The weight of Reality

Xiao Zhan had never imagined love to be something so fragile, so delicate that it had to be handled with the utmost care—especially love that wasn’t meant to exist in the eyes of the world.

He met Wang Yibo on the set of The Untamed. At first, they were just co-stars, two people thrown together by fate and an ambitious production team. But something shifted between them—an understanding, a familiarity that didn’t need words. It was in the way Wang Yibo looked at him when no one was watching, the way their hands would brush as if by accident, the way silence between them never felt uncomfortable.

Their castmates had noticed.

Zhu Zanjin was the first to tease him about it. "You and Yibo are always together. If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were dating."

Xiao Zhan had laughed it off, pushing the thought aside. But the more he ignored it, the stronger it became.

One night, after a particularly long shoot, he found himself sitting on the rooftop of their hotel, staring at the city lights below. He didn’t hear Wang Yibo approach until he spoke.

"You’re overthinking again."

Xiao Zhan turned, startled. Wang Yibo was dressed casually—black hoodie, hands in his pockets, looking as effortlessly cool as ever.

"And what if I am?" Xiao Zhan asked, offering a small smile.

Wang Yibo sat beside him, close enough that their shoulders touched.

"Then stop."

"Easier said than done."

They sat in silence for a while, the sounds of the city humming beneath them. Then, in the quiet, Wang Yibo said, "I think about you a lot."

Xiao Zhan’s breath hitched. He turned his head, finding Wang Yibo watching him with an intensity that sent a shiver down his spine.

"Yibo—"

"I know we can’t." Wang Yibo cut him off, voice quieter now. "But that doesn’t mean I don’t want to."

The air between them felt heavy, charged with something neither of them could afford to name.

That night, nothing happened. But everything changed.

Filming ended, and life moved on. But the feelings remained. They saw each other often—promotions, interviews, shared projects—but never alone.

It wasn’t until a year later, at a private gathering with the Untamed cast, that Xiao Zhan found himself alone with Wang Yibo again.

Zhu Zanjin, Yu Bin, and Wang Haoxuan had arranged a small reunion. Drinks were poured, laughter filled the air, but Xiao Zhan felt restless. Across the room, Wang Yibo was leaning against the bar, deep in conversation with Song Jiyang.

Their eyes met, and suddenly, it was hard to breathe.

Later that night, as the gathering died down, Wang Yibo found him standing by the balcony, looking out at the city below.

"You always do this," Wang Yibo murmured, stepping beside him.

"Do what?" Xiao Zhan asked, even though he knew.

"Disappear into your thoughts."

Xiao Zhan exhaled a soft laugh. "You always find me anyway."

Wang Yibo didn’t respond immediately. Then, so quietly it was almost lost to the wind, he said, "Come with me."

Xiao Zhan turned, brows furrowing. "What?"

"Just for a drive."

It was reckless. It was dangerous. But Xiao Zhan went anyway.

A Moment That Was Theirs

The streets were quiet as Wang Yibo drove, his hands steady on the wheel. Neither of them spoke, but the silence wasn’t uncomfortable. It was the kind of silence that came with understanding.

Finally, Wang Yibo pulled into an empty parking lot by the river. He killed the engine, but neither of them moved.

"This is my safe place," Wang Yibo admitted, looking straight ahead.

Xiao Zhan glanced at him, surprised by the vulnerability in his voice.

"No cameras. No people. Just… us." Wang Yibo turned then, his gaze meeting Xiao Zhan’s.

The unspoken words between them pressed heavily in the air.

"Yibo, we can’t—"

"I know."

But Wang Yibo reached for his hand anyway. His fingers were warm, steady, grounding. Xiao Zhan could have pulled away. He didn’t.

"I don’t care if the world never knows," Wang Yibo murmured. "As long as you do."

Xiao Zhan closed his eyes, exhaling slowly.

And then, for the first time, he let himself believe.

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