• walk you home | chenle •

08 || approval

A/N: I hope y'all ready for this chapter.... ;)
________________________

"Because I like you."

Stunned, Ha Eun involuntarily lets out a gasp.

"You don't have to reply me now..." He quickly adds. "Just when you're sure." He reluctantly pulls away, the warmth from his fingers quickly disappearing. She couldn't help but be a tiny bit upset about that.

As Ha Eun opened her mouth to reply, someone knocks on the door, and it clicks open.

A very pretty and composed-looking older woman enters with a smile, glancing at me.

"Oh, dear. Who may this young lady here be?" Still smiling, she turns to face Chenle.

"Just...someone I hired, Mom." Chenle nervously replies, worried if she heard them or not.

"Is that so?" Her grin spreads wider as she looks at the girl. "I'm sorry, dear, but I need to speak to my son personally."

"Um, yes. I'm sorry. Then I'll leave now." Slightly taken-aback by all that has happened all of a sudden, Ha Eun begins to leave.

"Wait, Ha Eun. About your resignation...I won't accept it, so continue working here." Chenle quickly comments before the door closes, leaving him and his Mother alone.

"Such an interesting girl you hired, Chenle," She laughs. "She is quite delicate. So you and her were talking about resigning, hm?" Her eyes trail to the door.

"Yes...but what are you here for?" Chenle bites his lip.

"Oh. Well...just to check up on you. I see you're doing fine. Then, see you at home." Her lips curve into a tiny grin as she turns to leave the restaurant.

Once safely inside her personal car, she dials her assistant's on her mobile phone.

"Ah, hello, Ms Kim."

"What can I do for you, Ms. Zhong?"

"Clear up my schedule for tomorrow. Also, get me a chauffeur tomorrow as well."

"Yes, ma'am. May I ask...why?"

"Oh, nothing much. Just going to visit a few places."

"Okay. Is there anything else I can help with?"

"Now that you say it, yes..."

"I need you to do a background check on a girl named Ha Eun, working at that restaurant my husband set up for my son."

"Yes, of course."

"Tell me everything by tonight. Well then, I leave it in your hands. Good bye." And she kills the call.

_____________________

"Hey, Ha Eun...there's a call pulled up at the gate. Someone says that she's looking for you..." Ah Rim runs up to me.

"She?" I tilt my head in confusion.

"Yeah," She nods. "She seems really poised, and young."

"Really...?"

"Yup. Do you know anyone like that?"

"I don't...think–" Ha Eun pauses and widened her eyes as soon as she arrives at the school gates. "Chenle's...Mom?" She gasps as the woman returns her gaze with a smile.

"Hello. You should recognise me. I was thinking of having lunch with you at that restaurant..."

________________________

third person p.o.v

"Hm...you know, I never knew my son as a very bold one." She chuckles as she starts the conversation, Ha Eun sitting directly across of her.

"Sorry...um, ma'am. I don't understand what you mean..."

"I came by yesterday, did you forget? I was right outside his office...I heard something interesting,"

Ha Eun's eyes widened.

"I think you get me now. So, what could be your reply to him?" She flashes a sweet smile.

"Ma'am...I–"

"Hold on, do not answer yet. I haven't finished talking," She picks up her glass of plain water. "Answer this question first. Why did you get close to him? Chenle. I am very aware you and he texts every day,"

"What is your purpose? Why do you cling to him? Is it...because he is wealthy?" Unknowingly, she begins to grab tightly onto the glass.

Upon hearing her final question, Ha Eun scoffs and Jia Xin looks at her in surprise.

"Why, you–" Blinded by anger due to her protectiveness over her son, she tilts her glass of water towards Ha Eun, splashing her clothes.

Seeing this unfold right in front of his eyes, Chenle steps forward immediately in attempt to separate Ha Eun for his own mom, but halts as Ha Eun begins to speak.

"You ask the same questions. 'Is it because he's wealthy?' Someone asked me the same. My answer is no. Ma'am, I understand how you feel as your son plays an important role in your family. He simply cannot be with anyone, and I know you are worried if I only have eyes on his fortune. Not everyone is like that, not everyone craves for power...and I think you need to change your way of thinking,"

By now, all the customers are looking at their way, and one boy looks on.

"But I do not see or care about power nor fortune, so you do not need to worry. I have spent all night thinking about it. It is because I..."

"I, too, like him the same way he does to me, and therefore, I hope you will give us your approval."

_____________________