Lian Ziho walked toward the old classroom. The door was open, and he stepped inside. The room was quiet, with a few old desks still arranged in rows. Dust covered the windows, and faint marks remained on the blackboard. He slowly walked between the desks, his eyes moving across the room. His fingers brushed over one of the dusty desks, and he stopped. "You took my seat again." Lu Cheng's voice seemed to come back for a moment. Lian Ziho looked toward the empty chair and almost smiled. "There are plenty of other seats." "I like this one." Lu Cheng pulled out the chair beside him and sat down. Lian Ziho shook his head. "You always make things difficult." "And you always complain."
Lu Cheng grinned. "So we're even." Lian Ziho let out a quiet laugh and moved his hand away from the desk. His eyes shifted to the desk behind it. Cai Lang used to sit there, usually quiet until Lu Cheng started bothering him. "Give it back." Lu Cheng reached across the desk, but Cai Lang lifted the book higher. "It's just a book." "Then why are you holding it?" "I wanted to see what you were reading." Lu Cheng narrowed his eyes. "You could have asked." Cai Lang lowered the book. "You would have said no." Lu Cheng stared at him for a second. "At least you know me well."
Lian Ziho shook his head, hiding a smile as he watched them argue. For a moment, the empty classroom did not feel so empty. He turned toward the window.The three of them stood near the same window after class, watching the rain cover the courtyard. Lu Cheng pressed his palm against the glass and sighed. "We're going to be stuck here all day." Cai Lang picked up his bag. "Then wait." Lu Cheng turned toward him. "That's all you have to say?" "What else should I say?" "Something useful." Cai Lang looked at him. "Stop complaining." Lian Ziho laughed. Lu Cheng immediately looked at him. "See? Even he thinks you're annoying." "I didn't say that." "You laughed." "That doesn't count." "It counts."
Lian Ziho smiled at the empty window, but the smile slowly faded. The classroom became quiet again. He lowered his eyes. "Five years..." he whispered. A movement outside suddenly caught his attention. Lian Ziho turned toward the window. A dark-coated figure was walking past the building. His expression changed. "Wait." He quickly moved toward the door and stepped into the hallway. The figure was already farther away. Lian Ziho picked up his pace. "Hey!" The person did not stop. He followed as the figure moved around the side of the building.
Lian Ziho reached the corner a few seconds later and stopped. Nobody was there. He looked to the left, then to the right."If you're going to hide, why bother to come?" he muttered. He took another step forward and noticed fresh footprints near the side entrance. Lian Ziho crouched and looked at them.He stood and followed the footprints inside.The footprints continued along the floor before stopping in front of an old classroom. Lian Ziho reached for the handle and turned it but there was nothing.He frowned and looked through the glass panel.
The room was empty, with only a few old desks covered in dust. He slowly looked around the room, then his eyes stopped on one of the desks near window. There was a photograph on it. Lian Ziho moved closer to the glass. His expression changed as soon as he saw it. It was a photograph of Lu Cheng, Cai Lang, and Lian Ziho together at university. But someone had circled Lian Ziho's face in red.He stared at it for a moment, his brows slowly drawing together. Why is my face circled? He looked around the room through the glass, but there was no one inside. "What is this...?" he whispered. He stepped back and looked toward the windows. Outside, it was already dark. The university grounds were almost empty. Lian Ziho took out his phone and checked the time. 9:00 p.m. "Already nine?" he muttered. He looked back at the photograph.
Before he could think any further, he heard footsteps behind him. Lian Ziho turned and saw one of the staff members walking toward him with a bunch of keys. "You're still here?" the man asked. Lian Ziho looked back at the classroom. "Yeah. I was just leaving." The staff member glanced at the locked door. "You should go now. We're closing the building." Lian Ziho nodded. "Okay." He look at the photograph through the glass. Then he turned and followed the staff member down the hallway..
