Suo ran woke up warm. For a few seconds, he didn't understand why. The apartment was quiet.Morning sunlight filtered through the massive floor-to-ceiling windows, painting soft golden streaks across the living room. The city beyond was slowly waking up, distant traffic humming below.
Then he felt something felt heavy. Suo ran shifted slightly and froze. His one arm was draped firmly across his waist. And leg was loosely hooked over his. He looked down slowly then looked up. His soul nearly left his body. Cai Lang was asleep beside him.No practically wrapped around him. "Oh no!" Suo Ran whispered in horror. "Oh no, no, no."
Cai Lang's face was so close.His hair had fallen across his forehead during the night, slightly messy from sleep. Without his usual cold expression, he looked unfairly relaxed. The sight was distracting in ways suo ran refused to examine. He carefully tried to move. The arm around his waist tightened slightly. Suo ran stopped breathing. "This is how I die!" he muttered. "Not chased. Not kidnapped. Just murdered on a couch."
Gathering his courage, he reached over and lightly poked Cai Lang's shoulder."Cai lang!" he whispered urgently. "Wake up." Nothing. "Cai Lang." Then slowly, Cai lang stirred. His brows furrowed slightly.His eyes opened.For several long seconds, neither moved. They simply stared at each other. Then Cai Lang looked down. He looked at the arm around suo ran then the leg. Then back at Suo ran. His expression remained completely blank. "Explain." Suo ran shot upright so fast he nearly launched himself off the couch. "Power cut!" he blurted. "You were afraid! I didn't plan this!"
Cai Lang sat up much more gracefully, rubbing his temple with one hand. "You sleep aggressively." "Me?" Suo ran pointed at himself in disbelief. "You were hugging me!" "You didn't move away." "Because I was asleep!" "Convenient excuse." "It's the truth!" Cai Lang studied him for a second. "Interesting." "What's interesting?" "You drool when you sleep." Suo ran froze. "I what?" A tiny smirk appeared and disappeared. "Nothing." "You're lying."
"Probably." Suo ran grabbed a cushion and threw it directly at him. Cai Lang caught it effortlessly. "Violence this early?" "You deserve worse." For a brief moment, amusement flickered across Cai Lang's face.Then Suo Ran's phone buzzed loudly on the coffee table. He grabbed it immediately. The screen lit up. Lian Ziho: Why am I not seeing you at home these days? Lian Ziho: Did you move or something? Suo Ran hesitated before typing back. Suo Ran: Just... busy. Another message appeared almost instantly. Lian Ziho: Funny timing. I'm coming back today. Business trip's over. Lian Ziho: Let's meet. I missed our talks. A smiling emoji followed. Before he could stop himself, Suo Ran smiled.
Across from him, Cai lang noticed it. His gaze sharpened slightly. "Who is it?" he asked casually. "A friend," Suo ran replied without thinking. The answer made Cai Lang's expression flatten. "The same friend?" "Maybe." "The mysterious one." "You're very interested for someone pretending not to be interested." Cai Lang leaned back against the couch. "I'm gathering information." "Sounds suspicious." "It should."
Suo ran rolled his eyes. Despite himself, he laughed softly. Then he stood up and stretched. "I'm going home." Cai Lang looked up. "Now?" "Yes." Suo Ran shoved his phone into his pocket and avoided eye contact. "I can't stay here forever." Cai Lang remained silent. The sunlight illuminated one side of his face while the other remained shadowed. Something unreadable settled in his expression. "This was temporary," Suo ran continued quietly. "I know."
Suo ran rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "Anyway... thanks for letting me stay." Cai Lang gave a short nod. "Mm." Neither knew what else to say. Eventually Suo ran grabbed his jacket and headed toward the door. He paused briefly. Looked back. Cai lang was still sitting there. Watching him.
For a second, Suo ran almost said something els then he left. The apartment door closed softly behind him. An hour later, Cai Lang emerged from the shower. His dark hair was still damp, a black hoodie clinging slightly to his shoulders. "Suo Ran?" he called automatically. No answer. His gaze moved toward the couch. The blanket had been folded neatly. The coffee mug was gone. Everything was clean.
Cai Lang stared at the empty space longer than necessary. Then he pulled out his phone and called. The line rang twice. "Cai Lang?" Suo Ran answered. "Why did you leave?" Cai Lang asked immediately. "I didn't think I needed permission!" Suo ran replied. "You didn't tell me." "I can't stay there forever." His voice softened. "It's not my place."
Cai Lang's jaw tightened slightly. "You're reckless." "You're controlling." Silence stretched between them. Neither spoke.Cai Lang exhaled. Slowly. "Be careful." The line disconnected before Suo ran could answer. Cai Lang lowered the phone and stared at the screen. "He just left?" he muttered. "Who gave him permission?" The rooftop wind was cool against Suo ran's skin. The building overlooked half the city, glass towers and apartment blocks stretching endlessly beneath a pale blue sky. Potted plants lined the edges of the rooftop garden, swaying gently in the breeze.
Lian Ziho leaned casually against the railing, sleeves rolled up, dark sunglasses hanging from the collar of his shirt. The moment he spotted Suo Ran, he smiled. "There you are." "You sound dramatic." "I am dramatic." Lian pushed away from the railing. "I thought you vanished again." Suo Ran laughed. "Not this time." "Good. Chasing you around the city sounds exhausting."
They settled onto a wooden bench overlooking the skyline. The wind carried the scent of nearby flowers. For a while, they simply talked about work, annoying coworkers and about terrible coffee. It felt easy. Normal. Then Lian glanced sideways at him. "You seem different." Suo ran looked down at himself. "How?" "Quieter." Lian tilted his head thoughtfully. "But stronger too."
Suo ran looked away toward the horizon. "That's vague." "It's accurate." "You always talk like that?" "Only when I'm right." Suo ran laughed. Lian smiled at the sound. Then his expression softened slightly. "You look less alone." The words caught Suo Ran off guard. He didn't know how to answer. So instead he asked, "Do you ever feel like you're standing between two lives?"
Lian looked at him carefully."Only when something important is about to happen." Suo ran stared out across the city. For some reason, Cai Lang's face flashed through his mind. The thought unsettled him more than it should have.
Far across the city, Cai Lang sat alone in his office. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the skyline.Documents covered the desk. There were Property listings, blueprints , Floor plans.His fingers tapped once against the polished wood before stopping on a particular file. One apartment building. One familiar location. Right next to Suo ran's building. His eyes lingered there. Too close to be coincidence. Too intentional to be accidental. "Temporary!" he murmured quietly. Then he picked up a pen and signed the papers without hesitation.