Rent (YiZhan)

Chapter 3

Author notes: This is my first attempt writing YiZhan. English is not my first language, so please forgive my mistakes and awkward writing. This is NOT for profit. I don't own them. AU and maybe OOC.

Thanks to CALActorsTypist for editing this.

Chapter 3

Xiao Zhan was not a simple man. He once had been, but that felt ages ago. He was the only child of a working class couple. Nothing remarkable about it. He always tried to do his best at everything. Fortunately for him, his best was enough to build an empire by himself. He grew up feeling loved and protected until one day.

He was thirteen, which was the first time he felt attraction for another person. Surprisingly, it had not been a girl. He was smart enough to realize he was gay. That first crush came to nothing because he wouldn't act it out. It became his secret, and he didn't make much of it until one day.

His parents were discussing the latest neighborhood's gossip when his father said.

"Poor Mr. Chang, he must be devastated."

"Why?" Asked his mother.

"His son has come out as a cut sleeve. I'd rather die than live with something like that."

His mother said nothing and looked at him meaningfully.

At that moment, little Zhan knew two things. First, his mother knew his secret. Secondly, that his father would never accept him for who he was.

He decided to focus on building a better future for himself, a future that maybe would allow him to be who he really was.

So he worked beyond hard. He finished college ahead of his peers. He started working and in a few years he had more money than he would ever need. His family's future was secured. But now...he could only keep going. He became a workaholic.

For the sake of avoiding rumors, he dated a lot of beautiful women in public. And kept his men to himself in private.

The women he dated were hired and under ironclad contracts. They would never dare cross him. His men... where not hired but he knew they were bought. A generous parting gift was always enough. He became cynical of anything relating to personal relationships.

And here he was, expanding his empire. He had to travel to the States to establish a new office with the collaboration of his American business partners. He came for work strictly. He hadn't expected to encounter that beautiful boy.

He knew it was dangerous to feel that attraction. But he couldn't help it. He needed to know more, to be near that fine male. His hair, he imagined letting it fall free. That boy was dangerous, but he didn't care. They weren't even in his country, so nobody would know.

"Calm down Zhan," he told himself.

Just the possibility of touching that skin sent shivers down his spine.

"It's just too risky. Are you willing to risk everything you have worked for just to have him?," he asked himself.

"Hell, yes!" His traitor brain answered.