"How the fuck do you know my hometown address?!" Yu Han shrieked.
Li Hao offered no response. His gaze remained fixed on the road, a muscle in his jaw clenching.
With a deliberate, almost theatrical slowness, he reached into his pocket, pulled out a cigarette stick, and then a sleek lighter. A flick, a small flame, and the tip of the cigarette glowed crimson. The faint, acrid scent of tobacco began to fill the confined space of the car.
Yu Han watched him, a cold dread washing over him. The pieces clicked into place with horrifying clarity. A background check. There was no other explanation. His heart hammered against his ribs.
"Don't fucking say that you did a background check on me!" , again Yu Han said in high pitched voice.
Li Hao finally spared him a glance, his eyes dark and unreadable, before returning his attention to the road. He took a long drag from his cigarette, exhaled a plume of smoke, and then, in a voice as smooth and dangerous as polished steel, he spoke.
"Nothing is impossible for Li Hao." Li Hao said proudly.
Yu Han infuriated," You are literally nothing but a bastard! Why are you doing this to me? What the hell did I do to you?!"
The air in the car thickened, suddenly heavy with an unspoken threat. Li Hao's expression, previously calm, shifted drastically. His hands, gripping the steering wheel, tightened until his knuckles were white. Without a word, he stomped on the brake. The car screeched to a halt on the deserted road.
Yu Han gasped, thrown forward slightly against his seatbelt. Before he could process what was happening, Li Hao had unfastened his own belt with a sharp click, then leaned across the console. His hand shot out, grabbing Yu Han's shoulder, his grip firm, almost bruising.
Yu Han's breath hitched in his throat, becoming uneven. His heart pounded like a frantic drum against his ribs. Li Hao's face was inches from his own, the warm, smoky scent of his breath washing over him. Their eyes met, black depths staring into wide, terrified ones.
"You have the audacity to ask me what did you do? You fucking kissed me. In front of a girl. And you are asking me what did you do?" Li Hao dangerously growled.
Yu Han's eyes widened, a wave of shock and shame flooding him. He couldn't hold Li Hao's intense gaze.
His head snapped away, twisting towards the window, his jaw clenched so tightly it ached. He didn't utter a single word.
Li Hao watched him for another silent, agonizing moment, then slowly retracted. He returned to his seat, a soft sigh escaping him, and fastened his seatbelt.
The engine roared back to life, and the car pulled away, leaving the sudden stop a phantom memory.
The journey resumed in absolute silence. Yu Han stared out the window, the passing scenery a blur, his mind a chaotic mess of fear, confusion, and a burgeoning sense of humiliation.
He didn't dare look at Li Hao. Time to time, Li Hao glanced at him, his expression unreadable, before focusing back on the road.
Hours passed. The sun climbed higher, now past noon.
"Ahhh.. I'm starving, I should have packed some snacks. I'm such an idiot."
Yu Han's stomach grumbled, a hollow ache growing within him, but he refused to acknowledge it, refused to speak. Then, without a word, Li Hao pulled over, the car coming to a stop in front of a small, bustling restaurant.
" Are you hungry?" Li Has asked in flat voice.
Yu Han,immediately said in sulky and tight voice,"I'm not hungry."
Li Hao just nodded, then stepped out of the car. The click of the central locking system echoed through the vehicle.
Yu Han watched him go, then, with a jolt of panic, tugged at the door handle.
Locked.
He tried the other side.
Locked.
"This bastard is two steps ahead of me, fuckk you Li Hao."
Li Hao had anticipated his move. He slumped back, defeated, watching as Li Hao disappeared inside the restaurant.
A few minutes later, Li Hao reappeared, carrying a couple of paper bags. He opened the passenger door, the cool air momentarily relieving the stuffiness, and held out one of the bags to Yu Han.
" Here."
Yu Han, stubbornly turned his head away,
"I said I'm not hungry."
Li Hao sighed, a soft, exasperated sound.
"Don't be a stubborn."
He pulled out a small, rectangular container from one of the bags and opened it.
Immediately, the rich, savory aroma of freshly steamed dumplings wafted through the car, filling Yu Han's nostrils.
