The aroma of freshly prepared meals filled the dining hall. The sound of crockery and mild chit chat proved to be a music for empty walls. Its been years when the many feet strolled the corridors. It was so different from the past yet none of them hated it.

Suddenly their peace was brought to an end by shouting of a teenager.

"Mom!" Qi Pei Xin was trying out the new telescope his Uncle Cheng bought for him from Japan. He was excited to look at the stars and moon but what he didn't expect was that he'd be able to see the Sun itself.

"A- Xin, lower your voice." Xuan Lu pointed to her son who was running wildly down the stairs.

"Mom!" Qi Pei Xin couldn't care, he wanted to shout to see if he was dreaming or not.

"Be careful A-Xin, What's the matter?" Xuan Lu went to her son and stroked his cheeks.

"Mom...He's here...Uncle Zhan.."

Everyone stopped eating the meal they were casually having and looked at each other in disbelief. Were they hearing right? Is it true? Did A-Zhan finally come?

. . .

The excitement of earlier turned into a fear. If he could see eye to eye, even mildly, so could others! And if they did, they might be able to see how pitiful he had become. Instantly, he lost his will to enter. He found himself staring at the big gate.

Beginning is always the toughest.

The doctor had advised him.

He clutched the strap of his bag tight and took a deep breath gazillion-th time.

Maybe its too soon? he thought to himself. There was no reason for him to move on with such a quick pace. He should take his time, right?

Xiao Zhan turned around but he turned back quickly.

Xiao Zhan! You have to do this! Only you can do this!

He had done enough running around. He will not make his Uncle wait any longer than this. Just as he placed his foot on the first step of the stair, he heard a voice. A very sweet and gently one at that.

"A- Xian!"

Xiao Zhan looked up to see the source of the voice but even if he didn't look up, he knew who the voice belonged to. Besides, there was no one else but her who called him like that. His sister.

She was standing outside the big gate, with visible tears and a bright smile on her face.

"Shijie..."

Xiao Zhan didn't realize that his feet would automatically take him to her warm embrace.

"A-Xian!" She hugged him tight enough to never let him go. He hugged her back with the same intention. He realized only then how much he had missed her. How much he wanted her comfort and he broke down right there and then with loud sobs.

Xuan Lu patted his back and comforted him until he calmed down. But Xiao Zhan didn't realize he had been holding so many tears inside. They kept falling and falling and even wet his sister's shoulder.

The others came shortly afterwards but the scene they saw in front of them made them scared and worried. It was as if they were witnessing a farewell scene where one will die shortly afterwards.

They didn't disturb, in fact they felt overwhelmed and few tears escaped their eyes as well.After an eternity of crying and inhaling the warmth of his sister, he let go only to be shocked by others.

Well that was embarrassing.

"Uncle Zhan! I knew you would come! I was wearing my lucky socks too!" Qi pei Xin was the second one who jumped and hugged his uncle. He started his nonsense about a lot of unnecessary things but Xiao Zhan was smiling, in fact he was laughing at his un-laughable jokes.

"A-Zhan!" Lu Jian Min and Zhang Jing Tong hugged him and welcomed him inside.

Cao Yu Chen met him in the brotherliest manner. Even Pei Xin thought it was childish of them to fist bump. But he didn't say that out loud, he still wanted to get a gift from his Uncle Zhan.

"Gege." A toneless voice made Xiao Zhan halt in his feet. Wang ZhuoCheng was standing there in front of the dinning table looking intently at him.

The two looked at each other heedlessly. Neither one of them said a word, nor did they move an inch. The one thing Xiao Zhan was most afraid was to have him look into his eyes. But now that he was gazing directly into it, he felt nothing. There was emptiness, the same kind which Xiao Zhan was more than familiar with. They were much more alike, they had been brothers after all.

"A-Xian, A-Cheng come on eat, I cooked your favorite soup." Xuan Lu directed Xiao Zhan to the dining table and everyone else followed as well. After that, neither Xiao Zhan nor Zhuo Cheng looked at each other, not even once.

"Uncle Zhan what did you get me?" Qi Pei Xin said and earned a slap form his father. Well you couldn't blame him, he had been holding it for a while.

"I didn't bring you anything." Xiao Zhan teased.

"But why??" Qi Pei Xin whined.

"Because, I heard that you have been a naughty boy to shijie."

Qi Pei Xin looked at his mother to defend him but Xuan Lu shrugged her shoulder. He then looked at his father who gave him a devilish smirk.

"I have been nothing but good." Qi Pei Xin declared.

"I that so? In that case, I suppose I can take you to a place and then you'll decide what you want."

"Really???" Qi Pei Xin beamed; nothing was better than to choose a gift for himself. He could buy anything!

"Well, it will depend if you behave." Xiao Zhan gave an amusing smile.

"I will! I will!" Qi Pei Xin who was reluctant to eat his vegetables before, begun scarfing them down and showing his Uncle how good he was. They all laughed. At last they were all together.

. . .

After the fulfilling meal and the taste of food which Xiao Zhan might not have again, they went into their respective rooms. Xiao Zhan was exhausted emotionally. He thought he had long lost the ability to feel. But that day, he had been too emotional. That his Jie told him to rest early and he did. He went back to his old room. Oddly, he never really considered it his room because the three of them would always sleep in the same room under the same ceiling.

