Lian Ziho returned to the university a few days later. He walked straight to the administration office and pushed the door open. The older staff member behind the desk looked up and recognized him. "You're back again?" he asked. Lian ziho nodded and stepped closer. "I want to ask you about Lu Cheng." The man's expression changed slightly. "Lu Cheng?" "Yes." Lian ziho rested one hand on the desk. "Has anyone asked about him recently?" The staff member thought for a moment. "I don't think so." Lian ziho's fingers tapped once against the desk. "Think carefully." The man looked at him, then frowned and leaned back in his chair. "A few days ago... someone did come here."
Lian ziho stopped tapping his fingers. "Who?" "I don't know. He didn't give me his name." "What did he want?" "He asked about the old classroom building." Lian's eyes narrowed. "Only that?" "Mostly." The man paused. "He also asked if you still visited the university." Lian ziho went quiet. His hand slowly dropped from the desk. He was looking for me?... He looked away for a second, then turned back. "What did he look like?" "I can't remember his face clearly." "You spoke to him." Lian ziho's voice became sharper. "I know." The man rubbed his forehead. "I remember his clothes. His voice, maybe. But his face..." He shook his head. "Nothing."
Lian ziho tried not to show his frustration. "Did he show you anything?" The staff member suddenly looked up. "Yes." Lian's eyes immediately returned to him. "What?" "An access card." Lian ziho froze for half a second. He reached into his pocket and pulled out Lu Cheng's old card and placed it on the desk. "This one?" The staff member leaned forward. The moment he saw it, he pointed at it. "Yes. That one."Lian ziho stared at the card. His expression slowly hardened. "You're sure?" "I'm sure." The staff member looked at him. "He showed me this card when he asked about the old building."
Lian ziho picked it up again and turned it over in his fingers. His thumb stopped over Lu Cheng's name. So someone had it. His jaw tightened. Someone carried it here. "Did he leave it with you?" Lian ziho asked. "No. He only showed it to me." Lian ziho lowered his eyes.Then how did it end up where I found it?... He put the card back into his pocket. "Anything else?" "No. That's all I remember." Lian ziho stood straight. "If you remember anything, call me." The staff member nodded.
Lian ziho turned toward the door, then stopped. "One more thing." He looked back. "When did he come?" "A few days ago. I think three days ago." Lian ziho's eyes darkened.That was close to the day i found the card...He said nothing and walked out of the office. Once he reached the hallway, he stopped and looked down at the card in his hand. His fingers closed around it. It wasn't dropped... He looked toward the old classroom building.He put the card back into his pocket and walked toward the stairs.
Later that night,Cai Lang and Zheng Rui stopped at a quiet bar. It was a narrow place with dark wooden tables and warm lights hanging above the counter.Soft music played in the background. A few customers sat near the far end, speaking quietly over their drinks.Behind the counter, the bartender wiped a glass while the sound of ice moving in a shaker came from time to time. Cai Lang chose a table near the wall and sat down. He took off his coat and placed it beside him, then set his phone on the table. He didn't say anything.
Zheng Rui sat across from him and watched him for a few seconds.Cai Lang picked up the glass that had been placed in front of him but didn't drink. His eyes remained fixed on the table. Zheng Rui leaned back in his chair. "You've barely said a word since we left." Cai Lang's fingers stopped around the glass. "There's nothing to say." Zheng Rui adjusted his glasses and smiled."You don't usually go this quiet unless something is bothering you." Cai Lang finally looked at him. "I'm thinking."
Zheng Rui held his gaze for a moment, then nodded slowly. "About the photographs?" Cai Lang looked away. "Among other things." Zheng Rui took a drink and placed his glass down carefully. "Then say what you're thinking." Cai Lang's expression remained calm, but his eyes hardened slightly. "Not here." Zheng Rui glanced around the bar before looking back at him. "You think we're being watched?" "I think we've already seen enough tonight to be careful." Zheng Rui studied him for a moment. Then he nodded.Cai Lang finally took a small drink.
