circles under his eyes made it even worse.

"It is! Don't you want to go to the urban city? Meet that new love interest of yours?" Wang Yibo said as he raised his voice and Xiao Zhan felt even more devastated.

"I'm not meeting up with anyone, maybe it's you, who actually has someone else!" Xiao Zhan said with gritted teeth as his heart ached even more for being accused of something he didn't do and the thought of Wang Yibo loving someone else.

"Well I am! I'm in love with another. We were too naive to get married too soon, Zhan. I've realized that we were just a bunch of college graduates who didn't plan out our lives like we were supposed to do. Our relationship fell out of love and there's isn't anything left. You can have this house, I'll start living in the city anyways," Wang Yibo said as he looks away.

Xiao Zhan was speechless and he felt his ears bleeding from listening to Wang Yibo. Yes, they were stupid to get married too soon but why won't they stay together and fix things? It's hard but why must he be the one to let go?

"I'm not signing those," Xiao Zhan said as he crossed his arms. "What?" Yibo irritatedly asked as he puts a pen on the table, his brows furrowed. "I don't want to divorce just yet," Xiao Zhan whispered.

"You know, there's a long time of processing of papers," Yibo said and Xiao Zhan laughed bitterly. "There's no need to rush," he stated, "I'm only asking for 3 days."

"Are you kidding me, Zhan? I told you-"

"3 days. Just give me 3 days," he pleaded as he can't stop his tears forming. "Stay with me for 3 days, pretend that you're still my beloved husband. Pretend that everything's alright. And most of all, pretend like you still love me."

Wang Yibo was taken a back to hear such things. He thought it was utterly ridiculous and useless but if he gets Xiao Zhan to sign the papers, then so be it. It's only 3 days of pretending. Nothing more.

"Fine," Yibo replies coldly.

Xiao Zhan wipes his tears as he sniffles for a bit and said, "Thank you." He smiled with the obvious pain he's feeling and Wang Yibo couldn't even look at him with that kind of expression.

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Sorry for the typos! Please do point it out!