The café Lian ziho chose was small and warm, tucked between a bookstore and a flower shop. The windows were fogged slightly from the contrast between the cool air outside and the warmth within, turning the sunlight into something soft and golden. Hanging plants spilled from shelves near the walls, and the scent of coffee, vanilla, and fresh pastries lingered comfortably in the air. "This!" Lian Ziho said proudly as he pushed the door open and stepped aside with an exaggerated gesture, "is what I meant by cute."
Suo Ran looked around slowly. There were wooden tables, mismatched cup, handwritten menus and soft music drifting through hidden speakers. The entire place felt strangely peaceful. "It's not bad." he admitted reluctantly. Lian ziho pressed a hand dramatically against his chest. "Not bad? Such high praise. I'm honored." Suo Ran rolled his eyes but followed him to a table beside the window. Sunlight caught in Lian Ziho's dark hair as he sat down across from him, looking entirely too pleased with himself.
Before Suo ran could even glance at the menu, Lian ziho waved over a server and ordered for both of them. Suo ran narrowed his eyes immediately. "You just assume things?" he asked. Lian ziho leaned back casually and shrugged. "I read faces." "Ohh! That's interesting!" "Sure it is." Lian ziho pointed at him. "You look like someone who needs something warm and sweet. Also, something with sugar before you accidentally start glaring at innocent strangers." "I do not glare at innocent strangers." "You absolutely do."
Suo ran opened his mouth to argue before realizing he had, in fact, glared at two people on the way there. Lian Ziho's grin widened instantly. "See?" Suo ran looked away. "You're annoying." "Yet you're still here." Their drinks arrived a few minutes later. Suo ran stared suspiciously at the cup placed in front of him. "What is it?" "Honey milk tea." "You ordered me milk tea?" "You're welcome." Suo ran took a cautious sip. Warm sweetness spread instantly through him. And his expression said he liked it.
Across the table, Lian Ziho noticed the tiny change in his expression and smirked. "I knew it." "Don't." "You like it." "Don't." "You definitely like it." Suo ran pointed a finger at him. "Say one more word and I'm leaving." Lian Ziho laughed so hard he nearly spilled his coffee. For a while they talked about nothing important. They talked about normal things like bad landlords,broken elevators and neighbors who somehow managed to drill holes into walls at impossible hours.
Lian Ziho somehow turned every story into something ridiculous. More than once, Suo ran found himself laughing unexpectedly. It felt strange.Lian Ziho remained observant. He noticed every moment suo ran's attention drifted elsewhere. Eventually he rested his chin on his hand and said quietly, "You're thinking about something." Suo Ran blinked. "Am I that obvious?" Lian Ziho nodded without hesitation. "Yes." "That's unfortunate." "Depends."
Lian Ziho tilted his head slightly. "What are you thinking about?" Suo Ran hesitated. His fingers tightened around his cup. How was he supposed to answer that? That he was thinking about mysterious warnings? About being chased? About someone who somehow managed to be both infuriating and impossible to ignore? Instead he smiled faintly. "Just... adjusting." "To what?" Lian Ziho asked. Suo Ran looked down at his tea. "People." Lian Ziho studied him for several seconds before laughing softly. "Then you're doing fine."
Instead, for reasons he couldn't explain, his mind wandered briefly to Cai Lang. Was he eating? Was he working? Was he still annoyed about breakfast? The memory of that cold "Fine. Go." replayed unexpectedly. Suo ran frowned into his tea. Why am I thinking about him now? Lian ziho noticed immediately. "See? There it is again." "What?" "That face." "What face?" "The one people make when they're thinking about someone."
Suo Ran nearly choked on his drink. "I am not." "You are." "I'm not." "You really are." Suo ran pointed at him. "You're making things up." Lian Ziho simply smiled.
Elsewhere, far beyond where maps or GPS signals worked, Cai Lang stood inside an abandoned warehouse lit by a single hanging light. The meeting had been brief. Until the knife had come from someone and he barely see anything.
By the time the situation ended, blood had already soaked through the fabric at his side. His breathing remained steady. His movements precise. Only the slight tightness in his jaw revealed anything was wrong. "You're injured." one of his men had said. Cai Lang glanced at the stain spreading beneath his coat. "Obviously." "Should we call someone?" "No." "At least let us escort..." "No." His tone ended the discussion immediately.
Within minutes he disappeared before anyone could follow. Before anyone could ask questions. Hours later, Suo ran returned much later than planned. The city had already slipped into evening. Streetlights painted the roads gold and silver. His conversation with Lian ziho lingered pleasantly in his mind as he stepped into the building. Yet the closer he came to the apartment, the more restless he felt. Why? He wasn't sure.
The apartment was dark when he entered. "Cai Lang?" he called softly but no answer came from him. He slipped off his shoes and glanced around. The living room was empty. The kitchen untouched.He's not back yet? He checked the time. That's unusual. Just as he turned toward the hallway, the front door opened behind him.Suo Ran spun around.Cai Lang stepped inside.His coat hung half-open. His dark shirt was slightly wrinkled. His movements were controlled but too controlled. Like someone carefully concealing something. "You're late," Cai lang said calmly. "So are you," Suo ran replied automatically then his gaze dropped he noticed blood on cai lang.
"Cai Lang," Suo ran breathed, already moving forward. "You're hurt." "It's nothing!" Cai Lang replied immediately. "That's blood," Suo ran snapped. "You're injured." He reached out instinctively. Cai lang caught his wrist before he could touch him."Don't." Cai lang said quietly and suo ran froze. "You're bleeding." "I've handled worse." "That doesn't mean anything." "I said don't." Silence fell between them.
Suo ran stared at him. Up close he could see the slight paleness beneath Cai lang's skin. He stared at him and noticed the way his shoulders were held just a little too rigidly. He was hurting. He was absolutely hurting. Why won't he just admit it? "Let me help!" Suo Ran said quietly. "Please." For a moment Cai lang looked at him then he released his wrist. "I don't need help." Cai Lang said, turning away. "Go to sleep." Frustration surged through Suo ran. "Why are you like this?" Cai lang paused but didn't turn around. "Like what?" "You act like getting hurt is normal." "For me, it is." "That's not healthy."
And cai lang laughed."I'll keep that in mind." "I'm serious." "So am I." Suo ran followed him several steps. "You should at least let someone look at it." "No." "Why?" "Because I said no." "That's not a reason." Cai Lang finally looked over his shoulder. "It is tonight." The answer frustrated Suo dan even more. Why are you pushing me away? Why does it bother me so much? I should have been angry. "You're impossible."
Suo ran muttered. "I've heard that before." "Probably from everyone you've ever met." "Likely." Despite the situation, the corner of Suo Ran's mouth twitched briefly. Then the sight of blood pulled him back to reality. "At least tell me if you're okay." Cai lang looked at him for a long moment. Then, quietly, he said, "I'm still standing." It wasn't an answer. Yet somehow it was the closest thing he would get.Then he released him. "I don't need help." Cai lang said, turning away. "Go to sleep."
Suo ran stood there, helpless, watching Cai lang disappear into the bedroom. The door closed softly.Suo ran lay awake, staring at the ceiling. He replayed the moment over and over the blood, the refusal, the distance. Why did it hurt more than fear? Why did he care? He turned onto his side, fists clenched.Behind the closed door, Cai Lang sat on the edge of the bed, silently bandaging his wound.