Chapter 2 - 2

Author

I will change alot of things from the original plot, and warning🚫 the story is totally Gay and mpreg's, any important character can get pregnant,😅 confused bond and impossible things. Healthy fantasy. 😉😜😂

It was already past ten in the morning, yet Zhan was still in his room despite the hunger gnawing at his stomach. He sat in silence, arms wrapped around his knees, trying to understand what exactly was wrong with him today. His phone chimed...a WeChat voice message.

He and his mother had been exchanging voice notes since earlier, using their neighbor Sisi's phone. When the messages suddenly stopped, Zhan had assumed that Aunty Sisi had taken her phone back. Curious, he played the voice note.

It was his mother's voice, offering prayers and wishing him success in his studies. As always, she reminded Zhan to protect his dignity and take care of himself. She ended by saying Sisi would need her phone back soon, as she was heading to the market.

Zhan sighed and set the phone down gently. He stood up, grabbed his jacket, and quietly opened the door to leave his room. He was tired of starving himself. Normally, he had breakfast early, but today had been different.

As he walked toward the kitchen, he nearly bumped into his new housemate, who was stepping out at the same time. He stepped back and said, "Good morning."

Avoiding eye contact, Zhan moved aside so he could pass. Without sparing him a glance, he continued on his way. Only then did he step into the kitchen.

He stood staring at the mess the Housemate had left behind...dirty cups and plates piled in the sink, a bowl of untouched fruit salad on the counter. Zhan eyes followed the door he had exited through, wondering who exactly he expected to clean up after him.

(Me the Author frown... Probably you Zhan-Zhan 😀)

He stood still for over a minute, debating with himself. One part of him urged him to leave everything as it was and just leave the kitchen, but eventually he grabbed the liquid soap and sponge, frowning as he began washing the dishes. Once finished, he cleaned the kitchen, made himself some coffee, and took a few cookies on a plate before heading back to his room.

:

:

Around three o'clock in the afternoon, Zhan emerged from his room. Since finishing breakfast, he'd been studying, pausing only to pee. The house was quiet, and he wanted to be sure his housemate had gone out. He reached for the sitting room door but found it locked. He returned to his room, fetched his keys, and unlocked the door. A glance at the garage confirmed his Housemate car was gone.

Relieved, he went to the kitchen. He had been craving Chinese food since the day before yesterday, but his Housemate presence had made him uncomfortable enough to avoid cooking. Now that the coast was clear, he decided to make the meal. He set the rice on the stove and began preparing it...he still had some chicken thighs in the fridge.

Zhan stepped into the sitting room with a sweeper to clean up and paused to tidy the couch first. His eyes fell on some scattered documents...his Housemate, clearly. He frowned but left them as they were.

He swept the rug and found a key on the floor, twirling it in his fingers and wondering if it belonged to his Housemate bedroom. By the time forty minutes had passed, the food was done, and the house was sparkling clean. He took his food back to his room and checked his phone.

Zhan heart skipped when he saw a missed call from Yiming. Immediately, he lost his appetite. He sat on the edge of the bed, staring at his phone, worried. What would he even say to him if he called back? After a while, he took a deep breath and dialed his number.

No answer. he called again....still no response. Despite his hunger, he could no longer enjoy his meal. He hated anything that made him anxious about Yiming.

He forced himself to eat, then lay on his side. He didn't even notice when sleep overtook him.

Knocking on his door woke him up. Groggily, he sat up, rubbing his eyes and staring at the door, confused and a little irritated. Who could be knocking like that? Was it even him?

He grabbed his phone and checked the time....6:06 PM. He hadn't realized he'd slept for so long.

More knocking. He got up and, with a scowl, threw on shirt. "What is it?" he called out.

A voice replied, "Oh, I think I misplaced my keys. Just wanted to know if you saw them while tidying the sitting room?"

Only then did Zhan remember the key he had seen earlier. He walked to the door, unlocked it, and opened it gently. His housemate was already standing in the sitting room, clearly just arriving home.

Without looking at him, Zhan walked to the couch, retrieved the key, and placed it on his papers. "Here," he said flatly.

"Oh. Okay," the Housemate replied.

Zhan returned to his room, annoyed. Just "Okay"? Not even a simple "thank you"? He rolled his eyes and locked his door again.

Zhan tried calling Yiming again...he still didn't answer. That made four calls now since 7 PM. He guessed he was probably asleep, given the time difference, but he couldn't shake the feeling that he was in trouble.

He got up, took his used plate, and left the room.

