I am sorry for not updating any of my stories lately. I am still busy and working. Pardon me. Thank you for patiently waiting. Enjoy and happy reading.

Knock. Knock.

Yanli knocks while starting to twist the doorknob and open it enough for her to enter the scented laboratory room.

“A-xian, he wakes up already..” Yanli smile and steps forward heading to his busy brother who is mixing his newly invented scent.

Xiao Zhan shakes the last tube, placing it carefully on its holder, and finally stands up. He is removing his gloves and goggles one by one while smiling widely at his sister. He then followed Yanli heading out of the room and hanged his white robe to the hook near the entrance door.

“Jie, did he cry a lot while I am not around?” Xiao Zhan asked curiously.

“How he will cry when he is sleeping peacefully clenching and hugging your shirt. He thought you are beside him..haha..” Yanli chuckles as they came to an idea.

When Xiao Zhan starts to work again, it is hard for him to adjust and separate his body from Yiyi.

“Shower and change your cloth, quick! Don't expose him so much with your scent.” Yanli pushes Xiao Zhan to his room and head back to Yiyi's room.

While taking shower, Xiao Zhan smiles bitterly. He will give the best to Yiyi. There is nothing more important than Yiyi. His world spin again because of Yiyi. And he will continue to live and work for Yiyi.

After drying his hair, Xiao Zhan quickly wears his clothes and head out of the room. As he gets out, Xiao Zhan widens his eyes and in seconds, he smiles sweetly.

“Coooo...eek...cooooo..” The baby feels excited, cooing, and screaming when he saw the familiar face.

“You waited for me here..hmmm..baby...” Xiao Zhan played the baby's chin and kiss him on his right cheek.

“Wait, did you shave well?” Yanli asked trying to tease Xiao Zhan, she tried to push Xiao Zhan's face to take away Yiyi and laughed embracing the baby firmly.

“Jie, of course, I am. I will not let my son get rashes because of me. Now give me this little prince.” Xiao Zhan lifted his face pursing his lips showing his chin. He makes sure he shaved well.

Carrying the baby downstairs on his chest, Zou Cheng is already waiting on the foot of the stairs with brows furrowed.

“What took you so long? Are you starving us?” Zou Cheng rolled his eyes at the back of his skull with gritted teeth.

“A-cheng, you will not die soon even if you don't eat for 1 week.” Xiao Zhan answered and laugh.

“Y-You!” Zou Cheng clenches his fist but smiling secretly.

“A-cheng, just because you are broken-hearted you are throwing your pain to your brother. Enough for that. Let's eat...” Yanli smiles and grabs Zou Cheng's hand.

“Cheng, I'm sorry. I just need to finish the orders you know.” Xiao Zhan explained as he places Yiyi on the crib near the dining table.

“If it's not for Yiyi, I will not spare you.” He said with an irritable face.

“Can you at least consider things because of me?” Xiao Zhan complained but did not even spare a glance at Zou Cheng.

“Shut up. You are not a baby to consider .”

“Yiyi, your Uncle is cruel. Why he is making me his shock absorber?” Xiao Zhan plays and tickles Yiyi's feet. The innocent baby just releases a fart and the three laughed so hard.

“Yiyi, what an awesome response...” Xiao Zhan pouts.

“Cooo...” The 6 months old baby just staring at Xiao Zhan while cooing.

Xiao Zhan pulls the chair and pick the pair of chopsticks and start to eat.

“By the way, who will be the endorser of your product?” Zou Cheng suddenly asks.

“Can you make a contract with him?”

“Zhan, until when you will chase him? How many times do you need to hurt yourself?” Zou Cheng asked seriously with full of concern.

“A-cheng, you know he didn't hurt me intentionally. He doesn't know about my real feelings about him and I denied it many times.”

“And what about Yiyi? What if..”

“A-cheng, Yiyi is out of topic here..”

Yanli feels the tension between her brothers so she interferes and diverts the topic.

