Suo Ran and Lian Ziho reached an old café on a quiet street.The place looked almost empty from outside,with only a few lights glowing through the dusty windows.A weak breeze moved the loose sign above the entrance.Lian Ziho parked near the sidewalk and switched off the engine,but he remained behind the wheel for a moment,his eyes fixed on the café.Suo Ran noticed his expression."Something wrong?"
Lian Ziho glanced at him."He should have been here already."He checked the time on his phone and frowned slightly before putting it away."How long has it been since he contacted you?" Suo Ran asked.Lian Ziho opened the door."Three years."Suo Ran paused."And he suddenly asks you to meet him?""That's the part I don't like."Lian Ziho stepped out and walked around the car.He opened Suo Ran's door before Suo Ran could reach for the handle.
They crossed the sidewalk together.Lian Ziho pushed the café door open and held it until Suo Ran entered.The bell above them gave a soft ring.The café was quiet only few customers sat near the windows while an employee stood behind the counter.The table Lian Ziho had mentioned was empty. Lian Ziho stopped near the entrance.His eyes moved across the room once,slowly and carefully."He's not here."
Suo Ran stood beside him,his gaze moving in another direction."Did he tell you where he'd sit?""Back table."Lian Ziho pointed toward the far corner.They walked over.The chair was empty and there was only glass of water on the table.Lian Ziho picked up his phone."He didn't calls and messages."Suo Ran glanced at the untouched glass."Maybe he left."Lian ziho looked at him."Without telling me?"Lian Ziho shook his head."He wouldn't."Before either could say more,his phone vibrated.
Lian Ziho looked down.His expression changed instantly.Suo Ran noticed."What?" Instead of answering,Lian Ziho turned the screen toward him.The message was short. *Don't come inside.*Suo Ran looked at the words,then slowly raised his eyes."That's a little late.""Very."Lian Ziho's jaw tightened. He looked toward the entrance."He sent this while we were walking in.""Which means he knew we were coming.""Or someone else knew."The phone vibrated again.Both men looked down.The second message appeared.*Someone followed you.*Suo Ran's eyes immediately moved toward the window.Lian Ziho caught his wrist before he could turn fully.
Suo Ran glanced down at Lian Ziho's hand around his wrist,then back at his face."You really think someone followed us?""I don't know."Lian Ziho's eyes moved toward the window."But that message came after we entered,and whoever sent it knew exactly where we were."He released Suo Ran and casually moved toward the window.He stopped beside a table and pretended to examine the menu while using the glass to watch the street.Suo Ran remained where he was."See anything?" he asked quietly. "Nothing obvious."Lian Ziho's eyes stayed on the reflection.He lowered the menu and looked back at Suo Ran."Move away from the window."
Suo Ran started to protest,but Lian Ziho was already walking toward him."Why?" "Because if someone is watching us,I don't want them knowing we've noticed."He touched Suo Ran's shoulder and guided him toward the back of the café.Suo Ran glanced at his hand."You know,you can just tell me to move.""I am telling you."Lian Ziho's voice remained quiet."And I'm asking you to take this seriously."Suo Ran looked at him for a moment before nodding."All right."
Lian Ziho released his shoulder and glanced once more toward the window."If someone followed us,we don't know what they want yet.""Then we shouldn't give them a chance to decide for us."Lian Ziho met his eyes. "Exactly."For a moment,neither spoke then Lian Ziho noticed the narrow doorway at the back.It stood slightly open.He stopped."Was that open when we came in?"Suo Ran looked at it."I didn't notice."
Lian Ziho took a slow step toward it."Stay here."Suo Ran immediately followed."No." Lian Ziho glanced back."Suo Ran.""If you're checking it,I'm checking it too."For a moment they stood facing each other in the narrow space.Lian Ziho looked like he wanted to argue,but instead he nodded. "Fine.Just stay close."He pushed the door open with one hand and looked inside before entering.The back room was small and empty.A second door stood partly open at the far end.Lian Ziho stepped inside first. His eyes moved across the shelves,the floor, and the open doorway."Clear."
Suo Ran followed him."Someone was here." Lian Ziho looked toward the table."How do you know?"Suo Ran pointed towards cup of tea.Lian Ziho walked over and stopped beside the table.He held his hand above the cup without touching it."Intersting! "Suo Ran looked toward the open door."Then whoever was here didn't leave long ago."Lian Ziho's gaze moved toward the doorway."Could still be nearby."Suo Ran took a step toward it. Lian Ziho immediately caught his arm. "Wait."Suo Ran stopped."What?""Look at the floor."A few faint marks were visible near the doorway.Suo Ran crouched slightly.Lian Ziho lowered himself beside him."It's fresh." Suo Ran looked at him."You noticed that fast.""Because whoever left them wasn't trying to hide their exit."
