"Guys, come and eat—we brought dinner for you!" Xuanye shouted.
The boys immediately abandoned the glucose bottle they were spinning like a toy and ran toward the food like excited puppies. Xuanye handed Nian her meal, while the boys dove into their containers and jumped onto the sofas, eating as if it were a feast. Nian chuckled, watching the chaos unfold.
DK walked over with his food and sat beside Nian, flashing her his brightest smile. She looked at him fondly and opened her container, lifting her chopsticks to take a bite—only for DK to stop her.
"I'll feed you," he said sweetly.
Nian blinked, blushing. "L-Loudie, you should eat first—it's already late…"
He shook his head and took her chopsticks. "I'll eat while feeding you," he insisted, scooping a big ball of rice and holding it up to her lips.
Nian looked at the oversized bite with disbelief but opened her mouth. Her cheeks puffed out like a pufferfish as she chewed, making DK beam.
From across the room, Woozi snickered. "If DK keeps feeding her like this, she'll gain weight in a week."
The boys gave him a thumbs-up and burst into laughter.
After dinner, Xuanye helped arrange Nian's bed. As Nian came out of the restroom, she asked, "Xuanye, where are you going to sleep tonight?"
"I'll book a room," Xuanye replied.
"Why not just go home?"
Xuanye's eyes widened. "Nian, do you have a death wish?! If our mom finds out you fainted, she'll kill us both. Just thinking about it gives me goosebumps!"
Nian laughed. "You're right. Tell her we're doing overtime."
With a nod, Xuanye agreed. The girls watched as the boys fell asleep one by one on the sofas, stacked like pillows, snoring peacefully.
"Look at them," Xuanye whispered. "Sleeping like babies. It's hard to remember they're global idols."
Nian giggled. "They're too cute. I've lost count of how many times I've said that."
From the side, Minghao asked softly, "Ye, where are you sleeping tonight?"
"I told you—I'm going to book a room," she replied.
Minghao turned to Nian. "Can I take care of her tonight? Do I have your permission?"
Xuanye blinked, stunned, cheeks pink.
Nian smiled knowingly. "Okay, Minghao. Take good care of her. But be back here by 9 AM, alright?"
He nodded and grabbed Xuanye's hand, walking away with her. Nian watched them with a grin. "They're too cute."
Meanwhile, DK coughed and casually slid into the bed beside her, pulling the blanket over himself and facing the wall like a shy little kid.
Nian turned her head. "Loudie… what are you doing here? Why aren't you with the others?"
"I'm protecting you," he said softly. "I promise I won't disturb you. Just sleep."
She patted his head, teasing, "I can tell how happy you are, Loudie."
DK buried his face under the blanket, flustered.
From the other side of the room, Boo, Jeonghan, and Mingyu stared at them.
"They don't even care that we're watching," Mingyu said.
Jeonghan nodded. "I could forgive Nian, but DK? No mercy. He's over there being lovey-dovey while we're all single and stacked like rice sacks."
Boo pouted. "If we had girlfriends, we'd be like that too. But look at us—just lying here, using each other as body pillows."
They all sighed in unison.
Dino, Hoshi, and Joshua peeked through their hands, giggling quietly, while Vernon turned off the lights with a grunt and fell asleep.
Scoups, Wonwoo, Jun, and Woozi relaxed into the darkness, their hearts warm from the chaos and comfort of a night well spent—with the people who mattered most.