Xu Jin returned to apartment 1208 with the lazy footsteps of a man who had just experienced emotional betrayal.
The elevator ride up had been quiet. Too quiet.
No demon cat sitting smugly on another man's lap.
No warm dinner smell.
No grandma laughing at his dramatic praise.
Just him. And the faint lingering taste of jealousy he absolutely refused to admit.
He unlocked his door.
Click.
The door opened.
Xu Jin stepped inside and froze.
The apartment was clean.
Not "quick tidy" clean.
But spotless.
The trash bin was empty.
The counter wiped.
The floor swept.
Even the blanket on the sofa was folded neatly.
He stared around slowly, like an archaeologist discovering an ancient ruin.
"…That professor," he whispered.
A literature professor.
Who cooked.
Cleaned.
Raised a grandma.
And stole his cat.
Xu Jin took off his shoes carefully — because somehow, stepping on the clean floor with dirty soles felt like a crime.
He walked to the sofa and sat down.
The silence hit immediately.
No tiny paws sprinting.
No meows of complaint.
No fur brushing his hand.
Just quiet.
Xu Jin leaned back, resting his head on the cushion.
His forehead still felt warm. Not painful. Just… tired.
The kind of tired that sneaks up after excitement fades.
He let out a long breath.
"…It's frustrating to be alone," he murmured.
His voice echoed slightly in the neat room.
He turned his head to the side.
The cat tree stood there. Empty.
The food bowl. Empty.
The toy mouse. Forgotten.
Xu Jin stared at it.
"…You demon," he whispered.
"You abandoned your owner for food."
He rolled onto his side, hugging a cushion.
"I risked my dignity. I lost money. I fought a professor. I nearly died yesterday. And what do I get?"
Silence.
He closed his eyes.
"…Heartless furball."
Knock. Knock.
Xu Jin's eyes opened instantly.
Someone at the door.
His heart lifted just a little.
The professor came to return the cat.
He sat up quickly, brushed his hair back with his hand, and opened the door.
And there stood—
Grandma Liang.
Smiling. Cheerful. Holding a small overnight bag.
Xu Jin blinked.
"…Grandma?"
She beamed.
"Good evening, Young Master Xu."
Xu Jin stared.
"…Where's your grandson?"
Grandma Liang laughed.
"Straight to the point, huh?"
Xu Jin cleared his throat.
"…I meant the cat."
Grandma Liang stepped inside without hesitation.
Xu Jin automatically moved aside like a polite host who had lost control of his life.
She looked around approvingly.
"Ah. My Chen cleaned well."
Xu Jin muttered.
"…Yes. He conquered my territory."
Grandma Liang turned to him.
"He said you might feel lonely tonight."
Xu Jin opened his mouth. Closed it. Opened it again.
"…He said that?"
"Yes." She nodded. "So I decided to come sleep here tonight."
Xu Jin stared at her bag.
"…You… are sleeping here?"
"Yes."
"In my apartment."
"Yes."
Xu Jin thought for a moment.
"…Grandma. Did you just exile your grandson and move in with me?"
Grandma Liang smiled proudly.
"He's young. He can survive alone one night."
Xu Jin exhaled through his nose.
"…This family is too powerful."
Grandma Liang patted his shoulder warmly.
"Come. You still look pale. Sit. I'll make you tea."
Xu Jin obediently sat.
Like a child facing a master strategist.
A few minutes later, Xu Jin sat on the sofa holding a warm cup of tea. Grandma Liang sat beside him, knitting calmly.
The apartment felt different now.
Not silent.
Just peaceful.
Xu Jin sipped the tea carefully.
"…Grandma."
"Yes?"
"…Is your grandson always like that?"
"Like what?"
"Perfect."
Grandma Liang laughed softly.
"He forgets to eat. Works too much. Scolds himself more than anyone else. And pretends he doesn't want a cat when he absolutely does."
Xu Jin's eyes widened slightly.
"…He wanted the cat?"
Grandma Liang nodded.
"But he's shy about wanting lively things. So when you took the cat…"
Xu Jin suddenly felt like the villain in a drama.
"…I stole his destiny?"
Grandma Liang chuckled.
"If destiny wanted him, the cat will return by itself."
Xu Jin looked at the empty cat tree again.
"…I hope that demon returns."
Grandma Liang smiled knowingly.
"He will."
Later that night, Xu Jin lay on the bed. Grandma Liang had taken the small spare mattress near the sofa.
The apartment lights were dim. The air calm.
Xu Jin stared at the ceiling.
He still felt a little warm. Still tired.
But not afraid this time.
Because someone was here.
He murmured quietly.
"…Grandma?"
"Yes?"
"…If your grandson came instead of you, would you be mad?"
Silence.
Then—
"Shameless boy."
Xu Jin grinned.
Next door, in apartment 1207—
Liang Chen sat on the edge of his bed.
Yunhu was curled beside him, tail tucked neatly, white fur glowing faintly in the moonlight.
Liang Chen poked the kitten's forehead lightly.
"You abandoned your owner."
Yunhu opened one eye lazily.
Then closed it again.
Liang Chen sighed.
"…At least you didn't abandon your dinner."
He turned off the lamp.
The kitten shifted closer.
Warm. Calm. Unbothered.
Morning arrived softly.
Xu Jin woke to a smell.
