Chapter 42 Zhen's Love Confession (Finale)

A few years later

"Stand with the right posture! Stand on your toes, flatten your backs! Keep your knees straight and pull up the muscles in your tummy!"

Barry strictly instructed while coaching Yiyi's group as they were about to perform in the university's performing arts event.

The learners followed his every instruction, turning and twirling their toes as they pirouettes, jumps, and bends.

"Good job ladies and boys!" Barry applauded them.

"Thank you, coach!" The group said in chorus.

"You're so strict dadda," Yiyi complained when they were left alone in the studio.

"Because I need to be, so you could take my lesson seriously," replied Barry.

"I understand, dad," replied Yiyi while tidying her stuff.

On the other hand, Zhen made a final stroke of his paintbrush into a canvas as he made a final touch to his painting. He smiled at the results, just on time his phone rang. Zhen didn't have to guess who the caller was. He knows it just by listening to the special ringtone he set for a certain someone.

"Hi," he answered the phone with a smile.

"How are you doing?" Xian asked from the other end of the line.

"Well, as usual," replied Zhen whilst eyes on the painting. "Will you be able to come for tomorrow's event?" Zhen asked, hopeful.

"I have an important meeting with the managers, but I will come for sure before your live presentation performance starts," Xian replied looking at his work schedule. It has been a year now since he graduated from college and is now working under FGC cooperation after accepting Liam's offer to lead one of the subsidiary companies of FGC corporation.

"I see, you must be very busy, you don't have to come," Zhen replied, still hoping Xian would come. Xian chuckle

"I will, I can't miss your performance."

"I'll expect you then, brother– I mean, Xian."

The following day

Everyone is ready, Yiyi and her group are waiting backstage waiting for their turn on stage.

"Do your best, and enjoy your performance, guys!" Barry cheered them on.

"Thank you, coach!" The ballet group in unison. At the front of the stage were important visitors and judges. Next is the performer's family, Liam, Zhenzhen, Jian, and the rest of the whole Fraser family were present waiting for Yiyi's turn.

The curtain dropped after the last performance made its curtain call. And the curtain pulled again from the sides welcoming the new performers. The brightest spotlight was focused on the two bodies standing on their toes in the middle of the dancers. On cue, the orchestra club begins, and the ballet dancers club moves. With every graceful stretch, bend, rise, leap and turn of the dancers, the audience holds their breath. Yiyi and her male partner performed the swan lake gracefully. Yiyi elegantly broke her record of whipped turns of thirty fouette spins.

Orchestra Club and Ballet club gain a standing ovation from the audience as they applaud the performers.

Liam and Barry cried, they were so proud of their daughter.

"Are you ready brother?" Yiyi to Zhen who seems a little bit nervous. They were in the break room waiting for Zhen's turn as he was the last one to perform a live solo art presentation.

"Yeah, but–"

"But brother Xian is still not here?" Yiyi completed his sentence. "Don't worry, I will record your performance for him." Added Yiyi

"That's not necessary," replied Zhen as he was still hoping Xian could make it. Yiyi rolled her eyes and pinched Zhen's cheeks

"Do you want me to get brother Xian right now and bring him here?" Asked Yiyi as she took out his phone calling their private pilot to get Xian. Zhen grabbed her phone.

"You're so naughty as ever, Yiyi."

"I'll do anything for my favorite brother, even if it's letting go of the man I love," Yiyi said jokingly.

"Yiyi!" Zhen covered her mouth.

"Just kidding brother, you know I love brother Xian just like a real brother. But you are still my favorite brother, alright?"

They continue their bantering until it's time for Zhen's closing performance.

The stage is already set up accordingly. The Audience was all so eager for Zhen's presentation as it was highlighted on the bulletin board. As the lights turned off and the spotlight concentrated on the stage; everyone went silent.

The curtain pulled, revealing Zhen standing in the middle of the four giant painting boards. Every board is six feet tall and four feet wide. There is also a big screen to show and to focus on while he paints. Zhen will be performing an ancient art style while he dances. He is dressed elegantly like Phoenix.

