DC-chapter 1

Zhan felt irritable, he cursed softly to himself as he turned on the shower.

As a designer in one of the famous fashion and beauty companies, the struggle for a promotion was something Zhan’s yet to overcome, no matter how hard he had tried.

He thought of Zhu Zanjin, the highest rated fashion icon in the company.

Zanjin is nowhere near Zhan in hard work or potential but he was blessed with unreal beauty, a body stature like a carved goddess of beauty is the number one priority for the company figure.

Apart from the promotion, Zhan had to work tirelessly for the well-being of his mother, who is suffering from terminal disease.

“Gosh, why on earth did I wake up late!”

Zhan groaned out.

He closed his eyes allowing the water to drip down his body not wanting it to stop.

The alarm interrupted his thoughts. He frowned at the interruption and was about to turn off the shower then someone snoozed the alarm.

“Zhan? Honey! Are you okay dear? You’ve been in the shower for an hour now”.

His mother called out and approached the bathroom.

“Oops!”

Zhan screamed in his mind, alerted.

“Hm… I am shaving mom! What’s the time now?”

“8am.” mother replied.

“Shit!”

He cursed and pulled the towel over his wet naked body then dashed out of the bedroom.

His door opened expecting his mom, he cared less.

“Zhan.”

Zhan swung around with a start.

Song Jiyang stood there smiling sheepishly at him. He has equally attractive features. Zhan had known Jiyang since childhood. Their mothers were very close too.

“Jiyang, what are you doing here at this time of the day?” Zhan asked, staring at his friend with intense curiosity.

Jiyang chuckled and walked over to sit on the bed.

“You look like thirteen years old with that towel tied around your bottom, how is your digital boyfriend by the way?”

Zhan paused and looked at him with arched brows, Jiyang loves teasing him to death.

“He is absolutely fine, thank you Mr Song.”

Zhan snapped back addressing him with his first name.

“I am just being a good friend honey, I mean how can you trust someone whom you’ve never seen… not even in a video call, I don’t think I can do that online dating stuff, what if he is physically….. I don’t know…invisible? Even worse… dickless.” Jiyang said with a shrug.

“Thanks” Zhan muttered a bit shyly.

“I am the mom here so I have to take care of my tiny baby or else he will get married to an invisible dickless man.”

Jiyang said and gave him the I told you so look.

Zhan scoffed in annoyance.

“Bobo!…. Is not invisible, he is real! Okay?.. Look I have no time for this, I don’t wanna be late for work.” Zhan replied with a hand wave.

He walked over to the wardrobe and picked his outfit for the day.

“Bobo?”Jiyang Chuckled.

“That’s the name I call him, since our identities and real name’s hidden”.

“Let me guess.. then he nicknamed you… mmm., Xu.. you know then the couple’s name is Xu Bo.” Jiyang said purposely to annoy him.

Zhan narrowed his eyes. “You are impossible Jiyang”.

“Nice underwear though, I’m gonna steal one of those, sad Bobo isn’t real enough to get a peek at you wearing those, you know.. before you two get dirty and stuff.” Jiyang said.

“Okay I don’t care if you think I am going crazy or whatever but Bobo is real and he does love me as much as I love him so get a life!”

Zhan barked at Jiyang’s reflection on his dressing mirror angrily.

Jiyang smiled satisfactorily as he’s aware of Zhan fury and couldn’t help getting him even more annoyed, it’s something he loves doing to his friend.

“Alright, what’s his last name, let me guess anonymous?”Jiyang asked with an eyebrow raised.

“Leo…Bo” Zhan replied shamelessly with pride.

“Exactly boo with thumbs down, get hold of yourself boy, I understand”.

“You’re sick Jiyang”.

Jiyang broke into a hearty laughter.

Zhan’s phone vibrated with unlimited pop up notifications, he had dropped it on the bed, before getting into the shower, Jiyang glanced at the phone screen.

“Speaking of the devil, boy he is really the possessive type, he typed all this in a minute?”

Zhan rushed to the bed and grabbed his phone from him, with a warning look on his face.

“Don’t kill me”. Jiyang Chuckled.

Zhan shook his head, he sat on the bed beside Jiyang and forced his feet into his sneakers before dashing out of the room with fingers glued to his phone screen.

“Hey I am still here!”

Jiyang yelled.

×××××

On his way to the company, he stopped by his favorite cafe to get an instant coffee but then his phone won’t stop buzzing from notifications.

“Not now Bobo”.

Zhan said about bringing out his phone from his pocket, he unintentionally bumped into a man carrying a cup of coffee, he lost his balance and fell down.

The accident eventually led to spilling of the coffee and staining of the stranger’s expensive white suit.

Zhan looked at the blurred image in front of him, his head was aching bad, slowly his eyes went to his phone’s broken screen.

“Aww, not again”.

He cried and picked up his glasses to get a clear view, the man’s height was intimidating and his face could pass for the hottest Zhan has ever seen, still stunned slowly his eyes went to the large map of stain on his white suit.

“Oh no! I am so sorry” Zhan gasped out loud and leapt up to his feet to clean the stain but the stranger stopped him.

“Are you blind? you have four eyes for Christ’s sake” he growled loudly, his angry eyes became dark.

