TANTIANA UNIVERSITY | RED

CHAPTER 7: THE WEIGHT OF THE BOND

Donghyuck entered his apartment with a long, drawn-out sigh. The moment the door swung open, the lights flickered on automatically, casting a warm glow over the space. He trudged inside, dragging his feet with the exhaustion of a long day, his shoes slipping off carelessly as he passed.

But then, as if his senses were suddenly on alert, he paused mid-step, a strange feeling creeping up his spine. His eyes narrowed, scanning the apartment, and everything felt... off. There was something different. A warm, welcoming aroma of kimchi-jjigae filled the air, instantly making his stomach growl. The scent was unmistakable, but it was the sight that truly caught his attention. His mini living room, typically a haven for clutter and disorganization, looked spotless. No visible dust, no scattered clothes, nothing out of place.

Donghyuck's brow furrowed. Who the hell was in his apartment?

He took a cautious step forward, eyes darting suspiciously, trying to pinpoint any signs of an intruder. But his curiosity was quickly satisfied when a girl appeared in front of him, holding a vacuum cleaner in one hand and glaring at him with a look that could freeze fire.

"Woah," she clicked her tongue, shaking her head. "How can you live like this? This place was a disaster."

Donghyuck's eyes widened in surprise, his hands instinctively clenching into fists. "Lee Yizhuo!" he spat, the recognition hitting him like a ton of bricks.

Yizhuo flashed him a grin that was far too mischievous for his liking. "In the flesh."

Before Donghyuck could muster a proper response, the scene shifted to a quieter, more familiar space—the dining table.

Donghyuck was sitting at the table now, lazily inhaling the delicious food his mother had prepared for him, as he did every night. His movements were quick, habitual—he was quiet, the same way he always was when eating. It was a strange calm for a guy who had so much chaos in his life, especially today.

But there was a problem that lingered in the back of his mind, one that weighed on him like a stone. He hadn't greeted his mother and sister properly.

"Ya, Lee Donghyuck," his mother called out to him, her voice sharp yet warm, as she looked up from her cooking.

"Mhm?" Donghyuck glanced up briefly, chewing thoughtfully. "This is a whole new level of tasty," he complimented absentmindedly, focused more on his food than on the conversation.

"Where's your soulmate?" His mother quipped, placing a spoon down. "I've been telling you I want to meet her. Where is she?"

"Ah, mama, let's not talk about that right now, hm? We're eating," Donghyuck muttered, avoiding the topic as he continued to shovel food into his mouth.

"Why can't we talk about your soulmate?" His mother raised an eyebrow, her gaze piercing. "Well, judging from the state of your unit, I'm assuming you've never brought her here. She'll straight-up reject you, son."

Yizhuo couldn't help but laugh from the other side of the table. "It would be a traumatizing memory!" she chimed in, her voice full of playful mockery. "Rule number one: your soulmate should be extremely tidy."

Donghyuck shot her a deadpan look, unable to suppress a small chuckle. "Funny, young lady."

Yizhuo stuck her tongue out in response, her usual confident and cheeky self.

"Mijo," Hena, his mother, softly placed a hand on Donghyuck's, her expression gentle, though there was something distant in her eyes. "I want you to be happy."