Heyo! Update time!😎

I hope you guys are all right wherever you are. Stay indoors as much possible, stay safe. I'm kinda losing it.Going without any non virtual human interaction for a long stretch of time is tougher than I predicted. Take care, peeps.❤️🙃

Someone commented for a previous chapter why wasn't Zhan telling YiBo everything and whether it was to prolong the story. It's exactly as you suspected, my dear.👀 I'm deliberately dragging this story out to get as much attention as possible.🙈 You see, I don't get it enough.🌚 So, why not grab an opportunity when it presents itself?!😏 But how did you guess? You clever you!😱

To all those who left very lovely comments in the last chapter and voted on it, thank you so much, guys, for constantly encouraging me.😭❤️ I can't tell how much it means to me, especially in this tough times.😭 Some of you have reached to me through IG and Wattpad inbox to enquire after my well being. You guys are....just know that I love you.😭❤️❤️❤️

As for this chapter, it's a light one. And also, a long drawn character is finally making an entry! Yep, it's Talu.😎 I have included a pic of this by the end of the chapter for those who don't know him.

Okay, that's all. Now, off you go to the chapter!

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Chapter-10

Leash that brat of yours and open your fortress gate. Coming in 5.

The text put a smile on his face immediately. He needed it. The entire morning he had been feeling jittery and restless. This feeling always made Zhan fearful. His anxiety disorder still was on the recovering stage and he had too much responsibility to go into such a state now.

And meeting his best friend was the perfect distraction he needed at the moment. Knowing that Talu's five minutes meant at least twenty, he wrapped his work in the studio for the day and went upstairs.

YiBo and his fiancée were on the news today. They had attended a reality show together and the media was abuzz with posts of them. It didn't upset him. He was used to it by now. After all YiBo had been dating the woman for several months. But today, for some reason, the sight of them together made him feel inexplicably lonely.

He had never dated after his break up. Dating was the furthest thing from his mind for the first two years. Raising Xing, establishing Yiling and going through therapy were all his life. After that even though Talu and Xuan tried to talk him into it, he never contemplated starting another relationship, not even a casual one.

The sense of isolation, loneliness was a constant now. The space beside him on the bed was always colder. And watching YiBo today only intensified that feeling. He wasn't naive enough to daydream about a family reunion just because YiBo had entered Xing's life. It was he who left, not the other way round and he must not forget that. But that didn't stop him from craving the companionship. Someone to hold on to when he was scared of life; someone to talk to, to seek advice from, someone to warm him up when one of those panic attacks left him cold and clammy. Someone to make him forget the pain, the mistakes of his life, even if momentarily.

Zhan did not despise YiBo for moving on. On the contrary he was glad that the man had found his anchor, more so after listening to YiBo's drunken confession.

Sometimes, he just wished he could move on too.

Talu's presence was exactly what he needed today. Feeling better already, he went to check on Xing, who was currently in the garden, sitting on his nanny's lap, staring attentively at a pictorial story book; clapping and nodding as the nanny depicted the story to him.

The bell rang and he went to open it.

"Still pasty as ever, I see. Get out of that basement of yours sometimes, will ya?"

"Still an asshole as ever. Nothing's changed."

They greeted each other heartily with a hug and insults.

"Where's that brat of yours?" Talu enquired as he moved into the room looking around.

He was a big part of Xing's life. Not only Talu was his Godfather but also the only family Xing had known since birth, except for his Papa. His Unca Xun came after he was a few months older.

And Talu loved him just as much.

"LULUUUUUUUUUUU!"

A cannon ball in the shape of a two year old shot through the door and crashed right into 'Lulu'.

"Aiyo! This brat never learns!" Talu picked the squealing toddler and held him up, spinning and laughing. "It's Uncle Talu for ya!"

"LULU LULU LULUUUUU!"

"Illiterate brat. Didn't your Papa teach you any manners?"

Xing looked at him with round, owlish eyes and patted his cheek, "XingXing good."

"Is that right? Really?" Talu dipped him, then, held him up high, inducing another peal of laughter from the kid. "Really?"

Zhan shook his head, chuckling at the scene and went to put the kettle on.

He came back to find Talu sitting on the couch with Xing on his lap. Xing chattering gibberish enthusiastically and Talu nodding dutifully at intervals.

Seeing him approaching, Talu asked, "Why is your silly son calling a plush dog his dad? Not that he is wrong." Then he ruffled Xing's mop hair, "No no, you're absolutely right about it! My clever brat!"

