World Apart

Chapter 4

Just as Xiao Zhan had said to Liu, the next day, Xiao Zhan who couldn't sleep the whole night is outside and impatiently waiting for the said prince and his convoy to pass. All through the night, he kept turning on his bed and was imagining why his heartbeats at the thoughts of that prince he saw inside the beautiful car. He doesn't know him and neither has he seen him before. But one thing Xiao Zhan couldn't seem to wash out of his mind was the fact that the prince he saw was very handsome and had never seen such a God in a man form before. Why is he so happy and can't wait for it to be morning so he could take a glimpse of that prince? Why is he feeling this way over this prince? Xiao Zhan knew that, all his life, he had never felt something like this in his heart before. Was it because the prince is handsome? Was it because of his beautiful cars? Or was it because he was a royal prince? Why is he so happy to see this prince again to the extent that the thoughts of him kept flooding in his memory? He guesses, it was because he hasn't seen a man as handsome as the prince.

Xiao Zhan didn't even see him clearly, but just that glimpse of him was already enough for Xiao Zhan to know that the prince is very handsome, unique and a simple man. The way that the prince stared at him from that car made some hearts jammed so that he couldn't get him off his mind. And finally, morning came, and here he is, standing and waiting for the convoy to pass by. Xiao Zhan was waiting and getting tired and at the same time afraid. He had so many loads of work waiting for him inside and he might get scolded by his Aunty if he didn't go and finish his work. But seeing that car and that prince is quite more important to Zhan that he didn't care about getting scolded. He was almost getting disappointed when he sighted the cars coming, his eyes lit up and that beautiful smile of his became visible and bright once again.

Xiao Zhan started jumping like a kid, his smile so broadly and was mesmerized by the sight of those cars driving past them. What made his heart quivered the more is the fact that the prince was inside that car and was staring at him. Xiao Zhan smiled whilst looking at him and lowered his head when he noticed the prince was still trying to look at him the most, even when they've driven past them.

"Uncle Liu, that prince was staring at me. I think he likes me." Xiao Zhan blurted out his thoughts. He can't help but think that when someone stares at another the way the prince stared at him just now, that it only means the person likes that person. Maybe, the person wants to be the person's friend and that's why the person was staring at them.

Liu glared at the smiling blushing boy to know if he suddenly developed a fever or something. Maybe, he must be lost in the dream of seeing a beautiful car that he now started imagining things. "The prince of Wang Kingdom likes you? Are you kidding me? At what level of likeness are we talking about here? A village illiterates like you will be liked by a noble prince? Secondly, who told you that the prince is into men? And even if he is, why will it be someone as wretched and naive as you? Listen, let me tell you something, that prince can never be seen by an ordinary servant boy like you. Someone who didn't even smell a school gate talked more about going inside there. Don't think the impossible before you end up becoming delusional and break your heart yourself."

Xiao Zhan might not understand some of the Chinese he is speaking, since he only knew how to speak the deepest China accent, and adding to the fact that Liu was also adding English while he speaks, makes it more uncomfortable and impossible for Zhan to understand what he's saying to him. But one thing is for sure, Xiao Zhan knew he was insulting him and laying abuses on him, making Zhan feel sad that he unconsciously looked at himself, especially his dressing. Liu's dressing was 200 miles much better than his and what he saw the prince wearing was even far more 1millon miles away from Liu, meaning he's more like a rag and piece of trash when it comes to their standards. With these thoughts, Xiao Zhan lowered his head and mumbled, "I must be overthinking. That prince can never find likeness in a common village illigrates like me. But I won't feel bad for not being born in a royal and competent home like him. I am content with being illigrates, because I have lots of friends and people who like me. I am proud to be the son of a farmer who strives to survive. Having my wonderful mother who loves me was already enough for me. I will only come out to watch the prince cars and that's all. His cars are wonderful and I will always come to watch them and that's my limit." Xiao Zhan proudly voiced out with his stunning smile and walked back inside to continue his chores, making Liu feel so guilty for insulting a naive innocent boy who was only happy seeing what he hasn't seen in his life.

"I think I went too far. He was just exaggerating and was only happy. He and I know he can never have anything to do with the prince that he was just bluffing out of excitement. I am disappointed with my thinking. Isn't that prince a human being? That he was born into a Royal wealthy family doesn't make him different from us I guess, the illiterate was even more knowledgeable than I am. *Sighed* I am disappointed with myself." Liu shook his head and wanted to go inside and apologize to the poor boy, but he knew Mrs. Susan might be around and might be angry if he left his duty post. He guesses, he'll apologize to him when he comes out to buy something or when he'll come to give him his food. On remembering something, Liu laughed out a bit and shook his head. "illigrates... That boy can be funny. The way he pronounces some English language will be my death. Yesterday was Virgity and today is illigrates. I wonder what it will be next. Such a naive poor innocent boy." Liu smiled and never stopped feeling guilty for his scoldings and insults on the poor village boy.

