The girls had barely taken a few steps away when Chen suddenly called out—
"Umm… wait!"
They both turned.
Chen shifted Yun Hu in his arms, slightly awkward but sincere. "Would you like to come to my place? I'd like to thank you properly. At least… for tea."
Ari raised a brow, clearly amused. She crossed her arms lightly.
"Mister, if you have any other ideas, you should probably find someone else."
Chen blinked.
"What? No— I didn't mean—"
But before he could even properly process her teasing tone, hurried footsteps echoed across the pavement.
Xu Jin appeared, slightly out of breath, hair messy from rushing over. His usually composed expression had cracks in it.
"Chen!"
Chen immediately lifted Yun Hu a little higher like evidence. "I found him."
Xu Jin stopped in front of him, eyes scanning Yun Hu quickly to make sure he was unharmed. Only after confirming did he speak—
"Why didn't you call me?"
"I just found him," Chen replied, still a little shaken. "I was about to."
