Nian's phone alarm blared at 4 a.m., shrill and relentless. Still half-asleep, she flailed around, searching for it under her pillow. The sound startled Xuanye awake.
"Nian~ where's your phone?!" she groaned, rubbing her eyes.
"I... don't know, wait," Nian mumbled, squinting at the dark. She finally spotted it on the floor, picked it up, and turned it off.
Xuanye huffed. "Can you change your alarm sound? It gives me a heart attack every time."
Nian laughed. "That's why I use it. So I don't fall back asleep."
Xuanye shot her a bombastic side eye. "Well, I'm going back to sleep," she grumbled, flopping back down and pulling the blanket over her head.
Nian blinked in disbelief. "Xuanye… did you forget? We have to go to the airport!"
Xuanye mumbled, "Yeah, yeah..." still half-asleep.
"Then wake up, Ye!" Nian shouted.
Xuanye groaned louder and covered her ears with a pillow.
Nian folded her arms and announced dramatically, "Fine. I'll just go meet my Loudie alone. You can stay here. I'll see Minghao and DK without you. Do you even know what they might be wearing to the airport?!"
Xuanye shot up like lightning and sprinted toward the door like a duck in slippers, without a word.
Nian stood stunned, then burst into laughter. "Works every time."
---
The girls got ready, slipped their cameras and IDs into their bags, and sipped on warm coffee at the table.
"Do the boys know we're definitely coming?" Xuanye asked.
"They know we might come," Nian replied. "But we didn't confirm."
Xuanye chuckled. "Then it'll be even more fun when they find out we're here for work."
Nian nodded excitedly. "Let's go!"
Xuanye scribbled a note for their parents, saying they were heading to the airport for work, and stuck it on the dining table. Then the girls quietly slipped out the door.
As Xuanye drove, Nian leaned back and sighed. "The roads are so clear."
Xuanye smiled. "We'll get there by 4:50 a.m. sharp. Hopefully before the other media people."
"If only we did this for the concert that time," Xuanye joked.
"Yeah," Nian chuckled. "But now we're not just fans—we're part of their lives. If I could go back in time, I'd tell my past self not to worry. Because guess what? I made my bias my boyfriend."
Xuanye laughed, tapping Nian's knee playfully.
---
Meanwhile, at the dorm, the boys stirred awake at 5 a.m., groaning as they rubbed their eyes and stretched.
After freshening up, they dressed in simple formal shirts and pants. Barefaced, but effortlessly handsome.
Scoups clapped his hands. "Everyone ready? Make sure you've packed everything. No turning back for forgotten underwear!"
The boys laughed.
Joshua chimed in, "We're all set. Let's go."
DK and Minghao glanced at their phones, then quickly sent their final messages:
> DK: Nian, we're heading to the airport now. I'll miss you 🥺
> Minghao: Ye~ let's meet again at our reunion. Don't forget our promise. Take care and eat well 😘
Jeonghan looked over and asked, "Did you guys message the girls?"
"They said they'd try to come to the airport," Minghao replied softly.
"But won't they be working?" Jeonghan frowned. "They might not make it…"
DK sighed. Vernon gently said, "Let's call them when we arrive. I already miss them too."
The boys glanced at the room the girls once stayed in, a soft silence lingering.
Jun whispered, "They've made such a big impact on us. Just thinking about not seeing them for two months… it hurts."
Boo patted his back. "Let's not get emotional now. Focus on the world tour, okay? They'd want to see us happy."
The boys smiled warmly.
Hoshi added, "Wow, Boo. That was… meaningful. Like, really."
Boo rolled his eyes. "I'm controlling my anger right now. Don't tempt me. If I punch your face, Carats will think you were in a fight."
The boys erupted in laughter as they left the dorm, boarding the van.
---
At the airport, the girls parked their car and stepped out with their camera bags in hand.
Nian elbowed Xuanye. "Hey, look at those media vans. They beat us here!"
Xuanye laughed. "They probably slept here. Hardcore."
They walked inside and were instantly awestruck by the sight—bodyguards, police, press teams... all assembled for the boys' departure.
"I can't believe this is real," Nian whispered.
Xuanye nodded. "We used to watch this happen. Now we're here. Not just as fans—but as part of the media. And as their girlfriends."
They swung their arms in happy disbelief.
By 6:50 a.m., the crowd swelled. Paparazzi murmurs echoed through the terminal. Carats pressed against barricades, excitement buzzing.
Then—7:00 a.m.
The black vans rolled in.
Caps, masks, and shadows emerged—Seventeen had arrived.
Screams erupted.
"SEVENTEEN!!!"
Media lenses flashed. Carats squealed. The boys walked calmly, receiving letters and gifts while smiling under their masks. Hoshi, of course, threw out his signature "horanghae," turning into the happiest tiger on Earth.
But DK and Minghao scanned the crowd anxiously, eyes darting.
DK whispered, "She said she'd come…"
Minghao patted his shoulder. "She's probably here. It's just too crowded."
DK sighed, bouncing on his feet to see above the crowd.
Wonwoo walked past and muttered, "I don't think they spotted the girls yet…"
"I feel they're here," Dino declared mysteriously.
The boys turned.
Woozi squinted. "What are you, a psychic now?"
Dino grinned. "I'm not, but my sixth sense is never wrong."
He gently grabbed DK and Minghao's shoulders. "Come on. They're definitely here."
DK blinked. "What's with this dramatic tone?"
Jeonghan muttered, "Why do I suddenly feel like we're the maknaes now?"
They lined up near the security area, bodyguards flanking them. Cameras flashed madly. All they could do was nod politely and wave.
Meanwhile, Nian struggled with her camera, jumping up and down. "Argh! I can't get a proper shot!"
Xuanye laughed. "That's what I told you! Eat more rice, Nian!"
"Don't joke now!" Nian huffed, trying to hold her camera steady.
Just then, a wave of reporters surged, knocking the girls off balance—straight into Mingyu!
The girls groaned, trying to stand.
Mingyu froze.
"N-Nian?" he whispered.
The rest of the boys turned.
DK frowned. "Mingyu, what's wrong?"
Mingyu, eyes wide and trembling, pointed. "Look!"
As DK followed his finger, Nian lifted her head.
"Loudie…?" she breathed.
DK's eyes filled with tears.
"Nian?!"
He burst into tears and rushed to her.
Meanwhile, Minghao had already lifted Xuanye. "Ye~~~ how did you come here?"
Xuanye winced, rubbing her back. "Hao… for now, just pretend you don't know me. I'll explain everything later."
The rest of the members were frozen, shocked.
The boys whispered in unison, "Nian… Xuanye… what are you guys doing here?!"