“I know, I know.” Chaeyeon made a face as she walked in the kitchen, Minhyuk grinned at her, he was preparing the salad.

“It’s been a while since we did this, huh? A chill night with food and drinks.” She spoke.

“Soph talked to you about it?”

“She did. She doesn’t want me to attend the party, but she thinks she should go there and judge what everyone will be wearing.” She replied as she grabbed some bowls.

“Shownu said the same thing.”

“So, what have you decided on?”

“It would be weird not going, besides, eomma already talked me into it.” She shrugged as she rolled the sleeves of her sweater to her elbows and helped him with the tomatoes.

“This is Joori, Yeon. I’m sure you’re troubled about this.” Minhyuk spoke, Chaeyeon’s forehead creased slightly.

“It’s just so scary, seeing how much a person can change, you know. She used to be..We used to be so close, and I don’t understand why she’s doing this. And to think she claims that I’m just making up things about Yugyeom.”

Minhyuk looked at her and puffed his cheeks.

“You still have me. I can annoy you twice as much, if you want.”

She chuckled, Minhyuk grabbed the salad bowl.

“I’ll go set the table. It’s nice to have you guys over by the way.”

Chaeyeon hopped on the kitchen counter and munched on some chips, she pursed her lips, realizing they were spicy.

“You look..comfortable.” Shownu strolled in, he was dressed in jeans and a black shirt.

“I have this big meeting tomorrow, and I have to look pretty and composed. That’s why I’m having salad.” She rolled her eyes, Shownu chuckled and walked to her.

“You spent the day at the shop, huh?”

“I was hoping you’d come by, were you busy?” He asked as he kissed her cheek, Chaeyeon nodded back at him.

“I wanted to, but I didn’t want to appear too nosy.” She jokingly said, Shownu snorted before lifting her off the counter.

“You can always come by anytime.” He added and gave her waist a squeeze before letting go.

“Actually, I didn’t want Wonho oppa to be reminded about sending bodyguards again.” She mused as they walked to the dining hall, Sophia and Wonho were discussing what show to watch.

“Right, I got you something.” Shownu spoke, the girl paused, her eyes narrowing.

“You…look worried.” He blinked at her.

“The last time you got me something, it was a car, Son Hyunwoo.”

“It’s nothing like that.” He beamed at her, the girl tilted her head at him.

“Still suspicious.” She murmured, Soph paused and looked at the two. Shownu was smiling as he reached for the girl’s hand.

“Is it something I can carry in my pocket? If it is then we’re good.”

“You might regret that, Oh Chaeyeon.” Sophia hummed before walking away, Wonho chuckled and hopped after the girl.

“Here.” Shownu dropped something in her palm, Chaeyeon chuckled, realizing it was a bag of gummy bears.

“This…I like.” She smiled at him, and then she paused when Shownu suddenly leaned over and reached for her wrist.

“Son~”

“Kill me later!” Shownu said before running back to the kitchen, Chaeyeon paused and looked at her wrist. It was a gold chain bracelet from Tiffany and Co., it even had a tiny heart charm. Chaeyeon chuckled and touched the charm.

“Hey,” Soph appeared again, she looked at her friend.

“The eyes, they never lie after all.” Soph said as she set the table, Chaeyeon shook her head at the girl.

“So, how are things between you two?”

Chaeyeon scrunched her nose before speaking.

“What do you think? ” Minhyuk mused as he walked in.

“Don’t~”

“They’re obviously not pretending anymore. You can’t lie to me Oh Chaeyeon.”

“W—Why is everyone ganging up on me?” Chaeyeon blurted out as she waddled away from the two, Soph chuckled and leaned against one of the chairs.

“Does Son Hyunwoo know that you’re out with me?” Wonho asked as they got off the escalator.

“I think? I texted him earlier, but he seems to be in a meeting.” Chaeyeon replied, the two were at the mall.

“Never the jealous type.” Wonho mused, Chaeyeon shook her head and hooked arms with him.

“But, oppa, must you really upload those selfies you took?”

“Which selfie?” Wonho batted his eyelashes at her, the girl sighed.

“Oppa,”

“I really enjoyed the steak that time, but the way the glass was broken, it was like art!”

“Why am I friends with you?” Chaeyeon murmured under her breath, Wonho chuckled.

“I’m just worried that…that dirtbag like him is still bothering you, headache. He deserves getting his kicked by Shownu.”

“Being kicked is okay, oppa. But being thrown against a wall?”

“Potato, potahto.” Wonho shrugged as they walked in a clothing store, Chaeyeon was about to point towards a coat when she heard someone call her name.