*ONE WEEK LATER*

For the past one week, it has become a daily routine for Zhan to come and watch the prince's car drive past them. It becomes something Xiao Zhan wouldn't want to miss for anything. After getting reprimanded by Liu over his thoughts of the prince liking him, Xiao Zhan zipped his mind over such thoughts and concentrated on watching the car. He can't deny, he still smiles and still thinks about the prince he sees inside the car every day, but knowing their status difference and that the prince will never find friendship with him, he stops imagining or being delusional just as Liu has told him. It was true Liu had apologized to him for lashing out those words to him, but Xiao Zhan finds it unnecessary for him to apologize over something true. Liu is right, it is good he minds what brought him here to this big city in the first place, serving his uncle and his wife, so they'll have the good mind to send him to school. He focused on his coming here and stopped thinking of being friends with the prince, but that didn't stop him from coming outside to watch his convoy, because it's another beautiful thing Xiao Zhan had seen in his life.

This morning, he was sitting under the magnolia tree with Liu and was waiting as usual for the prince to pass with his cars. This time around, Xiao Zhan was cooking but when it's time for the cars to drive by, he left his cooking and came outside and had been sitting here with Liu, waiting for the cars, but it's not coming and he's beginning to get scared since Mrs. Susan is around today. "He will not pass today?"

"They will pass. They passed here yesterday, so they'll also pass today. For one week now, haven't you been seeing them? What makes you think he won't pass today?" Liu asked, looking at the boy who seemed restless.

"That's what I'm saying. Let them come and pass. You know, I was doing something in the house. I want to quickly look at those cars and then go and finish what I was doing. I don't want my Aunty to get angry with me."

"But wait you village boy, so If you don't see those cars for a day, will you die?" Liu interrupted him. He kept wondering how this boy still gets interested in watching cars that kept passing here every day. Haven't Zhan gotten tired and bored with it? Liu wondered.

"Those cars?" Xiao Zhan asked and smiled brightly. "Those cars are very beautiful. Very ... Very beautiful. Look at how they're just shining brightly like the sun. Me, I love beautiful and wonderful things. In my village, we have only bicycles and only telling hunters and the winemakers can afford it. I used to run outside to watch Eyesloplane flying in the sky. I used to watch it in my village, but one day, I broke my mother's pot because of it."

Liu was wondering what he meant by 'eyesloplane' . Is it an airplane he was trying to pronounce? 'Damn! This boy will really make me die one day with laughter' Liu thought and wanted to respond to Zhan, but his eyes sighted something and he exclaimed. "Ah! Zhan, look at them, I told you they'll pass. They're coming." Xiao Zhan's eyes shimmer and immediately stand up and start smiling, watching the amazing convoys driving past them. "Are you satisfied now?" Liu asked, smiling and shaking his head, and can't help but murmur, "this boy is truly beautiful. His smiles can make anyone smile, even though you don't want to."

"Those cars are as beautiful as the moon. You see, tomorrow when they're passing again, I am going to wave at them. That's exactly how I used to wave at the Eyesloplane in my village. I'll do the same to them." Xiao Zhan chipped, bluffing out, excitedly.

Liu rolled his eyes at his statement and shook his head. "Zhan, what did you say you're doing inside a moment ago?" Liu asked.

"I was cooking..."

"Now go inside the house and continue with that cooking before madam Susan will come here and said I'm beginning to lure you to myself not knowing you've been the one coming here to watch the prince convoys. Start going, now!" Liu raised his voice. Liu had been hungry and was patiently waiting for the prince to finally drive-by, and now that he has, he can't wait for Zhan to go already and complete the cooking and get him food.

Xiao Zhan who flinched because of his voice looked at him with his pleading eyes. "let me watch them until they're out of sight. Please, I promise to be fast..."

"Are you still standing there? Or do you want me to catch you there? Go inside now!" Liu gets up and Xiao Zhan flees from there, but that doesn't stop him from looking back to know if the cars have retorted from them.

However, Prince Wang Yibo who had been seeing the young boy for over one week now started getting curious to know that boy more. He sees him standing there and watching them pass by every morning and Wang Yibo is beginning to get interested and now expecting to always see the boy. Whenever he sees how happy the boy jumps up seeing them, it makes Wang Yibo curved his lips into a slight smirk. Wang Yibo doesn't know why he's always happy to see the boy watch them. Why is he always eager to see that boy? Why does his heart beat fast whenever he sees the boy standing at that gate? He hasn't met him before, but he is happy and his heart is always in noticeable joy whenever he sees him and can't deny, he wants to always see the beautiful smiling boy. Once his car drove past them, he continued staring at the boy and couldn't take his eyes away from the boy.

His bodyguard always watched from the view mirror and can see how that boy got the prince's attention. He looked at the prince who was still turning his head to watch the said boy and asked, "My prince, that boy is there again."

"I know, and I'm curious to know why he always stands there to watch us drive past them. Only God knows his intentions." Wang Yibo said, wondering why the boy always stands there to watch him and why he's even interested to always see the boy.

