Surprise Visit At The Café

The bell above the café door jingled, and Orm turned from the espresso machine, her smile freezing mid-air. Standing at the entrance, looking as polished as ever, were her parents.

Her mom, dressed in an impeccably tailored blazer and scarf that screamed understated elegance, surveyed the café with a raised brow. Her dad, more relaxed in a crisp button-up, gave a warm smile.

"Mom? Dad?" Orm said, blinking like she'd seen a ghost.

Her mom spread her arms dramatically. "Surprise!"

Becky, wiping a tray nearby, gasped audibly. "Oh no, I wasn't supposed to say anything!"

Orm's eyes narrowed. "Becky."

Becky scurried into the back, mumbling, "I'm helping, I swear."

"Weren't you two supposed to be in Paris?" Orm asked, still processing the sight of them.

Her dad shrugged. "We decided to swing by and see how our favorite daughter is doing."

"I'm your only daughter," Orm muttered, already feeling a headache coming on.

Her mom leaned on the counter, her sharp gaze immediately softening as she looked at Orm. "We wanted to see how you're doing—and maybe meet someone."

Orm flushed. "Oh my god, Becky."

Lingling sat at the head of a large boardroom table, her sharp gaze focused on the presentation projected on the screen. Executives were droning on about quarterly profits, but her mind was already several steps ahead, strategizing her next move.

Her phone, set to silent but visible on the table, lit up with a message from Becky. Lingling's attention flickered to the screen.

Becky: The in-laws are here. You might want to get here ASAP.

Lingling froze, her normally impassive expression slipping for a fraction of a second. She unlocked her phone under the table and quickly typed back.

Lingling: What in-laws?

The reply was instantaneous:

Becky: Orm's parents! They're at the café. Better hurry—they're curious about you.

Lingling stared at her screen, her stomach dropping. She gripped the edge of the table, her calm facade cracking as her mind raced. Orm's parents? Here? She hadn't even known they were back in the country, let alone visiting the café.

"Ms. Kwong?" one of the executives prompted, noticing her distraction. "Your thoughts?"

Lingling snapped out of her daze, her sharp tone cutting through the room. "Reschedule this meeting for later. I have an urgent matter to attend to."

Before anyone could respond, she grabbed her phone, stood, and strode out of the room. The board members exchanged confused glances, some whispering about the rare sight of their CEO looking flustered.

When Lingling walked into the café, she immediately spotted Orm seated with her parents at a corner table. Orm was laughing at something her father said, looking utterly relaxed.

Lingling took a deep breath and approached. Orm's parents noticed her first, their gazes sharp with curiosity. Orm turned and smiled when she saw her. "Ling! You're here."

Her mom leaned closer to Orm and whispered, loud enough for everyone to hear, "Is this the one?"

Lingling flushed, offering a polite smile as she extended a hand. "Mr. and Mrs. Sethratanapong, I'm Lingling Kwong. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Orm's dad stood to shake her hand, his grip firm but friendly. "Ah, the Lingling Kwong. We've heard about your family, but it's nice to finally meet you."

Her mom studied Lingling with a discerning gaze. "Yes, the Kwongs are known in our circles. Though we've never crossed paths personally, it seems we share some... industry overlap."

Lingling nodded, maintaining her composure. "I've heard great things about your work as well."

Becky sauntered over with a tray of coffee, her timing as impeccable as her mischief. "Oh, Ling, you should've heard them earlier! They were gushing about Orm's fan club from high school."

Orm groaned, shooting Becky a look. "Becky..."

"What fan club?" Lingling asked, raising an eyebrow.

Orm's dad chuckled. "Back in high school and university, Orm had admirers lined up. Boys, girls—you name it."

Orm covered her face with her hands. "Please stop."

Her mom grinned, ignoring Orm's plea. "Oh, they'd make all sorts of excuses to visit our house. 'Study groups,' they called it. We knew better."

Lingling blinked, her lips twitching between a smirk and a frown. "Really? And how many of these admirers are still around?"

Orm peeked out from behind her hands. "None, okay? It's ancient history."

Becky, never missing an opportunity to stir the pot, added, "You'd be surprised, Ling. Some of them still come by the café."

Lingling's eyes narrowed slightly, her possessive streak flaring. "Is that so?"

Orm sighed, reaching for Lingling's hand. "Ignore them. They're just trying to get a rise out of you."

Lingling gave her a sidelong glance but didn't let go of her hand. "Let's hope it stays ancient history."

As the conversation lightened, Orm's mom suddenly noticed the ring on her daughter's finger. "Now, what's this?" she asked, grabbing Orm's hand to inspect it.

Orm tensed. "It's... a promise ring."

Her mom's eyes widened as she turned it under the light. "Promise ring? Lingling, this looks like a small chandelier."

Orm groaned, pulling her hand back. "Mom..."

Lingling, for once, looked slightly flustered. "It's just... a symbol of commitment."

Orm's dad smirked. "Well, if this is a promise, I can't wait to see the engagement ring. Will it be the size of a disco ball?"

"Dad!" Orm exclaimed, while Becky, balancing another tray, chimed in, "Knowing Ling, it probably will be."

Lingling's cheeks flushed faintly, but she remained composed. "I believe in making statements."

As the visit drew to a close, Orm's parents stood to leave. Her mom turned to Lingling, her expression softening. "For what it's worth, you've impressed us. Orm seems happy, and that's all that matters to us."

Orm's dad nodded. "And seeing how you're handling Becky's antics, you're clearly resilient. That's a good quality."

Lingling blinked, momentarily caught off guard by their approval. "Thank you. That means a lot."

Orm's mom grinned, her sharp wit back in full force. "Just keep her in check. She's got a wild streak—her high school escapades were just the beginning."

Orm groaned loudly. "Okay, time to go. Love you both. Bye."

As Orm escorted her parents to the door, Becky sidled up to Lingling, grinning. "Well, you survived."

Lingling sighed. "Barely."

Becky winked. "Don't worry, Ling. You passed the test. Now you just have to deal with me."

Lingling muttered, "Great," but her small smile betrayed her relief.