“Chaeyeon-ah, what a surprise.”

She turned and the girl paused, Wonho followed her gaze.

“You’re always out and about, and now, with a new face.” Her aunt smiled at her, her forehead creased.

“Auntie,” She said through gritted teeth, Wonho looked around them.

“Joori mentioned how you specifically had her blocked from your party, how rude of you, Oh Chaeyeon.”

“It’s my party, I think I have the right to invite and uninvite people.” Chaeyeon stated, her aunt chuckled.

“Fine, go on. You must be enjoying it right now, being under the spotlight, you think you’re better than all of us, just because of that boyfriend of yours.”

Wonho noticed how Chaeyeon’s lips thinned, he was about to speak but the girl spoke first.

“Why are you so obsessed with him? Auntie, are you into younger guys?” She asked, Wonho balked and Chaeyeon’s aunt grew red at her words.

“You’ve really changed, niece.” The lady spat, Chaeyeon chuckled.

“I had to. You all made me.” She replied, her aunt’s eyes went to Wonho briefly.

“You even walk around being all touchy with other men too, of course, you’re free to do that too.” Her aunt said with a smirk, Chaeyeon’s brows went up.

“I’m sure Hyunwoo is okay with that.” She continued with raised brows.

“Auntie, want to hear a story about that one time I saw a guy humping his all to a girl behind this~”

“Okay, the president has to go. Let’s go now, you…have a meeting.” Wonho stepped between the two women, Chaeyeon pursed her lips and let the male pull her away.

“Oppa, why did you~”

“Stop you? You really want to tell her about the humping?”

“Why? Is it not true?” She shot back as they left the store, Wonho sighed at her.

“Oppa, I saw him and~”

“Let’s not talk about that, as your head of security, I should be turning you over to Shownu. You almost caused a big fight.”

She chuckled and hooked arms with him.

“You’ll take my side, right, oppa?”

“I think I kind of have to.” Wonho said cautiously.

“You..You’re about to cause trouble, huh?” He asked her Joori shrugged at him and hopped towards the Balmain boutique.

The doors swung open, Shownu glanced up from his laptop.

“I ditched work, did some shopping with Wonho oppa. So, I decided to drop by.” Chaeyeon said with a scrunch of her nose.

“Are you busy?” She asked as she walked towards him, Shownu shook his head and closed his laptop.

“I was about to have food delivered. How did your day go?” He asked, he was about to open one arm to her but Chaeyeon made herself comfortable on his lap, his brows rose.

“Day didn’t go well?” He softly asked as he wrapped his arms around her, Chaeyeon made a face and buried her face on the crook of his neck.

“I ran into my aunt, I think she has the hots for you. She doesn’t even say hi to me, just talks about you right away.” She sputtered, Shownu let out a small laugh and rubbed soothing circles on her back.

“What happened?”

“I got pissed, I almost took her bait. She says that you’re okay with me going around being touchy with other men and all.”

“Am I?” Shownu mused at her, Chaeyeon rolled her eyes and pulled back to meet his gaze.

“I almost told her about that one time I saw Yugyeom and that girl behind the club’s alley.” She continued as she fixed the collar of his shirt.

“That would have surprised her, but in the end you’d feel bad about it?”

“Will I?”

“If you did tell her, you’ll probably call me late at night and discuss what you did. I know you.” Shownu chuckle, Chaeyeon sighed and leaned in to kiss his cheek.

“You’re right. Always the chill one.” She made a face at him before sliding down his lap, Shownu smiled and stood up.

“Want to go out and get something to eat?”

“Don’t you have work?” She asked, Shownu shook his head and put on his coat.

“You have perfect timing, I was getting suffocated here.”

“Right, any excused to go out and eat.” She grinned as she picked her purse, Shownu smiled and took her hand in his as they stepped out.

“We rarely have the time to go out lately, and eomma wanted me to invite you to have dinner with us next week. If that’s okay with you.”

“Sure, I’ll be there.” She replied as they reached the elevator.

“Wait,” Chaeyeon blinked as they got in, Shownu watched as the doors closed and he looked at her.

“It just hit me…that we’ve been..lying to our parents. What..Do..we tell them?” She asked him, her forehead creased.

“Do you want to?”

Chaeyeon puffed her cheeks and titled her head.

“This…I’ll let you decide on it. Will..you take care of it for me?” She cautiously asked her, Shownu nodded before gently cupping her cheek.

“Okay, I’ll take care of it.”

“You two aren’t into arriving together at parties, huh?” Sophia asked as she sat down beside Shownu, he turned to her.

