Fated Encounter (BJYX Fanfic) - Completed

23: The Wang's Mansion

Half-past seven and Zhan's first day at the Wang Empire Headquarters began as a race to reach Yibo's office as quickly as he can.

Early morning after leaving his parents' home, Zhan had passed by the Wang's mansion and had seen several men moving its furnitures into several moving vans.

Perplexed and agitated, Zhan questioned one of the workers. The old man had said that the house is being auctioned and everything inside is being disposed of. Either to be donated, sold, or thrown away. "Do not leave a single thing." was the Young Master's stern instruction, he added.

Zhan's head was overloaded with questions and worries of which only Yibo can fix. He had thought the sunny days are only up ahead them, but it seems dark clouds are still over them and the rainy days are looming near again.

When Zhan entered the main office though, he had found two Wangs in there instead of just one.

Haoxuan is hanging all over Yibo, draping himself over the younger's shoulders, as both sternly concentrates on one laptop, eyes moving fast as Yibo scrolled the data on the screen.

Haoxuan's attention got distracted by the intruder's presence, while Yibo's eyes remained glued on the screen, not caring about his surroundings.

"Oh, our pretty boy has come! Welcome Mr. Xiao!" Haoxuan greeted, casually sliding his arm on Yibo's shoulder, so it's now his hand's chance to press on Yibo's muscle.

Zhan glared at the contact, wanting to rip off Haoxuan's arm. It doesn't normally bother him seeing other artists hooking their claws on Yibo. Yet, this Haoxuan guy with his too friendly vibes and his playboy personality makes Zhan frown and be on his guard. Cousin or not. He doesn't like the guy's closeness to his Yibo.

Despite Zhan's effort to emit a deathly glare, his stare was only interpreted as a hilarious humour by Haoxuan. The man had cracked into a manic guffaw, holding his belly from too much laughing. "Mr. Xiao, you obviously hate me for being close to my cousin. While Yibo will surely kill me if I make a move on you. You two, please give me some slack, will you? I am not some third party or something. I am just here for work." Haoxuan dramatically rolled his eyes, recomposing his expression in an instant like a two-faced bipolar.

Giving a side glance and a smirk at Yibo who has now lifted his eyes off the monitor and is now concentrating on watching Zhan's cutsy-temper tantrum, Haoxuan understood it is time for him to scram off. "I'll get something to eat while you both work on your personal business." Haoxuan said, before casually exiting the office to give the two the privacy they seek.

"Why is he always with you?" Zhan blurted in irate as soon as Haoxuan left the room.

The way the usually calm man scrunched his face and throw away his calm demeanour, made Yibo want to capture the moment. Zhan's pursed bottom lip accessorized by his beautiful mole beside it, is testing Yibo's self-restraint.

"He's my business advisor." Yibo pacified, standing up from his seat and slowly walking towards Zhan's space.

"You have my father to advice you!" Zhan uttered, tone getting raspy and higher in extreme annoyance.

Yibo remained calm and played it cool. He seeked Zhan's attention with his serene approach as he closed the gap between them and levelled Zhan's sight to focus on his brown ones.

"Zhan-ge..." he quietly called, making Zhan stare straight back at him.

Just staring at Yibo's window to the soul made Zhan's temper to settle down. His previous hitched breathing eased out, which made Yibo released the breath he was holding in and a tiny smile naturally bloomed on his mouth.

"You know Zhan-ge, I don't have any business degree. Therefore, I need someone on my side to advise me on day-to-day company issues. Your father sure helps me, but I feel embarrassed going to him frequently for help." Yibo disclosed, taking out a handkerchief from his pocket and gently patting Zhan's forehead covered with sweat. "Don't overwork yourself again, Ge." Yibo frowned, reminiscing how Zhan collapsed after overrunning/over working himself at the dread of the night.

Yibo's gentle voice, tender touch and kind gesture, made Zhan took quite a while to answer. As for now, he cannot process anything except to savour Yibo's subtle touch.

And when his explanation sinked in on him, Zhan's voice stuttered while trying to retaliate. "B-But you have me now." He can't help but to drop his eyes on the floor, feeling his presence wasn't taken as enough. "I am your partner now. You can rely on me. I'll do my best to help you. I'm not just here to spy on you and report to my father." He expressed wearing a sullen expression of a pouting child.

Yibo's hand froze in the air and slowly dropped back to his side. "I know." He honestly answered with an obscure sad voice. "But I still need him."

Zhan saw Yibo's jaw clenched while he squeezed the poor cloth on his hand when he said the last sentence.

Need.

The word's meaning was vague. And it seems there is more inside Yibo's mind that Zhan needs to figure out. But how can he, if Yibo isn't telling him his secrets? His plans?

'Don't I have the right to know?' Zhan wanted to voice out, but he was scared to know Yibo's answer. The uncertainties were too much. And not having a clear line of how much and what Zhan can have access to Yibo's thoughts and feelings, makes Zhan insecure and passive.

"I've seen the moving trucks in front of your old man's mansion." Zhan narrated, letting the previous topic slide temporarily as Yibo seemed not ready to reveal what he had been keeping. Zhan doesn't want to be too intrusive, especially when approaching Yibo seems like walking on egg shells and the lone foundation they currently have might crumble in one single wrong move.

So for now, at least, Zhan wanted to know why Yibo is auctioning their family home.

"That..."A brief flash of a small dark smirk rippled on Yibo's face as he leaned back on his table and continued gazing at the spotless marble floor.

"I'm selling it." Yibo said after a while, lifting his vision to spy on Zhan's worried expression. When he saw Zhan trying to pull himself forward to ask him questions, Yibo beamed a smile at him. The expression came out honestly sad, although he initially intended for it to be reassuring or to fakingly-mask his true inner feelings.

Dejectedly letting it out, Yibo continued, "I can't erase everything, Zhan-ge. But for those pieces that I can, I will get rid of them."

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Author's Notes:

Things to ponder:

🙄Why does Yibo needs Haoxuan?
😅What else are those pieces that Yibo wanted to get rid of? And why?
🤭What is Yibo's revenge, exactly? Even after Mr. Shu Wang's death, why is he still carrying out his revenge?

🤔 Any guesses?

Haoxuan's picture at the top! 💕

Please DON'T FORGET TO VOTE!

22&23-Aug-2020