In the sitting room, his housemate was gathering his documents while speaking on the phone.

"I'm on my way now," he said before hanging up and slipping the phone into his pocket. He picked up his documents and car keys and stood.

Their eyes met for the first time since he'd moved in. Zhan looked away as if he hadn't seen him and headed toward the kitchen.

"I ate a little of the food you cooked," I-Bo said suddenly, without looking at Zhan, pointing at a takeaway box on the couch. "And I'm taking some for my friend too."

Still without glancing his way, I-Bo picked up the box and walked to the door in a hurry. "Good night," he said.

Zhan watched him leave, locking the door behind him from the outside.

Shocked, Zhan stood there frozen. After a few moments, he walked into the kitchen and saw the mess the Housemate had left: his used plate, coffee cup, and fruit bowl all sitting in the sink, unwashed.

Leaning against the doorframe with his arms folded, he stared at the pile, fighting the frustration building inside him.

Eventually, he walked over, checked the rice I-Bo had left for him...barely enough for three spoonfuls. He had even spilled some around the pot and didn't clean up.

Zhan poured what was left into a small bowl, washed all the utensils, cleaned the kitchen thoroughly, and made himself some tea before heading back to his room with his meager dinner.

He sat on the edge of his bed and dialed Yu Bin's number. Just before the call was about to disconnect, Yu Bin picked up and said, "Wow, Zhan, you seriously don't know how to check in, do you? Anyway, I've arrived safely in Virginia."

Zhan let out a small smile. "I already knew you'd arrive safely. How are you doing?"

Yu Bin scoffed, "That's really not your business right now."

Zhan laughed lightly. "But seriously, where exactly did you tell Hailong-ge you were going?"

Yu Bin replied, "Ugh, don't act like you don't know me. His husband... who's never liked the idea of me staying in that house... talked him into it again. As far as they know, I'm at your place doing group reading with some of our coursemates."

Zhan chuckled. "Alright then. So when are you coming back?"

"Tomorrow's the birthday," Yu Bin said. "If all goes well, I'll be back on Monday."

"I hope so. Guess what?" Zhan said.

"What?" Yu Bin asked.

Zhan sighed. "Yiming called, and I missed it. I've been calling him since and he's not picking up. I know he's really mad. And me…"

Yu Bin cut him off sharply. "You what? So now life has no meaning because of this guy?"

Zhan lowered his voice. "He warned me... again and again...not to miss his calls. I swear, I was in the kitchen when he called, and my phone was in the room. It wasn't intentional."

Sounding irritated, Yu Bin snapped, "Why are you letting yourself be ruled by this guy, Zhan? How long are you going to let things continue like this? When are you going to show him that you're a person, not a pet? If this is what marriage will be like, then you're already setting yourself up to be a slave in his house! What kind of twisted relationship is this? Honestly, I give up on you...because if it were me, no way. Whatever happens, happens."

Softly, Zhan said, "I don't have a choice, Bin…"

As he spoke, tears started to fall from his eyes.

Yu Bin, clearly frustrated, said, "Is it just you in your family he noticed? What about Lubei and Lanbei? I think you said Lubei is just two years younger than you, and Lanbei a year. Then your older sisters, Sui and Song...what, they don't count as women too?"

Zhan didn't say a word, just wiped his tears.

Yu Bin sighed. "Well, whatever. But you really need to start standing up for yourself, Zhan. Honestly, sending you abroad was the worst decision they could've made....if you don't use the opportunity to claim your freedom. If you don't, I'm sorry, but you're headed for a miserable future. This isn't me being harsh.... it's just the truth. I'm tired of this whole Yiming issue."

Summoning courage, Zhan said, "Please don't talk like that, Bin. You're supposed to be the one praying for things to work out for me, not saying things like this…"

Yu Bin scoffed but didn't say more.

Then Zhan said quietly, "Please… can you message him tomorrow morning on WeChat and apologize on my behalf? Because I know he won't answer my calls, no matter what."

Yu Bin sighed. "Alright. I hope tomorrow everything works smoothly."

"Amen," Zhan muttered, and they hung up.

***

At exactly ten minutes to ten in the morning, Zhan came out of his room with his phone in hand, just in case Yiming called and he missed it again. Since the night before, he'd been glued to his phone, afraid of missing a call from him again. He had already tried calling him three times after dawn...no response. Now he tried once more: still nothing.

In the living room, he spotted his new housemate at the reading nook, deeply focused on a huge textbook. Zhan hadn't even noticed when he came back home. After dawn, he had made himself hot chocolate and cookies, stayed in the living room to study until about 7 a.m., then returned to his room and only just got up because he was feeling hungry.

