Chapter 48: This household will never be the same again

Ivy thought she could stay on Manes longer considering her family had returned to Landsfield only to find she was wrong when Peter turned up the next morning with his secretary Mr. Jin at the hospital when she was about to check out of the ward with Jason.

"Aww daddy, please… Could you let me stay a few more days?" Ivy pleaded with Peter as she coughed a little. Peter sat scrolling on his tablet over reports trying to ignore her.

"No…" Peter said sternly as he continued scrolling.

"Daddy, please… Would you listen to me? Please…" Ivy shook his hand which made him a little agitated for not being able to read his reports in peace when Mr. Jin walked out of the room. Jason followed behind as Peter stood looking at Mr. Jin who nodded at him. Peter knew Mr. Jin had done his task of informing Jason of their plans.

Peter initially wanted to let Ivy have some time with Jason but his extended family had been pestering him upon hearing the news of their company merger with Rahi's consulting to meet Ivy. Hence, he had no choice but to push forward their family dinner to tonight. He had ensured Mr. Jin explained their situation and had also arranged for Jason to head to Landsfield comfortably after he had settled his business matters in Manes. Jason instantly agreed knowing it was an unavoidable situation for Peter.

"We shall meet in Landsfield Mr. Rahi…" Peter said to Jason as he nodded before Peter walked off with a smile pulling Ivy along. Ivy's eyes kept stuck on Jason as Jason smiled and nodded to her to listen to Peter. She pouted as he gave her an assuring smile before she finally gave in to Peter while still sniffing from her flu and a little cough as she walked with him to board the taxi waiting at the hospital entrance.

"Here I thought you wanted to avoid being involved with him and why are you hesitating to leave the town?" Peter nagged as Ivy sat closer to him and put her head on his shoulder with a pout.

"Did something happen that night?" Peter questioned as Ivy sat up straight and shook her head. Peter chuckled in disbelief as he shook his head. "Only ghost will believe you…" He said as Ivy smiled to herself.

"Ai Lee…" Peter sighed as he pulled his daughter into his embrace. "I only wanted to introduce you to the family and we are having a family dinner tonight…" Peter said as Ivy raised an eyebrow. "Family? I thought I already did…" Ivy thought her family was only her brothers and her dad but in fact, she has many more family members from her dad's extended family.

"Nope, there's also my sister and two brothers and their family…" Peter winked as Ivy smiled and nodded. "Besides, your body hasn't fully recovered yet. I'm sorry for making such a rash decision. He has his own agenda he needed to attend to before he comes over to Landsfield… You know, come to think of it, I am doing him a favor to remove a distraction…" Peter teased Ivy as Ivy snarled playfully at Peter with a pout.

Just as Peter predicted, Ivy's body was still recovering as he held on to her who slept all the way on the flight to Landsfield and in the car when Mr. Jin drove them to the family house. She was only awake when they reached the main door of their service apartment.

"Oh wow… Service apartment?" Ivy asked Peter as he nodded and held her hand as he led her into the lift heading straight to their unit. At the instant the lift door opened up, a retriever couldn't help but jump up on Peter as Ivy squealed with surprise. She nearly thought it was Lucky but realised she was Landsfield.

"Hey, sis! You're finally here!" Ryu greeted her as he jumped out from the couch while watching the news to hug her at the lift's entrance.

"And meet our little goldie… Daisy…" Peter introduced their family pet as Ivy beamed and hugged Daisy who was excited at meeting her. "She looks identical to Jason's goldie too, Lucky…" Ivy said absentmindedly as she played with Daisy while Peter and Ryu exchanged glances before Ryu broke into smiles.

"Lunch's ready!" Ray announced as he took out a bowl of soup from the kitchen while Jin emerge from the kitchen subsequently with a bowl of stir-fried vegetables.

"Ivy!" Ray greeted her excitedly as he put down the bowl of soup and went over to give her a hug.

"Ray!" Ivy skipped her way to Ray as she giggled in his hug. She went over to Jin thereafter who had just put down the bowl of vegetables and gave him a hug from the back. "Jin!" Ivy squealed as Jin turnaround and hugged her.

"Welcome home!" Jin said while letting her off his hug to have a good look at her as everyone smiled. It touched Peter's heart hearing Jin's words as he felt a little proud raising Jin to be this smart. Ivy couldn't help but blink back her tears listening to his simple greeting.

"Thank you…" Ivy said while he wiped her tears away.

"Let's eat…" Jin urged as he went back into the kitchen to serve more dishes and Ray and Ryu went to serve rice.

Peter led Ivy to the dining table. "Here, sit next to me… So, for the next few days, you should just rest first till the signing of the contract…" Peter explained as Ivy shook her head.

"Rest? No, no, no… No time to rest… I want to get to know the business quickly and its' operations." Ivy said enthusiastically while the brothers finally had the table set and everyone took a seat.

"What's the rush, Sis? We have plenty of time... Besides, your final is at the end of the year like us and we have a few more months before we have to prepare for revision. It's more than enough time for you to catch up…" Ray explained while scooping soup into each serving bowl.

