In the spacious kitchen of the communal house, the smell of grilled Hanoi vermicelli with grilled pork spread throughout the space. The sound of laughter and chatter echoed as BABYQUEEN and ASTRIX sat around the dining table.
Serena picked up a piece of grilled meat that was still steaming and exclaimed:
"Oh my god, it's really delicious! The first time I ate it, I wanted to order three more portions!"
Sara laughed, carefully wrapping the meat in lettuce leaves:
"Serena, eat slowly, no one will take it from you."
Lilia shook her big round eyes, quickly continuing:
"But I have to admit, this taste is really special, both sweet and fragrant, and also has something... very warm."
Jennifer smiled gently, placing another bowl of dipping sauce in the middle of the table:
"This is the reason why food can connect people together. No need for language, just a delicious dish and everyone can become friends."
Julian teased while picking up the meat:
"I swear from now on I only want to stay here to eat with you girls."
Lucas laughed heartily:
"Agreed! But I have to admit... Layla grilled the meat really well, evenly, not burnt at all."
Rayden nodded:
"Yeah, right. This is the best meal I've had since debut."
Damien put down his chopsticks, looked straight at Layla, his voice deep and firm:
"The way you prepared for everyone to sit down and eat together... made this whole meal much more memorable. Not because the meat was delicious, but because you were here."
Layla was a little stunned, her heart beating fast, but then she smiled shyly. She gently took out her phone, took a few pictures of the group happily sitting around the dinner table.
Layla whispered:
"I want to send them to my parents in Vietnam... so they know I'm okay, and I have good friends like this."
She pressed send, just finished texting a few lines when tears suddenly fell down her cheeks. Layla quickly covered them, but it was too late.
Sara worriedly put her hand on her shoulder:
"Layla, what's wrong?"
Layla shook her head slightly, her voice trembling:
"It's okay... it's just... I'm so happy. From debut until now, everything has gone so fast... I never thought I would have a day to sit down and eat with people I consider family like this."
The atmosphere at the dining table fell for a moment, but then became even warmer.
Lilia gently hugged Layla from behind:
"Silly fourth sister, we're here. Don't cry anymore, smile, I like you smiling more."
Damien leaned slightly, his eyes looking intently at Layla. He spoke slowly, his voice both sincere and a bit warm:
"But... you cry very beautifully. Honestly."
Layla's face was red, tears still falling but the corners of her lips curled up, laughing through her tears.
Serena immediately interrupted, intentionally breaking the overly sweet atmosphere:
"Hey Damien, compliments are fine, don't make Layla blush like that! Look, she doesn't even dare to look up anymore!"
Everyone burst out laughing. The laughter, the sound of chopsticks, the aroma of food mixed together, making the small kitchen the warmest place in this world full of lights and pressure.
While the meal was going on, Layla's phone vibrated, the screen lit up with a text message from her parents.
"Daughter, your parents have received the photo, we're so happy."
Immediately after, a new photo was sent to Layla's entire family gathered in the living room, the table full of food. Her parents were smiling brightly, her grandparents were also present, and in the middle of the frame was Layla's younger brother who had just received the news of being accepted into Tsinghua University, Peking University, the most prestigious university in China.
Layla was stunned, her eyes sparkling:
"Oh my god... my younger brother... passed the exam! Tsinghua University, Peking University!"
The entire BABYQUEEN and ASTRIX dining table exclaimed in unison.
Serena immediately put down her chopsticks, her voice filled with excitement:
"What?! That school is in the top of the world! Wow, your family is full of talented people?"
Sara clasped her hands in front of her chest, her eyes sparkling:
"Not only is she good at studying, but she's also really handsome... Oh my god, Layla's genes are amazing."
Jennifer tilted her head, her voice even but her eyes shining with pride:
"People never stop surprising me. Layla, your family is so amazing."
Lilia clapped her hands continuously, her voice clear:
"I want to meet my brother right away! It's not fair, Layla has it all: beautiful, sings well, and has an excellent younger brother!"
Serena looked at the photo again, then blurted out:
"Wait... Layla, that house in the back... you said it was just a small house before? Why is it now a luxurious villa?"
Layla blushed and smiled shyly:
"Actually... my family wasn't rich before. But since debuting, I wanted to use the money I earned to improve my family's life. I want my parents to have a comfortable place to live, and my siblings to have the best conditions for studying..."
Sara and Lilia said in unison:
"Oh my god, Laylaaaa!" their voices trailed off emotionally.
Jennifer smiled gently:
"The decision was very right. Family is the biggest motivation."
Damien put down his bowl, his eyes turned to Layla, his voice low but clear:
"You've done something that not everyone dares to do. Use your achievements to change the future of the whole family. I really admire you. And... your brother is also very proud. But today, the person I find the most amazing is you."
That sentence made the whole table silent for a few seconds. Layla unconsciously raised her hand to wipe the corner of her eyes. She couldn't hold back her emotions, tears fell, laughing and crying at the same time.
"I... I'm just so happy. Sitting here, eating with everyone, receiving good news from my family... I really... don't need anything more."
Serena pulled Layla back and hugged her shoulder:
"Come on, don't cry."
But Damien suddenly tilted his head, the corner of his lips curled up slightly:
"No, just let her cry. Layla crying... is so beautiful."
The whole group burst into laughter again, the atmosphere filled with laughter, the yellow lights in the dining room shone down, making that dinner a warm and bright memory in everyone's hearts.
