How Should I Handle My Fujoshi Wife?

[The Weekend]

Mrs. Ahn paced around her elegant home, dressed to impress but feeling a mix of tension and nervousness. Despite the air conditioning, she had cold sweat on her forehead. This was the moment she had been waiting for all week. The staff had prepared an array of snacks and drinks for the guests, and the entire house had been meticulously cleaned to make a good impression. But why was she so uneasy? She couldn't quite put her finger on it. As she wandered, her thoughts turned to her sluggish son. Thinking about him neglecting her advice to dress well, tensed her even more.

She hurried to his room and found him still working on his laptop as she thought, casually dressed in a plain white t-shirt and shorts. After slapping on her own forehead, she rushed to him and nearly closed his laptop on him.

"HEY! I TOLD YOU TO GET READY AGES AGO! WHY HAVEN'T YOU CHANGED YET?" she couldn't help but shout as she was unable to contain her frustration.

"I will! I'll be finished in five minutes!" Jiang reopened his laptop, replied in a soft voice, noticing his mother's rage.

"They'll be here any minute!" she hissed, tension was clear in her voice.

"Mom! Why are you so worked up? Why are you worried when it should be me?" Jiang was surprised when he finally noticed his mother's odd behavior.

"Who said I'm worried? I'm NOT!" she fumbled with her hands, clearly flustered.

"Come on, Mom. You can't hide anything from me. If you're worried about them rejecting me, let them. It's not like—"

"No! Don't say that!" she cut him off, her voice arose in panic.

"Why would they? Finally a girl agreed to marry you! They wouldn't back out... would they?" She slumped onto the bed beside him, her anxiety etched on her face.

"Don't think too much, okay? Also, they accepted because you're helping them out. So I think they should be nervous right now, not you." he tried his best to relieve his mother's tension while trying to go back to his work.

"Maybe. But, why are you looking at that thing again? Getting ready would also require time!" She stood up and tried to snatch the laptop, but failed.

"Why would changing clothes need time? Should I put on some makeup now? Am I going to any kpop audition?" He scoffed and focused on his laptop.

"Just give me five minutes and I'll be there!" He repeated while typing something.

"Oh! Where is dad?" He asked, without taking a look at her.

"He's at the entrance. I told him to wait there." She turned to leave, muttering under her breath.

"What a nuisance," Jiang mumbled as he worked.

______________________________

After Mr. and Mrs. Han came out of the car, Ma Ri stepped out. She wore a stunning blue colored dress and high heels. With light makeup enhancing her features, she looked breathtaking. Bowing politely to the unfamiliar people before her, she tried to figure out who among them were the elders. Mrs. Ahn approached her with a wide smile, clearly pleased with Ma Ri's appearance, while Mr. Ahn greeted her parents and brother.

"Hello!" Ma Ri bowed again.

"Oh my! Look how much you've grown!" Mrs. Ahn exclaimed, taking Ma Ri's hands. Ma Ri blushed, caught off guard by the unexpected warmth.

"Come inside! Do you remember me?" Mrs. Ahn asked in a sweet tone.

"I'm sorry, ma'am, I'm afraid I don't," Ma Ri replied, her gaze dropped in embarrassment.

"It's fine! How cute you were back then! But you turned out so pretty, right Mrs. Han?" Mrs. Ahn beamed, glancing at Ma Ri's mother.

"Haha! You're making her shy!" Mrs. Han laughed, noticing her daughter's discomfort.

Once they went inside, Ma Ri's eyes widened in awe. Is this a house or a palace? She wondered, glancing around the opulent surroundings. After everyone took their seats and started chatting with each other, Ma Ri's brother, Mi Rae asked, "Where is your son, Mr. Ahn?"

Mr. Ahn exchanged an awkward glance with his wife, who quickly stood up. "Ah! Lemme go get him! He must be feeling shy coming alone! Hahaha!" she said with a forced smile. As she headed upstairs, her expression turned cold.

"HEY! DO YOU THINK YOUR FIVE MINUTE LAST FOREVER?" Mrs. Ahn furiously screamed before he noticed Jiang's condition. He was wearing the suit she had laid out for him. But his tie was a mess, and his wrinkled clothes suggested he'd been struggling with it for a while.