"Stop calling him names. Books say he will grow a complex," Zhan evaded.

Talu gave him a level look, "Dude, that's western concept. We Asians grow up on brooms, hangers, slippers, combs, insults and disowning threats. We develop complex if our parents don't do all this. We don't feel loved without these."

"Don't forget the 'either straight As or boarding school' one," Zhan added while sitting down; too happy to divert Talu.

But of course, his off spring had a different idea.

Xing, dissatisfied with not being able to contribute to the conversation, frowned and babbled up very seriously, waving his toy, "Papa! Dagon, Daddy!"

This should be mentioned that Xing had a galore of doggo plush toys and all of them were named Dragon.

Talu's eyebrows rose up questioningly at Zhan. "Is there something you're not telling me?"

Zhan very slowly took a sip of his tea and put the cup down, "Well...."

..............

"All of this happened and you're telling me now?!" Talu balked at him.

Zhan couldn't meet his eyes, "I couldn't possibly talk such things over phone, could I?"

"No wonder my little cousin is pissed at you."

Zhan grimaced. Xuan was really mad at him for hiring a legal aid without waiting for him to return.

"But what's surprising me most is who bit your ass for you to decide to go to the wedding?"

Zhan didn't answer and just ran his finger up and down the mug he still held; warmth long gone from the ceramic.

"You thought he was the one that sent the invitation, didn't you?" Talu went on not really looking for a reply.

Shame burned through Zhan. There was nothing Talu didn't know about their relationship dynamic but Zhan couldn't stop the feeling of humiliation that engulfed him. He really was an idiot.

"See, even you think of him as a bastard that would invite his exes to-"

"Battah!" A tiny, shrill voice of a baby piped up from somewhere out of their sight.

"XingXing!" Zhan yelled out in horror, then, scowled at Talu, who looked back at him guiltily and mouthed a 'sorry'.

"Oi, stop eavesdropping, you little sneak!" Talu hollered at the direction from where Xing's voice had come and they both heard a childish giggle.

The nanny came out holding a still giggling Xing to her and apologized to them, saying that they were just going to the garden and Xing heard them on the way.

After they left, Zhan glared at Talu, "Do you realize what you have done?"

"Well, he has to learn them at some point," never one to back down first, Talu retorted.

"He's two!"

"Will be twenty two in no time."

Zhan flopped back with exasperation. Talu was a lost case anyway.

"Anyway, back to the topic-"

Zhan groaned; he had neither the energy nor the will to discuss his disastrous decision making skill with his best friend again. But Talu was relentless.

"Look, I'm not saying that ba- that guy didn't deserve it but turning up with a kid on his wedding day is kinda...."

"I know," he agreed.

"The moron deserved it anyway, so, don't feel-"

"No, he didn't," Zhan protested because really, YiBo didn't deserve his marriage to be ruined like that.

"Really? And what about what he did back then?"

"In case you forgot I was the one who left."

"I case you forgot that guy drove you away."

They locked in a heated glare then both chuckled mirthlessly. They knew each other all too well.

"I guess we both drove each other away. We started too early, rushed things too much and tapered away in the end. My depression and his suspicion...things were bound to fall apart."

"If only he didn't suspect you of having an affair behind his back."

"If only I communicated with him more."

"Stop blaming yourself!" and before he could open his mouth to reply, Talu stopped him with a hand and went on, "Hiding Xing's existence from him, that's really the crappiest decision you've ever taken and I remember spending hours to convince you otherwise. But I can understand why you did it. If you told him that you were pregnant back then, for sure he would have accused you for fucking me and then come to murder me for putting you up the duff. And you were in no position to take that."

"Still-"

"Still what? Still you could have tried anyway? Did you forget all those months of therapy? How the doctors were worried that in your mental state you couldn't take care of your baby? Zhan, I'm not dumping everything on YiBo's head. Yes, he was young and yes you were irrational but let's just admit that the guy had anger issues and handled things as badly."

Zhan rubbed his face with both hands and hid behind them. He felt so lost; so burdened with guilt.

"So, what now?" Talu asked after they sat in silence for a while.

"We haven't discussed in details but going by his reaction, he's going to be in Xing's life from now on."

"Didn't discuss it? Then what did you two do all night long that day?"

"He was drunk and passed out."

"Soooo, he barged in drunk, sobbed, confessed then passed out cold and you stayed up at his bedside staring at him like a creep? I'm not even surprised!"

"It's not like that," Zhan replied tiredly.

