As the boys answered the video call, they looked at the girls with an awkward smile. Scoups asked,
"Girls, you really scared us for a second!"
The girls giggled, and Nian said,
"Yeah, we saw Jeonghan brushing his teeth like an old man."
Jeonghan yelled, "Nian! Don't say that! That's embarrassing!"
Nian laughed and nodded.
Woozi asked, "Girls, why did you call us so early in the morning?"
The girls were shocked. Xuanye said, "Woozi, it's New Year's Day, and you guys are brushing your teeth at 10 a.m.?!"
Woozi giggled. "For us, this is early!"
The boys all nodded. The girls chuckled.
Nian teased, "Then boys, thanks for your bouquets and gifts!"
The boys smiled proudly. Joshua said,
"You really liked it, huh? For those bouquets and dumplings, we broke our heads last night."
Nian and Xuanye laughed. "What happened?"
Mingyu said,
"Girls, that was a huge flashback. Last night, we were discussing what to send as a present for your family. At first, we thought of sending only bouquets. Then Boo told us he wanted to send tangerines."
Boo sulked. "But did you guys let me give it, huh?"
Mingyu hushed him. "Don't speak, Boo. Nian, Xuanye — for those tangerines, he searched all night, but every delivery service was too busy, so we had to drop the plan. That tangerine debate went on till 9 p.m. Then Woozi said he'd order the bouquets, so he did it for you."
The girls laughed.
Xuanye asked, "Then how did you guys manage the dumplings and the money?"
Mingyu sighed. Dino jumped in,
"Girls, we pooled money from our salary and sent it to you. As for the dumplings, we were stressed figuring out how to do it."
Nian and Xuanye were touched.
Nian asked, "Did you guys cook them for us?"
Dino nodded.
DK said,
"Nian, you don't know. Last night, we asked our manager to buy the ingredients, and he did. Then he left."
Nian laughed. "Boys, why did you trouble your manager? He must be annoyed."
DK chuckled, "He wasn't, Nian. He likes to help us. So don't say that."
Nian looked at Xuanye, impressed.
Wonwoo said,
"At 10 p.m., I, Scoups, Mingyu, Minghao, and Woozi were watching videos on how to make dumplings, while DK, Dino, Boo, Hoshi, and Vernon were chopping vegetables. Joshua, Jeonghan, and Jun were learning how to make soup."
He started laughing.
Nian and Xuanye asked, "Wonwoo, why are you laughing?"
Still laughing, he replied,
"When Scoups opened the dough packet, he ripped it too fast, and it exploded on Woozi's face! Woozi got annoyed, took the dough, and rubbed it back on Scoups' face. Then Mingyu and Minghao tried to knead it. Mingyu was beating the dough like it owed him something, while Minghao just stared at it with pity and asked, 'Why are you hitting it like that?'"
Xuanye and Nian burst into laughter.
Joshua added,
"Mingyu asked Minghao to try kneading it instead. When Minghao grabbed it, he placed the bowl between the table edge and cutting board. But when he punched the dough—"
Mingyu continued,
"Girls, the dough flew."
The girls looked at him, stunned. "Minghao, you said he was beating it, but you boxed it?!"
Minghao laughed.
Jun jumped in,
"When it flew, we were blinking in shock. We had no idea where it would land."
Vernon continued,
"As it flew toward Hoshi and Boo, they just stared at it like it was a flower in slow motion."
The girls rolled on their bed laughing.
Xuanye asked, "Did you catch it or not?"
Hoshi said,
"We did, but—"
Nian asked, "But what, Hoshi?!"
He replied,
"Boo and I caught it, but Dino was standing next to Boo like a ghost. Boo got scared and threw the dough. It fell back onto the table."
Nian and Xuanye caught their breath.
"At least it landed on the table, right?" Nian said.
Hoshi shook his head.
"It did, but the impact made the rice flour fly again—and it fell all over us."
The girls were silent for a second. Then they burst into laughter. Xuanye said between laughs,
"Boys, don't ever cook alone. You'll burn the house down!"
Nian added, "So that's why you guys always order food!"
The boys gave awkward smiles and said in unison,
"But somehow, we made the dumplings. Girls, how were they?"
The girls said together,
"They were awesome, guys. If you had been here with us, it would've been perfect."
The boys smiled.
"Yeah, we miss you girls. Even though we're chaotic, we miss your presence."
The girls were touched. Then their expressions changed.
"But boys," Xuanye said, "What was that in the ad? We were shocked when we saw it!"
The boys smiled.
DK asked, "Nian, did you like it?"
Nian coughed and blushed. "How can you ask that, Loudie?! You guys have gotten so bold—showing affection in public now?!"
Minghao chuckled.
"Girls, you know we care about you. That's why, when the manager asked us to add ad-libs, Boo came up with that idea."
Boo tried to get their attention.
The girls smirked.
"Boo~ You're the one giving them ideas, huh?"
He cleared his throat.
"Yeah. I knew you'd blush when you heard it."
The girls controlled their blush and shook their heads.
As things calmed down, the boys wished them a Happy New Year.
DK asked,
"Girls, you're starting work tomorrow, right?"
They nodded happily.
Nian said,
"Yeah! It's our first day. We're nervous and excited."
Xuanye added,
"But I have Nian. I'll be fine because she'll protect me!"
The boys smiled.
Scoups said,
"Girls, once you start work, be serious. And if anything happens, tell us. We'll be there for you."
The girls nodded with warm smiles.
"It's been a long time since we talked like this, right?"
Woozi checked the time.
"Yeah—it's been two hours, but it went by so fast."
The girls smiled.
"Let's meet next Thursday, okay?"
The boys nodded.
DK sent a flying kiss to Nian.
Minghao said, "I love you, Ye~ Let's meet Thursday!" and giggled.
The single boys watched them in mock jealousy, then gave each other flying kisses too.
That day felt like a big hug to the girls. Because even though the boys rarely said how much they meant to them with words, they always showed it through their actions.