Bastian was walking toward A-Xuan’s office but stopped. He couldn’t understand why he came to see him. After he finally found him he decided that he would never lose his trace again, so he had cameras installed in his office.

When he looked at it, he could see that he was pale, and he felt pushed to go check on him. He walked to the office faster and opened the door slightly.

A-Xuan was looking down with tears on his face. Bastian walked in and kneeled in front of him. He wiped his tears and asked with a hint of worry:

"What’s wrong?"

A-Xuan looked at him with soft eyes, and at that Bastian’s heartbeat quickened. A-Xuan wrapped his arms around his neck, hugging him. Bastian stood there, not knowing what to do. After a while, he held onto his waist.

A-Xuan pulled back, wiping his tears, and he smiled.

"Sorry, I’ve been working too much."

Bastian touched his forehead and frowned.

"You have a fever."

"It’s fine. I just need to rest."

A-Xuan got up, packing his bag. When he was done, Bastian followed him out. They rode the elevator in silence. When they arrived downstairs, A-Xuan locked the company and waited.

Bastian grabbed his hand, pulling him into his car. He gave the chauffeur his address and closed the compartment. A-Xuan smiled, looking at him:

"Did you need to see me for something?"

Bastian looked at his smile, then away. He doesn’t know what to say or how to act around him. He feels guilty about what happened 6 years ago, but then he feels this need to always check on him.

Even after not finding him for so long, he still had someone investigate every day until he found him a month ago. Once he did, he never let him go again, he has this almost inherent fear of losing him.

They never had contact, so he doesn’t understand where it comes from. But when he saw A-Xuan earlier, his heart started to beat faster, and he couldn’t stop looking at him.

It was the same with the picture he received every day for a month, but now it’s worst because he has to face him. How is he supposed to work with him if he can’t even look him in the eyes?

He answered, avoiding his eyes.

"I was just passing by and saw that the door was opened. So, I checked to make sure everything was okay."

A-Xuan smiled, he never met a version of his husband who was shy. Bastian had a slight blush and A-Xuan’s heart softened.

A-Xuan leaned his head on his shoulder and closed his eyes, Bastian looked down at him the whole way. When they arrived, A-Xuan said before exiting the car:

"Thank you for checking on me."

Bastian nodded and told the driver to leave once he saw him enter his house. After taking a shower again, A-Xuan went to bed.

The next day, A-Xuan came down and entered the dining room.

"Hey, I came back early so we can have breakfast together."

A-Xuan smiled at Leia and joined her. He grabbed a plate and filled it.

"I need you to leave until I’m done dealing with a few things."

Leia looked at him surprised:

"I can stay with my friend again for a few days."

A-Xuan looked at her and said seriously:

"No, I need you to leave the country. I took care of everything, you can bring your boyfriend if you’d like."

Leia put down her chopsticks.

"We just reunited, and you want to separate again?"

A-Xuan looked into her hurt eyes. He got up and sat next to her.

"I left because it wasn’t safe for me here. I knew if I stayed, they would go after you to get to me. It was before I intended to take them down. How do you think they’ll react now?"

Leia grabbed his hand with begging eyes.

"I’ll stay, and we’ll take them down together."

He knows that if she stays she’ll get hurt, and he’ll never let that happen.

Especially now that Victoria and Darren know they’ve been in contact the whole time. He always planned on sending her away, he just wanted to see her first. He knows how much she wanted that too.

A-Xuan caressed her cheek:

"Do you trust me?"

Leia nodded.

"Of course."

"Then you need to leave until I deal with them. Okay?"

Leia looked down with tears on her face. She thought that A-Xuan was back and that would be it, but they’ll be apart again.

She understands why he wants her to leave, but it kills her to leave him here alone facing danger. A-Xuan wiped her tears.

He reassured:

"This time, I’m not alone, plus they need me alive more than dead. They won’t do anything to me, that’s why it’s best if you leave until I’m done with them. The worst thing that could happen to me would be to lose you, and they’re not above doing that."

She nodded and hugged A-Xuan. He told her yesterday not to unpack, so she could leave as fast as possible. He had already called her boyfriend yesterday, he’ll feel better knowing she’s not alone.

When they finished eating breakfast, A-Xuan accompanied her to the airport. He hugged her goodbye and watched the plane take off.

He wiped every trace of her and her boyfriend. He’ll never let anyone find her until he deals with them, and he will.

A-Xuan went back in the car and was driven to Song PharmaTech. When he entered his office, both Isaac and Shuo were there.

"Is she gone?"

A-Xuan walked to his desk, nodding. Shuo reassured, sitting in front of him:

"She’ll be back soon. Don’t worry."

Isaac sat next to him.

"It’s what’s best until they’re dealt with."

"I know. It’s just, Leia looked devastated. She thought that I was back and that’s it."

Isaac said:

"Just a little bit longer."

A-Xuan nodded with a smile. He asked Shuo:

"When’s the meeting with Bloom Pto?"

"Tomorrow."

"Perfect."

Shuo asked curiously:

"Does Bastian know you own Song PharmaTech?"

A-Xuan smiled, thinking at his flushed face.

"He does."

Isaac and Shuo looked at each other surprised. Since they’ve known A-Xuan, even if he is a generally happy person he never smiled so affectionately.

Isaac tilted his head at A-Xuan with a smirk.

"Do you like him?"

Shuo was aghast at Isaac’s question, but when he saw that A-Xuan was looking down opening his computer as if he heard nothing he gasped. He pointed at him:

"Oh my god, you do like him. How can you like him after what he did to you?"

A-Xuan looked at him.

"He hasn’t done anything to me. Darren, his mother, and Victoria did."

He then looked at both Isaac and Shuo sneering:

"Shouldn’t you both worry about your relationship?"

Isaac laughed mockingly at a red Shuo. Shuo had his eyes wide open, looking like he wished he were anywhere but here. A-Xuan burst out laughing.

"This is too easy, now leave, I have to work. Again, Isaac do not leave his side."

"I won’t boss."

Isaac smiled and pulled a frozen Shuo out.