Although Liu Xin’an video chats with his family every other day, seeing them through a phone screen is definitely not as surprising as seeing them in person.
After half a year, the mother and son, who are very close, were finally reunited.
Liu Xin’an had thought that his mother would warmly hug him and then gently pat his back.
But he did not expect that his mother would be much more decisive and quick to act than he had imagined.
The woman, not particularly standout in figure but still beautiful in appearance, casually picked up a rolling pin nearby, and this overly "enthusiastic" gesture made Liu Xin’an instinctively stop in his tracks.
His family lives in a small town near the coast, in a self-built house that was constructed around the time his parents married.
The overall decor certainly doesn’t compare to the beauties of modern large houses, and even the house Liu Xin’an has in Seoul is much prettier than his family home.
But after all, it’s the place that has carried his memories for over 20 years, and both his dad and mom are people who cherish the old days.
So even though the family isn’t short on money, they’ve always lived there.
After all, the coastal town is small, and his dad gets a ride to work every day. If his mom wants to go into the city, driving herself or taking the bus is fine—it’s just half an hour away.
Liu Xin’an took a wary step back, almost bumping into his father, who was one step behind him.
Liu Zhengjiang steadied Liu Xin’an, worried that the clumsy child would fall, and then turned to his wife with a tender smile.
If Bae Juhyun were fortunate enough to see that smile, she would instantly realize...
The smiles the father and son showed when facing someone they liked were strikingly similar,
As if carved from the same mold.
"...Could you make your favoritism any more obvious?"
Liu Zhengjiang didn’t care whether Liu Xin’an felt wronged. He was just waiting for Park Jinsuk’s orders.
Of course, Park Jinsuk might be dissatisfied with her son, but that was not for Liu Zhengjiang to interfere with.
Although she’s already past 50, time seems to have left few traces on this beautiful woman.
Park Jinsuk glared at Liu Zhengjiang, who understandingly bypassed the mother and son and went straight into the living room to sit on the sofa,
Turning a blind eye to what was about to happen at the kitchen door.
"Where’s your girlfriend?"
"Uh... she hasn’t come back yet."
"Then why did you come back?"
Liu Xin’an blinked in confusion, wondering if there was a slight problem with the logic.
"Didn’t you promise me you’d bring your girlfriend home?"
"I never did. We just spoke about this on the phone a few days ago, remember?"
Park Jinsuk blinked, then her face lit up with realization.
It seemed like that’s what happened.
Liu Xin’an frowned slightly, what’s wrong with his mom, why was her memory getting worse and worse?
He anxiously looked towards his dad, only to find him engrossed with his phone.
Just as he was about to ask, his dad’s unhurried voice spoke up.
"Your mom lost 140 playing cards this afternoon, probably still upset about that money."
Park Jinsuk, who didn’t need to work, played a few rounds of mahjong every afternoon without fail.
Of course, they played for small stakes, nowhere near gambling levels.
It seems Park Jinsuk’s luck has been down lately.
"How could you not bring her? Don’t think I don’t know that young people over there don’t celebrate New Year’s, but they still have holidays. It’s such a good opportunity, why didn’t you just bring her home with you?"
Liu Xin’an gave a wry smile; bringing Bae Juhyun home wasn’t something he could decide on his own.
The special nature of Bae Juhyun’s job was clear, and if she could have concealed it from the company, she would have accompanied him long ago.
"It’s not convenient for her to come here, she’s also very regretful she couldn’t make it this time."
"Not convenient?" Park Jinsuk looked puzzled at Liu Xin’an, then covered her mouth with her hand, her expression shocked, "A fugitive?"
"...How could that be possible."
"Then what could it be?"
Liu Xin’an waved his hand dismissively, having just gotten off the plane and taken a long car ride home, he hadn’t even had the chance to tell Bae Juhyun he arrived safely; whatever it was could wait until dinner.
"I’ll tell you about it tonight." After speaking, Liu Xin’an stepped forward and hugged his mother, "Mom, I’ve missed you so much~"
"Save it, if you missed me you would have come back earlier! You always used to come back for the minor New Year."
"Well, I’m in a relationship now, and I still need to check in with my girlfriend."
Liu Xin’an grinned foolishly, only showing his slightly childish side in front of his family, indirectly indicating that the relationship with his family was truly harmonious.
Watching Liu Xin’an’s retreating figure as he went upstairs, Park Jinsuk sighed with an indiscernible emotion.
The sigh piqued Liu Zhengjiang’s curiosity, and after contemplating for a few seconds, he chuckled lightly, "Jealous?"
"If you didn’t nag him, that kid might not have come back until the 29th, believe it or not."
"Go away, go watch your TV."
Agitated, Park Jinsuk raised the rolling pin in her hand. Liu Zhengjiang flinched, then, feeling a bit embarrassed by his reaction, hastily coughed to clear his throat and stopped looking at Park Jinsuk, who was annoyed and fuming at having her sore spot poked.
Unaware of his parents’ amusing interaction as he had already gone upstairs, Liu Xin’an casually tossed his luggage to one side, then lay down on the bed. ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ ɴovelfire.net
Because he had already communicated with his mother about his return today, his room had been carefully cleaned, and the bedding, freshly laundered, was now emitting a citrus fragrance.