the back up dancer | shin ryujin x female reader

chapter 32

Y/ns pov:

"Do I look okay?" I asked for what felt like the hundredth time, glancing at my reflection in the car’s side mirror. My hands smoothed down my outfit again, my nerves buzzing under my skin.

Ryujin, sitting next to me, laughed softly, shaking her head. "Y/N, you look perfect. My parents are going to love you, trust me." She gave my hand a reassuring squeeze, her thumb rubbing small circles on the back of it.

I couldn’t help but sigh, biting my lip. "What if they don’t? What if I trip on the carpet, spill something at dinner, or—"

Ryujin leaned over, silencing my anxious rambling with a soft kiss on my lips. "Stop worrying," she whispered as she pulled back, her forehead resting against mine for a moment. "You’re amazing, and they’re going to adore you. Plus," she teased, "I’m here to catch you if you trip."

I couldn’t help but laugh at that. "Okay, okay, fine. I’ll try to relax."

"You better," she winked, pulling back to start the car.

As we pulled up to her family home,a warm, cozy house surrounded by flowers in full bloom—I felt my heart race again. Ryujin glanced over at me, catching the nervous look on my face. With a gentle smile, she leaned over and kissed my temple. "We’ve got this. Together."

We stepped out of the car, and before we could even knock, the front door swung open.

“There’s my girl!” Ryujin’s mom beamed, rushing forward to embrace her daughter. After giving Ryujin a squeeze, she turned to me with the brightest smile. "And you must be Y/N!" She didn’t hesitate, pulling me into a warm hug.

"Hi, it’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Shin," I said, smiling despite the surprise of such an enthusiastic welcome.

"Oh, please, call me mom!" she said with a laugh, linking her arm with mine. "Ryujin told us all about you.   We’re so excited to finally meet you in person!"

I shot a look at Ryujin, who was grinning, clearly enjoying how flustered I was. "Has she now?" I teased, raising an eyebrow at her.

"Just the important stuff," Ryujin said casually, but I could see the glint of mischief in her eyes.

Her dad stepped up next, giving Ryujin a pat on the back before turning to me. "You’re welcome here anytime, Y/N. We’ve heard nothing but good things."

"And by good things, he means Ryujin won’t stop talking about you!" her mom chimed in with a wink, nudging me gently. "It’s been Y/N this, Y/N that, for a year now."
"I’m just excited to meet Y/N. I’ve been hearing about her nonstop for weeks now."

That made me raise an eyebrow, and I looked at Ryujin with a teasing smile. "Nonstop, huh?"

Ryujin rolled her eyes but didn’t deny it. "She’s exaggerating."

As we made our way inside, the warm, inviting scent of home-cooked food filled the air. The house felt so lived-in, filled with love and laughter—family photos lining the walls, and in almost every picture, a younger version of Ryujin smiling brightly.

Before we could settle into the dining room, a voice called out from the hallway. "Ryujin, are you finally home?"

I turned to see a tall guy stepping into the room, his resemblance to Ryujin instantly noticeable. He grinned as soon as he saw her.

"Ah, Y/N, meet my brother," Ryujin said, stepping forward to give him a quick hug. "This is Jihoon."

I greeted him with a smile, offering my hand. "Nice to meet you."