The drum beats loudly, on cue; Zhen begins to move and stretches his one arm holding a paintbrush and brushing against the painting boards. The drum beats louder and faster as well as Zhen's movements. So fast that everyone was in awe. His body is moving in rhythm with the beats of the drum as he flies with a harness and flips his body in the air.

Every time his hands and feet touch the boards, it paints beautiful images. Just like a phoenix bird flying freely in the skies.

As the drum beats its final beat, Zhen descends gracefully and bends his back bowing to the audience. The audience stand-in ovation for the second time as they admire the painting, Zhen called; “The Phoenix Love Confession”.

It illustrates a timid magical young bird who is hiding its real identity and falls in love with the kingbird who is the same gender as it is. Because the kingbird is too far to reach, the young bird strives hard to have his way to the kingbird's side and confesses his feelings. Then later on the birds turn out to be the Phoenix's, fated mate.

Zhen's eyes tried to scan Xian in the sea of applauding people but he couldn't see a glimpse of him. Xian bowed again as the curtain dropped.

"Congratulations, son!"

"Congratulations, brother!" Liam, Barry, and Yiyi hugged him and the rest of the family joined in, crowding backstage. Zhen was so happy with the whole family's support and acceptance of his choices. His eyes became gloomy as he didn't see Xian among the people backstage.

"Looking for brother Xian?" Jian whispers as he mouths in a certain direction where Xian is standing with a red and white rose bouquet. Zhen bites his lips and stares at Xian who is smiling with a slight smirk on his face.

Xian strode closer to him as well as Zhen strode toward him.

"Congratulations, my Zhen; you did well." Xian as he handed Zhen the flower bouquet.

"Thank you," replied Zhen.

"So, I will ask you again," Xian said as he shortened their distance even more.

"Do you like me now, my Zhen?"

"I have always liked you, and I love you," Zhen confessed.

"So am I, my Zhen." Replied Xian as he pulled Zhen on the waist before giving him a short yet passionate kiss.

"Ahem! Ahem!!!" Liam and Barry in unison and the two instantly separate. Everyone laughed heartily.

"Dadda, I'm already 18."

"Did I say anything?" Barry raised his eyebrow.

"I should have appointed you to the overseas branch," said Liam to Xian.

"You old man just left the children alone," Tyler butts in patting Liam's back.

"Who is old here?" Liam spat showing his bicep.

"You two are both old men!" Barry and Blaze in unison, everyone laughed.

"Will, I guess I have to prove it tonight with my performance," Liam and then pulled Barry claiming his husband's lips. Yiyi and Jian covered their eyes.

"Have mercy on the singles here!" Said Yiyi and Jian.

After the event, the family has a long party celebration at Fraser's residence as it's also the trio's 18th birthday. As usual, they always held it on the same day.

***

"Babe, how about the pole?" Asked Barry as he pulled away from Liam's mouth. Liam's eyes widened

"Big NO! NO!" Liam said. "We're not getting any younger anymore, baby. I should have pulled out these poles." Said Liam as he kicked the poles slightly behind Barry. They were in a hotel room where they had their first night.

The hotel room is their little space if they want to be alone together and want to have each other for themselves only.

Barry chuckles and places his hands on Liam's face cupping it before kissing him torridly. Liam pressed their body even tighter, their groin was brushing against each other with only the thin night robes separating them.

Liam carried Barry back to the bedroom without breaking the kiss until they both dropped their bodies on the bed claiming each other over and over again.

As usual, Liam didn't stop until Barry didn't pass out because of tiredness.

"I'm still strong and young enough to make my baby pass out during sex," Liam murmurs as he gets a clean and wet towel to wipe Barry's sweating body. He loves pampering his husband so much.

The next morning Barry woke up clean and comfortable. He snuggled into Liam's chest.

"Thank you, my billionaire hubby."

~End~