“Hyung, why do you two that?” Minhyuk sighed as he fixed his bowtie, he eyed the Shinsegae logo on the stage.

“I called her and asked if she wanted to go together, but she said she has something to attend to.”

“And, you didn’t~”

“She’s a busy person, I try not to get in the way.” Shownu said, wanting to shush his cousin.

“Well, she’ll probably let you get in the way.” Sophia shrugged with a grin.

“It’s very Chaeyeon of her to be late to a Shinsegae event.” Minhyuk leaned on the table, he looked around them, he spotted some of Chaeyeon’s cousins by the main table.

“She texted me earlier, she said she’s already on her way.” Shownu replied, he stood up when he saw Chaeyeon’s parents walk in.

“I’ll go and say hi.” Shownu stated before leaving the couple, Wonho walked over to them, looking curious.

“It’s so weird, why is Chaeyeon late?” He asked as he sat down, Soph shrugged at him.

“I don’t know, she’s~” Minhyuk stilled, his eyes were on the doors, Sophia looked up from her phone and followed his gaze.

“What…is that?” Minhyuk blurted out, Wonho tilted his head, just as confused.

“Is she….drunk?” Wonho balked, Sophia looked up again and she grimaced. Indeed, it was Chaeyeon, she had walked in with a bright smile and her cheeks were as red as strawberries.

The girl was dressed quite differently too. No, she wasn’t dressed like her usual self, she stood out way too much.

From across the room, Shownu excused himself from the Oh elders and was already making his way to her.

Minhyuk looked at his friend again, she already had a flute of champagne in hand as she strode in, the girl was wearing a tight fitting Balmain mini tuxedo dress that was a little too short for comfort. And fishnet stockings.

“Tiny dress. Fishnet stockings. Gucci platforms. Arriving drunk. What is she doing?” Sophia mumbled, she was about to stand, wanting to help her out but Shownu was already there.

“Son Hyunwoo.” Chaeyeon giggled when he reached her, the male looked confused but he smiled back at her.

“Did you drive here? While..drinking?” He asked, concern was evident in his voice, Chaeyeon’s eyes went to him and her face softened.

“No, the driver dropped me off. Can I mooch a ride off you?” She giggled again, Shownu grew amused.

“Of course, you can.” He said before briefly pressing his lips against the side of her head.

“Everyone’s here.” She hummed as they walked to their table, Shownu had a palm on the small of her back.

“Are you okay?”

“Yes.” She hiccupped, the girl paused and turned to him with wide eyes. And then she started to giggle, Shownu couldn’t help but smile.

“Drunk Chaeyeon is quite a sight.” He said jokingly as he pulled the chair for her, the girl was about to take a seat when she noticed Joori walk in.

Minhyuk noticed how his friend’s lips quirked up.

“No, no, no.” Minhyuk was about to yank her down but Chaeyeon suddenly raised her hand up so high that even her dress hiked up. Shownu discreetly held on to the helm as she waved her cousin over.

“Can we hide here?” Wonho nudged Soph as she lifted the tablecloth.

“It’s our Joori!” Chaeyeon’s laugh made some of the guests turn to her, even Joori was stunned.

“Chaeyeon-ah,” Minhyuk said through gritted teeth, Chaeyeon beamed before speaking again.

“I didn’t expect to see you arrive alone, what happened? Where’s the ever charming Yugyeom?” She said, loud enough for people to hear.

“I’ve always gained flak for arriving alone, you know.” She continued with a teasing smile, the elders were know staring at her, not sure what to do.

Shownu’s eyes went to her, Joori’s brows grew knitted together, the girl was marching towards them, extremely aggravated. The male grew worried, he was about to tug Chaeyeon behind him when Joori was suddenly met with a glass of wine.

The girl gasped as the liquid stained the front of her satin dress. The whole room grew quiet as they watched the scene unfold, Joori stood frozen as droplets of wine that was tossed to her face drip to her hair down to her shoulders.

“Are you happy now, you clingy ?”

Everyone was staring at the stranger, while Chaeyeon turned to Shownu and reached out to squeeze his arms.

“Have you been working out lately? Suns out, guns out.” She giggled again, Minhyuk sighed and Wonho lifted the tablecloth again.

“Let’s just hide there, oppa.” Sophia muttered under her breath, but she couldn’t help but smile at the sight of Joori.

“My boyfriend is so hot.” Chaeyeon beamed again before throwing her arms around his neck.

“I don’t know where to focus, Joori being harassed or tipsy Chayeeon.” Minhyuk muttered under his breath as Joori continued to stare at the woman who had just poured wine all over her.

“I asked if you were happy now that he made me abort the baby?”

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