I-Bo looked up just once and said, "Good morning."

Zhan walked further into the living room and simply replied, "morning," before setting his phone down on a one-seater and heading to the kitchen.

From behind him, I-Bo spoke. "If you haven't had breakfast yet, there's some of mine left....help yourself…"

Zhan paused, then turned to glance at the center table he pointed to. There was a food bag placed on it, though he couldn't tell what kind of meal was inside. He looked at him briefly, still reading his book, and shook his head, uninterested. "No, thanks," he said, and walked off to the kitchen.

He stood in the kitchen for more than three minutes, uncertain of what to do. The presence of his housemate in the living room made him too uncomfortable to cook. Eventually, he reached for a cereal box and a bowl, deciding to just have some cornflakes.

Then he heard his phone ringing in the living room. He had taken it off silent mode the day before, so the sound startled him. Without realizing it, he dropped both the cereal and the bowl and rushed out of the kitchen in a few seconds.

His housemate watched as he hurried past to grab his phone. Zhan heart sank when he saw it was Yiming calling. Without hesitation, he answered the call, heart racing. "Hello," he said, trying to sound calm. When there was only silence, he checked the screen again and put the phone back to his ear, repeating, "Hello?"

His housemate set his textbook aside, noticing how visibly distressed he was, and turned his full attention to him.

Zhan stared at the phone screen again, still met with silence from Yiming. But he could hear voices in the background. Desperate, he dropped to the floor of the living room, switched to speaker, and pleaded softly, "I know you can hear me. Please, I'm begging you. I promise this won't happen again. Please forgive me."

At last, Yiming spoke, his voice cold and husky.

"Hold on to your promise, man. This is the fifth time you've missed my call in just a short period. Are you out of your mind or is something wrong with your head?"

Zhan quickly shook his head, tears welling in his eyes. "I was in the kitchen cooking, I didn't hear it..."

He cut him off sharply. "I don't want to hear anything from you. Your lies and excuses don't mean anything to me. You think I haven't noticed how you've been taking me for granted lately? Let me warn you, if you miss my call again, I swear, I'll surprise you. It won't take me anything to show up in America."

Tears spilled over Zhan cheeks as he whispered, "But why can't you just understand me for once?"

"Understand you?" he snapped. "Who are you to ask for understanding? What makes you think you deserve it?"

Zhan remained silent.

"What... are you too proud to apologize now?" Yiming added.

Zhan didn't reply, because he'd been apologizing since he picked up the call. He had no idea what more he wanted from him. Finally, Yiming said flatly,

"Anyway, I called to warn you. Stop calling me unnecessarily. And tell your nosy friend to stay out of my DMs or I'll deal with him harshly. I'll call you when I feel like it... don't you dare call my number again."

With that, he hung up.

Zhan stared blankly at the screen, fresh tears spilling down his cheeks. His housemate had watched the entire scene quietly. A faint smirk tugged at the corner of his lips, more out of disbelief than amusement.

Zhan wiped his tears quickly and stood up, only then realizing the Housemate was still there in the living room. Their eyes met briefly before Zhan quickly looked away. He had completely forgotten he was even there.

Then he asked, casually,

"Was that your father?"

Zhan shot him a sharp look, then walked past him to his room, his tears flowing freely again. Once inside, he collapsed onto his bed, sobbing uncontrollably into his pillow. He stayed that way for nearly forty minutes before the crying finally faded. He closed his eyes.

A knock came at his door... followed immediately by the door opening. Zhan sat up quickly, startled that he hadn't locked it. His new housemate stepped inside, dropped a bag near the door, leaned casually against the frame with his arms crossed, and looked him over carefully.

"Seriously?" he said in a calm voice. "You're crying over a guy?"

Zhan frowned and looked away, wondering how he even knew he understood general Chinese Mandarin.

His Housemate turned the ring on his finger slowly, as if choosing his words.

"It's... funny."

Zhan spun to face him, his expression hardened. "Excuse me? What gives you the right to barge into someone's bedroom like this?"

I-Bo shrugged. "Call it interference or advice, I don't care. Just... run for your life. You're dating a monster."

And with that, he turned and walked out, closing the door behind him.

Zhan held his head in his hands....

it was spinning. He got up, locked the door properly this time, and entered the bathroom.

By twelve noon, he had finished showering and was fully dressed.

