The man stood up again and silence filled the room. Jun Wei's eyes followed him carefully. Then the man softly asked another question. "Do you know who you are?" Jun wei blinked. "What?" The man repeated it. "Do you know who you are?" Jun Wei frowned. "I'm Jun Wei." The man slowly shook his head. "No." Jun Wei became confused. "Yes."
The man remained silent for several seconds after jun wei answered.He simply stood there,looking at him in a way that made Jun Wei uncomfortable.Jun wei tightened his grip on the blanket. "Why are you saying no?" he asked, his voice becoming more defensive. "My name is Jun Wei." The man slowly nodded. "It is now." Jun Wei froze. "What does that mean?" The man walked toward a nearby chair and sat down calmly, crossing one leg over the other. "It means names can be given. Names can be changed. Names can be hidden."
Jun Wei shook his head. "No! My Ge-ge calls me Wei wei. Lian-ge calls me Jun wei and everyone calls me Jun Wei." The man looked at him quietly. "And if everyone was only calling you that because that's all they knew?" Jun Wei frowned harder. "I don't understand what you're trying to say." The man sighed softly and leaned back slightly. "Then perhaps that's a good thing." Jun Wei blinked. "Good thing?" The man nodded once. "Children shouldn't have to carry certain burdens." Jun Wei's brows furrowed. "I'm not a child." The man unexpectedly smiled. "You are."
Jun wei puffed his cheeks slightly in annoyance. "I'm not." The man chuckled quietly. "Very well. Then let me ask you something else." Jun Wei remained silent. The man folded his hands together. "Have you ever felt different from everyone else?" Jun Wei froze for a moment. The question caught him off guard. His eyes dropped briefly toward the blanket. Different? He didn't know. Then he slowly shook his head. "No." The man continued. "Have you ever wondered why certain people seem overly protective of you?" Jun Wei answered. "Because they care about me."
The man nodded. "Yes. They do." Jun Wei frowned slightly. That answer had surprised him. He had expected an argument. But the man didn't continue. Instead, he simply stared at him for several moments before speaking again. "Suo Ran loves you very much." Jun Wei blinked. "Of course he does." The man nodded. "And Lian Ziho would risk himself for you too." Jun Wei answered again. "I know." The man looked down briefly before lifting his gaze back toward him. "Do you know why?" Jun Wei immediately replied, "Because we're family." After hearing his answer man looked genuinely surprised. Jun Wei noticed it "What?" he asked. "Did I say something wrong?" The man slowly shook his head. "No." And small smile appeared on his face. "Actually… that was a very good answer." Jun Wei looked at him suspiciously. "Then stop asking weird questions."
The man chuckled quietly again. "You're quite stubborn." Jun Wei hugged the blanket tighter. "Ge-ge says that too." The man's expression softened for a brief second before disappearing again. Then he stood up. Jun Wei immediately became alert. "Where are you going?" The man paused near the door. "I have work to do." Jun Wei hesitated for a second before asking, "Am I staying here forever?" The man turned his head slightly toward him. "No." Jun Wei swallowed. "Then when can I leave?" A few seconds passed before the man answered. "Soon." Jun Wei narrowed his eyes immediately. "Adults always say soon."
The man blinked once. Jun Wei continued, sounding slightly frustrated now. "Soon means nothing." The man actually laughed at that. "You're right." Jun Wei frowned. "Then tell me the truth." The man looked at him quietly. Then he said, "The truth is… things are moving now." Jun Wei didn't understand. "What things?" The man glanced toward the door. "The people looking for you." Jun Wei's eyes widened instantly. "Lian-ge?" The man's lips curved slightly upward. "Yes." Jun wei sat up straighter. "And Ge-ge?" The man paused briefly. "Yes." After heard that he felt relieved. They are coming. They didn't abandoned me They didn't forgotten me. Jun Wei's eyes softened slightly as he whispered under his breath, "I knew it…" The man heard him. Of course he did. Then he quietly said, "You trust them a lot." Jun Wei nodded."I do."
