A Little Escape
[📘 Content Warning:
This story contains Boys’ Love (BL) themes. Reader discretion is advised. Please read the disclaimers mentioned in the Instagram post.]
Zhan opened the bookstore just like every other Saturday morning, even though he’d barely slept.
He should’ve been groggy, but there was a quiet, humming happiness under his skin, the kind that lingered after something real and warm.
He and Yibo had been together until dawn.
Curled up on the terrace, arms tangled, soft breaths shared between whispered words and drowsy kisses.
Yibo’s alarm had rung at five, cutting through their peaceful sleep.
Yibo had kissed him once more, slow and sleepy, before slipping away into the dark.
Now, hours later, Zhan moved through the store with a lightness he didn’t bother hiding.
A few regular customers had noticed.
“You look happier these days, Zhan.”
He just smiled.
“Must be your imagination.”
But they weren’t wrong.
And he knew exactly who was behind the extra curve to his lips.
Across town, something similar was happening.
Yibo, who used to be known for his silence… had started smiling more often.
A little softer around the edges.
Lele and Chen had teased him endlessly.
“What’s going on with you?”
“Nothing.”
He’d say, hiding a grin.
By late evening, the store was quiet again.
Zhan sat in the backroom, fingers tapping away at his laptop as he worked through a freelance proofreading project.
Outside, the sky had begun to turn dusky blue.
Without warning, a pair of arms slipped around him from behind.
Zhan flinched, startled, until he caught the scent of the deo and realized who it was.
“Bo!”
He gasped, twisting around just as Yibo kissed his cheek.
“I didn’t hear the bell.”
Zhan said, still catching his breath.
“I didn’t let it chime.”
Yibo said, grinning, still bent over him, arms wrapped loosely around his chest.
Zhan shook his head, lips twitching in amusement, then turned back to his screen.
Yibo leaned closer, resting his chin on Zhan’s shoulder for a moment before his eyes wandered to the document open on the screen.
“Still not done?”
“Almost.”
Zhan said, glancing at the clock.
“Maybe two more hours.”
Yibo nodded.
Then, without another word, his hands slid up to Zhan’s shoulders and began to knead gently.
Zhan closed his eyes briefly, a low sound escaping his throat.
“Mmm… this is so good, Bo.”
Yibo smiled behind him, thumbs pressing into the tight muscles just below his neck.
“Ge…”
He said after a pause.
“Let’s go on a road trip next weekend.”
“Road trip?”
Zhan asked, blinking eyes still fixed on the screen.
“Yeah. A getaway. Just a short one. You, me, Chen, and Lele. But really, it’ll be just us. They’ll do their own thing.”
Zhan let out a soft laugh.
“No way, Yibo. I’ve never gone on a trip with friends before. What will I even tell my family?”
“Tell them you’re going with me and my friends. That’s not a lie.”
Yibo said with a smirk, pressing deeper into a knot in Zhan’s shoulder.
Zhan shook his head, amused.
“Bo, seriously… no way. You go with Chen and Lele and come back.”
He gave a small laugh.
“If I suddenly ask my parents something I’ve never done before, they’ll just get suspicious.”
“Ge… please, ge… please…”
Yibo said, pausing the massage to wrap his arms around him again.
“Just think about it. You and me. Somewhere quiet. Just ours.”
He leaned in, lips brushing Zhan’s ear, voice lowering.
“No distractions… no rules. Just our time, ge. We can be together… do our little dirty things…”
Zhan’s breath hitched as he felt Yibo’s lips graze the soft skin just below his ear.
“Yibo…”
He said his name in a low murmur, half warning, half breathless… like he was trying to stay focused, but Yibo’s teasing was pulling him under.
Yibo’s hand slid lower, from Zhan’s waist to his thighs, fingers tracing upward, dangerously close to his zipper.
His lips moved to Zhan’s neck, kissing gently… then deeper… as he whispered.
“Please…”
Zhan groaned softly, head tilting back.
“Okay… okay. We’ll go. But now stop…”
He chuckled breathlessly.
“Let me finish this work. Don’t start something now.”
Then, with a small shake of his head and a half-serious look, he turned slightly to look at Yibo and said with a small, warning smile.
“And… this is not the right way to convince me, okay?”
Yibo grinned, completely unbothered.