Zheng Rui leaned back again, his eyes still on him."You know, whatever you found in that building has clearly changed something." Cai Lang lowered the glass. "It hasn't changed anything." "Then why are you holding that glass like you're trying to break it?" Cai Lang looked down. His grip had indeed tightened around it. He slowly loosened his fingers. "It's just habit." Zheng Rui gave a quiet breath that was almost a laugh. "Of course." Cai Lang gave him a brief look. "If you have something to say, say it." Zheng Rui's expression turned serious. "I was going to ask whether you're planning to tell Lian Ziho about the photographs."
Cai Lang's eyes shifted toward him. He didn't answer immediately. "Not yet." he said at last. Zheng Rui nodded once. "I thought so." Cai Lang leaned back, his attention returning to the room. "We don't know what we're dealing with yet." "And until we do?" "We keep it between us." Zheng Rui picked up his glass again. "Understood." He took a slow drink and watched Cai Lang over the rim. Cai Lang remained silent, His thumb pressed once against the side of his glass. Something is missing. I just don't know what yet...
A few minutes later, someone stopped beside their table. Cai Lang looked up. A man stood there, probably around his age, with slightly messy black hair falling over his forehead. He wore a dark shirt with the top few buttons undone, revealing a thin silver chain around his neck.His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, showing lean arms, and there was a faint scent of alcohol on him.His eyes moved from Zheng Rui to Cai Lang and stayed there. "Is this seat taken?" he asked, already pulling the chair closer. Zheng Rui glanced at Cai Lang, then at the man. "Go ahead." The man sat beside Cai Lang and rested one arm on the back of the chair. Cai Lang didn't react. He simply lifted his glass and took another drink. The man watched him for a moment. "You don't talk much, do you?" Cai Lang gave no answer. He continued drinking, his eyes fixed somewhere ahead. The man smiled and leaned a little closer. "That's fine. I don't mind quiet people."
Zheng Rui glanced at him once, then lowered his eyes to his drink and decided not to interfere.The man shifted a little closer to Cai Lang, resting his elbow on the table. He looked at Cai Lang for a moment before giving a small smile. "Long night?" he asked. Cai Lang didn't answer. He only lifted his glass and took another drink. The man didn't seem bothered by the silence. He looked at Cai Lang's face again, then at the empty glass in front of him. "You look like you could use another one." He raised his own glass slightly. Cai Lang gave no response. The man smiled to himself and took a drink. After a moment, he leaned slightly closer. "You're not much of a talker."
Cai Lang remained quiet,his eyes on the glass in his hand. The man watched him for another second, then smiled. "I don't mind.We can do something besides talking." Zheng Rui glanced at them again. Something...what?!...He really isn't giving him anything to work with...He took a slow drink and tried to keep his attention on the table, but the corner of his eye kept catching the two of them. Cai Lang finally turned his head and looked at the man and their eyes met.The man held his gaze, his smile becoming a little softer. Cai Lang said nothing. Instead, he slowly raised his hand. Zheng Rui paused with the glass near his lips. What is he doing?... The man's expression changed as Cai Lang's fingers moved toward his face.His hand stopped at man's cheek. The man went still, looking at Cai Lang with surprise.
Zheng Rui lowered his glass without taking a drink. He... He...what is he doing?...Cai Lang's fingers moved lightly along the man's cheek as he kept his eyes on him. Then Cai Lang smiled. The man stared at him for a moment before a smile slowly appeared on his own face. Neither of them spoke. Zheng Rui watched them from across the table, his eyebrows lifting slightly. So that's the approach he's taking? ...The man's expression had become more confident now, and he leaned a little closer.
