Let the world burn

12

The sun peeked through the curtains of Ryujin's room, casting a warm glow over the scene inside. Tzuyu stood at the door, ready to knock, but hesitated when she saw the door slightly ajar. Curiosity got the better of her, and she peeked inside.

What she saw made her heart swell. Ryujin lay on the bed, cuddling Yeji and Little Flower, who was nestled between them in her Pikachu onesie. The three looked peaceful, like a picture-perfect family. Tzuyu couldn't resist pulling out her phone and snapping a photo. Smirking, she sent it to the family group chat with a caption: *"Our cold-hearted princess has a warm side after all."

Knowing Ryujin's temper, Tzuyu quickly and quietly shut the door and walked away, chuckling to herself. She could already imagine the chaos her message would stir.

Downstairs, the group chat was buzzing.

Lisa: "Is this real? Who is this impostor cuddling Yeji and Little Flower?"

Jennie: "Finally, Ryujin's showing her soft side. It's about time!"

Moonbyul: "She's going to kill Tzuyu for this. Worth it, though."

Hong Cha Young, Ryujin's mother, smiled fondly as she looked at the picture. Her eyes lingered on the image, taking in the serene expressions of Ryujin, Yeji, and Little Flower. "Look at this, darling. Our Ryujin's finally letting herself be happy," she said softly, her voice tinged with pride and relief.

Ryujin's father set down his newspaper and leaned over to glance at the photo. A rare chuckle escaped him. "I never thought I'd see the day. She's always been so guarded, even as a child. It's good to see her like this."

Cha Young nodded, her eyes sparkling with emotion. "It's more than good—it's a miracle. I'm going to frame this. It's a moment worth cherishing." She paused, a thoughtful look crossing her face. "You know, this isn't just about Ryujin. It's about all of us. That girl... Yeji... she's brought something special into our family. Something we didn't even know we needed."

Cha Young nodded, her eyes sparkling with emotion. "I'm going to frame this. It's a moment worth cherishing." Her thoughts wandered briefly to Ryujin's childhood, remembering the little girl who had always built walls around herself. To see her daughter now, so open and at peace, felt like witnessing a miracle. "She's come so far, hasn't she? I never imagined seeing her this happy," she added softly, her voice thick with emotion.

As Ryujin began to stir, she felt a weight on her arm and blinked groggily. Memories of the previous night flooded back. She and Yeji had just settled in for the night when Little Flower had entered, her Pikachu onesie slightly too big for her small frame.

"Mommy, I miss you," Little Flower had pouted, looking up at Ryujin with big, teary eyes. "Can I sleep with you and Angel tonight?"

Ryujin sighed, trying to reason with her. "Flower, be a good girl. Let's give Angel a little more time to get comfortable, okay?"

Little Flower's pout deepened as she turned to Yeji, deploying her ultimate weapon: puppy eyes.

"Shin Ji-Woo," Ryujin warned gently. "No need to use your puppy eyes on Angel. Go sleep with Sana and Tzuyu unnie for tonight."

Before Ryujin could finish, Yeji's soft voice interrupted. "It's okay... she can stay."

Ryujin's heart clenched at Yeji's willingness to accommodate Little Flower. She nodded and patted the bed. "Alright, but no kicking, Ji-Woo."

Little Flower grinned and climbed in, promptly snuggling between them.

Ryujin checked her phone as she woke up fully, her eyes narrowing at the flurry of notifications in the group chat. Opening the picture, she groaned. Tzuyu.