The rooftop was never meant to be shared.
At least, that's what Suo Ran believed.
He came here when the city felt too close when walls listened and streets remembered footsteps. The old rooftop was usually empty, claimed only by the wind and the distant glow of the city. Suo Ran stood by the railing with both hands resting against the cold metal, staring at the endless sea of lights without blinking.
His thoughts were becoming heavier every day. I have to find a solution soon. The thought repeated itself over and over in his mind. Every lead he followed seemed to end in another question. Every answer only uncovered something even more confusing. Time was running out, and he could feel it. If he couldn't figure things out soon, something bad was going to happen. His fingers tightened around the railing.
Without warning, a memory surfaced. A crowded train station. Endless voices blending together. The sound of announcements echoing overhead. People moving in every direction without stopping. Suo Ran remembered standing among the crowd, searching for someone, when his eyes had landed on a familiar figure sitting casually on a nearby bench. Cai Lang. At the time, Cai Lang had been drinking coffee and scrolling through his phone.
Is it really coincidence? (...)
Can I trust him? Suo Ran wasn't sure.
Before he could continue thinking about it, a calm voice spoke from behind him. "You're out late.".Suo Ran turned sharply.
A man stood near the edge, one foot resting against the low wall, city lights stretching behind him like a crown of gold and shadow. He didn't look surprised to see Suo Ran. If anything, he looked… amused.He appeared to be in his mid-twenties, tall and slender, with a gentle presence that felt unexpectedly soft rather than intimidating. His black hair was smooth and slightly tousled, a few loose strands falling over his forehead.He was dressed entirely in black, yet nothing about him felt cold or threatening. He wore a black button-up shirt with the sleeves casually folded to his forearms, paired with fitted black trousers and a long black coat that draped neatly around his lean frame.
His face carried a quiet warmth. Soft features, calm eyes, and a relaxed expression made him look approachable despite the mystery surrounding him. His dark eyes held a patient attentiveness rather than sharp scrutiny, as though he preferred observing people instead of judging them. Suo Ran studied him for a moment before replying cautiously, "I could say the same." The man's lips curved into a small smile. "Then maybe neither of us should be judging first impressions." Suo Ran didn't answer.
He pushed himself away from the railing and walked a little closer, stopping several steps away. It was close enough for conversation but not enough to make Suo Ran uncomfortable. "Didn't know this building had a rooftop like this," the man said as he glanced around. "I found it by accident." Suo Ran rested his arms on the railing again. "Most people don't come up here." "Their loss." The man looked out over the city lights stretching into the distance. "It's a good view." The wind swept across the rooftop, carrying the distant sounds of traffic below. For a moment, both of them simply looked at the city. "You live here?" Suo Ran finally asked. The man nodded. "Top floor. Moved in recently." "Third floor," Suo Ran replied. "So we're neighbors." There was amusement in the man's voice. "Looks like it." Another brief silence followed.
The man seemed oddly comfortable with silence. "You come here often?" he asked. "Sometimes." "To get away from people?" Suo Ran glanced at him. "To think." The man let out a soft laugh. "That sounds dangerous." "Thinking?" "Thinking too much." Suo Ran raised an eyebrow. "Dangerous for who?" The man's gaze remained fixed on the city below. "People who notice things." Something about the answer made Suo Ran frown. "You always talk like that?" The man turned toward him, looking genuinely curious. "Like what?" "Like you're saying one thing but meaning something else."
The man laughed quietly. "Maybe." Suo Ran shook his head. "You're strange." "I've heard that before." The answer came so naturally that Suo Ran almost smiled. Almost. The stranger noticed anyway. "There it is." "What?" "That expression." "What expression?" "The one where you're trying not to smile." Suo Ran immediately looked away. "You're imagining things." The man laughed again, this time a little louder. "Sure." The wind picked up, lifting the edge of Suo Ran's coat.
The stranger watched him for a moment before speaking again. "You're not from around here, are you?" Suo Ran looked at him. "How do you know?" The man rested one arm against the railing. "Locals don't look at the city like that." "Like what?" "Like they're still deciding whether they belong here." Suo Ran blinked. For a second, he didn't know what to say. The man smiled slightly when he noticed his reaction. "See? I was right." "You're very confident." "Only when I get lucky." Suo Ran let out a quiet breath. "I've only been here a few months." "I knew it." "Lucky guess." "I'll take it." For the first time, a faint smile appeared on Suo Ran's face.
The man pointed at him. "There." "Stop doing that." "Doing what?" "Acting like every expression is some kind of achievement." The man laughed. "Sorry." His apology didn't sound very sincere. Suo Ran found himself relaxing despite his better judgment. There was something strangely easy about talking to this person. The stranger eventually straightened and extended a hand. "I'm Lian Ziho." Suo Ran looked at the offered hand before shaking it. "Suo Ran." The handshake lasted only a moment. Lian Ziho repeated the name quietly. "Suo Ran." "What?" "Nice name." Suo Ran sighed. "You don't even know me." "I know you're careful." "How?" "Most people would have told me their name five minutes ago." Suo Ran couldn't argue with that.
Lian Ziho leaned back against the railing and folded his arms loosely. "Being careful isn't a bad thing." "Depends who you ask." "I'm asking me." Suo Ran shook his head. "You're impossible." "Not impossible." Lian Ziho smiled. "Just curious." The city lights reflected faintly in his eyes. For some reason, Suo Ran couldn't quite figure him out. Nothing about him felt threatening, yet something about him kept Suo Ran alert. It was an odd contradiction. Several minutes passed with casual conversation drifting from the building to the city and then to nothing in particular.
Eventually, Suo Ran checked the time and stepped back from the railing. "I should go." Lian Ziho nodded. "Then I won't keep you." Suo Ran turned and walked toward the rooftop door. Just before he reached it, Lian Ziho called out, "Suo Ran." He paused and glanced over his shoulder. "What?" Lian Ziho smiled lightly. "I'm glad I came up here tonight." Suo Ran looked at him for a moment before replying, "Good night." "Good night, neighbor." Suo Ran pushed open the door and disappeared into the stairwell.
The door slowly closed behind him. The rooftop became quiet once again. Lian Ziho remained where he was, watching the door for several seconds before turning his attention back to the city skyline. The wind moved through his dark hair as the faint smile on his face slowly faded into something more thoughtful. He slipped both hands into his pockets and stood there alone beneath the night sky, watching the endless lights below.