[Flashback: Last Night - Street]
Li Hao sat in the back of his luxurious car, a silhouette of calm power in his tailored black suit, legs crossed, eyes closed as if in deep meditation or simply lost in thought.
Gang Zi, ever attentive, broke the silence as he brought the car to a smooth stop at a red light.
"Mr. Li, all arrangements have been made for your new office in Thailand. The team in Bangkok is prepped, and the final contracts are ready for your signature. Departure is still set for the end of the month, as planned."
Li Hao didn't stir, his expression unreadable, eyes remaining closed, leaning back against the plush leather. The silence settled again, thick and heavy.
Then, Gang Zi's gaze drifted to a scene unfolding just outside his window. A man was sprawled on the grimy pavement, a discarded food delivery bag nearby, while a much larger, visibly drunk man loomed over him, spewing curses.
Gang Zi with a soft "Ugh," under his breath, then louder, a note of disgust in his voice,
"Look at that. Poor man. At this hour, too, delivering food... and look at that bastard, how he's cursing him out. Absolutely no respect for anyone just trying to earn a living."
Gang Zi focused more intently, his brows furrowing as if trying to recall something. The red light seemed to stretch on, giving him time to observe.
"Hmm, wait a second. That face… it seems I've seen that person before. This city's too big for coincidences, but…"
He leaned slightly closer to the windshield, trying to get a better look at the man on the ground, who was now being nudged roughly by the drunk's foot.
Gang Zi said in sudden, sharp gasp, his eyes widening in recognition,
"Hey! I know him! It's… it's Yu Han!"
The name, spoken with sudden force, shattered Li Hao's stillness. His eyes, which had been perfectly still a moment before, snapped open.
The calm, almost detached expression vanished, replaced by an intense, immediate focus. He looked out the window, following Gang Zi's gaze, his dark eyes instantly locking onto the scene.
Before Gang Zi could even react further, the passenger door on Li Hao's side swung open. Li Hao was out of the car in a flash, moving with a predatory grace that belied his earlier repose.
He took long, decisive strides towards the struggling figures. The drunk man, oblivious, was just winding up for a kick aimed at Yu Han's side.
Li Hao didn't hesitate. With a single, powerful punch, his fist connected with the drunk man's jaw with a sickening thud.
The larger man crumpled instantly, collapsing to the pavement like a sack of bricks.
Li Hao stood over the unconscious man, his chest heaving slightly, his earlier composure replaced by an icy, dangerous fury.
Gang Zi, still in the car, stared in stunned silence for a beat before quickly unbuckling his seatbelt.
Gang Zi stepped out of the car, concern etched on his face,
"Mr. Li! Are you alright? Should I call someone? What happened—"
____________________
[BEIJING GENERAL HOSPITAL - PRIVATE ROOM - MORNING]
The first blush of dawn paints the hospital room in soft, shifting greys.
LI HAO lies on the narrow bed, his arm still curled protectively around YU HAN, who sleeps soundly, undisturbed.
Li Hao's own sleep had been a fitful tapestry of snatched moments, each one interrupted by the quiet urge to check on Yu Han, to ensure he wasn't in pain, that his breathing remained even.
His eyes now open, adjusting to the dim light. He blinks slowly, then his gaze, tender and possessive, falls upon Yu Han's face. It's a face etched with a quiet dignity, but also with the visible fatigue of relentless effort. The shadows under his eyes, the subtle tension around his mouth even in sleep, spoke of the demanding life Yu Han had been forced to lead, the burdens he carried to earn money. A familiar pang of guilt and fierce resolve twists in Li Hao's chest.
He reaches out, his calloused thumb brushing gently along Yu Han's cheekbone, then tracing the curve of his lower lip.
LI HAO whispered, to himself, a raw tenderness in his voice,
"You've worked yourself to the bone. You shouldn't have to carry these burdens alone. Not anymore. I won't let you."
