There’s a bit of a shuffle, but the phone’s camera eventually falls on her face. Eden sits up in bed, smiling in the hopes of making a good first impression.
“Hello, ma’am,” Eden greets. “It’s very nice to meet you.”
“Oh, you weren’t lying when you said she’s gorgeous. Hi, dear. Please, just call me Xu Hong.”
“What’s happening?” comes yet another voice, this time from a gruff sounding man.
“Li, look!Hen piàoliang-ah!”
The next person Eden sees is an older gentleman with silver hair and bushy eyebrows.
She’s inside their home, she realizes, catching a glimpse of Alexander’s childhood surroundings. The man—Li—smiles. He sits rather stiffly in a high-back leather armchair.
“Sheisvery pretty! Looks like you’re not an imaginary girlfriend, after all.”
“Jesus Christ,” Alexander grumbles somewhere in the background. “Can I please have my phone back?”
“Yes, but only if you put on a shirt,” Xu Hong replies. “You’re going to catch a chill.”
“That’s what I said,” Eden notes with a light laugh.
“Go on. Upstairs with you.” Xu Hong turns to face the screen. “Sorry about him. He’s always been such a stubborn boy.”
“That’s alright. I can handle it.”
“Shang tells me you’re a sous chef.”
Shang.Eden’s smile tightens ever so slightly. She promises herself she won’t push, not again, even despite her confusion and burning curiosity.
“Um, yeah,” she says quietly. “I mean, Iwasa sous chef. I actually quit earlier today.”
“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Don’t be. La Rougejust wasn’t a good fit for me, that’s all.”
“Such is the way of life, isn’t it?” Li says with a chuckle. “There’s no need to worry, though. When one door closes, another one opens. That’s what I always say.”
“I suppose this means you have a lot of free time on your hands now, eh?” Xu Hong asks.
“I guess so.”
Li and Xu Hong exchange a look, grinning to one another.
“If that’s the case,” Xu Hong starts, “you’re more than welcome to come stay with us for a little while. I’m sure Shang would love your company. Lord knows we’d love to get to know you better.”
Eden blinks, flushing in surprise. “That’s really generous of you, but I wouldn’t want to impose.”
“Nonsense, dear, we’d love to have you.” Xu Hong turns to shout over her shoulder. “Isn’t that right, Shang?”
Alexander’s returned, dressed in a tight light grey shirt that shows off the width of his chest and his ridiculously strong arms. Eden thinks it’s a significant improvement over the rest of his black wardrobe.
“A little privacy, please?” he says curtly, taking his phone back from his mother. His parents laugh as he moves down what looks to be a long hall, leaving to be in a separate room. “I’m sorry about them. They’re as chaotic as I remember them being.”
“I don’t mind. They seem really sweet.”
“You’re more than welcome to, by the way. To visit. Stay. Meet the parents in person. If you want.”
Something giddy bubbles within her chest. “I’d love to, but that’s a pretty big step. Are we ready for something like that?”
