Too many voices, too many people, too many exits. Shopping carts rattled across the tiled floor, children ran through aisles despite their parents' complaints, and the constant hum of conversations blended into one endless stream of noise. It made tracking someone difficult. Cai lang stood near the entrance with one hand in his coat pocket, his dark eyes scanning faces with practiced calm. Suo ran should have been easy to spot. He was too alert, too restless, too aware of his surroundings for someone pretending to shop normally. Yet he wasn't there.
Cai Lang checked the produce section, the drink aisle, and the household supplies aisle once, then twice. Nothing. His jaw tightened slightly. The cashier gave him an odd look when he paused near the exit again, standing unnaturally still while everyone else moved around him. Pulling out his phone, he checked the screen.There was messages, missed calls and explanation. "He didn't listen!" Cai Lang muttered,rubbing a hand across his forehead. "How can someone be so stupid?"
A broken bottle glittered on the pavement near the entrance.A shopkeeper argued loudly with someone across the road while several pedestrians pointed down the street, animatedly discussing something that had apparently happened earlier. Cai lang followed their gestures instinctively, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the direction they indicated. Whatever had happened was already over and crowd had moved on. The people involved were gone. He was late. The realization left a bitter taste in his mouth.He stood there for a few seconds longer than necessary before turning away.
Elsewhere, by the time suo ran reached his building. Suddenly his head throbbed and body ached. "Just tired!" he muttered to himself as he crossed the stretch toward the apartment building. "That's all." But even he didn't believe it.The building lobby glowed softly behind glass doors. People came and went, carrying groceries and briefcases, living ordinary lives. Suo ran slowed near the entrance and his vision blurred around the edges. He reached out and steadied himself against the wall.His breathing became shallow. "Seriously?" he muttered weakly. "Now?" He tried taking another step. His knees nearly gave out and he laughed tiredly. "That's embarrassing." Sliding down against the wall, he lowered himself into a sitting position.
Night had already fallen by the time Cai Lang returned.The city lights flickered against the glass buildings around him as he stepped out of the car.Traffic noise echoed from distant streets and a cool breeze carried the scent of rain-soaked concrete.He was tired, though not physically.The exhaustion sat deeper than that.He saw someone sat near the entrance.Curled slightly against the wall.For a brief moment Cai lang's heartbeat stumbled."Suo Ran?" he called out.
He crossed the distance immediately, his controlled pace disappearing.Kneeling in front of him, he reached out and touched the back of suo Rmran's hand.His brows pulled together and his jaw tightened."You're burning up!" Cai lang said quietly, studying Suo ran's pale face with obvious concern. Suo ran blinked slowly and looked up.His eyes struggled to focus before finally landing on Cai Lang."You're... back!" he murmured, a weak smile tugging at his lips.
"Yes!" Cai lang replied, his voice low and steady as he crouched in front of him."Why are you sitting outside?" Suo ran stared at him for a moment and said,"Didn't want to pass out alone inside."Cai lang's expression darkened."What?" he asked, staring at him in disbelief.Suo ran shrugged weakly. "Seemed reasonable at the time." Cai lang shook his head slowly and rubbed a hand across his forehead."It wasn't." "Maybe a little." "Not even slightly." "You're really dramatic when you're worried." Suo ran teased with a faint grin.
Cai Lang narrowed his eyes."You're sick and still annoying." "Good to know I haven't changed." Suo ran replied, looking strangely pleased with himself.Cai Lang stared at him for another second before sighing heavily. "Then why didn't you go inside?" he asked. Suo ran pointed weakly toward the building entrance."I don't have a key." The answer caught Cai lang completely off guard.For a second he simply stared.Then he closed his eyes briefly as if counting to ten."You are really..." he began before stopping himself."What?" Suo Ran asked, tilting his head."Say it."
Cai Lang looked at him with a mixture of irritation and disbelief."I haven't decided if you're reckless or impossible." Suo ran smiled."Can I be both?" Cai lang stood up and offered him a hand."Unfortunately, yes." Despite himself, Suo ran laughed softly.The moment he accepted the hand and stood, his knees nearly gave out.Cai lang's expression changed instantly.He stepped forward and wrapped an arm around Suo ran's shoulders, steadying him before he could fall."Careful!" Cai lang said sharply.
Suo ran leaned against him slightly and grimaced."I'm standing." Cai lang raised an eyebrow."Barely." "You always this bossy?" Suo ran muttered.Cai Lang adjusted his grip on him and guided him toward the entrance. "Only when people insist on making terrible decisions." "You make it sound like a hobby." "At this point I'm starting to think it is."
The elevator ride was quiet. Golden lights reflected off polished metal walls while the city glowed beyond the glass panels.Suo ran leaned against the wall and closed his eyes briefly.Cai lang watched him for several seconds before speaking."You look terrible." Suo ran opened one eye."Thanks." "It wasn't a compliment." "I figured." Cai Lang shook his head while Suo ran smirked weakly."You know," Suo ran said after a moment,"if you're trying to comfort me, you're terrible at it."
