A journalist from a financial magazine that sells its magazines worldwide entered Yibo's office together with her photographer and greeted him in a friendly manner. They had arranged this interview appointment a long time ago and today, finally, it should be time for Julia Hong to ask her questions to Wang Yibo and his husband and business partner Wang Xiao Zhan.

Already a few days before she was very excited, because only few offers the two meanwhile very well-known and successful businessmen, insights into their lives as businessmen and private persons. Julia sat down on a chair, next to her the photographer took a seat and after Yibo's assistant brought them something to drink, the interview could begin.

But before Julia could ask her first question, Yibo explained: "You're probably wondering why I'm here alone. Don't worry, Zhan will be here. He's at the pediatrician with our children right now. Our daughter was not feeling well this morning and our son is getting a vaccination. He'll be here as soon as he can."

"Oh, you've already taken the first question from me there. Shall we start the interview already then anyway?" Julia replied a little excitedly.

"Sure gladly." Said Yibo.

"Okay. So, a lot of people are wondering, when exactly did you start your company and how did it become so successful so quickly?"

"Mhhh, we started our company five and a half years ago. As most people know, I had previously worked in the marketing department at my parents' company and managed the department. I had a lot of client contact there and when my husband and I started our own business, those clients approached us and we kept getting referred. And one of those clients we were recommended to gave us a big contract, then the next client came along and so on."

"I see. According to my information, you guys started small back then too, right?"

"Mn. That kind of goes without saying. We only had a couple of small business rooms and not even a handful of employees. We often had to work until late in the evening to get the orders done on time. Then we actually just came out of the shadows 2 years ago and expanded."

"Well, you guys weren't really in the shadows were you? As far as I can tell, you guys had been very well known even then and got orders from all over the world."

"That's right. I also meant more our business premises. We rented the business premises next door to be able to expand and then two years ago we said that it's enough now and we finally have to move into a larger building with larger business premises. We then found this old factory, bought it, had it renovated and set up business premises there, and since then we have been working here in this great atmosphere. Everything is big, open and bright."

"I also noticed that immediately when we came here earlier. You immediately feel at ease here."

"Mn. That's the way it was intended to be. Our employees love working here and always come in with a smile."

"Which is probably because you guys spoil them a lot. I saw some here riding around on scooters, someone was riding a skateboard, others had inline skates. I saw that there's a quiet room, a big kitchen where the employees can talk and discuss over a big spread of breakfast and lunch that you provide."

"Yes, that was my husband's idea. In the courtyard we had a garden built where our employees can get inspiration surrounded by green meadows, flowers and trees. They go out there and sometimes lie down on the grass and then come back with great ideas."

"Very innovative."

"But not new. Zhan saw such a company once when he was in the US. He was in Silicon Valley and had gone to some very well-known companies there and picked out the best of everything and then provided it here for our employees."

"As you know, we had already interviewed some of your employees in the last two days and I can only say that they all had only positive things to say. They love working here, think you are great and very fair employers. They especially mentioned that you are very approachable and always listen to everyone."

"That's the way it should be. I wouldn't have been like that in the past to be honest. But because of my husband, I've learned a lot and I think it's much better that way."

"What I think is especially great is that you have childcare here for those employees with children. So you also give single parents a chance to work here."

"Not just single parents. We hire for skills, not age or marital status. And as you know, my husband and I also have two children. Our son is now 4 years old and our daughter is about to turn 2. They are also in daycare here during the day. And how great do you think our employees think it is when they get to spend their breaks with their child or children? Zhan and I do the same thing. We grab our kids and take them to play in the garden where there is also a playground. And our employees are very happy because they don't have to worry about their kids, that also increases their productivity."

"Um, speaking of your children. You said private questions are allowed. Can I ask then what about the mother of your children?"

"That's actually an open secret. My husband has a special body that very few men in the world have. This special body enables him to be able to get pregnant. So the children are both of ours. He carried them under his heart and through a C-section they came into the world."

"Wow. Are you planning any more offspring?"

"We have a son and a daughter, I think that's enough. The pregnancies were both very difficult for my husband. After all, he not only suffered from morning sickness, but also had major circulation problems, was often in pain and had to lie down a lot. After our daughter was born, my husband had surgery. So he can't get pregnant anymore. And I would not want to put him through it again. His health is much more important to me than more offspring."

"I can understand that. I read that your marriage is the only same-sex marriage officially registered?"

"Not anymore. There are probably 2 or 3 other couples now. But that's because Zhan couldn't be clearly classified as a man because he just had the ability to get pregnant. When we got married, he was already pregnant with our son, and our registrar at the time, Luca, had lobbied our registrar's office to officially register our marriage, citing the pregnancy as proof that Zhan could not be clearly classified as a man."

"He really stood up for you guys. That's great. Um, what were your children's first words?"

