Cai Lang carried Suo Ran through the exit and stepped into the parking area. The loud music faded behind them, and the cool night air touched Suo Ran's flushed face. He shifted in Cai Lang's arms and slowly lifted his head. His eyes moved around before finally settling on Cai Lang. He stared at him for a while, blinking as if trying to see him clearly. Then he raised a hand and touched his cheek, his fingers brushing along his jaw. Cai Lang glanced down at him but said nothing. Suo Ran frowned slightly, still looking at his face. "You... you look familiar" he mumbled. Cai Lang smiled faintly. "Do I?"
Suo Ran didn't answer. He seemed to be trying to remember something, but soon his attention moved to Cai Lang's collar. He caught it between his fingers and gave it a small tug. Cai Lang adjusted his hold before he could lean too far forward. "Careful." Suo Ran leaned back against his arm, looking a little annoyed. "Don't move so much."
Cai Lang almost laughed. He continued toward the car while Suo Ran rested his head against his shoulder. His eyes closed for a moment, but when Cai Lang moved, he opened them again. He looked down at Cai Lang's shirt and began smoothing out the wrinkles with his palm. His hand moved slowly over the same spot several times, making little difference. Cai Lang glanced at him. "What are you doing?" "Your shirt is messy." "You're the one who made it messy." Suo Ran looked up with a frown and tried to fix the collar, but his fingers slipped. Cai Lang gently moved his hand away before he could pull it out of shape. Suo Ran watched him, then let his hand drop. By the time they reached the car, his eyes were half closed again.
Just as Cai Lang shifted his hold to open the door, Suo Ran caught his sleeve. "Cai Lang..." His voice was slow and quiet. Cai Lang looked down at him. Suo Ran moved closer, resting his forehead against Cai Lang's neck. For a moment, he said nothing. Then he tightened his hold on the sleeve and mumbled, "Don't walk away." Cai Lang's expression softened. He placed his hand over Suo Ran's and gently held it against his sleeve. "I'm right here," he said. Suo Ran seemed to relax at his answer. His fingers slowly loosened, and his eyes closed again. Cai Lang looked at him for a moment before opening the door.
Cai Lang carefully opened the door and lowered Suo Ran into the seat. He kept one arm behind his back until he was settled, then helped him move his legs inside. Just as he was about to pull away, Suo Ran caught his sleeve. Cai Lang stopped and looked down. Suo Ran's eyes were barely open, and his fingers held the fabric loosely. "What is it?" Cai Lang asked. Suo Ran moved his lips, struggling to get the words out. "Those words..." He paused, his brows drawing together. "I shouldn't have said them."
Cai Lang's hand stopped near the seat belt. He looked at him,Suo Ran tightened his fingers around the sleeve. "Which words?" Cai Lang asked softly. Suo Ran didn't answer. His eyes slowly closed, and his grip remained around the sleeve. Cai Lang waited a little longer before gently freeing his sleeve. He helped Suo Ran sit back properly, pulled the seat belt across him and fastened it. Then he adjusted the belt near his shoulder and made sure Suo Ran's head was resting safely against the headrest. Suo Ran shifted once but soon became still. Cai Lang closed the door and walked around to the driver's side.
After getting inside, he placed his hands on the steering wheel but didn't start the engine. His gaze moved to Suo Ran. His cheeks were still flushed, and his lips were slightly parted as he slept. "You seem to be having a good time without me!" Cai Lang murmured. He remembered Suo Ran laughing with the people around him, leaning close to that man during the game and drinking the wine they had given him. Then he remembered the man reaching out to steady Suo Ran, his hand resting on his arm while Suo Ran leaned against him.
Cai Lang's fingers tightened around the steering wheel. He turned toward the passenger seat, his jaw clenching as he watched Suo Ran sleep. The more he thought about it, the angrier he became.His hand moved to the door handle. He almost opened it then he stopped. What the hell am I doing? I've stayed away for months, and now I'm angry because someone else gets to stand beside him? I'm the one who gave up that place. But damn it, I still don't want anyone else taking it... Cai Lang released the door handle with a sharp breath and looked at Suo Ran again. "You're really making this difficult for me," he muttered. He turned forward, started the engine and drove away.
