Chapter 40 - Onions, Board Games, and Midnight Blankets

A few beautiful months had smoothly glided past the starlit double-wedding registries of the Choi lineage [Ch. 47, 52]. The golden evening sun filtered softly through the massive glass window panels of Dr. Choi Hyun-woo's private apartment flat located right next to the university hospital complex [Ch. 21, 49].Inside the modern kitchen workspace, Kim Seo-ah was standing straight in front of the marble cutting board panel, her delicate fingers occupied slicing a fresh batch of red onions for the evening feast [Ch. 43, 49]. The sharp vegetable sulfur vapours violently hit her eyes, causing fresh, streaming tears to relentlessly spill down her flushed cheeks as she sniffled softly against her sleeve.Step. Step.Dr. Choi Hyun-woo stepped smoothly inside the kitchen threshold entrance frame, having just concluded his executive surgical rounds at the clinic ward [Ch. 38, 50]. The exact microsecond his sharp vision took in her crying form and trembling shoulders, an absolute wave of frantic, protective panic instantly slammed straight into his chest [Ch. 35, Ch. 44]. He aggressively dropped his medical files onto the counter, sprinting to her side as his long fingers meticulously, tenderly wiped the tears from her beautiful face."Kim Seo-ah!!!" Hyun-woo gasped in total, frantic anxiety, his dark eyes wide with pure devotion as he gripped her shoulders [Ch. 35, 44]. "Why on earth is your system weeping like this first thing in the evening?! Did my actions accidentally cause this heartbreak loop today?! Did my mouth say something wrong to your heart?!""Oh, please completely lower your vocal cords down and shant hoao, Dr. Hyun-woo!" Seo-ah let out a soft, highly animated chuckle through her tears, waving her hand through the air to swat his flustered face away [Ch. 44, 49]. "Your system has absolutely, completely zero knowledge about kitchen logistics! My eyes are crying strictly because of these red onions (pyaz ke wajah se), not your character files!""You absolute, stubborn manager," Hyun-woo breathed out a massive, laughing sigh of pure relief, his heart melting completely at her adorable flustered features [Ch. 33, Ch. 49]. He gently snatched the metal kitchen knife straight out of her grip, authoritatively guiding her fragile torso away from the chopping area. "Why on earth do your hands insist on managing heavy cooking parameters after a long architectural design shift [Ch. 50]? Go immediately step inside the living room layout and aaram karo! Your husband will mandatory handle the entire meal preparation block tonight!""No, let me help, Hyun-woo," Seo-ah smiled warmly, trying to regain her kitchen registry [Ch. 43, 44]."Absolutely, mandatory not," Hyun-woo insisted, a playful wink flashing across his handsome surgeon profile [Ch. 46, 49]. "But tell my ears the truth... why on earth is my wife manufacturing such a massive, elaborate traditional dinner layout inside our private apartment flat tonight anyway?""Do your thoughts honestly, completely forget the database logs today, Doctor?!" Seo-ah giggled loudly, crossing her arms tightly over her chest as she leaned against the refrigerator panel [Ch. 44, 50]. "Tonight is our official family and friend reunion! Today is the night where your parents, my parents, Mr. Choi Sun-woo, Ma Ha-rin, and our newly official love track couple Kim Jun-u and Han Chae-won are all arriving at our coordinates for a massive, late-night nightout celebration [Ch. 49, 52]!""What?! A massive combined family and friend nightout?!" Hyun-woo's dark eyes widened to the size of saucers in pure, unadulterated shock as he checked his watch [Ch. 44, 51]. "When on earth did our branches successfully finalize those planning schedules behind my back?!""Just right now during our lunch break files, Dr. Hyun-woo!" Seo-ah teased, playfully poking his chest block [Ch. 48, 50]. "Tum bhi na... your surgical mind is entirely too occupied with bone fractures to check the social charts!"Rrring! Rrring!Before the senior surgeon could even formulate a single drop of playful defense, the front apartment doorbell violently, beautifully echoed through the quiet vacuum of the house [Ch. 46, Ch. 49]."They're finally here!" Seo-ah cheered happily, adjusting her fresh home wardrobe as she Cadillac down the corridor lane to pull the heavy double doors completely wide open [Ch. 41, 49].The exact milestone microsecond the wood panel cleared, a thunderous wave of joyful shouting, bright laughter, and high-energy celebratory cheers aggressively flooded straight inside the apartment lobby pavilion [Ch. 48, 52]!"HI!!! WE HAVE OFFICIALLY ARRIVED AT YOUR COORDINATES!!!" the entire combined assembly roared out in perfect, synchronized unison [Ch. 52]!Marching proudly past the entry threshold, Mr. Choi Sun-woo and Ma Ha-rin led the pack, their fingers locked tightly together as they hoisted a massive premium gift basket of luxury sodas, snacks, and champagne bottles into the room light [Ch. 41, 51]. Right behind their steps came their respective Eomma and Appa, their faces glowing with absolute, radiant parental happiness as they happily carried additional side-dish boxes inside the salon [Ch. 46, 52].But the absolute show-stealer of the evening was Kim Jun-u and Han Chae-won, who stepped inside the flat walking completely side-by-side as an official, beautiful couple track [Ch. 49, Ch. 52]! Junu was grinning ear to ear like an absolute, lovestruck fool, his large hand wrapping securely and defensively around Chae-won's fingers as she flashed a beautiful, deeply content blush under the entry lights [Ch. 49, 52]."Junu successfully locked down his doctor's registry for good!" Sun-woo laughed heartily, playfully punching Junu's shoulder block as the servants set the table [Ch. 49, 52]. "The entire Gangnam district is official today!"