Living next door to cai lang was unbearable. Suo ran discovered this within the first hour. The apartment building wasn't particularly noisy. The hallway was clean, the walls painted a dull cream color, and the lights overhead hummed softly throughout the day. Yet somehow every sound from the apartment next door seemed impossible to ignore. Every door opening made suo ran glance up. Every footstep outside made him pause. Even making tea felt suspicious now.
That morning, he stepped out carrying a garbage bag, still half asleep and wearing an oversized gray hoodie over black sweatpants.His hair stuck up in several directions from sleep.He was focused entirely on getting rid of the trash and returning to bed. The moment he opened his door, the apartment next door opened too. Both them froze.
Cai lang stood there in a simple black shirt with the sleeves rolled to his forearms and dark pants."Morning," Suo ran said stiffly. Cai Lang's gaze moved from Suo ran's face to the trash bag, then slowly downward. One eyebrow lifted. "You're holding it upside down." Suo ran blinked, looked down,and saw a thin stream of suspicious liquid dripping directly onto his shoe. His expression went blank. "...I hate you."
Cai lang's lips twitched as he looked away to hide what was very obviously amusement. "Noted." The elevator arrived with a soft ding. Suo ran stepped inside first. Cai lang followed. The doors closed. Cai lang stood beside him with his hands in his pockets. He wasn't even looking at suo ran, which somehow made everything worse. Why is this awkward? We're just standing here. People stand in elevators every day. This is normal. Completely normal.
The elevator suddenly jolted slightly. Suo ran nearly lost his balance and instinctively grabbed the nearest thing.Unfortunately, the nearest thing was Cai lang's sleeve. Both froze. Suo ran slowly looked down at his own hand. Cai lang looked down too. "...This never happened." Suo ran said immediately. Cai lang's mouth twitched again. "Of course."
Suo ran released him as if he'd touched fire. When the elevator doors finally opened, he escaped so fast it looked like he was fleeing a crime scene. Behind him, Cai lang actually let out a quiet laugh.Suo ran heard it. His ears turned red. "I heard that!" he called without turning around. "Good!" Cai Lang replied. "That means your hearing is working." "You're the worst." "Noted."
Later that afternoon, Suo ran escaped to the rooftop for survival reasons.At least that was what he told himself. The rooftop had slowly become their place. A few old benches sat near the railing. Water tanks occupied one side. The city stretched endlessly beyond the building, sunlight reflecting from distant windows.
Lian Ziho leaned against the railing with a canned drink while watching Suo ran pace. "You look stressed." Suo ran continued pacing. "My neighbor is weird." Lian Ziho straightened. "That bad?" "He appears out of nowhere." "Ghost?" "Worse." "Serial killer?" "No." "Tax collector?" "Lian ziho!" "I'm trying to help." Suo ran dragged a hand through his hair. "Every time I leave my apartment, he's there."
Lian ziho looked thoughtful. "Maybe he lives there." Suo ran stopped pacing. "You're not funny." "I disagree." Nearby, hidden near the stairwell entrance, Cai lang had originally intended to walk straight through. Then he heard Suo ran laughing. His steps slowed then he stopped completely. Through the partially open doorway he could hear their conversation. Lian Ziho was smiling and suo ran was smiling back.
Cai Lang frowned slightly. Why is he smiling like that? The thought appeared before he could stop it.Then Lian ziho suddenly asked, "Want to grab food later? I'll introduce you to someone." Suo ran frowned. "Who?" "My friend. He just ust moved in." Suo ranfelt dread crawl up his spine. "Which floor?" Lian ziho pointed casually. "Yours."
Before suo ran could respond, footsteps echoed behind them. Cai lang stepped onto the rooftop. "Lian Ziho!" Lian ziho turned. "Huh?" The moment suo ran saw cai lang, he froze.He closed his eyes. No...Absolutely not. Lian ziho's gaze moved between them several times. "Wait." His eyes widened dramatically. "YOU TWO!" He pointed at Suo ran then at Cai lang. "YOU TWO KNOW EACH OTHER." "Unfortunately, Yes!" Suo ran muttered. "Former host!" Cai lang corrected calmly.
Lian Ziho was still laughing. "Former host?" he repeated, looking between them with open fascination. "What does that even mean?" Suo ran crossed his arms. "It means absolutely nothing." "It sounds like it means something." "It doesn't." "It definitely does." Cai lang remained standing beside them with his hands in his pockets, watching the exchange with suspicious calm. "You're enjoying this!" Suo ran accused. Cai lang looked at him. "A little." "I knew it." "You make it very easy."
