A sharp trill broke the quiet. Zhan reached for his phone on the bedside table, squinting at the screen. “Sir,” her secretary’s voice came through, crisp and professional, “a reminder sharp nine, we’re leaving for the mountain expedition contract. Some staff are already at the company waiting for you.”
Zhan rubbed his temples, trying to shake the remnants of the previous night: the balcony, the whisper, the weight of that presence. He pushed it aside, focusing instead on the day ahead. “Prepare all the documents I asked for. I’ll be there shortly,” he said, his voice steady despite the unease that lingered.
He ended the call, letting the silence settle again. For a moment, his reflection in the dark glass of the window stared back at him pale, composed, yet shadowed by the faint echo of a voice that refused to leave his mind.
Wei Ying.
He could still hear it. Still feel the chill of that night air on the balcony, the ghost of an embrace that felt too real to be a dream. His fingers brushed the back of his neck, the skin prickling as if remembering that presence. He shook his head sharply, dismissing the thought. “Get a grip,” he muttered under his breath.
He moved to the bathroom, steam filling the space as he stepped under the shower. The warmth did little to chase the strange heaviness that had followed him since last night. When he emerged, he was already in motion every movement deliberate, disciplined. His bags were neatly packed from the night before; they would stay in the mountains for five days, maybe longer. Contracts, permits, surveys, safety plans all ready.
This trip was more than a retreat; it was a strategic move. The company’s latest venture, a tourism and eco-resort project, required his oversight, and Zhan would be there in person to ensure every detail was perfect. He glanced briefly at his watch, noting the time each second a reminder that schedules, deadlines, and precision were the pillars of his world.
Even as he prepared, his mind flickered back to the previous night the fleeting shadow, the helmeted figure, and the presence that had tugged at him in ways he couldn’t explain. The sensation was sharp, insistent, a pull he could neither name nor resist. Today demanded focus. Today required order. And yet, beneath the surface of his careful routine, a quiet curiosity stirred, an echo of something familiar hidden in the recesses of memory, whispering that some mysteries were meant to be followed.
Still, as he went over the last batch of documents at his desk, his mind kept wandering. His hand brushed against something small near the edge of the table the tear-shaped wooden necklace. He paused, picking it up between his fingers. The grain was smooth, warm, the hollow core glinting faintly in the light.
A strange heaviness washed over him, almost like grief though he couldn’t explain why. “What are you?” he murmured, turning it over. Almost on impulse, he fastened it around his neck. The weight was light, yet grounding, a quiet tether he didn’t fully understand. He stepped away from the table, the necklace resting just above his chest, its presence both comforting and unnerving.
Outside, the city was already awake. The morning rush thickened the streets, cars honking distantly, sunlight glinting off glass towers. Zhan slid behind the wheel of his black sedan, adjusting his tie with one hand before starting the engine. Halfway through the drive, his phone buzzed again the car’s Bluetooth lit up, connecting automatically.
“Where are you?” Haoxuan’s voice came through, lazy but teasing.
“On my way,” Zhan replied, keeping his tone neutral.
“Take care,” he said.
Zhan nodded faintly. “Okay.” He ended the call, eyes returning to the road ahead. But his mind wasn’t as calm as his tone. The scene from last night replayed behind his eyelids the voice that had whispered against his ear, I miss you. The weight of unseen arms around him. The feeling of being watched.
He gripped the steering wheel tighter. “It was just a dream,” he told himself again, this time out loud, as if saying it might make it true. But the moment he whispered the name “Wei Ying” the fine hairs on the back of his neck stood up.
He could almost feel it again the air turning colder, the soft brush of something unseen. He turned his head sharply toward the rearview mirror. Nothing. Just the empty road. He shook his head, forcing the unease away as he pulled into the company driveway.
After a moment, Zhan stepped out of his sleek car, the morning sun glinting off its polished surface. The city’s hum felt distant as he walked briskly toward the company’s main entrance. His mind was already running through the agenda for the next five days every detail mattered. An expedition in the mountains was no casual outing; it required precision, discipline, and clear authority.
