Night arrived quietly... Quickly like blink and is already dark.
Well Ji-Ah didn't notice because the whole day she was either sleeping, or reading a book.
Book Lover.
But this Night was loud.
Not because of weather.
Because Do-Hyun had returned.
The front doors opened with far too much force, and a voice rang through the mansion before the man himself fully appeared.
"OLD WOMAN, I'M HOME!"
Halmoni, seated in the living room with imperial dignity, didn't even flinch.
She lifted her cane.
"Come closer so I can break your knees."
Do-Hyun entered laughing.
Tall, broad-shouldered, dressed in a charcoal coat thrown over a black turtleneck like he had somewhere important to be but chose chaos instead. His hair was slightly messy on purpose, grin shameless, energy impossible.
Behind him came his wife.
Nisa.
Chanyanisa Rattanhaiyaporn entered with the confidence of someone who never needed permission from any room.
She wore a fitted cream blouse tucked into high-waisted dark trousers, gold earrings catching the chandelier light, heels sharp enough to negotiate treaties. Her hair fell in soft waves over one shoulder, makeup elegant, eyes alert and already judging furniture.
Beautiful.
Dangerous.
Interested in gossip.
Do-Hyun spread his arms.
"Miss me?"
"No," said Arisoo immediately.
"Yes," said Min-Hyuk.
"Partially," said Yoo-Na.
Halmoni sniffed.
"I missed silence."
Do-Hyun clutched his heart.
"Old woman, your love language remains abuse."
He strode straight to Halmoni, bent dramatically, kissed the top of her head, then dodged her cane by instinct.
"Still fast," he praised.
Nisa bowed politely to Halmoni.
"It's an honor to meet you."
Halmoni eyed her approvingly.
"Good posture. Poor taste in husband."
Nisa smiled brightly.
"I discovered that late."
Do-Hyun gasped.
"Betrayal in my own entrance scene."
Introductions began properly.
Madam arrived with her usual controlled presence.
Min-Ji beside her, elegant in a pale fitted dress with delicate jewelry, posture perfect, smile curated.
Do-Hyun greeted Madam respectfully.
Nisa bowed as well.
Then Min-Ji stepped forward with polished sweetness.
"Welcome. I'm Min-Ji."
Nisa smiled.
Too politely.
Too briefly.
"Ah," she said. "You're Min-Ji."
Something in the tone made Arisoo slowly turn her head.
Min-Ji's smile held.
"Yes."
Nisa nodded once.
"I've heard… many things."
Do-Hyun, standing beside her, coughed into his fist.
"Nisa."
"What?" she whispered back in Thai-accented softness that somehow carried perfectly. "Ji-Ah briefed me."
Min-Ji's eyes flickered.
"Ji-Ah talks about me?"
Nisa tilted her head.
"Frequently."
Arisoo bit her lip to survive.
Yoo-Na looked delighted.
Do-Hyun bent toward Nisa.
"What was the briefing score?"
Nisa whispered loudly enough for half the room:
"Face beautiful. Spirit suspicious."
Do-Hyun wheezed.
Madam's gaze sharpened.
Min-Ji's smile became expensive and dangerous.
Then Nisa saw someone over Madam's shoulder.
Ji-Ah had just entered from the hallway.
For one second both women froze.
Then all adulthood died.
"Aaaaaaaa!"
"NISAAAA!"
They ran at each other immediately.
Hands grabbed hands.
They jumped in place like children who'd found summer again.
"You came!"
"You got arrested!"
"YOU STARTED WITH THAT?"
"It's huge news!"
They screamed again.
Arisoo covered her face laughing.
Min-Hyuk sat down because his legs weakened.
Halmoni wiped tears from laughing too hard.
Madam looked personally offended by joy.
Min-Ji stood motionless.
Nisa grabbed Ji-Ah's cheeks.
"You lost weight."
"You gained attitude."
"I'm married now."
"I can still return you."
They hugged again.
Then Nisa turned and spotted Ha-Joon near the stairs.
Her face brightened instantly.
"Ha-Joon!"
Before anyone could prepare, she marched over and hugged him tightly.