Xiao Zhan checked his phone and he had received many messages. Some were form Zoey Meng, some from Yubin, some from colleagues while there was one from unknown number.

Xiao Zhan decided to take a bath first before he replies to any of those messages. His hair was still wet, dripping with water when Xiao Zhan casually lied down to his bed with wet towel. He's gonna get sick for sure.

He replied to Zoey Jie's message about his arrival. And Yubin's message about the new game release and then the unknown number.

Mr.Zhan, I hope you don't mind that I took your number from D. Meng. I was worried about you and wanted to know if you reached home safely. If you have time, make sure to write back.

Xiao Zhan realized it was his psychiatrist. He replied.

No problem Doc and yes, I reached home safely. I followed your advice.

It wasn't even a second that Xiao Zhan put his phone on the side that he received another message. It was from him again. Was he waiting for his reply?

Doc : That is good to hear. Do not stay up for long and rest well.

Zhan: Understood.

Doc : If you have any sort of trouble, you can ask me anytime.

Zhan : Of course, thank you once again.

Doc : Good Night!

Zhan : Good Night!

"Is that your new boyfriend?"

Xiao Zhan followed the source of the voice to find, Zhuo Cheng standing in the door.

"Ah! A-Cheng! C-come on in." Xiao Zhan unwillingly invited him inside but thank fully, Wang Zhuo Cheng refused.

"I wouldn't want to disturb your happy time with your boyfriend."

"He's not my boyfriend."

"So, he really was a boy? And here I thought it was just a onetime thing with that, what was his name...right Wang Yibo."

Cold sweat ran down his face just hearing the name again.

"What do you want A-Cheng?"

"What can you give me? Oh right I forgot, you have already given me too much." Wang Zhuocheng stroked the side of his abdomen and Xiao Zhan looked away. 

"A-Cheng, I'm tired, we'll talk tomorrow."

"Will you? I'm sure you'll run away. Just like before." There was clear hurt in his eyes when he slammed the door and went to his own room.

Xiao Zhan knew it would be hard to deal with his brother, he stroked his hair and sighed for another millionth time.

. . .

The night had been anything but pleasant for Xiao Zhan. Not that it was new to him but he had hoped that maybe in the familiar environment he might fall asleep better but nightmares were now his home. He woke to the sound of his phone; he forgot to turn off his alarm. Then Xiao Zhan spotted the new message from his doctor.

Doc : Good Morning, I hope you had a good night sleep.

Xiao Zhan looked at the time and it was 8 in the morning. And the message from doctor came at 6:30. Was he a night owl? Who gets up this early? Xiao Zhan was no one to complain, often a times when he had nightmares, he refused to go back  to sleep again. 

Xiao Zhan replied

Zhan : Good Morning!

Doc : Did you sleep well?

The reply came too early, Xiao Zhan smiled at the thought.

Zhan : Are you always on your phone? You reply too fast.

Doc : Is that a bad thing?

Zhan : No. Maybe I don't reply on time, so I'm not used to having people reply immediately.

Doc : I don't reply anyone, just you.

Maybe because Xiao Zhan was his patient and was assigned to him for the course of 3 months that Doctor was cautious about him? Then again, he refused to charge Xiao Zhan. who gives free treatment? Xiao Zhan felt bad that's why they decided that every time they'll have a session, they would do it in a restaurant where Xiao Zhan would pay for the meals.

Doc : How was your sleep?

He asked again and Xiao Zhan promised himself that he would be honest with the doctor at the very least. So, he told him about his encounter with Zhuo Cheng and how he kept thinking all night and didn't sleep well.

Doc: Zhan, you don't have to just take in everything. You are allowed to say your opinion.

He didn't know why but every time the doctor called him Zhan, made him feel...sick? He couldn't decide if he hated it or liked it.

Zhan : I'll keep that in mind. I need to get my breakfast, later!

Doc : Take care!

Xiao Zhan threw his phone to the side and went in the bathroom to freshen up. Of course his excited nephew begun to bang the door.

"Uncle Zhan! Uncle Zhan lets go, you promised to take me outside!"

"A-Xin! Let uncle have his breakfast first." Xuan Lu called form downstairs.

"I know mom! That's why I prepared his breakfast!"

Xiao Zhan almost gulped the tooth paste on hearing this. If not by his sickness, he would die for sure with Pei Xin's cooking. Bravely Xiao Zhan stepped outside to find the disastrous of a meal being served on a gold platter.

It was true, appearances do matter and Xiao Zhan learnt that today.

Surprisingly the meal that Pei Xin cooked was edible, although barely. Xiao Zhan took Pei Xin to the kitchen and taught what he should do next time and how he should do it and Pei Xin listened to him eagerly. Maybe he just wanted to be on his good side to get his present? But he did enjoy the company of his uncle a lot.

He missed it a lot. He waited a long time for him and finally he was here. He would make sure that his uncle won't feel unwelcome even for one bit.

He will keep his promise!

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Sorry for Errors and thank you for reading.