The man stared at him for several seconds before finally opening the door. "Good." Jun Wei blinked. "Good?" The man nodded once. "Because they'll need that trust very soon." Jun Wei frowned again, confusion returning instantly. "What does that mean?" But the man didn't answer this time. Instead, he stepped outside and door slowly closed.The lock engaged again. Jun Wei stared at the door for several moments before looking down at the blanket in his hands. His thoughts drifted back to Suo Ran and Lian Ziho. Then quietly, almost like a prayer, he whispered, "Ge-ge… please hurry…"
Unknown to Jun Wei, outside the room, the man's expression had completely changed. The smile was gone. He looked at the locked door for several seconds before quietly murmuring to himself, "They found you faster than I expected." Then he turned and disappeared down the long hallway.
The grand ballroom glittered beneath enormous crystal chandeliers.Golden light reflected across polished marble floors while soft piano music drifted through the luxurious space. Men in expensive tailored suits and women in elegant evening gowns stood in small groups discussing investments, partnerships, and future projects. Waiters dressed in black uniforms moved gracefully through the crowd carrying silver trays filled with champagne glasses and delicate desserts.
Near one of the tall glass windows overlooking the city stood cai lang and Anxin.
The brothers attracted attention wherever they went.Anxin, wore a perfectly tailored dark navy-blue suit with a silver tie and a matching pocket square. His hair was neatly combed back, and his mature features carried an easy warmth that naturally made people comfortable around him.Beside him stood Cai Lang, dressed in a black three-piece suit with a charcoal-grey tie. His sharp brows and cold eyes gave him a distant aura.
Anxin held a glass of champagne in one hand, his posture relaxed and elegant as he smiled politely at a small group of executives gathered around him.Under golden light of the chandeliers, he looked refined and approachable, someone who naturally knew how to put others at ease. "Thank you for coming tonight!" he said warmly, his voice calm and steady.
An older businessman wearing gold-rimmed glasses chuckled as he adjusted his suit jacket. "Mr. Anxin, every event your family hosts becomes more impressive than the previous one." Anxin laughed softly, shaking his head with a modest smile. "You're giving us too much credit." The man immediately smiled. "Not at all. It's well deserved."
Beside him, another executive turned toward Cai Lang. "Mr. Cai, congratulations on the latest acquisition." Cai Lang stood with one hand resting inside his pocket, his black suit fitting him perfectly. Unlike Anxin's warm presence, he carried a quieter, colder aura. He simply nodded politely. "Thank you." Nearby, a woman wearing an elegant cream-colored gown smiled brightly at the brothers. "You two work very well together." Anxin glanced toward Cai Lang and smiled easily, genuine warmth appearing in his eyes. "He's the one who handles the difficult parts." Cai Lang looked at him for a brief second before calmly replying, "Brother is being modest again." The surrounding group laughed softly.
The woman smiled even wider. "Honestly, it's refreshing seeing siblings with such a good relationship these days." Anxin chuckled and raised his glass slightly. "We try our best." Cai Lang also gave a polite smile for everyone's sake. To outsiders, they looked exactly how people imagined successful brothers should look supportive, close, and dependable. But inwardly, something stirred uncomfortably inside him.
At that moment, another man approached them. He looked to be in his late twenties, tall and refined, with neatly combed dark brown hair and sharp features softened by an easygoing smile. He wore a charcoal-gray three-piece suit and carried a glass of red wine in one hand. Anxin recognized him and smiled warmly before extending his hand. "Director Shen, it's been a while."
Director Shen laughed softly as he shook his hand. "Mr. Anxin. You somehow manage to become busier every year." Anxin chuckled lightly. "Unfortunately, work doesn't allow much free time anymore." Director Shen nodded dramatically. "The curse of successful people."Then his eyes shifted toward Cai Lang, and familiarity appeared in his gaze. "And Mr. Cai." A smile spread across his face. "Still impossible to read." Cai Lang gave a polite nod. "Director Shen."
Director Shen laughed. "You say my title every single time we meet."Cai Lang adjusted his cufflinks calmly before replying, "It's respectful."Director Shen sighed dramatically. "It also makes me feel old."
Anxin laughed quietly beside them. "You'll survive."Director Shen pointed at both brothers with mock offense. "You two really know how to attack someone."Anxin smiled easily. "I'm innocent." Director Shen snorted. "Sure you are."
