“Wei? Kun, it’s me.”

The familiar voice from the other line made Kun stand up, he was just reviewing some files in his home study when his phone started to ring.

“Aeyoung, hey.” He replied, a little unsure.

“Is this a bad time? Are you busy?”

“No, no. I just got home. Is something the matter?” Kun didn’t know what to say, he wasn’t expecting a call from her.

“There’s something I need to discuss with you. I was hoping…can we meet up? Only if it’s okay with you, Qian.” She trailed off, Kun walked towards the windows and unconsciously nodded.

“Of course, I’m free tomorrow.”

“Great. I’ll swing by your office.” She sounded pleased.

“Aeyoung-ah, is everything alright?” Kun couldn’t help but ask, there was a short pause from the other line.

“Yes, everything’s good. I didn’t know you were assigned to Korea.” She replied, Kun smiled, sensing the change of topic.

“I got transferred here after graduation.”

“Well, what a weird coincidence. Anyway, I’ll see you tomorrow and thanks for not ignoring my unknown number.” She said jokingly, Kun smiled.

“It was great seeing you again, Aeyoung. Even though I you turned me into a witness of a petty crime.” He added, Aeyoung snorted.

“Like you’d tell on me. Enjoy the rest of your night, Kun.”

“You too.” Kun said, he put his phone down and let out a small sigh. It was definitely not how he imagined he’d be ending the day.

He placed his phone on the desk and walked towards the shelves to pick out some previous files, he was about to yank one of the dusty folders when a gray box landed on the floor with a thud. His brows went up and he knelt on the carpeted floor, he lifted the lid.

The box held some of items from his university days, his forehead creased as he noticed a bunch of printed photos and photo stickers. There was even a small red Cartier box that held a pair of earrings inside. His fingers landed on a photo of him and Aeyoung, it was from their sophomore year, she was smiling for the camera while Kun had his arms around her from behind.

Kun smiled to himself and put the lid back.

“Why does this feel like a bad omen?” He said to himself before putting the back on the shelf, he glanced at his phone again and bit his lower lip.

“Should I tell her?”

Jeno walked towards his windows and watched as the Corvette was being brought around the curb by the chauffeur, he picked up his backpack and headed down for breakfast.

“Jeno, son, come join us.” His mother called for him as he passed by the dining hall, Jiwook sat beside her, smiling.

The young male took his seat across his mother, he looked at his plate before asking for some coffee.

“I know we’ve all been thrown off with your sister’s sudden arrival, I just~”

“Thrown off? Why? Is it wrong that she’s home?” Jeno asked as he took some sugar for his coffee.

Jiwook glanced at his fiancé uneasily.

“No, of course it’s not like that. Jiwook and I, we~”

A tick tacking noise her look up, and Aeyoung came in clad in an all white Prabal Gurung suit with matching satin heels.

“Aeyoung-ah, join us.” Jiwook said kindly, he stood up to pull the chair for her.

Her eyes went to the male briefly, a small look of annoyance flashed on her face. Jeno leaned in and observed.

“Aeyoung-ah, please, let’s do this again.” Her mother spoke, trying to coax her to eating with them.

“Do what again? Pretend that everything’s okay?” She replied, the table grew silent and the staff started to rush back to the kitchen.

“Aeyoung, do not act like this.” The elder snapped at her, but the daughter didn’t even flinch.

“I have work. I have no time for this. Jeno, you don’t have to eat with strangers if you don’t want to.” She patted her brother’s shoulder as she turned away.

“Aeyoung!”

Aeyoung paused when she noticed something, the portrait at the center of the room was missing. It had been replaced by a photo of her mother and her new beau.

The portrait of her father with herself and Jeno was now gone.

Replaced by a tacky looking garden photo of her mother and Kim Jiwook. Both were dressed in tacky Versace outfits, and not to her surprise, they were both in matching prints.

Her fists curled and she turned back.

