Wang Yibo's POV:                     

The moment he places his palm on the child's forehead, his body sways. Blood trails down his nose and just as his back was to hit against the ground, I was quick on my feet to catch his fall. One of my arm drapes around his back the other cradles his head at the crook of my arm to support his weight.

"Xiao Zhan!" I yell his name as my heart thunders What is happening?

His eyes flutter open and before I could breath a sigh of relief, he murmurs a name "Lan Zhan" and he falls into deep oblivion.

Lan Zhan?

Shaking my head to clear out all unnecessary thoughts, I gently pick him up in my arms.

"Boss" I look at Sean "I informed Chief as to what transpired here. He is on his way. The forensic team is on their way too" showing me the bagged letter of 'J' he continues " I'll get these processed. I have asked Jun to accompany you to the hospital. He's waiting downstairs by your car. Is there anything else we could do?" his eyes trail over to the unconscious man in my arms and I shake my head "Thanks Sean. Just call Vice and ask him to reach Steak House ASAP. In the meanwhile, I'll call my brother" with a salute from him I leave the premise and hurry to where Zhan can be safe.

"Boss?" Jun greets me and jumps into the driver's seat as I carefully place Zhan at the rear seat with his head resting on my lap.

"Take us to his house" I instruct Jun and in the meanwhile call my brother. My breath is shaky and my heartbeat is accelerated to an unacceptable level. I don't know what's wrong with Zhan but damn, I need answers and I need them today!

It's beyond midnight and knowing my brother, he picks up my call at the first ring "Wangji?".

"It's Zhan. He's unconscious" I relay the entire event to him and contrary to what I expected, he was calm under the situation.

"Wangji, once you reach Zhan's place, take him to his bedroom and stay there with him. I'll be there in 15 minutes" I acquiesce to the instructions laid down and take a deep breath.

"Boss?" Jun calls out "take Zhan home. I'll park your car and meet you up there" with a small strained smile, I yet again gently pick him up and the uncle at the reception presses the button to call the elevator "This child faces much sadness than anyone I have ever known" he bows and leaves.

What did he mean by that?

The elevator arrives and the next few minutes of my life was balanced out on a string. I look down at the sleeping face and probably for the very first time I noticed how beautiful the man in my arms was. Why is that everytime we meet you're either unconscious or covered in blood? Every encounter we have has you either at the brink of your life or close to losing them? Why haven't I ever seen you smile? Do you even smile, Xiao Zhan?

All these years I was under the terrible assumption that I was protecting you but maybe, maybe I really was oblivious to your pain. I hope you could forgive me, Zhan.

The elevator door opens to his penthouse and JC was ready for us at the foyer. He was on his phone when he gestured me to Zhan's room "Yes Dad, Zhan just came home. No don't worry I am here and so is Officer Wang who has been accompanying us" he pauses as I place Zhan gently on the bed and cover him with the blanket "I'll give you regular updates" he cancels the call and walks into the washroom. Bringing a bowl of warm water and towel he dabs them and cleans the caked dried up blood on Zhan's face.

I as a fool was just standing there clutching my hair with no clues on how to be useful. Just then the doorbell to the penthouse rings and I walk through the living room and open the door to see my brother and another young man.

"Wangji, this is Dr. Xiao XingChen. Chen this is my younger brother Yibo also the officer in-charge of this case" brother introduces us "Chen is Zhan's doctor. How about we allow Chen to diagnose Zhan first and then let him explain things in detail? I am sure you would be having lots of questions" he raises his brow.

Obviously.

I follow them meekly whilst brother and JC wait outside, Dr. Xiao XingChen gestures me to enter.

"Officer Yibo" he smiles and for some reason it's his smile that gives me some confidence that maybe this is not too bad.

"Call me Yibo, please" courtesies often make me extremely uncomfortable when not necessary.

"Fair enough" he takes a seat next to Zhan's sleeping form and questions me "would you be kind enough to tell me what exactly transpired during the course of time?" Dr. Xiao XingChen does not take his eyes off Zhan and as he complies with his examination, I explain the entire sequence.

Turning to look at me he enquires "He asked you to trust him?". There was an evidence of shock that was registered in his voice but his eyes were calm and kind. When I nod he turns back to Zhan and murmurs so softly that I bet, I misheard them"So Zhan, you finally decided to trust someone afterall?".

"Sorry?" I probe and he shakes his head.