He glanced at the bag his housemate had left earlier, then quickly looked away. Peeking out of his room, he noticed his Housemate door was locked and the living room is empty. He walked slowly into the kitchen.

His cereal and bowl from earlier had been neatly placed on the kitchen cabinet. He turned and left the kitchen again, returned to his room, and finally picked up the bag he'd left for him. Sitting down, he peeked inside.

It was a warm breakfast sandwich with a fresh fruit smoothie.

****

That evening, Zhan stepped into the living room, drawn by the hunger gnawing at his stomach. His housemate still hadn't returned, and the entire day had felt off.... quiet and heavy.

Out of nowhere, a strange feeling washed over him: for the first time, he was genuinely tired of Yiming's attitude and the way he treated him. The thought that his housemate had overheard his phone conversation with Yiming, especially the controlling things he had said, filled him with embarrassment and frustration. He wished none of it had ever happened.

He sank into the couch, resting his head against the backrest, slipping into the silence of his thoughts.

After a while, he let out a deep sigh and got up slowly, heading to the kitchen. As he walked, he thought about what he could prepare for dinner.

Absentmindedly, he started rinsing a few dirty dishes left in the sink... clearly used by his housemate... then turned on the stove and quickly cooked some stir-fried pasta. Once finished, he served himself a small portion and left the kitchen.

Just as he entered the corridor near their rooms, he nearly bumped into his housemate. Startled, he gasped and stepped back, then quickly frowned, hiding his surprise. I-Bo stood aside, silently watching him. A chill ran down Zhan spine... he hadn't even realized he was home. But instead of reacting, he kept a cold expression, pretending to be unfazed. I-Bo gave a small shrug and walked past him.

Zhan watched him from the corner of his eye as he headed toward the reading nook in the living room, collecting the papers he had left scattered on the table. Zhan turned his face away and went straight into his room, locking the door behind him.

By 8:00 p.m., Zhan had finished everything he needed to do. He changed into comfortable Pajama's and lay down early... he had class the next morning. It didn't take long before sleep crept in.

Sometime later, Zhan was woken by a knock at his door. Rubbing his eyes, he sat up groggily and checked his phone. 9:55 p.m. His brows furrowed.... why would someone be knocking at this hour?

He raised his voice, slightly irritated. "Who is it?"

A male voice responded from the other side. "I could use your help, if you don't mind."

Zhan blinked in disbelief. "Excuse me?"

"I misplaced my keys again," his Housemate said flatly.

For a moment, Zhan was speechless. His mind couldn't even form a response. Then I-Bo added, "Hello?"

Finally, Zhan scowled and snapped, "I don't understand... how did you misplace your keys again?"

"Look, I'm heading out now. Just lock the door behind me after I leave."

"And why exactly are you asking me for the key?" Zhan retorted. "Are our keys joined at the hip or something?"

There was a pause. Then I-Bo said, "How am I supposed to leave if I can't find the front door key?"

"But our keys are separate, aren't they?" Zhan shot back.

"Well," I-Bo muttered, "I only realized that now thanks to you. Just come open the door. I'm waiting in the living room."

A deep wave of irritation bubbled inside him. He added, "I'll wait."

Zhan didn't reply. Eventually, he sighed in frustration, got off the bed, grabbed his pajama shirt and keys, and headed for the door. His expression remained stony. When he reached the living room, he found his Housemate standing near the door, glued to his phone, not even bothering to look up.

Zhan unlocked the door and muttered, "You weren't given a needle as a key, were you? One that keeps getting lost every single time? I'm not responsible for anyone else's carelessness."

His Housemate didn't say anything. He simply walked out and, without looking back, said, "I thought it was a needle I was given, Housemate."

Zhan stared at him as he walked to his car. That's his idea of a thank-you? Zhan thought bitterly. Shaking his head, he locked the door behind him and made a silent vow.... never again would he use his own key to help him out. If he got locked out next time, that would be his problem.

And really, why didn't he ever misplace his car keys....only the house key?

Still scowling, Zhan turned to head back to his room but paused when he saw the dirty dishes and an empty drink container his Housemate had left in the living room. His eyes widened slightly in disbelief. Seriously?

He had taken his food without permission, eaten it, and then left the dirty plate in plain view like he was expected to clean up after him. Well, he told himself, he didn't leave it for me. He left it for himself. If it sits there for a whole week, he'll come back and find it untouched....because I won't be moving it.

Still fuming, he walked back to his room and closed the door firmly behind him.