"Irrelevant. What I meant was, if YiBo suddenly start going around touting an unknown baby, people gonna talk, fans gonna stalk and Xing's identity will come out sooner or later. What then?"

Honestly, Zhan hadn't thought that far. Now that his friend mentioned it, he realized that this should be the first thing YiBo and he sort out. "I guess we have to talk as soon as possible."

Talu nodded, "You should. And you should think about coming out of your self imposed exile as well." When Zhan looked at him questioningly, he added, "Whether YiBo accepts Xing publicly or not, it's time for you to move on, Zhan. He's gonna be married soon and Xing will have both of his parents now. It's time that you start thinking of yourself as well."

"You make me sound like some pitiful hermit," Zhan tried to laugh but it's didn't came out as well.

"I wish you could see yourself. You're not far from being one."

"Talu..."

"Don't Talu me. This is unhealthy the way you live. Go out, meet people. Go on dates. I know you don't do casuals but you won't find someone unless you meet others."

"I can't. Xing is-"

"Do you think when he grows up Xing will feel happy knowing that his Papa wasted his life away on the excuse of raising him?"

"I'm not wasting my life away!"

"You're not enjoying it either. You spent your days in a basement studio, dude! That's not living."

"Talu, I know you only have best intentions for me," He rubbed the place between his brows where it had started throbbing, "but I'm not ready for a relationship. And Xing is too young."

"Who said anything about relationships?! Are you planning on jumping into a relationship the moment you go on a date? Again? Dude! And it's because Xing is too young it would be good for you. He will be accustomed with his parents being with other people. Grown up kids don't take their parents dating other people well."

He really wanted to stop talking about it but knew what Talu was saying was all for his sake.

"What do you want me to do?" He asked.

"I want you to be happy again, not just pretend to be happy," Talu looked at him with so much worry that it made Zhan feel guilty all over again.

"What should I do, Talu?"

"I have a friend who's coming to China next week. He's Korean, well established, single and a true gentleman. Give him a chance?"

Just the mere thought of meeting someone unknown outside the safety of his home made Zhan's inside squirm, his anxiety spiking up. But if he agreed Talu would at least stop nattering.

"Okay..yeah."

"Really? You agreed just like that?"

"Don't look the gift horse in the mouth," Zhan groused.

That's like a good boy!" Talu patted his hand with that cheeky smile that made his fans swoon.

Zhan smiled back and thought of how YiBo looked happy with Vanessa. Maybe it was indeed time for him to move on.

"Now go and make me another cup," Talu demanded and got up, going towards the garden.

"Stop ordering me around," He shot back and went to put the kettle on.

As the water came to a boil he could hear Xing and Talu chatting.

"It's Uncle Talu."

"Noh, Lulu."

"Talu."

"Lulu!"

"You mannerless brat!"

"Battah!"

Zhan should be worried as a parent, should be horrified hearing his baby applying a slang so aptly. But a laugh bubbled up his throat instead. Bad parenting.

"Can you, please, not make your Papa kill me?"

".....Noh."

XOXOXOX

YiBo felt like falling asleep on his doormat as he unlocked the door. Hectic couldn't even begin to describe his day. Smiling and socializing with people whom you'd rather thrash and kick, putting up the act of a happy couple while in reality they were discussing about their contracts, pretending to be interested in those meaningless, superficial events...this was talking a toll on his already tired body and mind. God knew why he chose this line of a career. Lying and pretending was all he did all day now.

Leaving behind a trail of clothes he entered his bedroom, dying for a hot, relaxing soak, and his eyes landed on that husky toy.

Like magic his heart felt lighter. He went over nudged the toy, "Hello, Dragon. Have you been a good boy today?" Dragon stayed put on bed, like the good boy he was. YiBo pinched his nose, "Do you miss someone? I do too."

Suddenly eager for a milky voice to call him Daddy again, his relaxed bath turned into a quick shower. After rinsing the fakeness out of his body, YiBo jumped into the bed and opened his contact list.

Xiao Zhan.

They had exchange numbers that day. YiBo's ears still burned whenever he thought back to that night. He was never drinking again. What a fool did he make of himself! But at least the outcome was the most satisfactory one. He got to meet Xing. He dialled the number and after a few ring a tentative voice greeted him.

"It's me, YiBo."

"Yes..I- I have saved your number."

"Oh. Um..how are you....two? How are you two?" He must not forget that he was only calling for his son and not for Zhan.

"Good. We're doing good. And you?"

"I'm also doing okay, thank you.

"That's great."

