The car stopped in front of a private residential tower with dark glass walls reflecting the city lights. The building looked expensive without trying to look expensive. There were no flashy signs and unnecessary decorations. Suo ran stepped out and tilted his head upward, studying the tower for a few seconds before glancing sideways at Cai Lang. So... this is where he lives. His lips twitched slightly. Not bad.
Cai Lang noticed the look and raised an eyebrow. "Go ahead!" he said as he adjusted the cuff of his sleeve, a faint amusement visible in his eyes. "Say whatever you're thinking." Suo ran scoffed and shoved his hands into his jacket pockets. "Why would I?" Cai lang started walking toward the entrance. "Because your face is terrible at keeping secrets." Suo ran followed beside him and rolled his eyes. "And yours is terrible at pretending you're normal." Cai Lang laughed at his words. "That's probably true."
The security guard straightened the moment Cai lang entered the building and nodded respectfully. Suo ran noticed the reaction and glanced between them. "They know you pretty well." Cai lang pressed a keycard against the scanner and replied casually, " Ofcourse! They know." Suo ran narrowed his eyes. "You answer questions without answering them." Cai lang glanced at him. "And you ask questions you already know I won't answer." "That's not wrong though!"
The elevator doors closed behind them. Soft music played somewhere overhead. Suo ran leaned against the wall and folded his arms while Cai lang stood beside him with one hand in his pocket. "So this is really your place?" Suo ran asked. Cai lang nodded once. "Disappointed?" Suo ran looked him up and down deliberately before smirking. "Actually, yes."Cai lang looked mildly offended. "That's rude." "I expected something more dramatic." "Like what?" " I thought you'd secret tunnels hidden weapons and something like that."
Cai Lang's shoulders shook slightly as he laughed. "You're watching too many movies." "You're saying there aren't secret tunnels?" Cai lang looked straight ahead. "I'm saying I won't confirm or deny anything." Suo ran groaned dramatically. "See? That's exactly the kind of answer a suspicious person gives."
The elevator opened directly into the apartment. Suo ran took one step forward and stopped. Floor-to-ceiling windows stretched across the entire living area. Warm lighting reflected off dark wood floors. Shelves lined one wall from floor to ceiling, filled with books, old photographs, and carefully arranged artifacts. A black grand piano sat near the windows. The furniture was modern but comfortable, all muted colors and clean lines.
Suo ran slowly turned in a circle. "Okay." Cai lang removed his coat and draped it over a chair. "Okay?" Suo ran pointed toward the city view beyond the glass. "This is ridiculous." A faint smile appeared on Cai Lang's face. "Good ridiculous or bad ridiculous?" Suo ran walked closer to the windows and stared at the lights below. "I'm still deciding." Cai lang moved beside him. "Take your time." Suo ran glanced sideways at him. "You live here alone?" Cai lang nodded. "Most of the time." "Most?" "You're very curious tonight." Suo ran immediately looked away. "I'm just observing." Cai Lang smirked. "That's usually what curious people say."
Suo ran wandered farther into the apartment, stopping near a shelf filled with old books. He ran his fingers lightly along the spines. "You actually read all of these?" Cai lang walked over and leaned against the bookshelf. "Most of them." Suo ran pulled one out and flipped through a few pages before raising an eyebrow. "You own books in three different languages?" "Four." "Show-off." "Jealous?" Cai Lang asked.Suo ran snorted. "Absolutely not." Cai Lang's smile deepened. "Another lie." Suo Ran pointed at him accusingly. "You do that too much." "Do what?" "Act like you know when I'm lying." Cai Lang folded his arms and studied him calmly. "Because you're easy to read." Suo Ran looked genuinely offended. "Excuse me?" "You frown when you're annoyed." "Everyone does." "You tap your fingers when you're nervous." Suo ran stopped tapping the shelf. Cai Lang's expression turned smug. "See?" "I hate you." "No, you don't." "I absolutely do." Cai Lang laughed softly. "Still not convincing."
A moment later Cai lang walked into the kitchen area and opened a cabinet. "Tea?" he asked. Suo ran blinked. "That's random." "Is that a yes?" "Sure." Cai lang started preparing two cups while Suo ran watched from across the counter. "You make tea?" Suo ran asked suspiciously. Cai Lang glanced up. "Should I not know how?" "You seem like the type to hire someone." Cai lang stared at him for a second. "That might be the most insulting thing you've said all evening." Suo ran grinned. "Good." Cai Lang shook his head, though the corner of his mouth lifted.
When the tea was ready, Cai Lang placed a cup in front of him. Their fingers brushed briefly during the exchange. Suo ran immediately looked away. Cai Lang noticed. "Relax," Cai Lang said quietly. "It's just tea." Suo ran cleared his throat. "I am relaxed." Cai lang leaned against the counter and took a sip. "Another lie." Suo ran pointed at him again. "There it is. That's exactly what I'm talking about." Cai lang's eyes sparkled with amusement. "You make it too easy."
The conversation gradually slowed. The city glowed beyond the windows while shadows deepened inside the apartment. Suo ran stood near the glass with his tea in hand. "You still haven't answered my question." Cai Lang looked at him. "Which one?" "Why bring me here?" The amusement vanished from Cai lang's expression. He set his cup down carefully before replying. "Because someone was watching you."
Suo ran's smile disappeared. "Who?" Cai lang held his gaze. "Someone you don't want to meet." Suo ran looked away toward the city lights. "That's not very reassuring." Cai lang stepped closer, his expression calm but serious. "It wasn't meant to be." Suo ran sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. "You really expect me to trust you?" Cai lang stopped only a step away from him. "No." Suo ran looked up. "No?" Cai Lang shook his head slowly. "I expect you to survive. Trust is your decision." For a few seconds neither spoke. Suo Ran hated how sincere that sounded.
Then, trying to break the tension, Suo ran smirked and tilted his head. "You know, for someone who keeps calling himself dangerous, you're surprisingly polite." Cai lang's eyebrow rose. "Surprisingly?" "I expected more dramatic threats." Cai Lang stepped slightly closer and lowered his voice. "Disappointed?" Suo ran laughed. "Maybe a little." And after that smile appeared on Cai Lang's face. "Careful what you wish for." Suo ran folded his arms and leaned casually against the window. "Oh? How dangerous are we talking?" Cai Lang looked at him for several seconds before answering. "You'll find out soon."
Suo ran's smile widened. "I'm waiting." Cai Lang let out a quiet laugh and shook his head. "You're going to regret saying that." "Probably." "Definitely." "We'll see." Their eyes met. Neither looked away immediately. The city lights reflected in the glass behind them while silence settled comfortably between them.