Before anyone else could even process Chen's words from earlier, Juri suddenly grabbed Chen's hand across the table, eyes bright.
"Professor," he said excitedly, "I want to see those kittens."
The movement was quick. Natural. Completely innocent.
But Xiao and Zhou Kai's eyes shrank at the exact same time.
They both looked at Juri's hand.
Then at Chen.
Then back at Juri.
…They knew he was harmless.
Still.
Chen, however, lit up at the enthusiasm.
"Really?" he said, smiling warmly. "Then come with me. It's time for their lunch anyway."
He stood up immediately, already in mission mode.
Xiao and Zhou Kai stood at the same time.
"We'll go too."
They said it in perfect sync.
Chen paused mid-step and looked at them.
"…You too?"
The tone wasn't rejecting.
But it wasn't exactly thrilled either.
Zhou Kai's expression instantly shifted into something tragically wounded.
"Professor," he said, voice small, "you don't want us to come?"