A powerful smell.
The kind that reached directly into his soul.
Food.
Real food.
Not instant noodles.
Not burnt eggs.
Not tragic culinary experiments.
He sat up abruptly.
Grandma Liang was already awake, fixing her hair neatly.
"You're awake," she said. "Let's go next door."
Xu Jin blinked sleepily.
"…Next door?"
"Yes. Chen is making breakfast."
Xu Jin slid off the bed so fast the blanket nearly wrapped around his ankles.
"…He cooks breakfast too?"
Grandma Liang laughed.
"Yes."
Xu Jin clutched his chest.
"This professor is too powerful."
Xu Jin followed Grandma Liang next door, still blinking sleep from his eyes. The apartment hallway felt narrower somehow when he wasn't the only one in it, and his bare feet shuffled over the carpet with the caution of someone entering enemy territory.
He paused outside Apartment 1207 and peeked inside.
Steam curled from a frying pan. The smell of sautéed vegetables, perfectly scrambled eggs, and toasted bread made him stumble backward.
"…Wait," he whispered, clutching his hoodie. "This smells… alive."
Grandma Liang laughed from behind. "Careful, young man. You'll fall into temptation."
Xu Jin pressed a hand to his chest dramatically. "I… I can't—this is… unfair."
"Unfair?" Grandma echoed. "You were fine with instant noodles yesterday."
"I was weak… and betrayed!" Xu Jin's voice rose in horror. He bent closer to the floor, sniffing as if the aroma were a guilty temptation. "And that cat… the demon… abandoned me!" He shook his fists. "All for a better breakfast!"
Grandma shook her head, smiling. "He isn't abandoning you. He just… knows where the good food is."
Xu Jin groaned so deeply it could have registered on the Richter scale. "I am a victim of circumstance and feline treachery."
From the frying pan, a soft sizzle sounded like applause.
Inside, Liang Chen moved with quiet precision. He had rolled up his sleeves and was carefully plating scrambled eggs next to a colorful pile of sautéed bell peppers. Yunhu jumped onto the counter to inspect his handiwork, tail swishing with approval. When Liang Chen glanced down, the kitten pressed his small face into the plate for a sniff. Liang Chen chuckled softly.
"…He's already deciding which belongs to him," Liang Chen murmured. He placed a small plate of eggs in front of the kitten, who promptly batted it toward the center of the kitchen like it was his throne.
Grandma Liang clapped softly. "He knows what's good."
Xu Jin's eyes widened as he stepped into the kitchen. His entire being froze in shock and awe. "He… cooked breakfast? He… plated breakfast? And… the cat is… behaving like a little emperor?"
Liang Chen glanced up calmly. "Good morning. Breakfast is almost ready. Please wash your hands."
Xu Jin raised both arms in surrender, fumbling toward the sink. "Yes! Yes, sir! I am unworthy!"
Grandma laughed at the spectacle. "You're not unworthy. You're just… dramatic."
Xu Jin dramatically splashed water onto his face, then dabbed it with a towel, muttering, "…I am still traumatized by betrayal."
Yunhu hopped lightly onto Liang Chen's lap, eyes half-closed, seemingly smug. Xu Jin's gaze followed the small white body like a hawk. "…My cat… has betrayed me."
Liang Chen set down the frying pan. "He's always loyal. Just… selective."
Xu Jin flopped into a chair. "Selective? He's literally ignoring me. He abandoned me!" He leaned his head on the table. "All this while I risked life and dignity for him!" He gestured vaguely at himself. "…And this breakfast exists without me? How dare you!"
Grandma Liang shook her head, chuckling. "You flatter him too much. He's a cat. He'll eat when he's hungry, sleep when he wants."
Xu Jin looked as though he had just been told the Earth was flat. "A cat… has morals… and… strategy?" He blinked at Yunhu, who purred innocently. "…Demon."
Liang Chen placed a plate in front of Xu Jin. Golden scrambled eggs, fluffy toast, and sautéed vegetables. A small portion of fresh fruit sat neatly beside it. "Eat. You need energy."
Xu Jin's hand hovered over the plate, trembling slightly. "…He… made this for me?" He slowly picked up a fork. "…I… I didn't earn this… but… I accept it… graciously." He took a bite. His eyes widened. "…This… is… unreal… why is this so… good?" He nearly dropped the fork in awe. "…Professor… you… you're… too powerful…"
Grandma Liang clapped her hands softly. "He's good. Not everyone can cook this well."
Xu Jin dramatically pressed a hand to his chest. "…I… I'm crying. Internally… silently… tears of joy…" He pointed at Liang Chen. "…All hail the master chef!"
Liang Chen raised an eyebrow but didn't comment. Yunhu hopped onto Xu Jin's chair, nudging him with a paw. Xu Jin squeaked and moved back. "…I am being attacked!" He waved his arms. "The cat… he's… he's… a traitor!" He glanced at Grandma. "Grandma! Why did you allow this?"
Grandma Liang laughed. "You asked for this fate. You brought him here first."
Xu Jin groaned and buried his face in the plate. "…This is… catastrophic happiness."
Breakfast continued with Xu Jin alternating between devouring food like a starving warrior and glaring at Yunhu for being smug. Yunhu responded with deliberate slow blinks, clearly enjoying the human drama.