Suo Ran blinked slowly, gaze unfocused, clearly still caught somewhere between consciousness and alcohol.He stared at Lian Ziho for a long second.Then frowned slightly.
"Why…"Lian Ziho's pulse became absolutely unreasonable.Suo Ran's voice came out soft. "Are you blurry?" Lian Ziho stared.Then
He took long breathe. "Thank God!" he whispered, though this time his voice was shaking for entirely different reasons.
Suo Ran shifted slightly against the pillow.
Then murmured "You smell nice." And immediately fell back asleep.
Suo Ran's breathing had settled into a slow, even rhythm, his body finally surrendering completely to sleep. The faint scent of alcohol still lingered in the air, mixed with something softer something that hadn't been there before.Lian Ziho didn't move.He stood beside the bed, completely still, his gaze fixed on Suo Ran like if he looked away even for a second, something might change. The words from moments ago still echoed in his mind, clear and unfiltered."You smell nice."
For a brief second, his expression went blank.Then it Softened.
His breath came out uneven."You really don't know what you're doing to me…" he whispered quietly, the words barely audible even to himself.Lian Ziho exhaled slowly, forcing his shoulders to relax. Carefully, almost hesitantly, he reached down and adjusted the blanket around Suo Ran, pulling it up just enough to keep him warm without waking him."At least stay still." he muttered under his breath, though there was no irritation in it.
His hand lingered just for a second then another hovering near Suo Ran's face.Close enough to notice the faint redness still lingering from the alcohol, the way his lashes rested quietly against his skin, the way his expression usually so guarded had softened completely in sleep.Lian Ziho's fingers twitched slightly like he wanted to touch him.
His breathing slowed then he leaned forward.
Just slightly not enough to cross the line but distance between them disappeared.And then he stopped completely.His jaw tightened."No," he said quietly to himself, pulling back like he'd just caught himself doing something dangerous. A long breath followed then he exhaled and said "Sleep," he said softly instead, his voice steadier now. "You won't remember any of this anyway."
Lian Ziho stepped back, turning away before he could hesitate again. He walked toward the door quietly. But just as his hand reached the handle he stopped. For a moment, he didn't move.Then, slowly he turned his head.
Suo Ran was still there, exactly as before, completely unaware of everything.Lian Ziho's gaze lingered longer than it should have. "Idiot," he murmured again, softer this time.
Then he opened the door and he left silently.
A dim light flickered somewhere in the distance, barely enough to outline the figures standing in the shadows. Their faces remained hidden, swallowed by darkness. For a long moment, no one spoke then a voice broke through, low and cold. "He survived." Another responded immediately, sharper, edged with irritation. " That wasn't supposed to happen."
A brief pause followed, tension tightening in the air before a third voice spoke, calm and decisive. "Then we try again." There was no hesitation in it, no doubt only certainty. "No mistakes this time," another added, quieter but far more dangerous, the kind of tone that didn't need volume to carry weight. Silence settled again, before a final question cut through it. "And the other one?" That line lingered longer than the rest, deliberate, loaded with meaning. "We'll deal with him too." The flickering light trembled once more, then died completely, leaving nothing behind but darkness.
Sun came as always.He woke up slowly, his eyes barely opening at first before immediately shutting again."No." he muttered, voice hoarse.Everything hurt not sharp pain but just felt uncomfortable.He sat up eventually, one hand pressing against his forehead as if that alone might fix whatever was happening inside his head." Why do I feel like I foght with someone?" he mumbled.
After a few seconds suo ran forced himself out of bed and made his way toward the bathroom. Each step felt slightly off, like his body hadn't fully agreed to cooperate yet, his balance lagging just a fraction behind his intention. He pushed the door open and reached for the switch. The light flicked on instantly far too bright. He flinched, squinting hard as if personally offended by it. " That was a mistake," he muttered under his breath, one hand coming up briefly to shield his eyes.
He stood there for a second, letting his vision adjust, before moving forward on autopilot. His hand found the toothbrush without thinking, muscle memory doing most of the work as he leaned slightly against the sink for support. The cool edge of the marble pressed against his palm grounded him just enough to function. He started brushing slowly, movements sluggish but familiar, his mind still half-asleep and unwilling to process anything beyond the immediate task.
