Imperfectly Perfect 2

51 : Father - Daughter

"Da— dad! What are you doing here?" Tzuyu hastens her walk upon seeing the figure of her father, waiting for her in front of her dorm building.

The cheer captain went back to the dorms to change from her school uniform to some sweatpants for cheer practice when she just received a call from her father.

"Tzuyu!" Mr. Chou immediately wears a wide smile. "My dear beautiful, youngest daughter! Haven't you missed me?"

She playfully rolls her eyes. "I know you went here for business. The last time I checked, I knew that you're still a stockholder in my school."

"Yeah. That's right." The man faintly chuckles and squints at her. "You got me. My daughter knows me so well."

"Of course!"

"Are your classes finished already?" He energetically inquires. "Should we get some dinner together?"

"Umm..." Tzuyu pauses to think for a second, looking up, then back to the man in front of her. "My classes are finished but I still have cheer practice."

"Oh, come on. Can't the cheer captain spare her old man some quality time? How do the kids these days say it again?" He clasps his hands in front of him, imitating a pleading sign. "Umm... Pretty please?"

Tzuyu loudly chuckles at her father who poses to try and act cute. "Okay, okay. I'll just go to the gym and inform the cheer girls. I have things I want to remind them personally."

"Alright! Meet me at the main building's lobby." Mr. Chou flashes a satisfied smile. "I'll have a chat with some of the men I'm in business with there while I wait for you."

—— After thirty minutes ——

"Let's drop by your Unnie's school and get her."

Tzuyu is now in the shotgun seat with her father just beginning to drive the SUV he brought with him.

"Ri— right now?" The cheer captain suddenly got nervous. "At— at her school? Nayeon Unnie's school?"

"Yeah. Let us all have dinner together. Why?" Mr. Chou wittingly replies in humor. "Don't tell me my youngest wants daddy all to herself, huh?"

"That's not it, Dad." Tzuyu began fiddling with phone in her hand. "I— I'm just not sure about Unnie's schedule. I don't think she will be available. I... think she will be at soccer practice right now."

"Ahh. Is that so? Hmm... That's a shame! Why are my daughters so active in extracurricular activities?"

"It's because we enjoy it, Dad."

Mr. Chou faintly chuckles. "I know, I know. I also was once a young student like you."

"Should—" Tzuyu perks up and tightens the hold on her phone. "Should I try and call her then? I— I really don't think she will be available, Dad."

He glances at her unamused. "But that wouldn't be a surprise anymore if you give her a heads up."

"Dad, your surprises are so untimely." The cheer captain rolls her eyes. "We both got scheduled school tasks beforehand."

"Oh, come on. It's not always that I get to be lucky and have free time like this!" Mr. Chou also rolls his eyes. "Tomorrow, I'll be flying again to another city."

Tzuyu lets out a sigh. She looks at him with concern. "You should slow down some time, Dad. You're not getting any younger, you know."

"That is why..." He gives a knowing look. "I'm trying my best right now. So that you and your Nayeon Unnie would be in a good place where I won't worry when I leave this world."

"We're already in a good place, Dad." Tzuyu sincerely smiles at him. "You've already done and provided enough for us."

"Nuh uh." The man glances and squints at her daughter. "Not yet, Chou Tzuyu. Not until I see you both get married and have kids of your own."

"Ugh." The cheer captain subtly scoffs. "There you go again with that proclamation—"

"Ahh— wait. Let's get Jeong, too!" Mr. Chou perks up with his sudden idea. "Please message her for me. Ask her if she wants to join us for dinner too. I don't want to get in the way of her schedule."

Tzuyu glances at him unamused. "Tsk. For your actual daughters, it's okay even if we have schedules. But, for Jeongyeon Unnie, you have to give her a heads up?"

He loudly laughs. "Pretty please, my beautiful Tzuyu?"

"Okay, okay." The cheer captain shakes her head a bit. She promptly opens her phone and starts typing on it. "If that's what you want..."

To: Jeongyeon Unnie

Dad and I are coming to pick you and Nayeon Unnie up. If it's at the sophomore dorms, we might see Chaeyoung and she will certainly be also dragged with us and the dinner would be all about discussing future grandkids. If it's at the junior dorms, we might see Sana and we all know how that is far worse than anything else to begin explaining with. Do me a favor Unnie, get your girlfriend and wait for us at the entrance gate in about fifteen minutes. Dad insists that we get dinner together.

"Tzu." Mr. Chou clears his throat and calls out.

"Ye— yes, dad?" Tzuyu quickly answers, immediately locking her phone's screen. "Why?"

He pauses and lets out a sigh before continuing. "How is it going with Chaeyoung?"

"I— Dad." The cheer captain scrunches her eyebrows. "We already told you last time when we were at dinner on Valentine's that—"

"I'm not buying that explanation, Tzu." Mr. Chou glances at her with a raised eyebrow. "I'm not even seeing you two try and date. Why is that? What's the true reason?"

"It— Dad, it's not—"

"Is Chaeyoung in love with someone else?"

Tzuyu was stunned for a moment. She opened and closed her mouth without any words coming out.

Mr. Chou spoke again. His voice has now shifted into something serious. "Or are you still hoping to pursue that hopeless childhood attachment of yours? Tell me truthfully, Chou Tzuyu. Which one is it?"

"Dad. Please. Let's not—"

"You're marrying Son Chaeyoung. That is the best thing for you right now."

The cheer captain exhales deeply. "Dad—"

"What?" He sharply glanced at her. "Pick your next words carefully, young woman."

And Tzuyu's phone lights up as it chimes. She immediately checks the message and lets out a huge sigh of relief.

Jeongyeon Unnie : Got it, Tzu. Will be at the entrance gate of the main building in ten.

"Nothing, Dad." Tzuyu shakes her head softly. "Anyway, Jeongyeon Unnie replied and she said she will pick up Nayeon Unnie from soccer practice. She told me that we don't need to go inside. Let's just meet them at the entrance gate."