Chapter 23 Yìchén
Chapter twenty-three
Yìchén
Yìchén sat in his bedroom on the edge of his bed while his father and stepmother stood over him as if he were ten years old instead of twenty. It annoyed him because he didn't need anyone's permission to fuck who he wanted, and yet his parents were treating him as if he needed theirs.
"You sent the video, didn't you?" Da Han asked his problem child.
Yìchén nodded. "I did."
"Why?" Da Han asked.
"Because I wanted it all out in the open. I've always had a thing for Chen. For years, and he never looked my way when I was younger. But now I'm grown—"
"Debatable," Da Han snapped.
Yìchén huffed. "Dad, I just didn't want to sneak around anymore. I didn't want him to feel like he needed to hide his attraction to me from you anymore. So, I ripped the band-aid off."
Da Han shook his head. "I don't really get involved with who you want to fuck. But Chen is different. He's my right hand. He goes where I go, and when I return to Beijing, he will return with me. Where does that leave you two as a couple?"
Yìchén bit his bottom lip and pouted. "Does he have to return with you?"
Da Han crossed his arms over his chest. "Did you not think about that scenario when you were seducing him?"
"You have other men who can accompany you back to China," Yìchén said.
"Chen spent the majority of his life working his way up the ladder in the triad, and because your ass tingles for his cock, you expect him to give all of that up for you?" Da Han asked him.
"I mean—"
"What are you willing to sacrifice for him, Yìchén?" Da Han interjected.
"If he has to travel back with you, fine. I'll find a great college for arts in Beijing. I don't want him to give up his life like that. I mean, we've just started; it might not even work out, but we'll never know if we can't give it a chance," Yìchén said.
Da Han's jaw was tight, but he wanted to smile because it was a rare occasion that he got to witness his son show some maturity. "Do you mean that?"
Yìchén nodded. "I've wanted that man since I was twelve."
Da Han frowned. "Twelve?" he asked, shocked that his son had those desires for Chen at that age.
Mèng Yáo shook her head but remained silent to hear Yìchén's explanation.
Yìchén nodded. "It started off as a crush.
I mean, I also had the same crush on several actors and singers.
I knew then that I had a thing for men, not boys.
I've never been attracted to men my own age or even a few years older.
No, I like that age gap to be wide—but not too wide—not trying to visit nursing homes for a date. "
Da Han rolled his eyes at that. "I will get to the point then. I won't stand in the way of your relationship with Chen, but you two need to figure out who stays in New York and who moves back to Beijing. If Chen stays, he will become Li's right-hand man, serving him as he served me."
"But if he's not willing to do that, then you will need to come wiht us to Beijing," Mèng Yáo said.
"But if he stays, who will go with you?" Yìchén asked.
"Zhang Ying will be promoted to the position of my right hand," Da Han said.
"Ohhh, wise choice, Dad." Yìchén smiled.
Da Han nodded. "Chen and I have discussed this, so he knows his options, and now you do too. Get together with Chen and figure out what the fuck you two want to do, then get back with me."
Yìchén leaped off the bed and hugged his father. "Thank you so much, Dad. You're awesome."
Da Han sighed but hugged his son back. "You're lucky Chen is willing to stay for you if you want to live in New York."
"I just want to point out that the option for staying in New York rests entirely on whether or not we win this war.
If we don't..." Mèng Yáo let her words fade because she didn't want to think of a scenario where they'd lose, because at what cost?
She couldn't think of a world without Da Han by her side.
Da Han released his son and hugged his wife and kissed her temple. "That will never happen."
She didn't argue, only nodded and took his hand into hers.
"And I'm willing to leave for him," Yìchén said as he stepped back to the bed and sat down.
Da Han nodded and pulled out his phone when it started ringing. He saw that it was his brother, Tian Yu, calling, and he hoped to hear good news. "Do you have him?" he asked about Zindel.
"We have him. We lost some men trying to capture his ass, as Vito had a strong security detail protecting him. We have him at the safe house on Division," Tian Yu said.
Da Han smiled because it was nice to finally receive some good news. "Perfect."
"This is the news that will make it perfect. We've got one of the Lords too. Goes by the name 'Snoopy.' Yufei caught him after he'd left his clubhouse. Apparently, he was out on a mission to get equipment. So now we have a Lord and a Castiello," Tian Yu said.
"Well, Zindel isn't a Castiello yet, but the fact that he's Vito's lover makes him very valuable," Da Han said. "Are they hidden well?"
"We have them secure."
