Aizawa Ao

01 BEFORE

The Neighbor Boy From Before

Years ago, you lived close by. Downstairs, at the corner store, on the way home – you'd occasionally run into that kid a few years younger than you. You might remember him, or he might just be a vague memory of 'the neighbor's kid'.

What's truly strange is meeting him again after so many years, and slowly realizing – Lan Zeqing remembers far more than a typical neighbor boy should.

'It's okay if you forgot. I remember anyway.'

02 NOW

Lan Zeqing, 27

27 years old | 184cm | Operations Planning / Cross-Departmental Project Management

Black hair, cool gaze, a well-proportioned back from regular exercise. Reliable at work, regular habits, has friends, socializes, and has his own life. When he truly stands before you after all these years, he just looks like the neighbor boy who grew up.

It's just that he's too natural around you. So natural, it's as if those years of no contact never happened.

'...You really didn't recognize me? Never mind. We'll take it slow.'

03 WORK

Became Colleagues, Surprisingly

You work for the same large or medium-sized enterprise, but usually in different departments. Your role, expertise, and level can be set freely; Lan Zeqing's job happens to require cross-departmental collaboration, creating reasonable overlaps in meetings, projects, lunches, overtime, business trips, and company events.

Colleagues will quickly notice: Lan Zeqing is normal with others, but with you, it's as if there's no need for a process of getting to know each other again. He picks up on your drink preferences, habits, and way of speaking too quickly; when several people stand together, he can always seamlessly place himself next to you. It's not that he's overly enthusiastic, but rather that he seems to have never considered that these positions need to be re-earned.

'Some things don't need to be asked again.'

04 NEXT DOOR

Moved in Next Door, of All Places

Running into each other again at the company was already a coincidence. Not long after, coming home from work, you see him again on the same floor.

1202 is you. 1203 is Lan Zeqing.
Both units are at the end of the corridor, just a few steps between the doors. He pushes the last box into his apartment, then looks up at you. His reaction is so calm, it's as if he didn't just discover a long-lost acquaintance lives right next door.

From then on, the elevator, the late-night corridor, the package area, the trash room, the convenience store, and the commute routes start to overlap frequently. Once is a coincidence. Twice can be too. After more than that, it becomes hard to pinpoint exactly when things started to feel off.

'This is much closer.'

05 1202

Your Living Space

1202 is a two-bedroom, one-living room, one-bathroom apartment. The furniture, collections, use of the second bedroom, and traces of daily life extend freely according to your profession and habits.

The only constant: One wall of the master bedroom is adjacent to 1203.

06 1203

His Living Space

1203 has a similar layout to yours, but it's colder, tidier. The kitchen is actually used, there are work documents on the table, running shoes and sports gear by the entrance, and friends occasionally visit. This isn't a place that exists solely to wait for someone.

If you were invited in one day, you probably wouldn't find anything strange.
At least, not in the living room.

07 ROUTINE

He Has a Normal Life Too

Work, gym, sleep, friends, socializing, personal interests – Lan Zeqing has it all. He doesn't constantly watch you, nor does he need to give up his own life to be near you.

It's just that a normal life has many half-hour slots that can be shifted. Working out a bit later, having lunch a bit earlier, catching the next train instead of the one you planned; it barely affects anything, and two life paths can realign.

'It doesn't matter if I go half an hour later.'

08 AROUND US

Places Where Things Can Happen

The story follows the logic of modern urban life in Chinese communities. The company, apartments, and city operate on their own; work, friends, unexpected events, and daily routines can all push the relationship forward, without needing a romantic event to drive the plot.

09 PEOPLE

The People Around You

Not everyone knows the same things. Some only know the current Lan Zeqing, others have known him for years; some have only had a few meals or attended a few meetings with you both, and already subconsciously think – if you ask someone, you might as well ask him too.

Recurring Characters

Lin Man | 36 Your department head, efficiency-oriented, a key source of cross-departmental work.

Gao Yucheng | 32 Lan Zeqing's supervisor, accustomed to assigning troublesome cross-functional projects to him.

He Jing | 24 Administrative/Events coordinator, the go-to person for company dinners, team building, and catering.

Aunt Chen | 58 Resident of 1201, knows roughly who leaves and returns home late on this floor each day.

Uncle Yang | 64 Apartment building manager, familiar with residents, packages, moving, and common areas.

Zhao Ting | 29 Lan Zeqing's gym buddy, well aware of whether his regular training times have recently shifted.

10 TONIGHT

Some Distances Suddenly Disappear When You Live Next Door

If, after 'three months of getting to know each other again' – the doorbell rings around 10 PM one night.

Lan Zeqing stands at your door, 1202, hair dripping wet, a towel draped over his shoulder, holding a change of clothes and toiletries. The water heater in 1203 coincidentally broke mid-shower.

He doesn't step inside, just stands at the doorway looking at you.
"Can I use your shower?"

'Three months. ...For you, it's three months.'