The three men remained near one of the quieter corners of the ballroom while guests passed by around them, laughter and conversations blending into soft background noise. Golden lights reflected off crystal glasses while soft violin music drifted through the elegant space. After several moments, a group of investors approached Anxin from another side of the room. "Mr. Anxin, excuse us for a moment!" one of them said politely. Anxin smiled warmly and nodded. "Of course." Before leaving, he glanced at both men. "I'll be back." Director Shen smiled. "Go ahead. We'll only steal your brother for a few minutes." Anxin chuckled softly and walked away with the investors, immediately slipping back into his public persona as he discussed business matters with them.
Now only Cai Lang and Director Shen remained near the corner.Director Shen took a sip of his wine and then suddenly smiled knowingly. "Can I ask something personal?" Cai Lang glanced at him calmly. "That usually means it's something I won't want to answer." Director Shen laughed quietly. "Probably." Then his gaze shifted fully toward Cai Lang, becoming more observant than before. "Do you still have feelings for him?" Cai Lang's expression did not change, but the air around him seemed to still for a fraction of a second.
The music faded slightly into the background noise of the ballroom. He lifted his eyes slowly. "What makes you ask that?" Director Shen shrugged before taking another sip of wine. "The way you react whenever his name appears." Cai Lang lowered his eyes briefly and adjusted his cufflinks slowly,"I don't discuss personal matters at business parties." Director Shen smiled knowingly. "That wasn't exactly a denial." Cai Lang looked at him for several seconds, his gaze unreadable. "That also wasn't an invitation to continue asking."
Director Shen laughed awkwardly and lifted his free hand in surrender. "Fair enough." Then he smiled again. "Still… I've known you for years." He pointed toward Cai Lang playfully. "This man never reacts to gossip. No reaction to praise, criticism and rumors." His smile widened slightly. "But somehow… one person's name always gets a reaction." Cai Lang sighed quietly, "Director Shen."
Director Shen laughed. "Fine, fine. I'll stop." For several seconds, Cai Lang said nothing. His gaze drifted toward the crowd, toward nothing in particular, yet somehow toward someone. Director Shen noticed the change and his voice softened slightly. "You still think about him, don't you?" Cai Lang's jaw tightened almost imperceptibly. Then he answered quietly, "Some people don't disappear just because time passes."
Director Shen blinked, then smiled faintly. "That's probably the closest thing to honesty I've ever heard from you."Cai Lang exhaled quietly through his nose. "I didn't say what you're implying." Director Shen chuckled. "You didn't have to." Then he raised his glass slightly. "Curiosity is a dangerous habit, but I've always been curious about one thing. If you still feel something… don't wait too long. Life doesn't always give second chances."
Cai Lang looked at him properly and stayed silent for several long seconds before looking away, his expression still composed but his voice quieter than before. "I know."
At that exact moment, Anxin returned with the investors, completely unaware of what had been said."Am I interrupting something?" he asked lightly. Director Shen laughed. "Nothing important." Cai Lang adjusted his jacket. "Just small talk." Anxin nodded without suspicion and turned back to the guests,and the party continued as before, music flowing, laughter rising, glasses clinking under the golden lights, while Cai Lang stood still.
After the conversation ended, Director Shen was soon called away by another group of guests waiting to speak with him. At almost the same time, one of Anxin's assistants hurried over and respectfully lowered his head. "Mr. Anxin, the representatives from East Neon Group have arrived." Anxin glanced toward the entrance and sighed with a smile. "Looks like work is calling me again." He adjusted his suit jacket and looked at Cai Lang. "I'll be over there for a while." Cai Lang nodded once. "Go ahead." Anxin studied him for a brief second before smiling faintly. "Don't disappear before the event ends." Cai nodded in agreement.Anxin chuckled softly and walked away with the assistant,blending back into the crowd of executives and investors.
Cai Lang slowly walked toward one of the enormous floor-to-ceiling windows at the edge of the ballroom.The city stretched endlessly beneath him.Thousands of lights illuminated the streets below, headlights moving through the darkness. Inside the ballroom, music continued to play softly, but somehow it felt distant now.He slipped one hand into his trouser pocket while the other loosely held his untouched glass.His gaze remained outside.
