"What are you doing here?" Zhan said when he came out of the bathroom, Zhao Liying was there. "Where is the nurse I left behind?"
"She came out when I came in," Zhao Liying said in a composed voice. Despite everything, Zhan bitterly admired the woman. Tall and beautiful and glamorous. Everything she wears is a designer's label.
"You have no right to be near my daughter. You almost got her killed!"
"You know it was an accident," the girl defended.
"That's what the scenario is. You know you're near the swimming pool, right? Why did you leave my daughter unattended? Did you do it on purpose?"
"I-I never thought that she would-" she stammered.
"The pool is far from the lanai. I wondered a few times how my child came to the swimming pool just crawling, and at the time while Yibo and I were talking." His eyes were burning with suppressed anger.
"Be careful what you say!" Zhao Liying said. "You even beat the detective with what you're saying. Even Yibo knows it was an accident."
"He is blind," he answered sarcastically. "Anyway, get out. I don't need you here."
"Don't mess up Yibo and I's life with that kid." She glanced sideways at the sleeping child. "Yibo often told me that he doesn't want commitments. He doesn't want to be trapped with a child. He makes sure that I wouldn't be pregnant, or I would have bore him a child. Yours was an accident, not on purpose. He told me so."
Zhan felt pain in his chest. Remembered the first time in the library. He didn't understand back then. But Yibo was trying to take something from his pocket. What was there was an empty pack that he didn't pay attention to.
But why does Yibo want to take his child? He saw Yibo's face while staring at Crystal in the ICU when she was out of danger. Zhan was sure, he saw love and tenderness in Yibo's eyes. Or that's what he wants to see on Yibo's face. Maybe what he saw was relief on Yibo's face because Crystal survived the danger.
"Get out of our lives, W-whatever your name is! Don't use the kid on Yibo! He's an honorable man and..." she couldn't finish what she had to say when the door opened and Yibo entered.
"Go on, Liying. I want to hear what else you have to say." it was spoken quietly but Zhao Liying knew how much anger was under Yibo's voice.
Zhao Liying raised her face and walked towards the door. And Zhan couldn't find fault with the dignity Zhao Liying showed.
"What are you doing here?" he turned to Yibo as the door closed.
"That child is my daughter, Zhan. It's my right to look after her," Yibo said calmly and glanced at the sleeping child.
"She almost died because of you."
The accusation was like a knife in Yibo's chest. "That's unfair."
"I don't care! Leave us alone."
"Zhan," Yibo said as he stepped closer to Zhan who quickly stood up. "Please, can't we talk..."
"We have nothing to talk about, Yibo. Don't take my daughter from me. You will have to kill me first," Zhan said determinedly.
"Zhan, I love you..." Yibo declared huskily.
Zhan's eyes widened slightly. His heart is suddenly beating so fast. He tried to calm himself and ignore what he heard.
"The most overrated declaration," Zhan mocked. "Don't waste your breath, Yibo. I don't know what the reason for your interest in my daughter is. I will not allow your woman to touch my daughter. She almost died because of your woman!"
"She wasn't my woman. She made herself available when..."
"Please, I'm not interested in you two. You don't have to lie. She told me you didn't want to be burdened by a child."
"Anyone's child but yours Zhan. Our child." Yibo stepped closer until there was only a span between the two of them. Zhan has nothing to back down from because the hospital table is behind him. "I need you in my life, you and Crystal..." Yibo said tenderly.
"Don't do this, Yibo." Zhan's breathless and his heart beating fast. His mind panicking about the right thing to say. "All right, I won't keep Crystal away from you. She will know you are his other father. You can have your visiting rights but don't tell lies," Zhan pushed violently Yibo and stepped towards the door. "Take your time with- your daughter. I hope you won't be there when I come back," turned the lock to get out when Yibo spoke.
"Sean baby, please, listen..." Zhan took a sharp breath and violently turned around. "W-what did you say?"
"I said listen, Why don't you listen to what I have to tell you..."
"What-did you call me?" Zhan was barely breathing.
Did he hear that?
"Zha-Sean, baby. Why?" Yibo's eyebrows met with his confused face.
"Who-Sean?" Zhan's heart was beating so fast that his question came out in a whisper.
"That's what I've called you since you were fifteen."
"W-why?"
Yibo shrugged his shoulders. "I once had a crush with my professor at CU. He was married though. His name is Sean Zhan Sterns and he allowed us to call him Sean. I adopted the nickname for you."
Zhan's eyes started to sparkle. "And—and you—loved me?"
"Loved you since you were fifteen." Yibo's voice in its soft huskiness. "Remember the day my grandfather died?"
Zhan reluctantly nodded. How could he forget the first time he saw the grandson of the Villa owner his parents worked at.
"I have kept on loving you secretly. You were so young. I don't know how to tell you. My mind is full of how to please Qingheng-Jun. I was so busy at WQC. But I am trying to go home to Yúnshēn Bùzhīchù even without reason to go there. I wanted to see you. And I love you still and will always love you. Ain't that enough declaration?" This time, Yibo was smiling. Using the American colloquial with a twang.
"T-that-afternoon, in the library. When you-when you'
"When I made love to you..." added Yibo, impatiently waiting for Zhan's next words.
"You called me Sean..."
"Perhaps and I don't remember." Yibo held him closer. He grabbed Zhan's face and lifted him up. "But I know it was you under me. That when I buried my flesh deep inside you, I knew you were hurting..."
"That's why you said you're sorry..." Zhan's eyes were like a moonshine.
"Did I?" Yibo caressed Zhan's cheeks with the back of his hand. "But I was only sorry that I caused you pain. I wasn't sorry for branding you mine."
"I know that now." Zhan raised his hands around Yibo's neck. "And I love you, Yibo. I have always loved you and adored you."
"It was Lan Wangji you loved," Yibo teased. His hand trailed down to Zhan's neck and lower to his chest.
"Damn Lan Wangji!" Zhan grinned and quickly grabbed Yibo's hand. "We're in the hospital room!"
"So? We made it to the darkroom counter. Why not here? This is a private suite." Yibo grinned and locked the door. Then glanced at their daughter. "I doubt if Crystal will wake up. And this wall wouldn't crack, I hope." Yibo tapped the hospital wall.
"Yibo!"
He silenced Zhan's protest by crushing his mouth with his lips in a hungry kiss. Then he pushed Zhan to the wall. Zhan wanted to protest but once again lost his mind. Yibo was so wild, and he was lost.
Yibo was unsnapping Zhan's jeans when Crystal moaned. The two separated quickly, like two guilty teenagers. Both leaned against the wall and stared at their daughter who tried to get up.
"Da--ddy..."
"Don't-ever do that again, sweetheart," Yibo said hoarsely. Approached their daughter and kissed her on the forehead. "You could never have woken up at the wrong time."
Zhan let out a laugh. A sexy and husky laugh. Sit next to Yibo. His fingers softly trailed the muscles of Yibo's arms, evoking erotic caress, down to his thighs, almost touching the still swelling flesh beneath Yibo's blue jeans.
Yibo groaned. In anger, in frustration.
"You'll pay double for that."'said Yibo.
"I can hardly wait." Zhan's answered laughing.
THE END..........