Seems like the storm has been calming down, hence, I have decided to resume updating! Yay!🤓

Thanks to my Wifu, SabyyaButt who has left me for money.😭 Now, I'm a kicked puppy up for adoption.😢

Thanks to the lovelies that vote and leave comments!😍 I love people who give back.😘

Hope you enjoy the read!💕

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Chapter-5

Yiling Fashion House

Yiling? The brand his wedding tuxedo had come from? That Yiling?!

Dots of a vague picture was forming in front of his eyes. Wasn't there a big hush hush about the owner of the brand? Eyes going round in shock, he dashed for his room. Didn't he lump his garments here somewhere last night? Where was it? Where- He opened the closet door and there it was. Hung carefully, without any crumple. YiBo realized that he never actually got to wear it yesterday.

He took it out and held it close, eyes roaming over the expensive fabric. What had appeared to be a tasteful piece of design now felt like a scroll of indecipherable runes. Also, something about this design....the two red lines on the lapels....why did it feel somewhat familiar? It was not like he had shopped for a wedding before or anything.

Only...he did.

Not, not shopped for but talked about...

"Damn, look at it, Zhang Ge!"

"What?"

"Look at this suit! Bloody brilliant!"

"You like it? Seriously? Doesn't the red look tacky?"

"Nope. It looks distinguished. I'm gonna wear something like this when I get married."

"Married? To whom?"

"To you, of course!"

The world tilted on its axis and he had to lean against the closet door. The scene that had transpired between two young boys a very long time ago resurfaced with a sudden vivid clarity. Of course! Of-fucking-course! New brand, mystery founder that never went out in public and had earned the moniker of Yiling Patriarch by the media, mother insisting on getting his wedding suit only from there, even though YiBo had never wore their apparels before.

It all made sense now.

He had been played shamelessly by these two: his own mother and him! Him, HIM, it was always him! The fact that that same person had held onto the silly and momentary wish YiBo once made was something he did not want to think of right this moment. That was a slope he refused to spiral down, not now, not when he had a hell to raise.

Whipping out his phone he tapped on his manager's number.

"Yiling. Get me any and every detail about the company's owner. Also, track down how my order was placed and who designed my suit. ASAP. Stop everything you're doing and get me the details within hours."

There was a raised voice of protest on the other end and YiBo cut the call. Emotions crackled, boiled inside him. Rage, betrayal, helpless anguish and a deep sense of loss.

Was that suit a compensation for turning his life upside down? A mockery to have him see what a fool he had once been? Or mere pity?

Or maybe something else? Something...

No. It was not. It was never. Or else, it would not have been so easy to abandon him.

XOXOXOX

It had been quite a few hours till Wang YiBo's manager, Xiu Ying, finally came to meet him with the details he had dug out. YiBo could hardly hold himself still and not snatch the notepad out of his manager's hand where he knew the information was.

"This company is really something of a mystery. It came into being roughly two years ago and didn't have any prior history in the fashion industry, nor was it a sister concern of some other brand. It suddenly popped up. And the interesting thing is that its first clientele list consists of mostly known names from our industry. So, in a sense, it got famous overnight, which is strange, considering the competition." Xiu Ying paused at this juncture, hand going to the bottle of water that was on the table but he was denied even that sip by a very impatient, "And?" He hurriedly retreated his hand and continued, "And about that mystery owner, there are three major share holders of Yiling. One is Wang HaoXuan, who is the public face of the company. He is the personal assistant of the owner; also his shares are the least compared to the other two. He deals with all the-"

Not interested in knowing this Wang HaoXuan person's details at the moment, YiBo interrupted him, "The other two. Tell me about the other too."

"Oh, uh, yeah. So, the largest share holder, also, the documented founder of Yiling is one Sean Xiao. Apparently, he likes to operate from behind the veil and doesn't do public appearances. Also, nothing much is known about him. Clearly his publicized information is regulated by professionals and...."

YiBo tuned out and leaned back. Sean Xiao. For others he might be a veiled stranger but YiBo once knew a Sean Xiao like the palm of his hand. Not only his face but his habits, his sleeping schedules....even the number of moles and freckles he had on his body. YiBo knew it all. The world might not know but YiBo knew that Sean Xiao was the pseudonym of one Xiao Zhan.