For a few quiet seconds, nothing happened. Just the soft sound of brushing and his uneven breathing filling the space. Then his eyes lifted.They met the mirror and he froze completely. The toothbrush paused mid-motion as his gaze sharpened just enough to actually register what he was seeing. His hair was a messy, his eyes faintly red, his expression somewhere between exhausted and betrayed by existence itself. There was a long, silent moment where he just stared at his own reflection, processing it slowly, piece by piece. Then "What the f**k" he said.
His eyes looked slightly red, his expression half-awake and completely unimpressed with existence. " I look terrible," he said flatly, staring at his reflection like it had personally offended him. He ran a hand through his hair, tried to fix his hair but it did absolutely nothing. The mess remained exactly the same. " Great." He went back to brushing, slower now, like even that required effort. For a few seconds, it was just routine again. Then something felt off.
A faint flicker at the edge of his mind. Then another. His hand slowed slightly. "Wait." The scene of bar, loud music then the scene of when he kept drinking. His expression shifted, eyes narrowing just a little as the memory tried to piece itself together. "No." Another flash hit his brows furrowed deeper. "No, no…" Then suddenly a clearer memory cut through everything. The scene when he Dialing cai Lang number. " Cai Lang?" He blinked, trying to follow the thread, to make sense of it. Then the scene of home when Lian Ziho opening door help him to inside. After that Suo Ran froze completely.
The toothbrush stopped mid-motion, his hand going still as his eyes widened just slightly. " No." A pause stretched, heavy and quiet. Then the memory landed fully. "You smell nice." Suo Ran slowly lowered the toothbrush from his mouth, staring at his reflection like it had betrayed him on a personal level. " I didn't say that." Silence in room. " I did not say that." Another pause, longer this time, his expression shifting from denial to something dangerously close to realization. " There's no way I said that."
His expression twisted slowly into disbelief then it shifted into horror. He immediately covered his face with one hand. "What the hell did I do last night." His voice dropped, muffled behind his palm, heavy with regret. "Did I really say that to him?" There was no answer, only the echo of his own voice replaying in his head with cruel clarity. Suo Ran dragged his hand slowly down his face, fingers pressing against his skin as if trying to physically wipe the memory away, then looked back at his reflection like it might contradict him. It didn't. It just stared back, equally judgmental. " No… no, that's not real." he muttered, shaking his head faintly.
He turned slightly, pacing once in the limited space of the bathroom before stopping again, running a hand through his already hopeless hair. "Okay. Fine. Think." he said under his breath, forcing himself to focus. "Maybe he forgot." He paused. Then immediately answered himself, deadpan. " what if he didn't forget." His shoulders dropped slightly. "Of course he didn't forget. Why would he forget something like that?" He let out a quiet, frustrated breath, leaning forward until both hands pressed against the sink, head lowered for a moment as he squeezed his eyes shut. " This is bad." he whispered. Then corrected himself, more honestly, " This is very bad."
"No..." Suo Ran muttered, straightening slowly, his expression tightening with reluctant acceptance. "That's not going to work." He exhaled again, longer this time, clearly suffering through his own thoughts. " Maybe I can just avoid him," he tried, then immediately shook his head. "No, that's worse. That's suspicious." Another pause. " Why am I like this?" he muttered, clearly dissatisfied with every possible option. He looked at himself one last time in the mirror, eyes narrowing slightly like he was making a silent deal with himself. " I'm never drinking again." Then, after a beat, quieter and more bitter he said " I mean it this time."
The light slipping through the curtains. Cai Lang lay still for a moment, eyes half-open, his body slower to respond than usual.The pain was still there dull,constant, and waiting. Before he could move, the faint sound of the door opening reached him. Anxin stepped inside carefully, already watching him with concern. "You awake?" he asked, voice low but alert.Cai Lang shifted slightly, the movement pulling at his wound just enough to make his jaw tighten. "Yeah."Anxin stepped closer, studying his face. "You okay?" "I'm fine." Anxin didn't look convinced for even a second. "You don't look fine."
Cai Lang exhaled slowly, already tired of the conversation. " I said I'm fine." "That doesn't mean you are," Anxin shot back immediately, arms crossing. "You got stabbed last night."
"Not stabbed," Cai Lang corrected flatly. "It's just cut."Anxin stared at him. " That is not better."
