Break time arrived. Mu Zhe looked around for somewhere to sit while the others went to buy their food. His smile grew as he noticed Jonathan sitting all alone in the far corner of the canteen. That was it — the perfect spot.
He strolled casually toward Jonathan. Not a single word spoken — he simply sat down beside him, shamelessly, right there as Jonathan sat lost in thought. Jonathan turned, eyes brimming with unspoken questions. Mu Zhe only smiled, self-satisfied. It sent every nerve in Jonathan's body fraying.
"Why that look? Are you okay?"
Mu Zhe asked, pretending to be nice. But deep down, he was ready to shatter Jonathan's ego and show him exactly who the real master was.
"I'm fine. Why do you ask? Could it be… you're actually jealous of me?"
Jonathan's tone dripped with sarcasm — he was poised to strike back. His fingers tightened around his cutlery, knuckles blanching white. Mu Zhe's smile simply grew broader, his face still perfectly innocent.
"Hahaha… my junior's getting funnier every day. Jealous? Of what? Lulu? Or… my uncle?"
Mu Zhe began his first strike. Jonathan glared, imagining that fork in his hand hitting its mark again and again — right on Mu Zhe's milky-white neck.
"What do you want?"
Jonathan asked, barely holding on.
"Can't a senior say hello to a junior? Juniors these day are really grumpy."
Mu Zhe pretending to be sulking and all heart broken. He rested his chin in his hand, eyes bright —in reality, he was ready for war.
"You —"
"Over here, everyone!"
Mu Zhe waved cheerfully, cutting right through Jonathan's edge. Jonathan lifted his gaze — Zhang Yiran, Zhou Jun, Jiang Hai, Lulu, Ah Fei… and him, heading straight for their table. He bowed his head fast, eyes fixed on his plate. His hunger was gone completely. Why did he have to come…?
"Thanks for saving seats. It's crowded today."
Zhang Yiran pulled out a chair for Ah Fei and sat. Truly a gentleman. Mu Zhe shifted his own chair to make space for Lulu.
Lulu took the seat beside him. He set a steaming bowl of wonton mee before Mu Zhe. Then he gently lifted the soft-boiled egg from his own bowl and slipped it into Mu Zhe's.
"Thank you,"
Mu Zhe said. It came out sounding a little too eager. He accepted the bowl and ate with bright, happy pleasure.
"My pleasure,"
Lulu answered softly.
Mu Zhe's smile lingered as he looked over at Jonathan — a quiet, proud message. See? He chose me.
"Where's Ma Yuan?"
Lanling asked and sat right next to Jonathan. Jonathan flinched, unable to settle.
"He'll be here soon,"
Zhou Jun said. He shifted aside to make room for Ma Yuan, welcoming him openly — his feelings clear, unhidden, without a single moment of doubt.
"I'm actually full… I should head out."
Jonathan rose quickly, desperate to slip away. Just being near Lanling made his skin crawl.
"Already? But you've hardly touched your food!"
Mu Zhe's voice lifted, bright and pointed. The game was afoot — he'd set his trap perfectly.
Every gaze swung to Jonathan. He fixed Mu Zhe with a sharp, piercing look — meeting that perfectly innocent face. He knew it was all deliberate. Mu Zhe had trapped him here, on purpose, with Lanling.
"Are we making you feel uncomfortable?"
Mu Zhe asked, totally acting innocent. Just playing the victim. What are you playing at… Jonathan swallowed the words. He looked around — concerned faces. He shook his head.
"No… I just… I just feel a little bit shy."
He dropped back onto his seat and stuffed his mouth full, cheeks bulging like a chipmunk's. But every swallow went down hard, sharp and painful. His pride teetered on the cliff's edge — one wrong move, and it would shatter.
"Don't be shy. We're all just ordinary people here. Same as you. We've just been around the block a little longer."
Mu Zhe spoke, his voice thick with sarcasm. Jonathan swallowed — the lump going down harder than ever. Those words felt like thorns, pricking at what little pride he had left. He had gotten completely tangled in his own games. And it was far too late to turn back now.
"Why is the air so heavy? Is there cause for mourning?"
Ma Yuan stood, scanning each face before him one by one.
"Not at all."
Lanling smiled, moving quickly to make room. With Ma Yuan here, every word and gesture needed to be handled with great care.
He nudged Jonathan — a clear signal to cooperate. Jonathan said nothing, holding firm, stubborn as ever. If Lanling feared anyone, that was Jonathan's greatest advantage. He had learned that well.
"Cooperate… and you can sleep in the bed tonight."
Lanling whispered. Jonathan shot him a sharp look. Lanling simply nodded, wearing a sweet, unreadable smile.
"Yes, teacher. Everyone's been so kind. They're my first real friends here."
Jonathan smiled — thin and tight.
"That's good to hear."
Ma Yuan sat. And Zhou Jun made sure Ma Yuan sat comfortably.
"And remember — no picking on anyone. Especially you."
Ma Yuan said, pointing at Lanling. Full of clear warning.
"Me? Why me?"
Lanling protested, trying to act innocent. Jonathan curved a faint smile. Serves you right, he thought, quietly pleased.
"I could see it on your face from the start. Shen Wei is trouble enough already — don't add more. You're an adult. Please act like one."
Ma Yuan spoke, stabbing his fork hard into his steak — anger clear in every movement. Zhou Jun gently covered his trembling hand, stroking it softly, calming the one he loved.
"You alright?"
Zhou Jun spoke gently, squeezing Ma Yuan's hand firmly, lending him all his strength. Ma Yuan lifted his gaze, biting his lip, fighting to keep it together.
"You're alright. I'm right here."
Zhou Jun's voice was soft, steady. Ma Yuan nodded slowly — yet his expression had already clouded over.
Mu Zhe met Lanling's gaze and slowly shook his head. That's enough, his gesture said. Lanling swallowed hard and nodded. Everything he did was for Mu Zhe — if Mu Zhe told him to stop, he would. Always. As long as his nephew was safe and happy.
Mu Zhe smiled — satisfied — then turned to Jonathan. And stopped. What he saw there was different: fear. Real, ashen fear. In that moment he understood — something was very wrong. Something lay beneath all this. He needed to see the truth of it. His anger vanished in an instant.
Night, at the laboratory.
"I need to ask you something."
Straight to the point. Mu Zhe didn't wait long. He went to meet Fu Heng. He had the feeling he needed to solve this problem as quickly as possible.
Fu Heng stared at Mu Zhe. His heart started thumping. There must be something big for Mu Zhe to come this late at night.
"Has he done something again?"
Fu Heng moved toward the coffee maker.
"No."
Mu Zhe answered. Fu Heng breathed easier and reached for two mugs.
"What happened to Jonathan… before he came here?"
Mu Zhe asked — hitting the mark perfectly. Fu Heng froze. The room seemed to tilt.
"Why? What has he done?"
Fu Heng's voice came out strangled, barely making it past his lips.
"Is there something… in his family?"
Mu Zhe asked gently.
Fu Heng's hands shook as he poured coffee.
"What do you mean?"
"Mental illness?"
Fu Heng stopped. Thought of Qihan — Jonathan's father. Fragile. Only recently steady. He took a long breath, brought the cups over, sat down.
"Yes."
He took a slow sip. The coffee tasted bitter.