Shen Mo sat alone in his room, with only the light from his laptop filling the dark space. His phone suddenly vibrated on the table. He glanced at the screen. An unknown number had sent him a message. There was no text at first, only one photograph attached. "Who is this?" he murmured. He opened the photograph. His eyes stopped on the old university picture. Lu Cheng, Cai Lang, and Lian Ziho stood together, looking younger. Shen Mo's expression slowly changed when he noticed the red circle around Lian Ziho's face. "Lian Ziho..." he said quietly. He looked at the message again.
There was only one line. "He is looking for the one who disappeared." Shen Mo's fingers tightened around the phone. "Lu Cheng?" He immediately pressed the call button. The phone rang once, then the call ended. He called again, but this time there was no ring. The number was already switched off. "Damn." Shen Mo lowered the phone and looked at the photograph again. Something caught his attention. He zoomed in and studied the background.The three young men were standing near the university building, but someone else was there. A dark-coated man stood farther away, partly hidden near the building.
Shen Mo stopped. He zoomed in again. His eyes narrowed as the man's face became clearer.Rain poured outside an old building. Shen Mo stood beneath the broken roof near the entrance, looking through a file in his hand. A man in a dark coat came out of the building and walked past him. Shen Mo looked up. "Wait." The man stopped for a moment. Shen Mo held up a photograph. "Have you seen this person?" The man glanced at the photograph. It was a picture of Lu Cheng. For a second, something changed in his eyes. Then he looked away. "No." "You're sure?" Shen Mo asked. The man gave him a brief look. "I said no." He walked away before Shen Mo could ask anything else. Shen Mo blinked and looked back at the photograph on his phone. The same face was there. The same man. His fingers tightened around the phone. "It really is you..." he whispered. He lowered the phone, then looked at the photograph one more time. "You were there too."
The next morning, Suo Ran went to Jun Wei's school for the annual-day preparation meeting. The hall was already full of noise. Students were practicing on the stage while teachers moved chairs around and carried boxes of decorations from one side to another. A few colorful paper flowers hung from the curtains, and someone was still trying to fix a crooked banner above the stage. "Move that chair a little to the left," one teacher called. "No, the other left." The student holding it looked confused. "This one?" "Yes, that one." He moved it, then looked at the teacher. "Like this?" The teacher sighed. "Yes. Finally." Near the stage, a group of children was practicing a small play for the annual day.
Jun Wei stood in the middle with two other boys and a girl. He wore a simple costume and held a small wooden basket in both hands. The girl beside him pointed toward the stage. "You have to give me the basket here." She reached out to show him where. Jun Wei nodded seriously. "I know." He pulled the basket closer to his chest. "You forgot yesterday." the boy beside him said. Jun Wei turned toward him. "I didn't forget." "You dropped it." The boy bent down and copied the way Jun Wei had dropped it the day before, letting his hands open dramatically.
The other children laughed. Jun Wei's ears turned red. "That was different." "How?" the boy asked, still crouching on the floor. Jun Wei thought for a moment. "My hand slipped." The girl covered her mouth as she laughed. "That's called dropping it." Jun Wei gave her an annoyed look and lightly pushed the basket toward her. "Then you hold it." She quickly caught it against her chest. "Hey! Why did you really give it to me?" Jun Wei smiled. "Because you said I was doing it wrong." The boy laughed. "Now you have to remember the next part."
The girl handed the basket back and pointed at Jun Wei. "And don't run away this time." Jun Wei straightened his back. "I won't." The teacher clapped her hands. "All right, enough. From the beginning." The children quickly moved into their places. Jun Wei took a deep breath and rubbed his palms against his costume. He looked toward the audience, and his eyes immediately found Suo Ran near the back of the hall. Suo Ran stood beside a row of chairs, watching him quietly. Jun Wei's nervous expression eased a little. Suo Ran gave him a small nod. Jun Wei nodded back, then quickly turned toward the others when the teacher raised her hand. "Start."
