The tea had been settled on the table.
Snack plates were slowly emptying.
Yun Hu had relocated to the back of the sofa, lazily flicking his tail while observing everyone like a silent judge.
The apartment felt warm. Lively.
Chen checked the time on his phone.
"…Xu Jin should be off work soon," he murmured casually. "I'll call him and ask him to pick up some snacks and cakes on his way."
Zhou Kai's head snapped up.
This was the moment to make that bastard jealous who get the privilege to live near professor chen..
"Wait!" Zhou Kai said quickly.
Chen paused mid-step. "What?"
Zhou Kai stood up and walked closer, lowering his voice slightly as if sharing a conspiracy.
"Don't tell him we're here."
Chen blinked. "Why?"
Zhou Kai's lips curved into a mischievous grin. "We want to surprise him."
Juri nodded tried to engaged enthusiastically because he didn't want them to find any noticeable expression can be called insecurity, jealousy or other. "Yeah. Let him walk in peacefully and then—boom."
Chen looked between the two of them, unimpressed.
"are you children."
"Yes," Zhou Kai replied immediately. "But entertaining and adorable children."
Chen sighed faintly, but there was a small trace of amusement in his eyes.
"…Fine."
He dialed Xu Jin's number.
The call connected quickly.
Chen said calmly. "When you get off work, bring some snacks. And cakes. The almond ones."
A pause on the other end.
"Yes. Just bring them."
Another pause.
"No, nothing special just some guests have come."
Zhou Kai and Juri exchanged a look and struggled not to laugh.
Chen ended the call and looked at them flatly. "Satisfied?"
"Very," Zhou Kai said proudly.
He turned toward Juri with a wicked grin and hovered his arm around juri's shoulder " how was that good right! First we'll take revenge on him then steal the beauty".
Juri grinned back but inside he was about to cry...
Then Zhou Kai looked toward Xiao to include him—
—but Xiao wasn't present.
Physically, yes.
Mentally?
Absolutely not.
He was staring down at his teacup, eyes unfocused.
Zhou Kai leaned closer and whispered dramatically, "Professor… what happened? I know you're old, but you can't doze off with your eyes open."
Smack.
Juri hit Zhou Kai's arm again to remind him to be mindful.
"Are you trying to die?"
Xiao blinked and finally looked up, startled.
"Oh—no, no," he said quickly, giving an awkward laugh. "I wasn't sleeping. Just… thinking."
"Thinking for fifteen minutes?" Zhou Kai muttered.
Xiao's smile didn't quite reach his eyes.
Before anyone could press further, his phone rang.
The sudden vibration cut through the room.
Xiao looked down at the screen.
Something in his expression shifted—subtle, but noticeable.
He stood up almost immediately.
"I'll take this," he said quietly.
He stepped out onto the balcony, sliding the glass door closed behind him.
Inside, the atmosphere softened.
Zhou Kai watched him through the glass.
Xiao's posture was straight, but his shoulders looked tense. One hand rested on the railing as he listened. His voice was low. Serious.
Not relaxed.
Not calm.
Chen noticed too.
He didn't say anything.
He just reached for Yun Hu and stroked his fur slowly, eyes briefly flickering toward the balcony.
Juri leaned toward Zhou Kai and whispered, "He's been like that all day."
Zhou Kai's playful expression dimmed slightly.
"…Yeah."
Outside, Xiao turned slightly away, fingers tightening around his phone.
Inside, the warm apartment remained full of tea, soft light, and quiet anticipation.
—--
The door unlocked with a soft click.
Footsteps entered.
A plastic rustle followed.
"I'm back," Xu Jin's voice came from the entrance.
He stepped inside carrying far more than just "some snacks."
Two bakery boxes. A paper bag. Another plastic bag. And what looked suspiciously like an extra dessert box he definitely hadn't been asked to buy.
He kicked the door shut with his heel.
Then he looked up.
And froze.
On the sofa.
Zhou Kai.
Juri.
Xiao.
All three sitting there like they paid rent.
Silence.
Xu Jin's expression didn't change dramatically.
It was subtle.
But the temperature in the room dropped by at least three degrees.
"…Why are they here?" he asked
Too much annoying.
Zhou Kai grinned brightly. "Surprise!"
Xu Jin did not look surprised.
He looked irritated.
His eyes shifted to Chen briefly.
Chen simply sipped his tea.
Before he could respond, Grandma Liang's voice cut in sharply.
"I invited them. Any problem?"
She gave Xu Jin a pointed side-eye.
A dangerous one.
Immediate switch.
Xu Jin straightened.
His tone flipped instantly.
"No problem," he said quickly, waving his hand. "No problem at all."
Zhou Kai bit his lip to stop himself from laughing.
Juri elbowed him.
Xu Jin walked further inside, placing the bags on the table. He glanced at the three "guests" again.
His jaw tightened slightly.
"…You didn't tell me," he said to Chen.
Chen shrugged mildly. "They wanted to surprise you."
Xu Jin's eyes shifted slowly toward Zhou Kai.
Zhou Kai gave him an innocent smile.
"Did you like it?"
Xu Jin stared at him for three full seconds.
"…Thrilling."
Juri looked down at his cup to hide his grin.
Grandma Liang clapped her hands. "What did you buy? Let me see!"
Xu Jin immediately turned soft again. "Almond cookies. Mango cake. Strawberry shortcake. And some savory snacks."
Chen raised an eyebrow. "I asked for almond cookies."
Xu Jin didn't look at him. "They were having a discount."
Grandma Liang spoke
"Come sit, Xu Jin," she ordered.
He obeyed immediately.
As he sat, Yun Hu jumped down from Chen's lap and walked straight toward Xu Jin.
He climbed onto Xu Jin's knee comfortably.