Zheng Rui almost looked away, but then Cai Lang's hand moved from the man's cheek to his shoulder then he pushed him away. The man stumbled back a step, and Zheng Rui nearly spilled his drink as he quickly caught the glass. He looked at Cai Lang in disbelief for a moment.Cai Lang calmly picked up his drink again.The man looked at Cai Lang for a few seconds, then straightened his shirt and stepped away.Cai Lang slowly lowered his glass and looked at the man. "You should leave before I give you a reason to remember this night." The man held his gaze for a second then he gave a small nod, stepped back, and walked away without another word. Zheng Rui watched him then looked at Cai Lang. Cai Lang picked up his drink again and took a slow sip.
Zheng Rui stared at him for a moment before leaning back in his chair. "You really know how to make a simple conversation complicated." Cai Lang didn't look at him. "He was making it complicated himself." Zheng Rui slowly turned his glass between his fingers. "And touching his face was part of the solution?" Cai Lang gave him a brief look. Zheng Rui caught the look and smiled faintly. "Right. I won't ask." Cai Lang returned his attention to his drink. Zheng Rui watched him for another moment before shaking his head. "You know, sometimes I think you enjoy making people nervous." Cai Lang took a slow sip. "Sometimes?" Zheng Rui's mouth curved slightly. "At least you're honest."
Cai Lang ignored the remark. He set his glass down and leaned back. For a moment, neither of them spoke. Then Zheng Rui's eyes moved toward the coat hanging beside Cai Lang. His expression changed slightly. "There is one thing you haven't explained." Cai Lang glanced at him. "What?" "The photograph of Lian Ziho." Cai Lang's face became more serious. He reached into his coat and pulled out the photograph. He placed it on the table between them. Zheng Rui leaned forward, resting one arm on the table as he studied it. "I was beginning to think you'd decided to keep everything to yourself tonight." Cai Lang didn't answer. He turned the photograph slightly and tapped one finger against its edge. "Look at the background."
Zheng Rui followed his finger. His eyes moved past Lian Ziho and stopped at the old building behind him. His expression slowly changed. "Wait..." Cai Lang said nothing. Zheng Rui leaned closer, studying the windows and the entrance carefully. "That's your University." Cai Lang finally looked at him. "And Lian ziho's!" Zheng Rui's expression changed. He looked at the photograph again, then at Cai Lang. "That means someone was watching him?" Cai Lang nodded. "And this was taken recently." Zheng Rui adjusted his glasses and looked closer at the picture. "So someone was following him three days ago, took his photograph, and somehow this ended up inside that old building." "That's what it looks like." Zheng Rui lowered the photograph slowly. "So are we really not going to tell him?" Cai Lang looked at him for a second. "He'll worry." Zheng Rui frowned. "But it's not a solution to hide it from him." Cai Lang's eyes moved back to the photograph. "I know." "Then why—" Before Zheng Rui could finish, a voice came from beside the table. "Still talking about Lu Cheng?"
Both men looked up. A man stood beside their table. He was in his forties, wearing a dark jacket over a plain shirt. His short black hair was slightly messy, with a thin scar near his left eyebrow. He had been sitting a few tables away, but now he stood beside them, looking at the photographs. Zheng Rui slowly moved his hand away from the picture. Cai Lang looked up at him and froze for a moment. His fingers tightened around the photograph. He looked at the man's face, then at the scar near his eyebrow. The man's eyes met his. "You remember me." Cai Lang said nothing. He pulled the photograph closer. Zheng Rui noticed his reaction and looked at the man. "You know him?" Cai Lang kept his eyes on the stranger. "I've seen him before." The man gave a small smile. "I thought you might."
The stranger pulled out the empty chair and sat down without asking. His eyes dropped to the photograph. "So you found them." Cai Lang's fingers rested on the table. "How do you know about the photographs?" The man's smirked. "Ask yourself why Lu Cheng was looking for that place." Zheng Rui leaned forward. "You knew Lu Cheng?" The stranger looked at him. "Everyone who stayed around that case knew him." "That's not what I asked." The man looked back at Cai Lang. "He wasn't the only one." Cai Lang's eyes narrowed. "Looking for the old building?" The man nodded once. "There were others." Zheng Rui exchanged a quick look with Cai Lang. "Who?" The man stood. "People you don't want to meet."
