“So, how is life with Chan? You two living happily?” Your mother asked, taking a slow sip of her tea.

Yup. Life so far had been absolutely fantastic.

You and Chan had been together for over six years now, ever since you first moved to Seoul for your studies and accidentally ran into him on the street.

Ending up with a K-pop idol was a rarity, to say the least. Back then, Stray Kids had only recently debuted and were barely known. But now? They were one of the biggest 4th GEN K-pop groups globally, with all eight members serving as wealthy global brand ambassadors. The same went for Chan, the leader of the group, who was the official face of the luxury Italian brand Fendi.

Now, you were 27, and Chan was 29 and his girlfriend for over 6 years.

It had been over six years since you last saw your family in person. So, around nine o'clock this morning, just a few hours after Chan had left for the studio, they completely caught you off guard. They had taken the earliest flight at dawn, landed at Incheon Airport, and come straight to your place without a word just to surprise you.

Right now in the living room, your father and older brother were busy playing with Hayoon, who looked mildly confused by these three new faces in her space.

She was a total carbon copy of Chan. She had inherited his porcelain-smooth, pale skin and his signature deep dimples, though she luckily got your eyes.

“Hayoon-ie~ I'm your uncle~” Your older brother cooed, leaning down toward the toddler, who was staring up at him and your father in quiet wonder.

“Ahh...! Eomma!” She suddenly whined, trying to wiggle out of your brother's lap while reaching her small, chubby arms toward you. At thirteen months old, the only words she had mastered so far were 'Eomma' and 'Appa.'

“She looks just like Chan.” Your father noted from his spot on the sofa, looking up at you. “Anyway, what time does he usually get back?”

You glanced at the clock. 5:37 PM. Probably in another hour or two.

Chan had never actually met your family in real life; their relationship had been strictly built over phone calls and FaceTime. But they already thoroughly approved of him—especially your older brother, who happened to be the same age as Chan.

“I'm just happy you found a successful, good-hearted man. You know how rare that is nowadays,” Your mother murmured softly. “Oh, and is this his dog?”

True to form, Berry, Chan's Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, was curled up right by your mother's feet, her tail wagging like a helicopter as she continuously sniffed her clothes.

Your mother was just reaching down to pet her when the distinct chime of the doorbell rang, followed by the sound of the front door clicking open and shut.

“Babe!” came a deep, smooth, yet clearly exhausted voice from the entryway. “I'm home...”

“Oh? Is that him?”* Your father perked up instantly. Hayoon stopped fussing in your brother's arms and snapped her head toward the hallway, right along with Berry.*

You stayed quiet, biting back a smile as you listened to his familiar footsteps padding down the hallway.

The exact moment Chan stepped into the wide doorway of the living room, he froze. Literally. His eyes went wide as saucers the second they landed on your parents and brother.

On his shoulder was his usual black backpack with his laptop and other things in it and in his other hand was a polythene bag of...something? He'd been spoiling you with sweets a lot.

Looking at him, it was hard to believe this guy was in his late twenties. He was still as handsome as ever, youthful and incredibly muscular, with thick biceps and defined abs clearly visible beneath his buttoned-up black shirt and tailored pants—carrying the kind of strength that routinely lifted over 160 kg at the gym.

“Chris!” Your brother smiled, offering a casual wave from the couch. “Long time no see.”

“Ohh....” It took Chan a few solid seconds to process the scene before a wide, dimpled smile broke across his face. “OH! I-...when-?! Oh my god!”