"Since I stayed home and took care of our son for the first two years, his first word was Dad. Next came daddy. To his grandmas he always said Nana and to his grandpas Nanu, I don't know why. With our daughter, I stayed home for a year and a half. I had worked from home with both of them. And she said daddy as the first word. She is very fixated on Zhan, even though I was always the one with her 24/7. After that came dad, though she tends to say baba to me. Then she used to say "my" my Baba, my Daddy. Only after that did she say grandma and grandpa."

"What do your kids like to eat the most?"

"Anything that tastes sweet. With is it melon, pineapple and apples. They like to eat almost all vegetables. They both don't like carrots at all, though. Our son likes meat, our daughter prefers fish. But their favorite thing to eat is my lasagna."

"So you know how to cook, too?"

"I learned. First of all, to be able to greet my husband with a delicious meal in the evening when he came home from work. But also because of our children. I didn't want them to get their meals from jars, so I learned to cook for our kids myself."

"A real stay-at-home dad, then?"

"No, just a loving husband and father. My family means everything to me and I would do anything for them."

"I see. How did you meet your husband?"

"Oh um, the first time we met was at a youth club. Zhan was 13 at the time, and I was 14. We hadn't talked to each other though. However, there was a kissing accident."

"Kissing accident?"

"Mn. Zhan had already fallen head over heels in love with me by then. He was living with his parents in Chongqing at the time and was just visiting here with his cousin. And he caused this kissing accident."

"Were you already in love with Zhan then, too?" Asked Julia.

The conversation was briefly interrupted when Zhan arrived with the two children and the two siblings ran to their dad and let him kiss and hug them. A-Yuan crawled onto Yibo's lap and Yibo had to pick XinXin up and hold her in his arms. Little XinXin, who will soon be two years old, snuggled her head on Yibo's shoulder and cuddled with him while A-Yuan told his dad how brave he was when he got his vaccination.

Zhan greeted Julia, gave Yibo a kiss, and sat down next to him. A-Yuan ran outside shortly after, because he wanted to go to his group from childcare and tell them about his vaccination.

Julia smiled when she saw Yibo and his daughter, as she saw how loving the relationship was between Yibo and his daughter. Little XinXin looked at Julia and showed her a lion sticker she had received from the pediatrician. She proudly held up the sticker and said, "This is my Baba."

"Oh very nice." Said Julia smiling.

"Are you feeling better now my little XinXin?" Yibo asked his little daughter, brushing a few strands of hair from her face. Little XinXin already has very long hair that is exactly the same color as Yibo's.

"Mn. No more ouch." Replied the little one, lifting up her shirt and showing her belly.

"She had too much air in her belly and couldn't fart. But she's better now." Explained Zhan.

"That makes me feel better. Did the pediatrician say anything else?" Yibo wanted to know.

Zhan shook his head. "No. He is very pleased with our children's development and he praised how brave they both are, even though their Baba wasn't there today."

"I'll be there again next time."

"That's what I said."

"So I'm really amazed at how normal you two are and despite your success." Interjected Julia.

"Mhhh, we are just a normal couple with normal problems." Replied Zhan.

"What problems honey?" Yibo wanted to know and looked at him a little challenging.

Zhan grinned and explained, "I meant about the kids."

"I was going to mean already. You see, our marriage is very loving and harmonious. We get along very well."

"That's true. We love each other very much."

"Exactly honey!"

"Haha, you guys look very much in love too." Said Julia.

"We are too. And to your question earlier. I think yes, I was also in love with Zhan back then. I wanted to get his attention all the time and tried really hard to be noticeable. I hoped he would respond to me." Yibo explained with a smile.

Zhan nodded. "I was too shy to do that at the time, though. I really had a head over heels crush on him and was secretly watching him."

"And then what happened next? You had to go back to Chongqing or?" Julia asked.

"Mn. I had to go back. I had nothing but a few pictures I had secretly taken of Yibo. One was always under my pillow. I immediately told my parents that I had fallen in love with Yibo and I bugged them for years. I wanted to see him again, but I didn't know how. And then one day I was here for a visit and went to a club. That's when Yibo and I met again."

"That was a magical night. Definitely! Because when I saw Zhan, even though I didn't know he was the boy from back then, I was immediately attracted to Zhan. Like he was the only one in the club, I walked up to him and we danced. I was so fascinated by him and his beauty. I just thought he was beautiful."

"We spent the night together and I realized that while I recognized him, he didn't recognize me. It made me sad, but at the same time I was happy."

"He had changed a lot since then. Anyway, I woke up in the morning and he was gone! I looked for him for a long time, but I couldn't find him. It was two years before we finally met again."

"Yes, thanks to my parents. They found out who Yibo is and where he works. They helped me get a job in his family's company. His parents' company was one of the biggest at the time. Then some problems came up and now they're back on top. But that was hard work on their part."

"That's right darling. And as soon as I saw Zhan, I knew I wouldn't let him go again this time."

"Wow, so you guys have been in love since that time?" Asked Julia.

"Yes." Said both at the same time.