Lian ziho pointed dramatically between them."See? This...This is what I'm talking about." "What?" Suo ran asked. "Whatever this is." Lian ziho waved his hand vaguely. "This weird thing." "There is no thing." "There's definitely a thing." Cai Lang's mouth twitched. Suo ran noticed. "Stop encouraging him." "I haven't said anything." "Exactly." "That's not how encouragement works." "For you it is."
Lian Ziho laughed so hard he nearly dropped his drink again.For a brief moment the tension eased. The city spread around them beneath the clear afternoon sky. Traffic hummed far below. A few birds crossed between nearby buildings. The rooftop felt strangely peaceful. Then Lian Ziho suddenly leaned back against the railing and grinned. "So how did you two meet?" Suo ran answered. "Badly." Cai Lang answered at the exact same time. "Accurately."
Both paused. Then looked at each other. Lian Ziho's grin widened. "This keeps getting better." Suo ran rubbed his forehead. Why did I come here today? Why didn't I just stay home? Why are they both impossible? "We met because of circumstances." Cai lang said calmly. "Suspicious circumstances!" Suo ran corrected. "Temporary circumstances." "Accurate." "Stop agreeing with me." "No."
Lian ziho stared at both of them. "Do you argue for fun?" "No!" they answered together. Lian ziho pointed. "See?" Suo ran groaned. Cai lang actually looked amused now."You're impossible." "I learned from the best!" Lian ziho replied cheerfully. Cai lang actually looked amused now. The corner of his mouth lifted slightly as he watched Suo ran suffer. Unfortunately, Lian ziho noticed that too. "Oh, wow!" Lian said, turning toward Cai Lang. "You do smile." Cai Lang glanced at him. "You're talk too much."
Cai lang looked between them before suddenly leaning forward with interest. "Actually, hold on." He pointed at Lian ziho. "You asked how we met, but what about you two?" Suo ran instantly stiffened."What about us?" "How did you meet?" Cai lang asked. "Because you know my story with you. I don't know yours."
Suo ran immediately looked away. "There's nothing interesting story."Suo ran muttered. Cai Lang folded his arms. "It's okay I'm free!" Lian ziho looked delighted and said," Let me Tell you our story!" "No!" Suo ran said but he didn't listen.Lian ziho settled more comfortably on the bench. " Now! we'll continue with my friendship origin story." Suo ran looked away. "Please!" "As I was saying," Lian ziho continued dramatically, "first we met here then we met again in a taxi. It was early morning."
"You were late!" Suo ran reminded him. "I was not late." "You absolutely were." "I was strategically delayed." "You were yelling at your phone." Lian ziho pointed at him. "Correction. I was professionally negotiating with my alarm clock." Suo ran laughed. "You almost slammed the taxi door on me." "You almost stole my seat." "You offered to share." "Because you looked half-asleep and pitiful." Suo ran snorted. "You spilled coffee on yourself." Lian ziho immediately pressed a hand over his heart. "That was tragic." "It was funny." "It was expensive." "It was funny and expensive." Lian ziho looked offended. "You're supposed to support me." "I supported you by laughing."
Cai Lang stood quietly nearby listening to the conversation. His expression remained calm, but his jaw tightened slightly every time Suo ran laughed.He hadn't known this side of him. Hadn't known suo ran could sit so comfortably with someone else and smile without thinking. The realization sat unpleasantly in his chest.
Lian ziho continued. "Then we kept running into each other. Grocery store. Elevator. Rooftop." "You talk too much!" Suo ran said. "You listen too much," Lian ziho shot back. "Fair trade." "Questionable trade." "Still accepted." Suo ran laughed again. Cai Lang looked away toward the city skyline. Why it's feels so....why are I'm counting how many times he's laughed?
Cai Lang ignored the thought immediately. Lian ziho noticed none of this."So we became friends," Suo ran finished simply. "It just happened." Lian ziho nodded. "The best friendships usually do." Then he looked toward Cai lang. "And then there's you." Cai lang raised an eyebrow. "Me?" "You moved into the building suddenly. Same floor. Same hallway." "Correct." "You're either suspicious or fate is bored." Suo ran laughed. "He's not suspicious." Cai Lang looked at him. "You're sure about that?" Suo ran hesitated. Only for a second then nodded. "I think trust you."They gaze Stop for seconds.
