Nian came out of the restroom after changing and saw the boys and Xuanye standing in a straight line like they were in some ceremony.
She blinked in confusion. "Uh… what are you guys doing?"
Scoups and Jeonghan said in unison, "Nian, congratulations on getting discharged!"
The boys clapped in unison like she'd just won an award.
DK walked up to her and pulled her into a hug. "At last, you're getting discharged," he said, patting her back gently.
Nian laughed and stepped back. "Guys, thanks for the applause—but I'm just going home, not winning an Oscar!"
She looked at Xuanye, who shrugged. "Don't look at me, Nian. These boys insisted on celebrating."
Nian shook her head, giggling as the boys grinned sheepishly.
She raised her hand. "Alright, everyone—let's go home!" She marched ahead proudly with her things in hand.
Xuanye followed but suddenly paused, realization dawning. "Wait—Nian! Are they coming to our house?!"
Nian turned and nodded with a smug smile.
Xuanye was glowing with joy. She grabbed Minghao's hand and shouted, "Then let's move already! Why waste time here?!"
The boys were thrilled—they were going to meet the girls' parents!
DK stepped up, gently took the bag from Nian's hands, and gave her a smile that said I'll always be there.
She smiled back, and the group walked together like couples headed into their happy future, with the rest following like proud, overprotective brothers.
Outside, the boys blinked at the bright sun.
"I'll get my car," Minghao said to Xuanye.
She nodded, and he left.
Vernon asked, "Where's he going?"
"To get his car," she replied.
Scoups sighed. "How are the rest of us going to travel? I don't even have my phone!"
Nian and Xuanye stared at them. "Don't the others have phones?"
All the boys shook their heads. Except Boo—who was sneakily scrolling through his phone while sipping juice.
Wonwon quickly snatched Boo's phone and hid it in his pocket, smiling like he just wiped a crime scene.
The girls laughed. "Just admit it—you guys want to ride with us!"
The boys giggled awkwardly.
Soon, Minghao arrived with his car.
"Xuanye, DK, Nian—get in," he said.
The boys peeked in jealousy.
Jun called out, "Minghao! After falling in love, did you forget us?"
Minghao laughed. "Guys, how would you all even fit in here?"
DK nodded. "Just book a cab. Or take mine if needed."
The boys ignored them and rushed to the car.
Dino ordered, "Scoups, Mingyu, Wonwon, Jun, Boo—get in first!"
They obediently sat, looking excited and clueless.
"Now the rest of you sit on their laps!" Dino declared.
Everyone froze.
The girls burst out laughing.
Xuanye intervened. "Dino, stop. It's a one-hour drive. You think they can survive like that?"
Dino smirked. "We've slept on top of each other for ten years—we can handle it."
The boys walked toward the car like students heading to a math exam.
Inside, the seated boys groaned.
"Dino, why did you make us sit first?" Scoups whined.
"Because you guys have muscles!" Dino replied proudly—and promptly sat on Scoups' lap like a toddler.
The girls were nearly on the floor from laughter.
DK turned to Nian. "Come with us. Ride with me."
Nian giggled and slapped his arm. "Do you want me to sit on your lap? Look at them—they look like compressed biscuits. You won't survive."
DK pouted.
Minghao grinned. "DK, just get in. Let the girls take a cab—we'll beat them to the house."
Nian patted DK's back, and he gave her a small wave before climbing in.
Minghao started the car and waved. "Call us when you reach!"
Xuanye kept waving until the car disappeared.
Nian crossed her arms. "Xuanye, put your hand down. People might think you're waving at someone else!"
Xuanye playfully slapped her arm, blushing.
---
In the Car...
The boys were crammed in like sardines.
DK turned to look at them while Minghao watched through the rearview mirror, barely holding back his laughter.
"Are you mocking us?" Jeonghan asked, narrowing his eyes.
DK burst out laughing. "You guys look like crushed oranges!"
Scoups, Mingyu, Jun, Wonwon, and Boo all gave him synchronized bombastic side-eyes.
"One day you'll regret this," Mingyu muttered.
Scoups added, "Don't worry. When we reach the girls' house, we'll get our revenge."
Woozi smirked. "DK, Minghao—we're coming for you."
DK shrugged. "The girls' parents love us—they won't believe anything you say."
Joshua grinned. "Then we'll tell them everything you've done before!"
Minghao, trying to focus, laughed. "Guys, stop! You're shaking the whole car!"
---
At the Girls' House...
Minghao and DK stepped out, looking like nervous grooms. The rest of the boys spilled out like deflated balloons.
Woozi, Jeonghan, Vernon, Hoshi, and Joshua stumbled out, fanning their shirts like they'd just escaped a sauna.
Scoups, Mingyu, Boo, Jun, and Wonwon looked like they were in a daze.
DK and Minghao burst out laughing.
Scoups and Mingyu glared.
Then, as if on cue, the others ambushed DK and Minghao and began tickling them.
Woozi led the charge. "Now you'll feel the wrath of our revenge!"
DK wheezed, "This is your revenge?!"
Minghao was swaying like a tree in a storm, laughing uncontrollably.
Finally, Woozi called them off. DK and Minghao gasped for air, still giggling.
Jun clapped his hands. "Okay, we've reached DK and Minghao's in-laws' house. Let's be mature hyungs now."
The boys nodded.
"If they end up getting married," Dino added, "I'll treat everyone to a big meal!"
DK and Minghao turned around. "Dino, why are you rooting for our wedding so hard?!"
Hoshi chimed in. "If you get married, we all become uncles! We'll help raise your kids!"
The boys burst into laughter as DK hid behind Minghao in embarrassment.
Minghao cleared his throat. "Let's go inside."
---
At the Door...
Scoups, Jeonghan, and Mingyu approached nervously. Mingyu knocked before anyone else could stop him.
Inside, the girls' mom was cooking while their dad watched TV, laughing.
"Go check the door," she said.
He didn't move.
She frowned, switched off the TV, and stomped toward the door.
"Why'd you turn it off?! I was watching Going Seventeen!" he whined.
"If you're watching Going Seventeen, then go do something!"
She opened the door—and blinked at the sea of boys.
"Who are you?"
Scoups smiled. "We came to meet you."
"Do I know you? At my age, I don't make new friends!" She laughed.
Scoups covered his mouth in embarrassment. The boys behind him were dying with laughter.
Jeonghan stepped in. "Ma'am, we're here to see Nian and Xuanye."
"Oh, they're at work," she said casually.
The boys kept laughing.
"Seriously though, who are you?"
From inside, their dad called, "Who is it?"
"I don't know, some random boys saying they know our daughters!"
"Maybe their college friends. Let them in," he replied.
"Oh sure, just because they say they know the girls? You're useless!"
Vernon muttered, "Are they speaking a different language?"
Her husband finally walked to the door and stared at the boys.
"I don't know them," he said bluntly.
DK and Minghao peeked out from the back, grinning.
The dad squinted. "Wait... I've seen these two somewhere..."
Minghao whispered to DK, "He's saying the same thing as before."
DK nodded. "Time to reveal ourselves."
Like Jack and Rose emerging from the fog, Minghao and DK stepped forward.
"Hello," they said in sync.
The girls' parents froze.
The mom blinked. "What are you two doing here?!"