Chapter Text
Spring 2020
Wang Yibo was in a period of recuperation. It wasn’t necessarily chosen by him but he wasn’t going to turn it down when it was presented to him. He was informed by his entertainment company that he could opt for different projects if he wanted to. Something other than the usual period dramas. Or even the ones where he typically played a cool youngster with a heart of gold. Though he’d only filmed a few dramas so far, he guessed that was enough for a lifetime for most actors.
Time to mix things up.
So he’d gladly taken the given time period and finally decided on an audio drama. He had been sent the script a while back; even the directors of The Untamed had remarked on his tone of voice and asked if he wanted to try his hand at the art of dubbing.
He’d turned it down back then, not confident in his own ability and far too busy in his role of actor and idol to do much else. Now though, that prospect was intriguing and interesting.
A few weeks ago he’d gone into the studio to run a few lines and the director had been impressed enough so he was to take a few weeks off to train his voice.
But that meant staying in one place. So now he was settled in his apartment in Beijing, with plenty of free time on his hands.
It was a quiet Sunday afternoon and he’d woken up shamelessly late; staying up late at night to play games was becoming a habit but he was just glad to have the time to do it.
But he’d never thought being free was going to be this boring. He’d better schedule some time round the track now or it was going to get too busy over the weekend soon.
Wang Yibo picked up his cellphone, thumbing through his contacts to send a text message when his screen already flashed with a new one.
It was Zhan-ge, he noticed with some surprise and sat up straighter.
The last time the two of them had any contact was over WeChat where they’d been sending each other increasingly ridiculous memes of each other. Wang Yibo wasn’t ashamed to admit he’d been sending back some of his latest selfies too. So what, he enjoyed tormenting the man.
It had been ages now since they last saw or met each other. It was probably at the beginning of the year at the awards ceremony. But he’d had to catch a quick flight and they’d barely exchanged any words thanks to annoying higher-ups. It wasn’t their fault their fans had the wrong idea!
There was nothing like that between him and Zhan-ge, though Yibo would rather eat his motorcycle helmet than admit he’d hoped there to be.
Of course, he wasn’t infatuated with the man and his politeness and sensitivity. He was definitely not in love with his breath-taking smile and crinkling eyes. He was also not obsessed with everything the man did, from cooking with such passion to taking care of his beloved cat. And no, Wang Yibo definitely did not hunt out old videos of the man so he could keep on looking at that gorgeous face. Wow.
Yibo had been denying himself the giddy happiness of a first love. It wasn’t a first love because it wasn’t returned. And Yibo wasn’t the sort to hang around and mope endlessly for a person who would never see him more than a little brother.
He took a deep breath, thinking back to the summer they’d spent together, where Yibo had irrevocably and irreversibly fallen in love.
When Xiao Zhan hadn’t made any moves, he’d backed off, not wanting to force his friend into anything. Heartbroken though he was, he felt just as lucky to have Zhan-ge in his life as a close friend. The man was enigmatic and Yibo was slightly embarrassed to admit he was gone so far for him.
Focusing on the phone in his hand, he clicked open the text.
Xiao Zhan
I need your help
You
???
Yibo frowned when another notification popped up from WeChat. It was Zhan-ge. He rolled his eyes, why didn’t the man just message him there earlier?
Xiao Zhan
Yibo
Where are u
You
home why
Xiao Zhan
I don’t know what to do
But I doubt you know what to do either
You
zhan-ge ur not makin sense
lol no sense buy it
Xiao Zhan
Shut up
And you know I already bought the physical copy
Wang Yibo’s cheeks flushed as he grinned down at his phone. The man knew how to make him feel special, he’ll give him that. But back to the problem,
You
lao xiao knows how to make me blush
what did u want to do anyway
Xiao Zhan
You’re distracting me!
Listen
So there’s a baby
You
uhhh
what
Xiao Zhan
pic_47382927.jpg
You
what the fuck
who is that
no wait whose is that
Xiao Zhan
Not mine!
Well actually
I’m confused
You
what do you mean ur confused???
how do u not know
zhan-ge!!!!
Yibo was freaking out, it was rare for Xiao Zhan to lie or even joke about something like this, the man was too pure for his own sake. He examined the picture carefully. It looked like a bundle of white blankets with a little face peeking out of it. He could barely make out the features but it was definitely a real sleeping baby. The picture was bathed in the low afternoon sunlight, with a shadow standing over it. That was definitely Zhan-ge, Yibo surmised.
