Suho entered his parents' dining room, immediately greeted by the rich and inviting aromas of a lavish Korean feast. His mother had outdone herself, arraying the table with an array of dishes: Glass Noodle Stir Fry, Bibim Mandu, Korean Fish Cake Balls (Eomuk), Korean Radish Wraps (Mussammari), Yubuchobap, Spicy Korean Coleslaw, and, to Suho's delight, his favorite – Korean Cheese Ribs (Cheese Deung Galbi). The last time she had prepared such a grand meal was when Joon, his older brother, had received a job promotion. Suho's mouth watered at the sight.

"Well, are you just going to stand there like an idiot or do something useful?" his mother chastised, snapping him out of his culinary reverie.

"Yes, ma'am," Suho quickly responded, helping her carry the dishes from the kitchen.

His mother, a formidable figure with her dark hair pulled back in a tight bun, gave him a disapproving look. "Hurry up. The food is getting cold, and she could be arriving at any minute."

As Suho hurried to help set the table, his thoughts drifted to Zuri. She had insisted on taking an Uber, despite his numerous offers to pick her up. He hoped she would feel comfortable in this family setting.

His mother, her eagle eyes ever vigilant, caught him daydreaming and let out a huff. "Suho, what's wrong with you? Are you even listening to me?"

Suho snapped to attention, his face flushing. "Sorry, what?"

His mother glared at him, her irritation evident. "I said, are you ready for your dinner tonight?"

"Yes, I am. My girlfriend will be here any minute," Suho responded, trying to sound confident.

His mother gave him a skeptical look, her expression clearly dubious. "We'll see about that," she retorted.

Joon strolled into the room, yawning loudly. "Where's your girlfriend?" he asked, leaning against the wall with a casual nonchalance.

"She'll be here," Suho replied, trying hard not to scratch his scalp, a nervous habit he had developed over the years.

Joon raised an eyebrow. "What time did you say she was coming again?" he prodded.

"Any minute now," Suho said, glancing at the clock. It was a quarter to eight, and the meal was scheduled to start at eight sharp. He hoped Zuri would be punctual.

Joon smirked. "Let's wait and see," he said, his tone laced with sarcasm.

"Hmm," his mother murmured skeptically, as if to imply this was another of Suho's fabrications.

Their conversation was interrupted by a knock at the door. "I got it!" shouted Hana, Suho's young niece, as she ran towards the door with Kyung-soo, Joon's son, following her and calling out, "아니 알았어요!" (No, I got it!)

"Let's just hope she's normal," Joon muttered under his breath, sipping his Yuzu jelly tea.

As Hana opened the door, a brief hush fell over the room. Zuri stepped in with a radiant smile, immediately complimenting the children. "Hi! You guys are SO cute," she said warmly.

Joon choked on his drink, caught off guard, while their mother's mouth hung open in astonishment. Hana and Kyung-soo simply stared, taken aback by Zuri's presence.

"Well, guys, this is Zuri," Suho announced, walking over to her. He embraced her in a somewhat awkward hug, conscious of his family's eyes on them.

"It's so good to finally meet you all," Zuri said, her voice cheerful and friendly.

Suho's mother, seemingly shaken out of her initial shock, greeted Zuri with a hug. "It's so nice to meet you," she said, a strained smile on her face.

Suho introduced her to Joon, who gave a half-hearted greeting.

"And these are my niece and nephew, Hana and Kyung-soo," he said, gesturing towards the wide-eyed kids.

"Wow, they're so cute," Zuri said, beaming.

Suho, still riding the wave of his family's initial shock, found himself laughing. The moment was so surreal, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of relief at their reaction.

Joon cleared his throat. "Okay, well, we're just about to sit down to eat." His voice was short. And what was that? A hint of disappointment?

"Suho, why don't you help your girlfriend take her coat off," Mrs. Kim ordered.

"Oh, yes, of course," Suho quickly complied.

Zuri, her cheeks reddening slightly, took off her coat, revealing a stunning dress, simple yet elegant.

"Wow, you look amazing," Suho said, momentarily entranced.

"You think so?" Zuri said, her smile growing.

"Oh, yes," he breathed.

"Okay, let's get going," Joon said impatiently.

"Joon!" Mrs. Kim said sharply. "Be more welcoming."

"Sorry," Joon mumbled.

They sat down to eat, the air filled with an awkward tension. Suho could tell his mother was trying hard to maintain her composure, her usual boisterous energy replaced by a reserved demeanor.

"So, Zuri," Joon said, a smirk playing on his lips. "How did you and Suho meet?"

Zuri and Suho exchanged a quick, knowing glance as they sat down to dinner, prepared for the inevitable questions. The atmosphere was thick with anticipation, the family's eyes fixed on the new guest at the table.

Zuri, maintaining her composure, began the rehearsed story. "We actually met on the subway," she said, her voice steady and confident. "Suho was reading a book on modern art, and I couldn't help but comment on it."

Suho nodded in agreement, playing along. "Yeah, it turned out we have a lot in common, especially our love for classic video games."

Joon, eyebrows raised, looked between them. "Really? The subway, huh?" His tone held a hint of skepticism, but Mrs. Kim shot him a stern look, and he quickly dropped the subject.

Mrs. Kim then turned her attention to Zuri, her curiosity evident. "So, Zuri, tell us about yourself. What do you do?"

Zuri took a sip of water before answering. "I'm a student nurse. I'm also really passionate about painting."

Mrs. Kim's expression softened, a glimmer of approval in her eyes. "That's wonderful. Nursing is such a noble profession."

Suho smiled, relieved that his family was slowly warming up to Zuri. He could feel the tension gradually easing, the mood lighter.

"What about your family?" Mrs. Kim continued. "Are they from New York?"

Zuri's smile faltered, the mention of her family clearly causing her discomfort. "My mother's family is originally from Jamaica, but she was born here. And my Dad is a home contractor. My Mom is a social worker."

"Very impressive," Mrs. Kim replied.

As the dinner progressed, the conversation flowed easily, the mood light and the atmosphere pleasant. Suho felt a sense of relief, grateful that his family was accepting of his choice in a "partner."

The conversation then turned to the latest gossip, with Mrs. Kim sharing details about a neighbor's failed marriage when she lived in Korea.

"...and she said that he was cheating on her with the cleaning lady," she recounted, her voice filled with scandalized glee.

Suho, feeling more at ease, listened to his family's tales with interest, occasionally interjecting with his own stories. He felt a sense of relief that the evening was going smoothly, the earlier awkwardness now a distant memory.

"Well, this was lovely," Zuri said, as she was preparing to leave.

"Oh, please, stay a little longer," Mrs. Kim insisted. "We can have some tea and dessert."

Zuri smiled. "Thank you, but I have an early shift tomorrow.

"I insist," Mrs. Kim says.

"It was really nice meeting you," Zuri said, giving each family member a hug.

"Thank you for coming," Mrs. Kim said, her tone warm and welcoming. "Let me package you some left overs."

Zuri graciously accepted the food, and as she and Suho stepped out into the night, he could feel the relief radiating from her.

"Your family is really lovely," she said, the faintest of smiles tugging at her lips.

"You're...amazing," Suho stuttered, his brain failing him. The moonlight gave her skin a faint glow, and Suho could barely tear his eyes away.

"Thanks. I appreciate it. That was really kind," she replied, her gaze locking with his.

"It's true. They loved you. My mom is usually tough to please," he said, unable to contain his smile.

"Well, I'm glad," she replied. "I'd love to do this again. It was fun."

"Absolutely," he agreed. Her lips looked plump and delectable, and his heart raced as the air between them thickened with electricity.