Xiao Zhan's POV:

"Something's up with you?" Alden observes. I choose to ignore the question and act as if I am engrossed into my notes.

He sighs. He knows my nature, if I don't want to talk about something, he can't make me.

"Where's Yibo, wasn't he supposed to join us for lunch?" At that, I freeze and he notices. So this smart ass does know how to make me react. Darn.

When I don't look up, he continues. He knows I am listening to him. "To be honest, he's very different from what I heard from my family". Ah my ears perk at that.

"They have met Yibo's elder brother at various occasions. They said he is humble and very polite. Yibo..." Alden stops and now that it has perked my curiosity, I peek at him and find him grinning.

My pride. Darn. I smile sweetly at him encouraging him to continue.

He laughs at that " Yibo, is quite different from what my brother has informed me. He's very private. He does not attend much of the social functions, thus has seldom photos. He's always away from the media and the people in their circle. Yibo does not like to be touched, so I knew he won't shake hands with me". I stare at Alden.

Doesn't liked to be touched? Then what the heck were we doing today? Don't go there Xiao Zhan!!!

"No one knows much about his, other than the fact that one day he decided to leave everything and go to Seoul and just like that he's back" Alden continues "As far as anyone knows anything about him, brother told me, the only one he's close to, is his older brother, other than him, he has no one" Alden ponders a little bit and concludes "I don't think I have ever heard of him even dating anyone. He's a true mystery".

"Zhan Zhan, it's marvellous that, you're now a part of his world. No one knows anything about Yibo and that's why today's meeting with him was strange"

"Strange?" I finally question.

"He, looked comfortable with you" Alden did observe us closely. Not wanting to think more on that I asked further "Is that why, you didn't shake his hand?". He nods "He doesn't like to be touched".

Hmmm

"Alright I need to leave, I have my classes. Give my regards to Yibo and hope to catch up with you two soon" with that Alden bids his farewell and I am left to my thoughts.

---
I reach Cloud Recess, without Yibo. I wasn't sure if I had to wait for him. And anyways meeting him so soon would have been awkward to the core.

This place is so huge, it still makes me uncomfortable. I always believed in modest living, this is way to extravagant for a person who practically owns nothing.

Wandering around, I am lost in thought and time, and realise it's dinner time, when the old uncle from before calls for my attention.

Walking into the dining area, I see brother Xi Chen and bow respectfully.

"Zhan, I hope you're comfortable here?"

"Yes, thank you very much"

"Alright then" he gives me a kind smile.

I am just about to take a sip of my water, when the plight of all my existence arrives. As usual he respectfully bows down to both of us and takes his seat.

We all begin to eat.

Is it only me or is it really hot in here. Awkward.

There's a moment in front of me, which catches my eye and I nearly spit out all the food. I start wheezing.

Darn Yibo. While eating he is caressing his chin. That isn't so bad. What's bad is, he is deliberately showing me the bite mark from before and that mark he's caressing with his lip!!!

"Here please drink this" brother Xi Chen says with concern.

"Xièxiè"*

He nods and pats my back.

The rest of the dinner is peaceful. It's peaceful till I don't look up and that's something I don't do.

---

Unable to sleep I toss and turn. Darn. I think I need to...

Without a second thought, I go and knock on his door.

He opens and *gulp* sin. Am I drooling?

He's freaking shirtless.

I push him and enter his room. Woah. It's simple yet elegant. Just like mine, the plan opens to the hot spring. The walls, curtains are covered in white. There are some anceint paintings. There's a study table facing the hot spring.

What adds to the beauty is the hues of pink of the setting sun, shines throughout the room enclosing it in a soft romantic setting. I can feel him behind me.

I am mesmerized by the sheer beauty of the nature in front of me. It's serene.

I turn to him and see that he's no longer naked and has dawned a shirt. Hmmm.

I look around and find a mammoth of a bed, which looks like it could have accomodated 5-6 people on it.

Finally I look into his eyes and before he could say something, would he ever say anything? I take him by his hand, and gently push him onto the chair.

Crouching in front of him, from my jacket, I take out the medicine pouch and go about applying the cream on his finger. I cringe at the fact, that the gash is pretty nasty. As for him, he's quite as usual. Unable to look at him, I quietly apologies "Sorry, Yibo. At times my childish pranks can cause people harm" I tape his finger and wait for him to accept it.

He slowly lifts my chin to face him and there is see some unknown emotions in his eyes.

"I don't need your apology, Zhan" he says softly "I just need you to be you" he stops and then continues "even if you hurt me, just be you".

I stare at him. What does that mean?

"Yibo"

"Hm"

"I'm still your teacher" I pout "You can't flirt with me"

At that he smiles and I am awestruck. Somewhere, my soul relishes the fact that Yibo is smiling and I want to capture this moment for eternity. My fingers involuntarily, caresses his smiling lips and he closes his eyes and whisperes "haengsyo"*

He looks at me and trust me. Times stops.

I slowly move a little away from him and stand. Placing my pouch back in my jacket, I walk towards the exit and just before I leave, I turn back to see Yibo still sitting and looking at me. I smile and cheerfully say "Tomorrow you would start with your lessons. Time and place, I'll let you know soon"

He nods and I leave.

---

Wang Yibo's POV:

In a daze my back hits the bed and I clutch my heart. Irony is that I no longer can recognise if the cause if due to pain or... Hope.

Wei, is there an actual hope?

I close my eyes and the next moment when I open them, early dawn is cocooning me through its dews.

How long has it been since I have had a peaceful sleep? Today I did. Finally my soul can be happy.

Hope.

---
"Xièxiè"* : Thank You in Chinese

"haengsyo"* : Let's be happy
---

Wow so this chapter has been quite a rollercoaster, hasn't it?