-24- Yibo's stepbrother

Three days ago Yibo called his stepbrother and asked him for help. He was initially very surprised that Yibo finally contacted him again after months. And even more surprised that Yibo asked him for help. After all, Yibo was never someone who had ever asked others, especially his family, for help.

After Yibo explained what he needed to do, his brother immediately took care of it. He left a message in the mailbox that Yibo's mother always used to reach her supplier, or rather Zhan's aunt.

However, his brother also had a condition. If he does this for Yibo, he wants to be able to see Yibo. And since Yibo can no longer simply walk around outside during the day and doesn't want the clans to see him in the evening or at night, he had no choice but to tell him where he could find Yibo.

At noon today, Yibo's brother called and told Yibo that there is an answer in his mailbox. But he wants to show it to Yibo personally. So his brother is coming to the cave today. Luckily, even if you can hardly imagine it, it is quite comfortably furnished and looks like a big living room with sleeping places.

Yibo is already very excited to see his stepbrother again after all this time. But he is even more excited about how Hai Kuan will react to Cheng and Yanli. And he hopes his brother has good news about baby planning with his wife. Wonder if she is pregnant by him by now?

When the evening approached, Yibo went through the tunnel to the forest hut and waited for Hai Kuan there. He didn't have to see the beam of his flashlight first to see and hear that Hai Kuan was coming. His senses are sharp as never since they have been here. Especially since he has finally found peace again.

Hai Kuan knocked on the door four times, signs of what they were doing. Yibo opened the door and Hai Kuan embraced him with joy. "Oh my God, I know it's very cold, but why do you feel like you're frozen?" Hai Kuan asked as he touched Yibo's cheek.

"Ah that, well I guess I've been sitting here too long." Yibo replied.

"Lying without blushing what?" Hai Kuan asked.

"I'm not lying to my big brother."

"Dad already told me who your mother really was, or rather what she was. And I know you're one of them. At least now, right?"

Yibo was surprised that Hai Kuan knew about him and nodded shyly. "I'm sorry I couldn't tell you about it."

"It's okay, I understand. Who runs around telling people that they're vampires. And honestly, I didn't believe it until just now. But now when I look at you, wow. You look strong and healthy. Your skin feels icy cold but very soft. And your appearance has changed a bit too. You are really very handsome. Even more so than before, I mean."

Embarrassed, Yibo scratched his neck and let his brother into the hut. They went through the tunnel and to the cave. Hai Kuan was just about to say something when Yanli and Cheng came to greet him. Cheng was still standing behind Yanli, and as he stepped forward, his brother was suddenly speechless. Not a muscle moved with him. He stood there frozen. And not only him, but Cheng as well.

The two men stared at each other and Yanli pulled Yibo to his side and whispered, "We have a big problem now."

Yibo looked at her confused and asked, "Why? What kind of problem?"

"You are about to experience it. Even if we live very long, rarely is anyone around when it happens."

"When what happens? I do not understand."

Yanli pointed to Cheng's hands, which trembled slightly. Yibo stepped in front of him and asked what was happening. Yanli grinned and said, "You better get out of the way." But Yibo did not know why he should do that. Until his own brother suddenly pushed him aside.

Hai Kuan grabbed both hands of Cheng and said, "I don't know who you are, but I think I've been looking for you."

Cheng nodded: "You have taken your time." Yibo didn't understand anything anymore. How can they have been looking for each other if they don't know each other?

Yanli laughed and whispered to Yibo: "You were a baby and don't remember. And it was different with you then, too, because you were too young. But what you see here now is when two mates meet for the first time."

"Wait what? My brother and Cheng? How is that possible?"

"It is rather unusual, I admit. And actually, it's not very nice to be seen either. Because humans and vampires do not belong together. They can't handle a vampire's love. It's too intense. You know what I mean, right?"

"No. Well, I didn't think it was too intense."

"You were never a real human being. Anyway, I guess we won't get very far today."

"What worries me more is that my brother is married."

"So? Do you think it will stop him from wanting to be with Cheng?"

"He loves his wife."

"Ask him about his wife now. Go ahead."

Yibo cleared his throat and asked his brother, "Hey, did you tell your wife where you are tonight?"

