Fifteen years ago.
"Will they love Yibo?" asked a small, three-year-old Wang Yibo, his tiny hands struggling to reach out despite the snug embrace of the seat belt securing him in his baby car seat. His voice was soft, filled with innocent curiosity, as he looked up at his father with wide, expectant eyes.
He was still too little to fully understand what was happening, but he knew one thing, his father had told him they were meeting someone very special today.
"Of course, little one. Who wouldn't love you?" his father responded, his voice warm and reassuring. He reached over, gently patting Yibo's small hand, though the seatbelt prevented the little boy from fully reaching him.
President Wang Yixian, the powerful CEO of Wang Corporation, had made an unusual decision that evening. Normally, their family driver handled all the driving, ensuring their safety and comfort. But today was different. Today, he wanted to take the wheel himself. He wanted to be the one to bring his son to this important meeting.
They were on their way to a restaurant, where they would be meeting Madam Xiao Fengyin. It was a meeting that would change both their lives forever.
Three years had passed since tragedy struck their family. Wang Yixian's beloved wife had died while giving birth to Yibo, leaving him alone to raise their son. The pain of losing her had been unbearable, and for a long time, he had been too grief-stricken to think of anything else. His world had revolved solely around Yibo, his only connection to the woman he had lost.
But time had moved forward, and so had he. As much as he missed his wife, he knew that Yibo needed more than just a father, he needed a mother, someone who would care for him, guide him, and love him as if he were her own. And so, after years of grieving, Wang Yixian had made a decision. He would remarry, not just for himself, but for Yibo's sake.
Thankfully, fate had led him to Madam Xiao Fengyin, a woman who understood loss just as he did. She was kind-hearted and gentle, a widow who had lost her own husband, Xiao Lan, in a tragic car accident. Despite her own sorrow, she had remained strong, raising her son with love and care.
Yibo, too young to understand the complex ideas of marriage and loss, only knew one thing, he was about to meet a new mother and, even more excitingly, a big brother!
His little heart swelled with excitement. Ever since he could remember, he had wanted an older sibling. He had watched other children play with their brothers and sisters, laughing and running around together, sharing toys, and whispering secrets. He had always wanted that, a companion, a friend, someone who would be there for him no matter what.
And now, his wish was coming true.
According to his father, Madam Xiao Fengyin had a son who was six years older than him. That meant Yibo would finally have a gege. The thought made him so happy that he could hardly sit still in his car seat. His small legs kicked with excitement as he imagined all the things they would do together.
Would his new brother like to play with toy cars?
Or maybe he preferred building blocks?
What if he liked to draw?
Yibo wasn't very good at drawing, but if his gege liked it, then he would learn.
He wanted to do anything that would make his new brother happy.
His father had reassured him again and again that Madam Xiao Fengyin was a kind woman, and that she would love him like her own son. But Yibo wasn't thinking too much about that, he was thinking about his gege.
Would he be nice?
Would he hold his hand when they crossed the street?
Would he help him when he had trouble tying his shoes?
Would he tell him bedtime stories and play with him when he felt lonely?
Yibo's mind was filled with endless thoughts about what it would be like to finally have a sibling. He had never had one before, so he wasn't sure what to expect. But he knew one thing for sure, he would do his best to make his new brother like him.
After all, he had waited his whole life for this.
By the time they arrived at the restaurant, Yibo's wandering mind, buzzing with excitement, finally snapped back to the present. His thoughts, which had been swirling in endless circles of curiosity and anticipation, slowly settled.
As the car rolled to a gentle stop, he eagerly watched his father step out from the driver's side, his movements swift yet graceful.
Yibo's small hands clenched in anticipation as he waited.
Within seconds, the door beside him opened, revealing his father's familiar, reassuring face. The older man leaned in, unbuckled Yibo's seat belt, and lifted the beaming toddler into his arms.
As they entered the restaurant, they were immediately approached by a well-dressed staff member, who greeted them with professional politeness. "Good evening, Sir," the staff member said with a respectful nod.
"Reservation under Mr. Wang Yixian," Yibo's father responded with a warm yet dignified smile.
At the mention of the name, recognition flickered across the staff member's face.
"Ah! President Wang! I apologize for not recognizing you right away. Please, this way." He gestured for them to follow and led the father-and-son duo through the elegant corridors of the restaurant, guiding them toward an exclusive VIP room, reserved specifically for their highly anticipated family meeting.
Once inside and comfortably settled, Yibo immediately resumed his endless stream of questions.
His young mind, brimming with uncontainable curiosity, fired off one inquiry after another, each more eager than the last. His little voice filled the room as he blurted out every thought that crossed his mind, as though afraid they would vanish if left unspoken. It seemed as if no number of answers could fully quench his thirst for knowledge.
With each response his father provided, Yibo reacted in animated delight, clapping his hands excitedly whenever the answer pleased him.