He took the elevator to the top floor. The buttons lit under his fingertips, and the elevator glided upward in near silence. When the doors opened, the corridor stretched ahead, lined with glass panels and the faint scent of polished wood. At the entrance to the boardroom, his secretary stood waiting, a stack of folders in her arms.
“Everything prepared?” Zhan asked, voice crisp, eyes scanning her face.
“Everything, sir,” she replied with a nod. “Documents, itineraries, equipment lists all ready for your review.”
He gave a short, approving glance and stepped inside the boardroom. Fifteen staff members sat around the large oval table, papers and digital tablets neatly arranged in front of them. Their faces reflected a mixture of respect, curiosity, and anticipation; this was not just any expedition, and Zhan’s presence demanded attention.
At the head of the table, Zhan’s partners for the project. Jingyu, Ziyi, and Cheng were already present. They acknowledged him with subtle nods, their expressions calm but unreadable, hinting at the experience and ambition that had made them ideal collaborators for this venture.
Zhan cleared his throat, his eyes scanning the room. “Before we leave for the mountains, there are rules to set. For the next five days, while we are on-site, all decisions regarding safety, logistics, and schedules fall under my authority. I expect cooperation, focus, and full accountability. We cannot afford missteps in an environment like this.”
The room was silent except for the faint rustle of papers as everyone nodded. Zhan continued, outlining timelines, responsibilities, and contingencies. Every staff member knew the mountains were unforgiving a single mistake could derail the entire expedition.
As he spoke, his mind occasionally wandered to the memory of the previous night. The fleeting shadow, the pull of a presence he couldn’t explain… he pushed it aside. Focus. Discipline. Today required nothing less.
The discussion lasted over an hour, precise and detailed, ensuring no ambiguity remained. By the end, the staff were prepared, the documents finalized, and the plan for the five-day expedition clear. Jingyu, Ziyi, and Cheng shared quick, discreet glances experienced professionals already considering how the execution would unfold.
Once the meeting concluded, Zhan stood. “We leave at ten sharp,” he said firmly, straightening his jacket. “Everything must be ready by then. This isn’t just a business trip; it’s a test of efficiency and judgment. Mistakes aren’t an option.”
As he walked out of the boardroom, the hum of the city below felt distant once more, but beneath the surface, a quiet tension lingered. Something unseen, something unspoken, tugged at the edges of his thoughts a reminder that the mountains would bring more than just business challenges.
On the other side of the city. Yibo was doing what he always did before a trip: trying to get rid of unnecessary noise.
“Come on, Yibo! You’re really going alone again?” Yang Yang leaned against the doorframe, his tone half-annoyed, half-pleading. “We could use a little adventure too. A few days in the mountains won’t kill us.”
“Speak for yourself,” Li Qin muttered from behind him, arms crossed. “I’m not climbing anywhere without a hot shower and Wi-Fi. But still letting him vanish for days? It’s weird.”
Yibo didn’t look up from the small backpack he was methodically packing. “Exactly why I’m going alone,” he said evenly, his voice low but firm.
Yang Yang groaned. “You say that every time! No signal, no location, no clue where you disappear to how do you expect us not to worry?”
“You worry too much.” Yibo zipped the bag shut and slung it over his shoulder. “Besides, you’d just slow me down.”
Li Qin raised an eyebrow. “Slow you down? We barely even see you anymore. At least tell us where you’re headed.”
Yibo met his gaze for a moment, eyes unreadable. “Somewhere quiet.”
“That’s not an answer,” Yang Yang shot back.
Yibo gave the faintest smirk one that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “That’s the only one you’ll get,” he said as he gently pushed them outside his apartment.
“Come on, man! Just let us tag along!” Yang Yang’s voice echoed again through the narrow hallway. “It’s just a few days! You can’t keep disappearing like some ghost every time you go hiking!”
Yibo didn’t even glance back. The door shut with a solid click, the lock turning a second later. “Good reason to go alone,” he muttered through the door, his tone flat.
Li Qin snorted. “You’re no fun, great-grandpa.”
