Professor Xiao Yushen did not walk.
He strolled.
There was a difference.
A slow, confident, "I-own-this-hallway" kind of stroll.
Liang Chen followed beside him, carrying his bag with quiet dignity, as if he had simply accepted his fate as a kidnapped scholarly companion.
They exited the academic building. The autumn air outside was crisp, sunlight falling across the stone paths of the university. Students crossed the courtyard in groups, some holding books, some holding bubble tea, some holding hands.
Professor Xiao led Liang Chen toward the faculty café — the one that only staff and postgraduate students were allowed to enter. A quiet, elegant place where the chairs were soft and the prices were criminal.
Inside, the barista greeted Xiao Yushen with familiarity.
"Usual?" she asked.
Xiao Yushen nodded. "Two coffees. One black. One latte."
Then, as an afterthought, "And the strawberry shortcake."
Liang Chen turned his head slightly.
"…I didn't order cake."
Xiao Yushen glanced at him with a look that said don't argue with destiny.
"You skipped lunch yesterday," he said calmly.
Liang Chen blinked.
"…I did not."
"You ate three biscuits and tea."
"…That counts."
"It does not."
The barista bit back a smile as she prepared the tray.
When Xiao Yushen paid, Liang Chen reached for his wallet instinctively.
Xiao Yushen placed a hand over it.
"I invited you."
Liang Chen paused.
Then put his wallet back with the quiet acceptance of a man realizing resistance was futile.
They took the tray and moved toward Xiao Yushen's office building.
And that was when—
Click.
A very faint sound.
Neither professor noticed.
But three tables away, a female student lowered her phone slowly, eyes wide.
Two professors.
Coffee.
Cake.
Walking side by side.
One of them suspiciously handsome.
The other famously untouchable.
She didn't even think.
Her fingers moved on instinct.
UPLOAD → Unofficial Campus Forum
Caption:
"Did anyone else see Professors Xiao and Liang going on a coffee date??? 👀☕🍰"
Within thirty seconds—
New replies:
WHAT???
NO WAY PROFESSOR LIANG NEVER TALKS TO ANYONE
PROFESSOR XIAO HAS TASTE
I KNEW HE WASN'T STRAIGHT FOR LITERATURE ONLY
SOMEONE ENHANCE THE PHOTO
The gossip wildfire had begun.
Meanwhile, completely unaware of the internet chaos—
Xiao Yushen opened his office door with his key card.
"Come in," he said.
Liang Chen stepped inside.
The office was tidy, modern, with tall bookshelves and a large window facing the campus lake. A faint scent of coffee beans lingered permanently in the room.
Xiao Yushen set the tray on the small round table near the window.
"Sit."
Liang Chen did.
The latte was placed in front of him. The cake gently slid onto a plate between them.
Liang Chen stared at it.
"…You treat colleagues like children."
Xiao Yushen leaned back in his chair, crossing one leg over the other.
"Only the ones who forget to take care of themselves."
Liang Chen lifted the cup, took a small sip.
Warm. Smooth. Sweet.
He hated that it was good.
"…Thank you," he said quietly.
Xiao Yushen smiled — slow, satisfied.
Outside, the lake shimmered.
Inside, two professors drank coffee.
And on the university forum, an entire student body lost its mind.
For a while, neither of them spoke.
The only sounds were the faint hum of the air conditioner, the distant chatter of students outside, and the very soft clink of Liang Chen's fork against the plate.
He took another bite of strawberry shortcake.
Soft cream. Sweet jam. Fluffy sponge.
Xiao Yushen watched him like a scientist observing a rare animal in its natural habitat.
"You always go for cake first," Xiao said.
Liang Chen paused mid-bite.
"…I'm just eating what's in front of me."
Xiao rested his chin in his hand, eyes curved in amusement.
"You said the same thing five years ago."
Silence.
The fork stopped.
Liang Chen slowly placed it down, pretending this conversation was not making his heartbeat slightly inconvenient.
"Liang Chen," Xiao said.
Chen hummed lightly, still chewing.
Xiao leaned forward, elbows on his knees, eyes fixed on him.