Ha-Joon stiffened like a man being attacked by scented lightning.
She squeezed harder.
"You still look depressed but richer."
"…Hello, Nisa."
"Same voice too."
She released him and studied his face.
"You need vitamins and emotional honesty."
"I'm fine."
"No one with that face is fine."
Ji-Ah laughed so suddenly she had to hold the wall.
Ha-Joon glanced at her.
Which Nisa noticed instantly.
And stored for later violence.
Then tiny footsteps thundered in.
Nikki.
He launched himself at Do-Hyun.
"UNCLE!"
Do-Hyun scooped him up effortlessly.
Then, because maturity had never found him, flipped Nikki upside down.
Nikki shrieked with laughter.
"I'M A BAT!"
"You're a tax deduction," Do-Hyun declared.
Arisoo lunged forward and smacked his arm.
"Keep my child upright!"
"He likes inversion!"
"Keep him alive!"
Nikki, upside down, pointed dramatically.
"Again!"
"No!" Arisoo shouted.
"Yes!" said Do-Hyun.
He spun once.
Arisoo hit him again.
Nisa applauded.
Halmoni cackled like thunder.
Even Madam looked one inch less severe.
As servants rushed to bring tea and snacks, the mansion shifted.
Less like a battlefield.
More like a family circus with expensive flooring.
Nisa slipped beside Ji-Ah and whispered:
"Tell me everything."
Ji-Ah whispered back:
"After dinner."
Nisa's eyes sparkled.
"Good. I brought notebook-level attention."
Across the room, Min-Ji watched them carefully.
And for the first time that evening, she looked uncertain.
Because chaos had arrived.
And chaos already loved Ji-Ah.
After dinner, the house split into its usual factions.
Madam disappeared with Min-Ji.
Halmoni demanded tea and attention.
Min-Hyuk went looking for Seo-Yeon.
Yoo-Na vanished somewhere suspicious.
And in the smaller lounge near the garden doors, Ji-Ah claimed the best chair and summoned her preferred people.
Nisa curled dramatically across one sofa, shoes already abandoned.
Do-Hyun lounged beside her like furniture had been invented for him personally.
Arisoo sat cross-legged with fruit and opinions.
Ji-Ah folded her arms.
"I have one question."
Nisa raised a finger.
"I'm innocent."
"I didn't accuse you yet."
"Proceed."
Ji-Ah narrowed her eyes.
"I thought you two weren't coming."
Do-Hyun sighed theatrically.
"We weren't."
"We wanted to," Nisa corrected. "But schedules, flights, family nonsense, one suitcase incident…"
"You packed seven heels for three days," Do-Hyun muttered.
"Respect the process."
Ji-Ah pointed between them.
"So why now?"
Nisa grinned.
"We wanted to come last week."
Do-Hyun nodded.
"But then we thought… no."
Arisoo leaned in.
"Why no?"
"Because," Do-Hyun said proudly, "if we arrived suddenly today, it would be dramatic."
Nisa clasped her hands.
"A surprise entrance."
Ji-Ah stared.
"You delayed travel plans for theatrics?"
"Yes," they answered together.
Arisoo wiped tears.
"My people."
Ji-Ah groaned.
"But it wasn't a surprise," she said. "Ha-Joon announced it this morning."
Nisa's face fell.
Do-Hyun cursed softly.
"That man ruins atmosphere."
Arisoo cackled.
"He always has."
Ji-Ah smirked.
"You crossed continents to lose to one sentence."
Nisa pointed accusingly toward the ceiling.
"I blame his personality."
Right then, the doorway filled with exactly that personality.
Ha-Joon stood there, calm as ever.
"Ji-Ah."
Everyone turned.
He looked only at her.
"Come out for a moment."
Nisa's eyes widened.
Do-Hyun slowly sat upright.
Arisoo slapped Ji-Ah's knee.
"Go. We believe in chaos."
Ji-Ah glared at all of them and stood.
"What."
"Come out," Ha-Joon repeated.
"That answer was useless."
Still, she followed.
In the hallway, he led her toward his room.
Ji-Ah stopped at the doorway.