Suo Ran studied the marks."Or they wanted us to notice."Lian Ziho's expression tightened."That's possible."He looked toward the open door again."Which means we shouldn't assume we're the ones following the trail."Suo Ran slowly straightened."You think we're being led somewhere.""I think someone wants us to believe we're finding something on our own." Suo Ran looked toward the doorway. "Then we need to be careful about what we touch.""And where we go next."
Lian Ziho straightened and looked around again."But I'd rather understand why we're here before we leave."Suo Ran stood beside him."You don't have to keep putting yourself between me and everything."Lian Ziho looked at him for a moment."I'm aware." "Then why do you?"Lian Ziho's expression softened,but this time his answer came quietly."Because if something happens,I'd rather it happen to me first."Suo Ran's expression changed."Don't say that.""I'm not trying to be dramatic."Lian Ziho held his gaze."I'm telling you what I'm going to do." Suo Ran stared at him for a second before looking away.
Suo Ran looked at him and laughed. "You're getting good at saying things like that." Lian Ziho glanced at him,slightly caught off guard by the comment. "Like what?" "Things that sound..." Suo Ran paused,trying to find the right way to explain it. He lightly tapped the photograph against his palm. "Like a person who always cares about someone. And somehow you make it sound a little flirty too." Lian Ziho's lips curved slightly. "Is that a problem?" "No." Suo Ran shook his head,still amused. "I'm just saying,you seem to have the whole serious-and-charming thing figured out." Lian Ziho raised an eyebrow. "Serious and charming?" "Don't get too pleased with yourself." Suo Ran gave him a small smile. "You should save some of that for whoever you end up liking." The words caught Lian Ziho off guard for a moment. His fingers tightened slightly around the photograph before he relaxed them again. "Why?" "Because it sounds like you've been practicing."
Suo Ran tilted his head slightly,then added casually,"Is there anyone you're seeing?" Lian Ziho looked at him for a second."Why are you asking?" "I'm curious." Suo Ran shrugged and rested one hand on the table. "You never really talk about that kind of thing." Lian Ziho looked towards the window. "And if there was?" Suo Ran watched him for a moment. "Then I'd probably want to know who managed to get you to act like this." He gave a small laugh. "You'd probably be different around them."
Lian Ziho stayed quiet. He looked out of the window again,His eyes became wet,so he quickly turned his head away and wiped the corner of eye with his finger.He turned toward him."Maybe." Suo Ran looked at him with smile."So there is someone?" he asked.Lian Ziho lowered his eyes"Maybe."
Suo Ran rested his hand on the table. "Have you ever done anything that made them realize you love them?" Lian Ziho's fingers moved lightly over photograph. He paused for a moment before murmuring softly, "Maybe I already have." Suo Ran looked at him. "What?" Lian Ziho immediately gave a quiet laugh and shook his head. "Nothing." "You said something." "I changed my mind." Suo Ran narrowed his eyes slightly,not convinced,but Lian Ziho had already turned toward the rest of the room. "Come on. We're wasting time." Suo Ran watched him for a second before following. "You're avoiding the question."
Then they searched the room.Nothing seemed unusual then Suo Ran noticed something under the table."There's something there."He bent down,but Lian Ziho reached him first."I'll get it.""You really don't trust me to pick up a piece of paper?""I don't trust the person who left it."Lian Ziho crouched down and pulled out a plain envelope.He didn't open it immediately.He turned it over in his hand.His name was written across the front.Suo Ran stepped closer."It's addressed to you."
Lian Ziho ran his thumb along the edge of the envelope,studying it."Whoever left this knew I would come."Suo Ran's expression hardened."Then they wanted you here."Lian Ziho looked at him."That's what concerns me."Suo Ran held his gaze."Open it."After a moment,Lian Ziho tore the envelope open. He pulled out an old photograph and stared at it.His friend was standing outside an old building.The photograph looked several years old.Lian Ziho slowly turned it over.Suo Ran watched his face change as he read the words on the back.There was only one sentence: *You should have stayed away.*
Suo Ran leaned closer,He put one hand lightly against the edge of the table,his gaze moving over every detail of the faded photograph.The sleeve of his jacket had shifted slightly toward his wrist,and he absently pushed it back into place before looking at the building again."Do you recognize the building?"Lian Ziho nodded slowly."Yes."He turned the photograph slightly toward the light,his thumb brushing over one worn corner."Where is it?""The eastern side of the city.There used to be a storage facility there."
