Sunlight filtered weakly through the curtains.
Suo Ran sat at the small table, untouched tea growing cold in front of him.
His phone lay beside it.
No messages.
He stared at the screen for a long time before finally locking it and pushing it away.
If Cai Lang wanted distance…
He would respect it.
Not because he wanted to.
But because forcing his presence where it wasn't welcome would only make things worse.
He stood, grabbed his bag, and left for work earlier than usual.
At the Apartment Hallway__
The hallway outside was quiet.
Cai Lang's door remained closed.
Suo Ran paused only for a moment.
Normally, he would have knocked. Asked if the bandage needed changing. Reminded him to take his medication.
Today, he walked past.
His steps were steady.
Measured.
Deliberate.
Inside the apartment, Cai Lang stood just beyond the door, hand hovering over the handle.
He had heard Suo Ran's footsteps.
He always did.
He waited for the knock.
For the soft voice.
For the stubborn concern.
It didn't come.
The footsteps continued down the hall.
Faded.
Disappeared.
His hand slowly lowered.
Something unfamiliar settled in his chest.
Not relief.
Something colder.
Suo Ran stood in the kitchen, hands resting against the counter, staring at nothing.
Cai Lang had locked himself in the bedroom.
Blood.
Late night.
Avoided eye contact.
And that silence.
Suo ran didn't ask.
He didn't know if it was pride… or fear of the answer.
Everything was messing up!
His phone buzzed.
A message.
Unknown number.
"If you want answers about your father, stop pretending the past is buried."
Suo ran 's breath caught.
His father.
No one spoke about that.
Not even him.
His fingers trembled slightly as he typed back.
Who is this? He texted.
No reply.
But another message came.
Ask Cai Lang what he knows.
Suo ran's heartbeat began to pound.
Slowly. He turned toward the bedroom door.
The past he had sealed away so tightly suddenly felt very close.
Meanwhile.
Cai Lang sat on the edge of his bed, shirt removed, bandage loosely wrapped around his side.
He stared at a file open on his laptop.
Old records, Financial transfers, Security logs from twelve years ago.
The night Suo Ran's father died.
Official cause:+ Robbery gone wrong!
But Cai lang knew better.
There were too many redacted sections.
Too many erased names.
And one recurring signature authorization.
But close enough.
Cai lang's jaw tightened.
"If you touched that night…" he muttered.
His phone buzzed.
A message from his father.
Stay out of things you don't understand.
Cai Lang closed the laptop.
Too late.
Suo ran avoided looking at Cai Lang.
Cai Lang noticed.
Neither spoke.
Until.....
"I need to go out of town," Suo ran said suddenly.
Cai Lang looked up sharply. "Why?"
Suo ran hesitated. "Personal."
Cai Lang stood slowly. "Is this about your father?"
The question hit like a stone thrown into still water.
Suo ran 's eyes darkened. "What do you know?"
Cai Lang held his gaze.
Too long.
"…Not enough."
That was the truth.
And also not.
Suo ran grabbed his jacket. "I'll be gone a few days."
"I'm coming with you," Cai Lang said immediately.
"No."
"That wasn't a suggestion."
Suo ran stepped closer, voice low. "Stop controlling everything."
Cai lang's s expression hardened. "And stop shutting me out."
The tension between them felt sharp enough to cut.
Then...
The doorbell rang.
They both froze.
Lian Ziho stood outside holding a small paper bag.
"I brought breakfast," he said cheerfully when the door opened.
Then he noticed the tension.
"…Did I interrupt a war?"
"No," Suo ran said quickly.
"Yes," Cai Lang said at the same time.
Lian ziho blinked.
Suo ran forced a smile. "I'm going to my hometown for a few days."
Lian ziho's s expression softened. "To see your brother?"
Cai lang's s eyes flicked to Suo ran's
Brother?
Suo ran nodded. "Yeah."
Cai Lang said nothing.
Because this was the first time he was hearing about it.
Suo ran packed his belongings.
The hometown was quieter than Suo ran remembered.
Cleaner air, Fewer lies.
And inside a small orphanage building.
"Gege!"
A small body crashed into him.
Suo ran stumbled back slightly, then laughed softly as he caught the child.
Jun Wei.
Seven years old.
Not blood related.
But the only family Suo ran had left.
"You grew taller," Suo ran said, kneeling down.
Jun Wei puffed his cheeks. "You say that every time."
Lian, who had insisted on coming despite Cai Lang's cold stare, watched quietly.
His chest tightened slightly.
He had never seen this side of Suo ran before.
Soft, Warm,Unguarded.
"Who's that?" Jun Wei whispered loudly, pointing at Lian ziho.
Suo ran smiled faintly. "That's Lian ziho-ge."
Lian ziho crouched down to eye level. "I've heard a lot about you."
Jun Wei narrowed his eyes. "Are you rich?"
Lian ziho burst out laughing.
Suo ran covered his face. "Jun Wei!"
"What? It's important," the boy said seriously.
Lian ziho grinned. "Not rich. But I can buy you ice cream."
Jun Wei gasped. "You're acceptable."
Later that afternoon.
Suo ran asked to take care of his little brother Jun Wei!
Lian ziho happily agreed! He said " I like cute little children!
Lian ziho volunteered to pick Jun Wei up from school.
Suo ran needed time alone.
Time to breathe.
Time to think about the message.
About his father.
At the school gate, children poured out like a flood.
And standing near the entrance
Was someone unfamiliar.
Tall, Clean glasses, Calm presence.
Watching the children carefully.
Jun Wei ran straight to him before noticing Lian ziho.
"Teacher!" Jun Wei called.
The man looked down and smiled gently.
"Jun Wei."
Then he noticed Lian ziho standing nearby.
"And this is?"
Lian ziho stepped forward casually.
"Guardian for today."
The teacher studied him.
"You don't look like his brother."
"I'm more handsome," Lian ziho replied smoothly.
The teacher blinked.
Then unexpectedly
He smiled.
"A confident guardian. That's rare."
Jun Wei rolled his eyes. "Teacher, he thinks he's cool."
The teacher extended his hand politely.
"Hello nice to meet you."
Teacher and
Lian ziho hand shook it.
And for half a second..
Neither let go first.
Elsewhere.....
Cai Lang arrived in town that night.
He hadn't told Suo ran.
He followed quietly.
Because something about the message didn't sit right.
If someone was digging into the past
They were getting close.
And Cai Lang wouldn't let Suo ran face that alone.
Even if Suo ran hated him.
Back at the orphanage.
Jun Wei refused to sleep.
He insisted on sitting between Suo ran and Lian ziho.
"This is comfortable," he declared proudly.
Suo ran laughed softly.
Lian ziho leaned back against the wall, watching both of them.
This felt… peaceful.
Danger felt far away.
For once.
But outside—
Cai Lang stood in the darkness across the street.
He reached suo ran's home!
Watching the light in Suo ran's room.
Hearing laughter he felt happy but something was missing...
He stayed there until light turned off!
And wondering when everything started breaking.