Wang Yibo's POV:

For a moment my heart stills as Xiao Zhan's arms embrace me warmly into his body. This one moment shatters my will to remain strong and for once just cry for what we have endured. Involuntarily my arms clasp behind his back and I take a deep breath to compose my thoughts and emotions.

Reminiscing our past I clear my throat and turn to look at his solemn face "Please don't tell Akio for whatever transpired today. We both know what will happen if that poor boy becomes aware of such painful incident." After a slight hesitation, Xiao Zhan nods slowly and I heave a sigh of relief.

Driving us back to his residence, I shut my eyes for some sleep, when my eyes jolt open from the impact of Zane's torture. Biting my lips and trying to hold back my pain, minding that Xiao Zhan is by my side, I let it subside slowly.

"We're here." his voice is gruff and as I turn to open door he stops me "Wait." Watching him walk around the car and open my door, taking a step closer to me, his cool fingers trail on my collar, almost touching my skin and my eyes widen as he covers my new scar. That's when I realised that he didn't want Akio to see my wounds.

"Thank you" I whisper and brush past his body. We enter his house to find Sizhui and Akio watching soccer on TV. Taking a deep breath I call out "Hopefully you've finished your assignments. Your big brother is in no mood to hear any more complaints from your professors."

Turning to give me a grin, his face instantly pales when he looks at me and with one move, he jumps over the couch and clasps my chin "What happened to your lips?"

"Nothing. Got hurt." Fuck.

"You were in the Arcade with Oreo. Where is she? Why are you here with Zhan Zhan? You smell of disinfectant." He sniffs around and I smile brightly, but should have known that a person who is so acquainted with hospital, would easily recognise telltales. With one swift move, he rolls up my shirt only to curse out loud "FUCK!!!"

By now Sizhui and Wangji join us in the main room as Akio staggers back holding his heart. His face blanches with pain and my soul lurches "Akio!"

"No! Fuck! Did they do that?" His voice is filled with anguish. My silence is the answer to his question and the next moment, he sprints towards his room and slams the door.

"Sizhui."

"Yes?" His voice is soft and I muster up a small smile "Could you kindly keep an eye on Akio?" Without any further question he bows and follows my brother.

Unable to meet Xiao Zhan nor Wangji's eyes, leaving them I traverse through the beautiful orchard. Finding a soft spot below one tree, I lean back to close my eyes. A gentle scuffle lets me know of his presence and I shift to make space for him. Without another word, Wangji assumes a lotus position to sit whilst I drown in my own thoughts and unable to bottle all the feelings inside me, I narrate my life's story.

"My own brother tried to kill me today," I chuckle without any mirth "and this isn't the first time I have been at the receiving end."

My soul knew he's listening to me patiently  "My family wasn't always like this. They were sweet, caring and adorable. Akio is the youngest. Between me and Akio there's about 5 years of age difference. Zane is the eldest. He's 4 years elder to me. Akio was the sweetheart of our family. Everyone loved him. My cousin Hans thought of Akio as his own lil' brother. Mom and Dad always said that Akio was a child born out of romance."

I smile bitterly at that thought of how void were their words.

"I left home at the age of 14 to pursue my dreams on tracks. Got a menial job with a race track owner who saw my potential and hired me immediately. At that time Akio was young and we weren't even that close. Life was beautiful until the he turned 13."

All the memories came crashing down on me and I bit back a sob.

"My brother fell in love. He fell in love with a boy. A boy who ruined my baby brother's life forever. Apparently he and my Akio had sex behind the bleachers. They were caught by a security guard and that boy blamed my Akio. He said that Akio had forced him and went on to tarnish my brother's name. My parents were shocked that their son was gay and moreso was caught having sex. Luckily for Akio, everything was recorded by the CCTV camera and it was proved that both minors had consensual sex, if not for that one piece of evidence, today my brother would have been termed juvenile.

"Wangji, if things would have settled there it wouldn't have been an issue. What happened next was even more horrifying. The leaked video went around and my brother was tortured for it. The day he was released by the cops and he came home, my family almost killed him. They whacked his head against the wall as if he was a piece of rag cloth.

"It was at that particular time when my distant cousin who was residing with my parents gave me a call and asked me to save Akio. At nick of the time I saved my brother from being murdered. He was kicked out of the house when I caught him in these very arms. They were filled with rage and that shook me to the core, because I had never seen this side of my family. That very moment they asked me to choose. Them or my brother. How could I not choose the kid in my arms? His breathing was extremely faint and when I chose him, my own family discarded me. It didn't matter. I had to save Akio first.

