Tian Lei followed at a measured pace, the very picture of composure—if one ignored the faint, almost imperceptible softening at the corner of his mouth each time Yuxin made an undignified sound of delight.
She spun back toward him, cheeks faintly dusted with sugar. "Taste this."
"No."
"It tastes like a purple sunset having an identity crisis."
"…No."
She stuck the half-eaten violet puff directly under his nose. "Mission protocol requires the captain to verify unusual findings in the field."
There was a long, heroic pause.
Then Tian Lei took a small bite.
His expression remained perfectly neutral… though Yuxin could swear the world slowed down just a little around him, like his soul was filing a very polite celebratory memo.
"Acceptable," he declared at last.
"Ha!" Yuxin twirled triumphantly. "Emotional breakthrough achieved. Next stop: total dessert enlightenment."