YiZhanwangxian2026
THE MAN WHO NEVER AGES 💚❤️
PART 4
A sharp trill broke the quiet. Zhan reached for his phone on the bedside table, squinting at the screen. “Sir,” her secretary’s voice came through, crisp and professional, “a reminder sharp nine, we’re leaving for the mountain expedition contract. Some staff are already at the company waiting for you.”
Zhan rubbed his temples, trying to shake the remnants of the previous night: the balcony, the whisper, the weight of that presence. He pushed it aside, focusing instead on the day ahead. “Prepare all the documents I asked for. I’ll be there shortly,” he said, his voice steady despite the unease that lingered.
He ended the call, letting the silence settle again. For a moment, his reflection in the dark glass of the window stared back at him pale, composed, yet shadowed by the faint echo of a voice that refused to leave his mind.
Wei Ying.
He could still hear it. Still feel the chill of that night air on the balcony, the ghost of an embrace that felt too real to be a dream. His fingers brushed the back of his neck, the skin prickling as if remembering that presence. He shook his head sharply, dismissing the thought. “Get a grip,” he muttered under his breath.
He moved to the bathroom, steam filling the space as he stepped under the shower. The warmth did little to chase the strange heaviness that had followed him since last night. When he emerged, he was already in motion every movement deliberate, disciplined. His bags were neatly packed from the night before; they would stay in the mountains for five days, maybe longer. Contracts, permits, surveys, safety plans all ready.
This trip was more than a retreat; it was a strategic move. The company’s latest venture, a tourism and eco-resort project, required his oversight, and Zhan would be there in person to ensure every detail was perfect. He glanced briefly at his watch, noting the time each second a reminder that schedules, deadlines, and precision were the pillars of his world.
Even as he prepared, his mind flickered back to the previous night the fleeting shadow, the helmeted figure, and the presence that had tugged at him in ways he couldn’t explain. The sensation was sharp, insistent, a pull he could neither name nor resist. Today demanded focus. Today required order. And yet, beneath the surface of his careful routine, a quiet curiosity stirred, an echo of something familiar hidden in the recesses of memory, whispering that some mysteries were meant to be followed.
Still, as he went over the last batch of documents at his desk, his mind kept wandering. His hand brushed against something small near the edge of the table the tear-shaped wooden necklace. He paused, picking it up between his fingers. The grain was smooth, warm, the hollow core glinting faintly in the light.
A strange heaviness washed over him, almost like grief though he couldn’t explain why. “What are you?” he murmured, turning it over. Almost on impulse, he fastened it around his neck. The weight was light, yet grounding, a quiet tether he didn’t fully understand. He stepped away from the table, the necklace resting just above his chest, its presence both comforting and unnerving.
Outside, the city was already awake. The morning rush thickened the streets, cars honking distantly, sunlight glinting off glass towers. Zhan slid behind the wheel of his black sedan, adjusting his tie with one hand before starting the engine. Halfway through the drive, his phone buzzed again the car’s Bluetooth lit up, connecting automatically.
“Where are you?” Haoxuan’s voice came through, lazy but teasing.
“On my way,” Zhan replied, keeping his tone neutral.
“Take care,” he said.
Zhan nodded faintly. “Okay.” He ended the call, eyes returning to the road ahead. But his mind wasn’t as calm as his tone. The scene from last night replayed behind his eyelids the voice that had whispered against his ear, I miss you. The weight of unseen arms around him. The feeling of being watched.
He gripped the steering wheel tighter. “It was just a dream,” he told himself again, this time out loud, as if saying it might make it true. But the moment he whispered the name “Wei Ying” the fine hairs on the back of his neck stood up.
He could almost feel it again the air turning colder, the soft brush of something unseen. He turned his head sharply toward the rearview mirror. Nothing. Just the empty road. He shook his head, forcing the unease away as he pulled into the company driveway.
After a moment, Zhan stepped out of his sleek car, the morning sun glinting off its polished surface. The city’s hum felt distant as he walked briskly toward the company’s main entrance. His mind was already running through the agenda for the next five days every detail mattered. An expedition in the mountains was no casual outing; it required precision, discipline, and clear authority.