Cai Lang's voice remained calm. "I want Names!" The man ignored him. He placed one hand on the back of the chair. "If you're going back there, be careful." "Why?" Cai Lang asked. The stranger looked at the photograph of Lian Ziho one last time. "Because some people don't like old things being brought back." He turned away. Cai Lang immediately stood. "Wait." The man stopped. Cai Lang's voice hardened. "How did you know about Lu Cheng?" The man looked over his shoulder but said nothing. Before Cai Lang could ask more, the man gets up and leaves. Cai Lang watched him disappear into the crowd. Zheng Rui slowly put his glasses back into place. Zheng Rui looked at the direction the man had gone. "He knew the name." Cai Lang's expression stayed cold. "And he didn't want to say why." Zheng Rui looked at him. "You think he knows something about Lu Cheng?" "I think he knows more than he said." Zheng Rui was quiet for a moment. Then he picked up his coat from the back of the chair.
They walked out of the bar a few minutes later. Cai Lang walked toward the car while Zheng Rui followed beside him, still thinking about what the stranger had said. "People you don't want to meet," Zheng Rui muttered. "He really knows how to make things sound worse." Cai Lang didn't respond. They had almost reached the car when loud voices came from the alley beside the bar. Both men slowed down. A group of men stepped out from the narrow alley. There were five of them. They were arguing with another group standing near the opposite side of the street. The second group was smaller but looked just as tense. "Give it back," one of the men shouted. "I told you, I don't have it." "Then why were you running?" "Because you were chasing me."
One of the men suddenly stepped forward and grabbed the other by the collar. "Don't lie to me." The man slapped his hand away. "Get your hands off me." He shoved him hard in the chest. The man stumbled back, then rushed forward again. "You want to do this here?" Another man grabbed his shoulder. "Leave it." He pushed the hand away. "Stay out of it." The argument grew louder. Someone kicked an empty bottle lying near the alley. It rolled across the street and struck the curb. Cai Lang stopped beside the car and watched for a moment. Zheng Rui glanced at him. "We should go." They were about to move when one of the men suddenly swung at the person in front of him and punched him.The man staggered sideways and hit the wall.
Another man grabbed a metal pipe from beside the alley and raised it. "Cai Lang—" Zheng Rui pulled him back just as the pipe came down. It slammed against the car with a loud bang. Another man grabbed a metal pipe from beside the alley and raised it. "Cai Lang—" Zheng Rui pulled him back just as the pipe came down. It slammed against the car with a loud bang. Cai Lang slowly turned around. The man holding the pipe gave him a hard look. "Stay out of this." Cai Lang's eyes settled on him. "You almost hit me." The man lifted the pipe again. "Then move."
Cai Lang took one step forward. "Put it down." The man laughed. "Or what?" Cai Lang's expression didn't change. "You don't want to find out." The man swung the pipe. Cai Lang moved aside and caught his wrist before the second swing. He twisted it hard. The man's face tightened in pain. "Let go!" "You were told to put it down." Cai Lang twisted his arm farther until the pipe fell from his hand. He kicked it away. The man tried to hit him with his free hand. Cai Lang caught that wrist too and shoved him against the wall. "Who are you?" the man demanded. Cai Lang leaned closer. "You don't need to know." "Then get out of here."
Cai Lang's eyes turned colder. "You're in no position to give me orders." The man tried to push him away. Cai Lang grabbed his collar and slammed him back against the wall. "Listen carefully." His voice was quiet, but the anger in it made the man stop struggling. "You can fight them. You can shout. You can break half this street if you want." Cai Lang tightened his grip. "But you point that thing at me again, and this ends differently." The man stared at him, breathing hard. "Who the hell do you think you are?"
