However, Kris had never thought that the long way for the other actually turned out to be not that long at all. In fact, it had taken the other like about three days before Tao expressed his feelings towards the other. And it all started with something sweet as ice cream.

It has been almost two months since Tao moved into the Wu's household and he was having the best time of his life. He could eat as much as he wanted and the chef was so nice enough to even make food Tao could only admire back when he used to live with his uncle and aunt. Tao could go and about to wherever he wanted, the mall, amusement park, supermarket and so on. All Tao had to do was express it and Kris would bring him. Tao was very pleased with that, he liked his new environment, he liked the maids and the chef, the driver and basically everyone who worked at the Wu's residence and everyone liked him back.

Sometimes Tao would find himself having light conversations with each of them and sometimes he would be playing games with them. They all liked how their boring and rhythmic routine changed into a much more bearable and exciting one. They have even expressed their opinion on how everything changed their young master and what a good influence Tao was on their young master. They hoped very much that their new guest would stay forever with them. And not so surprising, Tao had secretly liked that idea too and hoped that Kris would let him too.

But even though Tao had his fun times going out and making new friends, he never once forgot where he came from. Thus, whenever he got the chance he would pick a broom and help the maids sweep the already squeaky clean tiles or wipe the windows. He would sometimes go over and help the chef cook food and learn a thing or two at the same time. There was also a time when he saw the gardner watering the flowers and plants, he couldn't help but skip over and help water the plants too.

However, this resulted in disapproving words coming from Kris. Tao didn't understand why the latter saw very much against the idea of him helping out in the household. And the other had even gone too far and forbade him to work. What was wrong in helping out others? Tao didn't mind and besides it was so boring! Tao couldn't imagine not doing any work at all. Having grown up with working his off, he was sure not used to not working and it made him feel uneasy, especially when he knew that he was indebted to the other for saving his life. 

He had tried multiple times on reasoning with the other, but all efforts had gone wasted because Kris as a well talented lawyer knew just how to twist and turn Tao's words and use them against him. The only time he could do as he pleased was when he had given his utmost puppy eyes and pout he had practiced on so many times, to Kris, making the other take a step back and ending the discussion.

However, victory never stayed too long with Tao as Kris had came up with an idea of bringing the other along to his company, just so that the other could keep an eye on him. Surrounded by only four walls and a working Kris at his desk, Tao had no one to accompany him and nothing he could do in the office so to help the other out. 

"Why am I here?," Tao asked for the umpteenth time while pacing back and forth in the clean office.

"You are well aware why you are here Tao," Kris replied without looking up from the files he was currently working on at his desk.

The sound of clicking coming from the laptop filled the office when Tao paused in his conversation. He looked around and once again found nothing he could do and finally slumped down on a nearby couch. He was slowly growing insane in the room. It wasn't as if he could go out and explore since Kris had forbidden him (they were at a company) and aside from that, there was no one he could call a friend to help him kill time.

"Do you want to eat ice cream?," Tao suddenly asked looking hopeful at the other and bit his lower lip in anxiety.

An unamused glance was thrown at him before Kris continued with his work, ignoring the other. He was trying so hard not to get distracted from the other, because he knew he wouldn't get any work done when giving in to the other's words. He had fooled enough the past couple of week and it was time he should pick things up.

It was not that he wanted to ignore the other and have the other follow him around while having nothing to do, it was just he didn't want to leave Tao alone in the house and knowing the other, the other would be busy working and not doing things not related to work at all. Hence why the latter was sitting there in the office with him.

Kris just so happened to use this method to have the other away from work, even though feeling a titbit guilty,  so he could keep an eye on the other and well maybe... have the other close with him. The last one being him feeling a very strong unexplicable attraction to the other.

"Come on! It's so quiet here~! I want ice cream!," Tao jumped up from his seat and bounded over to Kris' desk.

Without a warning Tao swept away a couple of files, ignoring the "hey, what are you doing?" and taking hold of the pen Kris was using to write, throwing it aside without as much as a glance, successfully disturbing Kris from continuing his work. For Tao, he could care less at the moment.

"You've been at it for hours and you need a break! I need a break! And having a break is best to have ice cream!," 

Tao was adamant for the other to stop ignoring him and having his ice cream. No matter what the other said, he needed and wanted the ice cream. Even if it meant disrupting the other from doing his work. 

