[At Apartment]
The morning air in the apartment, usually quiet and serene, was shattered by a whirlwind of suppressed fury. Yu Han, his face a mask of anxious pleas, wrestled to contain Yang Zi, whose shoulders were rigid with an anger that vibrated through his tense frame.
Yu Han's desperate grip was the only thing preventing a full-blown explosion as they stumbled into the living room.
Behind them, moving with a calm grace that starkly contrasted the chaos, Shi Wang strode in, little Tian nestled securely in his arms. Tian, still drowsy, rubbed his eyes, oblivious to the storm brewing between the adults.
"Yang Zi, please just listen for a second!" Yu Han's voice was a frantic whisper, his gaze darting between Yang Zi's rigid profile and Shi Wang.
"It's not what you think. Li Hao... he just asked me to keep him company for a little while. He said he was all alone for Chinese New Year, and I just... I thought it would be nice. There was nothing more to it, I swear!"
Yang Zi shot him a glance, eyes glinting with an unreadable intensity, but he didn't utter a word, a silent, volatile force. Tian let out a small yawn, burying his face in Shi Wang's shoulder.
Shi Wang's voice, when he finally spoke, was even, almost too casual, cutting through the tension like a cool blade.
"Yang Zi, enough. Let him go." Yu Han, startled, loosened his grip, and Yang Zi moved away, though his anger remained palpable, a dark aura around him.
"Yu Han is innocent. Li Hao didn't do anything untoward. Besides," Shi Wang continued, his gaze pointedly landing on Yang Zi, a knowing glint in his eyes, "you're hardly one to talk, are you?"
Yang Zi's head snapped up.
"You were with me all night, remember?" Shi Wang stated, his tone unwavering. "Because I insisted. It was just companionship, same as with Yu Han and Li Hao."
Yu Han, who had been listening with wide, bewildered eyes, took a step back. "Yang Zi, you were with him whole night? Why?"
The question, laced with genuine surprise, seemed to suck the immediate fury out of Yang Zi. His anger visibly receded, but then, like a shift in a weather system, it intensified and redirected itself, focusing entirely on Shi Wang. Without another word, Yang Zi shot Shi Wang a glare that promised retribution and stormed out of the living room, disappearing into the bathroom with a decisive thud of the door.
Yu Han sank onto the sofa, still trying to process everything. He looked at Shi Wang, his brow furrowed. "You were with him whole night, huh?"
Tian, who had now fully woken up and was watching them with keen curiosity, piped up. "Uncle Han, I slept there with Uncle Wang and Uncle Zi!"
Yu Han's confusion deepened. He had no particular qualms about friends sleeping over, boys or otherwise, but Shi Wang was... different. Shi Wang, the sophisticated, seemingly aloof Shi Wang, spending the night? It just didn't compute.
Shi Wang chuckled, a low, warm sound. He settled Tian down beside Yu Han. "Ah, well, you see… I had a sudden craving for homemade dumplings, actually. And I was a bit bored, feeling all alone last night."
He offered Yu Han a disarmingly charming smile. "So, I convinced him to come over, watch a movie, keep me company. We started watching, and... he just conked out on the sofa. It was truly as simple as that. And Tian, ever the loyal nephew, insisted on sleeping there too."
It was, in essence, the truth, embellished just enough to soothe. Yu Han, easily convinced when presented with such a perfectly plausible scenario, let out a long sigh of relief.
"Shi Wang," Yu Han said, his shoulders slumping, "I'm... I'm so sorry you had to witness all that. What a spectacle."
Shi Wang's chuckle deepened. "Don't worry, Yu Han. Yang Zi looks adorable when he's angry."
Tian, however, shook his head vehemently. "No! I'm scared of Uncle Zi!"
Yu Han and Shi Wang burst into laughter, the last vestiges of the morning's anger finally dissipating.
Just then, the bathroom door creaked open, and Yang Zi emerged, his face still flushed but his eyes now fixed in a furious glare at Shi Wang. He strode back into the living room, completely ignoring Yu Han.
"You," Yang Zi hissed, pointing a finger at Shi Wang, "You just had to open your big mouth, didn't you?"
Yu Han, who had been about to speak to Yang Zi about Li Hao again, blinked in surprise at the sudden redirection of Yang Zi's anger.
Shi Wang, however, remained unfazed. He merely raised an eyebrow, a teasing smile playing on his lips. "Well, someone had to tell the truth, Yang Zi.
He turned slightly to Yu Han. "Besides, Tian already spilled the beans earlier, didn't you, little guy?"
