"I can visit you… little one," Zhan murmured, his voice soft, the last two words barely audible, as if they were meant only for Yibo, a secret promise shared between just the two of them.
"Okay, gege!" Yibo giggled, his eyes bright with excitement.
The little boy remained giddy all throughout dinner, his joy infectious, filling the room with warmth.
But as the evening drew to a close and it was finally time to part ways, his mood took a sharp turn. His laughter faded, replaced by a pout, his small hands fidgeting with the hem of his shirt.
He muttered under his breath, sulking, unwilling to accept that his time with his new family was already coming to an end.
He didn't want to be separated from his new mama.
He didn't want his Zhan-ge to leave him.
He didn't want to go home without them.
The shift in his emotions was impossible to miss. Silence hung heavily in the air, thick with unspoken words, and all three of the older ones immediately took notice.
When they turned to check on him, Yibo's face was scrunched up in distress, his lower lip quivering slightly, his round eyes filled with the kind of sorrow that only a child could feel so deeply.
It was clear that he was on the verge of tears again.
Fengyin, seeing the little one's distress, decided to bargain. She made a suggestion, one that offered a temporary compromise. Instead of parting ways immediately, she proposed that they accompany Yibo and his father back to the Wang mansion, just for the night.
They wouldn't be moving in yet, that part would still take time, but they could at least see him home and wish him goodnight before returning to their own residence.
It wasn't everything Yibo wanted, but it was enough.
His big, teary eyes flickered with a hint of relief, and after a moment of hesitation, he nodded in agreement. Even if they weren't staying just yet, even if it was just for a little while longer, at least he wouldn't have to say goodbye so soon.
And besides, his mama had promised, they were working on it.
They were doing everything necessary to speed up the process, to make sure they could all be together under the same roof as soon as possible.
The ride back to the Wang mansion was a quiet one, the atmosphere inside the car calm but tinged with the weight of Yibo's lingering reluctance.
Wang Yixian took the wheel again, steady hands guiding them through the darkened streets. This time, Fengyin took the front passenger seat, while in the back, Zhan sat beside Yibo.
The little one wasted no time clinging onto his Zhan-ge, his small arms wrapping tightly around the older boy as if afraid he might disappear if he let go.
His entire body leaned against Zhan's, practically draping himself over him, his warmth pressing close.
He nestled against his gege's side, not even using his baby seat now, seeking comfort in the scent and presence of the only person who could soothe him in this moment.
Zhan, already used to Yibo's antics by now, let him do as he pleased.
He made no move to pry him off, didn't even scold him for being too clingy. Instead, he simply allowed it, resting a gentle hand on the little one's back, rubbing slow, comforting circles in an unspoken reassurance.
Yibo sighed contentedly, pressing himself even closer, as if trying to merge himself with Zhan. His tiny fingers clutched onto his gege's sleeve, his face buried against his chest, his body slowly relaxing with each passing second.
The earlier sulking, the frustration, the stubborn pout, it all began to fade, replaced by the quiet security of being held.
When the car finally rolled to a stop and the four of them stepped out, Yibo's small hand remained firmly clasped around his gege's, his grip unwavering as they walked toward the door. His little fingers curled tightly around Zhan's, unwilling to let go even for a moment.
"When can we see each other again, gege?" he asked, his soft voice carrying a hint of sadness as he gazed up at Zhan with expectant eyes.
The older boy glanced down, meeting the younger's hopeful gaze with a gentle expression.
"I have school on weekdays, so we can only spend time together on the weekends," Zhan replied, his tone patient as he kept the explanation simple for his didi to understand.
Yibo nodded immediately, his bright eyes lighting up with joy.
Their hands remained intertwined as they walked, Yibo happily swinging their joined hands in the air, his tiny arm moving up and down with excitement.
The thought of his gege setting aside time for him made his little heart swell with happiness, and he couldn't help the giddy smile that spread across his face.
"So… this coming weekend, then?" Zhan asked, his gaze still focused on his little brother.
Yibo tilted his head up, his face beaming as he nodded so fast that Zhan grew momentarily concerned he might hurt his neck with the motion.
"Yes!" he chirped, voice filled with excitement.
A soft chuckle escaped Zhan's lips.
"Alright then. I'll be looking forward to it," he said, his warm tone making Yibo's smile stretch even wider.
Yibo practically bounced on his feet.
"Okay! I'll look forward to it too, gege!" His voice was bright with enthusiasm, his joy uncontained as he held onto Zhan's hand even tighter.
Zhan squeezed his little hand in return and playfully ruffled his soft hair with his free hand.
"Be good while you wait, alright? Try not to give President Wang a headache. Be a good boy, didi." His voice carried a teasing lilt, though the affection in his words was unmistakable.
Yibo giggled, nodding again, his little shoulders shaking from his laughter. "Yes, Zhan-ge! I'll be good!"
When they finally reached the entrance, where their parents stood waiting with gentle smiles, Zhan reluctantly loosened his hold on his didi's hand.
Wang Yixian reached out and effortlessly lifted Yibo into his arms, holding him securely against his chest. The warmth of his father's embrace was familiar and comforting, but Yibo still reached his tiny hands toward Zhan, reluctant to be separated.
A chauffeur stood by, waiting beside the sleek car that had been arranged to take madam and her son back to their residence.
Everything had been meticulously prepared, ensuring a smooth departure.
"Say goodbye to your mama and gege, little one," Wang Yixian prompted gently.
Yibo turned his head toward his mother, his round eyes soft with affection. "Good night, Mama!" he said sweetly.
Fengyin smiled, her hand reaching up to softly pat her son's head. "See you soon, Yibo."
Yibo nodded obediently before turning his attention back to Zhan. His little arms stretched outward, fingers making grabby motions toward his gege, a clear plea to be held once more.
Zhan, who had been looking up at the elders, turned his gaze downward just in time to see Yibo's urgent gestures.
Wang Yixian, understanding his son's silent request, crouched down and placed him back on the ground.
The moment his feet touched the floor, Yibo wasted no time.
He dashed forward, flinging his tiny arms around Zhan's waist, his small body pressing tightly against his gege's. His face buried into Zhan's torso as he nestled himself closer, inhaling the soft scent of his gege's clothes as if committing it to memory.
The warmth, the familiarity, the comfort, he wanted to imprint it all into his heart.
"Good night, Zhan-ge," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.
Zhan looked down at the little figure clinging to him, a soft expression settling over his face. His arms wrapped around Yibo in a secure but gentle embrace.
"Hmm. Good night, Bo-di."