Suo Ran looked at the photograph again.His eyes narrowed as he studied the dark windows and weathered walls."Used to be?" "It was shut down years ago."Lian Ziho's thumb moved across the corner of the photograph.His expression had grown quieter,and a few strands of hair had fallen slightly across his forehead.He pushed them back with the back of his hand before continuing."My friend worked there for a while."
Suo Ran looked at him."Doing what?"Lian Ziho's fingers paused against the photograph."He never told me everything." "That's not an answer."Suo Ran leaned back slightly,crossing his arms as he watched him."It's the only one I have."Lian Ziho finally lowered the photograph.He adjusted the cuff of his coat slowly,his eyes remaining on the table for a moment before lifting toward Suo Ran."He was involved in something I didn't understand at the time." Suo Ran studied his expression."And now?" "Now I think he was trying to keep me from understanding it."
Suo Ran's eyes narrowed.He uncrossed his arms and reached toward the photograph again,but stopped just before touching it. "Did he have enemies?"Lian Ziho didn't answer.He placed the photograph on the table and stared at the words written on its back.His jaw tightened slightly."Everyone has enemies.""I'm not asking everyone." Suo Ran stepped around the table,his attention fixed on Lian Ziho rather than the photograph."I'm asking about him."Lian Ziho looked up.His eyes met Suo Ran's,and for a moment neither of them spoke."There was one person."
Suo Ran waited.He tilted his head slightly, his expression becoming more serious. "Someone you knew?" "Someone I knew through him."Lian Ziho leaned back against the edge of the table and slowly straightened the collar of his coat,his fingers lingering there for a moment before dropping."I never wanted to cross that person again."Suo Ran's gaze sharpened.He took one quiet step closer."Who?"Lian Ziho opened his mouth.The lights suddenly went out and room disappeared into darkness.
Suo Ran took a step back on instinct,but his leg caught against the edge of the sofa.He lost his balance and fell back onto it."Damn!" Before he could get up,a small flame light appeared in front of him.The weak flame illuminated part of his face as he turned toward Suo Ran."Are you hurt?""No."Suo Ran steadied himself and looked at him.Lian Ziho stepped closer,holding the lighter up so he could see.He hesitated for a moment before offering his free hand."Get up slowly."
Suo Ran looked at the hand,then at Lian Ziho's face."I'm fine.""I know."Lian Ziho kept his hand there."Just take it." After brief pause,Suo Ran took his hand and tried to stand.His injured leg suddenly gave way,and he stumbled back onto the sofa. Lian Ziho caught him before he could fall. "Suo Ran." He raised the lighter closer,using the small flame to see what had happened. The light fell across Suo Ran's leg,and Lian Ziho noticed the swelling around his ankle. His expression tightened. "What happened to your leg?" Suo Ran looked down. "This?" "Yes,this."
Lian Ziho moved the lighter slightly closer without touching him. "It's swollen." Suo Ran shifted his leg carefully. "I burned it a few days ago." Lian Ziho glanced at him. "How?" "It was small accident." "And it was fine before this?" "Mostly." Suo Ran looked down at his ankle. "It had already started healing. I just hit it when I fell." Lian Ziho's gaze stayed on the swelling for a moment. "So that's why it hurts again." Suo Ran moved his foot a little. "It's nothing serious. Just sore because I landed on it."
Lian Ziho let out a quiet breath and looked around the room. "Stay there." "Where are you going?" "To find something." He moved toward the counter,holding the lighter up as he searched through the drawers. Suo Ran watched him open one drawer after another. "You don't have to—" "I know." Lian Ziho cut him off without looking back. "Just stay still." A few seconds later,he found a small first-aid box tucked inside the bottom drawer. He brought it back and crouched in front of Suo Ran. "Give me your leg." "It's really not that bad." "You just fell trying to stand."
Suo Ran had no answer to that. He slowly extended his leg. Lian Ziho placed the first-aid box beside him and checked the swollen area. His movements were gentle,even in the weak light. "Does this hurt?" "A little." "Here?" "More." Lian Ziho stopped immediately. "You should have said something earlier." Suo Ran gave a small shrug. "It happened a few days ago. I thought it would get better." "And when it didn't?" "I ignored it." Lian Ziho shook his head and opened the box. "Of course you did." He took out a cold pack and wrapped it in a clean cloth before placing it carefully against Suo Ran's ankle.