Then conversation slowly drifted toward easier topics after that. Then topic turned against suo ran. "The smoke detector survived!" Cai lang said. "Barely." "You promised not to talk about that." "I promised nothing." Lian ziho looked delighted. "Wait. You nearly burned down a kitchen?" "It was one time." "Three times!" Cai lang corrected. "You counted?" "I had to." "Traitor."
Lian ziho laughed loudly enough to attract a few annoyed looks from people in nearby buildings.For a while everything felt normal. Almost peaceful.Cai lang remained quieter than the other two, listening more than speaking. Lian ziho sat comfortably on the edge of a bench while Suo ran leaned against the railing. Cai lang stood nearby. His gaze kept drifting back toward Suo ran. Every time suo ran laughed,Cai lang looked up. Every time Suo ran smiled,Cai Lang noticed.
Across the rooftop, a shadow moved briefly near the water tanks. Cai lang's eyes immediately shifted. His expression changed.Suo ran noticed first. "Cai Lang?" Cai Lang didn't answer. His gaze remained fixed on the far side of the rooftop. Lian ziho followed his line of sight. "What is it?" The wind seemed to quiet around them.
Near the water tanks stood a figure dressed in dark clothing was watching. Suo ran's smile disappeared immediately. His stomach tightened. He felt again. The same feeling from the alley. "I've seen him before!" Suo ran whispered. Cai Lang's jaw tightened. "I know." Lian ziho frowned. "What do you mean you know?"
Neither answered immediately. The figure took one step forward. Then another. Cai Lang moved before he even realized it, placing himself slightly in front of Suo ran. Protective. Automatic. Suo ran stared at his back. Why does he always do that? Why does he always stand between me and danger?
"Cai Lang..." Another step.The figure continued watching them. Cai lang's voice became calm. "Lian Ziho." "Yeah?" "Take Suo Rran downstairs." Lian ziho blinked. "Seriously?" "Now." Lian Ziho stared at Cai Lang as if he had completely lost his mind. His grip tightened around the cold can in his hand and his brows drew together in disbelief. "You're joking!" he said, searching Cai Lang's face for even the slightest sign of humor. "Tell me you're joking."
Cai Lang didn't look away from the figure standing near the water tanks as he answered in a calm voice. "I'm not." The figure took another slow step forward and distance between them seemed to shrink instantly. Every instinct in Suo Ran's body screamed that danger was standing right in front of them.
Before he could think about it,before he could stop himself, his hand shot out and grabbed Cai lang's sleeve. "Don't leave me." The moment they left his mouth, Suo ran wished he could take them back. Cai Lang looked down slowly. His gaze settled on the fingers that clutching his sleeve.Then he lifted his eyes and looked at suo ran.
Suo ran's heart started pounding fast.Why did I say that? Why him? Out of everyone here, why was I asking him to stay? Embarrassment crawled up his neck, but no matter how much he wanted to pull away, his hand refused to move. Cai lang studied him quietly. "I'm not leaving!" Cai Lang said quietly. His voice was low and steady. Certain.
For some reason, Suo ran immediately believed him.His grip loosened slightly. Then Cai lang's attention shifted beyond him. Back toward the stranger and his eyes sharpened.His posture changed. "I'm ending this." The figure seemed to realize he had been recognized. His shoulders stiffened then without warning he spun around and ran. "Go!" Cai Lang snapped.
Lian ziho swore under his breath and grabbed Suo ran's arm. "Move!" "But.." "Move, Suo Ran!" Lian ziho pulled harder. Reluctantly, Suo ran released Cai Lang's sleeve. His fingers lingered for the briefest second before letting go completely. He looked back one last time.Cai Lang was already moving. One moment he was standing beside them and the next he was crossing the rooftop.
Then door crashed shut behind them. The sound echoed through the concrete staircase before fading into silence. Neither spoke for several seconds. Lian ziho finally released Suo ran's arm and ran both hands through his hair in frustration. "What the hell was that?" he muttered, pacing a few steps before turning back. "Seriously. What the hell was that?" Suo ran barely heard him. He stood near the railing by the stairwell landing, staring at the closed rooftop door. His pulse still hadn't slowed. His chest still felt tight. His eyes remained fixed on the place where Cai Lang had disappeared. "He went after him!" Suo Ran whispered. Lian stared at him in disbelief. "That's the part you're focused on?"
