Xu Jin arrived home earlier than usual.
The afternoon sun lingered low between buildings, casting long shadows across the familiar path leading to the apartment complex. He had just stepped into the courtyard when he spotted a familiar figure near the foot of the building.
Grandma Chen.
She stood there calmly, a small suitcase by her side, dressed neatly with her hair pinned up as always. She looked perfectly unbothered—too unbothered.
Xu Jin slowed. Then stopped.
"…Grandma?" he called.
She turned, eyes crinkling with amusement the moment she saw him. "Ah, Jin."
Xu Jin glanced at the suitcase. His brows knit together. "Where are you going?"
Grandma Chen's lips curved into a knowing smirk. The kind that instantly made Xu Jin uneasy.
"I'm visiting an old friend," she said lightly. "I'll stay there for a week."
A week.
Xu Jin's brain stalled for exactly half a second.
Then—
Alone.
Chen will be alone.
His eyes lit up so fast it was almost suspicious.
"Oh," he said, far too quickly. "That's… nice. Very nice to spend time with your friends."
Grandma watched him carefully, clearly enjoying herself.
She stepped closer and patted his hand. Then—unexpectedly—she placed her hand over his, squeezing gently.
"Take care of my grandson," she said softly.
Xu Jin straightened instantly, posture snapping into place.
"Yes, Grandma!" he said, saluting without hesitation.
She chuckled.
"Good boy."
Then she slipped something cool and metallic into his palm.
Xu Jin blinked.
A key.
"My spare," Grandma said calmly. "Just in case."
Xu Jin stared at it like it was a sacred artifact.
"I—" He swallowed. "I'll keep it safe."
"I know," she said, already turning away. "Don't bully him and yun hu."
Xu Jin watched her walk off, suitcase rolling behind her, humming quietly to herself.
When she disappeared around the corner, he looked down at the key again.
Then smiled.
Upstairs, Xu Jin unlocked his own apartment and stepped inside.
The place felt… quiet.
He dropped his bag near the door and collapsed onto the sofa, leaning back and staring at the ceiling.
His mind replayed everything.
Chen surrounded by people.
Zhou Kai's flushed ears,Xiao's calm smile while watching chen.
Chen eating cake like nothing in the world mattered.
Xu Jin groaned and dragged a hand down his face.
"What am I doing," he muttered.
Frustration knotted in his chest—messy, unfamiliar, irritating. He turned his head and noticed Yun Hu padding toward him, tail swaying lazily.
"Oh," Xu Jin said softly. "You're early."
Grandma must've brought Yun Hu over before leaving.
Xu Jin opened his arms.
Yun Hu jumped up without hesitation.
Xu Jin hugged him tightly, burying his face briefly in warm fur.
"At least you're on my side," he murmured.
Yun Hu purred, entirely unconcerned with human emotional disasters.
Evening crept in slowly.
The sky dimmed, city lights flickering on one by one.
Xu Jin checked the time.
Late. Why is he late? He should've come and hour earlier.
He sat up straighter.
Then— he remember the keys grandma gave him.
Xu Jin's head snapped toward the door.
Through the peephole, he saw Liang Chen standing outside, bag over his shoulder, posture relaxed but clearly tired. He watched as Chen reached into his pocket, pulled out his key, and moved to unlock the door.
Before Chen could react—
Xu Jin opened the door from inside.
Chen barely had time to register the movement before a hand entered his field of vision.
Then—
He was spun around. He doesn't even have time to think.
The door slammed shut behind him with a dull bang.
And suddenly—
He wasn't in front of hisapartment anymore.
Arms wrapped around him.
Tight.
Too tight. He was sacred of someone's presence in front of him because the pressure was too much for him to handle.
Panic surged.
Then
The scent of someone familiar flooded his senses.
Chen froze.
"What—" His breath caught. "Xu Jin?!"
He pushed against the chest in front of him, heart pounding. "What are you doing?!"
The arms only tightened.
Xu Jin pressed his face into Chen's shoulder, breathing unevenly.
"Brother Chen…" he murmured hoarsely.
Chen stiffened.
"This is not—" Chen tried again, pushing harder. "Let go—"
Xu Jin didn't listen.
He just held on.
Like he was afraid Chen would disappear if he loosened his grip.
Chen was scared by this xu jin who was emitting such dangerous aura right now. Then a saviour came
Yun Hu suddenly squeezed between them, hissing.
Then—scratched xu jin.
Xu Jin yelped.
"Ah—!"
The pain snapped him back to reality.
He froze.
Then slowly released his hold.
Chen stepped back immediately, chest rising and falling rapidly. His glasses were slightly askew. His expression—completely stunned.
Xu Jin stared at him.
Real.
Standing there.
Not a dream.
Not his imagination. He acted in this way to the real chen.
Color rushed violently up Xu Jin's neck and exploded across his face.
Dark red.
"P-Professor—" he stammered. "I—I'm sorry. I—this—"
Chen didn't wait.
He turned and bolted out the door.
The sound of hurried footsteps echoed down the hall.
Xu Jin stood there, frozen.
Then he groaned and grabbed his hair with both hands, dropping onto the sofa.
"…I'm such an idiot," he muttered.
Yun Hu hopped onto the armrest, staring at him judgmentally.
Xu Jin leaned back, staring at the ceiling again.
"What did I do," he whispered.
Outside, in the hallway, Liang Chen pressed a hand to his chest, breathing fast. He muttered what happen to him?. He entered his apartment and saw a note on the table. The Grandma wrote him that she's going to her friend's house for a week. He was in confused and frustrating state " why grandma out of nowhere you have to go today, how will he face xu jin today at dinner. What was gotton into him to act this weird." He thought 'He can't go and thank yuu hu now,when he will meet him he will give him big and tasty treats to save him from that berserk xu jin.