[ chu wanning doesn't realize he's being pulled along until he's seated in mo ran's lap, and then he huffs. trust mo ran to be sneaky like that— not that he was sneaky, not really, chu wanning had just been relieved to see his smile again.

and then he's settled on mo ran's lap, surrounded by his student once again: mo ran chest pressed against his, shirt over his shoulders, firm legs beneath him. it softens him because how can he resist mo ran when he's so encompassing? when he looks and acts like he wants chu wanning to protect him, something no one's ever asked of him or wanted.

and here is mo ran, picking him for everything. teacher, protector, lover—

he sighs, patting mo ran's head. he has no sense, but then, he never has. ]

You should be with someone— [ he pauses. "not me" is the truth but sounds almost self-pitying, almost conceited. but he can't say "someone else" because even thinking about mo ran doing those things with someone else makes him angry and annoyed. ] —Someone fun.

[ there. easy enough. except his face scrunches up as he says it. he knows the people considered fun on campus, just like he knows the ones considered beautiful, and he doesn't want to see mo ran with any of them.

he huffs after he says that, scowling in order to cover his jealousy. ]

Someone pretty and fun. Not your boring old teacher.

[ which should also be a problem, but that's not one he's considering yet. (he won't until they need to consider it.)

he swallows and looks away, still petting mo ran's head. it's the only way he can actually bring himself to say anything further. ]

I do want.... [ he trails off, shifting on his lap. ] I love you, Mo Ran.

[ it's the truth, but he looks incredibly uncomfortable saying it, the corners of his eyes red to match the flush on his cheeks and neck and ears. ]