A/H: 🤓Um don't expect too much. I wrote the chapter last night and was totally tired.🥱 After a few days of not being able to think of anything to write for this story,🤯 an idea finally came to me last night. But somehow, well, did the idea then take on a life of its own and do what it wants?😧 Anyway, I hope in the chapter it makes at least half sense.😅

Since their first intimate night after more than two years, a year has passed in which Zhan and Yibo have become even closer. Not only did they live together after Zhan's parents gave them permission to move in together after a trial period of 3 months, but they also worked side by side. And even though they saw each other every day around the clock, they got along more than well.

Of course, as with all other couples, there were disagreements from time to time. But they were always quickly resolved and these never affected their relationship. But just to make sure that they wouldn't clash at some point because they were hanging out with each other around the clock, the two met with their friends two or three times a month and spent the evenings apart.

During that one year, Yibo had stuck to his plan. Save money, find a new job and become independent from his parents. The only problem was, he just couldn't find a new job. Because of his parents' quarrel, the name Wang and his family's company had long since attracted negative attention. And although Yibo had nothing to do with it, no one gave him a chance.

Moreover, the money his mother gave him was not nearly enough for him to retire from the company and still be able to get by while he looked for a new job. Finally, however, it was a tip from Zhan's parents that gave Yibo a new idea. They suggested that he start his own small marketing business.

The idea went down well for Yibo. He liked working in the marketing field, and in the two years he managed the marketing department in his parents' company, he was even able to help it succeed. And with Zhan by his side as a partner, not an assistant, he could easily see himself making it work.

So after seven months, with the help of Zhan's parents, the two started their own company. Zhan's parents not only helped financially with the establishment of the company and legal matters, but also bought the two suitable business rooms, including modern furnishings and technical equipment.

Yibo's father was not even surprised when Yibo announced to him that he would no longer work in the family business. He had probably seen this coming anyway, after Hai Kuan had also resigned from his job shortly before and started his own business, because he could no longer endure it in the company.

Yibo's mother, with her lawyer, kept causing problems in the company that made working a nerve-wracking act for everyone, including the employees. Many quit their jobs and left the company because they couldn't take it anymore. They would rather be unemployed than continue to be subjected to this terror.

And Yibo could understand them only too well. Because he got all this also. Even more than the employees. And more than once he wanted to tell his mother to finally stop. But because he signed the contract and was not allowed to interfere, he had no other choice than to listen to the complaints of the employees and otherwise remain silent.

Hai Kuan had also had enough. But he still had to hold out at the company until his divorce came through. After he received his mother's money, he wanted to quit and start over somewhere else. But there hadn't been enough money for that. And he had to get out of his marriage first.

Together with Yibo and Zhan, they finally found evidence after four months that Hai Kuan's wife, was having an affair with her father-in-law, Hai Kuan and Yibo's father.

They had secretly placed listening devices and cameras in their offices in the company, as well as in the house, and had been monitoring the two of them. And after a short time, while reviewing the recorded videos and audio files, they found the proof of Hai Kuan's wife's infidelity. All he had to do now was confront her with the evidence and demand that she agree to the divorce and give up a share of his money.

Hai Kuan's wife, not wanting her affair to become public, gave in and signed the divorce papers a month later. Since Hai Kuan sold their shared house, she moved back in with her parents. They, however, had already learned from another source that their daughter was having an affair with her father-in-law. Yibo and Hai Kuan assumed that their mother was behind it.

What Yibo and his brother noticed was that their mother said she wanted to help them both and make sure they were kept out of everything and were independent of her and their father. But not much happened in that direction. In the company, they suffered as much as anyone else from their parents' quarrels. And the money was not enough, at least not in the long run.

Fortunately, however, they found a solution. Hai Kuan founded an accountant company and Yibo, together with Zhan, founded a marketing company. And the two of them quickly became successful. Many of Yibo's old customers turned to him and Zhan and gave their orders to the two.

After only 2 months, they could afford to hire two employees. And quickly they had so much work that they were at the company working all day, often until the evening after 9 pm.

And although Zhan was very happy about the success and good income of the business, he had also gradually become more and more doubtful about whether it was really what he wanted. He loves Yibo very much and he loved working with Yibo, but the more successful they became, the less time they had for their relationship. Was it perhaps too early to start their own business after all?