Cai Lang folded his arms."Good thing I'm not trying to comfort you." "Wow." "Drink water and survive first.Then I'll consider being nice." "There it is." "What?" "That threatening kindness thing you do." Cai Lang looked genuinely confused."I have no idea what you're talking about." "Exactly."
When the elevator doors opened, Cai lang guided him into the apartment.The lighting immediately softened the atmosphere. Floor-to-ceiling windows revealed the city stretching endlessly into the night. Minimalist furniture sat neatly arranged around the living room while soft ambient lights reflected against dark wood surfaces.
The apartment felt calm compared to the chaos outside.Cai lang helped Suo ran sit on the couch before heading toward the kitchen.A few moments later he returned carrying a glass of water and a small bottle of medicine."Drink!" Cai Lang said, handing him the glass.Suo ran accepted it without argument.Cai lang noticed that."You're not arguing." Suo ran took a sip."I'm sick, not suicidal." Cai Lang stared at him."Those aren't mutually exclusive with you." "That was rude." "Accurate." Suo ran nearly choked on his water laughing."Okay, that one was funny."
Cai Lang remained standing while Suo ran sat curled into the corner of the couch. Finally Cai lang spoke."I went to the grocery store." Suo ran looked up immediately."You did? But why?" Cai lang's expression remained unreadable."I didn't want to take responsibility if something happened to you while you were out." Suo ran stared at him for a second."That's your excuse?" "It's the truth." "It's a terrible lie." Cai lang folded his arms."Believe whatever helps you recover faster." Suo ran smiled faintly."You were worried." "No." "You were." "I wasn't." "You went to the grocery store looking for me." Cai Lang looked away briefly."I was checking." "Checking." "Yes." "For me." "Unfortunately."
Suo ean's smile widened despite the fever.Cai Lang regretted saying anything."And when I got there!" Cai Lang continued before Suo ran could tease him further,"I couldn't find you." The smile faded from Suo ran's face.He looked down at the glass in his hands."Sorry." Cai lang stared at him."Sorry?" he repeated."Yes." "That's all?" "What do you want me to say?" Cai lang stepped closer and looked down at him."How about explaining why you vanished?"
Suo ran rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly." Things got complicated." "Clearly. "There were people." Cai lang's gaze sharpened instantly."What people?" Suo ran hesitated before answering."The people from before."Cai lang's expression hardened immediately."They found you." Suo ran nodded once."And?" "I ran." "Good." "I had help."
Cai Lang's eyes narrowed slightly."Help from who?" Suo ran looked away."A friend." Cai Lang repeated the word slowly."A friend." "Maybe." "Maybe?" Suo ran groaned dramatically."We've only met a couple of times." Cai lang raised an eyebrow."And you're calling him a friend." "I said maybe." "You don't sound convinced." "Because I'm not." Cai lang studied him carefully."Then why trust him?" Suo ran shrugged."He helped." "That doesn't answer the question." "Neither do most of your answers." Cai lang actually paused at that."Fair."
And smile appeared on cai lang's face."Do you have any idea what could have happened?" he asked quietly. Suo ran looked away."You could've been injured." "I wasn't." "You could've been followed." "I wasn't." "You could've disappeared." That made Suo Ran pause.Cai lang stepped closer, his expression calm but noticeably tense."You knew people were looking for you." "I know." "And you still went alone." "I didn't think..." "Exactly."
Suo Ran frowned and crossed his arms."I'm not a kid." "I never said you were." "I can handle my own problems." "I know." "You don't need to worry." Suo dan looked up and saw Cai lang's face, something tightened unexpectedly in his chest.Cai lang wasn't angry.He wasn't frustrated.He looked genuinely concerned.Suo ran looked down at the glass again and spoke more quietly."I was." Cai lang blinked once."What?" "I was worried." Suo Rmdan admitted softly."When they showed up." His fingers tightened around the glass."For a second I thought..." He stopped.Cai lang watched him carefully. "Thought what?" Suo Rmran laughed."That maybe you were right." Cai lang stared at him in surprise."Only maybe?" Suo ean pointed at him."Don't get used to hearing that."
Cai Lang almost smiled again.But then Suo ran added quietly,"I got away.With help." That word stayed suspended between them.Help.Friend.Someone else.Cai Lang straightened slowly.For a moment he said nothing.Then he spoke."Next time," he said, voice calm but edged with steel,"don't disappear." Suo Ran met his gaze.For once there was no sarcasm left in him.No joke.No argument.Just honesty."Okay."
Cai Lang studied him for another second before turning away and walking toward the kitchen.Suo ran stared at his back as he disappeared into the kitchen light and found himself thinking something that unsettled him far more than the fever ever could.
He didn't raise his voice.
He didn't scold me.
He was worried.