Morning came quietly.Lian Zihao stood near the same spot as last night, coffee in hand, eyes fixed on Suo Ran's building. People passed by office workers, delivery bikes, noise, life but Suo Ran didn't appear again.
Lian ziho checked the time. Then checked it again."Unbelievable," he muttered.
He was out all night?(....)
Is he okay? (....)
What if something happens to him(.....)
Forget it it's not my problem (....)
He hadn't slept much. Not because he cared he told himself that but because his instincts didn't like unanswered questions.He glanced up at the building once more, searching windows, balconies, any sign.But he didn't find anything."So where did you disappear to?" Lian ziho said under his breath.After another ten minutes, he turned away, jaw tight. "I'll find you myself."
"How many days you can ignore me?"
Meanwhile Suo ran woke slowly, blinking at a ceiling that definitely wasn't his. For one brief moment panic shot through him before memory returned. He remembered warning, messages and men searching for him.He exhaled and sat up, running a hand through his messy black hair. The oversized charcoal-gray shirt cai lang had lent him hung loosely on his frame, the sleeves covering part of his hands. His own clothes from yesterday had been cleaned and folded neatly on a nearby chair. "Of course he folded them!" Suo ran muttered under his breath. "Who even does that?" After changing into his own clothes dark jeans, a black hoodie, and a light jacket he stepped into the living area.
The apartment was quiet except for the faint sound of coffee brewing. Cai lang stood near the kitchen island, dressed in fitted black trousers and a dark long-sleeved shirt with the sleeves rolled to his forearms. Morning light outlined his sharp features while he looked down at something on his phone. He glanced up the moment Suo ran appeared. "You don't sleep much!" Suo ran said while rubbing the back of his neck.
Cai lang locked his phone and slipped it into his pocket. "Neither do you." Suo ran huffed. "Fair." Cai lang studied him for a second before asking, "Any nightmares?" Suo ran froze briefly before looking away. "That's a weird question." "You didn't answer it." "No." Cai lang's expression suggested he didn't entirely believe him but he let it go.A few minutes later suo ran stood near the counter, staring into his coffee. Cai Lang watched him close the refrigerator. "Something on your mind?""I can't keep borrowing your stuff," Suo Ran continued with an awkward expression. "I already feel like a hostage." Cai lang looked at him for second and asked, "So?" "I want to buy some things!" he said finally. Cai lang looked up from his coffee. "What things?" "Things normal people own."
Suo ran gestured vaguely. "Clothes, toothbrush and basic survival equipment." Cai lang's lips twitched. "A toothbrush is survival equipment?" "Depends on the situation." Cai lang shook his head. "I'll walk you part of the way." "No." The answer came instantly. Cai Lang raised an eyebrow. "No?" "I can manage a grocery store alone." Cai lang's gaze sharpened slightly. "Can you?" Suo ran narrowed his eyes. "Was that supposed to be encouraging?" "No." "Good. Because it wasn't." For a second neither spoke then Cai Lang sighed quietly. "Be quick." "I will." "And don't take shortcuts."
Suo Ran rolled his eyes dramatically. "You sound like an overprotective..." He stopped himself. Cai Lang's expression didn't change. "Like an overprotective what?" Suo ran looked interested in the ceiling."Nothing. " "That's what I thought." Something unreadable flickered across Cai ang's face before he simply said, "Just be careful." This time suo ran didn't joke. "Okay."
He reached neighborhood grocery store sat between a bakery and a flower shop on a busy corner street. The glass doors slid open and he saw fresh bread,fruit, vegetables, coffee, and dozens of ordinary things that suddenly felt comforting. Bright fluorescent lights reflected off polished floors while shoppers moved between aisles pushing carts and carrying baskets. Suo ran grabbed a basket and wandered through the aisles. He picked up bottled water, instant noodles, snacks, toothpaste, and a few other necessities."Look at me!" he muttered. "Running for my life and buying toothpaste."
He was reaching for a drink when movement near the drink refrigerators caught his attention. His hand froze midway he saw few meters away stood Lian Ziho. He wore a light gray jacket over a fitted white shirt with the sleeves casually rolled to his forearms, dark trousers, and black sneakers. One hand held his phone while the other rested in his pocket. He looked mildly annoyed until he glanced up and spotted suo ran.
