A/N: We're making a little time jump here to move the story forward.

After Yibo successfully completed his first year as a student at the Keno Academy, even though many things did not go as he wanted and planned, he spent the vacations until the start of his second year at his dream university with his parents and now returned back to campus ready to start his second year.

As he entered the campus in the morning after his dad dropped him off at the university, Yibo smiled. He was just happy to be back. While he had enjoyed the vacations with his parents, it had also been exhausting and tiring, with his mother practicing her faith even more intensely now that she had so closely escaped being killed.

There were days when things were so bad for Yibo that he would have liked to pack his things and run away. There were several reasons for this. For one, his mom suddenly got the idea that she had to find his dad one more wife. This led to a big fight between his parents. But in the end, his dad got his way and his mom accepted his dad's wish not to have any more wives.

Another reason why Yibo would have liked to run away was that one of his other mothers announced that she was pregnant again. In just 6 months, Yibo will have another sibling. It made him angry because his dad promised him that he wouldn't father any more children and that he would focus on the kids that are already here and that he barely has time for anyway.

What Yibo found worst, however, was that his mom, driven by her faith, tried to persuade him and his brother to finally find a wife. She even had several, in her opinion, suitable candidates that she wanted to introduce to Yibo and his brother. Fortunately, his dad helped him immediately. Because his dad is the patriarch of the family and his mom has to obey what he says.

Actually, he had wanted to finally tell his mom that he was gay. Since his dad already knew, he wanted to finally confide in his mom and tell her about Zhan. But the way things were going, he couldn't and didn't want to do it.

The light at this time were the many hours of play with his little brothers and sisters, who loved to dance and sing together with Yibo. He did as much as he could with them. He went with them to the children's adventure playground. He visited the zoo with them. And he bought each of his siblings a little something that they were allowed to choose for themselves.

His highlight, however, was a date with Zhan. After the two had the talk under the big old oak tree at the gateway and Zhan had to go back to Paradise Academy the following day, the two wrote or talked on the phone almost daily. Even when Zhan was at the Keno Academy. Zhan's secret, which Yibo still doesn't know what it is, unfortunately made it impossible for them to date each other when Zhan was visiting the Keno Academy.

And when the vacations started, Zhan invited him on a date. Because this was the only way for the two of them to be able to see each other undisturbed. Although Yibo still wondered more and more about Zhan and his secret, knowing that Zhan loves him too made it a bit easier for him to be patient and wait. And after all, at least they had contact with each other through their phone calls and writing.

It was Saturday evening when Zhan picked him up in his car from the village and invited Yibo to the movies and to dinner. Finally being able to see each other again without Alessia calling or suddenly showing up, or being interrupted by Yibo's friends, the two really took advantage of it. So the two didn't get much of the movie, as they just kissed most of the time.

Late in the evening, as they were still sitting in the car looking at the city skyline after the movie and a visit to a restaurant, Zhan asked him, "Yibo? It's still a long way back to the village and it's very late. Do you still want me to drive you? Or do you want to spend the night in a motel and I'll take you back in the morning?"

"In a motel?" Yibo asked, frowning.

"Yes. I'm already pretty tired. And don't worry. I won't do anything."

"Why not?"

"What?"

"Well. I know we're not officially a couple. But somehow we are, even if only secretly and have been for months. We finally have a chance to be alone and spend time together. And honestly, I'm ready for more."

"Are you sure about that?"

"Yes. I have been ever since I got drunk and you were in my room with me."

"I see."

"Or don't you?"

"What kind of question is that? Of course I want it. But only if you're really quite sure. And you know I still haven't..."

"You mean you haven't been able to officially announce our relationship?"

"Yeah right."

"I know that Zhan. Sure I'd be happy if it was different or if you could finally tell me why. But I'm aware of that and yet I want it."

"Okay. But then we have to go to the pharmacy first."

"Honestly, I was hoping there would be more going on between us. And well, I prepared myself and in my little bag here I have condoms and lube." When Yibo said this, he grinned and wasn't even embarrassed.

"Wow. You're so cute." Replied Zhan and kissed Yibo.

"I know. I have, ever since I realized I was falling in love with you, been studying the subject closely and reading all about it. I am still afraid that it will hurt. But I still want to do it, Zhan. Now start the engine okay?"

"Okay." Replied Zhan and started the engine. They drove to a nice little motel on the outskirts of the city, booked a room for one night with breakfast, and after showering one after the other, they spent the night together, making love for the first time.

At first Yibo was very nervous and excited. But when they started kissing and touching each other, Yibo forgot more and more everything around him and enjoyed every second that Zhan kissed, caressed, stroked and pampered him. And when Zhan finally penetrated him, Yibo was so well prepared that he felt no pain. He only had an unpleasant feeling. But even that went away within two minutes.

