(A/n: Hey, my lovelies! I'm back! After months I'm finally back again. So a quick update on my life. I've been doing better these days... After everything that happened in my life starting June, I wasn't in the best condition. I was stressed out and suffering and insanely busy. I'm still insanely busy to be very honest, I'm working towards my finals and my schedule has been crazy. I sleep 3-4 hours daily at most and I suggest others to not do this hahahaha.... Someway along the grief and tiredness I lost my will to write. I did not have any interest or motivation to write. I thought that writing halfheartedly wasn't fair to all of my lovely readers who wait so diligently for this author to update. So I finally found my motivation today and dove straight into The Psychic Soulmate. I have mentioned it before that TPS is about to end soon so if you guys can bear with my slow updates for a bit more we'll get to it soon... I'll pick up The Raven's Last Cry too as it's going to be following TPS. Please continue to support this Author of yours. I miss you guys a lot. I really do! I miss all the conversations in the comments section. So much love that I constantly receive from you all. Keeps me going. Also I'm thinking of starting a PATREON. What do you guys think? I'll take writing prompts on it. Access to alternative endings and special one shots. We can also discuss different shows or books that you guys want me to get into. I'm still figuring that out. Let me know your thoughts on it.
It's a short update but it's something. Hope you guys enjoy it. It's not been proofread or edited. Sorry for the inconvenience. Happy reading!)

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8:45 Pm

Zhan looks up from his phone to the door in front of him.

He is early. 15 minutes early.

Yibo won't mind that, will he? It's been raining so I decided to arrive early. Will he buy that?

With shuffling footsteps he goes ahead and rings the doorbell.

He is beyond nervous. His heart is racing as the door opens to reveal a handsome gentleman, shirtless, in grey sweatpants and a towel around his neck drying his hair, staring at him with drowsy eyes.

"You're early." Yibo says while moving aside to let the shaking man inside.

"I know. I was impatient and it's raining, I forgot to bring an umbrella so I hurried." Zhan replied as he made his way around the tempting man into the familiar condo. A place that welcomed his presence as if waiting for him.

The first step and Zhan is greeted with memories of love and pleasure, joy and sadness, and everything that he once cherished.

Yibo shut the door behind Zhan and motioned for him to sit down as he disappeared into a different room.

A million thoughts were consuming Zhan from within.

What is he going to ask me? How can I convince him that I did not plot to kill him without revealing anything about the premonitions? Should I risk everything and tell him about my powers? Will he even believe me? Or would he think I'm making up lies just to get back with him? Will my love be enough to bring him back to me?

His thoughts are interrupted as his grandmother's voice echoes inside his head,"Zhan, you must not reveal yourself to Yibo. Under no circumstances whatsoever! If you want to keep protecting him, you must keep it a secret..."

Zhan shakes his head as he comes to a conclusion of not revealing himself.

Yibo, on the other hand, has been staring at Zhan for the past few minutes trying to figure out what Zhan might be thinking. But Zhan's face didn't give him any hints.

He walks up to Zhan and takes a seat facing him.

Zhan looks up to find the man, now completely dressed, sitting in front of him. He manages to give him a genuine smile but receives a cold, expressionless face in return.

Heaving a sigh, Zhan asks, "Will you say something or are you just going to let me look at you for the rest of the night?"

Yibo scoffs, "I can't afford that Zhan ge..."

Zhan is taken aback with the endearment and his lips quiver before he regains his composure.

Yibo continues with a smirk, "I'd rather not have you in this house for more than an hour. So how about we start with you talking first? Didn't you want to explain yourself that day? Do it. Explain."

Zhan's eyes visibly sadden. Yibo doesn't fail to notice it either.

With a sad chuckle Zhan begins...
"Fine. An hour it is. I will start by saying that I did not plan to kill you in any way. As convincing as those pictures and voice recordings are, I beg for your trust. I did not do it."

Zhan stares at Yibo waiting for a response, a head nod, something...

Yibo stares back as if waiting for him continue.