Jun Wei stepped forward, holding the basket carefully this time. The boy moved in front of him and pointed toward the exit. "Where are you going?" Jun Wei answered, "I'm going to the village." He took two steps forward. The girl suddenly stepped into his path and raised both hands. "You can't go there alone." Jun Wei stopped so quickly that the basket swung forward. He caught it before it hit the floor. "Why not?" "Because it's dangerous." She folded her arms and tried to look serious. Jun Wei stared at her for a second. He knew there was another line, but his mind suddenly went blank. His eyes moved toward the back of the hall.
Suo Ran noticed and gave him another small nod. Jun Wei took a breath and turned back. "Because..." He paused. The boy beside him quietly moved his lips, trying to give him the first word. Jun Wei noticed. "Don't help me." The boy immediately closed his mouth and raised both hands. "I didn't say anything." Jun Wei looked at him suspiciously, then turned back to the girl. "Because..." He scratched the side of his head. "Because... you have to come with me." The other children burst out laughing. Jun Wei's face turned red. He looked at the teacher. "That's not my line!" The teacher laughed softly. "No, it isn't." Jun Wei pointed at the boy beside him. "He distracted me." "I didn't!" the boy protested, pointing at himself. "You were making faces." "I was trying to help." "You made this face."
Jun Wei copied his expression, puffing out his cheeks and raising his eyebrows. The girl immediately started laughing again. "That's exactly what he did!" The boy covered his face with both hands. "Stop copying me." Jun Wei lowered his hands and tried not to smile. The teacher shook her head, still amused. "All right, you three. Focus." Jun Wei straightened again. "Sorry." He looked at the girl. "Can we do it again?" "Yes." She stepped back into position. Jun Wei took his place and quietly whispered, "Don't laugh this time." She whispered back, "You don't make me laugh."
Jun Wei narrowed his eyes. "You were laughing first." "Because you forgot." "I remembered now." "Then prove it." Jun Wei took a small breath and faced her again. This time, he delivered the correct line. The girl answered hers, and the boy stepped forward at the right moment. When Jun Wei finally finished the scene without forgetting anything, he looked toward Suo Ran again. Suo Ran gave him a small nod. Jun Wei's face immediately brightened, and he tried to hide his smile by looking down at the basket.
During the break, the children scattered around the hall. Some sat on the floor and drank water while others ran backstage to look for their costumes. Jun Wei hurried over to Suo Ran, still holding the small basket from the play. He stopped in front of him and lifted the basket proudly. "Gege." Suo Ran looked down at him. "Finished?" Jun Wei nodded and gave the basket a little shake. "I did well." Before Suo Ran could answer, one of Jun Wei's friends came running over and reached for the basket. "Give it back." Jun Wei quickly pulled it against his chest and stepped behind Suo Ran. "It's mine." The boy leaned to one side, trying to reach around Suo Ran. "The teacher said we're finished." Jun Wei moved to the other side. "Not yet." The boy followed him. Jun Wei moved back again, keeping the basket safely between his arms. "Gege, help me."
Suo Ran looked down at him, then at the boy. "Why are you hiding?" Jun Wei peeked over his arm. "He wants to take it." The boy pointed at the basket. "Because we need to put it away." Suo Ran held out his hand. "Give it to me." Jun Wei looked at his hand, then tightened his grip. "Why?" "Before you drop it." Jun Wei's eyes widened. "I won't." "You said that yesterday." The boy immediately laughed. Jun Wei turned and gave him a look. "Don't laugh." He reluctantly handed the basket to Suo Ran. Suo Ran took it and passed it to the boy. "Put it back with the other props."
The boy grabbed it and ran off. Jun Wei watched him go, his mouth forming a small pout. He nudged the floor with the toe of his shoe. "You helped him." Suo Ran looked down at him. "Because he was right." Jun Wei folded his arms and turned his face away. "I'm not talking to you." Suo Ran raised an eyebrow. "All right." Jun Wei glanced at him from the corner of his eye. Suo Ran stayed quiet. After a few seconds, Jun Wei moved closer again and lightly tugged his sleeve. "Gege." Suo Ran looked down. "What?" Jun Wei's pout disappeared. "Nothing."
