Chapter 124 - A New Bond

The younger Xiao begrudgingly took his lighter and pulled out a cigarette. Yul followed him to the balcony to see if they could continue their talk. Though he was not a smoker, he was okay with the smoke since his colleagues often smoked.

"Why are you so hostile?" He asked as the other blew out the smoke, looking far beyond the shy, "The last time I checked, I didn't do anything to you."

Yuan snorted. "How cute!" It was such a simple way of thinking, almost childlike. If you have been good or bad or neutral towards someone, then at least the same was to be expected from them. Didn't this officer know that people didn't need a reason to hate? Or would hate for the most minimal of reasons?

"I don't trust you," Yuan finally answered.

"I have been with your brother for over half a dozen years," Yul retorted. "I think I have proven myself as someone who would be trusted with Zeng ge.".

"Still." Yuan shrugged, "My brother has bad luck with guys. I don't want him to be heartbroken again."

"I will never hurt him," Yul assured.

Yuan did not believe it. He blew out another puff of smoke, eyes skeptical, "The last one said the same thing."

Yul had no answer for that. He had hurt Zeng in the past in his own way. He had tried ever since to not let his job even get in the way of their relationship.

"I grew up with him. I know him more than mom-dad. When William left him, nobody knew what he was going through. I knew. I saw him breaking down, crumbling slowly till he was an empty shell." His jaw clenched at the memory of his brother's ex-boyfriend, "That bastard, how dare him! He pisses me off to this day."

Yul looked down, eyes scanning the floor, "Zeng ge doesn't like anyone badmouthing his exes."

Yuan smiled, "Yeah, I know. You won't even let me curse at you when you guys broke up. You were his ex once too, remember?"

Yul sighed. How could he forget those times? Never did he feel so dead like those six months when Zeng was not by his side.

Yuan began, "When we were kids, these two countries were having some land conflicts and there was a mini war-like situation. Zeng had bawled his eyes out of the innocent people killed there. He didn't know them, he didn't even understand that conflict but he cried. He is that humane. He thinks he has a part to play in building a better world which is true for every one of us but he takes it all on himself. He thinks it's his responsibility to keep others well. He doesn't want to hurt anyone but himself gets hurt. Over and over again. And the minute he decides to get away from that hurt, he's called selfish."

Yul remembered his own words, those hateful comments he had made when Zeng had decided to leave him.

"I promise, I won't hurt him," Yul pleaded, "Zeng ge is my world and I will do anything to keep him safe and happy."

Yuan dismissed him with a scoff.

"I love your brother, Yuan," Yul insisted.

"I love him too but does that make him feel worthy as a person?" Yuan shook his head, answering his own question. "He lives his life for others. He doesn't even love himself. He sees his worth in the people around him."

That was true. It was scary how Yuan could pinpoint everything about Zeng, something Yul had difficulty to put into words.

Yul took a deep breath and straightened himself, looking the younger man in the eyes, "I am going to propose to him officially."

Yuan raised an eyebrow.

"For marriage," Yul added.

Yuan snorted. "I have known him longer than you. I know him better. He is going to keep you on hold. Mark my words."

Yul nodded. That may be the case but he was persistent and that attitude had won Zeng over. He will keep it up this time too. "Then I'll keep asking him, again and again and again, till he finally agrees."

Yuan felt the intensity behind the words. Where others would have stopped after a few tries, Wang Yul had decided to push through till he succeeded. Nobody had been this passionate about his brother before. This man was really something else.

The Xiao's lips curved in a small smile and he looked away before the Wang could catch it. "Marriage is a big deal even for Zeng ge he won't accept it if he thinks he doesn't deserve it," he said thoughtfully, "See, he's at that point of life where his attitude is not going to change. So you will have to make it happen. You will have to make him believe that he deserves that happiness, with you."

He looked back at Yul, "Understood?"

This was like some forbidden knowledge given by a wise sage. The guy who had always dismissed him with a scoff was actually telling him the way to his brother's heart. Yul's eyes twinkled with happiness and gratitude.

"Thank you for entrusting him to me, Yuan!" He smiled the gummy smile he only showed a few special people.

He patted the younger guy's head, who was surprised by the gesture.

"You really care about your brother. I won't disappoint you. You can leave him to me."

Yuan suddenly felt dwarfed by the police officer but it also came with a safe blanket that made him feel light. An irritated blush tainted his ears. His fist clenched and pushed Yul's hand away.

"Just because I told you all that, doesn't mean we are friends or anything," he said aggressively, pointing an angry finger.

"Yeah sure," Yul said smiling and added, "Baby brother."

Yuan scowled, fumed and stormed inside the house towards his room, screaming "I am not your baby brother!"

"At least put out your cigarette, Yuan!" Yul screamed back from the balcony, half laughing, half smiling. He had scored a new ally.

Despite Yuan's harsh words, he added the police officer on his social media and even saved his name as "The Annoying Labrador" on his phone.

When the day finally arrived and Yuan had to leave, Zeng looked sad.

"Stay a day more," he said hopefully. They were at the airport and he knew it was almost impossible now but still.

"And what good will that bring?" Yuan said, hugging his brother tight. "I will visit again sometime."

"Okay. Call me when you reach home." Zeng broke the hug and placed a kiss on the top of the shorter man's head.

"Take care."

Yuan nodded with a genuine smile.

Then he turned to Yul, who was smiling cheekily at him.

"Geez, stop with that creepy smile!" Yuan looked disgusted.

Yul snorted and opened his arms. Yuan begrudgingly hugged him, reaching only till his chest, just like with Zeng. The height difference annoyed him but he decided to let it go.

"Take care of my brother," Yuan whispered.

"I will," Yul promised.

"So you are guys friends again?" Zeng asked from the side, oblivious of the planning between these two.

"We are not friends," Yuan huffed, elbowing Yul in the ribs. "It's your Labrador who's clingy."

"Yuan!" Zeng scolded lightly.

Yuan smirked at them and grabbed his suitcase. He waved them off as the glass doors closed behind him, leaving the city with a new vision and new bonds.