Receiving no reply, Zhan decides to keep speaking.
"I know that every piece of evidence is against me right now but I love you, Yibo. I would never dream to kill you."

Zhan extends his hands to engulf Yibo's.
"Trust me. Please."

Yibo just lets him do so without any reaction.
"Let's say you didn't do it. Let's say the evidence is fabricated. But how do you plan to explain why you were there every time I was in trouble? How did you know what was going to happen? Where it was going to happen? How it was going to happen? I don't suppose you're a superhero who happens to save people in danger all the time?"

Sarcasm seeps from Yibo's words.

Superhero? Hahaha...Oh the irony of that word...

Zhan smiles. Carefully studying Yibo, he mutters, "What if I say I'm your personal superhero? Will you believe me?"

Yibo blinks in boredom. He removes his hands from Zhan's warmth and stands up.

"If you're here to waste my time then just leave. I'm not a free man. I was willing to give you a chance while you're here making jokes."

Zhan holds Yibo's hands and makes him sit down again.

"I wouldn't joke anymore. You brought up superheroes, it wasn't me..." Zhan pauses before continuing with a serious tone, "I cannot explain myself about that. I don't know what to say. This makes everything worse, I know. Why would you believe my empty words. I've got no evidence to prove my innocence either. I only have a few questions for you instead..."

Yibo raises an eyebrow.

Zhan continues,"Why is it that you did not question who took the pictures? Who recorded me? How that person got them? And why they insisted for you to break up with me? As selfish as this may sound, I want to know, WHY? It might seem that I'm playing the victim here but was your trust in me really that fragile? Tell me Yibo..."

Yibo looked at Zhan in disbelief.

"You want me to mistrust my mother? Who do you think you are? How special are you that I distrust my own mother and trust you instead?"

Yibo's voice was laced with anger.

Zhan's eyes began watering slightly. He chucked silently.

Yibo's words echoed in his head.
"Who do you think you are? How special are you...?"

Zhan blinked away his tears before continuing...
"It's of no use. I can't persuade him otherwise. I can't even tell him what I am and why I knew where he was either. Even if I did he's definitely going to think I'm lying. He's getting angrier, if I take this any further this night won't end well..." Zhan thought.

"I think nothing of myself anymore. I never told you to mistrust your mother. I didn't even know it was your mother who started this. It just hurt me how you never considered the other side of the story."

Yibo was fuming but still maintained his calm.

Zhan stood up,"If you couldn't bring yourself to think of anything apart from doubting me then I'm at a loss for explanations. I could explain myself better but I choose not to. I'm selfish like that right? I think it is better this way. What you think or believe about me moving forward, I don't care anymore."

Yibo feels a pang in his heart.

This was not what he wanted. Zhan gave up too soon. He didn't even try.
What was happening?

Zhan was about to walk out the door as he stopped. With his back still towards Yibo, he muttered loud enough for the other person to hear him.
"And know this, even though we will be mere strangers from today, I will still be there whenever you're in trouble. To kill you or save you, you can think of it however you please."

And with this Zhan opened the door and walked out without letting Yibo omit a single word.

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It's been an hour since Zhan left but Yibo hadn't moved from his seat.

He was anticipating everything apart from what played out.

He was ready for Zhan to lie, to cry, make a mess, beg, throw things at him, but not for him to give up.

What did I want him to say? "Yes, I wanted you dead"? A part of me is well aware that he didn't do it. But I would've appreciated an explanation of some sort. Not him blatantly blaming my mother.

"It just hurt me how you never considered the other side of the story." Zhan sounded genuinely broken. It felt as if he had given up long before, this was the last straw and there was nothing Yibo could do to change it.

Yibo picked up his phone, dialing a familiar number he waited for the person to respond...

"Yibo?"

"Eomma, can we have dinner tomorrow?"

"Sure Yibo. Your father has a meeting tomorrow but Haikuan should be able to join us..."

"How about just me and you? It's been a while since we went out to eat together...you choose the place? It'll be my treat."

The lady smiles on the other end...

