Ningshun blinked. 'Han? Seriously? I'm standing right here, and she... whatever.'

Han glanced down at his slender frame, then back at Meilin. Unsure of his abilities, he stepped forward like a hesitant actor on stage. "Uh, sure, I'll give it a try."

Ningshun chuckled. 'That tiny jar? I can open it with one hand tied behind my back.'

Han took the jar from her, gripping it with a firm hold. He wrestled with it, his face reddening as if battling an unseen force.

Ningshun grinned. "Need a hand, Han?"

"No, I'm... fine," Han strained, his breath growing heavier. After a few more seconds of struggle, he managed to pop the lid open.

Ningshun raised an eyebrow, his expression a question mark. "Seriously? She asked him?" He shook his head in disbelief.

"Whoa, you're so strong! Thanks, Han! You're a lifesaver."

Han blushed, his nerves tangled like a knot. "Y-You're welcome."

Kaili and Hooman strolled in, taking in the unfolding scene. Han's ability to open a pickle jar had already surprised them, but they never imagined he would receive a compliment from a girl with Ningshun in the room.

Hooman nudged Kaili with a grin. "Did you see that? Han, the Boulder!"

"Boulder!" Kaili laughed. "Han, the Twig, is now Han the Boulder. I'm jealous." He walked over to Han. Leaning in, he whispered with his hand on Han's shoulder, "Don't let this get into your head."

Hooman jumped in. "If she thought he was strong, I need to start working out more."

Kaili, noting Ningshun's reaction, stirred the pot with a playful grin, flexing his muscles. "We all know who's the strongest here—me."

Ningshun leaned back, his posture like a relaxed sea, while his raised eyebrow a lone wave of sarcasm cutting through the calm. "You sure about that, Kaili?"

"I surrender. Just please don't hurt me!" Kalli chuckled, turning to Meilin. "Hey, how about you solve this issue? Tell us who's the strongest here."

"Uh, well..." Her cheeks flushed a deeper shade of red. "I, uh... I mean, you all look pretty strong."

"That's a lie... Come on, Meilin, don't kill the fun," Kaili teased.

Ningshun's smirk deepened as he crossed his arms over his chest. He relished her squirming under his gaze, yet tried to appear uninterested in participating in their little game. However, he found far too much pleasure in this moment. The sight of her, cornered into answering this question after dodging him for so long, provided a petty yet satisfying victory.

"Uh, I mean, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, right? You're all in great shape!" Her eyes darted across the room like a trapped butterfly, every gaze pressing down on her as she sought an escape. 'I want to squeeze them.'

Kaili crossed his arms. "Nice try, but that's not an answer. We want a name."

Her cheeks flared a deeper shade of crimson. "Okay, fine! It's..."

Seizing his moment, Ningshun leaned back, the fabric of his tight white tank top stretching as he flexed his biceps, making a show of his impressive physique with a cocky smirk. "Well, I don't like to brag, but..."

"Definitely Han! Look at those muscles!"

Ningshun's jaw dropped, ego shattered like a glass trophy as Han was crowned The Chosen One. 'In my life, I've never been so... so...'

Still clutching the pickle jar, Han pointed a finger toward himself. "Me? Muscles?" He blinked, shying away, and pressed his fingers against his arm, finding little muscle. "Uh, thanks, Meilin."

"Seriously? Is she blind?" Ningshun muttered to himself.

Kaili snickered, diverting his attention to Han. "Let's see those guns. Give us a real flex."

Han blushed deeper but complied, raising his arm and flexing his modest bicep. "Uh, here you go."

Kaili chuckled and shook his head. "Impressive."

'I'm dying of cringe.' Hooman's lips curled in discomfort. He leaned into Ningshun with an amused smile, whispering, "Is she that oblivious, or...?"

Ningshun sighed, his frown still intact. "Beats me."

Kaili clapped Ningshun on the back and whispered, "Don't take it too hard, man."

Ningshun's grin flashed like a polished mask as he rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. Whatever." Leaning back, his smile cracked. 'She's trolling me. There's just no way—What the!? I'm done.'

Hooman caught the tension in Ningshun's defined jaw and teased, "Meilin, you hurt Ningshun's feelings."

"Uh... why?"

Ningshun shifted in his seat, a storm brewing just beneath the surface. 'Enough of this.'

Kaili chuckled, seizing the opportunity to tease. "Everyone knows Ningshun is the strongest one in the team. He works out every day. You hurt his pride!" He extended his arms as if grasping invisible weights, his cheeks puffing out, mimicking his workout grunts and groans.

'I feel bad about this.' She fidgeted with the edge of her sleeve.

Hooman jumped in. "I guess you have to work harder, my man."

Ningshun sighed, striving to anchor the storm behind his calm facade. "Guys, cut it out!"

"Okay, okay! Next time, I'll explore every single inch of Ningshun's body thoroughly before jumping to conclusions! Happy now?" She lightened the mood with a chuckle.

Ningshun sat there, stunned—his jaw hitting the floor, considering he had played the role of the invisible man all evening. 'Did she really say that...? That's not what that means, you...!' His cheeks ignited like twin embers as he swallowed hard.

Hooman choked on his drink, coughing and laughing at the same time.

Kaili's eyes widened, letting out a dramatic gasp. "Meilin! Never thought you'd be so... straightforward."

Han blinked. "Uh, this is... I think I'm going to my room now."

Ningshun's eyes scanned the room like a hunted animal, his heart thundering in his chest as he hoped no one glimpsed his silent panic. Yet, their knowing smirks hinted otherwise.

"What? What did I say?" She furrowed her brows.

"She's so innocent; it's too cute!" Kaili burst into laughter, clutching his aching stomach.

Her cheeks turned a deep shade of pink. "Oh no. God, that's not... not what I meant! I mean... I was just talking about his body—"

"His body?" Hooman teased, grinning wide.

"Wait, no... Stop!" Quivering like a fragile leaf in the wind. 'Now he surely thinks I'm weird... Not only did I make him uncomfortable in my room, but now he probably thinks I'm a... Oh no, he thinks I'm a... that I'm a...' She laughed like a fluttering candle flame. "Come on, guys! You know what I meant... right? It was a slip-up! Alright? You guys kept bugging me, and I couldn't think straight."

"Suuure," Hooman continued the joke.

As the others laughed and continued their banter, Ningshun sank deeper into the couch, thrown off balance by the unexpected turn of events. He shifted in his seat and cleared his throat. "Yeah, well... let's not make a big deal out of it, okay?" He struggled to shake off the residue of embarrassment, despite Meilin's innocent intentions.