“Hey, are you still going to wait? I’m just saying, it’s already past the time you agreed on—don’t tell me someone’s stood you up?” Wang Lin had just returned with a few freshly mixed drinks when he saw Bo Rui still sitting there and couldn’t help but comment.
In truth, Wang Lin had been irritated with Bo Rui for a while. He came to this bar to work, hoping to charm someone suitable, but ever since Bo Rui sat down, all the attention that should have been on him went straight to Bo Rui. How was he supposed to get any work done? This guy had to go.
Bo Rui glanced at him. Wang Lin, a little flustered, went silent.
Even Bo Rui found the situation strange. When he’d messaged Yu Junqing earlier, they’d agreed that Yu Junqing would call him at eleven with the location, and then he’d go pick him up. Yu Junqing had mentioned there might be a slight delay, so Bo Rui hadn’t thought much of it. But now, thinking about it, Yu Junqing was normally punctual. This much of a delay didn’t make sense.
After pondering for a moment, Bo Rui decided to call Yu Junqing.
Wang Lin noticed Bo Rui’s worried expression. “If that’s your brother, then I must be a—” he scoffed, muttering to himself, and ignored him. Who needed to see a guy so desperate to wait for his ‘brother’?
The phone rang: “…ring…ring…ring…” slow and steady, yet somehow tightening around Bo Rui’s chest like a creeping vine. His expression darkened with each passing second.
“What, didn’t pick up? Drunk?” Wang Lin teased, seeing Bo Rui anxious like this. He didn’t trust the whole “brother” thing anyway.
“No, he shouldn’t be drunk—he took some sobering medicine before leaving,” Bo Rui said, checking the time. It was already past 11:30, well beyond the agreed hour.
Wang Lin stared at Bo Rui like he’d seen a ghost. “Sobering medicine? Where is he going, planning to die?”
“I’m heading over first,” Bo Rui said, making his exit. Ever since he sat down, he’d felt uneasy. The bar was far too open, the stares too bold. If he hadn’t been chatting with Wang Lin, those burning looks might have escalated.
On the way to the car, he called Yu Junqing again—still no answer. Could he really be drunk? Bo Rui groaned.
No choice. He decided to make a trip to the apartment complex. First, he called the gatekeeper.
“Old Li, who’s on night duty tonight?”
“Oh, it’s you. Old Cui’s on tonight. Late returning?” Old Li had been about to sleep, but the call was timely.
“Yes. Can you ask him to leave the gate open? I might be late.” Bo Rui input the Qizhen Hotel address into his GPS.
“Sure, drive safely!” Old Li replied, hanging up. His spouse chimed in, “Who’s calling so late?”
Old Li smiled and didn’t answer. He called Old Cui quickly, then finally explained, “It’s that Bo Rui kid.”
“Oh, Bo Rui? Must be something urgent.” Soon, his spouse had dozed off, snoring lightly.
Qizhen Hotel wasn’t far, and at this hour there was no traffic. Bo Rui soon arrived.
Asking around, he learned that Yu Junqing’s crew had already moved to their second location; some had even gone home. Bo Rui frowned.
Yu Junqing knew the apartment’s night gate times. They had agreed on the meeting—he shouldn’t have missed it. Could he have been drunk and taken home?
Unlikely. Bo Rui had reminded him earlier about people lingering near the complex. Yu Junqing wasn’t careless enough to reveal his location at this critical moment.
“Sir!” the front desk girl called suddenly. Something had just occurred to her.
“What is it?” Bo Rui asked, turning around.
She hesitated, then pointed outside and whispered, “Some time ago, I saw a man jump from our upper balcony. I must have been dozing, so I thought I imagined it.” She looked slightly embarrassed; technically, she shouldn’t have been napping on duty.
Bo Rui thanked her and went outside.
The area in front of the hotel was open, with a second-floor balcony above. Bo Rui glanced at the height—it was much higher than a normal second floor. Anyone jumping from there must have been forced.
…Well, the good do seem lucky, the bad cursed.
Relaxing slightly, Bo Rui took out his phone, checked, and quickly located Yu Junqing’s GPS.
This kind of tech was surprisingly useful—life imitating art, as they say. He hadn’t expected to actually need it, but here it was.
The little icon on the map was moving toward the outskirts. Bo Rui pressed the gas and sped off.
Yu Junqing had likely been gone for a while. Even if Bo Rui caught up, he might be too late.
In the rearview mirror, his brows were tightly furrowed, knuckles tapping the steering wheel anxiously. Normally, his thin lips pressed into a straight line, a bit paler than usual, making one almost want to tenderly restore their color.
“Hmm… no choice,” Bo Rui sighed. Only a shortcut might work now.
After a traffic light, he turned sharply into an unknown alley.
The scenery blurred, the world splitting into two compared to before. Bypassing the main roads would allow him to exit the city quickly and head directly toward Yu Junqing, saving at least half the time—not counting traffic lights.
Squinting slightly, he noted the roads lacked streetlights, but the occasional large truck used them at night. Driving wasn’t easy, but manageable.
He clipped his phone to the steering wheel, keeping Yu Junqing’s location in view. His foot never left the gas. The sound of his own breathing seemed magnified a hundred times.
He didn’t know Yu Junqing’s current condition. Why had he been taken to the suburbs after the wrap party? Bo Rui had texted him earlier, and everything seemed fine. From Qizhen Hotel to his current location was just over half an hour. That meant the incident occurred after the party.
Although uncertain, Bo Rui hoped to catch up quickly. He suppressed his frustration, eyes flicking briefly. Yu Junqing, you better be okay… or all this effort for nothing.