"Sounds perfect honey. Absolutely perfect. 8 pm tomorrow?"

"Okay. Text me the address and I'll be there. I'll hang up now. Good night."

"Good night son."

Yibo hangs up. Looking at his watch it's quarter to 10. He decides to go to bed. He'll talk to Zhan later.
What would he say? What would I say? It pains him that Zhan acted so vaguely today.

As the sound of rain intensifies, Yibo walks up to the window.

There's going to be a storm tonight.

Looking outside he sees a silhouette of a person sitting on the ground under the pouring rain.

Zhan?

Yibo rushes out the door and down the stairs. Running to Zhan, he pulls the dazed man out of his stupor. He pulls so hard that Zhan's body crashes into Yibos.

"Yibo, what the hell are you doing?"

"Zhan, you tell me? What are you doing? You're going to be sick of fucks sake!"

"That is none of your business. My sickness or death have nothing to do with you." Zhan pulls his hand away from Yibo's grasp.

"Fine! I won't care if you fall sick or die but right now you're on my property so come on in and dry yourself, take a fucking umbrella and leave. I don't want to face an angry Zhou Cheng saying that it's my fault his precious brother got sick again."

Yibo pulls Zhan back inside.
The other person stopped resisting at the mention of Zhou Cheng.

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A middle aged lady swirls a glass of wine in her hand.

It truly has been a long time since we had dinner together. And tomorrow will be your last dinner, Yibo.
Eomma will make sure of it that no one interferes anymore. It's time I took matters in my own hands.

Laughing she sips on her drink...

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Zhan comes out of the shower wearing a towel around his waist. His clothes are all drenched.

Looking around he finds a pair of pajamas folded on the bed.
His pajamas.

You still kept my clothes and yet you say you have nothing to do with me?

Zhan wears the pajamas and walks downstairs.
Yibo has changed his own wet clothes and is now in the kitchen heating up some food.

"Come eat. It's late and foolish for you to drive out in this storm. You'll be inviting death. Stay the night and leave in the morning."

Zhan stares at the person who has his back facing him.
"Mmm" Zhan mutters secretly smiling.
You care. No matter what you say, you care.

Moments pass in silence and only the sounds of boiling soup mixed with the pouring rain can be heard.

Until...
"Achoo"
Zhan sniffs.

Yibo turns around. Sighs as he walks to get a bottle of pills from the kitchen cupboard and hands them to Zhan.

"Take 2 of them after dinner."

"Thank you." Zhan replies.

Silence again.

They eat in complete silence as well. Both of their hearts racing but neither one speaks.

Zhan helps Yibo do the dishes and takes the pills.

"You can take the bed upstairs. I'll sleep on the couch here."

Zhan insists that Yibo sleeps on the bed instead but Yibo doesn't budge.

Giving up Zhan walks up the stairs, probably because of the medication's effects, as soon as his head hits the pillow he's fast asleep.

Yibo, on the other hand, cannot sleep. The person who was the reason of his restlessness was sleeping soundly in the same house that once witnessed their love.

Every time Yibo closes his eyes, Zhan's smiling face crosses in front of his eyes. Yibo loves Zhan. Nothing can change that fact. No amount of overworking himself, no other person, no other aspect of nature can change the emotions he feels for the other person. He tried and failed.

Yibo closes his eyes. A lone tear escapes his eyes but he tries to clear his mind.

Right before he could finally fall asleep he hears a sharp scream from upstairs...

"Yibo! Nooo........."

My dearests,
Everything that I had to say I mentioned in the A/n above. Anyone who skipped it can go back to it to read my quick rant.

Thank you for everyone who's still waiting for my updates and continue to support me. You guys are the real ones. Truly grateful for you guys!

I hope I didn't bore you guys with this chapter.
I still keep going back to read your old comments on the older chapters.
Absolutely love you guys.

Vote and comment!
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I'm so thankful for you guys too!
Happy early Thanksgiving!

Stay Safe! 🥀
Until next time. 🍂
Love your lady.❤️