His stomach gave a traitorous rumble, and his mouth began to water uncontrollably. He stole a quick, longing side glance at the plump, delicate parcels.
Then, before Yu Han could react, Li Hao picked up a dumpling with a pair of chopsticks. With a smooth, deliberate motion, he brought it right to Yu Han's mouth and, without a word, nudged it inside.
Yu Han was so utterly shocked, so caught off guard by the unexpected action, that he swallowed the entire dumpling whole. A moment later, his eyes bulged, and he started to choke, coughing violently, his face turning red.
Li Hao,immediately, his voice laced with concern,
"Idiot!"
He quickly unscrewed a water bottle and pressed it to Yu Han's lips.
Yu Han, gasping and sputtering, drank hurriedly, the cool water a welcome relief.
As he gulped down the water, Li Hao's free hand was gently but firmly patting his back, helping him clear his airway.
Their eyes met again, Yu Han's still brimming with tears from choking,his gaze fixed at Li Hao.
"Why is he acting like this?"
Li Hao's now softened, a flicker of something unreadable in their depths.
______________________
[At Home]
The front door creaked open, and Yang Zi stepped into the quiet apartment, his backpack thudding softly as he dropped it beside the entrance.
"I'm home!" His voiced echoed in silenced apartment.
Silence. No familiar greeting, no sound of movement. He frowned, taking off his shoes.
"Huh. Has Yu Han not come back yet?"
He walked into the living room, sensing the unusual stillness of the place.
His throat felt dry after the journey, so he headed towards the kitchen, intending to grab a water bottle from the fridge. As his hand reached for the handle, he noticed it – a small, yellow sticky note plastered right on the door.
His eyes scanned the hurried handwriting: "I'm not at home tonight, visited Anhai."
Yang Zi's easygoing expression instantly hardened. His brow furrowed in a deep crease.
"Anhai? Why is he visiting hometown at this time...?" He muttered to himself.
He immediately pulled out his mobile phone, his fingers flying across the screen to find Yu Han's contact. It took a few agonizing minutes for the call to connect, the ringing feeling unusually loud in the silent apartment.
"Yu Han? Why are you visiting home suddenly? Is everything okay?"
"Yang Zi? Yeah, everything's fine. I just needed some documents. Those documents are at home."Yu Han said in calm voice.
Yang Zi felt a wave of relief wash over him, though a flicker of concern remained.
"You should have told me about that! I would have accompanied you."
"There's no need. I'll be back in some time. Take care of yourself."
Before Yang Zi could protest further, the line clicked, and Yu Han hung up. Yang Zi lowered his phone slowly, a new, slightly unsettling feeling settling in his chest.
Yu Han, still holding his phone, sighed deeply. He looked up, his gaze locking with Li Hao, who was , observing him with an unnervingly passive expression.
Li Hao said without a trace of emotion,
"You didn't have a job yet."
Yu Han's eyes flared, a spark of anger igniting within him.
Yu Han said with tight voice suppressing fury,
"Yes, I'm jobless. What of it?"
Li Hao didn't even bother to look away from the road and said,
"I offered you a job that night."
"I don't need your help! Stay away from me!" Yu Han shrieked at Li Hao.
A smirk played on Li Hao's lips. He reached into his pocket, retrieved a cigarette, and leisurely brought it to his mouth, flicking a lighter. The sharp, acrid smell of burning tobacco instantly filled the small, enclosed space.
"You fucking bastard, stop smoking! I can't handle this smoke and you literally closed all the windows! I'm feeling like I'm in a gas chamber, but you don't care about anyone, such a heartless asshole!"
Li Hao, mid-inhale, paused. His eyes, cold and unreadable, flickered to Yu Han's enraged face.
Then, with a sudden, sharp movement, he snapped the cigarette stick in half, the glowing cherry falling to the floor. He leaned forward and, with a flick of his wrist, threw the broken pieces out of the open window. He then glanced back at Yu Han, a silent challenge in his eyes.
Yu Han, his chest heaving, his face still red with fury, abruptly turned his head away, unable to meet that unnerving gaze.