Suo Ran shifted in his seat, his shoulder lightly brushing against the door. He let out a quiet sound and slowly opened his eyes. The lights outside the window passed by, making it hard for him to see clearly. He looked around for a moment before turning toward the driver's seat. When he noticed Cai Lang, he stared at him for a few seconds. "Cai Lang?" Cai Lang glanced at him. "You're awake?" Suo Ran didn't answer right away. He kept looking at Cai Lang's face, then shifted slightly in his seat as if trying to get a better look. "Why are you here?" Cai Lang's hands tightened a little around the steering wheel. He kept his eyes on the road and said, "You were drunk. I couldn't leave you there." Suo Ran slowly turned toward the window. His fingers moved along the edge of his jacket as he sat quietly.
Cai Lang glanced at him, but Suo Ran didn't seem to notice. He watched the lights outside as they passed one after another. After a while, he quietly said, "You weren't there before." Cai Lang's grip on the steering wheel tightened. He knew Suo Ran was talking about the months they had spent apart, but he didn't know how to answer. He glanced at him, hoping Suo Ran would look his way, but Suo Ran had already leaned back against the seat. His head rested against the headrest, and his eyes slowly began to close. Cai Lang opened his mouth, but before he could say anything, Suo Ran had fallen asleep again.
Cai Lang drove the rest of the way without disturbing him. By the time they reached his home, Suo Ran was fast asleep, his head resting against the seat. Cai Lang parked the car and turned toward him. "Suo Ran, we're here." He gently touched his shoulder, but Suo Ran only moved his head and made a small sound. Cai Lang sighed and got out of the car. After opening the passenger door, he bent down and carefully lifted Suo Ran into his arms. Suo Ran stirred, his eyes opening just a little. "Where are we going?" Cai Lang looked down at him with a slight smirk. "What do you think?" Suo Ran blinked, trying to understand. "What do you mean?" Cai Lang lightly tapped his forehead. "Inside your home! What were you thinking?" Suo Ran stared at him for a moment, his sleepy eyes still fixed on his face.
Cai Lang smiled. "Unless you were thinking we would finally get a chance to be a little closer..." He didn't get to finish. Suo Ran suddenly mumbled, "Where's the key?" Cai Lang paused, then looked down at him. "That's what I'm asking you. Where is it?" Suo Ran frowned and patted his pockets with one hand, but his movements were slow and clumsy. "Key... I have a key." "I know. Where did you put it?" Suo Ran thought for a moment before pointing vaguely toward his jacket. "There... somewhere. Check properly." Cai Lang almost laughed. "I'm holding you. How am I supposed to check?" Suo Ran gave him a sleepy look, as if that were his problem, then mumbled, "You're not very clever." Cai Lang raised an eyebrow. "I'm not clever?" Suo Ran had already closed his eyes again.
Cai Lang shook his head with a small smile and carefully searched the jacket pocket. He found the key and unlocked the door. Carrying Suo Ran inside, he closed it behind him and went straight to the bedroom. Suo Ran barely moved when Cai Lang lowered him onto the bed. He only turned onto his side and pulled his arm closer to his chest. Cai Lang sat beside him and removed his shoes, placing them neatly near the bed. He loosened his collar and adjusted his clothes so he could lie comfortably. Suo Ran moved when Cai Lang tried to straighten his arm, briefly catching his hand. "What?" Cai Lang looked down at him. Suo Ran didn't answer. His fingers loosened, and his hand fell back onto the bed.
Cai Lang pulled the blanket over him, then went to get a glass of water. He placed it on the bedside table, within easy reach, and turned back to check on him. Just then, Suo Ran slowly opened his eyes. "I'm not sleepy..." he mumbled. Cai Lang looked at his half-closed eyes. "Then keep your eyes open." Suo Ran seemed to take the challenge seriously. He opened his eyes a little wider and stared at Cai Lang. For a few seconds, he managed to stay awake. Then his eyelids began to droop again, and his head sank deeper into the pillow. Cai Lang watched him struggle to keep his eyes open. "Didn't you say you weren't sleepy?" Suo Ran made a small sound but didn't answer. Within seconds, his eyes closed completely.
Cai Lang shook his head and pulled the blanket up to his shoulder. He checked that Suo Ran was comfortable before noticing his phone and other belongings still in his pockets. He took them out carefully and placed them on the bedside table, making sure the phone was within reach. After moving the glass of water a little farther from the edge, he looked at Suo Ran again. "You really are troublesome." he murmured, though there was no annoyance in his voice.