"Well nothing seems to be wrong here but I guess it's time for us to have a chat" his dimples deepen and I follow him out.

By every second this whole fiasco is not as simple as one could assume. The truth that is going to be revealed was something I wasn't ever expecting.

We reach the dinning hall and I find my brother, JC and now Dr. Xiao XingChen occupying a seat around the humongous dinning table.

Why would a person who lives all alone need this kind of opulence?

"Have a seat Wangji, there are somethings you need to know about Zhan" brother pulls a seat next to his and I sit parallel to JC and Dr. Xiao XingChen.

"For convenience sake call me Chen." the kind doctor smiles "Yibo, I understand that you're aware of Zhan's premonition?" He enquires and I nod as he continues "but there is one thing no one knows except the occupants of this room" and before he could continue I stop him "If it's a secret then maybe we should not be discussing it in here. There are CCTV camera all around" I point out and JC smiles "The moment I was informed that you're bringing Zhan in here in an unconcious state, I disabled them so don't worry".

"Alright then. Please continue Chen".

"Zhan has another secret Yibo and that is one of the reason he does not allow anyone to touch him" Chen continues "if his visions can see future then his touch can see the past".

What?

"What?" I enquire. Did I hear them right?

"Wangji, to understand his present, let me take you to his past. This all started after Zhan was rescued. He was unconcious for a long time and battling with his life. No one belived that he would come out unscathed. Maybe he didn't. That incident changed his life forever. Even though during those months in the hospital he was healing internally and externally, something changed within him. This was detected much later when one day a nurse to administer some medicines touched him and he went into an epileptic shock. He kept having seizures and no one knew what was wrong. All the reports regarding his neuro came back as normal"

My brother's eyes depicted immense sadness "During these times he would spout incoherent sentences that made no sense and people started being weary of Zhan. They termed him mentally unstable and that made Zhan even more of a recluse. It was then Dad who was his primary doctor decided the best answer would be from the patient himself. He spent time with Zhan and figured it out that Zhan was absolutely normal. It was his situation that was different. Dad went beyond science. He was a firm believer that not everything could be explained by science. He found out the cause. He believed that Zhan's touch caused him to see the past of anyone who came in contact with him and his visions gave him the access to see the future".

"Yibo" JC continued "once he was diagnosed and received an explanation to what was the probable cause, Zhan knew his adversary. He had memory lapses that caused him great anxiety. For quite number of years my brother refused to sleep alone at night. He suffered from depression and insomnia. Even today he would never sleep in the dark. There were nights when he'd scream and wake up the entire house and all we could do was see him tucked in a corner and cry. None of us could hold him in our arms. I could not even give him a basic comfort hug. If one would touch him, he would fall unconscious and that could go on for days".

What?

"Yibo, the last instance when Zhan went into shock was few years ago when a servant from JC's house came in contact with him. He was out for a week and then went onto talk about the servant's past for an entire day. Each time that happens, Zhan suffers a huge blow in his mental health. It was then he decided to buy this place and live here as a hermit. No one would come in contact with him and he'd be in his safe space" brother concluded.

My heart. I couldn't breathe.

"Yibo, this has been a boon and bane for my brother. Each time he has visions he is out there to help the victims but my brother has not had any soul touch him from the age of 5. He's alone. He's lonely. He's just a living shell. Today, my brother sacrificed his life to help you and your team. Hopefully he wakes up soon and gives you the answer you're looking for. But, after this please, don't ask too much from him. He has nothing more to give. Don't expect him to bear more scars. Please" JC let's the pain trail from his eyes.

"Few years ago, Zhan came to me seeking my help to regain his memories" Chen continues as brother places a glass of water in front of JC "and together with Huan, we have been helping him out".

The doorbell rings and brother is the one to let the new guest in. I look at the familiar pair of eyes.

Adrian.

Unable to sit around I walk towards the balcony and place my forehead against the cool glass. The first rays of sun was just greeting us and I closed my eyes.

I was drawn back to that night when he was by my side.

5year old Yibo:

"Are you scared?" I ask the kid with a toothy smile and he shakes his head.

"Why not?" I enquire.

"Because you're here with me" was his answer.

"Wang" I hear Dre call my name.

"Hm?"

"We have a problem?" He sighs " we found a match of a print on the paper written to Zhan".

I turn and wait for him to continue.

"It belongs to a person who has been dead for past 23 years and that print belongs to your kidnapper" his eyes were filled with disbelief.

Fuck.