Chanyeol was smiling as a familiar Rolls Royce Wraith pulled over inside the Park residence, the driver slid down and looked at him.

“Wow, you’re out here waiting.” Alessa mused as he walked towards her.

“I heard your mother’s back in town.” Chanyeol said as he kissed her cheek.

“Yeah, she and Lucas are having this very long discussion at home, my father’s just listening.” She mused at him.

“How do I look? Do I look okay? I didn’t know what to wear.” She asked, there was a hint of worry in her voice that amused Chanyeol. She had chosen to a pair of dark denim jeans, no rips, an off-shoulder white blouse and on her feet were her trusty Manolo Blahnik ballerina flats.

“You could wear a sack and my mother would still fawn over you.” He chuckled before wrapping one arm around her waist, Alessa looked at him dryly.

“You always look beautiful, Alessa.” He said honestly, while pulling her closer to him.

“Lately, I always have to really put effort in my footwear whenever we have plans together.”

“Footwear?” Chanyeol was confused as they reached the house’s front door.

“Chanyeol, you’re not exactly of average height. I have to keep up.” She pointed out as she tried to reach for the top of his head, the male cackled.

“You should wear whatever’s comfortable, you look cute when~”

“Can you not use that word?” She shuddered at him, he laughed.

“You look really…approachable when you’re not towering over a lot of people. So, you should wear flat shoes.”

“Wow, I don’t know if I should be offended or not.” She said dryly, he grinned and kissed the top of her head before opening the doors.

“Alessa!” Mrs. Park was the first one to welcome her, Chanyeol grinned at the girl before going to the living room to fetch his father.

“Good evening, auntie.” Alessa greeted the elder with warmth.

“Oh, wow, magna laude?” Mr. Park spoke, Alessa bit her lip before nodding.

“Yes, well, it happened that way.”

“She talks about it as if it’s nothing.” Chanyeol mused as they were served desert, Alessa’s eyes immediately went to the cake.

“How are things, dear? Your brother?” Mrs. Park asked.

“Lucas is doing well, auntie. Although, it’s a little difficult maneuvering at home now that my mother just came back. But, I think they’re working on their issues. I just stay away from it.”

“That’s good. I’m sure your mother will understand.”

Alessa nodded back, she looked at Chanyeol and gestured for the cake.

“Oh, I made that this afternoon,” Mrs. Park started as Chanyeol took a slice for the girl.

“Chanyeol mentioned you like kiwi and strawberry so, I added them.”

“It looks delicious, auntie. I like fresh fruit on my pastries.” Alessa was beaming with excitement, Chanyeol grew amused.

“We have site visit tomorrow, want me to come pick you up?” Chanyeol offered as he handed the plate to her, she nodded back.

“Oh, must you go there? Construction just started, it’s all dusty and it’s getting really cold outside.” Mrs. Park said.

“You should just let Chanyeol do all the dirty work!” She nodded conspiringly, Alessa chuckled and shook her head.

“I don’t work that way, auntie. Don’t worry, I’m used to it. When I was assigned in Changsha, I had to drive myself, because my driver wasn’t familiar with the city.”

“Whoa, our son doesn’t deserve her.” Mr. Park nodded along, Chanyeol rolled his eyes at him.

“Right, my grandfather wants to meet you. He wants to know when the two of you would be free? Yeye is a very good cook.” Alessa smiled.

“Y—Your grandfather? Why?” Chanyeol blinked, even though he got along with the elder well, he was still a little frightened of the old man. Which amused Alessa, Chanyeol didn’t realized how much her yeye adored him.

“I’ve met him once before, at a summit in Greece, I think.” Mr. Park said, Alessa nodded back.

“Yes, he remembers you and, would like to meet you again.”

“Maybe next week? Will that be okay?” Mr. Park said, Chanyeol looked at Alessa, he slowly reached for her hand under the table and gave it a small squeeze.

“Sure, I’ll tell him. Thank you, uncle.” Alessa said as she picked up her fork.

“Well, after this, we’ll leave you two to yourselves. We had quite a long day, Chanyeol, show her around. I’m sure Alessa would enjoy your mother’s gardens.”

“Whoa, how does she have the patience for all these?” Alessa murmured as she approached the rose beds, they were inside Mrs. Park’s indoor garden that was situated a few yards away from the house.

“She was inspired by that huge indoor garden in Singapore, that’s why we have this. She loves flowers too.”

“Gardens by the Bay, yes.” She mused as she walked towards him, Chanyeol was standing by the glass walls, observing the dark sky.

“You were never one for flowers, huh?” He asked as he turned to her, Alessa stood up and walked towards him.

“Yeah. Maybe because I grew up with boys? I was..never really into..plants?” She murmured as she reached him, she inserted herself inside the hoodie he was wearing and wrapped her arms around his waist.

“It’s cold, huh?” He mused as he zipped up the hoodie, Alessa nodded and snuggled in closer to his chest.

“I’ve been up since five this morning, I had to be in Busan before ten. I feel like my eyes are going to give up on me.” She grumbled, Chanyeol smiled to himself. This was another side of her that people rarely saw, a tired and vulnerable Alessandra Wong.

“I’ll drive you home.”

Alessa grumbled back and pressed her nose against his shirt, he chuckled. His deep laughs giving her a sense of comfort, Chanyeol rubbed her back soothingly.

“Being home is stressful, ma doesn’t know how to act around Lucas, Lucas doesn’t seem to be too eager to talk to her. In the end, I’m in the middle, acting like some messenger.”

“Aigoo, my baby doesn’t~”

“Do not call me~”

“Aigoo, my Alessa doesn’t know how to maneuver through awkward situations.” He chuckled, Alessa looked up to meet his gaze.

“We have a spare room; you can crash here.” He offered, Alessa shook her head and asked him to the hoodie.

“I’d like to be driven home, Park Chanyeol-ssi.” She mused before standing on her toes and kissing his cheek.

“I’ll drop by for afternoon snacks,” Alessa said as she and her brother stepped out of the elevator. Lucas had dropped by to chat with her, he had informed her how their mother apologized for what happened and wanted to meet Ahee to send her sentiments as well.

“Do you have something in mind? I don’t think I should let you eat at the cafeteria.” Lucas said as he hooked arms with his sister.

“Why?”

“Chanyeol hyung doesn’t like it when guys stare at you too much.” He joked, Alessa sent him a look as they crossed the lobby.

“How’s Jaehyun doing? I haven’t seen him in a while.”

“We have exams coming up next week, jie. That’s why we cant hang out as much. By the way,”

Alessa saw her brother’s car being brought around.

“Yeye mentioned dinner with the Parks? Things are pretty serious then.” He said teasingly, Alessa ignored him and dragged him across the lobby, he laughed.

“But seriously, jie, you’re dating your crush!”

“Shut that mouth. Speak in Chinese.” She hissed at him, her cheeks going red by the second. Lucas chuckled and just bumped fists with her.

“I’ll see you later, jie. I’ll pick out a place.”

“I always did think that we didn’t need a male heir.” She said to him, Lucas laughed again and jogged towards his car. Alessa watched as the Rover sped away from the building and sped away from the building.

“The brat has a point. But I would never admit that.”

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