Cai Lang released his collar and pushed him away. "Someone you should have walked past." Another man suddenly rushed toward Cai Lang from the side. Cai Lang turned and blocked the punch, then drove his fist into the man's stomach. The man doubled over. Cai Lang grabbed the back of his jacket and threw him toward the others. "Take your fight somewhere else." The first man picked up the pipe again. Cai Lang looked at him.The man froze. Cai Lang took one slow step toward him."I won't say it again." The man raised the pipe. Cai Lang's eyes turned cold. Before he could move, Zheng Rui called out, "Cai Lang."
Cai Lang glanced at him for a moment. A man suddenly rushed at him from the side. Cai Lang turned and blocked the punch with his arm. He caught the man's wrist and pushed him back. The man stumbled, then came at him again. Cai Lang stepped aside. The man missed and almost fell forward. Cai Lang grabbed the back of his jacket and threw him toward the others. "Stay out of this." Zheng Rui watched him.
Behind him, another man suddenly rushed toward Zheng Rui. Zheng Rui turned just in time. The fist came toward his face. He moved aside, adjusted his glasses, and caught the man's wrist. "You should leave," he said calmly. The man pulled his arm back and swung again. Zheng Rui blocked the punch with his forearm. "I said leave." "Who do you think you are?" the man asked. Zheng Rui looked at him through his glasses. "Someone giving you a chance."
The man attacked again. Zheng Rui stepped aside, grabbed his shoulder, and drove his elbow into his chest. The man stumbled back, coughing. Zheng Rui straightened his glasses. "Last chance." The man wiped his mouth and charged at him again. Zheng Rui caught his arm, twisted it behind his back, and pushed him against the side of the car. "You didn't listen." "Let go!" "When you stop." The man tried to hit him with his free hand. Zheng Rui caught it and pressed it against the car. His voice stayed calm. "You came looking for a fight. Don't complain when you find one." He released him with a hard shove. The man stumbled forward and fell against the wall.
Zheng Rui looked toward Cai Lang. Cai Lang was still fighting. The first man came at him again. Cai Lang stepped aside and caught his fist. He twisted the man's arm and forced him down. The man gritted his teeth and tried to pull away. "Let go of me!" Cai Lang's face remained cold. "You were warned." The man suddenly kicked toward his leg. Cai Lang moved back, then grabbed his collar and pulled him forward. His fist struck the man's stomach. The man bent over, gasping. Another man rushed toward Cai Lang from behind. Zheng Rui noticed him. "Cai Lang."
Cai Lang turned before the man could reach him.He caught the man's wrist and stopped the punch.For a second, the two stared at each other.Then Cai Lang twisted the man's arm and shoved him into the wall. Zheng Rui adjusted his glasses and watched him. "You done?"Cai Lang didn't look at him. "Almost." Zheng Rui glanced at the men around them. "Then make it quick." Cai Lang kept his eyes on the men for second before turning away. "Good." He walked toward the car without looking back.Zheng Rui followed him.Just before he reached the car, he suddenly stopped. His eyes moved toward the dark street across from the bar. Someone was standing there, half-hidden in the shadows. The person was watching them. "Cai Lang." Cai Lang stopped and looked back. Zheng Rui pointed toward the street. "Someone's there."
The figure noticed them and quickly turned to run. "Hey!" Zheng Rui took off after him. His steps were fast as he chased the figure through the narrow street. The person looked back once, then ran faster. Zheng Rui pushed himself harder, his breathing growing heavier as he gained speed. He jumped over a low step and kept going without slowing down. The figure turned into another street. Zheng Rui followed, but by the time he reached the corner, the person had disappeared. He stopped and bent slightly, breathing hard. Sweat had gathered along his forehead and neck. He wiped it away with his sleeve and looked down the empty street. Nothing. He stood there for a moment, catching his breath. "Damn..." He looked back toward the bar.