While the girls ate their dinner, they went to their room, sat on their bed, and covered themselves with a blanket. Nian took her phone, and Xuanye plugged in her AirPods. They looked at each other and nodded with a smirk. Nian showed her a video Jun had sent of the boys in Japan and laughed at the message.
"Xuanye, what happened to DK and Minghao?" she asked.
Xuanye squinted at the screen. "I don't know. They're both facing away. And look at the message — DK is talking to a bracelet and Hao is acting like him."
They both chuckled. Nian shook her head and said, "Let's leave it for now. I don't know what these boys are doing."
She then started a video call with the boys.
Meanwhile, the boys had just returned to the hotel and were walking toward Scoups' room. He opened the door and went inside, while the others followed and closed it behind them. Scoups slumped on the sofa, exhausted, and noticed the others sitting on the floor.
He clutched his chest. "Yah~ why are you guys here again?"
Dino smiled. "Scoups, we'll stay until dinner, so don't bother convincing us otherwise."
The boys patted his back proudly while Scoups sighed and shook his head.
Just then, all their phones rang at once with different ringtones — horror, love, piano, birds chirping, and laughter. The sound was chaotic.
Woozi groaned, "Why do you guys set your ringtones like this? It sounds like we're in a game world."
Wonwoo grinned. "Wouldn't it be cool if we were?"
Woozi stared at him, stunned, then gave him a thumbs-up. Wonwoo scratched his head while the boys answered the call.
The girls waved. Nian asked, "How are you, guys? Did you reach Japan?"
The boys waved back. Minghao replied, "Yes, Ye~ we reached this morning."
The girls nodded. Nian said, "We have a surprise for you."
The boys leaned toward the screen, and DK asked, "What is it, Nian?"
Smiling, Nian said, "Our chief praised us today! He said if we keep this up, we'll get promoted and even get a raise."
The boys smiled and said in unison, "Congrats, girls!"
The girls giggled. Xuanye asked, "When's your performance?"
Scoups replied, "We'll perform the day after tomorrow. Tomorrow's rehearsal."
Joshua jumped in. "But I'm more curious about your public post! How did you write that?"
The boys all leaned forward with the same question.
The girls sighed. Xuanye explained, "It's a long story. When we got to the office, our head told us the chief wanted to meet us. He asked if we had any relationship with you. We were nervous, thinking it was a private photo, but when we saw it was from the airport, we felt relieved. We explained everything, and he asked us to write a public post to control the rumors — that's how it happened."
The boys were impressed.
Hoshi added, "But girls, that message really touched us."
Nian said, "We were honestly angry and wanted to mock the one who posted it, but if our chief saw that, he would've lectured us. So, we wrote something that would stop the rumors — a message that quietly showed we're united."
Vernon nodded. "Yeah~ that message had a hidden meaning. Honestly, we're lucky to have you. No matter how many times we say that, it's still true."
The boys and girls chuckled together.
Nian asked, "Did you enjoy the flight?"
The boys nodded, but the girls noticed Boo sulking.
Nian asked, "Boo, why are you sulking?"
He said, "You don't know what we went through. Your boyfriends made us jealous on the plane, being all lovey-dovey and loud."
The girls turned to their boyfriends.
"Loudie? Hao? What did you do?" they asked.
The two gulped. Boo continued with an annoyed tone, "Nian, your Loudie sulked because you didn't message him. He even argued with Minghao since Xuanye did message him."
The girls stared at them in disbelief.
Nian asked, "Loudie~ what's with the behavior?"
DK smiled sheepishly. "You didn't message me for 4 hours! I waited… then you messaged… and called…"
"But I did message you. Why sulk?" Nian asked.
In a low voice, DK replied, "Yeah, you did…" and fell silent.
Dino interjected, "But Boo, why are you so emotional about them being in love?"
The boys and girls watched eagerly.
Boo sighed. "Because I don't have one. And the way they talk makes me want to talk to my own girlfriend."
Dino chuckled, eyes closed. Hoshi added with flustered eyes, "Boo, for that, you need a girlfriend first."
The girls were stunned. The boys were impressed and burst into laughter. Boo, now dramatically hurt, said to the camera, "Girls, I'll talk to you later," and ended the call.
