Morning sunlight filtered through the curtains.
Chen was already dressed, adjusting his watch while checking something on his phone. Yun Hu sat near the door, unusually alert, as if he sensed an outing.
Xu Jin walked out of his room, still fixing his sleeve.
"Are you going somewhere?" he asked.
Chen nodded casually. "At the campus, we're illegally making a cat home today."
Xu Jin paused.
"…Illegally?"
Chen smiled faintly. "Unofficially. It just sounds more dramatic if I say illegally."
Xu Jin stepped closer. "You said we."
Chen didn't notice the shift in tone. "Mm. Senior Xiao, Zhou Kai, and another student are helping."
The moment those names left his mouth, Xu Jin's expression changed slightly.
"There are others?" he asked.
Chen blinked. "Of course there are others."
Xu Jin folded his arms. "I'll go too."
Chen finally looked at him properly. "Aren't you forgetting something?"
"What?"
"You're not a young master anymore who can take a day off whenever you want."
Xu Jin went quiet for a second.
He did know.
Especially today.
There was already a shortage at work because the new employee had taken leave.
He clicked his tongue softly.
"…Then what about Yun Hu?"
Chen immediately crouched and scratched Yun Hu's chin.
"I'm taking him with me."
Xu Jin frowned. "To campus?"
"He can play outside," Chen said naturally. "There's space near the back field."
Then Chen's eyes brightened.
"You know there are kittens?"
Xu Jin stiffened slightly.
"Four of them," Chen continued, clearly excited. "We're making a small shelter so they won't stay in the rain anymore."
Xu Jin's gaze darkened just a fraction.
"Kittens," he repeated.
Chen nodded, completely unaware of the brewing jealousy.
"They're tiny. You should see them."
Xu Jin stared at him for a moment.
He suddenly had a very bad feeling about this "cat home project."
And it wasn't about the legality.
Kittens," Xu Jin repeated slowly.
But that wasn't what bothered him.
It wasn't the shelter.
It wasn't the "illegal" construction.
It was the fact that Chen would be spending the entire day—
With other people.
Senior Xiao.
Zhou Kai.
And some "other student."
Building something together.
Laughing.
Talking.
Having fun.
Without him.
Chen, meanwhile, was still excitedly explaining, completely unaware.
"They're really small," he said. "We'll set up cardboard insulation first, then a wooden frame. Senior Xiao already arranged the materials."
Senior Xiao arranged it.
Xu Jin's jaw tightened just slightly.
"So you'll be there all day?" he asked.
"Probably," Chen replied. "We need to finish before evening."
All day.
Xu Jin imagined Chen crouching on the ground, sleeves rolled up, smiling softly at those kittens—
And at whoever was standing beside him.
He didn't like that image.
Not at all.
Chen picked up Yun Hu. "He'll enjoy it too."
Xu Jin looked at Yun Hu.
"…You're really bringing him too?"
"Of course."
Xu Jin hesitated.
If Yun Hu went, Chen would be distracted with the cat.
If Yun Hu didn't go, Chen would be surrounded by people.
Neither option pleased him.
Chen noticed the silence. "What?"
Xu Jin forced a calm expression. "Nothing."
Chen narrowed his eyes slightly. "You look like you're thinking something unnecessary."
"I'm not," Xu Jin replied smoothly.
Chen didn't look convinced.
"You should focus on work," Chen said gently. "Don't skip just because of this."
Xu Jin clicked his tongue softly.
He knew Chen was right.
But knowing didn't make it better.
Chen moved toward the door, adjusting Yun Hu in his arms.
"I'll send you pictures," he said casually.
Xu Jin stared at him.
Pictures.
Of him smiling with others?
"…You don't have to," Xu Jin muttered.
Chen blinked. "Why?"
Xu Jin looked away. "Just focus on what you're doing."
Chen watched him for a moment, then smiled faintly.
"You're acting strange."
"I'm not."
Chen shook his head, amused.
"Lock the door when you leave," he reminded.
Xu Jin gave a quiet hum in response.
The door opened.
Sunlight spilled in.
And just before stepping out, Chen turned back slightly.
"Don't overwork yourself."
Then he left.
The apartment fell silent.
Xu Jin stood there for a long moment.
It wasn't the kittens.
It wasn't the shelter.
It was the thought of Chen laughing freely with others—
Spending a whole day in that warmth—
While he wasn't there.
Xu Jin exhaled slowly.
He suddenly disliked Senior Xiao very much.