Early in the Morning

Zhan had just finished getting ready for school. He still hadn't picked up the plate his Housemate had left in the living room the previous night. Even though he tried to ignore it, his mind kept drifting...he couldn't stand seeing things out of place. As he took the teacup his housemate used to the kitchen, he accidentally stepped on a key lying on the plush carpet.

He bent down and picked it up....it was his Housemate. Just careless, he thought with a sigh, placing the key on the armrest of the couch. He glanced at the plate and empty soda and water bottles he'd left behind, rolled his eyes, and carried them to the kitchen along with his cup. A few minutes later, he returned to the living room, checked his phone, grabbed his backbag, and left after seeing the notification that the taxi he ordered was about to be here.

Around Noon

Zhan was sitting in the common area with Yu Bin, who had just arrived on campus. Zhan looked at him and said, "Had your birthday fun?"

Yu Bin grinned. "Well, since you didn't show up, that's your loss. What did you guys do in class today?"

"Nothing much," Zhan replied.

Yu Bin opened his backbag and pulled out a small slice of cake. "Here. I know how you are, but I brought this anyway."

Zhan smiled and accepted it. "Thanks."

Yu Bin tilted his head. "So... have you and Yiming talked lately?"

Zhan lowered his gaze. "Bin… what exactly did you message him?"

Yu Bin unlocked his phone and pulled up the conversation, then handed it to Zhan. He scrolled through it quietly. Nothing Yu Bin said was offensive... just friendly chatter. Still, Zhan said nothing,

staring at the phone.

"What did he say to you?" Yu Bin asked.

Zhan handed the phone back. "Nothing much. He just mentioned you messaged him."

Yu Bin scoffed. "Did you see the way he replied to me? Like he's some kind of prince or something. Honestly, Yiming doesn't deserve you. You're way too good for him. I hope one day you find someone better... someone who truly values you."

Zhan stood up slowly. "Let's go. We'll be late for class."

Yu Bin blinked. "Not even a thank-you or amen?"

Zhan gave a small smile. "What kind of change are we hoping for, Bin? That he suddenly becomes a decent person?"

Yu Bin shook his head and stood. "Let's just go."

Later That Day

Zhan returned home in an Uber and headed toward his apartment. His housemate came out of his parked car at the same time. Zhan glanced at him once, then turned away without greeting him.

"I've been waiting all day," his Housemate said, following him. "I forgot some documents inside and needed them hours ago."

"Serves you right," Zhan muttered, not breaking stride.

Zhan unlocked the door, stepped inside, and went straight to his room, locking it behind him.

Later, after changing clothes, Zhan stepped out to cook. His Housemate was nowhere to be seen. Zhan checked the window overlooking the parking area... his car was gone. He checked the couch where he had left his key earlier....it was gone. He must've taken it. He sighed and went to the kitchen.

Around 9 PM

Zhan had just finished reviewing for a test when he picked up his phone to check if their neighbor, Aunt Sisi, had replied to his message. She hadn't. Zhan sighed, put the phone down, folded the mat he'd been sitting on, put on a light sweater, and went to the kitchen to dish out dinner.

His housemate was sitting on the couch with his laptop. Without acknowledging him, he walked to the kitchen. When he returned with food, his Housemate looked up.

"Can I have some of your food, if you don't mind?" he asked.

Zhan was startled but replied, "You've been sneaking bites before without asking. What's different now?"

He gave him a sheepish smile. "I know, but I figured I'd ask politely today."

Without answering, Zhan went to his room. If he had to give him permission every time, he probably wouldn't eat at all.

The Next Morning

Zhan was in the kitchen preparing snacks to take to school... he had a long day of classes and a test that morning. His housemate returned after having been out all night. As he passed through the living room, he noticed Zhan's handbag and keys resting beside it. He picked up the keys, left the apartment quietly, and locked the door from outside.

About fifteen minutes later, Zhan came out of the kitchen to leave.... but his keys were missing. He checked everywhere... his room, the kitchen, the living room. No sign of them. He tried to stay calm but was clearly panicked. He couldn't remember if he had brought the keys to the living room at all.

After tearing his room apart in frustration, he gave up and sat on the couch, trying to think. Then he heard the front door unlock.

His housemate entered, holding some documents. Without even glancing at him, he walked in, placed the papers on the couch, greeted him casually...."Good morning, housemate"....and walked to his room, locking it behind him.

Zhan sat down heavily, his head throbbing. Where on earth could those keys be? He'd never misplaced them before...except that one time Yu Bin accidentally dropped one. After a few minutes, his housemate returned to the living room again, avoided looking in his direction, grabbed a water bottle from the kitchen, and retreated to his room.