"Yeah."

There was an awkward silence while they both cleared their throats one after the other.

"So, uh, I've arranged for some toys to be delivered at your place. It will probably arrive in a couple of days. Xiu Ying will confirm with you. Is that okay?"

"Oh, but there's no-....yeah, of course, it's okay. I'm usually home. So, it won't be a problem."

Zhan clearly checked himself from saying there was no need and YiBo was glad for that. He really didn't want to argue with him why Xing's Daddy couldn't send him gifts.

"Is Xing nearby? I was hoping to talk to him."

"He...uh...he isn't at home right now."

YiBo frowned. Not home? It's almost eight and as far he knew Xing didn't attend any play group or anything.

"Where's he?"

"............He has gone out with his uncle."

His uncle?! But he didn't- what the hell!

"What uncle?" He knew that the scowl was evident in his voice.

There was a pause on the other end.

"With Talu."

YiBo's brain went offline momentarily to process that information. His son went out with Talu. Wang Talu. The guy that was behind the ruin of their relationship. He couldn't talk to his own son because Talu had taken him out.

Because Talu had taken everyone out of his life. Anger flared up so quick that he felt like bursting into shouts. But that wouldn't do. The dynamics of their relationship had changed drastically. And he wasn't the impulsive hothead anymore.

"It's nearing eight. Isn't it a bit late for a baby to go out?" He asked as much neutrally as he could manage.

"He was whining for ice cream and he knows Talu will cater to his whims, so..."

It stabbed at YiBo that his son was growing up asking other people, some Wang-damned-Talu, to fulfil his wishes. While his father, his own Dad, would literally turn the world upside down if Xing wished for it.

"And you couldn't go with him?"

"......What are you trying to imply exactly?"

There was a hint of steel in Zhan's voice and YiBo didn't hold back either.

"I'm implying that I don't like Xing to go out with just anyone."

"Talu isn't just anyone! He is Xing's uncle, his family!"

YiBo wanted to slam the phone to the wall with all the force.

"His family, huh? Of course. What's the need for a Dad when he has Talu for an uncle that cater to his whims."

"YiBo!"

"Don't you even dare to raise your voice at me! You gave Talu opportunities that should be rightfully mine. My son demands things from him while he hides away seeing me."

"I've told you-"

"You've told me shit! You didn't tell me anything and honestly, I don't give a fuck. From now on I will have as much say in Xing's life as you do and I forbid you to ever let Xing go out with Talu again."

"Are you kidding me? Are you serious? You actually think that just because you can't put aside your baseless jealousies, I will detach my son from the only family he knows beside me?"

"And whose fault is that?" YiBo roared. "Whose fault it is that Xing think some outsider as his family? That he doesn't know he has another parent beside you? Who taught him that?"

"............YiBo, you clearly don't have the mental faculty to understand the reason behind the things that had happened in the past and I don't expect you to either. But I want you to be in Xing's life and after the other day, I think Xing wants that too. So, please, I beg you, don't try to change his life just because you don't like it. I want to give him a stable childhood. Now that he knows you, I don't want him grow up watching his parents at war with each other over the smallest things. Talu will be there for Xing whether you like it or not. He is not taking anything away from you. Because you are Xing's father. His Daddy. Your place will always be special to Xing's life."

YiBo's heart was constricting. He wanted Xing. He wanted to be special to his son. He wanted to have a family.

When he didn't say anything, Zhan spoke again.

"YiBo, some things in life are not comparable. Your place is not replaceable.....it never was. Let's not repeat the same mistakes again. Let's give our son the best life he deserves."

He drew in a shaky breath at "our son". And it was true. Xing was their son. A whole of two halves. He didn't think he would ever accept anything related to Wang Talu but he would be damned if he let that devil take away any more person from his life. And so, for the sake of Xing, he would tolerate his presence.

"Once he gets back-" He started haltingly.

"Once Xing gets back I'll make sure that he calls you right away, all right?"

"Yeah."

".............Anything else you wanted to talk about?"

"No. Take care, bye."

Before Zhan's response came, he hung up.

Zhan had Xing, had Talu. But what did he have? Suddenly the loneliness bore on him with all its imposing weight. He clutched the soft toy to his chest and buried his nose in the soft, fake fur, trying to soothe his turbulent heart by seeking the warmth Xing had poured into it.

He wanted his family. If that came with the price of tolerance then be it. He was sick and tired of this emptiness that was his life now.

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Any thoughts?🙄

And here's YiBo's greatest enemy-