Cai Lang picked up the empty glass from the bedside table and turned toward the door. He had already made sure Suo Ran was comfortable, so he thought he could put the glass away, get a towel, and let him rest. But before he could take another step, someone caught his wrist. He stopped and looked down. Suo Ran was holding him, though his grip was weak. "Don't go..." Suo Ran mumbled. Cai Lang put the glass back on the table and turned toward him. "Do you know who you're holding?" he asked softly. Suo Ran slowly opened his eyes. He looked at Cai Lang for a few seconds, as if trying to see his face clearly. "You..." he murmured. Cai Lang waited for him to say more, but Suo Ran didn't continue. Instead, he pulled Cai Lang's hand closer and rested it near his chest. Cai Lang looked at his hand. Suo Ran was barely holding on, but he made no effort to let go. "Suo Ran!" Cai Lang called softly. Suo Ran only made a small sound and didn't answer.
Cai Lang looked at him for a moment, then slowly moved closer to the bed. He sat down beside him. Suo Ran's fingers were still wrapped around his wrist, and his eyes had already closed again. Cai Lang lowered his gaze. He remembered the last time they had argued. Suo Ran had looked straight at him and told him to leave. Cai Lang had wanted to ask if he really meant it, but in the end, he had said nothing and walked away. He had thought staying away was what Suo Ran wanted. Now, the same person was holding his wrist and asking him not to go.
Cai Lang didn't know what to make of it. He moved his thumb over Suo Ran's fingers. "You told me to leave, remember?" he murmured. Suo Ran didn't respond. His grip loosened slightly, but he didn't let go. Cai Lang watched him for a while, then remembered a time when things between them had been much simpler. There had been many evenings when Suo Ran came back tired and sat beside him without even changing his clothes. Sometimes they would talk for a while, but other times Suo Ran would lie down on the sofa and say he only needed a few minutes of rest. Those few minutes usually turned into an hour. Cai Lang would often find him asleep with one hand holding his sleeve. Once, when he tried to get up, Suo Ran's fingers tightened around his wrist.
Cai Lang looked down at him and smiled. "Are you planning to keep me here all night?" Suo Ran opened one eye. "What?" "You're holding my hand." Suo Ran glanced down and quickly loosened his grip. "I'm not holding you." Cai Lang raised an eyebrow. "Then why can't I move?" "Your sleeve is caught." Cai Lang looked at his sleeve. It wasn't caught on anything. "Is that so?" Suo Ran turned his face toward the back of the sofa. "Stop talking. I'm trying to sleep." Cai Lang chuckled but didn't move again. He simply picked up the book beside him and continued reading, letting Suo Ran hold his sleeve until he woke up. Cai Lang looked down at Suo Ran's hand around his wrist. The gesture was still the same, but things between them were different now.
He gently brushed his thumb over Suo Ran's fingers. "You used to do this all the time," he whispered. "And you always denied it." Suo Ran shifted slightly on the pillow. His fingers loosened for a moment, and Cai Lang thought he had let go. But just as he tried to move his hand, Suo Ran caught his wrist again. "Cai Lang..." Hearing his name, Cai Lang stopped and leaned closer. "I'm here." Suo Ran didn't open his eyes. His brows drew together slightly, and his fingers tightened around Cai Lang's wrist. "Don't disappear again..." Cai Lang went still. He looked at Suo Ran, trying to understand how much he knew about what he was saying. He wanted to ask if he would remember these words in the morning, but Suo Ran was barely awake. So he said nothing and sat back down beside him. "I'm here!" he repeated softly.
Suo Ran's expression slowly relaxed. His grip loosened, but his fingers remained around Cai Lang's wrist. Cai Lang pulled the blanket up to his shoulder and adjusted the pillow when Suo Ran moved. "Is that better?" he asked quietly. Suo Ran didn't answer. His breathing had already settled into a steady rhythm. Cai Lang watched him for a while, then reached for his phone. A few messages appeared on the screen, but he ignored them. He opened his contact list instead and found Suo Ran's name. His thumb rested over it. During the past few months, he had opened this contact more times than he could count. Sometimes he wanted to ask how Suo Ran was doing. Other times, he wanted to share something that had happened during his day, just as he used to. A few times, he had even typed a simple greeting, only to delete it before sending. He always stopped himself with the same thought: Suo Ran had asked him to leave.
