Zie...? Who is Zie...?
Unable to take another second of the overwhelming ache, Zhu frantically grabbed Baouran’s hands, prying them off his waist so he could finally break free. Trying his best to keep his trembling hands steady, he gently laid Baouran down into a comfortable position on the seat and pulled the plush blanket over his shoulders.
Without looking back, Zhu turned on his heel and rushed out of the suite, desperate for air as he made his way toward the cabin’s drink station. (T_T)
Baouran slowly opened his eyes, the residual warmth of sleep fading as he sat up. He scanned the quiet suite, but Zhu was nowhere to be seen. A fresh glass of water sat neatly on the side table.
Unbuckling his belt, Baouran stood up and stepped out of the private cabin, his dark eyes searching the dimly lit corridor.
As he approached the lounge area, his heart dropped. Near the bar, he spotted a familiar figure sitting at a table, happily sipping a drink and chatting warmly with another man.
A sudden, sharp surge of possessive rage flared in Baouran's chest. Cold anger clouded his judgment as he marched over, reaching out and forcefully grabbing the man's shoulder to pull him back!
The man spun around in shock—revealing a complete stranger's face.
"Mr. Lu? You're awake?"
The soft, familiar voice came from a few feet behind him. Baouran turned around instantly, his eyes locking onto Zhu, who was standing nearby holding a second drink. In a split second, the dark storm in Baouran's chest vanished, his foul mood instantly lifting at the sight of him. (•‿•)
However, the tall, well-dressed man sitting right next to Zhu broke the air, standing up with a bright, charming smile.
"I gotta go," the man said, looking at Zhu with obvious fondness. "If fate brings us together again, let's grab a proper drink."
"Sure, why not?" Zhu replied with a warm, genuine expression.
Smiling warmly, the man raised his hand, reaching out to playfully pat Zhu on the head. But before his fingers could even graze a single strand of Zhu’s hair, Baouran stepped in violently, grabbing Zhu by the wrist and yanking him back into his own chest! (ಠ_ಠ)
The man paused, slightly amused by the sudden territorial display, before chuckling softly. "Take care."
"Take care too, Brother Ming," Zhu called back, giving a polite nod as the man turned and walked down the aisle.
The small lounge area fell into an oppressive, heavy silence. The hum of the jet engines felt deafening in the stillness between them.
Baouran stared down at Zhu, a cold knot tightening in his stomach. The faint, polite smile Zhu had used with "Brother Ming" was completely gone. In its place was a distant, formal wall—Zhu was acting like a cautious subordinate again, detached and carefully maintaining his distance.
What happened while I was asleep? Baouran thought, his mind racing in a sudden panic. Did I move too fast? Was I too aggressive pulling him back just now?
Unable to stand the suffocating air, Baouran tightened his grip on Zhu's wrist just a fraction, his dark eyes searching Zhu’s face for any clue.
"What happened?" Baouran asked softly, his voice carrying a rare, raw edge of anxiety. "Is something wrong?" (•_•;)
"Mr. Lu, everything is all right."
Zhu’s voice was perfectly calm, polite, and completely devoid of warmth. He spoke with the cold, polished professionalism of a complete stranger, using the distant title he had abandoned days ago.
Baouran felt a sharp spike of pure resentment and desperation clawing at his throat. "Why... why are you like this?!" he asked, his voice cracking slightly. "It’s like—it’s like the very first day we met in person! Zhu, can we go back to how we were before? When we were close? Did I do something wrong to you? Tell me, what can I do?!"
Zhu didn't flinch. He slowly pulled his wrist from Baouran's grip, keeping his expression entirely blank.
"Mr. Lu, let's keep personal matters separate and remain strictly professional. That is all, sir," Zhu said, his tone flat. "And besides... my contract with you is only for one year. Once it ends, we won't see each other again if—"
"WHY?!" Baouran cut him off, a raw, furious shout breaking through the quiet cabin. "Why are you doing this, huh?! You want us to just go back to being strangers? Nothing more?!" (ಠ_ಠ)
The terrifying, untouchable facade Baouran usually wore shattered completely. His face twisted into an unravelling mess of raw sadness, suffocating anger, and utter betrayal.
"So your promise to us... that you would protect us, that you would stay by our side... was all just a joke? An empty promise?!" Baouran pleaded, his voice trembling as he stepped closer, practically towering over Zhu.
He wanted to scream, he wanted to tear the world apart, he wanted to break down and cry—but the tears wouldn't fall. Instead, his dark eyes glistened with a heartbreaking vulnerability, looking exactly like a helpless, abandoned puppy staring up at the owner who had just thrown it out into the cold.
Zhu swallowed hard, forcing himself not to look into those desperate, pleading eyes, even as his own chest burned with an agonizing, silent torture. (T_T)
Zhu’s heart shattered into a thousand jagged pieces as he looked at the raw, desperate pain swimming in Baouran’s eyes. It tore at him—it made him want to reach out, pull Baouran close, and never let go.
But how could he?
The echo of Baouran’s soft, vulnerable voice while sleeping vibrated in Zhu’s mind like a cruel reminder.
“Zie... I love you...”