Before Suo Ran could respond, another girl came running over with a long colorful ribbon. She waved it in front of Jun Wei's face. "Look what I found." Jun Wei reached for it. "Give me that." She pulled it away and laughed. "Catch me." She ran around a row of chairs. Jun Wei immediately chased after her. "Wait!" She slipped between two chairs, and Jun Wei followed, almost bumping into one. He stopped himself and laughed. "You can't run there." She turned around and stuck out her tongue. "You still can't catch me."
Jun Wei rushed forward and caught the end of the ribbon. "Got it!" The girl stopped and looked back. "Hey!" She tried to pull it away, but Jun Wei held on. After a short tug, she suddenly wrapped the ribbon around his wrist instead. "There." Jun Wei looked down at the ribbon. "What are you doing?" She tied a small knot and stepped back. "Now you can keep it." Jun Wei lifted his wrist and turned it from side to side. His expression brightened. "It's nice." "I know." She ran back toward the other children. Jun Wei hurried back to Suo Ran and held out his wrist. "Look." Suo Ran gently turned his wrist to see the ribbon better. "Looks good."
Jun Wei smiled and touched the knot with his finger and his smile suddenly disappeared.He patted the top of his head and looked toward the backstage curtain. "My hat." He turned quickly. "I left it backstage." He took two steps before stopping and looking back at Suo Ran. "Gege, wait here." Suo Ran nodded. "I will." Jun Wei pointed at him seriously. "Don't go anywhere." Suo Ran gave him a small smile. "I won't." Jun Wei nodded, satisfied, and ran toward the backstage curtain. Halfway there, he turned around once more and waved. Suo Ran lifted a hand in response. Jun Wei grinned and disappeared behind the curtain.
Suo Ran stayed near the back of the hall while the teachers continued preparing the stage. One teacher stood on a small ladder, fixing the banner above the stage, while another group of students practiced their dance near the side. Music played softly from a speaker, stopping every few seconds whenever someone missed a step. Suo Ran watched the children for a moment, then slowly looked around the hall. It was noisy and crowded, but something near the entrance caught his attention.
A man stood just inside the school doors. He wore a dark coat and black glasses. He had nothing in his hands and did not look like a teacher or a parent. He simply stood there, watching. Suo Ran's eyes narrowed slightly. The man slowly looked toward the stage. His gaze moved across the children and stopped near the place where Jun Wei had been standing earlier. Suo Ran straightened. The man stayed there for another moment, then his eyes moved toward the backstage curtain. Suo Ran took a step forward. The man noticed him. Their eyes met across the crowded hall. Neither of them moved. Then the man turned away and walked toward the entrance. Suo Ran immediately followed. "Hey." The man did not stop.
Suo Ran moved between the rows of chairs, but a teacher suddenly crossed in front of him with a stack of papers. "Sorry." He quickly stepped around her and continued toward the doors. By the time he reached the entrance, the man was already outside. Suo Ran pushed through the doors and looked down the walkway. He saw the man walking toward the gate. "Wait!" he called. The man did not look back. Suo Ran followed him, moving faster. A few students and parents were gathered near the gate, making it hard to see clearly. When Suo Ran reached the gate, he looked to the left, then to the right.
The man was gone. Suo Ran stopped and looked down the road. He could not see him anywhere. He turned back toward the school, still wondering where the man had gone. Then something white near the bottom of the gate caught his eye. He stopped. A white envelope was lying on the ground, slightly away from the walkway. Suo Ran looked at it, then glanced toward the road again. No one was coming back. He slowly bent down and picked it up.There was no name written on it. Suo Ran turned it over once, his eyes fixed on the sealed edge. Who had left it there?...