"When I took him to the hospital, Doctors informed that Akio is suffering from Congenital Heart Defect. He didn't show any signs before because he had a healthy lifestyle, but now the events had triggered his symptoms. During past few days, he had even suffered a mild heart attack, but no one knew about it. Even the kid himself was unaware. All the pain and trauma made my brother fight with for his own life. Do you know what the saddest part is Wangji?" I turn to look at him and his eyes reflected a the pain my core felt.

"They weren't appeased that my brother is already having heart problems. They had to go and kidnap him too. They falsely discharged him from the hospital under pretext of helping him. Unfortunately I wasn't present at that time. They took him home and" taking a deep breath I continue "they electrocuted him. My 13 year old brother was being tortured. Luckily our neighbours heard his scream and cops were called. I rushed home to see my brother's condition had already deteriorated. When I brought him back to the hospital, do you know what they said? They gave me an earth shattering news that my Akio's heart is so weak that it's a miracle to be alive. Yes Wangji, everyday that my brother lives is a boon for me. Every night I sleep with a prayer that he wakes up the next day and every morning I thank the universe for my eyes can witness his pure soul.

"Now that Akio had police protection, I immediately took his custody and became his guardian. When they could no longer torture Akio, they came after me. It doesn't bother me anymore. Till they leave him alone, I care a fuck if they come after me. It was during these tough times that Mr. Xiao Zhan met Akio, took him under his wings and protected him in ways I couldn't. Seiji became our guardian and with both of them, my family could never harm my brother.

"Akio, came to live with Mr. Xiao Zhan when I had to work. My soul was already indebted to him and couldn't ask him to bear all of Akio's medical and other such expenditure. I left my education to earn money. Slowly purchased Red, my club as an investment and now they want my money."

Taking a deep breath I rub my face and close my eyes.

"Don't you wish to frame charges against them?" Wangji enquires and I smile sadly.

"For Akio's sake, I cannot. If I press charges against them" turning to look at Wangji I finally blurt out "they have one more video of his and I don't wish that to be released. Wangji, Mr. Xiao Zhan is not only Akio's protector but also an Angel. He is fighting a battle everyday to come up with a medicine to make his heart a bit more stronger. Every second my brother's heart is becoming weaker. The doctor said even a transplant wouldn't be much successful. Thus, I don't wish for Akio to ever see that video. How can I let my brother see his own cousin use him..." I couldn't complete that statement and Wangji's pale eyes blaze with rage.

"My family is messed up. All they need is money from me. They don't care about that kind soul. For me, only he exsits. Akio has always been more closer to Zane, so when it was him to bet Akio first, that kid's life shattered in front of his own eyes. When we started living together and he wasn't in the hospital, my brother slept around with a lot of people. It took years of therapy to make him smile. I just wish for that smile to glow forever."

"How long does have?" Wangji's warm voice causes me to suck in a deep breath as I answer truthfully "Not long."

The silence between us prolongs and when I fell asleep is unknown to me. It was when a warm body lifts me up and his unique scent warms me from within does my soul realise this must be what paradise feels like.

Xiao Zhan's POV:

Crouching in front of his sleeping form, I gently pick up Yibo into my arms and as he snuggles comfortably, my eyes turn to meet Wangji's whose gaze is fixated on Yibo. The air around is dense and without any further conversation, I amble my way towards his bedroom. It surprises me when Wangji follows us. Helping me in pushing back the comforter I tuck Yibo in.

"He's in lot of pain." I look at Wangji whose eyes had not moved away from Yibo's.
"Often one does not realise the power of words. They can heal." His eyes trail to mine and I am taken aback when he says "Talk to him. Don't make the same mistake I once made." With that he leaves us and I turn to looks at Yibo.

I can't let you suffer more. Not now. Not ever.

With that determination I dial Officer Yu's number.

~ WangXian Timeline ~
~ A Month Earlier ~

"Lan Zhan?" Wei bites my ear and I narrow my eyes at him. Here I am busy grading papers whilst he as usual is being naughty.

"Hm?"

"If I ever forget do remind me that your heart only belongs to The Yiling Patriarch." He grins and his words trigger my emotions.

"What are you planning?" My question hits the mark and even though he smiles, I knew my Wei. He's upto something.

"Fine. I'll remind you." I go back to grading my papers when he enquires "How?"

Without missing a beat I peer into his soul and confess "I'll mark my body for you. Again." His gasp is audible and I turn back to grade the papers. Even though he didn't say a word, I knew my words pierced his soul.

Wei, this heart will always belong to you. Only you.

❤️ Happy Birthday Xiao Zhan ❤️