For a brief second surprise crossed his face before relief replaced it. "So you're alive!" Lian ziho said as he slipped his phone into his pocket and started walking over, his eyebrows lifting slightly. Suo ran blinked and tightened his grip on the basket. "Why are you saying it like I died?" Lian ziho stopped in front of him and crossed his arms. "Because you disappeared." he replied with a pointed look. "Your apartment was dark And you didn't messages"
Suo Ran frowned. "You checked?" The moment the words left his mouth, Lian Ziho realized what he had admitted. He cleared his throat and looked away briefly. "I happened to be nearby." Suo ran's eyes narrowed. "That sounds suspicious." "Everything sounds suspicious when you say it." Lian ziho shot back with an amused smile. Suo ran opened his mouth to argue but stopped when he noticed Lian ziho studying him carefully. "Something happened?" he said quietly, tilting his head slightly. "You look exhausted."
Suo ran forced a casual shrug and looked toward a nearby shelf. "I'm fine." Lian Ziho scoffed and stepped closer. "That's a terrible lie." Suo ran glanced back at him. "How would you know?" "Because you've been lying since I met you." Despite himself, Suo ran almost laughed."Wow. That's a rude." "No! It's Accurate!" Lian ziho corrected with a faint smirk. For a second the tension eased then suo ran felt that familiar sensation crawled up his spine. His shoulders stiffened instantly.
The tiny smile vanished from his face. Lian ziho noticed the change at once. "What?" he asked quietly. Suo ran didn't answer his eyes had already shifted toward the entrance. Lian ziho followed his gaze where he saw three men stood just inside the store. They wore dark jackets.One of them tilted his head slightly after spotting suo ran. The color drained from suo ran's face. "Don't turn around!" Lian Ziho murmured without looking at him. "Too late!" Suo ran whispered.
Lian ziho looked back at him and understood the seriousness of the situation. "You know them?" he asked. Suo ran swallowed hard and shook his head. "No. But they were chasing me before." One of the men took a step forward then another. Lian ziho's expression hardened. "When I say run," he said quietly while moving slightly in front of suo ran, "don't argue."
Suo ran stared at him. "I hate running." Lian ziho glanced sideways and actually rolled his eyes. "Good thing I wasn't asking for your opinion." Despite the fear twisting inside him, Suo Ran almost laughed. "You're annoyingly calm." "Practice." Another step. The men were getting closer. Lian Ziho casually reached for a glass bottle displayed on a nearby shelf. Suo rn frowned. "What are you doing?" A faint smile appeared on Lian Ziho's face. "Improvising."
Before Suo ran could ask what that meant, Lian Ziho threw the bottle across the aisle. It shattered near the entrance with an explosive crash. Customers screamed. Heads turned. Shopping carts stopped. For a split second chaos erupted. "NOW!" Lian Ziho snapped. Without hesitation he grabbed Suo ran's wrist and pulled him forward. Suo ran stumbled after him. "You broke store property!" he shouted while running. "You're worried about that?" Lian ziho yelled back over his shoulder. "It was expensive!" "I'll send them flowers later!"
They burst through the automatic doors and into the street. Morning traffic roared around them. Several cars honked and pedestrians jumped aside. Lian ziho never released Suo ran's wrist as they sprinted across a crosswalk and disappeared into a narrow side street. "Left!" Lian ziho shouted. They turned. "Right!" Another turn. Suo ran's lungs burned. "How many turns are necessary?" he gasped. "All of them!" Lian Ziho replied. "That's not a strategy!" "It's working, isn't it?"
Eventually they reached a small hidden park surrounded by apartment buildings. Morning mist lingered beneath the trees while a small fountain trickled softly nearby. Both men finally stopped. Lian Ziho bent forward with his hands on his knees, breathing heavily. Suo ran collapsed onto a bench and stared up at the sky. For several seconds neither spoke. Then Lian ziho straightened and brushed his hair back. "We're clear." Suo Ran looked over at him. "For now." Lian Ziho pointed at him. "See? You're learning." Suo Ran groaned. "Please stop acting like this is a lesson."
Lian Ziho laughed and dropped onto the bench beside him. "Fine. But next time try not to collect mysterious enemies before breakfast." Suo ran laughed too. "I'll do my best." The fountain continued to murmur nearby while morning sunlight filtered through the trees, casting shifting shadows across the path.
