No matter how many times he said it, the feeling of nervousness remained. Seo Eunchan, with a tense expression, looked at Seo Jun and his parents and said, "I want to get married."
"Is that so."
"Is it the head of the PR team?"
"Kim Suyeon?"
Seo Eunchan's serious face suddenly turned blank. Seo Jun and his parents smiled with identical expressions.
"How did you know?"
"Daeho told me!"
"The BrownBlack kids told me. They said you and the team leader seemed suspicious."
Seo Eunchan's face turned pale. How did they know? No, wait! If Daeho, who occasionally visited the company, and BrownBlack knew, it meant that most of the employees in the company knew as well. Seo Eunchan's mind went blank.
"…We didn't tell anyone, did we?"
"Daeho said everyone knows but doesn't say anything. They all noticed."
"Is that so…."
"But why now?"
At Lee Minjun's question, Seo Eunchan, who had been meeting secretly with the employees and thought no one knew, felt like hiding in a mouse hole. He regained his composure.
"I was thinking about having a meet-the-parents dinner next week. I've already told my mom."
"Oh, right. There is a meet-the-parents dinner."
Seo Eunhye and Lee Minjun didn't immediately connect the meet-the-parents dinner with marriage. This was because their own meet-the-parents dinner, which they had known each other since childhood, was no different from their usual interactions.
Their parents were also close friends, so they had a meal together as if they were going out to eat.
How comfortable it was, they only realized it was a meet-the-parents dinner after they happily chatted and returned, and then gathered again to set the wedding date.
For the couple, the grandmother, and Seo Eunchan, this was their first ordinary meet-the-parents dinner. Seo Eunhye, thinking about what to prepare, looked at Seo Jun.
"What about Seo Jun?"
"Huh? Me?"
"Since it's an important occasion. Even though Seo Jun is well-behaved, he might get bored just sitting still."
"That's true. Maybe we can ask Daeho, or the BrownBlack kids."
"Onee-san."
Seo Eunchan raised his hand cautiously.
"The future in-laws said it's fine for Seo Jun to come. They said he really enjoyed watching the show."
With Seo Eunchan's words, Seo Jun and the couple thought it might be a more relaxed meet-the-parents dinner than expected.
* * *
Their prediction was correct.
On the day of the meet-the-parents dinner, the awkward atmosphere in the room dissipated with Seo Jun's single sentence, "Would you like me to sign it?"
With Seo Jun's signature, Kim Suyeon's parents, who were excited to take photos, started chatting.
"Our child has been praising the new CEO so much since the change. I don't think there's a subordinate who praises their boss like that."
At Kim Suyeon's mother's words, Seo Eunchan and Kim Suyeon, who were sitting across from each other, turned bright red. Kim Suyeon's father also smiled.
"Mr. Seo seems reliable and capable, and the company is doing well."
"I've also heard a lot about the baby. Eunchan has been praising him for his good work."
Ha ha, with their past stories as a sacrifice, the meet-the-parents dinner became a warm and friendly gathering.
Seo Jun, who had been quietly listening to Uncle Chan and Aunt Suyeon's love story, smiled. Everyone seemed to have already agreed to the marriage, discussing their children's stories with ease.
Uncle Chan and Aunt Suyeon had been working together for 10 years. They had suffered together under the previous CEO, and Aunt Suyeon continued to work even after Uncle Chan became the CEO.
No one knew when they started dating, but the praises they had casually shared with their families before dating were now coming back to them like a boomerang.
Though their faces were red, they still smiled, seemingly pleased with the praises they had given each other.
"Hello, Seo Jun."
"Hello."
"Do you want to eat this?"
"Thank you."
There were also familiar faces. Dr. Kim Hwaryeon, who had been with him in 48 Hours.
Kim Hwaryeon, Kim Suyeon's sister, placed a steamed egg on Seo Jun's plate. The steamed egg, steaming hot, looked very delicious.
Kim Hwaryeon smiled, watching Seo Jun eat the steamed egg. It felt like just yesterday she saw Seo Jun, who couldn't even walk, and now he had grown so much. Other people's children really grow up fast.
"Do you remember me?"
"Yes, when we were filming 48 Hours, we were together."
"Seo Jun is smart."
Surprised, Kim Hwaryeon laughed. Her husband, Choi Minho, also looked at Seo Jun with surprise. Seo Jun smiled and looked at Kim Hwaryeon's husband.
"Do you still have the first autograph?"
"…Wow. I thought my heart would drop."
Choi Minho, Kim Hwaryeon's husband, clutched his heart. He was so surprised that his heart skipped a beat. Kim Hwaryeon's eyes also widened.
"How did you know?"
"I remember seeing it, and you appeared as a 1st fan on 48 Hours before."
"I didn't think you would remember."
Even though it had been on TV, who would remember it after 9 years? Kim Hwaryeon and Choi Minho couldn't help but applaud Seo Jun's excellent memory.
Kim Hwaryeon turned her gaze to her parents and Seo Jun's grandmother. The three were still happily chatting about Seo Eunchan and Kim Suyeon's past.
"I enjoyed watching the show."
"Me too. It was very interesting."
"Thank you."
"Our in-laws also cried while watching it. I'll ask for autographs later."
Kim Suyeon whispered, and Choi Minho, looking embarrassed, said he would ask. They might not meet again if not now. Seo Jun nodded.
"Are you still a fan of BrownBlack?"
"Yes. I'm not a passionate fan who goes to events, but I consistently listen to their songs."
"Almost 10 years as a fan is quite impressive. If you have time and tickets, you should definitely go to a concert."
Kim Hwaryeon's words made Choi Minho scratch the back of his neck, looking embarrassed. Seo Jun smiled.
"But how did you two meet?"
It was an interesting combination. The 1st fan of BrownBlack and the pediatrician who was with him during the filming of 48 Hours. Seo Jun's eyes sparkled.
"I met him at the hospital with my nephew. We recognized each other right away."
"To be honest, it was a hard-to-forget meeting."
A man who got an autograph from an idol who hadn't even debuted and a woman who was holding a baby while filming a variety show.
Kim Hwaryeon recognized Choi Minho, and Choi Minho, who came to the hospital with his nephew, formed a bond. They started dating and eventually got married. Now they have two children.
"Didn't you bring them today?"
"They're probably playing with their uncle right now."
Various conversations went back and forth. Seo Eunchan and Kim Suyeon's wedding was set for January.