The lunch that followed was, unexpectedly, peaceful.
For a while, the only sounds at the table were the soft clink of chopsticks against trays and the low hum of conversation drifting through the faculty cafeteria. Chen ate as if the rest of the world didn't exist, fully immersed in his food. Juri ate quietly beside him, unbothered. Xiao moved at an unhurried pace, refined and composed as always.
Zhou Kai… tried.
He lifted a spoonful of food, clearly aiming for his mouth—only for it to land squarely against his left cheek.
There was a brief pause.
Then he tried again.
This time, the food brushed his right cheek.
Juri stared.
Chen blinked.
Xiao froze for half a second—then all three of them burst out laughing.
"Zhou Kai," Juri said between laughs, "are you eating or applying skincare?"
Zhou Kai didn't look embarrassed at all. He simply shrugged, wiped his cheek with the back of his hand, and muttered, "Missed."
What he didn't say was the real reason.
How am I supposed to eat properly, he thought irritably, when Professor Chen is sitting right in front of me like this?
Chen ate without the slightest awareness—cheeks slightly puffed, movements neat and unguarded, expression soft in a way that didn't belong in a cafeteria full of teachers. To Zhou Kai, it was distracting in the most unfair way possible.
Xiao noticed.
He noticed the way Zhou Kai's gaze lingered a second too long.
The way his chopsticks slowed whenever Chen lifted his head.
The way his eyes followed Chen unconsciously.
Juri noticed too.
But unlike Xiao, Juri didn't react. He merely glanced between them once, then lowered his head and continued eating, as if nothing was out of the ordinary.
Xiao, on the other hand, smiled faintly to himself.
Casually, he lifted a hand and rested it on Chen's shoulder, leaning in just slightly.
"Is there something you need help with?" Xiao asked lightly, his voice gentle.
Chen looked up, surprised. "Hm? No, I'm fine."
Xiao hummed, seemingly satisfied, then deliberately shifted his gaze toward Zhou Kai.
"Oh," he said suddenly, reaching for a tissue, "you've got something on your face."
Before Zhou Kai could react, Xiao leaned in and gently wiped the corner of Chen's mouth.
The action itself was perfectly normal—familiar. The kind of small, thoughtless gesture that came naturally between close colleagues.
But to Zhou Kai—
It was far too intimate.
His chair scraped loudly against the floor as he stood up abruptly.
"I—" he started, then stopped.
Chen looked up at him, startled. "Zhou Kai? What's wrong?"
Juri frowned. "Did you choke or something?"
Zhou Kai avoided their eyes. His ears burned red, fingers gripping the edge of the tray tightly.
"…I heard the word help," he muttered stiffly. "Thought… someone needed me."
Xiao spoke nonchalantly " want to give another excuse this seems a bit off".
Zhou kai glared at him.
Just as Zhou Kai was half-turned away, Chen spoke again.
"Oh—right," Chen said, as if suddenly remembering something important. "I did need help with something."
Zhou Kai paused.
Chen looked at him sincerely. "Thank you for reminding me, Zhou Kai."
Zhou Kai straightened a little, the stiffness in his shoulders easing—until Chen's expression shifted.
"But," Chen continued, his tone turning mildly stern, "you shouldn't shout like that in the cafeteria. It disturbs others. That's not a good habit."
The scolding wasn't harsh, but it landed cleanly.
Zhou Kai's ears turned red all over again.
"…Sorry," he said sheepishly, lowering his head before sitting back down in his seat properly.
Juri, completely unaffected by the emotional whiplash at the table, continued eating at an unhurried pace, eyes on his tray, chewing thoughtfully as if this was the most peaceful lunch he'd had all day.
Xiao smiled.
He leaned back slightly, fingers tapping once against the table before speaking.
"So," Xiao said calmly, eyes fixed on Chen, "what kind of help do you want from me?"
The emphasis was unmistakable.
Zhou Kai's smile twitched.
A vein pulsed faintly at his temple.
Chen didn't seem to notice the tension crackling beside him. He simply nodded, considering Xiao's question seriously.
Juri glanced up briefly—only long enough to confirm everyone was still eating—then returned to his food, blissfully unaware that a silent battle was unfolding right in front of him.
Chen hesitated for a moment, then looked around the table.
"Actually," he said gently, "I need all of your help—if you're willing."
Zhou Kai's face lit up instantly, like someone had just flipped a switch.
"Really?" he said without thinking.
Xiao's expression, however, darkened by exactly half a degree.
"Chen," he said slowly, "didn't you say you needed my help?"
Chen blinked, then smiled apologetically. "I did. But now Zhou Kai and Juri are here too. They'll be a big help."
Zhou Kai's shoulders straightened in quiet triumph.
Xiao… sulked.
Juri finally paused his chopsticks and looked up, eyes calm but attentive.
"Professor," he asked meaningfully, "what kind of help do you need?"
Chen glanced left. Then right.
Then, lowering his voice, he gestured for all three of them to lean closer.
Two out of the three immediately felt the temperature rise.
Zhou Kai leaned in too fast, heart pounding for reasons that had nothing to do with secrecy. Xiao leaned in more slowly, expression controlled but ears noticeably warm.
Juri leaned in normally.
Perfectly unaffected.
Chen, entirely unaware of the internal chaos he was causing, spoke in a hushed tone.
"In the backyard of our department," he said, "near the wall… the cat gave birth to kittens."
Silence.
Three pairs of eyes stared at him.
Zhou Kai looked puzzled.
Xiao looked confused.
Juri simply waited.
Chen noticed their expressions and chuckled softly, clearly amused.
"So," he continued, voice brightening just a little, "I need your help to make them a shelter—without the dean finding out."
Zhou Kai's confusion vanished instantly.
Xiao stared at Chen, torn between disbelief and fond resignation.
Juri nodded once, as if this was the most reasonable request in the world.
"I understand," he said calmly.
Chen smiled, relieved.
The heat at the table, however, didn't go down at all.