What is he doing now? His fingers slowly tightened around the phone in his hand. It's been months since he left. Why did he never try to contact me after that call? His gaze lowered slightly, and his brows furrowed.He unlocked his phone and tapped Suo Ran's contact.The call began ringing. It rang once then twice.He stood there patiently waiting, his eyes fixed on the city lights beyond the glass.The ringtone continued before eventually ending on its own.Cai Lang stared at the darkened screen for several seconds, his expression remaining calm, but the faint tightening of his jaw betrayed his irritation. "He is still not picking up!" he muttered quietly to himself, annoyance slipping into his usually composed voice.
His thumb moved across the screen again. This time he dialed another number. The person answered almost instantly. "Mr. Cai?" Cai lang's gaze remained outside the window as he spoke in his usual calm, professional tone. "Find out what Suo Ran has been doing these days." There was a brief pause before the man answered, "Understood." Cai Lang continued without hesitation. "I want recent movements, anyone he's been meeting, and whether he's involved in anything unusual." The man on the other side replied, "Okay. Give me some time. I'll contact you again." Cai Lang simply said, "Mm." Then he ended the call. Slowly lowering the phone, he returned his attention to the city below.
A familiar voice suddenly spoke from behind him. "Hey." Cai Lang didn't turn around. He simply continued staring at the city lights beyond the glass windows. A man walked over and casually leaned against the railing beside him. It was Lu Jian. Lu Jian looked to be in his mid-twenties, tall and lean, with neatly styled black hair and sharp eyes hidden behind thin silver-rimmed glasses. He wore a wine-red tailored suit with a dark tie and carried a glass of whiskey in one hand.
Unlike Cai Lang's quiet and restrained demeanor, Lu Jian always carried an easygoing energy around him.He glanced at Cai Lang before grinning mischievously. "What are you doing all alone?" His eyes briefly drifted toward the city outside before returning to Cai Lang. Then his grin widened. "Heartbreak?" Cai Lang finally turned and gave him an expressionless look. "I'm not in the mood for jokes." Lu Jian chuckled softly. "Then when are you ever in the mood to joke?" Cai Lang sighed quietly and gave him a warning look. "Lu Jian."
Lu Jian raised both hands dramatically. "Alright, alright. Serious face tonight." Then his playful expression gradually disappeared. He stepped slightly closer and lowered his voice. Cai Lang folded his arms across his chest and looked at him. "Did you get anything new?" Lu Jian nodded once. "About who tried to kill you." Cai lang's eyes darkened. "And the car service centre owner?" Lu Jian sighed quietly before pulling out his phone. "We investigated him." Cai Lang looked at him calmly. "What did you find?" Lu Jian opened several files and handed the phone over. "He wasn't acting alone."
Cai Lang's gaze sharpened instantly. "Who backed him?" Lu Jian shook his head. "We still don't know." Cai Lang frowned slightly. "What about his financial records?" Lu Jian pointed at the screen. "Multiple shell companies." Cai Lang silently scanned the information. His expression slowly hardened. "Connected to my father's company?" Lu Jian hesitated briefly before answering. "Indirectly." Cai Lang's jaw tightened and something flicker in his eyes.Lu Jian noticed it. "What about the owner himself?" Cai Lang asked quietly.
Lu Jian sighed. "He disappeared." Cai Lang looked up at him. "Disappeared?" Lu Jian nodded. "His apartment was empty, phone abandoned, bank accounts frozen and no airport records. No surveillance footage after two days ago." Cai Lang slowly exhaled and looked back toward the city outside. "Someone cleaned up everything." Lu Jian nodded. "That's our conclusion too." Cai Lang remained silent for several moments before speaking quietly. "Someone doesn't want him talking." Lu Jian nodded again. "And whoever it is has resources. A lot of resources." Cai Lang's gaze drifted back toward the ballroom.