Cai Lang pushed himself up slowly, ignoring the way his body protested. "I've had worse."
"That's nothing to be proud of it " Anxin muttered, clearly frustrated. Then, softer, "Do you need me to call Doctor Gu again?" "No." Cai Lang swung his legs off the bed carefully. "I just need to clean up."Anxin watched him for a second longer, like he wanted to argue again, but didn't. " At least don't push yourself."Cai Lang didn't respond.
He stood up, steady enough, and made his way toward the bathroom. Each step was controlled. The door shut behind him, and for a moment, the world narrowed to the sound of running water.Steam filled the space slowly as he stepped under the shower. The water hit his skin, warm at first, then sharper against the injury. His muscles tensed briefly before settling. His eyes closed and then the memory came back.
"Not random," Cai Lang muttered under his breath, water running steadily down his face as his brows drew together, replaying the attack again slower this time, more precise, searching for anything he might have missed. "They knew where I was…" That realization alone shifted something in him. His eyes opened, sharper now, more awake than before. "They came prepared." The water kept falling, but his focus had already narrowed completely, every detail lining up in his mind with unsettling clarity.
Then a flashback of last night one of the attackers not his face but something else. He noticed that person's clothes. Cai Lang went completely still. " Wait." His breathing slowed."That uniform " The image sharpened in his memory dark fabric, faint grease stains, something ordinary enough to overlook at first glance. A name stitched across the chest. His eyes narrowed slightly as the words surfaced piece by piece. "Once… or twice…" A pause followed, tension building as recognition settled in. Then he said " car service." The words landed fully, solid and undeniable. "Yeah," he muttered, quieter but sharper. "That was it." Almost immediately, irritation flickered across his expression not at them, but at himself. "How did I miss that?" His jaw tightened faintly."That wasn't random. " he said under his breath, tone shifting completely now. No longer just remembering now analyzing, connecting, building something from it.
The moment clicked into place with quiet certainty.Cai Lang reached forward and shut the water off abruptly, stepping out without hesitation. He dried himself quickly. He grabbed a clean shirt and pulled it on without thinking and instantly regretted it when the fabric dragged across his wound. "shit?!" Pain flared sharply through his side, enough to make his breath hitch for half a second. He ignored pain but it started bleeding . He noticed but didn't stop.
Instead, he reached for his jacket.By the time he stepped out of the room, Anxin was already there, waiting, his posture tense like he had been expecting exactly this. "You're up?" Anxin said, relief crossing his face for barely a second before it disappeared the moment he noticed Cai Lang's pace, his expression, the clear intention behind it. "Hey where are you going?" Cai Lang didn't slow. Not even slightly. "I have something to do."
Anxin's expression dropped immediately, frustration rising just as fast as concern. "You're not serious right now."
Cai Lang walked past him without answering. "At least eat something!" Anxin called after him, his voice sharper now, almost snapping under the pressure. "Cai Lang !" There was no response. Just the steady sound of footsteps moving toward the door. Anxin followed him a step, unable to just let it go. "You're injured! Whatever it is can wait!" Cai Lang stopped but only for a second. He didn't turn around. Didn't look back. "I can't." His voice was low. Steady. Unmovable. "I can't wait." And before Anxin could say anything else before he could argue, stop him, or even try Cai Lang was already moving again. The door opened then closed.
Lian Ziho stood near the stove.Across the room, Jun Wei sat at the table in his school uniform, books spread out in front of him, though his attention drifted more than it stayed.The door to the hallway opened and duo ran stepped out.For a brief second, everything felt normal. Then he saw Lian Ziho and immediately looked away. "Morning." Suo Ran said, voice a little too casual, a little too careful.
Jun Wei's head snapped up instantly. "Gege!"Before Suo Ran could even react, Jun Wei had already jumped down from his chair and rushed toward him. "Where were you last night?" he asked, voice tight, eyes already starting to glisten. "I went to your room… you weren't there." His voice wavered, small hands grabbing onto Suo Ran's sleeve. "I thought you left me "
Suo Ran's expression softened immediately, " Hey!" he murmured, lowering himself down to Jun Wei's level without hesitation. He reached out, brushing Jun Wei's slightly messy hair back into place carefully. "I'm sorry."Jun Wei sniffed lightly, still looking upset. "You didn't even tell me." "I know," Suo Ran said quietly, guilt clear in his voice now. "I was with friends. It got late."Jun Wei frowned. "Then why didn't you take me with you?"
