Ever since that night, Zhan had become even more silent. He returned to his old habits... withdrawn, lost in thought, and constantly isolating himself. The night had become something dark and heavy in his mind. Despite Bai Wuxia's best efforts to help him recover, Zhan noticed a subtle shift in how things were being handled. Bai Wuxia had created a quiet distance between him and Lao, rarely letting them spend time together. Lao, too, had changed her demeanor toward him... more reserved, more formal, as if addressing someone above her, almost like a servant to a master.
Only now did Zhan fully grasp the depth of his mistake... how easily he had let his guard down. He had forgotten why he came to New York, forgotten his purpose, forgotten who he truly was and all the challenges that had once defined his path. Now, he had been caught by the very thing he swore he'd avoid.
No matter how hard Bai Wuxia tried to restore a sense of normalcy, the damage had already been done. It weighed heavily on her, frustrating her deeply. She hadn't realized just how close she and Zhan had grown until she saw him spiral back into his old shell. Fearing for his well-being, she eventually sat him down and spoke to him. Her words helped break through to him... only a little... but it was enough to bring him back from the edge. Slowly, time and routine helped Zhan begin to loosen up again. But the anxiety and fear never fully disappeared, especially because he hadn't seen or heard from Prince Yibo since that night.
Some Time Later
Prince Yibo let out a heavy breath as he stepped back into the bedroom he once occupied....before his mother had moved him in with Bai Wuxia. He ran a tired hand across his face, exhaling deeply. The exhaustion wasn't just physical... it was rooted in everything he carried emotionally. He'd hoped that facing it head-on would somehow bring him peace, but it hadn't. That night still haunted him. Not a day went by without it replaying in his head. No matter how he tried, the memory wouldn't fade. It had etched itself into his mind, becoming one of those moments he'd remember forever. He just didn't know if it belonged among the memories of happiness or heartbreak.
All he knew was this: something in him had split that night. On one side, he had felt a strange lightness....an unexpected peace, like a burden had been lifted from his soul. A kind of rebirth, as if he were a newborn again. But the other side remembered Zhan's cries, his voice breaking in confusion and fear. Yibo had likely not understood his words, but he knew what he'd been doing.... begging. And now, his heart kept whispering the same question: Did I do the right thing? He kept answering yes, even if he wasn't entirely sure. His only defense is: He's my husband.
Not wanting to dwell on it, Yibo had distanced himself ever since. He moved out of the house, choosing to spend only a day or two there at a time before vanishing again.... into another space, another routine. Even now, he preferred sleeping elsewhere, surrounded by familiar voices like Ka Gang's and the rest, whose conversation at least helped dull the loneliness, even if Yibo never said much in return.
Yibo didn't know what was troubling him more lately. Was it the anxiety from his studies, which had suddenly intensified now that only a few months remained until graduation? Or was it something deeper gnawing at him from the inside out? He usually didn't struggle with academics; his sharp mind and natural focus had always carried him through. But this time felt different. Was it true what people said.... that when the last moment comes, it cuts deeper?
After showering, he changed into something casual that highlighted his natural elegance... refined, noble, almost royal in presence. He sprayed on a hint of cologne, grabbed his car keys, and stepped out, turning on his phone for the first time in hours. He disliked receiving too many calls, and the quiet suited him.
Most of his friends were gathered in the lounge now... unlike earlier when it had just been Ka Gang. Sikong and Jiang were now there, along with another friend, Chengfeng. Jiang was focused on a live basketball game playing on the TV, while Sikong and Chengfeng were deep in their own private conversation. Ka Gang had his eyes glued to a laptop on his lap, clearly absorbed in something academic.
Prince Yibo's entrance drew everyone's attention.
Sikong's eyes, brimming with envy, were fixed on Yibo. He wished, with every fiber of his being, that he had the power to strip away everything Yibo took pride in tonight. Everything that made Yibo stand out.... his charm, his presence, his looks...Sikong wanted it all.
Ka Gang was the first to speak, lifting his head to glance at Yibo.
"Are you back for good or just stopping by?" he asked, checking his watch.
"No, I'm just stepping out for a moment. I'll be back," Yibo replied.
Sikong, who had been watching him the whole time...having failed in all his efforts to find out where Yibo disappeared to or where he'd been staying...couldn't hold back any longer. "Hey, Prince, what's with this disappearing act? Where've you been vanishing to for the past couple of days?"
