As soon as the car pulled into the private hangar, Qingran’s gaze swept across the tarmac.
No sign of Haoyu.
Her chest tightened. She parked near the aircraft and climbed out quickly, motioning for Yichen to stay put.
"Wait here. Don’t talk to anyone, and don’t try anything stupid," she said curtly.
Yichen raised an eyebrow but didn’t argue. "You think I’m going to hijack a plane? Relax."
She turned to Anya. "This is my older brother Tzang Yichen. Keep an eye on him while I go search for Haoyu."
Anya nodded as Yichen climbed on the craft, finding a spot to seat down.
anwhile, Haoyu moved quickly through the narrow stairwell, his breaths uneven.
He had checked ng Nian’s building three tis now.
Apartnt locked. No answer. No signs of him.
He rang again. Nothing.
"Damn it..."
He ran a hand through his hair, about to give up, when he caught movent from the other side of the building—soone descending the opposite staircase.
His heart jumped. It was ng Nian.
He looked thinner, slightly pale, his expression heavy with sothing unreadable.
Haoyu didn’t hesitate. He sprinted down the path, calling out.
"ng Nian!"
The man paused and turned, his eyes eting Haoyu’s with the calm coldness of soone who had waited for long.
Haoyu reached him, nearly breathless. "You’re okay, you’re really okay, I thought.."
But ng Nian’s expression didn’t soften.
"Are you back from your little trip?" His voice sharp and clipped. "You had waiting for you like a little fool. Was it funny? ssing with ?"
Haoyu froze, stunned. "I..I told you I was going on a trip, didn’t I?"
ng Nian laughed bitterly, shaking his head. "Yeah. After I searched and worried for two days. Then you send one damn ssage and disappear again."
Haoyu’s breath hitched. "It wasn’t like that. I was..."
"What do you take for, Tang Haoyu?" ng Nian’s eyes glinted with sothing dangerously close to hurt. "So background character? A side story you can mute and unmute whenever you feel like?"
Haoyu opened his mouth, then closed it again, guilt washing over him in waves. He hadn’t ant to make ng Nian feel like that.
"I’m sorry," he said quietly. "But I ca back for you."
"..."
"You needed sothing from that’s why you seeked out, even now..if not you’d never co to see on your own.."
Haoyu gulped because all he had said was true, it was the system that forced them to et each other. If not he would have avoided him for the rest of his life.
ng Nian turned his face away, clenching the bag tightly before he continued walking.
Haoyu eyes widened as he raised after him, grabbing his arm this ti.
"Co with . Please, it’s dangerous here.."
ng Nian didn’t move, staring at Haoyu’s arms on his. "Why should I?"
"Because this ti, I’m not leaving without you."
ng Nian didn’t speak at first. The silence between them was thick, but not empty.
It was filled with all the words Haoyu should’ve said earlier, all the hours ng Nian had waited alone, and all the doubts that had festered in that silence.
Haoyu took a breath. "I ssed up. I didn’t an to leave you in the dark like that. But I had no choice, I had to go. Older sister Qingran needed ."
ng Nian finally turned his gaze back to him, his voice still cold. "And I didn’t deserve to be told that properly?"
"You did." Haoyu admitted, swallowing hard. "You did. I just thought I could protect you better if you didn’t get involved. But I was wrong. I know that now, I should have cared about your feelings when I made that decision."
ng Nian looked at him long and hard. The hurt hadn’t vanished, but sothing in his eyes flickered.
"...Is it really that bad?" he asked, softer this ti. "Whatever you’re running from?"
Haoyu nodded. "Worse than I expected. There’s no more ti. We’re not coming back here after today."
ng Nian took that in, his jaw tight. "And you want to just pack up and go with you?"
"Yes." Haoyu didn’t hesitate. "I want you safe. And I want you with ."
ng Nian crossed his arms, letting out a quiet breath. "I should let you sweat a bit longer."
"You can yell at the whole flight, I swear." Haoyu said quickly. "Just... don’t stay here."
Another beat of silence passed.
Then ng Nian rolled his eyes and muttered, "I haven’t packed."
Haoyu let out a breathless laugh, stepping forward to pull him into a tight hug. "I don’t care. Just co."
ng Nian hesitated, just for a second before his arms ca up and held Haoyu back.
"Next ti you disappear like that." he whispered into his shoulder, "I’m really going to kill you."
Haoyu smiled against his neck. "Deal."
Haoyu didn’t let go.
Even as ng Nian pulled back slightly, Haoyu’s hand lingered at his waist, firm like he was afraid to lose him again.
The space between them barely existed anymore, breaths mixing, tension thick and unmistakable.
"I missed you." Haoyu said quietly, his voice rough. He realized with ng Nian, he could be his immature self.
ng Nian didn’t answer. But his eyes flicked down to Haoyu’s lips, then back up. Slowly.
"You look terrible." he murmured, tone softer now, almost teasing. "Like you haven’t slept in days."
Haoyu huffed. "Couldn’t. Every ti I closed my eyes, I saw your face. And not the nice version, the pissed one."
ng Nian gave a breath of laughter. "Serves you right."
"Still worth it." Haoyu murmured, brushing a strand of hair behind ng Nian’s ear. "Even if you curse out again. I’d still choose you."
ng Nian tilted his head, eyes gleaming with sothing darker, sothing unresolved. "You’re always saying these things when you’re trying to get away with sothing."
"I’m not trying to get away. I’m trying to make it up to you." Haoyu said, dipping his head just a bit lower. "Starting now."
His lips found the corner of ng Nian’s mouth first, light and testing.
Then jaw, then neck, slow and deliberate. The scent of cologne and frustration clung to his skin.
ng Nian drew in a sharp breath. "You think kissing will make forgive you?"
"No." Haoyu said, dragging his teeth lightly along his collarbone. "But it might shut you up long enough for to try."
He felt ng Nian’s hand curl into his shirt, tight in warning. "You’re such an ass."
He wrapped his hands around, Haoyu and raised him up.
"We don’t have to head back right now mhm? Let’s have so fun."
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