“Works every time though.”
He stood up again, chuckling as he resumed the shoulder massage.
Zhan blushed, biting back a smile.
“You’re such a brat.”
“And you’re such a good boy when I convince you like this, ge.”
And Zhan… just kept smiling at the screen, warmth blooming quietly in his chest.
“Finish it up quickly, ge.”
Yibo said, leaning down close.
“We’re going for dinner together tonight… it’s our date night.”
He chuckled softly against Zhan’s ear.
Zhan laughed a little.
“Now almost every night is a date night only.”
Yibo laughed too, his hands still moving over Zhan’s shoulders and then down to his biceps, thumbs digging in just right.
Zhan exhaled with a lazy smile.
“Ma’s already questioning me. Why I’m eating out so often and coming home late. Every day I have to make up some excuse.”
He paused, then added with a groan.
“And Yue? She’s like an undercover cop or something… I think she has her doubts.”
Yibo gave a low laugh.
“Mm… she’s smart then.”
Zhan smiled, shaking his head.
“Yeah… annoyingly smart!”
They ended up talking for another hour, conversation drifting between casual teasing and quiet silences that felt full and content.
Somewhere in between, Yibo padded to the coffee machine in the corner, made two mugs, and handed one to Zhan without a word.
When the clock finally hit closing time, Zhan stretched, stood up, and began winding up for the day.
He shut the register, flipped the sign to CLOSED, and dimmed the lights.
Then, together, the two of them stepped out of the bookstore, just another quiet night, just another secret dinner date that felt a little too much like love.
————————————-
Zhan didn’t expect it to be so easy.
The night he casually told his parents about the trip, they actually looked… happy.
His mother had even smiled and said.
“It’s good for you to go out for once. Have some fun, ah Zhan. And it’s with Yibo, so we know you’re safe.”
The warmth that bloomed in Zhan’s chest was hard to ignore.
Safe – that word meant everything.
But Yue… Yue was watching him like a hawk.
Arms folded, brow slightly raised, eyes narrowed just enough to scream suspicion.
Zhan glanced at her once, and the moment their eyes met, he immediately looked away like a guilty teenager caught sneaking out past curfew.
Without another word, he spun around and headed straight for his room.
“Zhan-ge!”
Yue called after him, tone full of that you-think-you-can-hide-from-me? energy.
“No interviews today, officer! No cross-examinations tonight.”
He tossed back over his shoulder, disappearing into his room before she could launch into full interrogation mode.
Already hearing her scoff and mutter something,
“Ugh, I swear, one of these days I will find out what’s going on with him. He’s acting like he’s in some K-drama.”
Zhan rolled his eyes behind the door but couldn’t help smiling.
Yue was annoying, but in that painfully nosy, absolutely lovable little sister way, the kind he wouldn’t trade for anything.
Later that night, curled up in bed with the lights off and his blanket pulled up to his chin, Zhan unlocked his phone and scrolled to Yibo’s contact.
His thumb hovered for a moment, just long enough to smile to himself before he tapped Call.
Yibo picked up on the first ring, voice soft with the kind of ease that only belonged to one person.
“You’re still awake?”
Zhan asked, rubbing at his eyes lazily.
“Mm-hmm.”
Yibo’s voice came through, warm and low.
“Was waiting for your update. So… did they agree?”
Zhan smiled, even though Yibo couldn’t see it.
“Yeah. They actually said yes. Just like that.”
“Of course they did.”
Yibo replied, smug and amused.
“I told you. The moment they heard my name, they were probably like, ‘Oh, he’s with Yibo? Great, no problem!‘”
Zhan laughed, the sound light and slightly disbelieving.
“It’s so weird how easy it was. I thought Ma would ask a hundred questions. Instead, she smiled. Like, genuinely smiled.”
“Because she trusts me.”
Yibo said proudly.
“And they like me more than you think.”
Zhan rolled onto his side, voice softening.
“You know… I’ve never been on a trip like this before.”
Yibo was quiet for a second, then said gently.
“I know. That’s exactly why I wanted you to come.”
He paused, voice dipping a little lower.
“It’s our first trip together, ge. It has to be special. Something you’ll never forget.”
Zhan’s heart thudded quietly in his chest.
Before he could say anything back, Yibo added playfully, teasingly.
