The rooftop wind was gentle, carrying distant city sounds upward. Traffic moved like glowing rivers far below, headlights weaving between buildings while neon signs flickered across the skyline. The rooftop garden lights cast a soft golden glow around the benches, and for once, the city felt peaceful. Suo ran and Lian ziho sat side by side with their feet resting against the low ledge. Neither spoke for a while.
Suo ran still found himself overthinking it. Should I start a topic? What if he feels uncomfortable? What if I say something stupid? He glanced sideways at Lian Ziho, who looked completely relaxed, leaning back with his hands behind him and his face tilted toward the night sky. Meanwhile, Lian was having thoughts of his own. He's thinking too much again, he thought with amusement. You can practically see it happening.
"You know," he said lazily, stretching his arms above his head, "sometimes I miss school days." Suo ran looked at him in surprise. "You? Missing school?" Lian immediately pointed an accusing finger at him. "Hey." "What?" Suo ran asked, already smiling. "Why do you sound so shocked?" Lian ziho narrowed his eyes dramatically. "Do you think I didn't like school?" "Not exactly." Suo ran shrugged. "I just thought someone like you wouldn't care about things like that."
Lian ziho pressed a hand against his chest in mock offense. "That's hurtful." "You'll survive." "Barely." Suo ran laughed quietly. The sound made Lian ziho smile without realizing it. "Of course I care," Lian ziho continued. "School wasn't all bad. Less bills. Less responsibilities. Less thinking." "Less stress," Suo ran agreed. "Exactly." Lian pointed at him. "See? You understand me." "That's dangerous." "Probably."
They both laughed. After a moment, Lian ziho tilted his head thoughtfully. "Which school were you in again? You never told me." Suo ran thought for a second. "Xincheng No. 3 High." Lian ziho froze. Completely froze. The smile slipped from his face. "You're kidding." Suo ran frowned. "What?" "No way." Lian ziho sat upright immediately. "I went there too."
They turned toward each other at exactly the same time. "No way," Suo ran repeated. "I swear." Lian ziho laughed in disbelief and ran a hand through his hair. "Same school. Different years maybe?" "Different sections probably." Suo ran shook his head slowly. "I don't remember seeing you." "Rude." "I'm serious." "So am I." Lian ziho pointed at him. "But honestly? Same." Suo ran stared. "What?" Lian ziho's expression softened slightly. "I think I would've remembered someone like you."
He quickly looked away toward the city lights. Why did that affect me? he wondered. Beside him, Lian ziho noticed the reaction immediately and hid a smile. "So we were in the same building," Suo ran said slowly. "Walking the same halls." "Eating the same terrible cafeteria food." Lian ziho added. "Probably complaining about the same teachers." "And somehow never met." Lian's gaze lingered on him. "Yeah." His voice softened. "Like we were always meant to cross paths. Just late." The city lights stretched endlessly below while the wind played gently with their hair. For a moment, everything felt strangely easy.
Elsewhere, Cai Lang's apartment was nearly empty. Large boxes lined the walls in neat rows. Expensive artwork had already been removed. Shelves stood bare. The place no longer looked like a home. It looked like a decision. Cai Lang moved through the apartment with practiced efficiency, dressed in a dark charcoal coat over a black shirt. His expression remained calm, but his mind wasn't as quiet as it appeared and phone call ended. Keys landed in his palm.
He checked the address one last time. Next door. His jaw tightened slightly. Temporary, he reminded himself. This is temporary. The lie sounded less convincing every time. His gaze drifted toward the city outside the windows. For the first time in years, he was making a decision based on something other than logic. That realization irritated him. This is for his safety, he told himself. Nothing more. Yet even he didn't fully believe it anymore.
The next morning, Suo ran woke up early. For the first time in days, he was sleeping in his own apartment. The familiar ceiling felt oddly unfamiliar now.He sat at the kitchen counter in oversized pajamas, holding a cup of tea between both hands while replaying last night's conversation. School. Memories. Timing. Coincidences. His thoughts wandered further than he intended. Why did talking with Lian feel so easy? Then another thought followed immediately after. And why am I still thinking about Cai Lang? He groaned softly and buried his face in his hands. "This is getting ridiculous."
Before he could think further, the doorbell rang. Suo ran frowned. Nobody visited this early. He shuffled toward the door and opened it without thinking. Then regretted it. Cai Lang stood there his hands in his coat pockets. Dark hair perfectly arranged. His Expensive coat fitted flawlessly and worst of all... he was smiling. Suo ran blinked. "You." "Good morning," Cai Lang replied smoothly. "Neighbor." Suo ran stared. "What?"
Cai Lang stepped aside. A moving truck was parked outside. Workers carried boxes through the hallway. Suo ran looked at the truck then the boxes. Then he looked at Cai lang then the truck again. "No." Cai Lang's smile widened slightly. "Yes." "No." "Yes." "You're joking." "I'm not." Suo Ran pointed toward the apartment beside his own. "Here?" "Here." "Next door?" "Next door." "You're moving in?" "I'm moving in." "Why?"
Cai lang looked past him toward the hallway. Toward the shadows. Toward every blind corner where danger could hide. His expression became more serious. "There are still unanswered questions." he said quietly. "About that night." Then his gaze returned to Suo ran.Focused entirely on him. "And secrets tend to reveal themselves when you're close enough."
Cai Lang stepped closer. Not enough to invade his space. Just enough to make Suo Ran aware of him. "Don't worry!" Cai Lang said softly. "I'm not moving in to watch you." Suo Ran wasn't reassured at all. "That's somehow worse." A flicker of amusement crossed Cai Lang's eyes.. "I'm moving in," he said quietly, "to protect what's mine." The words landed like a punch.Suo ran forgot how to breathe. His heartbeat stumbled. For one brief second, neither spoke. Cai lang watched every reaction cross Suo Ran's face.
Meanwhile, Suo ran's brain had completely stopped functioning. What's mine? WHAT'S MINE? His face immediately grew warm. "You can't just say things like that!" he blurted. Cai Lang looked entirely too satisfied. "Apparently I can." "Normal people don't talk like this." "Who said I was normal?" Suo ran opened his mouth then closed it and opened it again.
Cai lang gave a small nod toward the apartment door. "Anyway." His smile returned. Slow and confident. "I'll see you around." Then he turned and walked away. Suo Ran remained frozen in the doorway, staring after him while movers carried boxes into the neighboring apartment. His tea had gone cold. His heart hadn't. And as Cai Lang disappeared around the corner, only one terrifying realization remained. There was no distance left between them anymore.