The apartment had long fallen silent.
Grandma had gone to bed early, her knitting basket tucked neatly beside her chair, her phone safely hidden under her pillow like a victorious general guarding war trophies.
Liang Chen had retired to his room, the faint scent of strawberry cake still lingering on his breath, Yun Hu's treat crumbs vacuumed away by the cat himself.
And Xu Jin—
Xu Jin lay flat on his bed, staring at the ceiling.
The digital clock on the desk blinked 12:47 AM.
Sleep refused to come.
He turned to his side. Then to the other. Then back again.
His mind, unfortunately, had decided this was an excellent time to replay every event of the day in high-definition detail.
The bakery.
The bouquet.
The kneeling.
The cake bribe.
Liang Chen's flustered ears.
Liang Chen's hand reaching for the chocolate cake.
Liang Chen quietly arranging plates.
Liang Chen telling Yun Hu he had grown.
Liang Chen arguing with Grandma about diabetes.
Liang Chen.
Liang Chen.
Liang Chen.
Xu Jin suddenly sat upright.
His heart thumped once. Hard.
He swung his legs over the bed, walked to the table, poured himself a glass of water, and drank it in one go.
The water was cool. Clear. Refreshing.
Useless.
Because the problem was not thirst.
It was the terrifying clarity now settling in his mind.
"So… that's how it is," Xu Jin murmured to himself.
He leaned one hand on the table.
"…Am I really falling for him?"
The words hung in the quiet room.
He waited for horror. Panic. Denial. A dramatic internal collapse.
But instead—
A slow, unstoppable smile spread across his face.
Wide.
Bright.
Genuinely happy.
Xu Jin froze.
"…Why am I smiling?" he whispered.
His reflection in the dark window smiled back like an idiot in love.
He closed his eyes.
And his mind immediately supplied images.
Liang Chen standing in the bakery, cheeks flushed, dignified yet flustered.
Liang Chen walking briskly down the street, pretending not to run.
Liang Chen carefully unwrapping cakes.
Liang Chen scolding Grandma gently.
Liang Chen petting Yun Hu.
Liang Chen looking up at him when he apologized, eyes clear and steady.
Every feature. Every expression.
Perfect.
Heaven zone, his brain supplied helpfully.
Xu Jin placed a hand over his face.
"…This is dangerous," he muttered.
He should be terrified.
He should be running away from this realization.
He should be telling himself this was wrong, ridiculous, impossible.
But his heart was already marching forward like an army that had found its flag.
And then—
Chomp.
Something sharp sank into his hand.
Xu Jin hissed quietly.
He turned his head.
Yun Hu sat beside him on the bed, white fur glowing faintly in the moonlight, tiny teeth still latched onto his knuckles like a demon summoned for punishment.
Xu Jin stared at the cat.
The cat stared back.
Judgmental.
Unapologetic.
Supernatural.
Xu Jin sighed.
"Ah. You again."
Yun Hu released his hand and pawed at Xu Jin's sleeve, demanding attention like a creature who knew he owned this household emotionally.
Xu Jin lay back down, dragging the cat with him. Yun Hu immediately climbed onto his chest, curled into a perfect circle, and began purring like a small motor.
Xu Jin raised one arm and let it fall loosely around the warm fur.
The purring vibrated through his ribs.
Steady.
Comforting.
Grounding.
His thoughts slowed.
His heartbeat softened.
The chaotic storm of realization settled into something gentle.
He closed his eyes.
"…You're an external demon," Xu Jin murmured sleepily, scratching behind Yun Hu's ear. "And I'm apparently fine with that."
Yun Hu purred louder, satisfied with the tribute.
And slowly, wrapped around a cat and an unavoidable truth, Xu Jin fell asleep.
Smiling.