“And don’t worry, I’ve already made a mental checklist. Lube is right at the top priorities, ge.”
Zhan nearly choked on his own breath.
“Yibo!!”
“What?”
Yibo said, completely unbothered.
“You want it to be unforgettable or not?”
“Shut up. Shameless.”
Zhan muttered, biting his lip to keep from laughing too loud.
“Seriously. You can’t say things like that when I’m trying to sleep.”
“Oh, but I was trying to help you sleep.”
Yibo said with a smirk in his tone.
“Just… in my own way.”
Zhan groaned and buried his face in the pillow.
“Go to sleep, idiot.”
“Goodnight, ge.”
Yibo murmured, fondness wrapping around the words like a blanket.
“Can’t wait for Saturday.”
Zhan smiled into the darkness.
“Me too.”
They stayed on the call in silence for a few more minutes.
No words needed, just the quiet sound of each other’s breathing until one of them drifted off and the other didn’t bother hanging up.
—————————————–
That following Saturday, the sky was still dusky when a rented SUV pulled up outside Zhan’s house.
He was already waiting outside, ready to be picked up.
Yibo was behind the wheel, window rolled down, arm resting out casually, while Chen and Lele waved at him from the backseat.
Zhan stepped out with his backpack slung over his shoulder, greeted by a low honk and Yibo’s bright grin.
“Morning, ge.”
Yibo called out, eyes crinkling at the corners.
“Morning.”
Zhan smiled, walking up to the car.
The moment he got in, Lele immediately passed him a thermos.
“We brought coffee. No complaining about being sleepy now.”
“Bless you.”
Zhan muttered with a grateful look.
They were headed to a forested retreat near the Qingyuan mountains: a riverside campsite known for its quiet trails, natural pools, and just enough wild to feel like an escape.
The drive would take around six hours, and they planned to make the most of it.
They took turns driving.
Yibo started, then Chen took over after the first two hours, then Lele.
Every few hours, they stopped for snacks, water, restroom breaks and sometimes, just to stretch and breathe in the green that slowly replaced city grey.
At one of those stops, somewhere along a long stretch of road lined with swaying trees and wildflowers, they all stepped out into a little clearing.
The morning mist had cleared, and the sky was open and blue.
“Damn, this place is pretty.”
Chen said, stretching his arms above his head.
Zhan stood near the edge of the clearing, holding up his phone.
“Yibo, come here. Let’s take a pic.”
Yibo rolled his eyes with a smile but walked over.
Zhan slipped an arm around him casually, their faces close, the way friends often do.
But there was something softer in their smiles, something warmer in the way Zhan angled Yibo’s face for the light, in how Yibo looked at him instead of the camera.
Lele, standing a little away with Chen while lighting a cigarette, nudged him.
“Look at those two.”
He whispered, eyes flicking toward Zhan and Yibo, who were taking pictures together and talking.
Chen followed his gaze and grinned.
“Yeah… you noticed it too, right? Even in the car, man… Yibo kept sneaking glances at him. Both of them smiling and blushing like teenagers.”
Lele exhaled a puff of smoke and laughed under his breath.
“So true, dude. I’ve never seen Yibo like this before. He’s never been this close or touchy with anyone.”
He shook his head slightly.
“It’s definitely something.”
They both watched in silence for a moment.
The way Zhan’s hand lingered on Yibo’s back, the way they talked in hush tones and smiled at nothing… It wasn’t subtle.
Chen leaned toward Lele with a mischievous glint in his eye.
“Wanna test the waters, Lele?”
He muttered, already smirking.
Then, without waiting for a reply, he cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted.
“Do you lovebirds need a room or are you planning to build one right here?”
Zhan and Yibo whipped around, startled.
Zhan’s eyes widened and Yibo straightened, quickly stepping away.
Chen and Lele burst out laughing, whistling like idiots.
Lele elbowed Chen between laughs.
“See? What did I say? There’s something going on. No one acts like that unless they’re dating.”
Yibo tried to cover his embarrassment with a glare.
“Shut up, you two.”
He muttered, though his voice held no real anger.
Zhan just blushed and smiled, saying nothing.
Lele exhaled smoke and called out.
“What? You think we’re blind? It’s obvious, dude. You two aren’t fooling anyone.”