"He's just a jobless boy. Has he no work to do other than standing there every day to watch us? For the past one week, he stands there to mop at us while like a fool...." His bodyguard said, feeling irritated with how that boy standing there every day to watch them was always smiling and jumping like an i***t.

Prince Wang Yibo was already smiling, thinking about the boy, and didn't seem to understand what the other was ranting about. "Maybe, he's the man's brother or his boyfriend, or don't you think the same?" Wang Yibo asked, wondering.

"Maybe, my prince." The personal bodyguard replied, looking at the prince from the view mirror, wondering why the prince's face always seems to lighten up whenever he sees the boy.

"I don't know, but however, I will find out who he is." Wang Yibo smirked. All his day at work was a pleasant surprise to everyone. Even though they know how generous and kind-hearted the prince is, it doesn't stop them from seeing the difference. One week now, they mostly see their boss dwelling in his thoughts and smiling to himself. Some of them thought maybe, he had finally found a wife for himself. They all have different thoughts but seeing the prince like this is what makes them happy and whoever is responsible for it, they hope the person continues a good Job. The charming prince deserves everything good and to be happy. The prince sees their happiness and satisfies them with their needs, but they haven't seen him smiling or happy before. This is what they want for the good prince, his happiness and that's what matters.

The next morning, Wang Yibo prepared for his usual work and walked outside and found the red carpet already rolled on the ground, waiting for him to enter. He was having the thoughts of seeing the beautiful boy today again, but now seeing the red carpet ruined his smiles. He hates all these formalities, those flowers, and the bowing he received from elders most. All this royal bullshit infuriates prince Wang Yibo and has warned his guards to stop bringing out the red carpet for him to walk on. Wang Yibo walked outside and on seeing the carpet. He raged and stoned his guard with a cold look. "Meng Yao! I told you to stop bringing out this red carpet anything I'm going out. Look, I am a simple man by nature and not even royalty or princely whatever can change that."

Meng Yao bowed, "My prince, it was the king's instructions. He ordered that we treat you like the prince that you are."

Wang Yibo sighed and snuck in the anger he was erupting with and looked at his guard, "Look, whey father is around, we can make due of the carpet and flowers, but now that he has traveled, can't I, prince Wang Yibo of Wang Kingdom be free from all these for once?" Wang Yibo shook his head and started walking inside his car and made sure he didn't step on that carpet.

Meng Yao drove out of the castle and they proceeded to the city. On getting there, he was the first to sight that same boy standing at that gate waiting for them. "My prince, that stupid boy is there again."

"What..."Wang Yibo sneered and stoned him with a disgusting glare. "Meng Yao, you must not call anyone foolish and stupid I'm my presence again! Do you hear that?"

"Yes my prince," Meng Yao bowed to his warnings.

"You must stop looking down on other people! Are you better than the boy? Don't you dare try that again?" Wang Yibo continued with his scolding and warnings.

"I am sorry my prince. It will never happen again." Meng Yao looked at him from the view mirror and slightly, showing how sorry he is.

"Good." Wang Yibo was relaxed and ready to watch the boy looking at them, especially his smile. But today, something is different, he is waving at them and also urging the man with him to join in waving. "Damn! He waves at us. Stop the car..."

The car suddenly stopped moving, making the two people waving their hands stunned and wondering what's wrong and why are they stopping today. Other days, they haven't stopped before, what happened today? Did they offend them with their waving? They thought to themselves, especially the village boy whose soul has left him, thinking of what he might've done to offend them that they stopped today. They're wondering and readied their legs to start running when they saw that handsome prince climb down from that car and start walking towards them.

Out of fear, Xiao Zhan started running and Liu also joined him. They ran as fast as they could inside the house and locked the gate. Wang Yibo was taken aback by the turnaround of the event. He was only going to greet them and finally stand closer and look at the boy, but he guessed, scaring them away, that he ran away from him.

With a disappointed face, Wang Yibo walked back inside his car and sighed, dejectedly. "You may proceed." He ordered, his face cold and stoic and not as cheerful and blissful as it used to be. "Why is he running away from me? Did I scare him? I was only going to say hello to him. I guess I should do that formally." He concluded in his heart.

Meanwhile, those two who ran inside stopped running and stood by that gate, waiting for the car to start moving. "Have you seen what you caused? I think that the prince gets angry that we wave at him. This village boy has finally landed me into trouble."

"Hey! I was only trying to show how happy I am seeing the car and I am only wishing him good luck in his work. I didn't mean to offend him. Why is he angry because of that? Hey! Please, don't tell my uncle and Aunt about this. Hey! What kind of trouble did I put myself in like this?" Xiao Zhan feels like crying, his heart palpitating, his body trembling with palpable fear. "I will never come out to watch his cars and wave at him again if I succeed. He should forgive me, I will never do it again." Xiao Zhan, heart skipping and hearing Mrs. Susan calling his name, went inside, promising in his heart never to step his foot outside in the morning to watch the prince's car.

TBC...