His phone rang. It was Yu Bin.

"You're still not here?" Yu Bin exclaimed. "I've already made it to class and you're not even on campus! Don't tell me you forgot we have a test today."

"I didn't forget," Zhan replied with a deep sigh.

"And you were supposed to give me a crash tutorial before we go in!"

"I'm coming," Zhan said quietly.

"Please hurry. You know I understand absolutely nothing in this course."

After ending the call, Zhan stared at the time. Then, after taking a deep breath, he stood, gathered his courage, and walked slowly toward his Housemate room. He paused in front of the door, raised his hand, and knocked...his lips slightly pouted.

Hearing a knock at the door, I-Bo glanced over, grinned, and waited. When the knock came again, he asked, "Who's there?"... mimicking the exact way Zhan always asked. Zhan stayed silent, pouting instead.

Curious, I Bo stood up and walked to the door. When he opened it, he looked him over from head to toe, surprised. Zhan quickly turned his face away. Still amused, I-Bo asked, "Mister, hope everything's alright?"

Trying to sound calm, Zhan replied, "I need you to open the door for me."

I-Bo straightened up. "I don't get it. Do we now share keys? Where's yours?"

"It's fine. No long story," Zhan said, turning to leave.

I-Bo raised a brow. "So you couldn't find yours?"

Giving him a sharp look, Zhan snapped, "If I had it, would I be here asking you to open the door?"

"Ohh, I see… does this mean you're careless too?"

Zhan walked away and returned to the sitting room. His Housemate shook his head with a satisfied smirk and headed back inside to grab his keys. When he returned to the living room, he muttered teasingly, "How do you misplace an entire bunch of keys like it's a sewing needle? This is so strange."

Zhan picked up his backbag and walked toward the door. He opened it, and Zhan exited without looking back. He locked the door behind him with a smug grin. At least now he'd paid him back for yesterday.

In school, Yu Bin looked at Zhan and asked, "Are you sure your keys aren't inside the couch?"

"How could they be in the couch?" Zhan frowned.

"Well, did you check the kitchen?"

"I've checked everywhere!" Zhan sighed.

"Then just contact the property agent and ask for a replacement key," Yu Bin suggested.

"I think that'll be a long process,"Zhan replied. "Besides, the bunch had two keys. I lost one, so I've been using the spare. Now I can't find that one either."

"Don't stress," Yu Bin reassured him. "You'll definitely find them. You probably just forgot where you left them. It's either in your room or the living room. But are you seriously going to wait for your housemate to come back before you can get in again?"

Zhan rolled his eyes. "What housemate? He hardly even sleeps at the house. And there's no set time for when he comes around."

"Huh? Where does he sleep, then?"

Zhan widened his eyes. "What kind of question is that? How am I supposed to know? It's none of my business where he sleeps!"

"Well, come stay at my place for the night then," Yu Bin offered.

"You think it won't be a problem?"

"What kind of problem? It's not like the house belongs to him or his father. Come on, let's go," he said, leading the way while Zhan followed quietly.

When they entered the sitting room, they greeted with a soft "hello."Peng, Yu Bin's cousin's husband, was lounging on the couch and barely looked up as he replied, "Hi."

Zhan greeted him as well, but Peng just kept scrolling on his phone. Yu Bin added, "You remember him, right? My friend and classmate, Zhan."

"Oh, okay," Peng muttered.

"He'll be staying the night. He lost his house keys."

Peng's phone rang. He stood up to answer it and left the room without another word.

Yu Bin turned to Zhan. "Come on, let's go to my room."

Once inside, Yu Bin changed out of his clothes and said, "Let me grab us something to eat from the kitchen."

Zhan nodded. Truthfully, he felt uneasy in the house. He knew from the cold reception he got that he wasn't welcome here. He spent the rest of the time quietly reading while Yu Bin dozed off after dinner.

When evening came, Zhan got up and washed his face. Afterward, Yu Bin suggested, "Let me check what that man cooked for dinner."

Zhan stayed silent, continuing his quiet thoughts.

Yu Bin stepped into the living room where Peng was feeding his child cereal. "A Yue just woke up," he said. "I haven't seen him all day."

"Yes," Peng replied.

Yu Bin ruffled the child's hair and walked to the kitchen. The food Peng left behind was just a small portion, barely enough for one person. Yu Bin stood silently, then shrugged, scooped out a serving for Zhan, and decided he'd just eat cereal later.

As he left the kitchen, his cousin Hailong walked into the house. He greeted him and took a plastic bag from him.

