Moonleaf Café had never experienced a crisis like this before.
At Table Seven, three grown men sat upright like contestants in a survival game, each subtly—and not so subtly—trying to outperform the others.
At the center of it all, Liang Chen calmly ate his strawberry cake.
He had absolutely no idea he had become a public spectacle.
"Professor," Xu Jin said smoothly, leaning forward, "do you want anything else? Another slice? The strawberry here is good, but their matcha—"
"I can order," Zhou Kai cut in quickly. "Professor, I know their menu well."
Xiao Yushen adjusted his glasses. "Too much sugar isn't good. Perhaps tea would be better."
Chen paused mid-bite.
Three pairs of eyes locked onto him.
The tension was palpable.
"…I'm fine," Chen said after a moment. "Thank you."
Xu Jin frowned slightly. Zhou Kai looked disappointed. Xiao hummed thoughtfully.
Then—
"But," Chen added calmly, "if someone insists, I wouldn't mind water."
Three hands shot up at once.
"I'll get it." "I was already standing." "You're sitting too far."
The owner lady, watching from behind the counter, whispered to her employee,
"They look like they're about to duel over water."
The employee nodded. "For him."
Before Chen could protest, Xu Jin was already halfway up. Zhou Kai stood too quickly and nearly knocked his chair over. Xiao followed more gracefully but with quiet determination.
Chen blinked.
"…It's just water," he murmured.
They returned moments later—each with a glass.
Xu Jin's water had lemon slices.
Zhou Kai's was iced, condensation perfect.
Xiao's was warm.
They placed the glasses in front of Chen in a neat line.
Chen stared.
"…I can't drink three waters."
Silence.
Then Xu Jin coughed. "Choose one."
Zhou Kai nodded eagerly. "Yes, Professor."
Xiao smiled faintly. "Your preference."
Chen hesitated like a man faced with an impossible exam question.
Finally, he reached out.
Picked—
The warm water.
Xiao's.
Xu Jin stiffened. Zhou Kai's soul visibly cracked.
Chen took a sip, unaware of the emotional casualties.
"Thank you," he said politely.
Xiao's lips curved just slightly.
Behind the counter, the owner lady smacked the table softly.
"Oh. He chose."
Meanwhile — The Forum Was Dying (Joyfully)
The first photo had already gone viral.
Post #1:
WHO he is???
A blurry image showing Chen seated, three men standing around him like guardians—or challengers.
Replies exploded.
— THIS LOOKS LIKE A REVERSE HAREM
— WHY IS PROFESSOR CHEN JUST SITTING THERE CALM
— ARE THEY FIGHTING OR PROPOSING
— THAT STUDENT IS SO DEAD
__ WHO'S THAT THIRD PERSON LOOKING KINDA HOT RIGHT!
__ LOOKS LIKE AN OWNER
__ NO HE'S A NEW EMPLOYEE
__ YOU SURE? DOESN'T HE LOOK LIKE A YOUNG MASTER OF SOME RICH FAMILY
Then came—
Post #2:
A clearer shot.
Three tall men surrounding Chen, who was looking up mildly confused.
Caption:
Angel caught between chaos.
— HE LOOKS TOO PURE
— PROTECT HIM
— WHY DOES EVERYONE AROUND HIM LOOK FEROCAL
__ PROFESSOR XIAO I'M ROOTING FOR YOU
__ I'M ROOTING FOR THAT NEW GUY
__ WE'RE ROOTING FOR THE STUDENT ZHOU
And then—
The third photo.
The killer one.
Chen eating his strawberry cake.
Fork lifted delicately. Cream on the corner of his lip. Eyes lowered, expression serene yet faintly smug in a way only cake could cause.
Behind him—
Xu Jin leaning slightly forward, hands clasped, focused entirely on Chen.
Xiao sitting straight, composed, gaze soft.
Zhou Kai staring like he'd found religion.
Caption:
Wild dogs turned into puppies.
The forum collapsed.
— THAT CAKE SHOULD BE ILLEGAL
— HE LOOKS LIKE AN ANGELIC DEVIL
— WHY DOES HE LOOK EVIL AND CUTE
— I'M NOT STRAIGHT ANYMORE
__ ME TOO
Screenshots spread faster than logic.
Back in Reality — Chen Develops a Headache
"I said I don't need anything else," Chen repeated, rubbing his temple lightly.
Xu Jin immediately leaned closer. "Headache?"
Zhou Kai panicked. "I'll get medicine!"
Xiao sighed. "You're overwhelming him."
Xu Jin shot back, "You're doing the same."
Zhou Kai protested, "I'm just worried!"
Chen closed his eyes briefly.
The owner lady approached the table, arms crossed, expression amused but firm.
She glanced pointedly at a girl near the window, phone suspiciously angled.
"Miss," the owner said gently, "this is a café. Not a live broadcast."
The girl froze. "I—I was just—"
"Privacy matters," the owner continued with a smile that did not allow argument. "Please."
The girl nodded frantically and lowered her phone.
Too late.
The damage was already done.
At the table, Chen opened his eyes.
"Please," he said calmly, voice soft but authoritative, "stop arguing."
Instant silence.
Xu Jin straightened.
Zhou Kai swallowed.
Xiao relaxed his shoulders.
They all looked at him.
Chen sighed. "You're making a scene."
Xu Jin laughed awkwardly. "We are?"
"Yes."
"…Sorry."
Zhou Kai nodded vigorously. "Sorry, Professor."
Xiao smiled apologetically. "We'll behave."
Chen picked up his fork again.
"Good," he said. "I'd like to finish my cake in peace."
And just like that—
Three dangerous men became well-behaved.
They sat quietly.
Watched him eat.
The owner lady whispered to her employee,
"I've never seen anything like this."
The employee nodded in awe.
"He tamed them easily."
Chen, unaware of the legend growing around him, simply thought:
Why is everyone so noisy today?
Outside, the forum refreshed again.
Inside, Moonleaf Café held its breath.
And the chaos—
Was far from over.
On the forum chen got a total of devilish angel with his three familiars.
Friends of zhou were reading everything on forum and typing and cheering for zhou on forum to give the support.
Some students were ROOTING for professor xiao to have the last bite. Some wanted that new guy to have their professor chen because he looks really good looking not like their class boys.
Some girls were jealous of chen to have these three tall handsome man to fell heels over him.
Among some were who wanted to kidnap professor chen by using the cake .
Some were already started to think about the stories to write based on them. The forum was already on fire and the main center target is not aware of this whole plot twist. What will happen when he got to know?