Yu Han, his worn backpack slung over one shoulder, glanced at the cloudy sky through the alleyway.
"Just a bus ride," he muttered, dismissing the need for an umbrella.
"No point in extra weight."
He'd scribbled a hasty note for Yang Zi – "Won't be home tonight. Visiting Anhai." – and left it on the kitchen table, a restless urgency propelling him out the door.
He'd barely made it twenty steps down the narrow alley when the sky decided to open up. A sudden, violent deluge, the kind that drenches you to the bone in seconds.
"Shit!" Yu Han cursed, the words swallowed by the drumming rain.
He pulled his backpack tighter, hunching his shoulders, and broke into a run, splashing through the sudden puddles that formed in the uneven pavement. The bus stop seemed miles away, the main road a distant promise.
He burst out onto the main road, gasping for breath, hair plastered to his forehead, rain streaming down his face.
Before he could spot the bus stop, a sleek black Mercedes, seemingly appearing out of nowhere, screeched to a halt right in front of him, drenching him further in a spray of road water.
Yu Han froze, startled, his heart pounding not just from the run. The driver's door swung open, and a tall figure stepped out. Black shirt, black pants, messy dark hair, a large black umbrella held aloft, instantly shielding Yu Han from the downpour.
It was Li Hao.
Yu Han stood there, utterly still, water dripping from his clothes, his mind reeling.
He slowly lifted his head, his eyes meeting Li Hao's. A flicker of something, a ghost of a smile, played on Li Hao's lips – a smirk.
Without thought, a surge of adrenaline and raw fury coursed through Yu Han.
He shoved Li Hao with all his might, but it was like pushing a brick wall. Li Hao didn't budge an inch. Instead, the force of his own push sent Yu Han stumbling backward, off balance, about to fall into a puddle.
In a swift, almost practiced motion, Li Hao's hand shot out, grabbing Yu Han firmly around his waist, pulling him flush against his wet body.
Their eyes locked again, the rain a furious curtain around them, the world shrinking to just their shared space.
Yu Han struggled, his hands pushing against Li Hao's chest, a desperate, frantic effort to break free. Li Hao's grip was like iron, but Yu Han finally managed to twist away, stumbling back a step, panting.
His breath hitched, his chest heaving, not just from the run. Fury, sharp and cold, replaced the shock.
"What are you doing here?!" Yu Han's voice was hoarse, rising in pitch as the words tumbled out, laced with venom.
"Again? Going to kidnap me again? Going to torture me? Slap me or punch me or what?!" He clenched his fists, trembling.
"I told you to stay away from me! Why the fuck are you chasing me?!"
His eyes, wide and bloodshot, welled up, a burning sensation behind them, but no tears dared to fall. He swallowed hard, glaring at the man who stood perfectly still, the umbrella still covering Yu Han, his expression unreadable, simply watching him, listening, his gaze unwavering.
Yu Han turned abruptly, intending to walk away, to run, to disappear into the rain. But a large hand shot out, his fingers closing around Yu Han's wrist, an unyielding grip that stopped him dead.
Yu Han turned his head slowly, his eyes dropping to the strong hand clamped around his arm, then shot up to Li Hao's face, his eyes blazing with anger, defiance, and a sliver of unacknowledged pain.
"Why did you kiss me that night?" Li Hao's voice was low, cutting through the drumming rain, the question hanging heavy between them like a thundercloud about to burst.
Yu Han's mind reeled, a kaleidoscope of shattered memories flashing before him. The alcohol, the desperation, the vulnerability... Li Hao's lips, soft and then demanding. He remembered it all, every excruciating detail, but he wouldn't admit it. He couldn't.
"I didn't," Yu Han spat, his voice trembling.
"I don't remember anything! I was drunk! Let go of me, you bastard!"
Before he could protest further, Li Hao moved. In one fluid motion, he released Yu Han's wrist, then scooped him up by the waist, lifting him off his feet as if he weighed nothing.