They were even so busy working that they didn't even celebrate their first anniversary of their relationship. That day, they had left for the office at 8 am and didn't go home until 9:30 pm and then went straight to bed. Zhan hadn't forgotten about the anniversary, but he didn't want to bring it up to Yibo either, thinking Yibo might have a little surprise for him once they got home. But there was no surprise. Just a quick shower and a good night kiss.

Since the following day was the weekend, Zhan had hoped that they would celebrate their anniversary then. But that wasn't the case and that made Zhan angry. He confronted Yibo and angrily asked him how he could have forgotten their first anniversary. Yibo immediately apologized to Zhan and asked for his forgiveness.

Because Zhan could never stay mad at Yibo for long, he quickly forgave him and the two spent the evening dating. And Yibo even had a little gift for Zhan then, which he had already gotten a few weeks before the anniversary. It was couples bracelets for the two of them, with each other's name on the pendant.

What Yibo had kept to himself was that he actually hadn't forgotten the anniversary at all. He had just been mad at Zhan that day because he had let Yibo go to bed alone the night before and fall asleep on the sofa where he had slept all night. Zhan knows exactly how badly Yibo sleeps when he can't hold Zhan in his arms. So he was mad at Zhan.

But Yibo didn't want to argue about it, so he kept quiet about the fact that he remembered this important day, their first anniversary, very well. He doesn't like it when they fight and besides that, Yibo has felt for a while that something was bothering Zhan.

Of course, Yibo also suspected that it had something to do with all the work. But he had also explained to Zhan several times that things would not go on like this forever. As soon as they could afford to hire more employees, the work would progress faster and they would have more time for each other. And he had explained to Zhan just as often that it is difficult and very time-consuming, especially at the beginning, when you build up a company.

Yibo would love to spend more time alone with Zhan and nurture their relationship. But at the moment, that wasn't possible. Not if they really want to make the company successful. So Yibo hoped that Zhan could be patient until the time came and then they could devote more time to their relationship again.

But besides his suspicion that Zhan is so depressed because of all the work and the lack of time for togetherness, he had the feeling that there was something else behind Zhan's strange behavior.

For a few weeks now, Yibo thought Zhan was strange. He was moody and changed from one mood to the next, sometimes within a few seconds. In addition, he ate everything in a mess, even though Zhan was usually very careful about his healthy diet. Several times Yibo assumed that Zhan threw up in the morning because Zhan ate everything in a mess the night before.

And Zhan also seemed to be tired all the time lately. A few times he even felt dizzy and had a few bouts of weakness as well. But when Yibo asked him about it, Zhan just got grumpy and claimed it was because of all the work and the little sleep. Yibo didn't believe a word he said!

Yibo was really worried about Zhan and worried that he might be seriously ill. Just this morning, Zhan had vomited violently again and then ate a big breakfast. Afterwards, Zhan complained that he had heartburn and felt bloated because his trousers felt so tight.

Again, Yibo had asked Zhan to finally go to the doctor and get checked out. Again, Zhan had refused, saying it was just stress and would be better soon. And his mood swings, the nausea, the vomiting, the dizzy spells and everything else, were only due to stress, Zhan said.

Sure, Yibo could understand Zhan. Also he felt by the whole stress healthily struck. He was also constantly tired and often suffered from severe headaches when he had to look at the monitor all day. And he was also often annoyed and could quickly become angry. But, if it got worse, as it did with Zhan, he would go to the doctor.

Zhan was aware that it would be better to go to the doctor and get checked out. He felt very clearly that there was something wrong with him, and that it was just not due to stress. But the fear of what the doctor might find out was far too great. He still could not bring himself to admit that he was probably not sick, but that something else was causing all these symptoms.

He did not even dare to talk to his parents about it. If only for fear that they might blame him for not being careful. It was only once that he and Yibo slept with each other after a birthday party and forgot the condom. Zhan felt ashamed and didn't know how to explain it to his parents.

And Zhan knew even less how to explain it to Yibo. He still hadn't told Yibo what a special body he had and that he could get pregnant.

He intended to talk to Yibo about it again and again. But then he did not have the courage and postponed it again. And at some point a year had passed and Zhan did not know how to explain this to Yibo yet. After all, he had a year to do it.

And especially now, when they have been a couple for only one year and started their own business only 5 months ago, they can't need a baby. All their money, time and energy they put into the business. There is no money and time left for a baby. And Zhan doesn't want to become dependent on his family either. Because that's what it would come to as long as they still have to put all their money into the business.