Xu Jin pushed open the café door, the familiar bell chiming above his head.
Warm air rushed over him at once—coffee beans, steamed milk, faint traces of sugar and baked bread. Soft chatter filled the space, cups clinking, a low playlist humming in the background. It was comforting in a way
"I'm here," he announced casually, shrugging off his jacket.
Before he could take another step inside, a cheerful voice rang out, a little too bright with nerves.
"Good morning!"
Xu Jin paused and looked toward the counter.
Behind it stood a boy about his age, posture straight, eyes wide and eager. His uniform was ironed a bit too perfectly, as if he'd checked it five times before stepping out of the house.
"Oh?" Xu Jin raised a brow slightly, amused. "You must be new. Replacing the previous one who left?"
The boy nodded quickly. "Yes! I'm Juri Smith." He bowed—too deeply, too fast—almost knocking his forehead on the counter. "Nice to meet you!"
Xu Jin laughed, the sound light and easy. "Hey, hey. Relax. I don't bite. Welcome."
He tilted his head, studying Juri for a second. "You're a foreigner?"
Juri straightened. "I'm half American."
"Ah," Xu Jin nodded. "Makes sense."
From behind the counter, the owner lady finally looked up from her tablet. Her expression was gentle, but her eyes flicked sharply from the screen… to the wall clock… and then straight to Xu Jin.
"You're late."
Xu Jin stiffened. "…By how much?"
She tapped her tablet once, slow and deliberate. "Enough."
Before he could say a single word in his defense, she clapped her hands decisively.
"Go take your punishment accessory. Then teach him."
Juri's eyes sparkled instantly. "Oh! The punishment! The one you just told me about!"
Xu Jin groaned, dragging a hand down his face. "Why do you say that like it's a reward…"
He trudged toward the familiar shelf near the back—the one every employee knew far too well. A basket sat there, overflowing with cute and utterly humiliating things.
Animal headbands.
Paw-shaped gloves.
The café's not-so-secret weapon to keep customers smiling.
Xu Jin rummaged through the pile with a long, suffering sigh.
"Let's see… bunny… panda… ah."
He pulled out a bear set—round brown ears and matching paw gloves.
Simple. Safe.
As dignified as one could possibly be while wearing fuzzy ears.
He put them on.
Juri gasped softly, hands flying to his mouth. "You look amazing!"
"Don't encourage this," Xu Jin muttered, but his gaze drifted to the reflection in the glass counter—
—and paused.
Next to the bear set, barely peeking out from the basket, was another pair.
Cat ears.
Soft-colored. Neat. With a faintly smug tilt, as if they knew something.
For absolutely no reason at all, Chen's face slipped into his mind.
Calm expression.
Gentle eyes.
Sleeves rolled up at home.
An apron tied slightly crooked, like he hadn't bothered fixing it properly.
Xu Jin stared at the cat ears a second too long.
"…He'd look great in these," he thought blankly.
The owner lady suddenly tapped the counter.
"Juri," she said, already grabbing her tablet. "Come with me for a moment."
Juri blinked. "Ah—yes!"
He shot Xu Jin an apologetic look before hurrying after her toward the back, the two of them disappearing through the staff door.
The café quieted a little.
Xu Jin was left alone behind the counter, paws on, bear ears still perched on his head.
He stared at nothing in particular.
…And then, naturally, his mind betrayed him.
Chen.
Not the serious, composed Chen from outside—but Chen at home. Sleeves rolled up. Hair a little messy. That soft, unguarded look he only wore in private. The way he smiled when Yun Hu did something stupidly cute.
Xu Jin's thoughts drifted further—dangerously further.
He remembered his dream.
That thin waist.
How easily it fit into his hands.
How warm it felt, how natural.
In his imagination, Chen turned toward him, expression helpless and fond at the same time. Xu Jin could almost see himself leaning closer—
His lips curved into a strange, blissful smile.
A little too blissful.
"..."
Then
A blur of fur came flying.
Pain exploded across his hand.
"—OW?!"
Xu Jin yelped, jerking back just in time to see a familiar grey-and-white menace landing gracefully on the counter.
Yun Hu.
The demon cat himself.
His claws were out, tail flicking sharply, eyes narrowed with pure judgment.
Xu Jin clutched his hand and glared. "You—! You little—!"
Yun Hu stared back, unimpressed. Then, deliberately, he lifted a paw and smacked Xu Jin's bear ear.
The headband tilted.
Yun Hu huffed, turned his head away, and began licking his paw—clearly satisfied with his work.
Xu Jin glanced at him, then sighed.
"…Fine. I get it. Stop me before I completely lose my mind."
The cat flicked his tail once, as if to say Good. Know your place.
Xu Jin froze.
Then he slumped forward against the counter, defeated.
"…That bastard won't leave me alone even in my illusions."
But as he reached for a cup—
His mind, traitorously, whispered again:
Still… Chen would really look good in cat ears.
Yun Hu's eyes snapped toward him.( He's imagining)
Xu Jin swallowed.
"…I'm working. I swear."
Xu Jin moved around the café with an energy that felt almost unreal.
Orders? Done.
Smiles? Automatic.
Tail—no, bear ears—practically wagging.
He hummed under his breath while wiping the counter, paws swiping a little too enthusiastically. Even the customers noticed.
"Is he always this cheerful?" someone whispered.
Juri peeked from the espresso machine. " I'm new here."
Before Xu Jin could float off entirely, a familiar shadow leaned against the counter.
The owner lady rested her elbow there, chin in her hand, eyes glinting with mischief as she watched him work like a man freshly reborn.
"My," she drawled. "Someone's really happy today."
Xu Jin paused mid-wipe. "Huh? Am I?"
She raised a brow. "You tell me. Yesterday you looked half-dead."
He stiffened.
She continued casually, voice sharp with perfect timing,
"Wasn't that the day you got rejected by someone to go home with you, didn't you?"
Rin's head snapped up. "rejected?"
Xu Jin choked. "I wasn't—!"
The owner lady waved a hand. "Mm-hm. You looked so pitiful. Dragging your feet, sighing like the world ended. I almost thought I'd have to close the café early."
Xu Jin's ears—both real and fuzzy—burned.
"…That was different," he muttered.
"Oh?" She leaned closer, eyes narrowing playfully. "So what changed today?"
Xu Jin opened his mouth—
"We're neighbours we take care of each other" with a smug look.
"Oh ho ho just a neighbour " juri and owner lady glanced at each other and said.