Then footsteps approached them. Both men turned at the same time. Anxin had returned. "What are you two discussing so seriously?" he asked with an easy smile. Lu Jian smiled politely. "Just work." Anxin chuckled softly. "Work never ends, does it?" Lu Jian laughed awkwardly. "No… it doesn't." Anxin then shifted his attention toward Cai Lang. His eyes softened slightly. "You look tense." Cai Lang answered. "I'm fine." Anxin smiled. "You've said that three times tonight." Cai Lang looked at him quietly. Once again, that strange discomfort surfaced inside him. Then Anxin naturally reached over to adjust Cai Lang's tie but before his fingers could properly touch it, Cai Lang instinctively stepped back half a step. "I can do it myself!" he said calmly.
For a brief second, Anxin paused. Then he simply smiled and withdrew his hand without any sign of offense. "Alright." He adjusted his own cufflinks instead and said warmly, "Don't overwork yourself." Cai Lang stared at him for a brief moment before nodding once. "Mm." Anxin smiled again. Just then someone called from the center of the ballroom. "Mr. Anxin!" Anxin glanced over before looking back at them. "I'll be back." Then he walked away gracefully, disappearing into the sea of guests, laughter, and conversations beneath the golden chandeliers.
Cai Lang silently watched him leave. Beside him, Lu Jian slowly took a sip of whiskey before lowering his voice. "What's wrong?" Cai Lang blinked once and looked at him. "What do you mean?" Lu Jian adjusted his glasses slightly. "You've been watching your brother all night." Cai Lang looked away toward the city lights beyond the glass again. The reflection staring back at him remained calm and unreadable. After several seconds, he answered quietly, "Nothing." Lu Jian stared at him for a moment before letting out a soft sigh. "You know," he said carefully, "every time you say nothing, it usually means it's something." Cai Lang didn't answer. His gaze remained fixed on the endless lights outside while his fingers slowly tightened around the phone in his pocket.
Cai Lang and Lu Jian eventually left the window and walked back toward the center of the ballroom together.The two men stopped beside a long marble table decorated with expensive wines, desserts, and floral arrangements. Lu Jian casually picked up another glass of whiskey while Cai Lang chose a glass of red wine. "This party is exhausting," Lu Jian said with a soft laugh as he loosened his tie slightly. "Everyone here is pretending to enjoy themselves."
Cai Lang calmly swirled the wine inside his glass. "That's usually how business parties work." Lu Jian chuckled. "Fair point." He glanced toward Cai Lang. "So are you staying much longer tonight?" Cai Lang answered without much thought. "Depends." Lu Jian smiled mischievously again. "Depends on work… or depends on someone finally answering their phone?" Cai Lang shot him a brief look. "You're becoming annoying again." Lu Jian laughed. "Good. That means you're at least listening."
Before Cai Lang could answer, his phone suddenly vibrated inside his pocket. Cai Lang pulled it out and glanced down at the screen. A message had arrived. His eyes narrowed slightly when he saw the sender. It was the person he had contacted earlier. Underneath the message was a single line. *Found something.* Attached below were several photos. Cai Lang opened them.The moment the images appeared on the screen, something inside his expression changed instantly.His eyes darkened and even his posture stiffened slightly. He swiped through another photo then another. His gaze remained fixed on the screen for several long seconds before he suddenly locked the phone and slipped it back into his pocket. Lu Jian noticed it.
"What happened?" he asked quietly. Cai Lang didn't answer. Instead, he calmly reached for the wine glass and took a large sip.Then another and another. Lu Jian frowned.That alone was enough to tell him something was wrong because Cai Lang rarely drank carelessly. He always remained controlled. Lu Jian lowered his voice. "Cai Lang." Cai Lang didn't answer he simply stared ahead at the crowd moving beneath the golden lights and lifted the glass again. Lu Jian's expression became more serious now. "What was in those photos?" Cai Lang answered, "Nothing." Lu Jian laughed at the answer. "You're a terrible liar." Cai Lang remained silent. His eyes stayed fixed somewhere far away, though Lu Jian knew he wasn't looking at the ballroom anymore.
Lu Jian studied him for several moments before speaking again. "Does this have something to do with Suo Ran?" Cai Lang's fingers paused around the stem of the wine glass for a brief second but Lu Jian noticed it. Cai Lang slowly lowered the glass afterward. His expression remained unreadable, yet something dangerous had settled beneath the calmness now. Then he quietly said, "I need to leave soon." Lu Jian blinked. "That serious?" Cai Lang didn't answer. Instead, he just left.