Yibo shot him a glare so sharp it made Sikong retreat inwardly, shifting his gaze away.
"Maybe he's just living his youth like he's supposed to," Jiang added teasingly, bursting into loud laughter, even slapping the table, unaware of the storm brewing in Sikong's heart.
Yibo glared at Jiang too but didn't say a word. Instead, he turned and walked out of the sitting room in silence.
"What about dinner?" Ka Gang raised his voice after him.
"I'll eat when I get back," Yibo replied curtly as he left.
****
Yibo drove slowly, his mind far from the road. As he entered the neighborhood, he realized it had been two or three days since he last saw Zhan. That thought alone made him park in front of the house. He turned off the car, got out, unlocked the door, and stepped inside.
The sitting room was quiet, just as he expected. It was already late, a time when anyone without a task would be deep in sleep. His eyes unconsciously flicked toward the hallway leading to Zhan's room. He quickly averted his gaze and headed upstairs to his own room.
His room was spotless... just how he liked it. Yibo never tolerated dust or disorder in spaces he inhabited. He gathered what he needed and left the room just as neatly as he'd found it.
But as he came down the stairs, his eyes again landed on Zhan's door. It was like something was pulling him toward it, some invisible force. Without realizing it, he found himself hurrying to the exit, wanting to shake off whatever emotion was building inside him.
Yet, when he sat in the car, his body suddenly felt heavy....paralyzed. He couldn't bring himself to start the engine. Some strange feeling overtook him, and he knew he couldn't go back home like this. Not in this state. So, he got out of the car and returned inside.
It felt like something was steering him, like he was no longer in control. Before he knew it, he was walking down the hallway… toward Zhan's room.
He gently pushed open the door. Darkness greeted him....it seemed Zhan was asleep. Quietly, Yibo stepped to the side of the room, where he knew the bed lamp was, and turned it on. A soft glow illuminated the room.
Zhan's face was right there, so close to the light that it brought out every delicate feature. His phone was still in his hand, as if he had dozed off mid-scroll. Yibo stared, unable to help himself. For the first time since he'd met Zhan, he allowed himself to just look.
He didn't seem to be sleeping deeply. His eyes looked like they might flutter open at any moment. Yibo's gaze shifted to Zhan's lips...pink, slightly parted. Something gripped him hard, and he staggered back, stopping only when he hit the wall. He stood there, still staring at that soft, youthful face.
In his sleep, Zhan began to stir. A strange sensation crept through him....something he hadn't felt in months. With a sharp jolt, his eyes snapped open, widening in the dim light. He couldn't see much, just the faint glow from the bed lamp. But his nose caught the unmistakable scent of Prince Yibo....clean, familiar, and heavy. That alone answered the question his racing thoughts hadn't formed yet.
His heart began to pound painfully in his chest. There was nothing left to do but stare upward in stunned silence. His body went still....he felt like he was freezing under the weight of that realization. Tears started sliding down his cheeks before he even knew they had formed....and the Prince continue whatever he's busy doing to his body.
Through the dim light, Zhan could make out Yibo's shadow moving silently toward the door. After a moment's pause, he slipped out.
More tears spilled from Zhan's eyes, thick and hot, blurring everything. For the first time ever, he felt a sharp bitterness toward Yibo....real hatred. At the same time, another part of him was drowning toward his father. For the first time in his life, his heart questioned everything he had once believed, accusing him with a voice louder than logic.
Zhan had already resigned himself to this role. He understood now... that maybe this had always been his place. But what hurt the most, what truly broke him, was the way Prince Yibo treated him.
Like a convenience.
He only came when he needed something... and once he got it, he left. No words. No warmth. No connection. Just like a man visiting a brothel: take what you came for, and leave.
This time, Zhan fixed himself up on his own. Not even Bai Wuxia had the chance to catch him in a bad state. But as the saying goes... whoever sleeps early, wakes early. The look of distress and lack of peace that Bai Wuxia noticed on Zhan's face said it all. And seeing the Prince in the house only confirmed her suspicions. He had spent the night there and stayed the whole next day upstairs, not leaving until around six in the evening.