Suo Ran almost smiled at that, soft and faint. "Because," he said, tapping Jun Wei lightly on the forehead, "you have school. And extra classes. Remember?"Jun Wei puffed his cheeks slightly. "That's unfair." "Life is unfair." Suo Ran replied lightly, though his tone was still warm. "Now go finish your homework before you're late."Jun Wei hesitated, then nodded reluctantly and walked back to the table, though he kept glancing back at Suo Ran like he might disappear again.
Suo Ran stood up slowly.His eyes flickered once toward the kitchen then toward Lian Ziho.Who had been watching the entire interaction in silence.Their eyes almost met.
Because the moment Suo Ran noticed him, Lian Ziho gave a small, soft smile and Suo Ran immediately looked away." Breakfast is ready." Lian Ziho said after a moment, his voice calm, like nothing had happened. "Yeah." Suo Ran replied, already moving toward the table. "Coming."
They sat down together Jun Wei between them, chattering quietly about something school-related that neither of them really processed. Suo Ran focused on his food a little too much, eating faster than usual, avoiding looking up, avoiding looking across the table entirely. Lian Ziho noticed immediately but he didn't say anything at first, just watched quietly, observant, before finally saying, gently, "Eat slowly." Suo Ran paused for half a second, chopsticks hovering mid-air before he forced a small, awkward smile. " Yeah." But he didn't actually slow down.
The silence between them wasn't loud.After breakfast, Suo Ran helped Jun Wei get ready and walked him to school like usual, the morning air cooler outside,to escape his thoughts completely, because the moment Jun Wei waved goodbye and disappeared through the school gates, that memory came back again. "You smell nice." Suo Ran stopped for a second, dragging a hand down his face. "Why did I say that…" he muttered under his breath before turning back toward home.
By the time he reached the apartment again, the quiet had returned. Inside, Lian Ziho was cleaning wiping down the table, movements calm and unhurried. Suo Ran stepped in, then stopped, standing there for a moment, just watching, thinking, hesitating longer than necessary before finally speaking. " Lian Ziho." Lian Ziho looked up immediately, like he had been expecting it. "You're back." Suo Ran nodded. " Yeah." A pause followed. Lian Ziho studied him for a second before speaking again, his voice softer this time. "Do you have something to say?" Suo Ran blinked slightly, caught off guard. " How do you always know?" Lian Ziho's lips curved faintly. "Just a feeling."
Suo Ran exhaled quietly, rubbing the back of his neck once before finally speaking, his voice lower now. " About last night…" Another pause. "I'm sorry." Lian Ziho didn't interrupt, didn't move, just listened. "I didn't know what I was doing," Suo Ran added more quietly, avoiding his gaze again. "I didn't mean to… cause trouble." For a second, nothing. Then he said "It's okay." Suo Ran looked up slightly. Lian Ziho's expression was calm, soft. "No harm done." he added gently. "Just… don't ignore me." That made Suo Ran hesitate. " I'm not ignoring you." Lian Ziho raised an eyebrow slightly. "Oh?" A faint hint of teasing slipped into his tone. "Then I must've imagined it."
Suo Ran blinked, then a small, genuine smile appeared despite himself. " Yeah." he said lightly. "You did." For a moment, they just looked at each other quiet, still, something soft settling between them, not fully resolved but no longer as tense as before. The air felt lighter, even if only slightly. Then Suo Ran cleared his throat faintly, glancing away first. " You're making a big deal out of nothing." Lian Ziho's gaze lingered on him for a second longer before he turned back to what he was doing, though the softness didn't leave his expression. "Am I?" he replied calmly. Suo Ran huffed quietly, though there was no real annoyance in it. " Yes."
Elsewhere in office Cai Lang stood near the table, posture straight. Across from him, Zheng Rui flipped through a thin file, expression focused, movements efficient.