Yibo’s lips twitched despite himself.
He tried hard not to smile, but failed.
Zhan turned away, cheeks pink, pretending to look at something on his phone.
After a few more minutes of joking and teasing, they all took a bunch of selfies and pictures together – some serious, most absolutely ridiculous.
Then, still laughing, they piled back into the car, the air light with warmth and easy friendship.
Zhan took the wheel this time.
Chen and Lele got into the backseat, still grinning.
As Zhan focused on the road, the two in the back started making exaggerated kissy faces and subtle heart signs at Yibo, who was sitting in the passenger seat next to Zhan.
Yibo, with the most unimpressed expression, rolled his eyes and mouthed silently, shut up.
Chen sang dramatically, pointing at Zhan with mock seriousness.
“Can I go where you gooo……?”
Lele snorted, not missing a beat.
“Yeah, straight into Yibo’s lap apparently. Right, Zhan-ge?”
Both of them leaning forward to catch his expression through the rear-view mirror.
Zhan shook his head with a quiet chuckle, pretending to focus on the road.
But the corners of his mouth curled up, and his ears were definitely turning pink.
Yibo, meanwhile, kept his gaze fixed out the window, trying hard to look unbothered and serious… but the faint twitch at the corner of his lips gave him away.
Then Lele leaned forward dramatically, like he was giving a TED Talk.
“Ladies and gentlemen, today’s topic: How to spot a man in love… featuring Yibo, live from the front seat.”
Then Chen leaned in like he was about to deliver a keynote.
“Don’t worry, Bobo, your secret’s safe with us. We’ll just casually mention it… every five minutes, forever.”
Lele gasped as if heartbroken.
“I just want to be looked at the way you look at Zhan-ge. That’s all I ask!”
Chen pretended to wipe a tear.
“They grow up so fast, Lele… First crush, first road trip… next thing you know, they’re moving in.”
Lele grinned and faked texting.
“Should I message Zhan-ge’s mom? Just to say congrats on the future son-in-law?”
Then they both chanted a classic children’s rhyme in a sing-song voice:
“Yibo and Zhaaaan, sittin’ in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G! First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes a baby in the baby carriage…!”
Yibo groaned, leaning his head back against the seat, jaw tight, eyes closed.
“I’m surrounded by idiots.”
He muttered.
Then, with the flattest expression known to man, he added.
“I should’ve left both of you at the last gas station. I swear to God, next bump on the road, I’m opening the door and tossing you out. Fly safe.”
Zhan glanced at him with a raised brow.
“That include me too?”
Yibo didn’t even look his way.
“You? No. You’re driving privileges. I need you, ge.”
Zhan smirked.
“Good to know I’m valued… like a GPS.”
From the back, Lele gasped.
“He needs you? That’s basically a confession, right Chen?”
Chen grinned and added.
“Yeah, and next he’ll be asking Zhan-ge to hold hands during sharp turns.”
That only made Zhan smile wider, shaking his head a little as he focused on the road.
Yibo tried to keep his expression stern, arms crossed and gaze fixed out the window.
But the faint flush creeping up his neck and the tiny smile tugging at his lips gave him away completely.
Chen caught it and groaned dramatically.
“Oh my god, he’s blushing, man… Someone take a picture!”
Lele leaned forward, grinning like a devil.
“Look at him pretending to be mad while smiling like a lovesick fool. Adorable.”
Yibo slapped a hand over his own face.
“I hate all of you.”
That only made them laugh harder.
The car rolled on, music playing low, sunlight slanting through the trees as they headed deeper into the forest road… toward what was shaping up to be a weekend they’d never forget.
—————————————–
By the time the car pulled into the Qingyuan mountainside campsite, the sun was beginning its slow descent.
The air was crisp, kissed with the scent of pine and damp earth.
The sound of the nearby river flowed like a soft backdrop to their excited chatter as they climbed out of the car, stretching after the long drive.
The place was perfect – tucked by a wide, shallow river that shimmered under the golden light, with a clear, open space for tents and a ring of stones marking where the bonfire would go.
They wasted no time.
Chen and Lele started unloading the bags while Yibo and Zhan picked a spot close to the river.
Tarps were rolled out, poles raised, and soon the tents stood steady against the soft breeze.