Since the Prince left, Sikong had been watching the clock, waiting to see when he'd return and in what state... just like he always did. When he finally saw him enter in the evening, it only deepened his suspicions and strengthened his resolve to press harder to uncover the truth.
From that day forward, every time Sikong sensed that Yibo was about to go out, he'd come up with a reason to tag along, even if they weren't headed to the same place. Yibo didn't suspect a thing; he just assumed Sikong was finally focusing on more important matters.
▫️▪️🔸🔹
A month after the incident between Zhan and the Prince, Yibo once again prepared himself late at night, like he occasionally did, to go to the Mansion and collect some of his belongings.
Only Sikong was in the sitting room tonight, waiting there solely because of Yibo.
"Mind giving me a ride if it's not too much trouble?" Sikong asked just as Yibo reached for the keys to the car he. The frequency of these "rides" had started to make Yibo wary, and he was getting irritated. Yibo turned his eyes away and started heading out, but then unexpectedly said,
"Come on, let's go."
No matter how much Sikong tried to start a conversation, Yibo stayed silent. Realizing he was being cold-shouldered today, Sikong gave up and kept quiet too. The only sound between them came from the music Yibo played as he slid in a music disk, which started playing immediately.
Once they reached the road, Yibo pulled over to the side, glanced briefly at Sikong, then looked away.
"This is as far as I go. You can get off here."
Even though Sikong didn't want to get out, he said, "Alright, no problem. Thanks. See you back at home?"
Yibo simply nodded and drove off. Sikong kept watching the car until it almost disappeared from view, silently hoping a taxi would come soon so he could follow him.
From a distance, he spotted one and quickly flagged it down as if it might pass him by. The driver stopped, and Sikong climbed in. In a rush, he pointed at Yibo's car just ahead.
"Follow that one. I left something important in it. Don't lose him."
The driver, clearly experienced, started the car and trailed Yibo smoothly.
Yibo drove calmly, lost in his thoughts, until he reached the neighborhood. He parked quietly and got out of the car. By then, Sikong had instructed the taxi driver to drop him a short distance away. He paid the fare and stepped out.
Moving stealthily behind fences and trees along the street, Sikong stopped at a house opposite the one Yibo had entered. He crouched behind a tree, watching the Mansion carefully, analyzing its layout and waiting for any hint of evidence.
He stood there for a long while, thoughts racing. The most convincing theory in his mind was that Yibo was secretly seeing women here... perhaps enjoying their company, which he didn't want anyone to know. Sikong was sure of it.
When Yibo came back out, Sikong ducked again. Yibo drove off, and once the car disappeared from view, Sikong came out from his hiding place and looked back toward the Mansion. He grinned darkly and headed straight for the Mansion... but stopped when his phone started ringing. It was his friend, Denial.
He answered, spoke briefly, and then tucked his phone away, dialing his mom's number to report what he'd seen.
She picked up after just two rings, like she'd been waiting by the phone.
"Son, what is it?"
"Mom, breaking news!"
"What happened, son? Did we finally catch him?"
He adjusted in his posture, smiling.
"The signs are clear now... You know what's going on?"
She shook her head eagerly.
"No.... hurry up and tell me. Don't keep me guessing."
He told her everything, which made her incredibly happy... so much that she couldn't even sit still.
"I can smell victory already! The humiliation and disgrace about to fall on Yibo and his mother.... it's finally happening. But why didn't you go inside and catch him in the act?"
"I was about to, but a friend was waiting for me. We had plans to go somewhere, so I decided to just report to you now and come back later."
She scolded him immediately.
"What nonsense is that? Whatever you had planned isn't more important than this. This is your life we're trying to rebuild!"
Frustrated, he responded,
"No, Mom, you don't understand. I promised him. If I don't show up, they'll start treating me like I'm unreliable. I have to go. I'll come back later and enter the house. You know me, Mom...don't stress."
"Fine," she sighed. "But whatever you do, make sure it's before tomorrow."
"Relax, Mom. I'll wait until I know the Prince isn't around. You know how careful Yibo is...we have to be smart."
She exhaled deeply. That boy had been trouble since before he even hit puberty.
"Alright. Keep me updated."
With that, they ended the call.
Sikong lowered the phone, chewing the inside of his lip. All he could think about now was how to catch Yibo red-handed....and just how much damage the scandal would do when the truth came out.
Zhanxianyib💚❤️💛