"Mr. Li," Gang Zi began, his voice a little dry, "Officer Zhang called me. He tried to reach you too, but you didn't answer."
Li Hao's eyebrows rose slightly.
"What did he say?"
Gang Zi hesitated, glancing around as if the information was listening. "Umm... actually, Officer Zhang has thoroughly investigated the address you provided him."
Li Hao's eyes, previously narrowed in thought, shot open, a spark of hope igniting in them.
"Does he find anything from that convenience store?" he asked, his voice unexpectedly urgent. He was clearly expecting some crucial news.
"A-Actually, Mr. Li..." Gang Zi stammered, his gaze flickering away.
"The thing is..." He bit his lip, trying to find the right words, or perhaps, trying to avoid them.
"Ugh... Gang Zi, just say it. Don't waste my time," Li Hao barked, his firm tone cutting through the morning silence.
Taking a deep breath, Gang Zi finally forced the words out.
"Mr. Li, Officer Zhang said that they need the CCTV footage of that day, and even of the night when you... when you had shot Wang Yuxi."
"The night footage?" Li Hao repeated, a sigh escaping his lips. His expression clouded over. "But that night footage... it was already deleted by you, wasn't it?"
"Yes, I have deleted that footage, but the thing is..." Gang Zi paused, his gaze drifting away from Li Hao, beads of sweat forming on his temples despite the cool air.
Li Hao's sharp eyes followed his. A cold knot began to tighten in his stomach.
"Ah... actually, while I was deleting the night's footage... I had also deleted that day's footage... mistakenly." Gang Zi swallowed hard, his voice barely a whisper.
At this point, Gang Zi's back was already facing Li Hao, as if bracing for an impact.
On the other hand, Li Hao's face darkened, his expressions becoming completely unreadable. The silence stretched, thick and heavy.
Then, suddenly, Li Hao let out a sharp, devious laugh. "Hahaha... what a joke... I can't believe this... hahaha!" The sound was devoid of humor, a chilling, mocking burst.
Seeing Li Hao laughing, Gang Zi, still turned away, awkwardly joined him, a forced, nervous chuckle rumbling in his throat.
The moment Gang Zi again turned to face Li Hao, Li Hao's hand shot out, grabbing him by his shoulder with surprising force. His grip was like a vice.
"Hadn't you said to me that you'll find those bastards who have been helping Shi Wang?" Li Hao's tone was incredibly dangerous, low and laced with a barely controlled fury.
Dark, thunderous clouds seemed to gather over Gang Zi's head. He struggled slightly in the tight grip. "Mr. Li... I have been trying hard, to know the truth."
"You are just trying hard to erase the evidence, Gang Zi," Li Hao snarled, his eyes burning into the younger man.
Gang Zi struggled more vigorously in Li Hao's tight and strong grasp, fear etched onto his face.
Suddenly, a voice, clear and slightly annoyed, eased the incredibly tense atmosphere. "Li Hao... Where is my phone... give me my phone back!"
Yu Han stood behind Li Hao, dressed in clothes clearly several sizes too big for him. Li Hao abruptly loosened his grip on Gang Zi and turned towards Yu Han. Gang Zi, released, stumbled back and landed on the cold ground, coughing vigorously, rubbing his shoulder.
Li Hao's eyes scanned Yu Han from head to toe. His heart began to beat fast as he saw Yu Han in his clothes. The white sweatshirt hung loosely on Yu Han's slim body, making him look small and almost adorable. The pants were already too big, but Yu Han had rolled them up neatly from the bottom. This sight, this particular look of him, sent tingling sensations straight to Li Hao's brain, stealing his anger.
"If I had known that my clothes look better on you than mine... I would have already given you all my clothes and seen you in my big clothes... everyday!" Li Hao's mind raced, a wicked smile threatening to break out.
Yu Han, oblivious to Li Hao's internal thoughts, spotted his phone clutched in Li Hao's hand and immediately snatched it. "Here it is! I have been searching for it."
This abrupt action immediately pulled Li Hao back from his reverie. "Ohhh... yeah, your phone. I forgot to give it to you."
"So, I'm going now," Yu Han said, a hint of something unreadable—perhaps jealousy—in his voice. "Spend your precious time with your 'beautiful' girlfriend." He turned and started to walk away.
Li Hao felt something off in Yu Han's words and expressions.
