Liang Chen told himself he was only passing by.
That was the story he repeated in his head as he walked down the lively afternoon street, hands tucked into the pockets of his coat, scarf neatly wrapped, posture straight and elegant as always.
He was only passing by.
The sweet shop simply happened to be on the way home.
And the cake he had eaten earlier had simply been… unexpectedly good.
And Grandma did like sweets.
And Yun Hu deserved treats.
And therefore—
This was not indulgence.
This was responsibility.
"Yes," Liang Chen muttered quietly to himself. "This is… household management."
With that completely reasonable justification established, he stepped into the bakery.
A warm bell chimed overhead.
The shop was cozy, filled with the scent of sugar, butter, and vanilla. Glass counters displayed rows of delicate cakes, glossy fruit tarts, and tiny animal-shaped pastries. Soft music played. The kind of place that made people forget their dignity and calories.
Liang Chen adjusted his glasses and moved forward.
But then—
He stopped.
Because directly in front of the display counter stood a very tall figure.
Broad shoulders. Expensive coat. A slightly restless posture.
A young man leaning forward, staring at the cake selection with the expression of someone trying to solve advanced quantum physics.
Liang Chen recognized that back instantly.
…Xu Jin.
Liang Chen froze.
Xu Jin, meanwhile, was locked in battle with the pastry universe.
He pointed at one cake.
Then another.
Then pulled his hand back.
Then leaned closer to the glass again.
The shop assistant smiled politely, but her eyes had already reached the stage of silent prayer.
Liang Chen observed for three seconds.
Then decided—
He would simply ignore him.
Yes.
That was best.
He walked past Xu Jin with perfect academic composure and went straight to the counter.
"Four slices of strawberry shortcake," Liang Chen said calmly.
"And… one small cat-shaped treat."
The assistant brightened immediately.
"Of course, Professor Liang!"
Liang Chen paused.
He was still not used to being recognized outside campus.
But before he could respond—
A familiar voice rose beside him.
"…Professor?"
Liang Chen closed his eyes briefly.
He turned his head slowly.
Xu Jin had finally looked up.
And the moment their eyes met—
Xu Jin: 😮
Liang Chen: 😐
For one solid second, neither spoke.
Then—
Xu Jin blurted, "You like cake?"
Liang Chen's eyebrow lifted.
"Is that surprising?"
Xu Jin panicked internally.
Why did I say that.
Why did I open my mouth.
Why does he look offended.
Why does he look cute when offended—
NO. WRONG DIRECTION.
Liang Chen's voice cooled slightly.
"Can't I?"
Xu Jin immediately raised both hands.
"No no no— I mean— you just— you always drink tea and— I didn't imagine you liked sweets— not that it's bad— sweets are good— cake is good—"
He stopped because he realized he was digging his own grave with a spoon.
Liang Chen looked at him.
Xu Jin suddenly felt like a student who had just been caught skipping class.
Then Liang Chen's gaze dropped.
To the floor.
At Xu Jin's feet.
A bouquet.
White lilies. Fresh. Carefully wrapped. Expensive.
Liang Chen tilted his head slightly.
"Oh?"
Xu Jin followed his gaze.
His soul left his body.
He had completely forgotten the bouquet.
Liang Chen's tone turned teasing — light, cheerful, mischievous in a way only appeared when he was relaxed.
"Are you going on a date?" Liang Chen asked.
"Or confessing to someone?"
Xu Jin's brain short-circuited.
Because his thoughts at that exact moment were:
How do I apologize?
How do I reconcile?
How do I stop Grandma from murdering me?
How do I make him not hate me?
So when Liang Chen teased him—
Xu Jin heard only: opportunity.
He didn't even process the question properly.
He just blurted—
"Oh. These are for you."
Silence.
Pure.
Absolute.
Catastrophic.
The assistant at the counter froze mid-boxing the cakes.
Two girls near the window gasped simultaneously.
Even the oven seemed to stop humming.
Liang Chen blinked once.
Then again.
"…For me?"
Xu Jin's brain screamed:
WAIT. WRONG ANSWER.
WRONG. WRONG. WRONG.
But his mouth, traitorous and loyal to chaos, said nothing else.
The bouquet lay on the floor.
Xu Jin bent down quickly to pick it up.
But in doing so—
He dropped to one knee.
And lifted the bouquet up earnestly.
"Professor Liang," Xu Jin said, because panic had upgraded his vocabulary to full formality,
"I'm sorry."
His voice was sincere.
Soft.
Genuine.
A pure apology.
Unfortunately—
To everyone watching?
It looked exactly like a dramatic romantic confession scene from a drama.
One girl covered her mouth.
The other whispered, "Oh my god oh my god oh my god."
The counter lady slowly raised her phone.
Click.
A photo was taken.
Liang Chen's face went bright red.
Not soft pink.
Not gentle embarrassment.
Full professor CPU overheating red.
"The hell are you doing?!" Liang Chen hissed.
Xu Jin snapped back to reality.
He stood up instantly.
"I— I didn't mean— I mean— I did mean— sorry— I mean the apology— not the— flowers— I mean—"
Liang Chen grabbed the cake boxes from the counter.
"I'm leaving," he declared.
Then turned—
And fled.
Not ran.
Not jogged.
But the fastest dignified professor-speed walk ever recorded.
The bell over the door chimed wildly as he disappeared outside.
Xu Jin stood there.
Bouquet in hand.
Soul missing.
While the shop assistant whispered reverently:
"…Premium quality drama."
The two girls nodded.
And another phone quietly snapped a second picture.
Xu Jin looked down at the flowers.
Then at the door.
Then whispered to himself—
"…Why is my life like this?"