So, you are indeed the Yiling Patriarch, huh?

YiBo was listening to Xiu Ying with half an ear, weaving plans in his head but shot up straight when the third name was mentioned. "What did you say? Who?"

"Eh? Uh, Darren Wang. Wang Talu, the famous actor-"

"Wang Talu?! He is the co owner of Yiling? Wang Talu?"

Xiu Ying looked cautious while nodding in affirmative, visibly baffled as to what caused such a reaction. While, on the other hand, YiBo looked thunderous. He couldn't believe! Well, actually the joke was on him for not guessing it earlier because, of course, he should have known, he should have.

All the bitterness from three years ago rushed in like flood water, dark and pungent, stoking his anger anew.

So, this was how it was. They teamed up against him. All for a laugh. A blatant show of arrogance at YiBo's expense. However, they would have another thing coming if they thought YiBo would be made a fool so easily this time.

Heartache turning into an inferno of rage and humiliation, his jaw hardened.

"And what about the designer that designed my suit?"

"The order details did not specify it and when I rang up their office, they said they could not disclose the details without specific reason or complaint."

"Is that so? Then I guess I will have to specify that myself. Get things ready. We're going to Yiling." The expression that accompanied that order was vicious.

Instead of clearing things out, this bunch of information had given a way to another suspicion, a more devastating one. Logically, YiBo should be relieved if the suspicious proved to be true but........a treacherous, shattered heart was anything but logical.

I won't let you have your way this time, Xiao Zhan. I won't make the same mistakes either. This time I will chase the truth out.

XOXOXOX

Xuan was getting things ready for a team planning about their next product launch when his intercom buzzed and announced that one Mr. Wang Yibo had come to the office, seeking expert assistance and by expert, he specifically meant one of the main faculties of the company.

All the alarm bells went crazy inside Xuan's head. He understood perfectly well exactly whom Wang YiBo was seeking. Though he knew the actor had his own reputation to withhold, to avoid any unwanted scene, he instructed his secretary to take the guest to the conference room, have him settled and tell him that Xuan would attend him shortly. If the Wang YiBo version he had heard from Zhan was true and that calm, chilly persona of the actor was just a façade, then, Xuan would have to handle this situation extremely carefully.

He thought of calling Xiao Zhan and letting him know, then decided against it. The man's nerves were already frayed this morning. If this was something he alone could handle for now, he would try not to alarm his employer as long as he managed. With a decisive nod, he left his office and headed for the conference room.

The actor had come with his manager and as Xuan entered, he saw them quietly talking to each other. He gave them a moment, then, cleared his throat to announce his presence politely.

Both the men looked at his direction and both stood up.

"It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Mr. Wang," Xuan greeted with a smile, he was going to add a congratulations for his marriage but remembered that the public were yet to be informed of the incident, thus held his tongue.

"Likewise," YiBo returned, shaking the hand Xuan had offered.

After exchanging some more meaningless pleasantries, they sat down while YiBo's manager, Xiu Ying chose to stand beside his boss.

Mentally calculating all the possible outcomes, Xuan kept his amiable smile on, "So, how may I be of any help, Mr. Wang?"

YiBo also stretched his lip a little, "I apologize in advance for troubling Mr. Wang this way and also, thank you for delivering my order in time, but I would like to meet the person that designed the suit for me."

Xuan was expecting a more direct question or even an interrogation; therefore, it took him a moment to respond to that apparently unrelated request. "I'm afraid, Mr. Wang, that, our company policy does not let us disclose the designer to the client without any valid reason."

"Oh but I did read your policies and I do have a valid reason," YiBo answered and his manager immediately took out and extended a sheaf of papers, which Xuan guessed to be their policy details.

He accepted the paper with a polite nod and looked at the other person expectantly. They both knew what that valid reason was but he did not want to be the one to relent first. The man mustn't have gotten Xiao Zhan's whereabouts or else he would not be here. So, Xuan needed to stall.