"Why's he acting like this since morning... No, no, since Yuna came. Is he feeling jealous?"
A slow, wicked smile spread across Li Hao's face.
"Ah... come on, Yu Han, let's have breakfast together... you... me... and... my girlfriend," he called out, grinning broadly.
Yu Han stopped dead in his tracks. He gritted his teeth and clenched his jaw.
"So now you are making me feel jealous deliberately, huh! Bastard. I'll never fall into your trap." Yu Han immediately understood Li Hao's intention.
"Hmm, I know you'll never face her,"Li Hao smirked, provoking him further.
"Okay then," Yu Han announced, turning back abruptly. "Let's have breakfast together."
"What!?" Li Hao exclaimed, genuinely shocked by this unexpected response. "You are ready? Really?"
Yu Han simply nodded, a defiant glint in his eyes.
He then saw Gang Zi still sitting on the cold grass, rubbing his shoulder. Yu Han immediately stretched out his hand to help Gang Zi stand up.
"You are...?" Yu Han asked politely as Gang Zi took his hand, pulling himself up.
"Gang Zi... I'm Gang Zi," the man replied, still looking a little shaken.
"Hello, Mr. Zi... I'm Yu Han." He offered a small, friendly smile.
"Yes, I already know," Gang Zi replied, glancing nervously at Li Hao.
"What were you doing on the ground? It's cold," Yu Han asked, a genuine concern in his voice.
Li Hao shot Gang Zi a cold, warning stare.
"Ah, it's nothing... Let's head back inside," Gang Zi quickly tried to divert the situation, avoiding Yu Han's gaze.
As they walked, Yu Han checked his phone, expecting numerous calls from Yang Zi, but the screen was all dry.
"Yang Zi didn't try to contact me even once," he mumbled, a strange amusement mixing with a touch of annoyance. "I was missing the whole night, and he didn't even notice my absence." It was so unlike Yang Zi, who usually fretted if Yu Han was out late.
"What's wrong, Yu Han?" Li Hao asked, his voice genuinely concerned this time.
"It's nothing... I just have to get back home. I have to attend my class and submit my assignment; it's the last day."
"Ohhh... just wait for me, I'll drop you home," Li Hao offered immediately.
"No... no, there's no need for that. I'll head back alone." Yu Han shook his head.
"But I want to spend more time with you."
Just then, Yuna came outside, her eyes scanning them with an air of possessiveness.
"Li Hao, did you finish your important conversation?" Her gaze then landed on Yu Han, narrow and questioning. "Who is he?" she asked, pointing rudely at Yu Han.
"Ah... I'm Yu Han, It's great to meet you, Ms. Yuna." Yu Han bowed slightly, showing his respect, despite Yuna's attitude.
Before Yuna could reply, Li Hao slapped Yu Han's butt, startling him.
Yu Han's eyes popped open as he winced in pain. "There's no need for such formality," Li Hao growled, a warning in his voice.
"This bastard, I'll kill you!" Yu Han hissed internally, rubbing his butt to ease the stinging pain, glaring at Li Hao.
"Let's eat our breakfast, Li Hao... I'm starving," Yuna said, completely disregarding Yu Han's presence.
"I'm going now," Yu Han barked, his face flushed with annoyance, and stormed out without another word.
Li Hao wanted to stop him, to call out, but Yuna grabbed his hand tightly, pulling him towards the house.
Yu Han walked a few steps, then, instinctively, he turned back. He saw Li Hao standing there, Yuna's hand firmly clasped around his, her head tilted up towards him. They looked... right together.
A heavy sigh escaped Yu Han's lips.
"Maybe it's right, after all," he thought, a bitter taste lingering on his tongue.
He watched them, Yuna clutching Li Hao's hand, a look of proprietorship on her face.
"She is the best choice for him, isn't she? His future. The one who fits seamlessly into his world." A pang of familiar ache hit him, but this time, it was mingled with a strange sense of resignation, almost peace.
"He should choose her. He was right to... He should move on from me .I... I wasn't the best choice for him, was I?" His gaze softened slightly as he turned away.
Perhaps this is what forgiveness feels like. Acknowledging that sometimes, letting go is the only way to truly care.
"Forgive me, Li Hao, for wanting more than I could be. And I... I forgive you for finding what you need."
He walked away, not looking back.