Yu Han gasped in surprise, struggling, kicking. But Li Hao merely walked to the passenger side of the Mercedes, opened the door, and with a surprisingly gentle shove, deposited Yu Han onto the plush leather seat.
"Let go of me! What the hell are you doing?! Get your hands off me!" Yu Han screamed, thrashing, trying to unbuckle himself, but before he could, Li Hao leaned in, efficiently fastening the seatbelt across Yu Han's chest, securing him firmly in place.
"You're insane! I'll call the police! Let me out!" Yu Han pounded on the dashboard, his face contorted with rage and fear.
Li Hao ignored him, closing the passenger door with a soft click. He walked around the front of the car, getting into the driver's seat, the large black umbrella now forgotten on the wet tarmac beside the car.
He closed his own door, the sudden silence inside the car, save for Yu Han's ragged breathing, even more suffocating than the rain outside.
The car door slammed shut with a heavy thud, the force of Li Hao's push sending Yu Han stumbling into the passenger seat.
Yu Han didn't waste a second. His fists flew, a flurry of wild, desperate blows aimed at Li Hao's chest and shoulders. Each punch landed with a soft thud against Li Hao's unyielding form, having no discernible effect.
Li Hao merely grunted, his large hand shooting out, catching both of Yu Han's flailing wrists in a single, iron grip. He leaned in, his face inches from Yu Han's, his gaze intense and unwavering.
"Just answer me," Li Hao's voice was a low, dangerous growl. "Why did you kiss me that night?"
Yu Han, momentarily stunned by the question and the proximity, shoved at Li Hao's chest with all his might, managing to create a small gap. He twisted his head away, glaring out the side window, refusing to meet Li Hao's eyes.
Li Hao watched him for a beat, then released his wrists and calmly fastened his seatbelt. "You're not going anywhere until you answer my question."
Yu Han's gaze snapped back, his eyes blazing with fury.
"Fuck you! I have more important things to do, open the damn door! I'm running late!"
"Where are you going?" Li Hao asked, completely ignoring the demand.
"It's none of your business! Just open this fucking door!" Yu Han yelled, yanking on the handle, only to find it locked.
Li Hao merely glanced at him, a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes, before calmly pulling out his phone. He dialed a number. "Gang Zi," he said when the call connected, his voice steady. "I'm not coming to the office today. Cancel all my schedules."
On the other end, Gang Zi's voice was a panicked squeak. "Mr. Li, today we have a crucial meeting related to funding! Your presence is vital!"
"Prepare a report on the meeting and email it to me," Li Hao stated, his tone brooking no argument. Then, he hung up.
Yu Han stared, utterly bewildered. "Why the fuck you cancel your meetings?"
Li Hao clicked the phone screen off, his gaze still fixed ahead, not looking at Yu Han. His voice was firm, resolute.
"I'm staying with you."
Yu Han let out a short, incredulous laugh, laced with anger. "Don't fool around me."
"I'm not fooling around," Li Hao said, finally turning his head to face Yu Han, his expression stern. "Tell me, where are you going?"
Yu Han, still stubborn, clenched his jaw. "I'm not going with you."
Li Hao's eyes dropped to the backpack resting on Yu Han's lap. Without a word, he reached out and grabbed it.
"Hey!" Yu Han lunged, trying to snatch the bag back, but Li Hao effortlessly held it out of reach with one hand. He unzipped the main compartment, his eyes scanning the contents. A few neatly folded clothes, a toiletries bag…
Li Hao glanced at Yu Han's furious face, then back at the bag. A slow, knowing smile spread across his lips.
"Going to Anhai."
Yu Han froze, his jaw dropping.
"How the fu— How the fuck do you know that I'm going to Anhai??" he practically shrieked, totally blindsided.
Li Hao smirked, a glint of triumph in his eyes. He set the backpack down, pulled the car's built-in GPS screen closer, and with a few swift taps, input a destination.
"Then let's go."