Suo Ran swallowed.He knew how ridiculous it sounded.There had been a stranger watching them. A possible stalker. Someone connected to the alley incident. Yet none of those thoughts were staying in his head. Instead, he kept remembering the look in Cai Lang's eyes. The way he'd immediately stepped in front of him.The way his expression had changed when Suo Ran grabbed his sleeve. The way he'd said those words. I'm not leaving.
Minutes later, the rooftop felt completely different.Lian Ziho paced near the stairwell door with restless energy, one hand shoved into the pocket of his light brown jacket while the other repeatedly ran through his messy hair. His forgotten drink sat abandoned on the ledge beside the water tanks. Every few seconds he glanced toward the rooftop door before looking back at Suo ran."This is bad!" he muttered, shaking his head. "This is really, really bad."
Suo ran sat on a weathered metal bench near the wall, elbows resting on his knees and fingers tightly intertwined. No matter how hard he tried, his hands wouldn't stop trembling. His mind kept replaying the same image over and over again.He lowered his head and stared at the rough concrete beneath his shoes. "I thought I was imagining it!" he admitted quietly.
Lian ziho stopped pacing immediately. His expression softened as concern replaced frustration. "What do you mean?" Suo ran swallowed. "The feeling." He rubbed his palms together nervously. "Every time I walked home. Every time I went shopping. Even when I was sitting alone somewhere." He let out a slow breath. "I kept feeling like someone was watching me." Lian ziho frowned. "And you didn't tell anyone?" Suo ran laughed bitterly and shook his head. "What was I supposed to say? That I kept turning around because I felt eyes on me?" His shoulders slumped. "I thought I was being paranoid."
Lian ziho stared at him for a moment before sighing heavily. "Suo ran, being paranoid and being right are unfortunately two different things." Suo ran managed a weak smile at that. Before either could say more, the stairwell door suddenly opened with a metallic creak. Both men looked up. Cai Lang stepped onto the rooftop. His shirt was slightly wrinkled now, and a faint tear marked one sleeve near the wrist.
Suo ran's eyes dropped to his hands.The redness across his knuckles stood out under the rooftop lights. His chest tightened. Lian ziho crossed his arms. "You found him?" Cai lang brushed invisible dust from his sleeve and replied calmly, "No." Lian ziho blinked. "No?" "No." "Then why do your hands look like that?"
Cai Lang glanced down at his knuckles before lifting his gaze again. "It's nothing." Suo ran stood so quickly the bench scraped against the concrete. "It's never nothing." Cai lang looked at him.Suo ran regretted it and rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "Sorry." "You recognized him!" Cai Lang said. Suo ran nodded slowly. "The alley." His voice felt distant. "I never saw his face properly." He closed his eyes briefly. "But I remember how he stood." A chill ran through him. "The way he watched people."
Lian ziho folded his arms across his chest and leaned against the stairwell wall. "So this wasn't random." Lian ziho exhaled slowly. "You're being watched." "Yes!" Cai Lang said. Suo ran's head snapped up. "You knew?" Cai lang met his eyes. "I suspected." "What does that even mean?" Frustration flashed across Suo ran's face. "It means you knew something was wrong and didn't tell me." Cai Lang remained silent. "Tell me I'm wrong." Suo ran took a step forward. "You knew and you said nothing?" His voice echoed across the rooftop. "Why?"
Cai Lang's jaw tightened slightly. For a long moment neither looked away.Cai Lang spoke,"Because once I say it out loud, you're involved whether you want to be or not." Suo ran stared at him then he laughed once."I'm already involved."
Cai Lang didn't argue. He couldn't. Because it was true. Lian ziho looked toward the city and sighed dramatically. "You know," he said, rubbing his forehead, "a month ago my biggest concern was paying utility bills on time." He pointed toward the dark city below. "Now apparently I'm involved in rooftop chases and mysterious stalkers." Suo Ran let out a weak laugh despite himself. "Sorry." "You should be." "I didn't invite any of this." "Neither did I." "Fair." Even Cai Lang's expression eased slightly. Cai Lang's gaze shifted back to Suo ran. "Suo Ran." The seriousness in his voice caught Suo ran's attention. He straightened unconsciously. "What?" Cai Lang held his gaze. "From now on, don't come to the rooftop alone." "...And if I do?" Lian ziho looked away and stared very hard at a nearby water tank. He wanted absolutely no part in whatever was happening now.Cai lang stepped closer. "Then I'll be there." Suo Ran froze.