That night, the two made love three times before falling asleep, exhausted, arm in arm, and were not awakened by their alarm clock until 10 a.m. in the morning. They went to shower together and then had breakfast. And while they were sitting at the breakfast table, Zhan got a call from the director of the Keno Academy.

Zhan was told that starting next semester, he will be in Keno Academy and no longer in Paradise Academy. Since there was still a vacant place at Keno Academy, the director and the teachers sat down and talked about who should get the place. It had been decided unanimously to give Zhan that place.

Yibo, of course, had been totally thrilled. And even more so when he learned that Zhan and he would be sharing a room in the future. Youn will share a room with Wooseok, which of course made them both very happy as well. Zhan whispered in Yibo's ear after the phone call, "Do you know what this means for both of us?"

"I have a guess. Tell me and I'll see if we both have the same thought." Replied Yibo.

"Even if we can't show anything during the day, at least the evenings and nights are ours now."

"I was actually thinking of the same thing."

"And I hope I can make our relationship official very soon."

"Really?"

"Yes. Yibo. I love you and I don't want to make our love a permanent secret. Especially not after our last night."

"I'm glad to hear that. And then will you finally tell me why our love had to remain a secret?"

"Yes. I'll tell you everything then."

"Good, I'm really looking forward to it."

"Mn, I believe you. Mhhh, what do you say we do something after breakfast?"

"Like what?"

"How about a visit to the ice rink?"

"Sure." Said Yibo happily.

They ate their breakfast and then went to the ice rink, where they stayed for several hours before Zhan drove him back to the village and his parents. It was very hard for Yibo to say goodbye. He was even really surprised about it when he suddenly had tears in his eyes. "Don't be sad my sweet one. We'll see each other again in a few days." Said Zhan, gently brushing the tears from his cheeks.

"The tears just came like that. I had no control over it."

"It's okay my sweet one. I'll miss you too."

"Ah you have tears in your eyes too."

"Mn. Because I miss you already."

Yibo looked out of the car in all directions and when he saw that no one was watching them, he kissed Zhan, then got out of the car, Zhan waved at him again and started the engine. Yibo waited until the car was out of sight before going into the house where his mother already had dinner ready.

Right after dinner, Yibo hurried upstairs to his room, where he spent the rest of the evening talking to Zhan on the phone. The next day, Yibo packed his bags and on Thursday morning, his dad dropped him off at the university on his way to work. He grabbed his two suitcases, entered the campus and hurried to the dorm, where the house father greeted him cheerfully and showed him his new room on the third floor.

Yibo immediately unpacked his suitcases and then waited impatiently for Zhan to arrive, who arrived an hour later. When Zhan entered the room and the father of the house had left again, the two fell into each other's arms and kissed. But it wasn't long before Zhan's cell phone rang. Alessia was informing him that she had arrived.

One thing Zhan said before he left the room made Yibo wonder. "Let the show begin. This year I'll catch her!" He wondered how Zhan meant that, but didn't ask him. They kissed each other and Zhan left. But before Zhan left the room completely, he turned to Yibo again and said, "Just trust me. I am faithful to you. Even though Alessia might say otherwise. I love you."

"I trust you. I love you too." Replied Yibo with a smile. He feels within himself that he can really trust Zhan. But the better he gets to know Zhan, and the more closely he listens when Zhan speaks of or about Alessia, the more often he wonders if Zhan is really just a simple student, or maybe something more?

Yibo stopped his pondering when Youn messaged him that he had now arrived as well. Yibo immediately rushed to Youn and Wooseok's room and greeted them with a tight hug. And afterwards, the three went to greet Cheng. He arrived together with Zhan and had already been waiting for the three.

With a grin, Cheng asked, "Hey Yibo? How was your date with Zhan? And where did you two spend the night?"

Yibo immediately got red cheeks and sheepishly said, "The date was Great. And we spent the night in a motel."

"And?" Youn asked curiously. His three friends looked at him with excitement.

"Well... I'm not innocent anymore." Replied Yibo with a wide grin.

"I knew it!" Cheered Cheng.

"Yes. But nothing is official yet."

"It will be." Said Wooseok, patting Yibo on the shoulder. Youn and Cheng nodded in agreement.

But before the four could properly celebrate their reunion, they had to gather in the auditorium, where the director welcomed them and the 20 new students. And Yibo remembered the first time he had sat here and the director had greeted him and the others. Now he was no longer a freshman. And this year, he hoped, would be an even better year than the last.