Everyone else was laughing hard.
The boys waved goodbye, and the girls waved back.
Nian said, "Xuanye, these boys are unbelievable."
Xuanye laughed and nodded.
As DK was about to end the call, Nian said, "Wait! Don't cut the call."
DK blinked, confused, and nodded.
Xuanye added, "Minghao, message me, okay?" He nodded and ended the call.
DK asked, "Nian, what's up?"
"Wait a sec," she said, setting the phone face-down. She stood up and opened the door slowly.
Xuanye asked, "Where are you going?"
Nian hushed her, walked to the fridge, took the cake she bought, and returned to the room.
DK was shaking his phone, thinking it had frozen. "Nian?" he called out.
She smiled. "Loudie~ you can't even wait a second?"
Xuanye noticed the cake and said, "Ah~ now I get why you didn't want to share it."
Nian smiled, sat on the bed, and picked up her phone.
DK asked, "Where did you go?"
"I just stepped out for a second."
He nodded. She showed the cake. "Loudie, do you remember this?"
DK blinked dramatically. "Huh~ how could I forget?"
She gave him a bombastic side-eye.
He laughed. "Okay, okay! I remember. You bought it for me that day we went out."
Nian smiled. "Good. If you didn't, I would've lectured you."
DK asked, "Why'd you bring it now?"
She opened the box and showed him. "After work, we stopped for dessert. I saw this cake with the chamomilla design — the one I gave you."
DK chuckled. "Nian, for you I'm the chamomilla flower… but for me, you're—" he held up a bracelet, "—my sunshine."
Her eyes widened. Her smile bloomed.
"Loudie~ it looks just like the bracelet I gave you."
DK showed his wrist. "See? Mine says Sunshine Loudie. This one says Sunshine. Now do you get it?"
Nian replied, deeply touched, "Yeah, Loudie~ for me, you're my Sunshine Loudie, and for you, I'm your sunshine."
DK smiled. "When you called me a chamomilla flower, I was really touched. I didn't know what to say. But after seeing this bracelet, I feel relieved. Now I have you, and you have me. Let's not worry for the next two months."
Nian nodded. She took a bite of the cake and held it toward the screen. "Here."
DK opened his mouth dramatically and pretended to eat it. "Nian, it's delicious! Better than before."
They both burst out laughing.
"If you were here, you would've eaten the whole thing," she teased.
"I'll meet you soon, buy you the cake myself, and feed you with my own hands." He made a heart.
Nian chuckled through tears.
---
Meanwhile, Xuanye messaged Hao:
Xuanye: Hao~ are you free?
Minghao: I'm always free for you, Ye~
She chuckled and typed:
Xuanye: How's Japan? Everything okay?
Minghao: Yeah~ we strolled around and did some shopping. Took some photos too.
Xuanye: You enjoyed it then~
Minghao: I bought something for you, Ye~
She was surprised. What is it, Hao~?
He sent a photo of the pearl hairclip.
She zoomed in. Hao~ it's beautiful. It'll look even better on you 😂
Minghao smiled and replied: Ye~ why are you mocking me?
Xuanye: I'm not! Just try it on. It'll suit you. If not, I'll do it when we meet 😏
Minghao: Ye~~~ 🫣
She smiled at her phone.
Minghao: How's work going?
Xuanye: Good! We're enjoying it and learning a lot.
Minghao: Ye~ all the best. Do your best and I'll meet you soon.
She sent a heart emoji.
Xuanye: All the best for your world tour. I'll be cheering for you. And take care of your health! Next time I see you, your hands better be chubby~
Minghao kicked his feet and sent a heart emoji.
---
While DK and Minghao were talking to their girlfriends, the rest of the boys were still watching Boo and Hoshi in a tickle fight.
Seeing them giggling, Dino made a heart shape and said, "It's beautiful when a man falls in love."
The boys smiled warmly.
Mingyu added, "Honestly, I really want to see them married."
Boo and Hoshi turned bright red.
"Huh~ I'll step back," Boo said dramatically, "But really, Mingyu, I agree."
Hoshi clung to Boo and giggled.