In the weeks that followed, Wang Yibo and Xiao Zhan found themselves spending nearly all of their time together, especially as President Wang and Madam Xiao became preoccupied with the final preparations for their upcoming wedding ceremony… the last major event left unfulfilled in the long-awaited union of their families.
With the adults busy handling everything from guest arrangements to formalities, the younger pair was largely left to their own devices, allowing them the rare luxury of uninterrupted time in each other's company.
As the days passed by, they discovered more about one another. Not just trivial facts or surface-level preferences, but deeper truths tucked within their personalities, quirks, and habits.
What initially may have seemed like differences gradually became opportunities to understand and adjust.
Though neither would openly admit it at first, both found themselves becoming increasingly attuned to the other's presence, preferences, and patterns.
The wedding itself was designed to reflect both elegance and luxury, but without excessive grandeur.
The ceremony was held at the Grand Hyatt Beijing, an opulent yet classic venue nestled in the heart of the capital. Only a select few hundred guests were invited, consisting mostly of close relatives, influential figures in the business world, and long-time family friends.
It was not meant to be a spectacle for the public eye but rather a refined celebration of family, loyalty, and alliance, so only a few reporters were allowed inside.
As anticipated, the arrival of Xiao Zhan and Wang Yibo drew no small amount of attention. It was almost impossible for them not to become the center of conversation, even in a room filled with powerful personalities and polished socialites.
Zhan, reserved and naturally averse to public displays, clearly felt uncomfortable under the weight of so many gazes.
Yibo, by contrast, seemed to relish in it. He was used to attention, after all. It came with being who he was. But more than that, he liked being seen beside Zhan. There was a kind of pride that came from knowing eyes were on them, whether or not anyone dared say what they noticed out loud.
Xiao Zhan's appearance for the occasion was deliberately understated. He wore a classic black tuxedo tailored to perfection, layered over an ivory-white dress shirt and finished with a plain black tie.
There was nothing flamboyant about his attire, and yet he exuded an air of quiet authority and graceful sophistication.
His hair was slicked back in a clean, controlled style, complementing his sharp features and slightly mature aura.
The only accessory he wore was a Zenith El Primero Tourbillon resting quietly on his left wrist.
Yibo, on the other hand, arrived like he had just stepped out of a modern-day fairytale.
He chose an elaborately styled ivory ensemble, clearly curated to mirror and complement Zhan's inner shirt.
The design was ornate, bordering on regal, with meticulously embroidered patterns of golden clouds and blooming lotuses that gave his entire appearance a sense of mysticism and youth.
His hair, too, was styled not too structured, but every strand in place, like a prince ready for his own coronation.
And to complete the look, he wore a small, crown-like headpiece… something he had insisted on despite light resistance.
When Zhan chose not to match his own mother's crown style for the event, Yibo saw the opening and took it.
With that quiet yet stubborn gleam in his eye, he declared that if no one would match his mama, then he would.
No one dared to argue.
At the venue itself, the two were practically inseparable.
Zhan, though often composed and aloof in social gatherings, never once strayed far from Yibo's side.
Whether it was casual wandering or purposeful mingling, if Zhan moved through the crowd, Yibo was only a step behind… or, more often, already at his side. Sometimes, it was Yibo who clung to him like a shadow, and other times, Zhan would instinctively reach out, lightly grasping his didi's wrist or sleeve, pulling him gently along.
That day, the world might have seen two young heirs standing side by side at a lavish wedding, the sons of two powerful business empires, present merely to support their parents.
But anyone who looked a little longer would notice something more.
A silent tether between the two.
An invisible yet unbreakable bond.
And in that moment, whether it was in the way Yibo's gaze lingered on Zhan's profile or the way Zhan leaned slightly toward Yibo whenever they stopped to speak with someone, it became apparent to those watching that this bond wasn't something anyone can come between.
They definitely stole the show.
Photographers captured moments of them together almost the same amount as the actual bride and groom.
That day, the long-awaited official statement regarding the status of the Wang and Xiao Corporations was finally made public.
As previously outlined, there would be no merger between the two top-tier conglomerates. Xiao Zhan would remain as the designated heir of the Xiao Corporation, and Wang Yibo would continue as the future successor of the Wang Corporation.
While collaborative projects and joint ventures were anticipated in the years to come, the decision to formally unite both corporations would rest solely in the hands of Yibo and Zhan, should they ever choose to take that step in the future.
For now, it remains a matter of possibility, not certainty.
Because of this arrangement, Madam Xiao—now known publicly as Madam Wang following her remarriage—continued to serve as the acting CEO of the Xiao Corporation. Meanwhile, President Wang retained leadership of the Wang Corporation, overseeing its operations until Yibo came of age and, if he so desired, chose to take the position.
The decision, however, would ultimately depend on Yibo's own path. If he decided not to step into the world of business, then a more permanent solution would need to be determined when the time came.
Speculation, of course, had already begun to stir.
Many within elite circles quietly whispered that, should Yibo opt out of inheriting the Wang Corporation, it was highly likely the position would be entrusted to Zhan who's obviously a business minded child despite his age and is already preparing to inherit his late father's company.
However, one complication remained: Zhan had graciously but firmly declined to take on the Wang surname.
He wished to preserve the memory of his late father by continuing under the name Xiao, and that decision was met with respect, even if it added a layer of complexity to future succession planning.
As the evening drew to a close, the atmosphere among the attendees shifted from formal to fatigued.
The day had been long, the air thick with anticipation, conversation, and negotiation.
When it was all finally over, Zhan and Yibo returned home together.
As he always did, Zhan instinctively headed to Yibo's room after cleaning up.
Opening the door softly, he found Yibo already clean, curled up, and fast asleep.
He stepped closer, gently brushing his hand over Yibo's head.
And then, without making a sound, he turned around and walked back to his own room, the quiet of the night wrapping around him like a final punctuation mark to the long, eventful day.