Morning came softly...
Suo Ran woke up warm.
Too warm.
Something was heavy around him.
He opened his eyes and immediately froze.
An arm was draped across his waist.
A leg was hooked loosely over his.
He was tangled.
With Cai Lang.
On the couch.
"Oh no," Suo Ran whispered.
Cai Lang's face was dangerously close, lashes resting against his cheek, breathing slow and even. In sleep, his usual sharpness softened almost unfairly calm.
Suo Ran tried to move.
The arm tightened.
Just slightly.
His heart jumped into his throat.
"Cai Lang," he whispered urgently. "Wake up."
Cai Lang stirred.
Then his eyes opened.
They locked gazes.
Silence.
Then Cai Lang looked down.
Looked at the position.
Looked back up.
"…Explain," he said.
Suo Ran shot upright so fast he nearly fell off the couch. "Power cut! You said wait! I didn't plan this!"
Cai Lang sat up slowly, rubbing his temple. "You sleep aggressively."
"You hugged me!
"You didn't move away."
"That's because I was scared!"
Cai Lang paused. "…Of the dark?"
"Yes!"
Another pause.
"…Noted.
They avoided eye contact after that.
The Text
Suo Ran's phone buzzed.
He glanced down.
Lian Zihao: Why am I not seeing you at home these days?
Lian Zihao: Did you move or something?
Suo Ran hesitated.
Suo Ran: Just… busy.
Another message came immediately.
Lian Zihao: Funny timing. I'm coming back today. Business trip's over.
Lian Zihao: Let's meet. I missed our talks.
Lian sent a smiling emoji.
Suo Ran smiled back at the screen before he could stop himself.
Cai Lang noticed.
"Who is it?" he asked.
"A friend," Suo Ran replied automatically.
The same answer as always.
He stood. "I'm going home."
Cai Lang frowned. "Now?"
"I can't stay here forever," Suo Ran said, voice firmer than he felt. "This was temporary."
Cai Lang didn't reply.
Suo Ran took that as permission.
He left quietly.
Too quietly.
Too Late..
Cai Lang returned from the shower to an empty apartment.
The air felt wrong instantly.
"Suo Ran?"
No answer.
He checked the couch.
The blanket was folded.
Gone.
He pulled out his phone and dialed.
It rang once.
Twice.
Answered.
"Cai Lang?" Suo Ran said.
"Why did you leave?" Cai Lang asked, skipping everything else.
There was a pause. "I didn't think I needed permission."
"You didn't tell me."
"I can't stay there forever," Suo Ran said again, softer now. "It's not my place."
The words landed sharper than intended
Cai Lang exhaled slowly. "You're reckless."
"You're controlling."
Silence stretched.
"…Be careful," Cai Lang said finally.
Then the line went dead.
Cai Lang stood still for a long moment.
Uneasy.
Unsettled.
Unwilling to admit why.
Rooftop
The rooftop wind was cool.
Lian Zihao leaned against the railing, smiling when Suo Ran stepped out.
"There you are," Lian said. "I thought you vanished again."
Suo Ran laughed lightly. "Not this time."
They sat side by side, city spread beneath them.
"You seem different," Lian said after a while.
"How?"
"Quieter," Lian replied. "But stronger."
Suo Ran didn't answer.
Instead, he asked, "Do you ever feel like you're standing between two lives?"
Lian glanced at him. "Only when something important's about to happen."
Suo Ran looked out at the city lights.
Elsewhere
Cai Lang sat alone in his office, documents spread across the desk.
Property listings.
Floor plans.
Addresses.
He circled one.
Next to Suo Ran's building.
Too close to be coincidence.
"Temporary," he murmured.
Then signed the papers.