---
After the meal, the whole family was still filled with laughter. Layla gently wiped the corners of her eyes that were still wet, then turned on the holo-call camera, selecting the family group call mode. Just a few seconds later, the familiar faces of Layla's parents and the whole family appeared on the 3D screen in the middle of the living room.
Layla's mother: "Oh, my Layla! Are you crying again? Are you so homesick after eating?"
Layla (smiling shyly, her voice trembling): "Yes... I'm just too happy. I want to let Mom and Dad and everyone meet my group of friends."
The whole family on the other side burst into laughter, their faces radiant in the warm light of the newly built villa. Layla's younger brother, who had just passed the Thanh Hoa exam, also poked his head into the screen, looking both handsome and mature.
Layla's younger brother: "Hello Second Sister! Hello everyone!"
Serena (eyes lit up): "Oh, you're the one who just passed the Tsinghua exam? Oh my gosh, you're handsome and a good student!"
Lilia (leaning her head on Jennifer's shoulder, exclaiming): "You're truly the legendary oppa."
Sara (smiling slightly): "Layla must be so proud."
Layla (with rosy cheeks, nodding): "Yeah… I'm so happy…"
The entire ASTRIX group also leaned closer to greet them.
Damien (with a firm voice but a very sincere smile): "Hello uncle and aunt. Thank you for giving birth to a wonderful girl like Layla."
Rayden (laughing softly, nudging Damien): "What an exemplary greeting."
Lucas: "Hello everyone, I'm Lucas, it's a pleasure to meet Layla's big family."
Julian: "Wow, your family's house is so warm, just looking at it makes you feel happy."
Elio: "That's right. From today on, we would like to entrust Layla to everyone's love."
On Layla's side, her parents smiled kindly.
Layla's father: "You guys are so cute and polite. Don't worry, everyone here loves Layla."
Layla's mother: "Seeing Layla have friends like this, I feel very relieved."
Layla's eyes turned red as she listened, and she quickly turned the camera to BABYQUEEN.
Layla: "This is the oldest sister in our group, Serena, then Sara, Lilia, and Jennifer. Everyone takes care of me like family."
Layla's mother: "Thank you so much. Seeing Layla have sisters like this, I feel less worried."
Serena (boldly replied): "Don't worry, we won't leave Layla alone."
The atmosphere became more and more lively. Layla's younger brother suddenly tilted his head and said:
Brother: "Ah, Big Sister... the Astrix brothers look so cool. Have you ever... liked any of them?"
Layla (face red, quickly waved her hand): "No, no! Don't say nonsense in front of everyone!"
The whole room burst into laughter. But at that moment, Damien leaned slightly towards the camera, his eyes sharp, his smile unpredictable.
Damien (slowly, clearly): "Dear Uncle and Auntie... maybe I don't need to say it clearly, but I hope you two remember one thing, I'm not just a simple colleague. In the future, who knows, I might even be a part of this family."
The whole room suddenly fell silent for a moment. Astrix immediately said "oh", looking at each other meaningfully. Layla's family on the other side of the screen, her parents and younger brother were both startled for a moment, but then laughed lightly, exchanging understanding glances.
Layla's father: "Oh... is that so. We'll see each other again, right?"
Layla's mother (smiling gently, looking at Layla then back at Damien): "Yes, I'll remember what you said."
Layla blinked, not understanding what Damien had just implied, only biting her lip and being confused.
Layla: "Uh... why is everyone looking at me like that...? What Damien said was so strange, I don't understand..."
A burst of laughter echoed throughout the common house. BABYQUEEN and ASTRIX couldn't help but cover their mouths and laugh, while Damien just crossed his arms, the corners of his lips curling up into a mysterious smile, not explaining further.
The warm atmosphere, the laughter, and those secret glances made the video call an unforgettable memory.
The room was still filled with laughter. Layla's parents were chatting with Serena about Korean cuisine, while Lilia and Sara were praised by Layla's older sister as being as cute as dolls. The ASTRIX members also blended in naturally, without any distance left.
At that moment, Layla tilted her head slightly, gently pulled Damien's sleeve and whispered, her voice hesitant:
"What did you just say? I didn't hear it very well…"
Damien looked at her sideways, the corners of his lips curling into a faint smile. He lowered his voice, just loud enough for only Layla to hear:
"I said something that everyone will understand soon. But you'll probably be the last one to realize it."
Layla blinked repeatedly, her face slightly red.
"Uh… what do you mean? I… I don't understand anything."
Damien raised his eyebrows, his deep eyes shining with arrogant confidence. He didn't answer directly, just smiled slightly, then said as if to affirm:
"You don't need to understand right now. Just remember, I never say anything meaningless."
Layla was silent for a few seconds, her heart beating faster. She wanted to ask again, but was also embarrassed because everyone around was still laughing and joking. As a result, she just nodded awkwardly, her lips pursed as if to suppress her confusion.
Damien, on the other hand, had a calm expression, his hands in his pockets as if nothing special had just happened. But the corners of his lips curled up slightly, as if he was holding a sweet secret just for himself.
Meanwhile, Astrix sitting behind was secretly observing, a few people held back their laughter when they saw Layla's "half-understanding, half-not-understanding" expression. Jennifer and Serena continued to talk to her family, not paying attention.
The warm atmosphere of the video call continued, but for Layla, Damien's words still echoed in her head, making her unsure whether to feel nervous, or… nervous.