"Your brother is right… When he leaves next year for Manes for first-year college and works under Jason, that's when I really need you to be hands-on as Jin will be heading into his final year in secondary school. You should be able to take over from him while he focuses like what he did for Ray now…" Peter said as Ivy smirked and pouted.

"Fine… Looks like everything is planned…" Ivy mumbled as Ryu chuckled. "Cheer up, Sis! It would be fun to roam around here. This is not the only floor." Ryu teased as Ivy looked at Peter.

"It's a double story... It's quite empty up there as the boys used it for studies and other recreations…You can explore later with the boys while I head into the office for a while…" Peter explained while they all started eating.

"How come I don't see any maids or preparation for tonight's dinner?" Ivy asked as her eyes scanned around while munching a spoon of rice.

"The dinner isn't here. It will be in the hotel… And we all share the chores. Will add you into the roaster later…" Jin explained as he scooped some vegetables for Peter while Ivy nodded.

"Yes... Dad would never let his family into the house.." Ray wanted to explain further when Peter sounded him.

"Ray…" Peter said sternly before Ray looked away while Ivy looked at Peter feeling something was amidst and Peter could tell as he held Ivy's hand.

"I will slowly explain to you someday…" Ivy smiled and nodded at Peter's excuse.

"Ivy, do you dance?" Ryu asked abruptly to change the topic before it get tense on the table as Ivy raised an eyebrow.

"Dance as in waltz or dance as in break-free kinda dance?" Ivy asked skeptically as she drank a sip of soup.

"Yes, waltz…" Ryu confirmed as Ivy nodded with a smile.

"Great! For tonight's performance, you shall accompany dad. Finally, dad could waltz again!" Ryu cheered as everyone smiled.

"What do you mean?" Ivy asked again skeptically.

"In family occasions with extended family, they usually invite partners to waltz as part of the agenda… It's pretty petty I know… We don't really practice it in our own immediate family but dad's extended family is … Well, I will let dad explain to you someday… You should practice your steps again to ensure dad has an enjoyable time tonight…Don't embarrass him…" Jin smirked at Ivy to tease her as Ivy couldn't help but giggle at the idea of waltzing as she recalled her last time waltzing.

"Don't worry, I won't and I don't have to practice much… I had a great teacher… He taught me recently too.." Ivy praised as Ryu pried as he squinted his eyes looking at Ivy. "Who is it?"

"Jason…" Ivy said quietly as she avoided all eye contact and looked down at her plate as she continued eating her meal. Her brothers couldn't help but to chuckled while Peter shook his head as she smiled.

Everyone knew they both had something going on despite Ivy having repeatedly tried to deny and come up with the excuse about Nancy. However, Ivy didn't really want to explain to them about that night in the jungle as she didn't have the chance to clarify things with Jason yet. She could only lament her tough luck and hope time pass quickly for Jason's arrival to Landsfield.

After their lunch, the brothers went on to do some chores leaving Ivy to explore her room. It was a very typical girly style with pink bedsheets and even one of the walls was painted in light dusty rose. She smirked at the choice of colours as she stepped in and started to unpack. A few hours later, when she was almost done, she heard a knock on her door as she asked the person to come in. Ray opened up as the other two brothers peered in.

"Yes?" She asked as she tilted her head to the left. " Getting used to your room?" Ryu asked as Ivy twirled around. "Not really… other than this pinky stuff, well the rest is perfectly minimalist. Exactly what I expected and needed…" Ivy praised as she sat on top of her bed while Jin nodded.

"Indeed, my sister… without a doubt…" Jin chuckled. "What do you mean?" Ivy asked as Ryu and Ray chuckled too.

"Well we have been telling dad that pink wouldn't suit you but he insisted. Apart from the wall which he painted back then when we were really young, I guess we could guess you didn't like anything girly. We will help you change the bedsheet away…" Ray explained as Ivy shook her head and stood.

"No… No, it's alright… Let's leave it for now…" Ivy hold on to Ray's hand as he smiled.

"Are you sure?" Ray asked as he patted her head. She nodded as she beamed like a little girl looking at Ray. Sometimes, Ray wondered if he had an older sister or a younger one or perhaps the brothers all looked too mature as compared to Ivy to look like her younger brothers.

"Alright then, we need to head out now to get ready for tonight…" Ray said as Ivy raised an eyebrow. "I thought we could just wear something formal for a dinner will do?" Ivy questioned skeptically as she blinked in confusion.

"You must be kidding me…" Ryu chuckled as Ivy spiraled into more confusion. "Tell me, how exactly is dad's extended family like?" Ivy pestered to get more clarity as Ray looked at Jin and Ryu where they all eyed each other.

"Dad isn't home is he?" Ivy questioned thinking that it could be him who was hindering them from asking more as she stepped outside of her room to peep.

"No, he isn't... He has left for work and heading straight to the hotel later tonight…" Ryu explained as Ivy folded her arms in front of her brother.

