Competition in your heart! [YiZhan/ZhanYi FF]✔️

-22- Tuesday, I love you!

-22- Tuesday, I love you!

I know I made a huge mistake, even though the basic idea was well-intentioned. Of course I hadn't forgotten Zhan and thought of him, I don't know why I let myself be persuaded to stay in the hut with them.

In the end it didn't matter, because the mistake was on my side.

One moment I was happy and glad to finally be together with Zhan and I don't plan to end this after the competition, and the next moment I was more scared than ever.

Just the thought of losing Zhan and that because I was acting like an idiot and not thinking about it scared me more than anything I had ever known before.

That's why I jogged all the way to this little village where I saw the inn and knew that Zhan could only be there. I talked to the innkeeper, who let me after a few back and forth, then into the room where Zhan was.

And only when I lay down next to Zhan and took him in my arms, which he didn't even notice, did I feel how much my feet hurt. But I guess I deserved that, after my mistake.

A few hours later Zhan woke up and I tried to explain the situation of the day before, but even while I was pronouncing it I realized how ridiculous it sounded. It sounded like an excuse.

So I stopped trying to explain myself further and just admitted my mistake.

And when Zhan accused me of not wanting to let him go, but of simply forgetting him, it was as if he rammed a knife into my heart.

I could not and would not let him believe that I would simply forget him. And I wanted him to know how I felt about him and so I told him for the first time how I feel for him. I told him that I loved him.

No sooner had I said those three words than my heart felt much lighter. Because finally, after more than two years, I could confess my love to him and even tell him that I had loved him for two years. I guess I'll have to explain to him how that came about.

But right now, I'm just glad that Zhan has forgiven me. He said, "Wang Yibo, you're a huge idiot. Even though I was angry and needed distance, I still had no intention of breaking up with you. Because, I love you. And because of a mistake, I won't give up so easily."

We reconciled and because I could hardly walk and we only had a bicycle there, we called a taxi. The only taxi they have in this village. We let ourselves be driven back to the hut where the lumberjack, together with Wooseok and Seungyoun were already waiting for us.

But before we went to work with him, Wooseok and Seungyoun also apologized to Zhan.

And then it was time to follow the lumberjack and face the work. Cut down a tree, sawing off the branches and twigs, and then hooks.

We were instructed about safety at work, given work clothes, safety goggles and even helmets, and then it was time to cut down a tree the old-fashioned way.

We had to take turns working with axes and quickly realized how much endurance and strength was needed for such a job.

Because even though nowadays it is mostly done with machines, there are still many who cut down trees the old-fashioned way.

Wooseok and Seungyoun formed one team on the axe, Zhan and I formed the other team. With each stroke, the notch in the tree grew larger and larger and our physical strength decreased with each additional stroke.

Then the woodcutter showed us how he did it and he hammered the axe into the trunk at such a speed and with such force that we could only watch in amazement and with open mouths.

And then it said "tree falls" and the tree tilted in the direction the lumberjack intended. The sawing began. Branch by branch, twig by twig, Seungyoun and I sawed together with Wooseok. While Zhan worked with the axe.

"It seems you've worked with the axe before." The lumberjack noticed as he watched Zhan chop up the branches.

"Yes, at my grandma's. Every autumn, my family went to visit her and as soon as the lumber delivery came, we all had to go out and split the wood." Explained Zhan.

Even the villagers came, and with their help, we quickly finished the tree. Everyone worked hand in hand to make sure that an old couple and a young family would not be freezing.

We were really proud of ourselves. The cohesion of these people was just great. And together with them, the work was not so difficult anymore.

When we finished working on the tree, the villagers organized a little party. There was barbecue, dancing and music. Just beautiful.

Back at the hut, I looked at Zhan's swollen hands and when he said it was all right, it would be gone tomorrow. I couldn't stop thinking about what he said about his grandma. About how he was there a lot and had to help out.

And the thought of Zhan's grandma made something in my subconscious. But like before, it was intangible, and I lost the thought before I could catch it.

Totally exhausted and tired, we only sent the pictures and videos of today and then we all went to sleep. Because already tomorrow morning, the next challenge is waiting for us. Mountain climbing!

Zhan and I went into the bedroom after a short shower together and put on our sleeping clothes. I crawled into bed with Zhan and snuggled up against him. I put my arms around him, kissed him and said, "Good night ZhanZhan, I love you."

Zhan smiled wearily and replied, "Good night Yibo. I love you too."

Happily I closed my eyes and slowly my aching body relaxed. I am afraid that when I get up tomorrow morning I will have the worst sore muscles of my life and with that I will have to go climbing. Yeah.