"Ok, ok... fine. We'll have ice cream. Just let me finish the last file then we'll go, ok?,"

Kris made fruitless attempts to get back the file he had been currently working on, but Tao would have nothing of it and promptly made himself cozy on his lap surprising the other in the process. For a moment, Kris could feel his heart almost stop beating and he could feel heat rising all the way from his toes to his brains. And it was then that his brains finally registered what was happening.

Tao was sitting on his lap! He was freaking sitting on his lap! And that was close to his damn crotch!

Kris felt his stomach churn unpleasantly yet pleasantly at the same time. His heart accelerated, his mind shut down and he was frozen in place not knowing what to do in the current situation. Sure Kris had imagined the two of them in such a situation some day, but he had never imagined the day would actually come this fast! What did he do to deserve such a blessing? The Lucky Fairy must be smiling down on him at the moment. And he secretly wished for this moment to last a bit longer, because he was quite enjoying the other this close to him.

"Please~!," Tao whined as he looped both his arms around Kris' neck, jutting out his lower lip like a child.

"Uhm...,"

All the words he wanted to say got stuck in the back of his throat making it hard for him to swallow his saliva. This was so wrong and yet right at the same time. Did Tao even know what he is doing to him? Was he even aware what he was doing at the moment? Kris doubted the other was doing this intentionally.

"Ok-okay..., let's go now," Kris croaked out when he finally found his voice back.

Tao flashed him the biggest and sweetest smile he had ever seen in his life and he could feel himself melt in a pile of goo all over again. That smile was so sincere, happy and generous Kris couldn't help but smile back in return. He loved it very much to see the other smile. It showed that even though Tao had a horrible past, the latter never let that hold him back. Tao was an optimistic kid which was a good trait Kris liked very much. Even though Tao had been treated badly, the latter harbored no hatred in his heart.

"Thank you!,"

Tao jumped up excitedly before pulling Kris' hand as a sign for him to hurry up reminding Kris so much of a kid all excited for candy. Sometimes Kris wondered if the latter wasn't just a kid trapped in an adult body, because Tao sure resembled that.

Leaving the company together, Kris brought Tao to the nearest ice cream parlor and bought the well damned ice cream before taking the other to a park close to the company. Tao was eating happily away while he frowned by himself. Kris had never liked ice cream and having ice cream all of a sudden seemed not normal to him. How was he going to eat the ice cream now? He couldn't just throw it away, because that would mean wasting money.

"Aren't you going to eat?," Tao suddenly asked before taking a mouthful of ice cream.

"I don't eat ice cream," Kris confessed still looking at the ice cream in his hand.

Tao gasped in horror, his eyes detected a scandalous look.

"How can you not eat ice cream?! This is the most sinful thing I have ever heard. Ice cream is like a sacred thing, it is a beauty for us people to eat and enjoy any time of the day! The one who invented this is a genius!," Tao explained as he eyed the other almost disappointedly.

"I have never eaten it-,"

"Then eat! Eat! Eat!,"

Tao gestured for Kris to eat and when he saw the other hesitate, he practically shoved his ice cream in the other's mouth, earning a gasp of surprise before the other started a coughing fit. He quickly brought a hand behind Kris' back, rubbing it comfortably and muttering an apology for his previous action.

"It is sweet... just don't do it again next time," Kris wheezed out when he finally recovered from his coughings.

"I didn't mean to,"

Tao looked so apologetic and like a kicked puppy, Kris couldn't help but feel his inside melt. He couldn't stay angry at the other for too long. The younger one seriously had some kind of strange effect on him he couldn't describe. And the worst thing was Tao had no idea what he was doing with him.

"I really didn't meant to hurt you," Tao apologized again, hurt evident in those beautiful eyes Kris had came to love and adore.

"I know. It is just that I don't like sweet stuff... so ice cream is my first time eating it. Besides that... I am not much of a fan of sweet stuff," Kris confessed bringing a free hand to scratch the back of his neck.

"Then... then... that means that you can never eat the sweets I make!," Tao exclaimed out more to himself than the other.

For a moment, Kris looked confused at the other and then something clicked in his mind. Was that actually Tao saying that he would make something for him to eat? He hoped his ears weren't playing tricks with him.

"Are you saying that you are going to make something for me to eat?," Kris questioned cautiously, his heart thumping in anxiety.

It leaped in joy when he saw the other nod in response. He couldn't believe his ears! Tao would actually make something for him to eat! He had been waiting since forever to hear this. It was almost a dream come through!