“Aeyoung, let’s talk this out. How about dinner tonight? At your favorite hotel? Fairmont?”

“Fairmont. Freaking Fairmont.” She repeated, Jeno winced, sensing his sister’s mood shift.

“Ladies,” Jiwook stood up, Aeyoung’s cold gaze went to him.

“Aeyoung, I know you don’t trust me yet, but please, do this for your mother. She only wants you to accept us.” Jiwook pleaded with her, the look on her face softened and then she smiled.

Jeno panicked.

“Accept? Of course.” She said sweetly as she walked back to the table, her mother relaxed slightly.

And then she stretched her hand, reached for one of the knives beside the ham and threw it at the photo.

The knife landed squarely on Kim Jiwook’s forehead.

Aeyoung’s mother gasped as she looked at the now destroyed photo and she almost dropped to her chair.

“Enjoy your breakfast.” She said with a small wave at Jiwook before stepping out of the house.

“Jeno~”

“No. I wont talk to her for you, ma.” Jeno stated flatly before vacating his seat. The lady sighed and sat down, Kim Jiwook’s forehead creased as he watched the Corvette speed away from the house.

“You know, Aeyoung being in town…is intriguing.” Mina spoke as Taeyong joined her and Doyoung.

“What are you talking about? Did you read the gossip articles?” Doyoung was amused.

“I read some. People think that she’s here for the engagement, which seems the obvious reason. But from what we witnessed at the restaurant…I mean, did you see how stunned they were when she walked in?”

“You have a point. But I know someone who’s more surprised seeing her there.” Taeyong added, Doyoung chuckled.

“Our oh-so calm Qian Kun couldn’t help but stare, huh?”

“Totally.”

“What’s this? An emergency meeting?” Another voice chimed in, they looked up just as Hendery joined their table.

“You. Kun’s best friend. Join us.” Mina said jokingly, Taeyong bumped fists with the male.

“What is it?”

“Guess who’s in town, Guanheng?” Doyoung said with a smirk.

“Madonna?” He blinked at his friends, Mina laughed.

“Aeyoung.”

Hendery paused, his eyes widened.

“Really? Wow.”

“We were out for lunch yesterday, and we saw her. She literally popped out of nowhere. And Kun was with us, you know.” Mina said excitedly.

“Right, her mom’s engagement party.” Hendery nodded before picking taking a sip from Doyoung’s coffee, the male swatted his hand away.

“But, Aeyoung being in town and Kun permanently living here. Wow.” He murmured to himself.

“But, how were they? I mean, as a couple, how did..things work between them?” Taeyong asked, curious.

“Hmm,” Hendery pursed his lips, the male grew up with Kun and Aeyoung, in fact, they went to the same schools together back in China.

“We met when we were six, I think. Aeyoung…Aeyoung was always a bit of a spoiled brat, she didn’t mince words and she’s pretty short-tempered, that’s why she and Kun got along well. He was always so calm and patient with everyone.”

“Oh my, childhood sweethearts?” Mina cooed, Doyoung shuddered.

“They became a couple during junior year in high school, the elders never really thought too much about it. They were just kids back then, you know. But then, college came, and they were still together. That’s where everyone started thinking that they were probably the real deal. Couple of the century, or so they said.” Hendery said, there was a small thoughtful smile on his face.

“Looking back, Kun never really said no to Aeyoung, whatever she wanted, he always did let her have it. He was the one who could talk her out of crazy things. While, Aeyoung…Aeyoung kept him stable and in touch with the things around him.”

“But, if they were so compatible, why did they break up?” Taeyong asked, Hendery looked up.

“That’s something I will never understand, but I can bet on one thing.” Hendery started to smile.

“What?” Doyoung asked.

“Aeyoung’s in town, and I’m sure that her presence here, it will probably change a few things for Kun.”

“Ya, but they’re already broken up. It’s been three years, right?” Mina argued.