However, the moment his father took too long to answer or provided a response that didn't quite satisfy him, his tiny brows would furrow in adorable frustration, his lips forming a subtle pout of mild disbelief.
"Do you think my new mama will let my gege play with me?" he asked eagerly, his round eyes wide with anticipation.
"Of course, she will, Yibo," his father assured him, amusement flickering in his gaze.
"Really?" Yibo pressed, tilting his head.
"Yes, really," Mr. Wang affirmed with a patient nod.
The boy's face brightened momentarily before another thought struck him. "Then… will my gege like me?"
"Of course," his father answered without hesitation.
"Will he play with me?"
"Yes."
"And go to playgrounds with me?"
"Yes, Yibo."
"Will he carry me… when I'm tired?"
"If he can," his father chuckled.
"But I'm so small and light to carry, right?" Yibo pressed on, stretching his arms outward as if to demonstrate just how tiny he was.
"That you are," Mr. Wang agreed, smiling at his son's insistence.
"Will he give me hugs and—"
Before Yibo could finish his next question, the door to the VIP room swung open, drawing his attention immediately. His words hung unfinished in the air as his wide and fascinated eyes landed on the two figures who had just entered.
A breathtaking woman stood before them, poised and elegant, radiating an aura of sophistication and grace. She looked like someone who had stepped straight out of a high-fashion magazine, her presence effortlessly commanding attention.
Dressed in a perfectly tailored designer gown that accentuated her delicate yet confident frame, she exuded a sense of refinement that was impossible to ignore. Her wavy, shoulder-length hair was styled to perfection, soft curls framing her flawless features, and the subtle glow of her makeup only enhanced her already striking beauty.
It was difficult to believe that she was a mother, she carried herself with the effortless allure of a woman still in her mid-twenties.
When she smiled, it wasn't just a polite expression but a warm, genuine gesture that seemed to light up the entire room, compelling those around her to smile in return.
However, what truly rendered Yibo speechless was not just the beautiful lady but the boy standing beside her, his small hand securely clasped in hers.
Yibo's jaw nearly dropped.
His heart thudded in his chest as he took in the sight of the boy, his awe-struck mind struggling to process what he was seeing.
The boy was, in a word… perfect.
Everything about him, from the sharp angles of his young face to the striking depth of his gaze, radiated an effortless charm that felt almost unreal.
His expression was serious, borderline unreadable, but upon closer inspection, Yibo could see past the initial air of indifference.
There, hidden within his eyes, was something familiar… something that reflected the very same emotions bubbling within Yibo's own chest.
Excitement.
Uncertainty.
Anticipation.
Though his face remained composed, his lips twitched, just the slightest movement, so subtle that it would have gone unnoticed by anyone who wasn't paying attention.
It was the smallest of tells, yet to Yibo, it made the boy infinitely more intriguing.
And then, there was the tiny, perfectly placed mole just beneath his lower lip. It was an unbelievably small detail, almost impossible to notice unless someone truly took the time to look. Yet, somehow, that single beauty mark added to the boy's already captivating presence, making him all the more mesmerizing.
For a moment, Yibo forgot how to breathe.
This was his gege!
And if first impressions were anything to go by, his gege was the most handsome person he had ever seen in his entire life.
Even at such a young age, the boy possessed a kind of quiet charisma that could leave anyone momentarily stunned, unable to form an immediate reaction.
He wasn't just good-looking, there was something else, something deeper, something that made Yibo's heart race with an unfamiliar kind of excitement.
A mixture of awe, curiosity, and an unspoken longing swirled within Yibo's chest as he continued to stare at the older boy, completely captivated.
This was the person he had been waiting to meet.
The gege he had been asking endless questions about.
And now that he was finally here, standing right in front of him…
Yibo had no idea what to say.
And then, his father spoke, drawing his attention back to him.
"You've finally arrived, dear," Mr. Wang said, greeting the two newcomers with a warm smile.
They exchanged pleasantries before the elegant lady and her child were led to their seats.
Yibo's gaze lingered on them as they moved across the room, his thoughts unreadable.
When his father turned to face him, Yibo instinctively returned his smile, first offering it to his father, then directing it toward the woman and her son, who were now comfortably seated at the round dining table.
Mr. Wang took his place at Yibo's left, while at his father's left, the graceful Madam Fengyin sat with an air of quiet composure. Beside her, her son, Xiao Zhan, was already looking at Yibo, his gaze steady and unwavering. There was no mistaking the curiosity in his expression.
Because the table was round, the seating arrangement naturally placed Yibo and Xiao Zhan next to each other. It wasn't something either of them had chosen, but rather how things had simply fallen into place.
The proximity between them made it impossible to ignore one another, yet neither had spoken a word so far.
Mr. Wang cleared his throat softly, a deliberate sound meant to capture the boys' attention and bring their focus back to him.
"Yibo, allow me to introduce you to Auntie Fengyin and her son… your gege, Xiao Zhan."