"Leave it," he said. "Go eat first."

"That food wasn't made for me," Yu Bin replied. "It's for my friend. I'll just eat cereal."

Peng just watched quietly.

"Which friend?" Hailong asked.

"Zhan. He lost his house key and came to spend the night here."

"Oh wow, that's unfortunate. Wasn't more food made earlier?"

"Nope," Yu Bin said, tipping the plate slightly to show how little food was left. "We've been back since afternoon."

"Alright, what do you two want to eat? I'll go get something from the restaurant."

Yu Bin smiled and placed the plate on the center table near Peng. "Let me ask Zhan what he wants."

Peng watched him coldly as he walked into the room.

Inside, Yu Bin said, "Zhan, come greet my cousin brother Hailong. I told him you're here."

Zhan looked up. "Is that really necessary?"

"What kind of question is that? He's my cousin, and I already mentioned you. You should at least say hello."

Zhan sighed, got up, and followed him out. Standing beside the couch, he greeted Hailong without making eye contact. He smiled warmly and responded while watching him. Peng, on the other hand, was expressionless, accidentally shoving cereal into his son's nose instead of his mouth.

Only Zhan noticed.

Smiling, Yu Bin told him, "My cousin's going out to get food. What should we ask for?"

Zhan didn't say anything.

Yu Bin started listing off options excitedly.

Peng got up, left the bowl on the center table, and carried A Yue out of the room. "Let's get you cleaned up," he said.

Zhan lowered his head quietly. Hailong turned to him and asked gently, "So, should I just get the things Bin-Bin listed for you, Zhan?"

He nodded without speaking and then slowly returned to the room, feeling even more out of place.

Zhan sat quietly on the edge of Yu Bin's bed, cold and withdrawn. He pulled out his phone and checked the time... it was already 7:30 PM. He didn't feel like he could spend the night here anymore. Most likely, his housemate was back home by now. But how could he just go back? The thought of having to knock on his door made his stomach turn.

Yu Bin entered the room, snapping Zhan out of his thoughts.

"Can you believe that awful man didn't leave us any food?" Yu Bin complained, holding his chin in frustration. "Poor Hailong came back looking like he'd been dragged through the mud.... and he's on night shift, mind you! He's so petty, he probably hoped we'd starve out of spite. I listed food items for Hailong to bring for all of us, and now there's barely enough for two. Unless he had the sense to buy him something separate, he'll throw a fit. I've never seen someone so toxic in my life. I thought people left their bad habits behind when moving abroad.... but Peng packed his right along with his luggage!"

Zhan forced a smile and replied, "It's okay. I think I'll head home anyway. Even if brother Hailong hadn't brought anything, my housemate called....he's back now."

Yu Bin stared at him in shock. "Wait, when did you even get your housemate's number? He called you? I don't believe that. You just want to leave. Look, if this is about Peng....I'm only tolerating him in this house. His attitude is unmatched. But you, you could stay here for a year and he couldn't do anything about it. It's not his house. Brother Hailong would welcome you warmly."

Zhan sighed. "Bin, my housemate is back. I really can't stay. I don't even have spare clothes, and I left laundry in the machine. It's a shared space....he might need to do his laundry too."

Yu Bin frowned, clearly upset. "So what are you really saying? While I was listing food for bro Hailong to buy for us, you're planning to leave? He'll be disappointed too....he went out because of you. If it were just me, I'd starve before asking him for help."

Zhan smiled faintly. "I'll wait until he comes back, then I'll leave and take the food with me."

Yu Bin didn't respond. He picked up his phone and scrolled in silence, his mood clearly soured. Zhan didn't say another word. No matter how upset Yu Bin was, he knew he couldn't spend the night here.

After a while, Hailong returned with food. When he called Yu Bin to let him know he was outside, he got up and left the room. Zhan watched him go without a word, then smiled quietly to himself.

At the dining table, Yu Bin picked up the takeout bag his cousin had brought and returned to the room. Without saying anything, he dished out a small portion for himself and left the rest... quite a lot.... for Zhan.

Zhan looked at the container. "What am I supposed to do with all this food, Bin?"

Without looking at him, Yu Bin replied, "That's your problem."

Zhan didn't want to argue. He stood, grabbed his phone, backbag, and the food, then said softly, "I'll see you tomorrow. Thank you so much, dear."

"Did you order a ride already?" Yu Bin asked.

"Yes," Zhan replied.

Yu Bin got up, and they both left the room. Just as they stepped into the living room, they bumped into Hailong. He looked at them curiously.