"…Why am I here."
He walked in.
"To help me choose what to wear tomorrow."
She stared.
"For your engagement?"
"Yes."
"That is a terrible request."
He opened the wardrobe.
Rows of suits stared back like expensive witnesses.
"Choose."
"No."
He looked at her.
She looked at him.
Then at the suits.
Then back at him.
"…You dragged me here to ask fashion advice from the woman you sent to jail."
"I did not send you."
"You emotionally outsourced it."
He sighed once.
"Tie or no tie."
Ji-Ah folded her arms.
"You're impossible."
"And yet you're still here."
She moved closer to the wardrobe anyway, muttering insults.
"This one is arrogant."
"It's a jacket."
"This one looks dishonest."
"It's navy."
"This one says I disappoint women."
"That one is grey."
She held up another.
"This one says I have unresolved mother issues."
He blinked.
"…That one."
She stared at him.
"You're ridiculous."
He took the suit from her hands and set it aside.
Then the room went quiet.
Ji-Ah noticed he was no longer pretending to sort clothes.
"…So this was an excuse."
"Yes."
He didn't even deny it.
That somehow annoyed her more.
She turned slowly.
"Why."
He leaned lightly against the wardrobe, tiredness finally showing through the polished edges.
"I wanted you here."
Her expression shifted.
He continued quietly:
"You don't have to do anything."
A pause.
"You can sleep in the bed."
"And you?"
"I'll sleep on the couch."
"That couch is decorative punishment."
"I'll survive."
Ji-Ah frowned.
"…Why."
His gaze met hers.
"I just want to know you're okay tonight."
The words landed too softly to defend against.
She looked away first.
"That's it?"
He nodded.
"That's it."
She studied him a second longer.
Then turned and walked out without another word.
He watched her leave.
Did not stop her.
Only exhaled.
The moment Ji-Ah rounded the hallway corner, three bodies nearly fell over each other.
Nisa, Arisoo, and Do-Hyun had been pressed shamelessly against the wall listening.
Ji-Ah stopped.
"…Pathetic."
Arisoo pointed at her.
"He asked you to sleep there!"
Nisa clutched her chest.
"On couch sacrifice terms!"
Do-Hyun wiped fake tears.
"Love in corporate language."
"It is not love," Ji-Ah snapped.
"It is concern," Nisa said.
"Concern with jawline," Arisoo added.
Ji-Ah rolled her eyes so hard it nearly caused injury.
"You three need hobbies."
"We have one," Do-Hyun said. "You."
She walked past them.
Their laughter followed her down the hall.
In her room, Ji-Ah changed into soft pajamas.
Nothing elegant.
Nothing dramatic.
Just comfort.
She grabbed her pillow with one hand, phone with the other, and stood still for a moment.
Then muttered:
"This is stupid."
And walked to Ha-Joon's room anyway.
He was already on the couch.
Book in hand.
Glasses on.
Lamp light catching the edges of the frames.
He looked up when she entered.
No surprise.
Like he had expected the exact minute.
Without speaking, he lifted one hand and gestured toward the bed.
Ji-Ah stood there.
"…That's all?"
"Yes."
"No smug speech?"
"No."
"No thank you for choosing me over dignity?"
"No."
She narrowed her eyes.
"You're boring."
"Sleep."
She set down the pillow and climbed into bed.
The mattress was too soft.
The room too quiet.
She turned onto one side and looked at him.
He had already returned to reading.
"…What are you reading?"
"A book."
"Useless answer again."
"Sleep, Ji-Ah."
"…Your glasses make you look less rude."
He turned a page.
"Sleep."
She huffed, pulled the blanket up, and eventually the weight of exhaustion won.
Her breathing softened.
The room stilled.
Much later, Ha-Joon looked up from the book.
Closed it quietly.
Removed his glasses.
He stood and walked to the bed.
Carefully adjusted the blanket higher over her shoulder.
Paused there.
Looked at her sleeping face for one long, quiet moment.
Then he switched off the lamp.
Darkness settled gently.
He returned to the couch.
Lay down.
And for the first time in days, the room felt guarded enough for both of them to rest.