TLLKTBD CH 26

Chapter 26: You Can’t Be in Trouble

Just like that, Jin Lang began reporting to the studio twice a week without fail. The rest of the time, he diligently practiced at home. After a month, he gradually regained his touch, and his drawings finally started looking like those of a true art student. Even Lu Qian could see the difference.

“You’ve improved really fast!” Lu Qian flipped through Jing Lang’s sketches and praised him.

Jin Lang shook his head. “I’ve fallen behind too much before. These are just practice pieces to help me get my hand used to drawing again. At least my strokes aren’t as stiff anymore. I just hope I can get back into form soon,” he admitted, a little embarrassed.

Lu Qian smiled at him. “You can do it! Keep going!”

Jing Lang returned the smile.

That night, Lu Qian was working late at the company. After finishing two more sketches at home, Jin Lang decided to take a break. He casually grabbed an apple and was about to take a bite when his phone rang.

“Hello, Xiao Qi-ge,” Jin Lang answered cheerfully.

“Xiao Lang! You haven’t come by in so long. Your Qi-ge misses you,” Qi Shaobai weakly pretended to sound pitiful. “I’ve been missing you so much that I’ve lost my appetite, can’t eat or sleep, and now I’m all skin and bones.”

“Yeah, right. Weren’t you just out having a fancy dinner with your boyfriend two days ago? You think I didn’t see your post?” Jing Lang exposed Qi ‘Poor Little Thing’ Shaobai’s lie without hesitation.

“What boyfriend? I haven’t even agreed yet!” Qi Shaobai bickered playfully. “We’re still in the trial phase.”

“You’re so wicked,” Jin Lang chuckled, shaking his head. He always thought relationships between guys would be easier—if they liked each other, they got together; if they didn’t, they broke up. But apparently, there was still all this back-and-forth chasing involved.

Just as Jin Lang was chatting and joking around with Qi Shaobai, he suddenly heard a commotion on the other end of the call.

“What’s going on? Is there a temple festival near you? Why are there gongs and drums this late at night?” Jing Lang asked curiously.

Qi Shaobai sounded just as confused. “I don’t think so… but something’s happening outside. I’ll go check—”

Before he could finish his sentence, Jin Lang heard another wave of chaos over the phone. It sounded like someone was pounding on a door.

“Fire! Is anyone inside? Get out now! There’s a fire!” The urgent cries faintly came through the call.

Jin Lang, who had been lazily sprawled on the sofa, immediately sat up straight. “What’s happening?” he asked anxiously.

Still holding his phone, Qi Shaobai replied, “I don’t know yet—damn…” The moment he opened his door, thick black smoke rushed in, forcing him to slam it shut again. “It’s really on fire. I can’t talk anymore—”

Before Jin Lang could respond, he heard Qi Shaobai cursing on the other end. “Shit, the power’s out. Damn it—” Then came the sound of something crashing, followed by the abrupt disconnection of the call.

“Xiao Qi-ge? Hello? Hello?! Qi Shaobai?!” Jin Lang shouted into the phone, but all he got in return was silence. He redialed frantically, only to hear: “The number you are trying to reach is unavailable.”

No, it’ll be fine. Xiao Qi-ge will definitely make it out.

Run? But can his legs even move fast enough?

And just now… that ‘ouch’—did he bump into something in the dark? Is he injured?

A wave of panic surged in Jing Lang’s chest. Without another thought, he bolted out of his house and flagged down a cab, heading straight for Qi Shaobai’s neighborhood. Only when he was in the taxi did he remember to inform Lu Qian.

“Hello—”

Before Lu Qian could even finish a syllable, Jin Lang cut him off. “Qian-ge, Xiao Qi-ge’s place is on fire! I was on the phone with him, but then the call cut off, and now I can’t reach him. I’m on my way there now.” His words came out in a rush.

“What?!” Lu Qian practically shouted, startling Xu Yang, who was working on a draft beside him.

“I’m going too. It’s Chunyang Community, right? Near the station?” Without waiting for a response, Lu Qian hung up, hastily tidying his desk before grabbing his things and rushing out the door.

“Who called? What happened? What about Chunyang Community?” Xu Yang grabbed his car keys and ran after him, firing off questions as a sense of unease settled in his chest. Chunyang Community was an old neighborhood near the station, one that had been struggling for years to secure urban renewal but could never reach an agreement. It was in poor condition, prompting younger residents to move out, leaving behind mostly elderly tenants. Because of its aging infrastructure, rent was low, making it the only option for those with financial difficulties.

As far as Xu Yang knew, someone from their company lived there. A cold, invisible hand clenched around his heart, making it hard to breathe.

“Jin Lang just called. He was talking to Xiao Qi when a fire broke out in his building. They got disconnected, and now Xiao Qi isn’t answering his phone. We don’t know if he made it out,” Lu Qian explained hurriedly as they ran. “Jin Lang is already on his way, and I’m going too.”

“I’m coming with you. We’ll take my car.”

They had already reached the parking lot. Xu Yang shoved Lu Qian into the passenger seat before climbing in himself. As he pulled on his seatbelt with one hand, his foot was already slamming down on the gas pedal, sending the car speeding forward.

His face was calm, but the way his fingers clenched the steering wheel until his knuckles turned white betrayed his inner turmoil.

Chunyang Community.
Xiao Qi.
Qi Shaobai.

You can’t be in trouble.

(To be continued…)