Tian, caught off guard, nodded vigorously.
Yang Zi's face turned an even deeper shade of red. He pressed his lips into a thin line, clearly at a loss for words, his frustration now mixing with a hint of embarrassment. He shot Shi Wang a look that promised a slow, painful revenge later.
Yu Han watched the exchange, a strange mix of emotions swirling within him. Relief that Yang Zi's anger wasn't solely directed at him anymore, but also a growing curiosity about this unexpected dynamic between Yang Zi and Shi Wang. He had always seen Shi Wang as the distant, successful architect, almost regal in his demeanor, not someone who'd casually spend the night with Yang Zi, or tease him like this.
"So, Yang Zi," Yu Han ventured, trying to bridge the gap, "you really were with Shi Wang all night?" He sounded less accusatory now, more genuinely inquisitive.
Yang Zi finally turned his gaze to Yu Han, his anger still simmering, but the edge softening slightly. "It... it's not what you think," he mumbled, avoiding eye contact.
Shi Wang chuckled. "Yes, I was terribly bored. He met Yang Zi's eyes, a knowing glint within his own. "Don't worry, Yu Han. Nothing scandalous happened. Just two friends passing the time. Though," he added, turning back to Yu Han, "Yang Zi does snore when he's really tired."
Yang Zi let out an exasperated groan. "Who said that we are friends? Huh!"
Yu Han couldn't help but crack a small smile. This was so unlike the Yang Zi he knew, and even more unlike the Shi Wang he thought he knew. The rigid, serious facade of both men seemed to crumble slightly in this domestic chaos.
"Okay, okay," Yu Han said, raising his hands in a placating gesture. "I... I understand. I guess I was just surprised. And I'm sorry, Yang Zi, about Li Hao. I really didn't mean for you to get so upset. It was just... he seemed lonely for the New Year, and I thought a friend staying over wouldn't be a big deal."
"You know that I hate him, still you accompanied him? Huh!, I was sick worried about you and you were just enjoying time with him."
"I'm really sorry... Yang Zi, It will never happens again." Yu Han apologized.
Yu Han who was middle of apology suddenly interrupted by someone, who has just came from a room, she was Yang Mei. Her eyes, shrewd and observant, first registered the lingering tension between her brother and Yu Han, then landed on the unfamiliar, elegantly composed figure holding Tian. She noticed the expensive, subtly tailored shirt, the confident posture, and a flicker of recognition sparked in her memory.
"Oh, excuse me," she said, her voice a blend of politeness and nascent curiosity, breaking the fragile peace. "I don't believe we've met. I'm Yang Mei, Tian's mother and Yang Zi's older sister." She offered a small, hesitant smile. "And you are…?"
Shi Wang, ever the picture of grace, inclined his head slightly. "Shi Wang. A pleasure to meet you, Ms. Yang."
Yang Li's eyes widened, her smile faltering then quickly reforming into one of genuine surprise and awe.
"Shi Wang? As in… the Shi Wang?" She looked him up and down again, a new respect dawning in her expression.
"I knew your face was familiar! I saw your interview on the financial news last month! CEO of Wang R&D Private Limited, isn't it? One of the top ten companies in the country!" Her voice grew increasingly animated, a stark contrast to the quiet tension that had permeated the room moments before. "What a surprise! What an honor!"
Yang Zi, who had been glowering at Shi Wang, let out an exasperated groan, running a hand through his hair. "Sister, please. It's too early for this."
His face burned with a fresh wave of mortification, clearly disliking the attention Shi Wang was now receiving, especially from his own sister.
Shi Wang, however, seemed entirely unfazed by the sudden recognition. He offered Yang Li a charming, understated smile.
"It's just an old company. Nothing too exciting." He then subtly shifted Tian in his arms.
Yang Li, though, was not so easily distracted. Her eyes twinkled with a mischievous glint as she looked from Shi Wang to her brother.
"But, Mr. Shi, what brings you to our humble abode so early in the morning? And with Tian and my brother, no less?" Her gaze sharpened on Yang Zi, a silent question hanging in the air.
Yang Zi glared at Shi Wang, silently daring him to explain.
Yu Han immediately shouted, "Jiejie... please make Shi Wang a breakfast."
"Ohh... I'm really sorry, I forgot... Please wait.. don't leave without breakfast."
But Shi Wang refused," No...No.. I'm going back.. really sorry to cause you trouble."
After saying this Shi Wang stepped forward and glance at Yang Zi with a big smile. Yang Zi stood there bewildered.