———
It's just an ordinary dinner with friends. After finishing the meal, Liu Xin'an took Bae Juhyun and got into a taxi, heading straight to Li Chenglu's studio headquarters in Shanghai.
"What do you think of Chenglu and Sanren?"
"I considered it, but Sanren probably can't handle Chenglu's personality. You know how terrifying that girl can be when she goes crazy."
Bae Juhyun thoughtfully nodded; indeed, once Li Chenglu gets worked up, it's not something most people can endure.
She tightened her coat and snuggled closer to Liu Xin'an's side.
The car wasn't that cold, but after all, this was a foreign country. Additionally, this time, she was visiting Liu Xin'an's family with a new identity.
Although she didn't think Liu Xin'an's family would reject her, the sense of nervousness wouldn't disappear because of this thought.
Li Chenglu naturally was aware of the advancement in their relationship, so after picking her up, the three of them headed straight to the airport, without the intention of staying in Shanghai any longer.
This was a private trip, and Liu Xin'an and Bae Juhyun didn't have any public schedule. Ideally, if they could keep the entire trip a secret, it would be better.
By the way, apart from Seong Taekyon, no one at S-M knew about her agreeing to Liu Xin'an's proposal.
Seong Taekyon was already persuaded by Liu Xin'an. Since he knew Liu Xin'an and Bae Juhyun wouldn't break up because of any interference from the company, he sensibly chose to stand by the couple in this matter, rather than the company.
Just turn a blind eye, as long as Liu Xin'an and Bae Juhyun don't cause something like getting a marriage certificate, or worse, getting into trouble, he stays oblivious.
The plane quickly landed at the international airport.
Of course, it was the daughter-obsessed Li Changhe who came to pick them up.
But when Li Changhe saw his beloved daughter with two familiar figures beside her, his smile grew even bigger.
"Wow, what's going on? Why did you two come back together?"
"Godfather~"
Bae Juhyun had already started calling him that along with Liu Xin'an, so upon seeing Li Changhe, she sweetly greeted him.
"Alright, alright, you've worked hard recently."
"Not hard at all~"
She smiled, waving her hand, then naturally followed Liu Xin'an to the trunk.
This action angered Li Changhe a bit. He glared at Liu Xin'an, and only when Liu Xin'an obediently took the things from his future wife did his expression soften a bit.
Once everything was secured, Li Chenglu and Bae Juhyun sat in the back seat, and the father and son sat in the driver's seat and passenger seat.
While fastening the seatbelt, Li Changhe casually asked his godson beside him, "What's going on? Why did you suddenly come back?"
"Ah, there's something I need to tell you, godfather."
"Something? What's it about?"
"It's no big deal, just that I proposed to Juhyun, and she accepted. I feel like I should mention this to you."
Li Changhe's expression relaxed. When this guy suddenly came home, he thought Liu Xin'an and Bae Juhyun had caused some trouble, like he was going to become a grandfather.
But it turns out it was just a proposal...
Wait a minute?
Just as the car started, it suddenly stopped.
Sitting in the driver's seat, Li Changhe widened his eyes, turned to look at Liu Xin'an, then looked back at Bae Juhyun in the rear seat, his mouth wide open.
"What on earth?"
"Proposal?!"
...
For Li Changhe, Bae Juhyun, Liu Xin'an, and even Li Chenglu, their work schedules are quite flexible.
But for Liu Zhengjiang, naturally he couldn't leave before office hours ended.
It's only four in the afternoon, an hour before official closing time, so there's no one home at the moment.
Ah, Park Jinsuk also has work; she goes out to play cards every day, sometimes winning a hundred or eighty, sometimes losing a hundred or eighty.
Now that Liu Xin'an and Li Chenglu aren't living at home, Park Jinsuk decides on dinner completely based on her mood.
If she wins a lot, she'll have something nice.
If less...she'll just make do with something simple.
So every time Liu Zhengjiang comes home from work, he silently wishes his wife's luck is good today.
At six in the evening, Liu Zhengjiang reached the door and smelled a delicious aroma.
He let out a sigh of relief; it seemed his wife's luck was good today.
But when he entered and saw that familiar rascal on the sofa, he was first stunned, then a smile involuntarily appeared.
Even if he's not good at expressing emotions, how could he not miss his son living away?
His entry was naturally heard by Liu Xin'an.
"Dad, you're back?"
"Did you come back alone?"
Liu Zhengjiang glanced around, noticing Bae Juhyun wasn't there, he hurriedly asked.
"How could that be, Juhyun!"
Liu Xin'an waved his hand, shouting, and the next second, Bae Juhyun peeked from the kitchen. Seeing Liu Zhengjiang, she quickly wiped her slightly damp hands on her clothes and came up to him seriously.
"Dad, you're back."
Liu Zhengjiang smiled and nodded, then sternly walked over to Liu Xin'an and slapped him hard on the head.
"You're just sitting here?"
Liu Xin'an felt wrongly accused; he originally wanted to help, but Bae Juhyun insisted he shouldn't, otherwise, how could he sit here idly?
"Dad! It's not that Xin'an isn't helping, I told him not to!" Bae Juhyun knew Liu Zhengjiang was misunderstanding, so she quickly spoke up for her future husband.
But let's be honest, seeing Liu Xin'an being lectured by Liu Zhengjiang, she felt a bit proud inside.
She couldn't bring herself to do it, but there were times Liu Xin'an really made her grit her teeth in annoyance.
Now someone else was giving him a hard time, of course that's great~
Liu Zhengjiang sighed and was about to speak when suddenly there was another sound at the door opening.
This time, it was Park Jinsuk who came in.
Like Liu Zhengjiang, when Park Jinsuk saw Liu Xin'an and Bae Juhyun who hadn't been home for a long time, she was stunned. Then a big smile spread across her face, even the frustrations of losing today faded away a bit.
But this smile vanished when she saw the apron on Bae Juhyun.
A chill swept from bottom to top, and Liu Xin'an hurriedly came close to Bae Juhyun, shouting, "She wouldn't let me help! It's not that I don't want to do anything!!"
Bae Juhyun nodded in agreement.
A little reprimand was enough, hitting too hard...she would definitely feel bad.
With this explanation, both parents' expressions softened a lot.
Park Jinsuk glared at her son, then happily stepped forward to hug Bae Juhyun, while casually removing the apron from Bae Juhyun and throwing it to Liu Xin'an.
"You've worked hard these days, Juhyun."
"Not at all~"
"Let that rascal Liu Xin'an do the work. You finally get a day off."
"Really, it's fine, and I want to make dinner for you and Dad."
"Oh...let me help you."
"Alright~"
The two women, who held the authority, laughed as they walked into the kitchen, leaving the two men with not much to say staring at each other.
"Dad, why don't you go and change clothes first?"
Liu Zhengjiang nodded, about to go change, but suddenly remembered the previous question was unanswered.
He turned around, looking at Liu Xin'an, his expression becoming serious.
"Why did you suddenly come back, and bring Juhyun?"
"Uh... there's something I need to tell you two, and she happened to have a break, so we figured we'd come back."
"...Caused trouble?"
Liu Zhengjiang's instant seriousness made Liu Xin'an feel helpless.
"How could that be, it's just a little something."
"Oh... what's it about?"
"Let's talk during dinner."
Although curious, Liu Zhengjiang didn't ask further, just nodded, and went to the bedroom.
At the same time, Bae Juhyun was naturally also being questioned by Park Jinsuk.
Her response, of course, was the same as Liu Xin'an's.
She couldn't possibly have the nerve to bring it up herself!
Best to leave the troublesome task to Liu Xin'an~