"So…" Ivy raised an eyebrow.

"Ivy… We don't want to influence your judgments. Perhaps, you should see for yourself first tonight before any of us say anything?" Jin suggested as Ivy contemplated for a moment.

"Anything particular I should take note of?" Ivy questioned. "Just reveal less and talk less…" Ryu snapped his fingers before leading her out of the room.

"Let's go, we are going to be late…" Ryu urged as Ivy nodded.

"So where are we heading to get beautified?" Ivy questioned casually as Ryu chuckled.

"Jin's girlfriend's boutique…" Ryu said as Ivy was surprised and yet was overwhelmed by excitement to learn about it.

"Jin is not single?" Ivy shrieked as Ryu shook his head while Ray chuckled.

"Why are you so surprised?" Ray asked as he couldn't help but chuckle.

"Cause a guy like him who is so studious and serious could find a girlfriend? It's just jaw-dropping… Are you both having a girlfriend too?" Ivy quickly questioned as both Ray and Ryu shook their heads.

"Dad knows about her?" Ivy questioned Jin as he adjusted his glasses and nodded before taking the car keys as they alighted from the stairs.

"What's her name? How come she owns a boutique? How old is she? What does she look like? How come dad is aware of it but didn't go against it?" Ivy kept pestering Jin as Jin couldn't help but blush that Ivy nearly missed a step on the stairs.

"Ivy… Ivy, could you please watch your steps... We are heading there now. Save your questions for later…" Ray hold on to her as she nodded but quickly catch up with Jin who was wearing his shoes.

"Come on, tell me at least her name Jin…" Ivy persuaded Jin as he sighed while rolling his eyes in annoyance.

"Cassandra…" He answered briefly as he stepped out of the main door leaving Ivy excitedly chased after him and forgetting to wear her shoes.

"Ivy! Your shoes!" Ryu yelled at her as she rushed back for them while she held them up in the air chasing Jin thereafter.

"She is indeed chaos…" Ryu chuckled with Ray as both brothers locked up and head to the lift while Ivy was all giggly and kept persuading Jin to answer her curiosity of questions.

"Jin tell me has dad met her before?" Ivy didn't give up as she still held her shoes in her hand in the lift.

"Ivy, please wear your shoes…" Jin instructed sternly. "Alright, I will if you answer any of my questions…" Ivy bargained as Jin smirked and rolled his eyes before nodding. "How old is she?" Ivy asked excitedly. "21.. Alright, wear your shoes now…" Jin instructed sternly as Ivy quickly put on one side of her sandals.

"Ivy… Another shoe!" Jin instructed sternly as Ray and Ryu chuckled behind her. "You said to put on my shoes. You didn't say I need to put on both… One more question then?" Ivy bargained again as Jin let out his frustration.

"Ray!! Save me!!" Ray held on to Jin who was leaning onto him as he chuckled.

"Ask quickly Ivy.." Ray urged as Ivy nodded. "Oh, how did you both meet?" Ivy questioned cheekily as Jin rolled his eyes and hesitated to answer.

"Quickly! The lift is going to stop on the ground floor already!" Ivy urged as she jumped excitedly.

"And I thought you won't want to wear till he answers…" Ryu chuckled as the lift door opened at the ground floor with Ray holding onto frustrated Jin while Ivy was pestering Jin with one shoe in her hand as Ryu chuckled away. The receptionists' were trying to pretend they didn't see anything but couldn't help but giggle at the sight of them as they quickly scurried out of the lift in embarrassment passing the reception counter.

"Just wear it already…" Jin said in embarrassment when they were in the car park as Ivy caught up with Jin.

"No! Not till you tell me!" Ivy kept pestering him as she walked with one sandal on and the other on her hand while Ryu and Ray hastened their steps ahead of both of them trying to pretend they weren't related.

"Oh my… Ivy, you're crazy!" Jin rolled his eyes many times as Ivy continued pestering him. "Fine, fine!" Jin finally gave up as he stood in front of Ivy who was eagerly waiting for his answer.

"We met at one of the roadshows and she was a part-time property agent at that point in time. The rest, it's for you to find out, for me to know!" Jin quickly ran off with her shoe to catch up with Ryu and Ray while Ivy chased after him. When Ray and Ryu noticed Jin was teasing Ivy they both chuckled and made way for Ivy who was sprinting to pass through them. "Answer more questions! You can have my shoe!" Ivy yelled sending all the brothers laughing.

"Ivy, what nonsense!" Jin said as he reached the car and stood by the side to catch his breath while Ivy hovered over him with more questions.

"Then what happened? Ah, is that why dad like her too? Cause she worked for him before?" Ivy deviously tried to get more details. "I'm not telling anymore…" Jin said between his heavy breaths. "Jin…tell me… come on…" Ivy kept persuading.

"Our household will never be the same again…" Ryu laughed as Ray hang one of his arms around Ryu's shoulder.

"I'm glad it wouldn't be…" Ray add on as both brothers continued to laugh at Ivy and Jin's mischiefs on the way to the car.