“Let's eat, stop it already. You always talk the same things almost every day.” Yanli places a piece of bite-size pork to Zou Cheng's mouth to cut whatever he wanted to say that may cause them to bicker in the end.

Xiao Zhan eats silently as he glances at the baby on the crib.

No one can take you away from me.

“Brother, I received a call from my agent. The Wife Perfumery is offering me to endorse their product once they open new branches all over Beijing Malls.”

“Yibo, you made a lot of endorsement. It's time for you to try something new.”

“What if they thought I was just lying last year with my rashes.”

“Yibo, you didn't mean it don't you?”

“Of course not. I was just too frustrated that he keeps rejecting and denying the truth about his feelings.”

“Did you regret it?”

“Yes, Brother. And I want to find him and apologize remorsefully. That was the only way I know to let him confess again but I failed with my plans. For 5 years he was working with me, how come he is so casual?”

“Who knows if he really gets over you when he applied as your make up artist?”

“Then why he made his way to get close to me.”

“Yibo, he must have a reason why he denied his feelings when you met again.”

“Is there any? Like what?”

“I don't know. Maybe he is happy and contented being with you almost everyday but afraid you might not accept him or there is more.”

“But...”

Wang Yibo did not continue what he wanted to say. For now, he just wants to continue and find Xiao Zhan.

Wang Yibo left Hai Kuan clinic and drive home. As he finishes taking shower, he slams his half-naked body on the huge bed and keeps thinking about Xiao Zhan while holding the mobile phone on his chest that Xiao Zhan left a year ago. He never accepted any projects and he will take time to search for Xiao Zhan this time.

After that day Xiao Zhan confessed his feelings, he never saw him again. Because of his busy and tight schedule in the entertainment industry, he became busy and forgets Xiao Zhan for a while. Wang Yibo promised to find Xiao Zhan when he has a chance.

Wang Yibo didn't expect that Xiao Zhan will reappear and become his make-up artist.

“Congratulations Mr. Xiao, starting tomorrow, you will be Mr. Wang Yibo's official make-up artist.” the manager said.

“Thank you, mam.” Xiao Zhan bows his head and smiles shyly.

He then looks at Wang Yibo and smile as if it is just their first time meeting and greeting each other.

“Congratulations, Mr. Xiao.” Wang Yibo stands up from his chair and extends his hands.

Wang Yibo did not wait for Xiao Zhan's hands to raise it. He grabs his hands and caresses them. Xiao Zhan's body flinched from Wang Yibo's sudden attack and blushed. He looks around and realized it was only them inside the hall.

“Thank you, sir.”

“So, my assistant will give you my schedule. See you tomorrow.” Wang Yibo finally let go of Xiao Zhan's hands and turn his back leaving Xiao Zhan with mouth agape.

The next day, it is 10 am. Xiao Zhan excitedly heads to Wang Yibo's makeup room. As per schedule advice, the makeup artist must be one hour early before Wang Yibo's arrival. Xiao Zhan halted when he saw Wang Yibo is already inside the room playing on his mobile phone.

Eh? He is 1 hour early and earlier than me? The applying of makeup and wearing his outfit will start at 11 am because his taping will start at 12.

“Good morning.” Xiao Zhan just greeted Wang Yibo and bow his head.

Wang Yibo stops playing his phone and place them in front of the mirror and turn the swivel chair facing Xiao Zhan who is approaching. Xiao Zhan placed his things in front of the mirror beside Wang Yibo's phone and organize the cosmetics and makeup kit, unpacking them one by one from his small container.

“Why did you apply as my make up artist?” Wang Yibo suddenly speak and asked.

“Why not, sir. This is my passion, I love to apply makeup and enhance the beauty of a person, sir.”

“What do you mean? Do I look bad without makeup?”

“What I mean to say is, when you are in the camera. It will dry your skin when you are exposed to so much light. Makeup will protect your skin and gives effect to the camera.” Xiao Zhan explained.