Cai Lang stared at the screen for a moment longer before locking his phone and placing it back on the table. He was sitting right beside Suo Ran now, but he still didn't know what he was allowed to say or do. His gaze fell to the hand holding his wrist. A small smile touched his lips. "You make it hard to stay away." he murmured. He carefully tried to move his hand, but Suo Ran's fingers tightened again. Cai Lang stopped and looked at him. "Fine. I'll stay." He shifted closer to the bed and rested his back against the headboard, making sure Suo Ran could keep holding his wrist without stretching.
For a while, he simply sat there, watching him sleep. His eyes then fell on the glass of water beside the bed. He remembered how Suo Ran had struggled to keep his eyes open earlier, insisting that he wasn't sleepy. Cai Lang couldn't help smiling. "You couldn't even stay awake for five minutes, but you kept arguing with me." He shook his head lightly. The smile slowly faded as he looked at Suo Ran again. He reached out and moved the hair away from his forehead. "You were the one who told me to leave," he whispered. "And I was foolish enough to listen." His fingers lingered near Suo Ran's forehead for a moment before he pulled his hand back. "But I don't think I can do it again."
Morning light slipped through the curtains and fell across Suo Ran's face. He frowned and slowly opened his eyes. His head was pounding, and his mouth felt dry. He tried to turn over, but even that small movement made his headache worse. "Ugh..." He pressed his fingers against his forehead and stayed still for a moment, hoping the pain would ease. After a while, he slowly pushed himself up and looked around. The familiar curtains, bedside table, and wardrobe came into view.
Suo Ran let out a quiet breath and looked down at himself. His shoes had been placed neatly beside the bed, and his clothes were no longer as messy as he remembered. His phone, wallet, and keys were arranged on the bedside table. He stared at them for a moment, then frowned. "How did I get home?" he muttered. He tried to remember what had happened after leaving the party, but his memories came back in pieces. He remembered drinking with Zhou Kai and the others. Then he remembered standing up, feeling unsteady, and cai lang catching his arm. After that, he could recall a familiar voice and strong arms lifting him off the ground. He vaguely remembered resting his head against cai lang's shoulder.
Suo Ran rubbed his forehead, trying to put the pieces together. The parking area, the car, and a hand holding his when he had trouble staying awake slowly came back to him. Then a name crossed his mind. "Cai Lang..." he murmured, looking toward the empty space beside the bed. His eyes moved back to his neatly placed belongings. So Cai Lang had brought him home and even taken care of him afterward. Suo Ran leaned against the headboard and closed his eyes for a moment. A few words from the previous night came back to him, but he couldn't remember the whole conversation. He frowned, trying to recall what else he might have said or done. "What did I do last night?" he muttered. He pressed his fingers against his forehead again and let out a tired sigh. "Of course. I had to get drunk enough to cause trouble."
A knock came from the bedroom door. Suo Ran turned his head slightly, but even that small movement made his headache worse. He pressed his fingers against his forehead and called out, "Come in." The door opened, and Jun Wei peeked inside. When he saw Suo Ran sitting on the bed with a tired expression, a smile appeared on his face. "Gege, you're awake." "Unfortunately, yes!" Suo Ran replied, lowering his hand and leaning back against the headboard. Jun Wei stepped inside and closed the door behind him. He walked closer, looking at Suo Ran's face before glancing at the glass of water on the bedside table. "You look terrible."
Suo Ran gave him a tired look. "Good morning to you too." Jun Wei pulled the chair closer to the bed and sat down, resting his arms on its back. "Did you drink too much last night?" "A little." Suo Ran reached for the glass and took a few sips before placing it back. Jun Wei raised an eyebrow. "How much is a little?" Suo Ran rubbed his forehead and sighed. "Enough. Now stop asking questions." Jun Wei tried to hold back a laugh, but the corners of his mouth still lifted. "So, a lot."
Suo Ran shook his head, then immediately regretted it when another wave of pain passed through his head. He closed his eyes and pressed his fingers against his forehead. Jun Wei noticed his expression and leaned forward. "Does it hurt that much?" "I'm fine!" Suo Ran replied, slowly opening his eyes. "Should I get you something?" Jun Wei asked, his teasing expression fading. "No. Just give me a minute." Suo Ran picked up the glass and finished the remaining water. After a while, he pushed the blanket aside and slowly got out of bed. Jun Wei followed him toward the door, staying close behind. Suo Ran glanced over his shoulder. "Why are you following me?" "Because you look like you might fall over."