He took the elevator to the top floor. The buttons lit under his fingertips, and the elevator glided upward in near silence. When the doors opened, the corridor stretched ahead, lined with glass panels and the faint scent of polished wood. At the entrance to the boardroom, his secretary stood waiting, a stack of folders in her arms.
“Everything prepared?” Zhan asked, voice crisp, eyes scanning her face.
“Everything, sir,” she replied with a nod. “Documents, itineraries, equipment lists all ready for your review.”
He gave a short, approving glance and stepped inside the boardroom. Fifteen staff members sat around the large oval table, papers and digital tablets neatly arranged in front of them. Their faces reflected a mixture of respect, curiosity, and anticipation; this was not just any expedition, and Zhan’s presence demanded attention.
At the head of the table, Zhan’s partners for the project. Jingyu, Ziyi, and Cheng were already present. They acknowledged him with subtle nods, their expressions calm but unreadable, hinting at the experience and ambition that had made them ideal collaborators for this venture.
Zhan cleared his throat, his eyes scanning the room. “Before we leave for the mountains, there are rules to set. For the next five days, while we are on-site, all decisions regarding safety, logistics, and schedules fall under my authority. I expect cooperation, focus, and full accountability. We cannot afford missteps in an environment like this.”
The room was silent except for the faint rustle of papers as everyone nodded. Zhan continued, outlining timelines, responsibilities, and contingencies. Every staff member knew the mountains were unforgiving a single mistake could derail the entire expedition.
As he spoke, his mind occasionally wandered to the memory of the previous night. The fleeting shadow, the pull of a presence he couldn’t explain… he pushed it aside. Focus. Discipline. Today required nothing less.
The discussion lasted over an hour, precise and detailed, ensuring no ambiguity remained. By the end, the staff were prepared, the documents finalized, and the plan for the five-day expedition clear. Jingyu, Ziyi, and Cheng shared quick, discreet glances experienced professionals already considering how the execution would unfold.
Once the meeting concluded, Zhan stood. “We leave at ten sharp,” he said firmly, straightening his jacket. “Everything must be ready by then. This isn’t just a business trip; it’s a test of efficiency and judgment. Mistakes aren’t an option.”
As he walked out of the boardroom, the hum of the city below felt distant once more, but beneath the surface, a quiet tension lingered. Something unseen, something unspoken, tugged at the edges of his thoughts a reminder that the mountains would bring more than just business challenges.
On the other side of the city. Yibo was doing what he always did before a trip: trying to get rid of unnecessary noise.
“Come on, Yibo! You’re really going alone again?” Yang Yang leaned against the doorframe, his tone half-annoyed, half-pleading. “We could use a little adventure too. A few days in the mountains won’t kill us.”
“Speak for yourself,” Li Qin muttered from behind him, arms crossed. “I’m not climbing anywhere without a hot shower and Wi-Fi. But still letting him vanish for days? It’s weird.”
Yibo didn’t look up from the small backpack he was methodically packing. “Exactly why I’m going alone,” he said evenly, his voice low but firm.
Yang Yang groaned. “You say that every time! No signal, no location, no clue where you disappear to how do you expect us not to worry?”
“You worry too much.” Yibo zipped the bag shut and slung it over his shoulder. “Besides, you’d just slow me down.”
Li Qin raised an eyebrow. “Slow you down? We barely even see you anymore. At least tell us where you’re headed.”
Yibo met his gaze for a moment, eyes unreadable. “Somewhere quiet.”
“That’s not an answer,” Yang Yang shot back.
Yibo gave the faintest smirk one that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “That’s the only one you’ll get,” he said as he gently pushed them outside his apartment.
“Come on, man! Just let us tag along!” Yang Yang’s voice echoed again through the narrow hallway. “It’s just a few days! You can’t keep disappearing like some ghost every time you go hiking!”
Yibo didn’t even glance back. The door shut with a solid click, the lock turning a second later. “Good reason to go alone,” he muttered through the door, his tone flat.
Li Qin snorted. “You’re no fun, great-grandpa.”
#yzwx2026 #yizhanff #fanfiction
18 hours ago | [YT] | 776