Hai Kuan looked at Yibo thoughtfully and asked, "Who?"

Yibo pointed to Hai Kuan's wedding ring, but he just shrugged, took a step towards Cheng and took him in his arms.

"I told you so. The power of mates. The longer the two are together, the closer they come. And when your brother just pushed you away from Cheng, he also made it clear right away what his position in this relationship is. He protects Cheng. Or at least he wants to."

"So like Zhan and me? When we met again, it was clear to me from the start who was the active one."

"Yibo, I guess you only think about sex. Haha. Soon you'll have Zhan back and you can do it as much as you want. But what I mean is, he has taken the position of protector. And yes, if that's the way you want it, my little brother will be the bottom."

And as if none of this was crazy enough, Hai Kuan lifted Cheng onto his arms and carried him back into the cave and to Cheng's bed.

Yibo didn't understand anything anymore. Yes, he could see how the two were attracted to each other. How they looked at each other and how Hai Kuan changed suddenly and can't even remember his wife. But he could not believe all this.

Cheng and Hai Kuan sat on the bed and Hai Kuan fed Cheng with the blood mixture. "Don't stare at them." He suddenly heard it in his mind.

Out of sheer shock and joy, he shouted out loud, "ZhanZhan?" Everyone looked at him with big eyes and Yibo giggled embarrassed. "Sorry, I heard him in my thoughts. I think."

"You think? I'm really here. So you ran away, huh? And you hooked my little brother up with his mate. It is very, very rare for a human to become a vampire's mate." Said Zhan in his mind.

"Really? What am I going to do now?"

"Nothing, my precious. Leave them alone, please. Now that they have found each other, you can't separate them anyway. When we're all reunited, we'll have to decide how to proceed. If they really want to stay together, Hai Kuan may have to become one of us."

"Yes, yes, we will discuss that. But Zhan, how are you? Did that bitch Emily touch you?"

"No, she didn't touch me. I'm fine. My father secretly gives me blood mixture and I get stronger again. I'm still working on a plan to get my father and me out of here. But we have chains on our ankles that we can't just destroy."

"Tell me where you are Zhan. The Gusu Clan and the Yunmeng Clan still refuse to attack."

"They are doing this because they have a reason to do so. Please trust them. They know what they are doing. And precious, don't stay away from them for too long. Take some time off, but don't stay alone."

"ZhanZhan, my uncle locked me in the dungeon just because I wanted out once."

"Of course, that's completely unacceptable. But I guess he did it because he cares about you. After all, your father was his brother. I know he's tough. But he wouldn't be so hard on you if he didn't care. And your brother Wangji will go crazy if you don't return soon."

"Ha ha, my ass. He's just training. And if he doesn't train, he only has eyes for Wei Ying. And when I see them together, I miss you even more. It's too hard for me. I can't stand it. I want you back with me."

"Then go to your uncle and tell him. At the moment the group is very weak. My father secretly mixes something into their blood mixture. They drink it, even if it doesn't quench their blood thirst. But because they can't all go out at the same time, they feed it."

"So the blood mixture is meant for those who can't go hunting."

"Yes. And also for Emily Qin and some renegades from her clan. But I can't explain it all to you now. Yibo, please listen to me carefully. You should report to your uncle. Tell him what I told you. Plan the attack as long as they don't realize there's something wrong with the blood mixture. And, Yibo, I miss you too, like crazy. And I look forward to seeing you again soon."

"I will be part of the attack on the group. And then I will kill Emily Qin myself. May I?"

"Go on. You have my blessing. Okay, precious, I must be off. Before they notice something. And to your question, where am I? I am in Yiling, your uncle knows where. I hope you will come and rescue me. I love you my most precious one."

"I love you too ZhanZhan. I promise I'll come and get you out."

Yibo could feel their connection breaking again, because whenever that happens, he suddenly feels very lonely. He went to Yanli, told her what he heard from Zhan and since Cheng and Hai Kuan were busy with each other, Yibo called his uncle and the first thing he did was apologize to him. Then he reported what Zhan told him. And his uncle told him, "Then come back in two days. We will kill that damned Meng Yao."