(This is just my imagination, don't bash me. I have no idea about it.😅)

“I know, I am talking about you. Why did you apply to become my makeup artist?” Wang Yibo never leaves Xiao Zhan's face. He is chasing Xiao Zhan's every move as if he will disappear if he blinks his eyes.

“About that, I don't know that it was you whom I will do the service. I just grab the opportunity, sir.” Xiao Zhan tried to compose himself avoiding the warm feeling that is starting to fill his heart.

“Are you sure you are not following me?” Wang Yibo smirked.

“Why would I?” Xiao Zhan shortly answered.

Pang!

Wang Yibo almost drops because of Xiao Zhan's answer. He is not expecting to be that way. He wants to hear that Xiao Zhan applied intentionally. Wang Yibo clenched his fist when he feels the pang in his chest. He took a deep breath and to speak again.

“When you said you like me back then, did you mean it?”

“What do you mean sir?”

“Do you like me as a man, romantically?” Wang Yibo bravely asked though his ears are red now and he feels his blood boils rushing to his face. He thinks his cheeks, are red and hot now.

“You mean when I ask your autograph? That is normal to like and get an autograph from a celebrity. I was just a fanboy. Nothing more.” Xiao Zhan casually answered.

Deep inside, he is so nervous that he might slip his tongue and confess again his true feelings. He doesn't want to repeat the embarrassing experience.  He plans it well.

Reba is Yanli's friend and when he learned that Yanli has a brother who is a makeup artist, she quickly recommends applying. Xiao Zhan planned it well and finally made it. But he will not reveal his true feelings anymore.

A week passed but Wang Yibo never sees any hint that Xiao Zhan is after him. Xiao Zhan talks professionally during work but Wang Yibo feels irritated and frustrated knowing Xiao Zhan is no longer his fanboy. They became strangers to each other despite working together.

“Please shift your face to the right.” Xiao Zhan said while applying makeup to Wang Yibo.

Wang Yibo wanted to remove Xiao Zhan's mask and kiss him many times. He can smell his natural scent and can't help but to gulp his saliva especially when only he can see Xiao Zhan's neck bobbing up and down while applying some retouch to his forehead.

He doesn't know if he will pull Xiao Zhan's waist and let him sit on his lap while applying makeup. There are days that Wang Yibo is going crazy to this thought. He doesn't know how much he controls his feeling not to take advantage of him.

“Zhan, why do you like me back then?”

“Well sir, I was young before and as a fan, having your autograph is precious but...” Xiao Zhan did not continue as he remembers the bad memories.

“Do you still need my autograph? I can give you as many as you want.” Wang Yibo stares at Xiao Zhan intently.

They stare at each other and only the sound of their heartbeat and their breathing filled the silence of the room.

Xiao Zhan swallows his saliva and his lips quiver under his mask but Wang Yibo can feel the tension between them and he slowly lifted his hand and wanted to reach Xiao Zhan's face but the latter recover and shift his face to another direction.

“No need sir, I am over it.” Xiao Zhan answered nonchalantly.

Wang Yibo took a deep breath that fanned to Xiao Zhan's neck. Xiao Zhan feels uncomfortable but remains calm. Deep in his heart, he wants to kiss the man instead of applying makeup.

They get used to this scenario like a stranger to each other, working professionally. But there are days that Wang Yibo is a tease and playful but Xiao Zhan doesn't buy them. Wang Yibo becomes more frustrated and eager to get Xiao Zhan's attention but because of his career, he can't easily do his plans.

Until one night, Wang Yibo finally made his ultimate mistake again when he got a long break. Before he goes home to his hometown, they had a small and simple gathering in his pad.

After a thorough plotting, he came to this idea and thought it will work. But it became worst in the end. He was hoping they will get along but, he was wrong and Xiao Zhan become more aloof and never talk to him ever again.

That was three months ago before he accidentally fired Xiao Zhan.

To be continued...

I know, I know..so much about the past to reveal but little by little okay.🤭

Thank you for reading.

Thoughts?

Please hit the star to vote if you like it and pardon my typo and grammar errors.

See you in the next chapter.