In his head, Zhan cursed out loud, knowing fully well the trouble that awaits him.

“This is all your fault Bobo!” Zhan yelled in his head.

“This is all your fault, four eyes!”.

The angry bird stranger snapped in sync with him.

“I am sorry sir, sincerely I apologize, I was rushing, and texting, I didn’t look…”

“Just shut your mouth up dirty bitch!”

“Please let me clean the stain..

“Are you a natural dummy or your momma whore gave you the genes?”

Now offended, Zhan snapped back.

“With all due respect sir, this is not just my fault alone, you weren’t careful too, hooked to your phone remember? And I won’t let you insult my mother, she got nothing to do with this”.

His outburst came as a surprise to the man, but his face was still cold and expressionless.

“You need help, probably a brain and another pair of eyeballs”.

He drew a conclusion with a gross expression on his face this time, with his right hand tucked into his pocket and left hand dusting his suit.

Zhan stood in awe calculating in his mind like a confused kid.

“Whores..”.

The rude stranger mumbled and walked away past him with an intentional hard nudge, brushed over his shoulder which took off his balance.

“Hey! Who do you think you are! Angry bird?”!

Zhan snapped angrily after him but the man completely ignored him this time.

Still cursing Zhan watched him closely, he walked over to the other side of the road, an eye-catching car was parked at the lot, a dressed uniform man opened the door for him with a bow.

“Just like I guessed, an angry bird king, spoiled rotten brat, gosh! I hate him” Zhan scuffed and shook his head.

××××

As soon as he walked into the company, he rushed to his corner.

“I got worried thinking that you’d never get here”.

Zhan swept his hair away from his face and glanced at his wristwatch.

“I’m only 2 minutes late, Haoxuan”.

He protested with an amused chuckle, while he dusted his desk and sat down to arrange the files breathlessly.

He had a feeling that Haoxuan was still staring at him so he tried as much as possible not to meet his eyes.

Through this way he was able to avoid confessing to him about his little crush on him for these past years.

“We are going to have a new CEO soon, I don’t want you to be the least rated employee in his list too, you have to work on your timing Zhan.” Haoxuan said to him unapologetically, as a parent would scold a child.

The smile on his face faded when he turned to face his co-worker and friend Haoxuan.

Haoxuan was wearing a low hair cut, permed and styled in a way Zhan found quite attractive to frame up his equally handsome visual.

His smile was said to be the most beautiful in the company and his eyes were bright.

Zhan had known Haoxuan well for the past three years of his employment in the company and them being the same age made them super close with Haoxuan being just months older.

Haoxuan was an easy-going folla and an extrovert, famous and also one of the top designers in the company.

Zhan’s first day in the company could’ve been tagged by his as his worst day if not for Haoxuan.

“The new CEO is going to be here anytime from now, that’s why I was worried but I’m hoping I can persuade to agree to a promo…”

“Wait …. the new CEO will be here today? but isn’t he supposed to be here on the 21st?” Zhan snapped back interrupting him, the memory bank in his mind whirling in remembrance, but it failed in this instance to produce the required answer that he needed.

“Exactly and today is…?”

Haoxuan demanded with a mocking smirk on his face.

Zhan looked up at him, the look of confusion in his eyes worried Haoxuan.

He sighed and smiled softly at him.

“You know what, I think I should leave you for now, don’t get yourself worked up, you are going to do just fine”.

Haoxuan patted him gently on the back and left.

Zhan nodded subconsciously, forced a smile back as he watched him return to his office.

It took a moment for Zhan to recover from his surprise and he continued with his work.

He studied on the possible interviews and prayed to be selected among the few that will continue to work for the new CEO.

As an extra employee and least rated employee, all he can do is pray and hope.

The big entrance door opened before Zhan could leave, he turned to see a man in a black suit entering the building beside him were two serious looking huge men in uniform and black shades.

His attention was captured but in doubt. Zhan stared back at him for clarification, his mind registering his(man) broad shoulders, small waist and lean hips then his glance settled on his features that unreal handsomely pale face, his deep eyes and pouty pink lips that would be described as prettier than a woman’s but yet he looked like he knows nothing about smiling.

This instant recognition made Zhan heart leap wildly against his chest and his eyes widened. A sudden surge of anger simmering up wildly within him.

It was that rude angry bird!

Zhan would have known that pale, devilishly handsome face and giant height anywhere.

He could recall that he had bumped into him in front of a cafe just minutes ago.

The man had lashed out at him and said all kinds of things to him. Zhan had managed to not get mad at his words knowing fully well that he’s also at fault.

Zhan had bowed in respect and apologized to him repeatedly but behind that angelic and flawless face lies a devil of a sadist.

Their eyes met and quickly Zhan forced his eyes off him, uncomfortably he faced his word professor and pretended to be busy with typing.

He wondered why this man came to their company and prayed he wouldn’t recognize him for his job’s sake.

Just then the present manager, Mr Xiuqing walked out of his office and approached him, waving his hand in apology.

“Welcome Mr Wang, I sincerely apologize for keeping you waiting sir, let me introduce you to everyone”.

Zhan’s heart raced faster.

“What’s with the introduction, could he be…..