Tao nodded again before slumping down, a pout slowly made its way to his face unconsciously. He didn't know why, but he felt a bit sad upon hearing that his savior had no interest in eating sweets. He couldn't understand why someone couldn't eat sweet at all? How could such a person survive? Everyone should be able to eat it. Besides having sweets was good too! It gave one a lot of boost!

He scowled by himself when the words of Kris not being a fan of sweets repeated in his head. If he didn't eat sweets then Tao had no idea what to make for the other. It was not as if he was a great cook or anything, he just happened to know how to make sweets better than cook other things. Back when he used to cook for his uncle and aunt, he would just dish out something very quick and edible and that was it, but this time it was different! He wanted to make something very special for Kris.

Before he could drown himself in angry thoughts, it was suddenly interrupted by Kris pulling his hand still holding the last part of the ice cream, and his eyes widened in surprise when he saw Kris taking a of his ice cream. 

"Uhm...,"

"You know what... maybe it isn't so bad... the ice cream I mean," Kris carefully said, a sincere smile adorned his face and Tao felt his inside explode in happiness, his lips formed into a bright smile leveling with Kris' one.

"That means you are going to eat sweets?," Tao asked hopefully, biting his lower lip childishly.

Adorable.

"That means I am going to eat sweets you are going to make for me," Kris corrected.

Tao squealed earning them odd looks from people who happened to walk pass them. Hating the sudden attention, Kris bowed a couple of times before burrowing the other in a hug, shushing him efficiently.

"You are attracting too much attention," Kris commented looking down at the other.

"Sorry," Tao said, not sorry at all. He was too excited to hold back his excitement.

Without a warning, Tao looped his arms around Kris' waist, freezing the latter in the process. His brains could only register the younger one hugging him, his whole body sat frozen, immobile of doing anything while his heart raced like crazy Kris was afraid the other would hear it.

"Then... are you going to eat my cake tonight?," Tao suddenly asked, cocking his head to the side to look up at the other since he was still locked in the taller one's arms.

"You made cake?,"

"Yes! I hope you'll like it," Tao nodded.

"Alright,"

That evening back at the Wu's residence, Kris found himself quite enjoying the cake Tao had specially baked for him. He knew he was one to never eat sweets, but after this he decided to make an exception for the other. It wasn't too sweet in his opinion and he decided he could bear with it. 

After they finished eating, Kris helped the other do the dishes before they finally settled in front of the tv in his grand living-room. Even though Tao had been excited earlier when they were eating, he could suddenly sense the change of mood from the other. The other was biting his lower lip continuously Kris worried it would bleed some time. Something was bothering Tao and he wanted to know what just to help out.

"What's wrong?," Kris asked, concern evident in his tone.

"Uhm... what is going to happen to my uncle?," Tao asked straight to the point. He hated to beat around the bushes.

"I have a colleague of mine take care of this case. Don't worry about it, ok?,"

"But-,"

Before Tao could voice out the rest of his words, they were suddenly interrupted by loud banging on the door. A maid hurried over to open the door and was surprised to find an angry looking stranger pushing pass her and entering the house. And Tao knew his happy days were over. His fairytale came to an end and everything was going to turn into a nightmare. Just like how Cinderella's magical moment with her Prince had to come to an end by the time the clock struck twelve.

"Where is this good for nothing useless runt?!," she almost screeched stomping her way into the mansion.

"Excuse me... you can't just enter this house," the maid warned as she tried to prevent the angry woman from taking further steps.

"Let go of me this instant!,"

"Ma'am! Calm down," another maid said panicking, trying to help her co-worker.

Before the maids could do anything, they were shoved back harshly as the intruder glared at them venemously. When she was sure they weren't be able to interrupt her, she whirled around and found her source of anger.

"You! Get back here. What do you think? That you can just go and have your uncle locked away and take refuge here in this palace? You piece of runt! Don't you even have a heart? Leaving your uncle to starve like that and me, your aunt, who raised you, all by herself while you live in this grand house like you own this?," she barked.

Tao flinched at her words. Swallowing a few times, he took a sad glance sideways before scurrying over to his aunt, his head kept very low. He didn't want to anger his aunt further than she already was.

"Tao...," Kris couldn't understand why Tao could still obey his aunt and he could only conclude that the latter must've been beaten into doing it.