Suo Ran looked at it, then glanced around the gate. A few parents and students were still nearby. He picked up the envelope and looked at the people around him. "Excuse me," he called to a nearby parent. "Did you drop this?" The person looked at the envelope and shook their head. "No." Suo Ran looked toward another person passing by. "Is this yours?" They glanced at it and shook their head before walking away.
Suo Ran slowly opened the envelope and pulled out the photograph. He held it with the back facing him and was about to turn it over when he heard a familiar voice behind him. "Gege!" Suo Ran quickly turned around. The sudden movement made the photograph slip in his hand. He hurriedly pushed it back into the envelope. For a brief moment, the picture turned toward him, showing half of Cai Lang's face before Suo Ran covered it again. He did not notice. He quickly put the photograph back inside, closed the envelope, and slipped it into his coat.
Jun Wei was standing near the school entrance with his hat in his hand. "What are you doing outside?" Suo Ran quickly straightened his coat. "Nothing. I was just coming back." Jun Wei ran over and took his hand. "I was looking for you." Suo Ran looked down and fixed Jun Wei's collar. "Sorry. Let's go inside." Jun Wei nodded and pulled him toward the hall. "Teacher is waiting." Suo Ran followed him inside.
In the afternoon,Lian Ziho left the office with a file in his hand.He walked across the parking lot toward his car. The place was quieter than usual. Most of the employees had already gone back inside after lunch. Lian Ziho reached the middle of the lot when he heard an engine start behind him. He turned his head. A black car suddenly came out from between two parked cars. It was moving fast and heading straight toward him. Lian Ziho froze for a moment. The car did not slow down. He quickly stepped back and moved to the side. The car rushed past him, so close that the side mirror brushed against his coat. Lian Ziho lost his balance and stumbled against another car. The file slipped from his hand, and several papers fell across the ground.
The black car stopped near the exit for a second. Lian Ziho straightened and looked at the driver's seat, but the dark window gave him no clear view. He took one step forward. The car suddenly sped away through the gate. "Hey!" Lian Ziho shouted and started after it, but it was already too far away. He stopped near the gate and watched the car disappear into the traffic. His breathing was still uneven. He looked down at his coat and saw a small dirty mark where the mirror had brushed against him. He touched it, then looked back at the road. That had not been an accident. Lian Ziho returned to the parking lot and crouched down to gather his papers. As he picked up the last one, his phone vibrated. He took it out and saw a message from an unknown number. "Next time, don't step aside." Lian Ziho stared at the screen. His fingers tightened around the phone. He looked toward the gate again. There was no black car now.
He put phone intyhis pocket, picked up the rest of his papers, and walked back toward the building. As he passed the security desk, he stopped. "Check the CCTV." The guard looked up. "Sir?" Lian Ziho placed the file on the desk and leaned one hand against it. "A black car almost hit me in the parking lot." The guard immediately stood up. "Are you hurt?" "No." Lian Ziho glanced down at the mark and brushed it once with his hand. "It's nothing."Lian Ziho straightened his coat and glanced toward the cameras. "I want to know where that car came from." The guard nodded quickly. "I'll check it now." Lian Ziho pulled the chair closer and sat beside the desk. "Start with the parking lot. Then check the gate and the road outside." "Yes, sir." The guard sat down and began checking the footage. Lian Ziho waited quietly, one hand resting against his knee.
After a few seconds, the guard frowned at the screen. "There it is." Lian Ziho leaned closer. The black car appeared between two parked cars and moved quickly toward him. His eyes narrowed. "Pause it." The guard stopped the footage. Lian Ziho looked at the screen for a moment. "Go back." The guard rewound it. The driver's window was dark, but the license plate was partly visible. "Zoom in." The guard tried, but the image became blurry. Lian Ziho's jaw tightened slightly. "Save that footage." He picked up his file and stood. Before leaving, he looked at the guard. "If that car comes back, call me immediately." "Of course, sir." Lian Ziho gave a small nod, adjusted his sleeve, and walked away.