He watches Yu Han for another long moment, memorizing the peaceful lines of his sleeping face. Then, with painstaking care, Li Hao begins to extricate himself.
Every movement is deliberate, a ballet of slowness designed not to disturb the precious sleep.
He lifts his arm, slides his leg, easing off the bed with the grace of a predator, yet the gentleness of a lover. The springs protest with a faint creak, and Li Hao freezes, holding his breath until Yu Han shifts slightly, murmuring a soft, inaudible sound, and settles back into the pillows.
Once on his feet, Li Hao stretches the stiffness from his shoulders, his eyes never leaving Yu Han.
He then moves silently towards the washroom. The splash of water is the only sound, quickly followed by the efficient towel drying. He emerges, looking refreshed, but the deep concern in his eyes remains. He takes out his phone.
Li Hao called Gang Zi.
"Get to Beijing General, private room in the VIP ward. Bring me a full change of clothes. And… bring an extra set of casual clothes, something comfortable, for Yu Han. Quickly. And discretely."
He hangs up, his gaze once more drawn to Yu Han, who rests in a profound, dreamless sleep, oblivious to the careful watch kept over him.
_____________________
[YANG ZI'S APARTMENT - KITCHEN - MORNING]
Yang Zi walks into his kitchen, his steps heavy. His eyes fall on the covered plate of congee and a small basket of steamed buns, sitting forlornly on the table. Untouched.
"He didn't eat? But he always comes straight home after a delivery, starving…"
A chill snakes down his spine. Yu Han was meticulous, reliable. This wasn't like him.
He paces quickly towards Yu Han's bedroom, his heart beginning to beat a frantic rhythm. He pushes the door open. The room is empty. The bed, neatly made, mocking him with its order.
"Where is he? Yu Han?"
He checks the small attached bathroom, then the main one, then sweeps through the entire apartment. No trace. A cold dread begins to set in, gripping his gut.
Frantically, he pulls out his phone, his fingers clumsy with rising panic. He dials Yu Han's number. It rings once, twice, then an automated voice, cold and impersonal, cuts through the quiet:
"…The number you have dialed is out of reach."
"No… no, not again. Please, not again." Yang Zi whispered in tremor.
He tries a second time, a desperate hope that it was just a network glitch. The same, lifeless message. His mind races, a whirlwind of terrifying possibilities. He calls MR. WU at the restaurant, his breathing shallow.
"Good morning, Uncle. This is Yang Zi. Has Yu Han come in yet?"
On the other end, Mr. Wu's voice sharpens with alarm.
"Yu Han? Yang Zi, he left for a late-night delivery and… he hasn't returned! I thought he went straight home after. I just checked his room here; he's not in it either! He never stayed out like this…"
The words hit Yang Zi like a physical blow. The phone slips, almost falling from his grasp. His world narrows, the walls of the apartment seeming to press in on him.
"What do I do? Where is he? How do I find him?"
He clutches his head, tears welling in his eyes. He felt helpless, small, utterly out of his depth.
Shi Wang. The name, sharp and clear, cut through the fog of his utter despair.
He'd vowed never to ask him for help again, had even blocked his number in stubborn pride. But Yu Han… Yu Han was like his brother. Pride was a luxury he couldn't afford.
With a surging, desperate resolve, Yang Zi fumbles for his phone again, his fingers flying to the blocked list. He finds "Shi Wang," his breath catching in his throat. He unblocks the number, his thumb hovering, then pressing the call button.
________________
[CONFERENCE ROOM - MORNING]
SHI WANG, impeccably dressed, sits at the head of a long, polished conference table.
He's midway through an acquisition pitch, his voice calm, confident, authoritative. A dozen executives hang on his every word.
Suddenly, his phone, usually silenced during meetings, lights up with a vibration.
He glances down, intending to dismiss it, but his eyes fixate on the caller ID.
"Yang Zi."