So he wasn’t being pranked? No this was far too much of a serious thing to be pranked about. It was a baby! But how -
You
ok srsly
tell me again
slowly this time exactly wat happend
Xiao Zhan
Why do you type like a heathen
You
ur face is a heathen
Xiao Zhan
Alright alright I don’t wanna start
Yibo snickered; a familiar warmth settled in his gut. He’d missed conversations like these.
You
back to the topic?
Xiao Zhan
Yes yes
So someone dropped off a baby
You
someone? who?
Xiao Zhan
No I mean it was a lawyer and a social worker
They said she’s related to me
You
who? the baby?
Zhan-ge
Yeah and I asked for info
They informed me my eldest cousin on mom’s side passed away
It was a car crash
You
zhan-ge im sorry
Xiao Zhan
Thanks didi
I hadn’t seen her in forever
Idk I always thought I’d get time to catch up with her
Didn’t even know she’d already been married and divorced
Or that she was expecting
You
so the baby is your niece?
Xiao Zhan
Yeah
You
zhan-ge im sorry but is there no one else to take her?
Xiao Zhan
No
Mom injured her hip last week
I can’t do that to her
You
no one on her dad’s side?
Xiao Zhan
He’s a runner
You
asshole
Xiao Zhan
Exactly
For the time being I’m her only support
I can’t turn her away you know how much jiejie supported me through uni
You
ofcourse
besides shes your blood relative
Wang Yibo didn’t know what else to add. He sat there staring blankly on the blinking cursor on his phone until the backlit screen shut off. If this was a load of information for him, he can’t imagine Zhan-ge was doing any better.
In fact, the man’s nature was to plan and pre-plan everything. This must’ve thrown him off.
Add to that that he lost his jiejie and never got to say goodbye, he mentally added.
His heart ached at the thought. Xiao Zhan was first and foremost a family man. He loved his family and was devoted to them. When Yibo had met the man’s parents he was shocked and horribly endeared to see the way he’d still lean on his mother’s shoulder and openly give his father big hugs.
Yibo can’t remember the last time he hugged his father. But that's another story.
Wang Yibo mentally rifled through his plans for the day. Today was mostly free for him, the recording for the new audio drama was scheduled early next morning. He did want to spend some time on the track; it had practically been ages since he got onto his motorcycle.
Yibo bit his lip indecisively; he unlocked his phone and the first thing he saw was the picture of the baby. Unbidden, a mental image formed in his mind. Zhan-ge struggling to deal with the baby. Zhan-ge wondering why Yibo never replied. Or somehow worse, Zhan-ge holding the baby and cooing at her. His heart wouldn't be able to take it.
Mind made up, he started typing.
You
where are u right now
Xiao Zhan
Home
You
which one
The question would make any average person roll their eyes and complain about rich people but only they knew the truth. With filming locations so far apart, it was impossible to be able to return home every few weeks. So they’d all established at least two apartments in different locations, one in Beijing and the other would be wherever it was easily accessible by family. It made flying off to several locations much easier.
Xiao Zhan
I’m in Beijing
You
wtf? you didnt tell me?
Xiao Zhan
Now you know
You
ur insane
anyway wait for me im coming
Xiao Zhan
Yibo you don’t have to
This is my problem I’ll deal with it
You
are u rly going to stop me from seeing u
ok seeing as how u didnt reply im gonna take that as a no
im dressed im coming in 15
He desperately wanted to take his motorcycle, limbs itching to feel the power vibrate under him, wind shooting through his hair. But that would attract far too much attention on the daylight-streaked streets of the city. So he settled for calling his driver and hoped he was nearby. Yibo remembered where Xiao Zhan lived thanks to that one time he’d called over almost the entire cast to his apartment for dinner and drinks.
He took a moment to breathe. Yibo was ready to support his friend. Someone as sweet and larger than life like Xiao Zhan couldn’t be made to go through this alone.
He didn’t know a thing about babies but at least he’d be there for his friend.
Zipping up his jacket, he reached for his wallet and phone, instinctively slipping on a black face mask and cap. He needed to be careful and not get recognized stepping into Xiao Zhan’s apartment building.