Suo ran rested his elbows on his knees and stared at the ground for a moment before speaking. "You didn't have to help me, you know." Lian ziho turned his head toward him and raised an eyebrow. "What was I supposed to do?" he asked, spreading his hands slightly. "Stand there and watch you get dragged away?" Suo ran shrugged awkwardly. "Maybe run in the opposite direction." Lian ziho let out a short laugh and shook his head. "Tempting." Suo ran looked up immediately. "Hey." "I'm kidding!" Lian ziho replied, the corners of his mouth lifting. "Mostly." Suo ran narrowed his eyes, but there was no real annoyance behind it.
For a few moments neither spoke. The city carried on around them, distant traffic blending into the background. Lian ziho studied Suo Rmran from the corner of his eye. The dark hoodie, the tired eyes, the way he constantly scanned his surroundings even while sitting still. He looked exhausted. "You're in trouble?!" Lian ziho said quietly. Suo ran laughed and leaned back against the bench. "That obvious?" Lian Ziho nodded without hesitation. "Painfully obvious." Suo ran rubbed the back of his neck and looked away. "I don't even know how to explain it." "Then don't."
Suo Ran blinked and turned toward him. "You're not curious?" Lian ziho smiled faintly and leaned back, stretching one arm across the top of the bench."Of course I'm curious." He glanced at Suo ran. "I'm just not stupid enough to force answers from someone who clearly doesn't want to give them." Suo ran stared at him for a second before looking away again. "You're strange." "I get that a lot."
Lian Ziho suddenly straightened and pointed at him. "Actually, there is one thing bothering me." Suo ran frowned. "What?" Lian ziho folded his arms and gave him a look. "If you're going to keep attracting trouble, you should at least make it easier to contact you."Suo ran blinked. "What?" "Your number." Lian ziho pulled out his phone and waved it in front of him. "I don't have it." Suo ran stared for a second before laughing quietly."That's what's bothering you?" "Yes."
Lian Ziho looked completely serious. "Very inconvenient." "For who?" Suo ran asked. "For me." Suo ran almost choked on his own breath. Lian Ziho seemed to realize how that sounded and immediately cleared his throat. "For practical reasons!" he added. "Obviously." "Obviously," Suo ran repeated, trying and failing to hide his amusement.
Lian Ziho unlocked his phone and held it out. "Fix that." Suo ran hesitated for a moment before taking it. Their fingers brushed briefly. He entered his number and handed the phone back. Lian ziho glanced at the screen, nodded once in satisfaction, and slipped it into his pocket. "Good." Suo ran tilted his head. "That's it?" "That's it." "No dramatic speech?" "Should there be?" Suo ran laughed and shook his head. "Forget it."
Eventually they began walking back toward the street.The morning crowd had grown thicker, people hurrying past with coffees and briefcases while the city settled fully into its daily rhythm. They walked side by side without rushing. "So.." Lian ziho said casually, shoving his hands into his jacket pockets, "do grocery stores always end in high-speed chases for you?" Suo ran groaned. "Only on special occasions." "Good to know." "Why?" Lian ziho glanced at him with a faint grin. "I'd like some warning next time." Suo ran rolled his eyes. "There's not going to be a next time." "Sure." "I'm serious." "And I'm agreeing with you." Suo ran stared at him suspiciously. "You don't sound convinced." "Because I'm not."
By the time they reached the intersection where their paths separated, the strange awkwardness that had defined their first meetings had faded. They stopped at the corner and looked at each other. "Okay..." Suo ran said, gesturing toward the street ahead. Lian ziho nodded. "Text me when you get home." Suo ran frowned. "You're bossy." Lian ziho's smile widened. "And you're reckless." "I've heard that before." "Then maybe start listening." Suo ran opened his mouth with a comeback ready, but stopped when he noticed the genuine concern hidden beneath the teasing.
For a moment neither spoke. Then Suo ran nodded once. "Fine." Lian ziho seemed satisfied with that answer. "Good."They stood there for another second longer than necessary. Then Lian ziho stepped backward and lifted a hand in a casual wave. "See you around, Suo Ran." Suo ran found himself smiling despite everything. "Yeah." He adjusted the strap of his bag and started walking away. "See you, Lian Ziho."