Let Me Chase You (Completed)

Chapter 24: Different Worlds

A new day began as the previous night ended. As Xiao Zhan carried out his daily routine, he started to get this trickling sensation that he was being watched. He tried to convince himself that his mind was only playing tricks since these thoughts developed after Yibo's comment. However, with each passing day, the suspicion grew stronger. It doesn't help that more reporters were spotted at the hospital even when security has expanded.

He also felt like his friends and co-workers were acting abnormally around him. He kept finding himself walking into conversations that he shouldn't catch for he noticed the sudden silence or change in topic. Zoey has been more irritated lately, cursing the media left and right but Xiao Zhan hasn't heard what was pushing her button. Perhaps one of her idols was caught in a scandal? He suddenly found himself being chauffeured by someone (let it be his co-workers, Zhuo Cheng, or the children when they visit) when he had to leave the department. Most recently, Zhuo Cheng even forced him to park in the private garage, saying it's for his "safety" even though Zhuo Cheng couldn't tell him what he was in jeopardy of.

The last straw that forced Xiao Zhan to point out the strange behaviors was a conversation in regards to Yibo. During one of his "crazy lovesick mind" moments, he commented on how Yibo hasn't delivered food lately. Xiao Zhan knew well that it wasn't a good idea with all of the paparazzi around, but Yibo has spoiled him too well. He was expecting one of the staff to holler out a complaint about their lack of free food as well, but instead, he was bestowed with pure silence. It was so eerily quiet that he couldn't disregard it as his imagination.

"What?" Xiao scanned the room, but no one met his eyes. "What's going on? What are you all hiding from me?"

"Dr. Xiao," the nurse spoke up but then lost her courage so she glanced at Zoey for help.

Zoey met Xiao Zhan's gaze with a sheepish smile and a guilty look for being found out. "Xiao Zhan, we'll talk after work, OK? You're gonna need to sit down for this."

They said "curiosity killed the cat" and Xiao Zhan was a doctor so he was well-trained on what was needed to stay alive. The conversation was put on hiatus for a few hours.

Once the resume button was pressed, Xiao Zhan found himself in a conference room on the VIP floor with Yubin, Zoey, Fan Xing, Zhuo Cheng, even Xuan Lu, and Pei Xin. He really did need to sit down for whatever this was.

"A-Zhan," Xuan Lu spoke first. The spiky vines were untied.

"We should have told you so you could prepare yourself," Zoey sounded remorseful. The golden sheets unwrapped.

"But you're too damn oblivious to noticed anything so we can only protect your as~,"

"A-Cheng! The children," Xuan Lu reprimanded. The marble box shattered.

"The reporters. They are here for me," Xiao Zhan realized.

Fang Xin walked over and grabbed Xiao Zhan's hand to provide comfort. "Uncle Xiao."

Xiao Zhan squeezed the smaller hand in gratitude, then looked at the adults. "Tell me what's going. Please."

For the next hour, Xiao Zhan felt like he was listening to a story about someone else. How can his ordinary self be at the center of such an ordeal? For all that he has tried to not be caught in the limelight of being related to the Jiangs, here he was, being known by more people than he could conceive.

To say that he was in shock: Yes. That he was confused: Yes. Most importantly, he was scared. Not of the rumors or the reporters, but the troubles that he could cause on others. Do they know about my relationship with the Jiangs? Was this causing them harm, damaging their reputation? My friends, coworkers, and Zhuo Cheng have been protecting me all this time? I've been a burden. What about Yibo? How is he managing? The conversation from that night, was he worried about my situation? And the thoughts streamed out until Xiao Zhan was asphyxiating in guilt.