Suo Ran flinched slightly at the cold. "Better?" "Yeah." Lian Ziho kept the cloth in place for a moment. "Keep it there for a while." Lian Ziho closed the first-aid box and pushed it aside."Try not to put too much weight on it." "I'll try." Lian Ziho stared at him."That's not very convincing." "What do you want me to say?" "I'll listen to you." Suo Ran paused,then gave a small smile. "That sounds difficult." "For you,it probably is." Suo Ran laughed. "You're getting bold." "You started it." Lian Ziho stood and held out his hand again. "Now try."
Suo Ran looked at the hand,then slowly took it. This time he stood carefully,keeping most of his weight on his right leg.Lian Ziho stayed beside him. Suo Ran glanced at him. "Thanks." "You're welcome." Suo Ran looked down at his ankle. "I suppose I owe you one." Lian Ziho picked up the lighter again. "I'll remember that." Suo Ran shook his head with a quiet laugh.Lian Ziho's eyes lingered on Suo Ran's face a little longer than necessary.
Suo Ran noticed only the darkness beyond him."Someone's here."Lian Ziho lowered the lighter slightly."I heard it too."Then faint sound came from the hallway.Both turned toward it.Lian Ziho stepped closer to Suo Ran,his voice dropping."Stay behind me." Suo Ran frowned."I can handle myself."Lian Ziho glanced at him."I'm still asking."Suo Ran held his gaze for a moment,then nodded."Fine."The sound came again,but neither of them moved.Lian Ziho kept the lighter raised,his shoulder almost touching Suo Ran's.Then the lights came back and both of them blinked against the sudden brightness.
Lian Ziho lowered the lighter and looked toward the hallway."We should go."Suo Ran nodded and turned toward the entrance.
After a few steps,he stopped."Wait."Lian Ziho turned back."What?"Suo Ran glanced toward the table.The photograph was gone,and so was the envelope."The envelope."Lian Ziho walked back slowly and stared at the empty space."It's gone."Suo Ran frowned."But it was empty."Lian Ziho didn't answer.Suo Ran looked at him."We took the photograph out ourselves.There was nothing else inside."
Lian Ziho remained silent for a moment. Then he looked toward the hallway."Then why take an empty envelope?"Suo Ran's expression changed."Unless..." He stopped.Lian Ziho turned toward him. "Unless what?"Suo Ran looked back at the table."Unless we missed something. "Neither of them spoke.The café suddenly felt colder than before.Lian Ziho's hand slowly tightened around the lighter."What did we miss?"
Meanwhile Han Yi stood beside the desk with one hand in his pocket,the other holding a file he had stopped reading several minutes ago.His glasses had slipped slightly down the bridge of his nose,but he didn't bother pushing them back yet."Anything?" he asked.Qin Yue didn't answer right away, She clicked through another screen,then leaned closer."Maybe."Han Yi adjusted his glasses with one finger and waited.
Qin Yue tapped the keyboard again and new set of records appeared on the monitor.She leaned forward until her face was only a few inches from the screen,then narrowed her eyes."I finally traced the searches."Han Yi moved behind her chair."To where?""Not a normal database."Qin Yue pointed at the screen with the end of her pen."The requests were routed through an internal access point."Han Yi bent slightly to read the information."Internal to what?""That's what took so long."
Qin Yue opened another window and entered another command."The access point is connected to an old investigation archive."Han Yi's expression changed slightly."Which archive?""The old case system."She leaned back and crossed her arms."The one they stopped using months ago."Han Yi was quiet for a moment.He reached over and moved one of the folders away from the keyboard so Qin Yue could work without knocking it onto the floor."Then whoever searched for Suo Ran didn't just find his name.""No."Qin Yue turned the monitor slightly toward him."They had access to the archive itself."
Han Yi studied the records,his eyes moving across the timestamps."Can you trace the account?""I'm working on it."Qin Yue grabbed a pen from the desk and tapped it against the edge of the keyboard.She stopped tapping after a few seconds and began scrolling through the authorization history."The system doesn't show a normal user login.The request came through an old authorization layer.""Meaning?""Meaning someone used credentials that shouldn't still work."
