The first rays of dawn, hesitant and pale, painted the sky a delicate lavender as Shi Wang's sleek black car glided to a silent stop near Yang Zi's apartment building.
Inside, a quiet intimacy lingered from the night before – a night Yang Zi had intended as a brief, comforting gesture for a lonely Shi Wang, but which had unexpectedly stretched into shared sleep. Now, with the city still largely dormant, Yang Zi carefully unbuckled his seat belt.
Tian, a bundle of sweet dreams, was transferred into Yang Zi's arms, his small head nestled against his uncle's shoulder. Yang Zi, still hazy with sleep himself, offered a soft, "Thank you, Shi Wang." He flashed Shi Wang a tired but grateful smile, the lingering warmth of the night's unexpected slumber still clinging to him.
He watched as Yang Zi, with Tian cradled securely, stepped out onto the quiet pavemen.
His eyes, still adjusting to the pre-dawn light, snapped wide open, the last vestiges of sleep fleeing in a rush of disbelief.
There, just a few yards away, stood Yu Han. The same Yu Han who had vanished without a trace last night, leaving Yang Zi frantic with worry. But it wasn't just Yu Han. He was holding hands with Li Hao – the very man who had once systematically dismantled Yu Han's heart, piece by agonizing piece.
A primal roar tore from Yang Zi's throat, shattering the morning's serenity.
"YU HAN!"
The shout, sharp and laced with betrayal, brought the building's pigeons flapping from their perches. Tian, startled from his deep sleep, let out a small, disoriented whimper against Yang Zi's chest.
But Yang Zi barely registered it. His vision narrowed to a laser focus on the two men. His large strides ate up the distance, each footfall thudding with barely contained fury. He fixed Li Hao with a death stare that could curdle milk, then whipped it to Yu Han, his voice a low, dangerous growl.
"What the fuck are you doing here with him?"
Without waiting for an answer, Yang Zi's hand shot out, snatching Yu Han's wrist from Li Hao's grasp with a force that left no room for argument.
Yu Han, looking like a deer caught in headlights, stammered, "Yang Zi… we should talk inside. Let's go, please." He gestured vaguely towards the apartment building, his face a canvas of embarrassment and desperation.
"Talk inside?" Yang Zi scoffed, his voice rising again. "Where have you been all night, Yu Han? You were with him? Is that what you're telling me?"
Li Hao, ever the provocateur, stepped forward, a smirk playing on his lips. "Yes, he was with me. All night. What's wrong with that?" His tone was dripping with disdain, a challenge in every syllable.
Yang Zi let out a short, incredulous laugh, devoid of any genuine humor. "What's wrong with that, huh? You're asking me that, Li Hao? Did you conveniently forget the pain you put him through? The way you broke him? And now you're here, parading around, scheming against him again? You just—"
Yang Zi's voice hitched, remembering a detail Yu Han had confided in him. "He just… he kissed you, and you're here, trying to ruin his life all over again?"
Li Hao's smirk faltered slightly, his gaze flicking to Yu Han, who had retreated slightly behind him. "You… you told him about our kiss?"
Yu Han, utterly mortified, could only offer a tiny, almost imperceptible nod. The blush creeping up his neck was a stark confession.
Meanwhile, a few yards back, Shi Wang had frozen by his car. The word 'kiss' hit him like a physical blow. He felt a sharp, unfamiliar pang of jealousy, a hot coal igniting in his gut. Here he was, unable to even confess his feelings to Yang Zi, and this… this Li Hao had already stolen a kiss. His rival, the very embodiment of everything he disliked, had crossed a boundary Shi Wang only dreamed of. He took a deep, steadying breath, schooling his features. This wasn't the time for a meltdown.
He saw the escalating tension, the raw emotion in Yang Zi's face, and the sheer discomfort radiating off Yu Han. And Tian, poor little Tian, was now fully awake, his big eyes darting nervously between the shouting adults, a silent testament to Yang Zi's 'bad words'.
"Yang Zi, please, stop it now," Shi Wang intervened, his voice calm but firm as he approached. He gently, but purposefully, took the still-sleepy Tian from Yang Zi's arms. "Look at Tian. You're scaring him with all this shouting."
Yu Han, seizing the opportunity, immediately grabbed Yang Zi's arm. "Yang Zi, I'll explain everything. Just… let's go inside. Please."
But Yang Zi was not easily deterred. He ripped his arm from Yu Han's grasp and turned back to Li Hao, his fury undiminished.
"And you! I don't care who the fuck you are, but you stay away from Yu Han. Otherwise, it won't be good for you. Mark my words."
Li Hao's face darkened, the last trace of his smirk vanishing. He took a menacing step closer to Yang Zi, his voice a low, dangerous rumble. "You're too late."
Those two words were like gasoline on Yang Zi's already raging fire. He lunged, a growl rumbling in his chest, ready to translate his anger into action. But Yu Han, surprisingly strong in his desperation, wrapped his arms around Yang Zi and, with a surprising tug, managed to drag him away, pulling him towards the apartment building's entrance.
Shi Wang watched the scene unfold, Tian now resting comfortably against his shoulder, his jealousy still simmering under the surface. He moved closer to Li Hao, a sardonic edge to his voice. "Too fast, huh? Pretty confident for someone who just had his target dragged away."
Li Hao chuckled, a cold, humorless sound. "Oh, this is the best feeling. Seeing you jealous, Shi Wang. It warms my cold, black heart."
Just then, Yu Han, who was still half-dragging Yang Zi into the building, glanced back over his shoulder. And to Shi Wang's utter horror, he offered Li Hao a small, apologetic wave goodbye.
A fresh wave of indignation, hotter than the last, washed over Shi Wang. A wave?! After all that?! His rival had just kissed Yang Zi's best friend, caused a public spectacle, and was now getting a farewell wave?! This was an insult of epic proportions.
"Yang Zi! Wait for me!" Shi Wang roared, his voice echoing in the still-quiet morning. "I'm also coming!"
He cradled Tian closer, a smug, almost triumphant glint in his eyes. With Tian as his undeniable, utterly adorable permit, Shi Wang confidently strode towards the apartment building's entrance. Just before disappearing inside, he shot a deliberately mocking gaze back at Li Hao. After all, Li Hao had never once stepped foot inside their apartment. Shi Wang, on the other hand, was practically a regular.
The message was clear. And it hit its mark.
Li Hao's jaw tightened, his earlier amusement replaced by a simmering frustration. He let out a profound, disgusted sigh. "Shit, Shi Wang… Fuck you!" he muttered under his breath, jamming his hands into his pockets before turning on his heel and stomping towards his own car. The battle for Yu Han, it seemed, was far from over.
But for now, Shi Wang had undoubtedly won this round.