It was a bizarre stalemate of stares and finally, without taking his eyes off, YiBo told his manager to wait outside. Xiu Ying hesitated for a brief moment before bowing and leaving the room.

"So, when can I meet this designer, Mr. Wang?"

"When I will hear the cause for this meet, Mr. Wang."

Wang YiBo chuckled at that and at that very moment Xuan knew that he would not be able to get out of this situation without giving this man what he wanted.

"Why don't I tell you what this meet would not cause if I can have my request accepted?"

"Please, do."

This time the smirk was downright dark. "I will not drag his name into my wedding that got cancelled. I will not expose him to the public."

His hackles rising rapidly, Xuan went through his options with lightening speed and decided upon being just as straight forward. "It was not his intention to ruin anything for you."

"Shouldn't the excuse come from the man in question?" An eyebrow arched up accompanying that remark. "I am neither aware nor privy to what his actual intentions were and I would like to have an explanation."

Stalling, Xuan tried to placate again, "I assure you, you will have it soon. No need to involve yourself or my employer any more than you already have."

"Forgive me if I am not much assured by your words." Leaning on the table with an apologetic expression that was faker than Xuan's grandma's teeth, Wang YiBo continued, "Mr. Wang, you seem to be a sensible man. Do you honestly think I will let this matter go without seeing the end of it?" Then those eyes went cold and hard, "He will have to face me sooner or later."

Indeed he was a sensible man, accepting defeat when it was necessary to cut the losses. "Very well. Let me talk to him first. Please, wait here."

The other man did not react, just gazed at him with those unnerving eyes.

Xuan got up and went to a chamber adjacent to the conference room. And called his boss.

After a few rings it was picked up came an absent minded, "Yes?"

Working, then. After leaving Zhan distraught and ruffled Xuan hated to disrupt his calm once more but what was needed to be done should be done.

"Wang YiBo is at our office right now and demanding to meet you."

After a long silence came a shocked, "What?"

"I have tried to dissuade him, to stall him further but he is as bull headed as you described him."

"Then...then what should I do? Can't you just tell him- I don't know...I. What do I do?"

"I'm afraid you won't be able to avoid it this time." And personally, Xuan kind of wanted for them to face each other. If nothing else, at least they would get the closure both of them had been searching for.

"Oh god!....It's too soon. I'm not ready. Not even...."

There was a hollowed exhaled on the other end and Xuan kept quiet. He would neither push nor discourage. It was entirely Xiao Zhan's decision to make.

Seconds went by and finally a defeated voice spoke up, "Fine. This was long overdue; I might get it over with as well."

"Precisely."

"........All right. Then...would you, please, put him on the phone."

This was a surprise. He did not think his friend would like to tell YiBo personally but it certainly took the burden off his shoulder. Therefore, he agreed and took the call back into the conference room where the man was standing beside a window. He held the device to the actor, "Mr. Xiao is on the line."

Apparently, YiBo also did not expect it as his eyes widened in surprise for a fraction of a second before it hardened again as he pressed the phone against his ear.

Xuan was standing close enough to hear what came from the other end but for a few seconds, it seemed, they just held onto the call silently.

"........When and where should I meet you?"

"At our spot. Tonight at seven." YiBo's answer was as clipped as was his expression and he disconnected the call the moment he finished. Giving back the phone to Xuan, he uttered a quiet 'thanks', turned and left.

Standing alone, with thousand thoughts running through his mind, HaoXuan prayed to his lucky stars not to let any paparazzo get a whiff of it or else, he would have to sacrifice his life handling the PR fallout.

XOXOXOX

Xiao Zhan held the phone pressed tight to his ear for a long time after the call ended. He had heard YiBo talk at that day but the situation was too dire for him to even register or react on anything other than his instinct of fleeing from there with Xing.

But now, hearing that voice so close, almost into his ear, waves of different conflicting emotions ran down his body, making his eyes close on their own.

The voice that had once murmured the sweetest of love, the purest of promises, the sultriest of innuendos.....the voice that still called to him in his dreams.........The voice that had said.....

Zhan's eyes snapped open.

Had said...."At our spot"

Our spot

No. It cannot be.

He can't possibly be

No!

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Any thoughts?😶