Han Yi pushed his glasses back into place. "Who still has access?"Qin Yue opened another file."That's the problem."She scanned the list,then started reading."Three former investigators.Two archive administrators.And one external consultant who was given temporary access during the old investigation."Han Yi looked at the screen."Names."Qin Yue turned the monitor back toward herself and scrolled slowly. "Chen Rui.Archive administrator.Luo Ming. Former investigator.Zhao Wen.Former investigator..."She stopped.Her finger remained on the trackpad.
Han Yi noticed the sudden silence and looked at her."And?"Qin Yue stared at the final name for a moment."And this one." "Who?"Qin Yue read the name again before answering."Guo Sheng."Han Yi went completely still."That's impossible."Qin Yue looked up at him."You know him?""We thought he disappeared."Qin Yue turned fully in her chair."When?""Months ago."Han Yi pulled the chair beside her and sat down.He took the mouse from her and opened the personnel record himself."How sure are we?"Qin Yue's expression became more serious."His last official record says he left the city.""And after that?""Nothing."She opened another file."No phone activity.No registered address change.No financial activity under his known identity."
Han Yi stared at the screen for several seconds before releasing the mouse."But his credentials were just used.""Exactly."Qin Yue turned toward him."And not just to search for Suo Ran."Han Yi looked at her. "What else?""They accessed the old investigation files."She clicked through the access history and enlarged the timestamps."Several files were opened before Suo Ran's records were searched." Han Yi leaned closer."Which files?"Qin Yue pointed to the screen."The kidnapping case."
Han Yi slowly removed his glasses and wiped them with the edge of his shirt before putting them back on."So someone connected to that case is looking for Suo Ran.""That's what it looks like."Qin Yue reached for her coffee,but the cup was empty.She frowned at it,then set it back down without drinking."Could it be someone using Guo Sheng's credentials?" "Possible."Qin Yue leaned back and crossed one ankle over the other."But whoever did it knew exactly where to look."
Han Yi's fingers tapped once against the desk."We need to know what they were looking for.""Already checking."Qin Yue turned back to the computer and began scrolling again.She moved quickly through the records,occasionally stopping to compare two timestamps."There." "What?" "They opened one file three times."Han Yi moved closer."Which one?"Qin Yue read the title."The transfer records."
Han Yi's expression hardened."Jun Wei?" "Yes."She clicked the record open and enlarged the access history."First access was at 9:12.Second at 9:19.Third at 9:31." Han Yi looked at the times."They kept coming back to it.""Looks like it."Qin Yue dragged the cursor farther down the list."And right after that..."Her voice stopped.Han Yi looked at her."What?"Qin Yue pointed at the next entry."Suo Ran's personal investigation file."Han Yi didn't speak for several seconds. He stood and walked toward the window,his hands resting loosely in his pockets.The city lights reflected faintly across the glass.
Qin Yue watched him from the desk."You're thinking the same thing I am."Han Yi didn't turn around."Probably.""They weren't just looking for Jun Wei."Han Yi shook his head. "No.They were following the connection." Han Yi finally turned back."And that connection leads to Suo Ran."Qin Yue nodded."We should tell him."Han Yi looked at the phone on the desk."I think so.""We don't know who's behind it.""Exactly."She pushed herself out of the chair and stretched her shoulders before walking over to him. "Which is why he should know someone is searching for him."
Han Yi turned back toward the desk."Call him."Qin Yue reached for her phone."You want me to?""No."Han Yi pulled his own phone from his pocket."I'll do it."Qin Yue paused and looked at him for a moment. "You know,you're getting pretty interested in Suo Ran these days."Han Yi glanced at her."I'm interested in the case.""The case?" Qin Yue repeated,trying not to smile."Of course."Han Yi gave her a warning look. "What?""Nothing."She raised both hands innocently."I was just asking."
Han Yi sighed quietly."Are you done?"Qin Yue tilted her head."So it's really because of the case,right?""Yes.""Not because you're suddenly worried about him?"Han Yi adjusted his glasses."He's involved in the investigation."Qin Yue's expression changed."I was only asking whether there was another reason."Han Yi paused briefly."There isn't.""Understood."Qin Yue returned her attention to the monitor."Then I won't interfere."He unlocked the screen and searched for Suo Ran's number.The call screen appeared.His thumb hovered over the button,but before he could press it,the computer behind them gave a sharp notification sound.Qin Yue immediately turned."What now?"She crossed the room quickly and leaned over the monitor.Her fingers moved across the keyboard,opening the new alert.Her expression changed."Han Yi."