"Mom, do you know how to tie this?" Jiang asked, staring at his reflection, still fumbling with the tie.

"Unbelievable! You can't even manage this?" She was so frustrated that she didn't have the energy to curse him properly. She tried to help, but it was a very stylish tie so she also found it just as confusing.

"Forget it! You look fine without it," she said, tossing the tie onto the bed when she realized she was also doing it wrong.

"They're waiting for you downstairs."

Jiang finally joined the gathering, greeting the elders politely before taking his seat beside his mother. Mi Rae, however, was quick to scrutinize him with his eagle eyes.

"So, what's your plan?" Mi Rae asked, glaring at Jiang with his arrogant eyes.

"Huh?" Jiang blinked, caught off guard by the direct question.

"I asked, if you're planning to make her your wife for real? Or, is it just because our father proposed on a whim?" He asked, his voice was still very solemn.

"No-no! He really liked her! He told me! Who wouldn't like such a sweet girl?" Before Jiang could process the question, his mother replied nervously instead of him.

Mi Rae furrowed his eyebrows as he wasn't satisfied.

"Let's get to the point! My father did that without notifying me, so I was caught off guard. We'd appreciate it if you help us. Actually, we can work hard and help ourselves though it'd probably need more than a decade to raise the business again. Moreover, I don't want my sister to suffer because of it. I'll only let the matrimony happen if you promise me to treat her as a person, not a doll, you get what I mean, don't you?" He kept scanning Jiang as if he was reading Jiang from his head to toe.

"I get it! But, why would you assume I'd treat her like that?" He was uncomfortable with all the staring and wanted to escape from there right away. He glanced at Ma Ri. She sat down beside her brother, looking downward. Her face was covered with nervousness and guiltiness.

"Great to know. I've met a lot of rich people and most of them are awful. This is why I was afraid that you guys would be like them as well." Mi Rae replied bluntly, though he smiled faintly.

"Sorry to disappoint you, but we're not like that. My father built this company from scratch, and we didn't become rich overnight. We worked hard for everything we have, and we know the value of it. I've been raised to respect others, and anyone who knows me would vouch for that," Jiang replied firmly, though he felt awkward explaining himself.

"Uhm! I can tell." Mi Rae seemed to ease up a little as his smile widened.

Jiang glanced at Ma Ri, who looked up at her brother in surprise, clearly stunned by his approval.

"Okay, now let the kids talk privately so that we adults can also talk on our own, what do you say?" Mrs. Ahn tried to lighten the heavy atmosphere with a broad grin, noticing Ma Ri was feeling uncomfortable.

"Son, why don't you show Ma Ri around?" She looked at Jiang, telling him to leave with Ma Ri silently.

Jiang nodded. "Come on," he said, gesturing for Ma Ri to follow him. She glanced at her brother, who gave her a silent nod of approval before she got up.

They made their way to the rooftop, where Ma Ri immediately rushed to the railing, taking a deep breath of fresh air.

"Man, that was suffocating! Your mom just saved me," she said with a relieved smile.

"Oh, I thought you've gone mute for a minute," Jiang teased as she finally opened her mouth.

"Oh my! And what are you, hm? anyone who knows me would vouch for that," she giggled while mimicking him playfully.

"HEY!" Jiang shouted, embarrassed by her teasing.

Ma Ri sighed, her expression turned serious as she looked out at the sky.

"What are we going to do? It seems like we have no other choice." she nearly swung her body while holding the railing.

"About what?" Jiang asked, confusingly furrowed his eyebrows.

"You don't know anything?" Ma Ri looked at him with disbelief.

"Don't beat around the bush." Jiang couldn't hold his curiosity. Moreover he didn't have a good feeling about it.

"Nevermind, you'll figure it out soon." Ma Ri rolled her eyes, expressing how annoyed she was.

Before he could press her for answers, they heard Mrs. Ahn calling for them.

"Jiman! Come down! They're looking for you guys."

Jiang sighed. Whatever Ma Ri was hinting at, he'd have to wait to find out.

When they returned downstairs, he was astounded to see Mrs. Han holding a small jewelry box, showing it to his mother with great enthusiasm.