"What's going on?"

Yu Bin tilted his head. "His housemate is back, so he's heading home."

"Isn't it a bit late?"

"I said the same thing," Yu Bin huffed.

Hailong turned to Zhan, who kept his gaze lowered. "Why not stay until morning?" he suggested gently. "It's already dark out."

Zhan gave a polite smile and replied quietly, "There's something I need to take care of tonight."

Hailong shrugged. "Well, if you insist…"

"Thank you for the food," he said softly.

Yu Bin rolled his eyes. Hailong then offered, "I'm heading out anyway... I can drop you off."

Zhan was surprised. "I already ordered a ride…"

Yu Bin gave him a look. "You can cancel it."

Zhan suddenly felt uncomfortable. He didn't respond immediately, but after a moment, he said quietly, "Okay."

As Hailong headed for the door, Yu Bin leaned in and muttered, "Loosen up a little. You always act like you're from.... What's that neighborhood of yours in chongqing called again?"

Zhan stared at him blankly, then turned and walked slowly toward the door.

Yu Bin chuckled under his breath. "Goodnight, friend."

Zhan didn't even reply.

Hailong was waiting in the car. When Zhan got in, he looked around nervously, hoping his husband wouldn't come out and see them. Hailong started the engine, and they left the garage. Only then did he finally exhale and fasten his seatbelt. In his mind, he swore this would be his last visit to Yu Bin's house.

After a few minutes on the road, Hailong asked, "Where do you live?"

He told him while keeping his eyes on the road.

"So you're in a co-living apartment?" he asked.

"Yes," he replied.

"Why didn't you just come stay here with Yu Bin instead of living with a stranger?"

"I'm usually home alone," he said. "My housemate's rarely around."

"Hmm… I see." He was quiet for a moment, then asked, "Are you also from Chongqing?"

"Yeah."

"Which neighborhood?"

Zhan stayed quiet. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed him glancing at him while driving. He quickly looked down and gave him a vague answer.

"Oh, okay. I'm from Chongqing too....born and raised."

Zhan stayed quiet.

Thirteen minutes later, they arrived at his building. He parked and turned toward him.

Zhan picked up the food bag and said, "Thank you so much."

He handed him his phone. Zhan looked at him, confused.

"Put your number in. That way we can keep in touch. If you need anything, feel free to reach out."

Zhan looked down, uneasy. If he'd known earlier, he would've just waited outside his apartment until his housemate returned. But it was too late now.

He was still looking at him, waiting.

Zhan finally took the phone and entered his number. He dialed it immediately, and his bag vibrated.

"Save my number," he said.

"Okay."

"Good night, take care, Zhan."

"Thanks," Zhan said, pushing the door open and stepping out.

He glanced up at his building and saw the kitchen light on and a car in the garage...his housemate was home. Relief washed over him.

He walked up to the door, shivering slightly as the chilly night air bit through her clothes. Winter was coming.

He knocked gently three times before he heard his voice.

"Who's there?"

He turned his head and mumbled, "Somebody."

"Somebody? I wasn't expecting anyone this late."

Zhan scowled. "Just open the door. I need to get in."

"And who exactly am I opening the door for?"

Zhan didn't respond, already irritated.

"Oh well," his Housemate said. "I guess I'll head back to bed. I'm not a door keeper, after all."

Now truly upset, Zhan snapped, "Please just open the door."

"For who?"

"Don't you recognize my voice?"

"Ohh, now you're yelling at me?"

Almost begging now, Zhan said softly, "Please, open the door."

"I'm sorry, I don't know who you are. Do you not have a name?"

Zhan stared at the door, on the verge of tears.

"Well," his Housemate said, "I'm going to bed unless someone tells me who they are."

Zhan took a breath and finally said, "Zhan."

"Ohh… Sean." His tone shifted. "S-E-A-N," he spelled mockingly.

Zhan nearly burst into tears. "It's freezing out here. If it were you, would you want to be standing in the cold?"

He finally opened the door. "If you knew it was cold, why'd you stay out so late?"

Zhan ignored him, brushing past him with a scowl.

"Oh, I see," he said as Zhan stormed inside. "You were out with your boyfriend. He dropped you off, right? Let's hope he wasn't the one making you cry."

Zhan headed straight to his room, his words echoing in his mind.

I-Bo watched him go and added, "Well, your door keeper opened the door. Better find that missing key.... unless you're planning to sleep outside again."

Zhan slammed his bedroom door, locked it, and let out a long, frustrated sigh.

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