The atmosphere slowly relaxed again after Xu Jin's arrival.
Cakes were opened.
Snacks passed around.
Yun Hu became the center of attention, shamelessly moving from lap to lap like a celebrity making rounds.
Juri was currently holding a ribbon toy, waving it lazily while Yun Hu attacked it with surprising ferocity.
Zhou Kai leaned back against the sofa, watching with a faint smile.
Xu Jin sat closer to Chen than necessary.
Xiao remained quieter than usual but participated when spoken to.
At some point, between laughter and cake crumbs—
Juri suddenly said, "We should go on a trip sometime."
The room paused for half a second.
Zhou Kai immediately straightened. "That's actually a great idea."
"A trip?" Chen repeated.
"Yeah," Juri continued enthusiastically. "After exams. Somewhere close. Just to relax."
Zhou Kai nodded. "We never go anywhere. It'll be fun."
Xu Jin glanced at Chen briefly, then said calmly, "I don't mind."
Zhou Kai shot him a look.
That was too fast.
Juri blinked. "You're agreeing?"
"I can take leave," Xu Jin said casually.
Xiao lifted his eyes slightly but didn't comment.
Chen, however, exhaled softly.
"Xu Jin has a job," he said logically. "And you both have exams coming."
There it was.
Professor Chen.
The academic mode.
The fun killer.
Xiao's lips twitched faintly.
Zhou Kai groaned dramatically. "Professor…"
Before Chen could continue—
A hand landed firmly on his shoulder.
Grandma Liang had returned.
"This is a house," she said calmly. "Not your lecture room."
Silence.
Everyone froze.
Chen blinked slowly.
"Grandma…"
"Are you grading papers right now?" she continued. "Or scolding children?"
Juri covered his mouth.
Zhou Kai turned away to hide his grin.
Xu Jin looked down at his tea cup very seriously.
Xiao cleared his throat to suppress a laugh.
Chen, the feared literature professor—
Was being scolded.
In his own living room.
By his grandmother.
The tension lasted two seconds.
Then Juri snorted.
Zhou Kai burst out laughing.
Xu Jin coughed to hide it.
Even Xiao couldn't hold it anymore.
Chen closed his eyes briefly.
"…I see how it is."
Grandma Liang patted his shoulder once more.
"Good. Now all of you go to xu Jin's apartment."
Everyone blinked.
"Go?" Xu Jin repeated.
"Yes. I have a meeting with my pals here. Mahjong," she clarified proudly.
Chen stared. "You're kicking us out?"
"Yes."
Xu Jin raised a hand slightly. "Grandma… am I not allowed to say yes or no? That is my apartment."
Grandma Liang slowly turned her head.
Glare.
A sharp one.
"Do you want to argue?"
Xu Jin immediately shook his head. "No."
"Good. Take your snacks and empty this room in five minutes."
The authority in her voice was terrifying.
Suddenly, everyone moved.
Boxes were grabbed.
Bags collected.
Tea cups hurriedly placed in the sink.
Yun Hu was scooped up and handed to Chen.
It looked like an emergency evacuation.
Five minutes later—
They were out.
Xu Jin's Apartment
The door opened.Lights flicked on.The space felt different from Chen's place.
More modern.
Minimalistic.
Cool-toned lighting.
Neat and Structured.
Juri stepped in first and looked around with open admiration.
"Wow," he said honestly. "I like the vibe of your house."
Zhou Kai followed quietly.
The decor was clean.Subtle and Elegant.
There were plants near the window. Bookshelves organized neatly. A simple gray couch. Soft ambient lighting.
"It suits you," Juri added.
Xu Jin gave a faint smile.
"Brother Chen helped me."
He said it casually.
Zhou Kai's expression changed Just slightly.
But Juri saw it immediately.
That tiny flicker of Jealousy in zhou Kai's eyes.
His crush had helped design another man's apartment.
And the other man said it so naturally like it's daily routine.
Xiao glanced around the room but didn't comment much.
He simply placed the snack boxes on the table.
Chen walked in last, carrying Yun Hu, who immediately jumped down.
Zhou Kai shoved his hands into his pockets.
"…Oh," he muttered lightly. "Of course he helped good for you."
Xu Jin looked at him briefly.
There was no direct hostility.But the air between them tightened.
Juri's earlier excitement dimmed.
He glanced at Zhou Kai.
Then at Chen.
Then at Xu Jin.
And something in his chest felt heavy.Because it wasn't funny anymore.
Zhou Kai wasn't joking.
He was jealous. He only see professor chen with these eye and don't even bother to see who is beside him all the time.
And he didn't even realize how obvious it was becoming.
Chen, unaware—walked toward the balcony area
"It's cleaner than last time," he commented,
Xu Jin's tone softened immediately. "You said I leave things around so I cleaned every bit of this house yesterday."
Zhou Kai looked away.
Juri spoke " don't you do a normal type of job how can you afford this house is this rental of friend's.
Xu jin walked to the living room "Mine".
Three of them" ???"
A sudden sound came and the culprit was standing near the broken cup with not even tiniest bit of guilt. Chen hurriedly came and said " xu jin take yun hu and check if he's hurt I'll clean this up".
Xu jin " no no I'll clean this up you are clumsy in these things you catch this demon. He broke my favourite cup!! Yun hu!! Be prepared don't let me catch you" while picking the broken cup pieces
Chen smiled "Dare to do anything to him".
Juri came to help them.
But three of them realised in this little conversation that how much these two came closer and how much third wheeled they felt by standing there.