Li Xian hesitated for only a moment before unwrapping the cake. As he picked up the fork, he glanced up at Ji Xie and found him watching his every move without blinking.
"...Thank you."
Li Xian spoke softly.
Ji Xie chuckled and murmured an acknowledgment. Just as Li Xian thought he could start eating, Ji Xie added:
"What about my title?"
Li Xian's hand paused around the fork, and he thought:
Give him an inch and he'll take a mile.
But for the cake's sake, Li Xian still said:
"Thank you, Teacher Ji."
Ji Xie had been the one to ask for those words, yet once Li Xian actually said them, he fell silent instead.
An atmosphere utterly unfamiliar to Li Xian began to stir between them. He could only lower his head, scoop up a bite of cake, and put it in his mouth, trying not to pay attention to Ji Xie's gaze.
Just as Li Xian put the last bite of cake into his mouth, Ji Xie suddenly said:
"I wanted some too."
Li Xian's eyes widened. He had yet to swallow the cake, so all he could manage was a puzzled "Mm?"
"You didn't even save me a bite."
With an aggrieved expression that was obviously feigned, Ji Xie shifted his chair and edged closer to Li Xian.
They were suddenly shoulder to shoulder. Whenever Li Xian moved away, Ji Xie followed. After this happened several times, Li Xian finally couldn't help saying:
"You never told me you wanted any. I've already finished it..."
Ji Xie stared at Li Xian's lips for a while, then leaned his head closer. As their faces drew nearer, alarm bells rang in Li Xian's mind. When only a few centimeters remained between them, he clapped a hand over Ji Xie's mouth!