"I haven't seen you in a while, huh? A week? I bet you truly enjoyed your time with your beloved.", Reba mockingly teases Zhan, as she enters the latter's office and takes a seat in front of Zhan's table.

Zhan pauses in his review of all the paperwork and turns his gaze at Reba. He got the impression that the woman was taunting him after the grand opening and when he claimed he'd take a week off. And, recalling that unforgettable entire week with the man he likes, he subconsciously smiles broadly like an idiot.

"Oh my gosh! Don't you dare give me that smile of yours. It's creeping me out.", Reba exclaims, as she gets goosebumps all over her body as she sees Zhan beaming from ear to ear.

"Extremely good, as you can see.", Zhan said, still smiling. He'll never forget his blissful week with Yibo. He's only disappointed that a week has passed so quickly and that they must return to Beijing to complete the pile of work that has been waiting for them. If he was asked, he would like to stay longer at the resort and do a lot of activities with the younger.

"Hah... Yeah, I could see that, and I didn't expect your little boyfriend to be that fierce and bold.", Reba adds, raising an eyebrow and leaning against Zhan's table.

"That's why I told you not to tease him.", Zhan shook his head and continued reading the files.

"But he's adorable, so it's no surprise that the cold Zhan will go melt for him.", Reba replied grinning, tapping the table with her fingers.

"Reba, that's nonsense. I'm not that cold.", Zhan pauses on what he's doing and looks at her, frowning.

"Oh sure, whatever you say... But your boyfriend is really insane. Who would expect him to bid 10 million yuan to you? That's truly absurd... if I were him, I wouldn't even spare you any cent of my money.", Reba teases him, but deep inside she cares for Zhan like a real brother.

"That's so mean... How could you say that to your best friend, and yet you offered 5 million for me that night.", Zhan retorted.

"Yes, I do, but I just did it to put your boyfriend to a test, and he didn't disappoint me.", Reba answered with a sinister smirk.

"But you shouldn't have gone so far. My little lion has lost millions as a result because of you.", Zhan remarked.

"You know that it wouldn't be fun if I didn't do that.", Reba said, teasing the latter.

"You're truly an evil.", mutters Zhan, but he's glad to her, since now he knows he has a place in the younger's heart, that Yibo also wanted him and doesn't want others to have him that night. However, he's not certain if the younger has the same feelings for him as he does, but he's hopeful that after the week they spend together, Yibo would develop love affections for him as well.

Zhan was deep in thought when Reba blurted out and drew his attention,

"But hey! What if he didn't bid on you? Pfft... I can already imagine your miserable face.", Reba says while laughing.

Zhan wanted to protest but didn't get a chance to and was interrupted when his phone rang. He looks at his phone, and a smile forms on his lips as he reads the caller's name. He immediately picked it up.

"Hey, hon~", Zhan answers to the person on the other end of the line, with grin on his face. It's unusual for the younger to make the initial move. Whether it's a message or an action, he's the first to make a move, and he's overjoyed when Yibo calls him first.

On the other end of the other line, he heard a sigh, followed by a sweet yet hesitant voice.

"H-hi!", says Yibo, making Zhan smile even more wider.

"How are you, my baby Bo?", Zhan inquires affectionately to the younger.

"Tsk! Stop calling me that. I'm not your baby... And yes, I'm perfectly all right.", Yibo said, which Zhan heard.

"Being sassy now, eh? How come I recall you really enjoyed it when I'm calling you baby when I'm spoiling you in bed.", Zhan stated shamelessly, knowing that Yibo would become as red as a tomato if he teased him.

Yibo warned him in the other line, "XIAO ZHAN!!"

Zhan quietly giggles under his breath, since he doesn't want Yibo to hear him, and he's certain that the younger would become even more enraged at him.

"I'm just kidding... So why did you call?", he asks, forcing himself to stop laughing so as not to annoy the younger more.

There is a long period of silence. Zhan instantly checks his phone to see whether the call has been disconnected, but it appears that it is still ongoing. When he planned to speak again if the younger was still present, he was interrupted by Yibo.

"Are y-you free tonight?", wonders aloud the younger, that brings delight to the older.

"Of course! My schedule is always free for you... So, where to?", Zhan's face is plastered with a smile, as if his lips might be about to rip.

"At the same time and location.", Yibo responds.

"Certainly, I'll be there. Is there anything else?", Zhan said quietly. He doesn't want to appear that he's been looking forward to their meeting later. They've gone on several dinner dates since they became so close, yet he can't help himself but to feel overjoyed with it.

"... just— Aisshh...See you later.", Yibo hurriedly says and the call disconnected.