The world seems to halt. A shockwave goes through him, visible only in the sudden clenching of his jaw, the flicker of raw, almost primal fear in his eyes.
Yang Zi hadn't called him in months. For him to call now… something catastrophic must have happened.
Without a second thought, without a word of explanation, Shi Wang snatches the phone.
SHI WANG answered the phone, voice tight with urgency, the calm mask completely gone,
"Yang Zi? Are you alright? What's wrong?"
Yang Zi's voice choked with panic, almost a sob,
" Shi Wang… I need your help. Please. It's Yu Han… he's missing."
"Missing." The word struck Shi Wang with the force of a physical blow.
He shot up from his chair, sending it scraping back with a deafening screech against the marble floor.
Shi Wang already strides towards the door,
" I'm on my way. Stay there. Don't move."
He bolts from the conference room, leaving behind a room full of utterly bewildered and silenced executives. His secretary, LIU, a picture of polished efficiency, scrambles after him, her heels clicking rapidly.
"Mr. Shi! Mr. Shi! The meeting is still… the clients are waiting! You can't just…"
Shi Wang doesn't even register his voice. He's deaf, blind, and numb to everything but the echo of Yang Zi's terrified plea.
He sprints through the corporate labyrinth, practically throwing himself into his luxury sedan. The engine roars to life with a frustrated growl. He peels out of the underground garage, tires squealing in protest, driving with a reckless abandon he hadn't displayed since his wilder youth.
His mind is a maelstrom of fear and worst-case scenarios. Yu Han missing? What in god's name could have happened? And Yang Zi… to call him… his desperation must be absolute.
_________________
[ YANG ZI'S APARTMENT - LIVING ROOM - LATER]
The apartment door bursts open, slamming against the wall. Shi Wang barrels in, his eyes frantic, scanning the room until they land on Yang Zi, huddled on the floor, phone still clutched in his hand, his face pale and tear-streaked, his body trembling uncontrollably.
Shi Wang's heart gives a painful lurch. He covers the distance in three long strides, dropping to his knees beside Yang Zi. He grips Yang Zi's shoulders, his touch firm and grounding.
" Yang Zi! Tell me, what happened? "
Yang Zi looks up, his eyes wide and unfocused with panic. He immediately grabs Shi Wang's arm, his grip surprisingly strong, almost bruising.
" Shi Wang, Yu Han… he's gone. Missing since last night. I've been trying to call him, but his phone is out of reach. I even called the restaurant, they said he went for a delivery and… and he just never came back. He didn't come home, Shi Wang,I don't know what to do!"
Shi Wang listens, his own expression darkening with a grim resolve. He keeps one hand on Yang Zi's arm, a silent anchor in the storm of panic.
"Don't worry, Yang Zi. We will find him. Listen to me: call his restaurant again. Ask for the exact address of that last delivery. Quickly. We need to know where he was last seen."
Yang Zi nods numbly, his fingers fumbling for his phone. While Yang Zi makes the call, Shi Wang pulls out his own phone, already dialing Secretary Liu.
"Liu, drop everything. I'm sending you an address. I need you to immediately contact the police, traffic monitoring, and relevant municipal departments. I need every single CCTV camera feed, public and private, within a five-kilometer radius of that location, covering the past twelve hours. Prioritize the main thoroughfares. Send me everything you find, immediately. This is not a request."
He hangs up, takes the address from Yang Zi, who has just finished his own call, and immediately forwards it to Liu as a text. Then, he turns back to Yang Zi, whose face is still etched with terror.
Shi Wang gently, squeezed Yang Zi's hand, his voice softening with reassurance,
"We'll find him. We just need to gather the facts. Keep breathing."
They wait, the silence in the apartment heavy with unspoken dread.
Shi Wang keeps checking his phone, his anxiety barely contained beneath his controlled exterior.
