"Only if you want the room to be unbearably handsome. You'd have to charge admission," he replied with a wink.

"Ha! Keep dreaming. Arrogant Chads like you aren't even my type!"

He gasped and clutched his heart, pretending to be wounded. "Ouch! You sure know how to hurt a man's ego, don't you?"

"I call it tough love." She chuckled, her tension melting away.

"I like the confidence." His eyes stayed on hers a moment longer, and a rush of warmth came over her from the way he held her gaze.

She averted her gaze as if trying to survive a lion's den, her eyes landing on the colorful paper in his hand. She had glimpsed it earlier but had not paid much attention. "What's that?" She pointed to the flyer, her brows drawing together with intrigue.

Ningshun glanced down at the flyer, remembering why he had come to her room in the first place. "Oh, that's right... Here, I almost forgot." He handed it to her.

Meilin's eyes lit up like a child's at the sight of the various pizzas. "We're having pizza?" her voice bubbled with excitement. "This day just keeps getting better!"

'That's all it takes? Cute.' He noted her reaction, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "So, Princess, care to tell me your favor—"

"I want them all!" Her eyes lit up like fireworks.

Rendered speechless, he blinked. "You... want all of them?" His skepticism gave way to a broader smile. "I mean, it's a lot of pizzas. How do you plan to eat all that?"

"I don't. I just want to try a slice of everything. I've never had pizza from this place before, so I need to figure out which one's my favorite."

He chuckled. "Sounds like a plan."

"By the way, did I hear you call me 'Princess' just now?" Meilin quipped, cocking an eyebrow. Her eyes dared him to deny it, lips curving into a sly smile.

Ningshun gave a sheepish grin, heat rising in his cheeks as he cleared his throat. "What's wrong with that, Princess?"

Her smirk grew, enjoying the way he appeared flustered. "That's so cheesy."

He chuckled, pretending to take notes like a waiter. "No extra cheese on your pizza. Got it. Anything else, miss?"

"Ew, stop..." She rolled her eyes with a playful expression, her smile widening. "I'll start calling you worse things if you don't stop that."

"Bring it on," he shot back, his voice smooth and full of confidence, but his gaze never left hers. He appeared to be daring her to step closer, even though his heart raced a little. "Call me whatever you want."

"You're so annoying!" Her jaw dropped at his audacity. "Are you done? Can I get the flyer now?"

"Oh, you want this?" Ningshun wiggled the flyer above her head.

Without warning, Meilin grasped his upper arms, dragging them down and taking him by surprise. He stumbled, but his reflexes took over, and in a single fluid motion, his hands slammed against the wall behind her, his body pinning her in place between his strong arms.

The sudden closeness hit like a jolt of electricity—intense and thrilling. The narrow space between them ignited as their bodies almost touched. She could sense the strength in his arms as he gave her space, but this only made the moment more charged.

She could feel his breath, hot and shallow, brushing against her neck. She caught her breath as he lifted his head and locked eyes with her, the close proximity sending tingles through her nerves. His scent had a dark, masculine quality that sent her heart into overdrive. The mint-green of his irises held a raw intensity, his gaze so focused on hers as if he could see right through her.

Ningshun's throat tightened, and he swallowed hard. His voice came out low and rough, just above a whisper. "I, uh... Is this what you do to your poster every night?"

"Mhm..." she faltered, her voice a whisper.

To them, the temperature in the room had risen several degrees. Finding it hard to focus, his arms trembled under the strain, visible veins pulsing beneath his skin as he held his position. He tried to remain composed as his eyes darted from her lips back to her eyes, but the nearness made it difficult.

"Wow..." she whispered. 'He's even more beautiful up close...'

His pulse quickened, and his shallow breaths became more uneven. The closeness unsettled him, and his cheeks grew warm as he tried to contain the rush of emotions. He did not move, his hands still pressed against the wall, enclosing her in a space too intimate for teammates and overwhelming with his restrained energy. "Meilin... you good?"

"Yeah..." she breathed, struggling to find her voice as the way he held her gaze made her heart beat faster. With their faces mere inches apart, the heat radiating off his body sent a shiver running up her spine. "Sorry, I, uh, yeah." She struggled to focus on anything but the way his eyes studied her face, as if he memorized every detail.

"Right. Well, I should get going," Ningshun's whisper strained as he took a slow step back, his eyes never leaving hers. "Enjoy unpacking, and I'll catch you later." He turned to go, but not without throwing one last glance her way, the intensity in his eyes lingering for a moment before he turned away.

Meilin followed him with her gaze, her heart pounding in her chest. Her skin retained the warmth from his body and the raw power of his presence. What had begun as playful banter had escalated into leaving her breathless. "What... did I do?" she whispered, her cheeks burning as her eyes fixed on the doorway he had just exited.

Thoughts spiraled in her mind, consumed by what he might think of her after their heated moment and the unsettling fear that she had crossed a line he could never overlook.