Suo Ran gave him a helpless look but didn't argue. When they reached the dining area, he pulled out a chair and sat down. Jun Wei went to the kitchen and returned with a glass of honey water, placing it in front of him. "Drink this first." Suo Ran looked at the glass. "I already drank water." "Then drink some more." Suo Ran sighed but picked it up anyway. After a few sips, he put it down and reached for his chopsticks. "When did you become so bossy?" Jun Wei sat opposite him and pointed at his plate. "When you started coming home looking like this." Suo Ran gave him a small smile and began eating. He had barely taken a few bites when Jun Wei noticed him pushing the food around his plate. "You should eat properly. You barely touched your breakfast." Suo Ran looked down at his plate and picked up another bite. "I'm eating, aren't I?" "You're moving the food around more than eating it." Jun Wei watched him put the food into his mouth before returning to his own breakfast.
They ate quietly for a few minutes until Jun Wei looked up again. "By the way, how did you get home last night?" Suo Ran's chopsticks stopped halfway to his mouth. He lowered them and glanced at his brother. "What?" "You went to the party, but I didn't hear you come home. When I woke up this morning, you were already in your room." Suo Ran looked down at his plate. The memory of someone catching his arm before he fell came back to him, followed by the feeling of being lifted into someone's arms. He could almost hear that familiar voice again. "Someone brought me home," he answered after a brief pause. Jun Wei tilted his head. "Who?" Suo Ran picked up another bite, avoiding his gaze. "A friend." "Which friend?" Jun Wei asked, clearly curious.Suo Ran glanced at him. "You don't need to know everything." Jun Wei shrugged. "I was just asking." "And I answered." Suo Ran returned to his food, hoping that would end the conversation.
After breakfast, he carried his plate to the kitchen and placed it in the sink. When he returned to the dining table, his phone was still lying beside his chair. He picked it up and checked his messages. Several messages from Zhou Kai and the others appeared on the screen, asking whether he had reached home safely. Suo Ran smiled faintly and replied that he was fine. He thanked them for the evening and promised to meet them again sometime. As he finished typing, his thumb stopped. His eyes had moved to Cai Lang's contact. There was no new message. Suo Ran stared at their conversation for a while, then scrolled up slightly. The last messages were still from months ago.
He stopped and locked the screen, but after a few seconds, he unlocked it again. He brought me home. I should at least thank him. He opened their conversation and typed, Thanks for bringing me home last night... His thumb hovered over the send button. He read the words again.It's only a thank-you. There's nothing wrong with sending it, yet I can't bring myself to press the button...
After another moment, he deleted the message one word at a time and locked his phone. I wanted distance. I was the one who asked for it. So why was a simple thank-you suddenly so difficult?... "Gege?" Suo Ran looked up quickly. Jun Wei had returned and was standing beside the table, holding a small bowl of fruit. "What?" Suo Ran asked, placing his phone face down. Jun Wei set the bowl in front of him and pulled out the chair opposite. "Are you listening to me?" Suo Ran glanced at him. "I am." Jun Wei narrowed his eyes slightly. "Then what did I just say?" Suo Ran looked at the bowl, then back at him. "Something about food?"
Jun Wei let out a disappointed sigh and shook his head. "I said you should eat some fruit. You haven't eaten much breakfast." Suo Ran picked up a piece of fruit and took a bite. "There. Happy?" Jun Wei smiled and leaned back in his chair. "A little." Suo Ran chewed slowly before reaching for his phone again. Jun Wei's eyes followed the movement. "You've been looking at your phone a lot today." Suo Ran turned the screen off and placed it on the table. "I was replying to messages." Jun Wei rested his chin on his hand. "To whom?" Suo Ran looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "My friends."
Jun Wei tilted his head,"Which friends?" Suo Ran gave him a warning look. "Why are you suddenly so interested in my phone?" Jun Wei shrugged, but his smile gave him away. "Because you've been staring at it like you're waiting for someone to reply." Suo Ran turned the phone face down again. "I'm not waiting for anyone." Jun Wei lifted both hands, looking innocent. "I didn't say you were." Suo Ran picked up another piece of fruit and pointed it at him. "Finish putting the dishes away instead of bothering me." Jun Wei laughed as he stood up and collected the empty bowl. "All right, all right. I'm going." Suo Ran watched him go before looking at his phone again. He turned it over, stared at the dark screen for a moment, then placed it back on the table without opening the conversation.