He occasionally rubs Yang Zi's back, murmuring quiet words of comfort, but Yang Zi is beyond listening, lost in a terrifying vortex of his own fears.
After what feels like an eternity, a sharp ping cuts through the silence. Shi Wang's phone.
'A message from Secretary Liu.'
He taps the notification. It's a link to a video file. He opens it, and the grainy, night-vision footage begins to play on his phone screen.
The street is dark. A figure on a delivery bike, unmistakably Yu Han, pedals steadily. Then, a sudden, violent swerve from a car. The impact. The sickening crunch of metal and bone. Yu Han's bike tumbles, and Yu Han himself falls, a broken doll, onto the unforgiving asphalt.
Yang Zi gasps, a strangled sound escaping his throat. His hand flies to his mouth, eyes wide with horror.
" Yu Han… no…"
Then, another figure appears on screen. Tall, imposing, striding towards the scene with an almost predatory intensity.
The harsh, fleeting light of a passing car illuminates his face for a split second. A face carved from stone, set in an expression of fierce, cold fury.
Yang Zi's voice erupted in a fresh wave of panic, grabbing Shi Wang's arm with both hands,
"Li Hao! It's Li Hao! No, no, no, Shi Wang! I can't trust him! He's ruthless, he's dangerous! What did he do to Yu Han?! Where did he take him?! He can't be with Li Hao!"
The sight of Li Hao, a man Yang Zi deeply distrusted and feared, ignites a frantic, new terror. He couldn't process the accident, only the presence of the man he believed capable of anything.
Yang Zi desperately, shaking Shi Wang's arm,
"Shi Wang, please! Call your cousin! Just ask him!"
Shi Wang's jaw tightens. He sees the raw, unadulterated fear in Yang Zi's eyes, the deep-seated distrust of Li Hao.
He also saw the protective, almost possessive intensity in Li Hao's face in the footage. But Yu Han was injured. And Yang Zi needed to know.
Without a word of argument, he immediately pulls out his phone again, dialing Gang Zi's number.
"Gang Zi. It's Shi Wang. I need to know where Yu Han is. Now."
On the other end, Gang Zi, clearly surprised but recognizing the steel in Shi Wang's tone, replies without hesitation.
"He's at Beijing General Hospital, Mr. Shi. VIP ward, private room. Li Hao brought him in last night after an accident. He's stable, but Li Hao insisted on the best care. He's been there all night, hasn't left his side."
Relief, sharp and overwhelming, floods Yang Zi. He scrambles to his feet, a wild, almost frantic hope in his eyes.
"The hospital! Beijing General! We have to go!"
Shi Wang is already on his feet, grabbing his keys.
"Get in my car, Yang Zi. It'll be faster."
Without a moment's thought, Yang Zi rushes out the door. Shi Wang is right behind him, ushering him into the passenger seat. The engine roars to life, and Shi Wang drives off with a controlled ferocity.
The car carves a swift path through the city traffic. Yang Zi is breathless, his mind a whirlwind of emotions – the horrifying fear now giving way to immense relief, but still tinged with deep worry and residual suspicion.
Shi Wang glances at him, his focus still on the road, but his expression softening with empathy.
"Gang Zi said he's stable, Yang Zi. Li Hao wouldn't deliberately hurt him. Whatever his intentions, he ensured Yu Han got immediate, top-tier medical attention. He probably just prioritized getting him safe before informing anyone. Or perhaps… he didn't want anyone else to know he was involved."
"Or perhaps he wanted to ensure Yu Han was isolated, under his control," Yang Zi thinks, a new wave of suspicion clashing with the overwhelming relief.
Yu Han was hurt, vulnerable, and Yang Zi hadn't been there. The guilt was a heavy weight. He'd always tried to protect Yu Han, and this time, he'd failed spectacularly.
"Just get me to him, Shi Wang. Please. I need to see him with my own eyes. I need to know he's truly safe."
Shi Wang nods, pressing harder on the accelerator.