“Trust me on this. It’s Aeyoung.”

Heads turned as the lady in white walked in the Cathay Pacific’s lobby, she looked around, a little uncertain but she headed straight for the elevator without being stopped.

Or nobody tried to stop her, because the rest of the security were gaping at her car.

Aeyoung chewed on the insides of her cheeks as she looked at her palm, she had cut herself while doing that party trick from earlier.

The doors pinged open, and she reached the top floor. She walked straight towards the main office but she was stopped by a young woman.

“Ma’am, are you here for the vice president?”

“Yes. Can you tell him I’m already here?”

“Do you have an appointment?” The girl replied and raised one brow at her, Aeyoung sighed and sidestepped her.

The lady tried to stop her, but the girl simply swung the doors open and the young executive looked up.

“I feel hurt. I mean, now I need an appointment just so I could talk to you?” She said conversationally as she walked in, Kun blinked at her before dismissing his secretary.

“Aeyoung-ah.”

“Do..I really need an appointment?” She sounded offended, she was glancing at the two directors who were also in the room.

“We can reschedule the meeting tomorrow.” Kun told them, the two males nodded back, they bowed before leaving the room.

“No. You don’t need an appointment.” He finally turned to her, Aeyoung grinned at him.

“How are you?” Kun asked as he sat down across her.

“Do you want us to go through all that nice chat and all those polite stuff before I go into the reason as to why I’m here?” She asked him, knowing that Kun could keep up with her.

Kun chuckled and shook his head.

“Okay, drop it all, miss Lee.” Kun said to her.

“It does surprise me that we’re not awkward. Or, are you? ‘Cause I’m not.” She said to him, Kun looked at her and he smiled.

“I’m not. So, what’s up?”

“I have a favor to ask of you.”

Kun paused, but he slowly nodded back.

“Okay.”

“It might be a little illegal, but it’s me. You can’t say no to me.” She said with a scrunch of her nose.

“Aeyoung, just tell me what it is.” Kun told her, and then she took out a photo of Kim Jiwook from her purse.

“He used to work for you.”

“Your mom’s…fiancé?”

“Yes, him.”

Kun finally looked at her, there was a look in her eyes that had him worry.

“Aeyoung, what’s going on?” Kun asked her.

“My mom got engaged without telling me, Kun. And then I meet his random stranger, who’s way younger than her.”

Kun paused, stunned at her words.

“I mean, who wouldn’t be alarmed? Right?” Aeyoung trailed off, Kun picked up the photo and nodded.

“I’ll send his files over to you once I have them.” Kun said, Aeyoung looked at him and she frowned.

“I’m sorry, this must be making you really uncomfortable. I had…I just need to check on this man and then, I found out that he used to work for your company.” She said honestly, Kun met her gaze before speaking.

“Aeyoung-ah, it’s fine. You don’t have to apologize. I’ll get it done.”

“Great, thanks.” She stood up and grabbed her purse.

“Uhmm, I’ll wait for you to call me. It’s nice seeing you again, Qian. You look good.” She said coolly, Kun smiled.

Aeyoung turned for the doors, Kun’s forehead creased and he picked up his coat.

“Aeyoung-ah,”

She paused and turned to him.

“Are you busy?”

“Today? Not really. Why?”

“How about we grab something to eat together? Is that too much?”

She chuckled at him, but Kun was waiting for her reply.

“Just not at The Orange. And we’re good.”

“Of course.” Kun smiled as he gestured for the girl to go first.

“Do you feel like having fast food? I want fast food.” She said as they walked towards the elevator.

“We can get that. The Orange serves burgers too.” Kun hummed as they got in the machine, he looked at her expectantly.

“Thanks for reminding why we stayed broken up this past few years.” She shot back at him, Kun chuckled before nudging the girl’s shoulder.

“Welcome to Seoul, miss Lee.”

She rolled her eyes at him.

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