The backyard of the department building was quiet.
Too quiet.
Tall hedges lined the edge of the cracked cement path, and behind the storage shed near the old brick wall was the place Chen had discovered a week ago.
Chen quickened his pace the moment they turned the corner.
Not running exactly.
But definitely not walking at a professor's dignified speed either.
"Professor, wait for me—!" Juri hurried after him, nearly tripping over his own shoes in excitement.
Behind them, Zhou Kai narrowed his eyes.
Why is he running for the new kid?
Xiao adjusted his steps, calm but purposeful.
They reached the old brick wall.
Chen immediately raised a finger to his lips.
"Shhh."
His voice dropped into a whisper.
"They're sleeping."
All three instinctively leaned forward.
Under a shallow cardboard shelter tucked between two stacked wooden boards lay the small family.
Four tiny kittens. Pressed together. A soft pile of fur and warmth.
Even Zhou Kai's usual dramatic expression softened.
Juri gasped—but covered his mouth quickly.
"They're so small…"
Chen crouched down carefully, movements slow and practiced.
But—
Two taller bodies suddenly shifted at the same time.
Zhou Kai and Xiao.
Both attempting—very subtly—to position themselves closer to Chen.
Both attempting—very unsuccessfully—to do so quietly.
A shoe scraped.
A sleeve brushed against brick.
A tiny pebble rolled.
The cardboard shifted slightly.
And—
A small squeaky sound.
One kitten stirred.
Then another.
Then—
A low warning growl.
"Grrrrrrr…"
The mother cat's head lifted.
Her ears flattened.
Her golden eyes locked directly onto the two tallest threats in the vicinity.
Zhou Kai froze.
Xiao stopped mid-step.
Chen slowly turned his head.
And gave them a look.
Not loud.
Not dramatic.
Just—
The glare.
Zhou Kai immediately crouched lower.
"I didn't do anything."
Xiao spoke calmly. "It was him."
"It was not—"
"Shhh," Chen whispered sharply.
He gently reached behind him and took Juri's wrist.
Juri blinked but didn't resist.
Chen slipped one hand into his coat pocket.
From it, he pulled out a small packet of cat food.
"You can give her some," Chen murmured to Juri.
Juri's eyes widened slightly. "Me?"
Chen nodded.
The mother cat's growling softened the moment she focused on Chen.
Recognition.
Familiar scent.
Familiar presence.
Chen extended his hand slowly.
The cat hesitated.
Then stepped forward.
Her tail lifted slightly as she sniffed the air.
Chen poured a small amount of food onto the ground.
"She trusts you," Juri whispered.
Chen smiled faintly. "Only a little."
The mother cat began eating.
Her posture relaxed.
The kittens shifted again but remained mostly curled together.
From a slight distance, the three men lowered themselves carefully onto their toes.
No more dramatic movements.
No more stepping forward.
They watched.
Silently.
Zhou Kai rested his elbows on his knees, eyes softer than usual.
Xiao folded his hands calmly, observing.
Juri leaned forward slightly, utterly captivated.
They remained crouched in a loose circle, careful not to move too suddenly.
The mother cat had settled after recognizing Chen, her earlier warning growl fading into soft chewing sounds as she ate. The kittens, disturbed from their sleep, wriggled blindly against one another, tiny paws stretching and retreating in slow, clumsy motions.
Zhou Kai leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice as if the kittens could understand him.
"How old are they?"
Chen smiled faintly, still whispering.
"Ten days."
"Ten?" Zhou Kai repeated, surprised. "They're that small at 10 days?"
"They just started opening their eyes properly," Chen explained, his tone instinctively gentle. "Another week or so and they'll start wobbling around more confidently."
Juri's eyes sparkled. "Can we hold them?"
Chen immediately shook his head. "Not yet. The mother might get stressed. We should just watch for now."
Xiao, who had been unusually quiet, glanced at the cracked wall behind the nest and the small cardboard box Chen had arranged there.
"What exactly do we need for the shelter?" he asked, practical as always.
Chen looked thoughtful. "Something warmer. This box won't last if it rains. Maybe a wooden crate, some insulation… cloth that holds heat. And it has to be hidden properly. If the dean finds out, he'll definitely have it removed."
Zhou Kai frowned. "Why would he remove it?"
"University policy," Xiao replied before Chen could answer. "No stray animals inside department grounds."
Chen's lips pressed together slightly, but he didn't argue. He simply reached out and adjusted the edge of the cardboard box so it shielded the kittens better from the breeze.
Juri suddenly straightened.
"Tomorrow is a holiday, right?"
All three of them looked at him.
Juri continued eagerly, "Then let's come tomorrow and build it properly. We'll bring materials. It'll be easier when fewer people are around."
Zhou Kai blinked. "You're serious?"
"Of course," Juri said, almost offended. "If we're helping, we should do it properly."
Xiao crossed his arms, pretending indifference. "I suppose I have time tomorrow."
Zhou Kai immediately added, "Me too."
Chen looked between them—at Zhou Kai trying to appear dependable, at Xiao masking something competitive beneath calm composure, and at Juri radiating uncomplicated enthusiasm.
For a brief moment, he felt something warm settle in his chest.
"Okay," Chen said softly. "Then let's meet tomorrow morning. Ten o'clock? Near the back gate."
Juri nodded quickly. Zhou Kai gave an exaggerated thumbs up. Xiao simply inclined his head in agreement.
The kittens had begun to settle again, tiny bodies pressing close together for warmth. The mother cat finished eating and flicked her tail, giving the group one last cautious glance before curling protectively around her babies.
Chen watched them with a small, satisfied smile.
Tomorrow, he thought, they'll have a proper home.
Behind him—
Three very different men were thinking about something entirely different ideas.