Every drop of warmth in Zhu’s chest turned to liquid lead. You love someone else, Zhu thought, his internal voice trembling with a quiet, devastating grief. You’re calling out for another person in your sleep... and that person isn't me. I can’t stay beside you like this. I can’t keep breaking my own heart every time you look at me and see her instead. (T_T)
For the very first time, the terrifying truth settled into Zhu's soul. He finally recognized this suffocating ache in his chest for what it truly was—he had fallen deeply, painfully in love with Baouran.
And because he loved him, he couldn't bear to be a stand-in for a memory.
So, what else can I do? Zhu thought, steeling his heart as a cold resolve washed over him. Right now... I know what these feelings are. And that’s exactly why I have to put an end to this.
Zhu took a slow, deliberate step back, increasing the distance between them. He forced his facial expression to remain an unreadable, icy mask, hiding the agonizing torture raging beneath the surface.
"Mr. Lu," Zhu said softly, his voice steady despite the unbearable weight suffocating his throat. "My decision is final. ... and keep everything strictly professional from now on." (•_•)
Zhu quickly straightened his posture, forcing his shoulders back in a desperate attempt to appear calm and unbothered.
"Mr. Lu," Zhu said in a normal voice, though he couldn't completely hide the faint, painful shiver threading through his tone. "My promise is not empty. I will protect you and Haoran. But... you don't need me anymore, Mr. Lu. You already have someone who can make you happy." (T_T)
Hearing those words, something inside Baouran completely snapped.
"DAMN IT, ZHU!" Baouran roared, his voice echoing fiercely against the walls of the suite. Thankfully, the high-tier VVIP cabin was fully soundproof, sealing his raw, explosive fury inside the room.
"I DON'T HAVE ANYONE!" Baouran yelled, his breathing heavy and ragged as his eyes burned with wild frustration. "Why the hell are you saying that?!"
Invading Zhu's space in two long, aggressive strides, Baouran cornered him against the wall, towering over him with a dark, suffocating intensity.
"Or is it you?" Baouran demanded, his voice dropping into a dangerous, possessive whisper as he stared directly into Zhu's eyes. “Are you planning to go there and be with the person you like, which is why you just want to get away from me?!” (ಠ_ಠ)
Baouran's hands slammed against the wall on either side of Zhu's head, trapping him completely.
"Is that why you were smiling so comfortably with that man earlier?!" Baouran hissed, his heart pounding erratically with a toxic mix of jealousy, fear, and sheer desperation. "Answer me, Zhu!"
Zhu’s lips parted, but no sound came out. The overwhelming weight of Baouran’s dark aura choked the words right in his throat. (⊙_⊙)
Seeing Zhu’s silence, Baouran’s jaw clenched tightly, a dangerous, deadly storm darkening his eyes. "So it's true, huh?" Baouran whispered, his tone terrifyingly quiet. "You can't even deny it..."
A suffocating, almost murderous intent rolled off Baouran in waves. In his mind, he was already picturing Zhu smiling at that other man, laughing with him, belonging to him—and the mere thought made Baouran want to hunt down whoever it was and tear them apart with his bare hands. (ಠ_ಠ)
Finally, Zhu forced himself to meet Baouran’s dark, deadly gaze.
"I don't have anyone," Zhu said softly, his voice trembling slightly under the pressure. "So please... can you step back? And can we just keep things professional?"
Zhu stared back with such absolute distance, such an unwavering desire to sever their bond, that it drove Baouran to the absolute brink.
"Why?!" Baouran hissed, leaning in even closer until their foreheads almost touched. "So you can run off to that man from earlier?!"
All the pain, heartbreak, and exhaustion Zhu had been bottling up inside finally exploded. He couldn't take another second of this torture.
"WHY DO YOU EVEN CARE?!" Zhu snapped back, his voice breaking as tears threatened to spill from his eyes. "Why do you care if I have someone or not?! It's not like we're a thing! You have no right to interfere with my life—you and I are nothing!" (T_T)
The words hung frozen in the air like a lethal blade, plunging straight into Baouran's chest and leaving him completely speechless.
Why am I so weak when I'm with you...? Zhu thought, his chest heaving as tears blurred his vision. Why can't I just hold it together? Why do you break down every single defense I have...? (T_T)
The painful silence that followed Zhu’s outburst was deafening.
Hearing Zhu scream that they were nothing, a wild, primal snap echoed in Baouran’s mind. The agonizing fear of losing him, the suffocating jealousy, and the blinding anger completely hijacked his control.
"Nothing...?" Baouran growled softly, his voice dangerously low.
Before Zhu could process the shift in the air, Baouran’s hand shot out, grabbing Zhu’s jaw tightly and tilting his face up. Leaning down violently, Baouran crashed his lips onto Zhu’s in a ferocious, possessive kiss!
Zhu went completely stiff, his eyes widening in absolute shock. (⊙_⊙)
It wasn't a gentle or comforting kiss—it was wild, desperate, and heavy with unspoken raw emotion. Baouran kissed him as if he were trying to claim every single breath from Zhu's lungs, as if trying to physically erase every trace of doubt, distance, and every other person from Zhu’s mind.
Trapped against the cold wall with Baouran's massive frame crushing against him, Zhu stood completely stunned, his mind going entirely blank as the fiery heat of the kiss consumed the quiet cabin. (•⦂•)