When Tao was in near range of his aunt, he started trembling in fear, he was petrified. This was how everything was going to end; his tale with Mr. Handsome would finally come to an end and he would end up back with his aunt and treated like a servant all over again.

Before he could even mutter an apology for staying away too long, he felt his head snap to the side, his left cheek burnt and he found himself on the floor. His aunt had just smacked him in the face, sending him straight to the floor and it hurt. He finally understood how much hatred his aunt and uncle had harbored towards him. He was right after all those years, his uncle and aunt had never, since he was sent to their care, ever felt anything towards him and that strangely hurt. Because he had hoped deep down somewhere that they might feel something towards him but they just didn't know how to express themselves.

"Tao! Are you alright?,"

Kris could almost feel his heart stop when he saw the impact of the blow on Tao. He had witnessed how to other literally flew a few metres further away and a bruise was starting to form on the beautiful and smooth left cheek. It had only taken him a few strides to reach the fallen boy and helped the other up.

His heart clenched. He had had enough! This was the second time to witness a family member hurting Tao and he could no longer tolerate it. He had to end this for once and for all.

"You! How dare you lay a hand on him. He hasn't done anything wrong!," Kris bellowed, glaring at the woman he now knew was Tao's aunt.

"Excuse me?," she gasped, "Watch your tongue young man. You should have respect for your elders. If it wasn't for your uncle being good friends with my husband, you wouldn't be standing here,"

"I have respect for my elders, but for anyone who are so low as your sort, I have zero patience nor respect. I suggest you leave quietly and I will consider not sueing for tresspassing and violence," Kris glared hoping the woman would leave as quickly as possible.

However that didn't happen. A haughty smile appeared on her face as she stood up straight before giving Tao a nasty look. 

"So, you think you can sue me? What about him? He tresspassed too and stole something. What do you consider that? It is, if I am quite right, unjustified when you as a lawyer let him go without proper punishment, while I just tresspassed and taught my nephew a good lesson for being disobedient," Tao's aunt sneered.

Tao whimpered. His aunt was right. He tresspassed and he did steal and hurt people along the way, but he was just obeying orders, he really didn't mean to. He knew how cunning his aunt could be and feared she might have convinced Kris to take her side. He hoped not, but the chances were slim, because Kris happened to be the best lawyer there was in Korea.

"What are you trying to imply?," Kris narrowed his eyes to the woman who was still giving him that annoying smirk.

"Che. Are you stupid? Didn't you just hear what I just said? Pfft and they call you 'the best laywer in this city'. Give me break," she rolled her eyes before playing with her nails.

"Look, whatever plan you have in that head of yours, I don't care. I just want you to leave before I call security," Kris was trying to be patient and not lash out, because he was so close to doing it.

"Listen, you let my husband go or else you can say goodbye to him," she nodded to Tao who looked uneasy at the current situation. "I give you three days young man and then I will be back for an answer. If by then you still haven't done what I have asked, then Tao would be forever shipped away,"

"What? You are planning to sell him? This is absurd! You can't just sell some living human as if they are possessions!," Kris asked increduously.

"Of course I can, because I have this now," she cackled, taking out the brown scroll and waving it around as if she was possessed.

"Pl-please... ma'am... don't do this," Tao pleaded as he made attempts to go to his aunt, but was stopped by Kris in the process.

"Three days, young man... three days," she emphasized before turning away to leave.

Tao slumped down in horror as he watched his aunt's figure disappear further and further into the dark night. He was doomed. With that evidence in his aunt's hands, there wasn't going to be anyone who would believe that he was still alive and the heir to his late father's inheritance. Without the scroll, everything he had was lost.

"Tao...,"

He looked up at Kris who looked worried at him and suddenly his eyes pricked and tears flowed down his cheeks uncontrollably. His chest hurt so much he could barely breathe properly. Now that Kris had seen how both his uncle and aunt had treated him, Kris must find him disgusting and troublesome and he hated to be a bother to the other. Even if he wanted to start anew, without the scroll he wouldn't be able to. He was still underage and until then, there was no place for him to stay, no place where he could work, no place where he would feel this warmth.

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A/N:

Hello, everyone~

Okay, so I have no idea what I am typing right now, but I think it kind of wanders away from the original plot I had in mind. But nevertheless I hope you guys will accept this story of mine and let me know what you think about it. 

Please do give me some feedback, upvote and subscribe for me. Thank you very much! Love you! <333