Chapter 9 .. Behind Closed Doors
Cai Lang's place was nothing like Suo Ran expected.
The car stopped in front of a private residential tower clean lines, dark glass, discreet security. No signboards. No noise.
The kind of building people passed every day without realizing who lived inside.
"You live here?" Suo Ran asked quietly.
Cai Lang glanced at him. "Is it a problem?"
"No," Suo Ran replied quickly. "Just… unexpected."
Cai Lang didn't comment. He keyed in a code, nodded once to the security, and led Suo Ran inside.
The elevator rose in silence.
When the doors opened, Suo Ran froze.
The apartment was vast high ceilings, warm lighting, minimalist furniture that looked more like art than comfort. Floor-to-ceiling windows revealed the city stretching endlessly below.
"This is…" Suo Ran trailed off.
"Too much?" Cai Lang asked.
Suo Ran shook his head. "Too quiet."
Cai Lang almost smiled.
"You're safe here," Cai Lang said, removing his coat. "No one knows this place exists.
Not officially."
Suo Ran looked at him. "So this is one of your secrets."
"One of many," Cai Lang replied.
Elsewhere Waiting
Across the city, Lian Zihao stood near Suo Ran's building, hands in his pockets, eyes lifted toward the quiet windows above.
No lights.
No movement.
He checked his phone out of habit then scoffed softly at himself.
"I don't even have his number," he muttered.
That realization irritated him more than it should have.
He hadn't planned on waiting.
Hadn't planned on caring whether Suo Ran came back on time or not.
And yet, here he was, counting minutes like they mattered.
Lian leaned back against the wall, watching people pass by ordinary lives, ordinary urgency.
"So you didn't come home," he said quietly. "Interesting."
He straightened, expression smoothing back into calm control.
"Guess I'll find out another way."
With one last glance at the darkened building, Lian turned and walked away no calls, no messages, no trace left behind.
Only patience
The lights in Suo Ran's apartment were off.
He leaned against the wall, irritation
simmering beneath his calm exterior.
"He said he'd be back," Lian muttered.
Then he paused.
No he hadn't said that. Lian had assumed!
He slipped his phone back into his pocket and straightened.
Then he turned and disappeared into the night, unseen.
Back at Cai Lang's Home
Suo Ran stood near the window now, looking out at the city below. From this height, the lights looked distant untouchable.
"You didn't answer me earlier," he said. "Why bring me here?"
Cai Lang leaned against the counter, arms crossed. "Because someone was watching you."
Suo Ran stiffened. "Who?"
"If you knew," Cai Lang replied evenly, "you wouldn't sleep tonight."
Suo Ran turned to face him. "And you expect me to trust you?"
Cai Lang walked closer slow, deliberate until they stood only a step apart.
"I expect you to survive," he said. "Trust is optional."
Their proximity was overwhelming. Suo Ran could smell him clean, sharp, dangerous.
"You're not afraid of me," Cai Lang added quietly.
Suo Ran swallowed. "I should be."
"But you're not."
Silence stretched between them.
Then Cai Lang reached out not to grab, not to trap but to gently adjust Suo Ran's sleeve, which had slipped down.
The touch was brief.
Intimate.
Unnecessary.
Suo Ran's heart raced anyway.
"You do things like that," Suo Ran said softly.
"And expect people not to misunderstand."
Cai Lang met his gaze. "I don't mind being misunderstood."
Suo Ran let out a breath that almost sounded like a laugh.
"Dangerous answer."
Cai Lang smiled slow, dark, unreadable.
"I am dangerous."
They stood there, the city humming beneath them, both knowing this night had crossed a line neither of them could step back from.
And somewhere in the shadows of the city, a third presence was beginning to notice the cracks forming.