If the café had a soul, it would've screamed and then immediately brewed more coffee.
Four cups sat on the table.
One strawberry cake sat between them, already missing a neat slice.
And Liang Chen—center of the storm—was eating it calmly, unaware that three grown men had collectively forgotten how breathing worked.
Chen lifted his fork, took another small bite, and hummed softly.
"…This is good."
Xu Jin noticed the faint cream smudge on the corner of Chen's lip.Zhou Kai noticed it too and immediately looked away, heart malfunctioning.
Xiao noticed it, reached for a napkin, then stopped halfway like a sane person remembering boundaries.
The owner lady leaned on the counter, whispering dramatically,
"Look at them. Three men. One cake. Tragic."
The new employee nodded. "They look like they'd fight for crumbs."
Chen looked up, blinking behind his glasses.
"…Why are you all staring at me?" he asked politely.
Zhou Kai nearly knocked over his coffee.
"N–nothing, Professor!"
Xu Jin leaned back, crossed his arms, and smiled. "You've got cream."
Chen paused.
"Oh."
Then he tried to licked the cream with his tongue. Three men stared at him in stunned mode. Owner lady " this angel is really innocent being a rabbit but still impulsive and ignorant of his surrounding people"
They looked at him when chen asked is it still there No one answered.
Xu Jin's jaw tightened slightly.
Xiao crossed his arms, expression unreadable.
Zhou Kai sat stiff as a guilty child caught stealing candy.
Chen waited.
Still no response. He looked at his phone and got satisfied then looked up.
"…All right," Chen sighed softly. "Then let's start properly."
He set his cup down and adjusted his glasses.
"You should introduce yourselves."
Three pairs of eyes snapped to him.
Xu Jin blinked. "Introduce… ourselves?"
"Yes," Chen nodded. "You're all here, but none of you have been formally introduced, you don't know each other right. That's impolite."
The owner lady nearly choked on air behind the counter.
Zhou Kai thought: Professor… this is not a parent-teacher meeting.
Xu Jin glanced at Zhou Kai, then at Xiao. "You want me to go first?
Xiao replied coolly, "By all means."
Xu Jin straightened instinctively, posture sharp.
"Xu Jin," he said. "Resident of Building 12. Temporary employee here."
He paused, then added deliberately, eyes flicking to Zhou Kai.
"And… Professor Liang's neighbor."
Zhou Kai stiffened.
Xiao raised an eyebrow.
Chen nodded politely. "Mm. I know."
Xu Jin's lips curved. He knows.
Chen turned to Xiao. "Senior Xiao."
Xiao cleared his throat. "Xiao Yushen. Literature department. His colleague."
Then, after a beat—
"…And his friend."
Xu Jin's smile thinned.
Chen acknowledged it with a calm nod. "Yes."
Then Chen looked at Zhou Kai.
Zhou Kai felt like he was being summoned for judgment.
"I'm Zhou Kai," he said quickly. "Third-year student. Class C. Your—"
He hesitated, then finished honestly.
"Your student."
Chen smiled faintly. "Mm."
The smile hit Zhou Kai harder than any scolding ever had.
Introductions complete, Chen clasped his hands lightly.
"There," he said. "Now no one is a stranger."
Xu Jin laughed under his breath. "You're unbelievable."
Chen tilted his head. "Is that a complaint?"
Xu Jin shook his head. "…No."
Xiao studied Zhou Kai more carefully now.
"So," Xiao said calmly, "you're the student who missed several lectures."
Zhou Kai nodded rapidly. "Yes! Weeks six and seven!"
"Topic?"
"…Ethical contradictions in romantic idealism."
Xu Jin laughed outright. "Oh, this is ironic."
Zhou Kai flushed. "I studied!"
Chen smiled faintly. "Good."
That one word made Zhou Kai's soul ascend briefly.
Xiao watched carefully.
This wasn't favoritism.
It was just Chen being… Chen.
Which was worse.
Xu Jin leaned forward. "Professor, why Moonleaf?"
Chen blinked. "Because he recommended it."
Zhou Kai froze.
Xu Jin raised an eyebrow. "You know it's a date café?"
Zhou Kai's soul left his body again.
Chen looked around thoughtfully. "Is it?"
The owner lady coughed. "Very."
Chen hummed. "I see."
Then, completely calmly—
"Well," Chen said, lifting his fork again, "the cake is still good."
Xu Jin stared. "You're unbelievable."
Chen glanced at him. "Is that praise?"
Xu Jin smiled helplessly. "…Unfortunately."
Zhou Kai's ears burned. He spoke late but in their conversation"I—I didn't know—"
Xu jin " what that this cafe is not for children"
Chen interrupted gently. "He had good intentions."
Professor xiao looked at Chen. "You're defending him."
Chen blinked. "He didn't do anything wrong just invite his teacher here"
Zhou Kai's heart exploded quietly.
Xiao watched this exchange with growing interest.
"…Professor Chen," Xiao said slowly, "do you realize how this looks?"
Chen considered.
"Like a coincidence?" he offered.
Zhou kai nodded aggressively.
The owner lady pressed her fist to her mouth to stop laughing.
Xu Jin groaned softly. "You're killing us."
Chen looked genuinely puzzled. "I am?"
Zhou Kai shook his head rapidly. "No! I mean—yes—wait—
Chen smiled slightly. "Relax he is just teasing you're younger than them so they're pulling your leg."
That word.
Again.
Zhou Kai relaxed immediately.
Xu Jin noticed.
Xiao noticed too.
Their gazes met briefly.
This brats has not good intentions. ('Like you have !' from author pov)
Something unspoken passed between them.
Ah.
So that's how it is.
Chen picked up his cup and took a sip.
"Well," he said calmly, "since we've all met properly now… shall we sit?"
Xu Jin blinked. "You're inviting us?"
"Yes," Chen said. "Standing is tiring."
The owner lady nodded approvingly. "Correct choice."
Reluctantly—but unable to refuse—
the three men pulled out chairs.
The small round table now looked… crowded.
Chen sat in the middle.
Naturally.
Of course.
The café atmosphere shifted subtly—from romantic to absurd.
Three men sat around one professor who was calmly sipping coffee, entirely unaware that he had just gathered three different forms of chaos at one table.
Xu Jin glanced at Chen's plate.
"…Is that strawberry cake?"
"Yes," Chen replied. "But I won't give you any just but another one I'll pay?"
Xu Jin froze. He shouldn't because it's a daily thing but now in public it is something new.
Zhou Kai nearly fainted.
Xiao closed his eyes briefly.
The owner lady whispered to her employee,
"This man is dangerous."
The new employee nodded solemnly.
"Angel-faced menace."
And just like that—
The real chaos was about to begin.