"So, Mr. Lan-" but Wei Zhan was immediately cut by the man beside him; eyes focused on the road whilst he was perfectly maneuvering the steering wheel on his left hand as the other constantly shifting the gear knob.
"Yibo", he utters "call me Yibo when we are together, just the two of us" and glances at him, his face solemn.
Xiao Zhan wanted to melt on the spot because of embarrassment as he's not used to calling his client informally. Especially as big-time as Mr. Lan.
"But-" he tries to insist but the other man immediately slides in "I don't want to repeat myself again" in an authoritative voice.
Wei Zhan fell silent not because of that authoritative annoying voice he had just heard but because of his line, I don't want to repeat myself again. He's sure that he had heard that line and kind of tone before.
"How did you persuade my boss to let me go with you for a long time?". he asks and tilts his head and looks at the serious face of the driver curiously.
The receiver of the question chuckles as a response as if his inquiry is funny.
"Hello Mr. Lan, this is Mr. Yang of the Creative Lab. We really thank you for trusting us. Mr. Wei Zhan already discussed your terms. And I admit he made an impulsive decision to agree with your terms. Unfortunately, I have to ask the board first before allowing someone especially like Mr. Wei Zhan to be out of the office for a while. He's an important person to the company as he was in charge of designing and approving our products and we do have ———"
"Mr. Yang", Yibo spoke, as his ears are stinging already from all of the talks "I AGREE TO MR. LAN's TERMS, now say it again!" Yibo demanded. The man on the other line paused for a while and repeated the other man's exact words. "I agree to Mr. Lan's terms," he says absently.
"Good" the owner of the voice eyes darkens. "I don't want to resort to this but you're kind of annoying. Now do as I say and disseminate the information" with that, he ended the call.
Meanwhile, Ms. Yang Mi was throwing tantrums at her uncle- the Creative Lab founder inside his office.
She had just found out that the latter agreed to Mr. Lan's absurd request! "I really don't get it, uncle, how could you agree to his terms in the first place? Do you even know how much money to lose without Zhan? We have lots of designs to do and almost all of it is under Zhan's! We need him you better call him to come back"
Yang Mi almost hysterical but his uncle was just staring absently into space "Uncle!" She snapped slumping her two palms at the modern dark brown wooden table where the gold-colored glass table card that has the carved name and position founder on it slightly shook due to the sudden force.
It was effective as his uncle flinched out of surprise. "Welcome back!", frustrated Yang Mi utters. "I've been talking here and you're not listening at all. Fine, if you don't want to call Wei Zhan or that Mr. Lan, then I will go to Henan myself and drag Wei Zhan to go back here!" she hastily grabbed his phone from the table and left the office with a loud bang of the door.
The old man facepalm as he tried remembering his conversation with Mr. Lan. All he can remember is him agreeing to the other. To be honest, he was also surprised by his actions. He knew how difficult it is not having Zhan around as his role is critical that they always need his ideas and approval.
Wei Zhan's eyes become flimsy. He woke up too early in the morning as he didn't want to be late, also Mr. Lan is so quiet and he doesn't dare talk to him as his question earlier wasn't answered.
"I have my ways" finally he spoke as if reading Zhan's mind.
His focus abruptly turned to the driver "huh?" brows raised.
The driver looks at him, chuckling "I have my ways of persuading Mr. Yang".
Wei Zhan then realizes, "oh".
"Tell me" the driver hesitated for a while, and Zhan patiently waits for him to continue speaking . "Tell me, Zhan, what's your favorite food?"
Zhan internally chuckled as the question came out of the blue, " I basically eat everything. But I love Sichuan Hotpot and mantou the most! hehe. How about you Mr. L- ah sorry, Y-yibo?" he blushes thinking that he had just addressed his client informally.
The driver smirks, too bad Wei Zhan wasn't able to witness the mischievous smirk because he was busy averting his focus to the road as he felt the awkwardness. Well to think that only Zhan felt the awkwardness because the driver acts as if nothing big deal.
"I will like what you like," the man in-charge of the steering wheel said nonchalantly but he felt a sudden warmth engulfing his heart.
Zhan wanted to melt again on his seat in an instant. It has been an hour since he was with Mr. Lan yet he was already being a little shameless tease. He does think that maybe this man has a dual personality? Because, the first Mr. Lan he met was so formal and this Mr. Lan who's driving him now is completely the opposite, yet not that kind of talkative but he's glad that the other man is talking and initiating a conversation. To kill his sleepiness, Zhan decided to play.
"I also love exotic foods like boiled duck embryo! Have you tried that?" He grins.
And the other man looked at him, shaking his head pertaining he haven't tried that food yet, his brown eyes smiling as if delighted that he shares along. "Then let's eat exotic foods" he declared.
"Whoa!" Suprised Zhan gasp. "This is my first time someone agreed to eat exotic foods with me".
The other man furrows his brows "Had you invited someone before to eat with you?"
Zhan laughs at the tone he is hearing from the other, shrugging he shakes his head "no, not that someone, I only ask my siblings, my brother Zuocheng and sister Lu but they always refused".
Lan Yibo hums in reply. Zhan's attention goes back to the road as the car slowly taxis to the roundabout and then the driver carefully parks his car outside of the small house.
"We're here", Lan Yibo announces; unbuckling his seat belt and quickly dash off as he attempted to open the front seat door but Zhan was also quick to open it too. Wei Zhan was stunned by the gesture, hence didn't mind it instead he focuses on the cute house in front of them.
Mr. Lan guesses what's on his mind, "Yes this is where we stay" voice soft and encouraging.
Zhan quickly averted his eyes to the man who just spoke, "we?"
"This is my house, so this is where you and me are gonna stay" and goes to the car's trunk to retrieve Zhan's luggage and Zhan followed hastily, he almost forgot his things.
"Your house is cute", that's all Zhan has to say because honestly that's the truth in his eyes. Earlier he expected he'll be staying in a condo unit or apartment alone-just for him. He didn't expect he will be living with Mr. Lan, and what's more unexpected is Mr. Lan's humble abode is indeed very humble!
"Ah. Mr. Lan?" He asks curiously
Lan Yibo frowned, "I told you to call me Yibo. If you call me Mr. Lan again I will kiss you!" He smirks and proceeded to get inside
"Y-you!" Wei Zhan perplexed but follows him anyways "how could you joke like that Mr. Lan?"
The other man halted his steps and turned around. Wei Zhan stopped and looked at the other innocently.
"I guess you want to be kissed after all" he smirked mischievously and slowly came to him. Zhan unconsciously stepped back "W-what do you mean Mr. Lan?" his heart beats erratically as Yibo's gazes darken as if he is ready to jump off to his prey. "I told you already, that if you call me Mr. Lan I'm going to kiss you"
Zhan shook his head still stepping back "Y-you're joking right Mr. Lan? Besides, how could you kiss a fellow male?" Yibo groans and strides a haste step so that he can grab the other man's waist and pulls him closer to his chest. Wei Zhan automatically holds him on his biceps, afraid that he might misbalance and fall.
"You've called me 'Mr. Lan' thrice and you owe me three kisses already and... I don't care if we're both male!" and he slowly moves and lowers his face to the plump lips in front of him. Wei Zhan pressed his lips and closes his eyes as a reflex, the two are so closed that they can practically smell their breaths.
Just then a woman's voice interrupted them.
"Yibo?!"