Zhan can't help to smile widely to his cute baby lion, completely forgetting that he have a guest and got surprised when he notice Reba, that staring at him with her 'I can't believe what I see and heard' face.

"What!?", Zhan ask

"Nothing!", Reba shakes her head and thought all of the changes in Zhan's behavior upon getting the call that didn't missed the observing eyes of Reba, who cringed at the sight. She's been Zhan's best friend since high school, and this is the first time she witness her best friend so pleased and looking like a fool, grinning over a phone call. The sight almost made her puke on the man's cheesiness, for it's a rare sight to have, as Zhan is a cold and rigorous person.

But she's delighted knowing that her friend is finally happy. Reba just hopes that Zhan's father won't be a hindrance to her friends happiness.

~~~~

Yibo can't sit still and play with his fingers, when he remembers about his previous conversation with Zhan and how the older man teases him, he can't help but feel his cheeks burning and contributes to his pulse racing.

And when Yibo initiate of calling the older man first, made his heart rejoice, though his mind is against it. He doesn't know why he's experiencing it, but every time Zhan will look at him, touch at him or speak with him, he could feel his stomach churning up side down. Then, he got nervous yet excited at the same time.

When Yibo struggled to calm his heart beat, he heard a knock in the private room within the restaurant he was in, and he was certain it was Zhan. The door creaked open, and there was Zhan, dressed in a black well-fitted suit that complemented the older man's excellent build.

Yibo instantly pleased at seeing the man and Zhan return with its loveliest bunny smile, which Yibo enjoys seeing every day, but his countenance became unpleasant when he saw the lady enter following the older.

'What is she doing here?', Yibo thought and eyed Zhan, that apologetically smile at him and mouthed 'Sorry'.

They started eating after ordering Chinese cuisine. All the while, Yibo remained silent and ate his meal, which he thought he couldn't swallow since he had lost his appetite when Zhan brought the woman into their dinner for just the two of them. While the other two blabber on incessantly. He is confused as to why Zhan brought Dilraba to their dinner and seemed to have forgotten about him.

When Zhan excused himself to go the restroom, the atmosphere between Yibo and Dilraba grew uncomfortable. And Yibo considered simply ignoring the woman, but to his dismay, Dilraba began speaking.

"I know you hate me now since I ruined your date with Zhan and made you think I'm your love rival, but don't worry, I'm already engaged to my boyfriend Yang Yang and we're planning our wedding next month," Dilraba said to Yibo, who was clearly taken aback by what she said.

"I t-thought yo—," Yibo began, but was cut short.

"Silly, no! I'm Zhan's best friend... And I apologize for coming here uninvited, but I just wanted to personally give you this," Dilraba explains, handing Yibo the two invitations.

Yibo can't believe it at first, but knowing the truth that he was envious of Zhan's closest friend has turned his cheeks scarlet with shame, and also he's pleased that nothing is going on between Zhan and Dilraba.

Yibo takes the invitations and looks shyly at the woman, he can't believe he's jealous of her, but it turns out she's Zhan's closest friend, and he apologizes audibly, "S-sorry."

"No need to apologize. It's simply a misunderstanding... And ehem. Let me introduce myself again... I'm Dilraba Dilmurat, already engaged and not going to snatch you beloved Zhan to you," Dilraba remarked, winking at the blushing Yibo.

Even if it's awkward since they already know each other, it's great to start over and forget about their misunderstandings in the past. That's why he extended his right hand and smiled pleasantly at her.

"Nice to meet you... My name is Wang Yibo."

They quickly grew close and cheerfully chatted about various subjects, such as what they enjoy and detest, since Zhan spends too much time in the restroom.

However, Reba's surprise question, "Do you love him?" caused Yibo to choke on his food.

When Reba saw the choking guy, she quickly offered Yibo some water and stroked his back. When the younger man has recovered, he signals to Reba that he is OK and returns to her seat.

The fact is that the question did not cross his head. He hasn't considered it. Yes, he enjoys the older man's company, but he also wants his complete attention while they are together. And now that something happened between to them, he can't deny that he wasn't pleased. Yibo just loves it. But he's unsure about his love affections towards Zhan.

To all of his relationships, it's all for a past time for him, he didn't take it seriously, or in other words, he hasn't yet experienced romantic love. But when Reba asks him if he loves Zhan, he is unable to answer. It's not like the previous relationships he had with others, but something more and deeper that he can't put into words. He can only say that he is attracted to and likes the older man, but does he love him? It's another question for which he hasn't yet found an answer.

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What do you think about this chapter?

I don't know why but I'm so happy right now while repeatedly listening to Treasure' Darari song 😌

Well then, keep safe and healthy everyone ❤️❤️