"I haven't even confessed my feelings to you yet, and you already started ignoring me."
His tone was light, but the words landed like pebbles in still water.
Chen's fork paused midair.
Xiao tilted his head.
"Are you really a literature professor? You should know better than anyone that unresolved plotlines ruin a story."
Chen blinked slowly, then calmly placed the fork down, as if preparing for an academic debate instead of emotional warfare.
Xiao didn't give him the chance.
"You know," Xiao continued, voice softer now, "from that moment onward, I locked my phone so tightly not even my fingerprint dares to misbehave."
Chen's gaze flickered — just slightly.
Xiao smiled wryly.
"It was truly bad luck that you saw those pictures that day"
The silence that followed was gentle, not sharp
Xiao Yushen straightened, then reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone.
He unlocked it.
Tapped once.
And turned the screen toward Liang Chen.
On it—
A photo.
Liang Chen, sitting under a tree on campus years ago, reading a book. Glasses slipping slightly down his nose. Hair messy from the wind. Expression soft, unguarded, peaceful.
Liang Chen froze.
"…You still have this?"
Xiao leaned back casually.
"That day. When you borrowed my phone to call your grandmother. You saw it."
Liang Chen remembered.
He remembered too clearly.
The accidental swipe.
The photo gallery opening.
Dozens of pictures — all of him. From seminars. From library corners. From campus paths. Always unposed. Always unaware.
He had returned the phone that day without a word.
And afterward, he had built a polite distance like a wall.
Liang Chen's fingers curled lightly on his knee.
"…That was inappropriate," he said softly.
Xiao did not deny it.
"I know."
His voice was calm. No teasing now. No smugness.
Just honesty.
"I was stupid. I didn't think how it would feel for you to find that."
Liang Chen lowered his eyes.
The cake suddenly looked far too sweet.
Xiao reached forward and pushed the plate a little closer.
"Eat," he said gently. "You think better when you're not hungry."
Liang Chen huffed a short breath — half laugh, half surrender — and took another bite.
Sweetness softened tension.
Xiao watched him quietly, then spoke again.
"Liang Chen."
Chen looked up.
Xiao's eyes were steady.
"Let's be friends again."
The words were simple. No grand confession. No dramatic music. Just a request.
"Don't treat me like a stranger," Xiao said. "Call me senior again. Argue with me again. Drink coffee with me again. That's enough."
Liang Chen stared at him.
Liang Chen stared at him.
He had always been terrible at emotional battles. Too direct. Too honest. Too soft where he should be firm.
He took another bite of cake.
Chewed slowly.
Swallowed.
Then sighed, like a man surrendering a long-held fortress.
"…I'll try," Liang Chen said, swallowing the last bite of cake.
He set the fork down, eyes calm but firm.
"But you have to delete all these pictures. Right now."
Xiao Yushen blinked, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.
"Right now?" he repeated, as if it were the most unreasonable demand imaginable.
Chen's gaze didn't waver. "Yes. Right now."
"Fine," Xiao said, still grinning. He pulled out his phone, unlocked it, and turned the screen so Chen could see clearly.
One tap. Delete. Confirm.
The gallery was empty. Chen's eyes flicked to the phone, satisfied.
"…Good," he murmured.
Xiao locked his phone and slid it into his pocket. He leaned back, looking casual and innocent, like nothing had happened.
"See? All gone."
Chen didn't notice the subtle gleam of mischief in Xiao's eyes—the same photos had already been saved in a hidden cloud folder, safely tucked away where only Xiao could reach.
Xiao's lips curved into a soft smile.
"You're very easy to bribe," he said, voice teasing but calm.
Chen lifted the fork again, taking another bite of cake, faintly flushed.
"And you," Xiao continued, "you really can't resist sweets, can you?"
Chen's eyes flicked down at the plate, cheeks warming slightly. "…Maybe," he admitted softly.
Xiao leaned forward, elbows resting on the table, gaze warm but firm.
"Then we are friends again. Call me Senior.
Chen said " no".
Xiao yushen sighed and chuckled.