Laughter echoed through the woods as they fumbled through assembling everything,
Teasing each other over who forgot what or whose tent looked the most crooked.
They split up naturally, Chen and Lele gathering fallen branches and twigs for the bonfire, while Zhan helped Yibo sort out the supplies for the barbecue grill.
Even though no one was hungry after their lunch on the way, there was a certain excitement in preparing everything, just for the joy of it.
By evening, the sky had dimmed to a smoky lavender.
Without any hesitation, they all headed for the river.
Shoes were kicked off, shirts tossed aside.
The water was cold at first, pulling laughter and squeals out of them as they waded in.
Chen did a dramatic belly flop.
Lele splashed everyone within reach.
Zhan, who was initially hesitant, found himself being pulled into the current by Yibo, both of them laughing like kids.
The Bluetooth speaker thumped from the riverbank, music bouncing off the water as they sang along, their voices messy but full of life.
They dunked each other, swam in circles, floated on their backs, and chased the sun as it dipped behind the mountains.
Time blurred in that cool, glimmering water, until the sky turned navy and stars began to prick through the dark.
Around 7, shivering and soaked, they finally dragged themselves out.
They wrapped in towels, laughing and out of breath, making their way back to the tents.
One by one, they ducked inside to change into dry, warm clothes.
Later, Yibo and Chen took the car and drove out of the site to get meat and booze.
The night had fully settled in by the time they returned.
The campsite glowing softly with lanterns and the flicker of a newly lit fire.
The bonfire crackled high and warm, flames licking the air as sparks danced upward.
Bottles clinked open, the first hiss of cold beer drawing a collective cheer.
Chen manned the grill, Yibo by his side, setting up skewers and seasoning the meat.
Lele passed out drinks, already tipsy and humming something out of tune.
Zhan sat on a log, his hands wrapped around the beer bottle, eyes drifting toward Yibo.
The firelight caught his profile, golden against the shadows, as he leaned over the grill, sleeves rolled up and eyes focused.
Zhan felt something deep and soft stir in his chest.
This…
The stars above, the fire, the scent of charred wood and spiced meat, the sound of laughter, music, and river not far behind, this was something he never imagined for himself.
After a certain age, life had narrowed into quiet survival.
Responsibilities, expectations, deadlines.
He had convinced himself that was all there could be.
And now, here was Yibo, wild and warm and full of light… showing him there was more.
Showing him a life, he forgot how to dream about.
And Zhan realized, with a quiet smile, that this life he once forgot to dream about… he was living it now, because of Yibo.
Not through grand gestures or expensive gifts, but in the quiet, ordinary ways…
Like bringing him to places he knew Zhan would love.
Remembering the little things Zhan said in passing.
Bringing him food exactly when hunger hit, even without asking.
Always wiping his scooter seat dry before Zhan sat, and slowing down just a little when Zhan held him tighter from behind.
Knowing when to pull him close… and when to simply sit beside him in silence.
It wasn’t about physical touch or grand declarations.
It was in how Yibo made him feel understood, cared for, without ever needing to ask.
And somehow, those simple things… touched Zhan deeper than anything physical ever could.
They reminded him… this was love.
No fireworks, no drama.
Just simple, steady affection…
Real. Quiet. Constant.
It was in those small, unspoken things… that Yibo said I love you without a single word.
And Zhan felt it, every time.
Lost in his thoughts, with quiet warmth blooming in his chest, Zhan hadn’t even realized how long he’d been watching Yibo.
And just then, Yibo turned around, laughter still lingering on his face, and caught Zhan watching him.
He raised an eyebrow, smirking a little, like he was asking — what are you looking at?
Zhan just smiled and shook his head, a small, wordless — Nothing.
But in that simple moment, under the golden light and the quiet rustle of leaves, Zhan felt it settle deep in his chest again.
He is falling in love… with Yibo.
All over again.
Effortlessly, completely… like breathing.
A little more deeply than before.
[To be continued…]
——————————————-
Author’s Note:
Heyyy, you made it to the end of the chapter! 😄
Hope you enjoyed it — and if you did, please don’t forget to like & comment on my Insta post. 💖
Think of it as your way of telling me, “Hey, I’m here, and I loved it!” — it means the world to me and truly keeps me inspired to write more for you! ✨
The Red Ribbon 