Chapter 21: Sweet Me

Chapter 21 Sweet on Me

At 6:15 AM, the coffee machine at Supernatural Company let out a soft "ding".

Zero stood in the break room, staring blankly at the black coffee steaming in his cup. A hand suddenly reached from behind and dropped two sugar cubes into it.

"You drink coffee like it's Chinese medicine." Xiaoyao leaned against the counter, holding a freshly baked croissant. "Want a taste? Freshly baked this morning."

Zero stared at the golden croissant for three seconds before reaching out to take it. "...Too much sugar."

"Liar," Xiaoyao leaned in, his nose almost brushing Zero's cheek. "You always finish the sugar I add."

Zero's ears immediately flushed, and he turned to leave. Xiaoyao chuckled and chased after him, casually stuffing the remaining croissant into Zero's pocket.

---

"Round 37, a draw." Xiaoyao lay sprawled on the floor, panting heavily. "Senior... you're way too ruthless."

Zero looked down at him, sweat dripping down his jawline. "Get up. Continue."

"I can't..." Xiaoyao sprawled out, stretching his limbs lazily. "Unless you pull me up."

Zero frowned but still extended his hand. Just as Xiaoyao used the momentum to stand, Zero suddenly yanked him into his arms, locking him in a perfect grappling hold.

"Cheater." Zero's breath brushed against Xiaoyao's ear. "Double the punishment."

Instead of struggling, Xiaoyao turned around in his arms and pressed even closer. "A punishment like this... I wouldn't ask for anything more."

The training room surveillance camera discreetly turned away.

---

In the monitoring room on a stormy night, it was especially quiet. Zero was organizing the equipment case when a coat was suddenly thrown over his head.

"The air conditioner is too cold." Xiaoyao sat back down in front of the monitor as if nothing happened. "Don't catch a cold."

Zero pulled off the coat and found it was Xiaoyao's usual black windbreaker. It still carried a faint citrus scent, the shampoo Xiaoyao always used.

Three minutes later, Zero got up and placed a cup of hot tea next to Xiaoyao's hand.

"For me?" Xiaoyao's eyes lit up.

"...Don't make a big deal out of it." Zero sat back down, his ears turning suspiciously red under the monitor's blue light.

---

While organizing their gear, Xiaoyao suddenly noticed a familiar small box in Zero's tactical backpack.

"Isn't this..." He opened the box, revealing twelve neatly arranged candies in different colors. "The candies I casually gave you last month?"

Zero snatched the box back. "...Emergency rations."

"They're already soft from melting, and you're still keeping them?" Xiaoyao pointed at the clearly softened strawberry candy.

Zero silently tucked the box into the deepest pocket, but as he turned to leave, Xiaoyao grabbed his wrist. With a magician's flair, Xiaoyao pulled out a handful of new candies from his pocket. "Time for a resupply."

Sunlight streamed through the window, casting colorful light spots on his palm full of candies.

---

At 2:30 AM, the dormitory balcony.

"Can't sleep?" Xiaoyao handed Zero a glass of warm milk. "I added honey."

Zero took the glass, and their fingertips lingered together for a moment before either of them let go. The night breeze carried the distant fragrance of osmanthus flowers.

"When I was a child..." Zero's voice seemed to travel through a tunnel of time, drifting softly. "The milk at the training camp was as cold as ice from a thousand years."

A smile curled at the corners of Xiaoyao's lips, as warm as the spring sun. He gently clinked their glasses together and whispered, "Not anymore. Because now you have me."

Under the moonlight, two shadows drew closer and closer, finally merging into one against the balcony railing.

One day I'll have to counterattack. Just filling up the word count here.