Morning sunlight spilled across apartment 1208.
Soft. Warm. Innocent.
Unlike Xu Jin's mood.
He lay sprawled across his bed, one arm over his eyes, Yun Hu curled neatly against his chest like a fluffy paperweight that prevented him from escaping his thoughts.
His head throbbed — not from sickness this time, but from last night's memory replaying again and again.Why can't I stay like this?
You don't know anything about me!
Bang.Xu Jin groaned quietly."…I was too dramatic."Yun Hu flicked an ear.Xu Jin turned his face into the pillow."Why did I yell at him? He didn't even raise his voice. He just—"
He stopped.Just… cared.
That realization made his stomach twist.
Xu Jin sat up suddenly, startling the cat.
"I shouted at a man who cooked for me, cleaned for me, lent me his grandma, rescued me from illness, fed me daily, and gave my demon cat treats."
Yun Hu meowed once, very soft, like a verdict.
Xu Jin pointed at him."Don't take his side."
Yun Hu blinked.
Xu Jin sighed and fell back onto the mattress.
"…He was just thinking about my future."
He turned his head toward the window. Across the way, apartment 1207's curtains were open. The balcony door too. No sign of Liang Chen, but the sight alone made Xu Jin's chest tighten.
He buried his face in Yun Hu's fur.
"What do I do now? I can't just pretend nothing happened. I slammed his door. I kidnapped his cat. I offended his grandmother's favorite dinner guest."
Yun Hu licked his hand once.
Xu Jin took that as encouragement.
"…Should I apologize?"Yun Hu purred.
Xu Jin nodded slowly."Right. I should."
He paused."But how?"
He imagined walking over, ringing the bell, Liang Chen opening the door, calm as always. Xu Jin suddenly forgot how to speak. Or worse—tripping. Or calling him "brother".
Xu Jin covered his face."…This is impossible."
He rolled to his side, staring seriously at Yun Hu.
"Yun Hu. As my demon cat who betrayed me for homemade food, give me guidance."
Yun Hu stretched, paws pushing gently against Xu Jin's chest, then settled down again like a lazy oracle.
Xu Jin interpreted this wisely."…So I should go. Just go. Say sorry. No drama."
He nodded to himself."Good plan."He paused.
"…But what if he's still mad?"Yun Hu yawned.
Xu Jin interpreted that too."…He's not mad. He's reasonable. Unlike me."He let out a breath."Okay. After breakfast. I'll go."
He swung his legs off the bed.
Then froze.
"…Wait. I don't have breakfast."
He stared at the empty kitchen.
Silence.
Xu Jin looked at Yun Hu.Yun Hu looked back.
Two abandoned souls.Xu Jin sighed deeply.
"…Fine. Apology first. Then food. Or I might die."
And with that, Xu Jin — dramatic runaway young master, professional troublemaker, and accidental resident of apartment 1208 — prepared to face the one person he had never expected to regret yelling at.
The professor next door.
Xu Jin stood outside apartment 1207.
He took a breath.Then another.Then one more for courage.Finally, he knocked.No answer.He knocked again.Still nothing.
He hesitated… then slowly turned the handle.
The door was unlocked.He peeked in.
Quiet. Clean. Warm morning light. The smell of food already settled in the air.
"Professor…?" he called softly.No reply.
Before he could step fully inside—SNAP.
A hand pinched his ear with surgical precision.
"OW—OW—OW—"
Xu Jin bent forward instantly, hands raised in surrender.
Grandma Liang stood beside him in full battle mode, apron on, hair neatly tied, eyes sharp.
"You slammed my door last night," she said sweetly.
Xu Jin didn't even try to escape.
"…I'm sorry," he mumbled.
She tugged his ear just enough to steer him toward the chair.
"Sit."
He sat.Like a guilty elementary student.
Grandma Liang crossed her arms.
"What made you slam my door yesterday, hmm?"
Xu Jin stared at the floor.
"I… got angry. For no reason. I shouldn't have."
Her expression softened just slightly.
"Apology accepted."
Xu Jin blinked.
"That's it?"
She patted his shoulder.
"You're young. Storms pass."
Xu Jin felt his throat loosen.
"…Where's Professor Liang?"
Grandma Liang turned toward the kitchen.
"He left early. There's an event at the university today. He didn't want to wake you."
Xu Jin's chest dipped a little.
"Oh."
Grandma Liang pointed toward the dining table.
"Go. Eat your breakfast."
Xu Jin walked over quietly.
On the table sat a simple breakfast tray.
Steamed buns. Egg soup. Warm soy milk.
And on the napkin—
A small note.
Written in neat handwriting:
Sorry. (=^･ω･^=)
A tiny kitty face beside the word.
Xu Jin froze.
His fingers touched the napkin.
Warmth spread through his chest — unfamiliar, embarrassing, unstoppable.
He sat down slowly.
"…He apologized first," Xu Jin whispered.
Yun Hu, sitting beside the chair, flicked his tail proudly as if saying of course he did.
Xu Jin buried his face in his hands.
"I'm such an idiot."
Grandma Liang watched him fondly from the kitchen doorway.
"Eat," she said. "Then go do something useful with your day. Moping doesn't suit a handsome boy."
Xu Jin nodded silently and picked up his chopsticks.
The food tasted warm.
But the note in his pocket felt warmer.
And somewhere between guilt and relief, Xu Jin decided:
Next time, he would apologize properly.
Liang Chen walked at an unhurried pace, one hand holding a stack of papers, the other tucked in his coat pocket. His expression was calm, as always — the kind of calm that made students both respect and fear him.
"Professor Liang!"
A voice called out.
A male student jogged up to him, tall, energetic, with neatly styled hair and a confident grin. He slowed to match Liang Chen's pace.
"Professor, I wanted to ask— are you free after your morning lecture?" the student asked casually. "There's a new café near campus. I thought maybe we could discuss my thesis there."
Liang Chen adjusted his glasses slightly.
"I'm afraid—"
Before he could finish, another voice cut in.
"Oh? You're not free?"
Professor Xiao Yushen appeared from the opposite end of the corridor, hands in his coat pockets, smile easy and bright. He was tall, handsome in a different way — relaxed, warm, the kind of person students gravitated toward without trying.
He walked straight to Liang Chen's side as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"I remember," Xiao Yushen said smoothly, "Professor Liang has a coffee reservation with me today."
He turned to the student and gave a polite, apologetic smile.
"Sorry. I booked him first."
The student blinked.
Booked…?
He glanced between the two professors. Liang Chen remained expressionless, but did not deny it.
"…Ah," the student said slowly. "I see. Then… another time, Professor Liang."
He bowed quickly and retreated, throwing one last puzzled glance over his shoulder.
When the student disappeared around the corner, Xiao Yushen leaned slightly closer, lowering his voice.
"You were about to reject him anyway," he said with a faint grin. "I just saved you some effort."
Liang Chen looked at him.
"…You enjoy meddling."
Xiao Yushen's eyes curved with amusement.
"Only when necessary."
Then, with a smug little tilt of his chin, he gestured down the hallway.
"Come on. Coffee awaits."
Liang Chen sighed quietly — but walked beside him.