"Looks like it's time for me to make a phone call to Rico."
"Do you want me to cut something off of Zindel in case they need convincing?" Tian Yu asked.
"Not yet... not unless they force me to," Da Han said.
"All right, let me know what happens with Rico."
"You'll be the first to know," Da Han said.
"I'll keep Yufei informed as well," Tian Yu said.
"Make sure he doesn't do anything to Snoopy without my word," Da Han said.
"I will."
"Stay safe, brother," Da Han said before ending the call.
"Good news?" Yìchén asked, seeing his father's lifted spirits.
Da Han nodded. "Very good. Okay, I have to have a meeting about what I'm going to do next."
"Okay, Dad. I'll call Chen."
"You have ten minutes," Da Han said before leaving.
Yìchén didn't waste time before contacting Chen, asking the man to come to his bedroom. Two minutes later, there was a knock on the door. "Come in," he called out.
Chen opened the door, and immediately, Yìchén wanted to strip naked and spread his legs for the man, but he kept it together.
They had to have a serious conversation.
"I just got through speaking with my dad, and I want to know what you want to do.
I'm flexible. I can stay here and continue in college if you're willing to work under Li.
But if you want to leave with my father, I'll go too and find a university there.
I just want to be with you." He rose from the bed, walked over to Chen, and slipped his arms around the man's tapered waist. "I've always wanted to be with you.
" He looked up, resting his chin on the man's muscular chest.
Chen caressed Yìchén's beautiful, angular face, and leaned down, claiming the lips that belonged to him. "Your father and I did come to an understanding. I can work for Li; he will need my guidance and years of experience."
"But do you want to? I don't want to force you to work for Li if you'd rather work under my dad," Yìchén said. "And if you'd rather live in Beijing."
"You'd leave with me?" Chen asked just to make sure.
Yìchén nodded. "I've wanted you for so long, but you never paid me any attention before."
Chen cocked an eyebrow. "How long have you wanted me?"
"Since my preteens. I saw you being all big and badass working for my grandfather. Men see you and they fear you, they respect you. You command it with your very presence. How could I not be enamored by you?"
"That long, hun?"
"I flirted with you when I was sixteen, but you didn't take me seriously."
Chen frowned as he thought back, then he chuckled because Yìchén's flirtations he'd written off as the boy just being rebellious and pushing limits. A child thinking he could tempt a grown man. "I remember, and you were right. I didn't take you seriously."
"I know. I had to bide my time until the day came when you couldn't help but see me. To see that I was worthy of you and you were worthy of me. I want to be with you, Chen, and I'm willing to do whatever it takes to make that happen," Yìchén said.
Chen smiled because he wondered if his little Imp would be able to be selfless.
He knew he was spoiled and greatly loved by his parents.
The fact that Yìchén was willing to leave for him made him want the man even more.
"I'd rather stay here, and it's not just for you to stay in your university and with your friends.
I like it here, and I really think Li will need me.
Serving the heir to the Dragonhead of the Jade Dragon Triad is also an honor. "
Yìchén smiled because he really did want to stay. Not only would he be able to hang out with his friends, but he'd be closer to his two siblings once Li and Xiù took over New York. "It's decided then. We'll stay."
Chen nodded. "We'll stay."
Yìchén grinned before kissing his man again, but then he pushed him away and sat back down on the bed. "I know my dad wants to have a meeting. I don't want you to miss it. Go."
Chen smirked. "Who knew my Imp had grown up so much?"
"For you, I can move mountains." He looked up at Chen as if he were larger than life, feeling lucky to have him all to himself.
Chen chuckled at that. "When all of this is over, I'm going to give you everything you want, and I'm going to do things to you that I need."
"What do you need? What is that exactly?" Yìchén asked because he figured one of Chen's weaknesses, or rather turn-ons, is being the predator who chases his prey.
Chen leaned down, caressing Yìchén's jaw; his thumb ran over Yìchén's bottom lip as their eyes locked in an intense stare. "To own you."
"To chase me?" Yìchén implored.
"To claim you as my reward," Chen said.
Oh sweet Jesus! Yìchén thought, and he whimpered. "Tease."
"I'm not teasing; I'm promising. We'll talk later," Chen said, then left.
Yìchén threw himself on the bed, buried his face in his pillow, and screamed in joy. The pillow muffled the sound, and once he was done, he rolled over and smiled widely at the rotating ceiling fan. "I finally got him."
Now the only thing he couldn't wait for was for this war to be over so that he could go back to living his best life.