:: 37 ::

WHAT IF IT'S NOT A LOVE STORY

Wang Yibo P.O.V

"A-Xing, bring the fish bucket here."

I called Fanxing to me. He was carrying the fishing bucket around the side of the lake.

I'm sitting on the side of the lake to catch some fish. It's our today's meal. I've been staying here for a whole year already. The potter uncle helped a lot. Uncle Hua taught me so many things. Even how to raise a kid. To raise Fanxing.

I don't remember when exactly, but at some point I took him as my son already. So to fulfil the legality I went to Beijing. And now Zhang Fanxing is officially a Wang. I took him to meet my family and they love him.

It wasn't an easy journey though. It was tougher than I thought it'd be.

Last year when I came here the first thing happened was A-Xing clinging to my feet. He was an orphan. He lost his parents to Pneumonia and uncle Hua started taking care of him. He was a bit slow to talk. But he called me Baba the first time he saw me.

Uncle Hua took me in and taught me how to live a life like the villagers do here. They all love me. And they all love Fanxing. In this one year I taught A-Xing to talk, to write and he taught me how to have fun without having anything.

We have fun everyday. After all we only have each other.

Living without Zhan ge is hard. But my hallucinations diminished a lot. Having A-Xing around helps a lot.

The whole of my days goes pretty much in a routine.

Waking up at five just like the other villagers. Freshen up, and help uncle Hua with the pottery wheel. Then wake A-Xing up, freshen him up and take him to the field. After coming from there help uncle Hua with pottery again, teach Fanxing, and then go to bed.

Pretty dull routine I know. But I enjoy it. It took some time to adopt to this lifestyle but somehow thinking about Zhan ge got me going. He'll be proud of me, won't he?

Oh right! I forgot! Today A-Jing is coming to the village clinic. She's already a doctor and I managed to get her to come here to treat patients once a week.

Last time when I took A-Xing to Beijing to meet my parents I met her there. And we talked about everything.

I got Haoxuan to manage the company for me and I go there if I'm needed very urgently.

Other than that everything is fine.

I'm fine. I'm living my life. And I'm waiting for the day when I can finally meet Zhan ge again.

That apart let's focus on what we're doing here.

"A-Xing, do you see this fish? We're going to cook this today ok?"

"Yes."

"Good boy! Now tell me what is fish in Korean?"

"Mulgogi."

"That's correct! That's my good boy!" I hold him close to me. He's been my solace for a year. And he'll continue to be.

Oh Jiaer started teaching him Korean these days. He comes here twice a week when he's in China. Because apparently he misses A-Xing more than he misses me. Oh! Also did I tell you he's too crazy about his boyfriend? Because he is. And same goes for Jingyu.

They made up somewhere in between and become a couple shortly after. I'm so happy for them!

I carried A-Xing with one hand and carried the fish bucket and the fishing rod with the other. When we reached our cottage we found uncle Hua digging the ground. He has some carrots saplings by his side. I let A-Xing down and he runs towards him.

"Hua ye!" His excited high pitched voice resonates around the yard. The picture I see in front of me is too good to be true.

A family of my own in a cottage far away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

If only Zhan ge was here!

A picture of a smiling man flashes to my mind. He's looking at me with that smile he always has on his face. A mole below the lips.

The cottage we're living in now is what I made with the help of my company five months back. Also I made another cottage in place of the Zhang family's hut for when Fanxing grows up and learns about his parents. I just hope he doesn't hate me for tearing down the old home and making a new one there.

I take the fishing bucket and rod to the storage room at the side and take the fishes to the kitchen after.

Now washing it! The most important job!

A-Xing came running into the kitchen with uncle Hua close behind.

"A-Xing, don't run in the kitchen! You'll hurt yourself! Pa will be sad if you hurt yourself! You don't want that right?" I sat down to be on his level and tell him with a tone even I didn't know I'd ever use.

Fanxing shakes his head. And immediately obeys.

Uncle Hua sees the fish set on the cutting board and offers to help. "You want me to wash the fish, Yibo?"

"No. It's ok. Let me do it today." I refuse him politely.

And this is how my life goes. With a family who has no blood relation with me. But who took me in as their own family on the first sight.

Days go by just like that. But after evening falls everything just drowns in quietness here. People goes home and nobody's around. A-Xing already slept.

Times like these are when I miss Zhan ge the most. Do you miss me at all Zhan ge?

I was sitting quietly on the bench in the garden when a quiet figure sits right by me. He offers me a beautiful clay cup with hot tea in it. And I take it thankfully.

"Xiexie, Hua shushu."

"Mn."

And we sat there in a comfortable silence. The cicadas are making noises in the distance, maybe around the pond nearby. The fireflies are flying around the wild grasses.

"You miss him." It was more like a statement than a question.

He knows why I came here. He knows what I want to escape. He knows who I miss when everything is silent and there's no notice to distract myself.

"I miss him."

"It's okay." He puts a hand on my shoulder comforting me. "You are strong. You know how to survive this. And you have A-Xing now. You have to be strong for him."

"I told A-Xing about him. Does he understand?"

"He will when he's old enough." He gives me a smile that says everything will be alright in the end. "Take him to his lab someday. He'll be more connected to him."

He never got to see the lab! I made it Zhan ge. I made the lab for you!

And just like that I became one with the night.

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Heyyy again..... Here's another chapter.... It's just three more chapters to go.... Everything will clear out in the last three chapters... So stay tuned and keep giving love to me and BIKER WITH BENEFITS!

Well well well! Here's the son I always wanted to give.... Hope he grows up to be a great young man...

Also I don't know where the idea of the village come from but it's totally fictitious..... I don't know any village like that near Beijing.... At least my research says so...

Also the last three chapters will be solely for those who are okay with an emotional rollercoaster ride! Fasten your seatbelt and enjoy the ride!

That's it for today's chapter! And see you in the next one!

All the love!

C 💕

Also please don't hesitate to hit the star button below! ⭐