"What did you find?" Cai Lang asked, voice low and direct.Zheng Rui didn't waste time. "Employee list." he replied, sliding the papers across the table.Cai Lang picked them up, scanning quickly, eyes sharp despite the fatigue lingering beneath them."Anything unusual?" he asked.Zheng Rui nodded slightly. "Two people stand out. One resigned recently no clear reason. Left suddenly." He tapped a name on the page. "And this one… bad reputation. Aggressive. Gets into fights. People avoid him."
Cai Lang's gaze lingered on both names, memorizing them in seconds."Give me their addresses," he muttered.Zheng Rui watched him carefully. "Okay. But what are you thinking?"Cai Lang closed the file slowly. "I don't think they were acting alone." "That obvious?" he asked. "They knew where to find me." A brief silence followed.Zheng Rui leaned back slightly. "So?"Cai Lang handed the file back. "Watch all of them."Zheng Rui raised an eyebrow. "All?" cai Lang replied "Yes."
Zheng Rui watched listed names and said
"That's a lot of eyes to keep." "Then use more," Cai Lang replied flatly.Zheng Rui smirked faintly. "Still the same."Cai Lang didn't react. "If anything feels off anything at all you report immediately."Zheng Rui nodded once. "Got it." Without another word, Cai Lang turned and left.
The warehouse stood far from the city, surrounded by silence broken only by the faint hum of distant machinery. Stacks of tires, rusted containers, and scattered crates filled the open space, the air thick with smoke and oil.Cai Lang stepped out of the car, adjusting his sleeve slightly as his men followed behind him. His expression was already cold, focused."Stay alert." Cai Lang said to his men.
They moved deeper into the warehouse, footsteps echoing faintly against the concrete floor. A group of men sat near a stack of crates, playing cards, laughter cutting through the otherwise tense atmosphere.That laughter stopped the moment they noticed the newcomers.
The men stood up slowly, hands already reaching for knives."Who are you?" one of them asked, tone sharp."Who gave you permission to come here?" another added, stepping forward. Cai Lang's gaze moved across their faces calmly. He didn't find any familiar faces."I'm looking for someone." he said.
One of the men laughed harshly. "You walk into my place and start asking questions?"
Another stepped closer. "Got a death wish?"
Cai Lang didn't react. "I don't want trouble."
That only made them laugh louder.From behind them, a heavier voice cut in. "Doesn't matter what you want."Their boss stepped forward slowly, eyes narrowing as he studied Cai Lang."This isn't a place you walk into and walk out of," he said. "You pay for stepping here."
Before anyone could react a knife pressed suddenly against Cai Lang's neck.Cai Lang didn't move and didn't even blink." You're in the wrong place." the man holding the knife muttered. For a single second silence.Then cai lang moved fast.His hand shot up, twisting the attacker's wrist sharply. A crack echoed through the space as the knife dropped instantly. In the same motion, he shoved the man away hard enough to send him crashing into a crate."I don't need permission." Cai Lang said, voice calm but edged with something colder now.His eyes lifted."I decide where I stand."
Then their boss shouted "Get him!" Everything exploded at once.Men rushed forward from all sides, blades flashing under the dim lights. Cai Lang stepped into the movement instead of away from it, his reactions precise despite the pull of pain in his side.The first attacker came fast Cai Lang sidestepped, grabbed his arm, and drove his elbow into the man's ribs before throwing him down hard.
Another lunged he caught the strike mid-air, twisted sharply, and drove a knee into his stomach, dropping him instantly.His men joined in, but Cai Lang stayed at the center controlled, efficient, every movement deliberate.A blade grazed too close.
He blocked, countered, and slammed the attacker into the ground. Pain flared in his side. He ignored it.
Another came from behind he turned, caught the wrist, twisted it back until the man screamed, then shoved him into another attacker. The fight didn't last long.One by one, they went down.Groans replaced threats.At the end everyone was on the ground.Cai Lang stood still for a moment, breathing steady but slightly heavier than before. A faint stain had spread further along his side, but he didn't acknowledge it.
" Clear." one of his men said.Cai Lang glanced around once more.There was bodies." We're leaving," he said.They stepped out of the warehouse together.
The daylight outside felt almost harsh after the darkness within, but the tension didn't leave his shoulders.They reached the car. Doors opened and then cai lang stopped.
His eyes narrowed slightly.Across the lot, a figure stood near the edge of the road.He saw someone familiar." You!!" Cai Lang muttered under his breath.