Requital hope

Fifty-five

Yibo's Pov.

The next morning I woke up feeling cold, Zhan wasn't in bed. I sat up and rubbed the sleep from my eyes. I scanned the room for any sign of Zhan but didn't see him. Just as I was stepping out of bed Zhan appeared in the doorway.

"Morning." He said, smiling.

"Good morning." I replied, also smiling.

"I brought you some breakfast." He was holding a plate of pancakes and eggs. I thanked him as he handed the plate to me. The food was tasty. When he heard my accidental moan he chuckled, it was short and quiet but he still managed to hear it somehow. I held the back of my hand over my mouth and blushed.

"So... what time did you want to head out?" He asked me, taking a seat beside me on the bed.

"Is ten too early?" I asked him, sitting the plate on my lap.

"Ten? as in ten-pm?" He questioned. looking at me as if I were mental.

"No dummy, I mean ten in the morning." rolled my eyes at him.

"Do you know what time it is?" He raised a brow at me.

"I-I didn't check." I responded worriedly. Oh gosh, did I sleep in late? My head darted around the room, forgetting where Zhan kept his clock. I groaned when I saw the time.

"Ten-thirty?" I wanted to go earlier so we'd have a smaller chance of running into my father. "How about twelve?" I settled for. Today had to be the day.

"I'll be ready anytime you want to go." He
answered, laying backwards on the bed. I sat the now empty plate on the nightstand nearby and joined Him. We lay like that for a while. As much as I wanted to just sleep in with Zhan I had to eventually get up and prepare for the day.

"'Morning sleepy head." Jia greeted me as I made my way into the kitchen.

"Yeah, morning, sleepy head." Xichen mimicked with a laugh. After washing my plate I took a seat at the table and chatted with them.

"So I heard you and Zhan are going out again today." Jia said, grabbing a cup of steaming tea. I nodded.

"Where are you two adventuring off today?" She asked, taking a seat.

"Um..." I started, nervously. "My house." She sat her cup down as if it had suddenly quadrupled in weight. Her look seems to hold even more.

"Why, Why would you go back to a place like that?" She questioned, scrunching her brows.

"It's just to get some of my belongings. I explained, waving my hands back and forth in a short motion. "Assuming there's anything left to scavenge." She sat there staring at me for a moment.

"Alright, just be careful. I don't want your father getting his hands on you. As absurd as that sounds." She said, making me chuckle.

"That's why I'm here." Zhan said, stepping into the kitchen. "I'll be his knight in shining armor." He smirked, leaning against the wall.

"Be safe you two. If things get out of hand, call me, or better yet, the police." Jia ordered, sternly. "Make sure you have them on speed di-" She was interrupted by Zhan.

"Yeah yeah, mom I get it. Don't forget, I'm a man, I can handle things myself." Zhan assured her. She narrowed her eyes at him for a moment then went back to her tea.

"By the way, Zhan, where were you this morning? I didn't see you on the couch. Xichen said, looking at Zhan.

"I slept in my room." Zhan answered, walking over to me. I looked at him questioningly. "With this guy." He laughed, wrapping his arms around my shoulders. My frame visibly stiffened and flushed. so much so that I wasn't able to speak a word. Xichen raised a brow and laughed.