Chapter 162

After surviving the Great Kim Reunion and the shocking discovery that not every Kim was a certified mandu, Ruby thought she was prepared for anything.

She was wrong.

Very wrong.

Because one week later, Lisa cheerfully announced during breakfast-

“Baby Dumpling, we’re visiting Mama’s family today!”

Ruby looked up from her pancake.

“The Manobans?”

“Yep!”

Jennie smiled.

“Another family reunion.”

Ruby gasped dramatically.

Another reunion?!

Another chance to meet cousins?!

Maybe this time she’d find the tiny mandus she’d been searching for.

The four-year-old immediately jumped from her chair.

“I’m ready!”

Lisa laughed.

“We don’t leave for three hours.”

“I’m ready NOW.”

—

The moment they arrived at the Manoban family gathering, Ruby realized something was different.

Very different.

The second Lisa opened the car door-

A chorus of excited voices erupted.

“RUBY IS HERE!”

“THE BABY IS HERE!”

“OUR LITTLE DUMPLING!”

“COME HERE!”

Ruby blinked.

Then blinked again.

And before she could even process what was happening-

She was scooped up.

Then hugged.

Then kissed.

Then hugged again.

Then pinched on both cheeks.

Then carried by another auntie.

Then stolen by a cousin.

Then stolen again.

Ruby looked completely stunned.

“Mama!”

Lisa laughed from several feet away.

“Good luck, baby.”

Ruby reached toward her dramatically.

“MAMAAAAAA!”

Too late.

The Manobans had claimed her.

—

An hour later.

Jennie sat peacefully drinking iced tea.

Lisa sat beside her.

Meanwhile Ruby had become the center of the entire reunion.

Again.

But this time for a completely different reason.

Every single relative seemed obsessed with her.

One auntie fed her fruit.

Another gave her snacks.

A cousin carried her around like a princess.

An uncle bought her ice cream.

Another cousin gave her a giant plushie.

Ruby looked increasingly confused.

Finally she waddled back toward her parents.

Holding snacks.

Holding juice.

Holding candy.

Holding a plushie.

Somehow wearing a flower crown.

Jennie nearly laughed.

“What happened to you?”

Ruby climbed into her lap.

“They keep giving me things.”

Lisa grinned.

“Welcome to the Manoban side.”

“But why?”

Jennie and Lisa exchanged a look.

Then Lisa smiled softly.

“Because they love you.”

Ruby stared.

“All of them?”

“All of them.”

The little girl looked genuinely shocked.

“Even though I spilled juice earlier?”

“Yep.”

“And dropped chips?”

“Yep.”

“And stepped on Uncle’s foot?”

“Especially after that.”

Ruby looked suspicious.

“That makes no sense.”

—

A few minutes later, the source of the chaos arrived.

Lisa’s mother.

The moment she spotted Ruby-

Her entire face lit up.

“There she is!”

Ruby immediately grinned.

“Nana!”

She ran straight into her grandmother’s arms.

Lisa’s mother scooped her up instantly.

Then did exactly what everyone expected.

She grabbed Ruby’s cheeks.

Squish.

Ruby giggled.

Squish.

Another giggle.

Squish.

“Look at these cheeks!”

Ruby squealed.

“Nanaaa!”

“They’re so fluffy!”

Another squish.

Lisa sighed.

“There she goes.”

Jennie laughed.

“Like mother, like daughter.”

Because honestly?

Lisa’s mother adored Jennie’s cheeks too.

Ever since Lisa and Jennie got married, every family gathering involved at least one moment where Lisa’s mother would hold Jennie’s face and proudly declare-

“Perfect cheeks.”

Jennie had long accepted her fate.

And now Ruby was suffering the same destiny.

Lisa’s mother kissed Ruby’s forehead.

Then her cheeks.

Then squished them again.

“My precious little dumpling.”

Ruby giggled so hard she nearly fell backward.

—

A little later, Ruby discovered another interesting fact.

The Manobans absolutely adored Jennie.

Not just liked.

Not just welcomed.

Adored.

Ruby found this out when she overheard several aunties.

“Aigoo, Jennie is too pretty.”

“She’s gotten even prettier.”

“Look how sweet she is.”

“Best daughter-in-law.”

Ruby slowly turned toward her Mommy.

Then toward the aunties.

Then back to Jennie.

Then she waddled over.

“Mommy.”

“Hm?”

“You’re famous.”

Jennie nearly choked on her drink.

“What?”

Ruby pointed.

“They all like you.”

Lisa burst out laughing.

The aunties immediately agreed.

“We LOVE your mommy.”

“She’s adorable.”

“Our favorite daughter-in-law.”

Jennie covered her face.

“Please stop.”

Ruby gasped.

“My Mommy is celebrity.”

Lisa wheezed.

“Sure, baby.”

Ruby nodded seriously.

“Family celebrity.”

—

The reunion continued.

And somehow things only got worse.

For Lisa.

Because Ruby slowly realized something.

Everyone was spoiling her.

Everyone was spoiling Jennie.

But nobody was spoiling Lisa nearly as much.

Ruby noticed immediately.

“Mama.”

“Yes?”

“Why they pinch Mommy’s cheeks?”

Lisa groaned.

“Because they like her.”

“And mine?”

“Because they like you.”

Ruby thought.

Then tilted her head.

“…Why not yours?”

The entire table exploded.

Lisa looked personally attacked.

“EXCUSE ME?”

One uncle laughed so hard he nearly fell off his chair.

Lisa pointed dramatically.

“See? This is my family and somehow I’m still losing.”

Jennie couldn’t stop laughing.

Ruby blinked.

“So Mommy won?”

Lisa stared.

Then sighed dramatically.

“Apparently.”

Ruby nodded.

“Mommy always wins.”

Jennie proudly flipped her hair.

Lisa gasped.

“Traitor.”

—

As the sun began setting, Ruby sat comfortably between her parents.

Completely exhausted.

Completely spoiled.

And completely full.

Her little head rested on Jennie’s shoulder while her feet sat across Lisa’s lap.

The family chatted around them.

Laughter filled the yard.

And Ruby smiled sleepily.

“Mama?”

“Yeah?”

“I like Manoban reunion.”

Lisa smiled.

“You do?”

Ruby nodded.

“They love Mommy.”

“They do.”

“They love me.”

“They do.”

Ruby yawned.

“And Nana likes our cheeks.”

The adults immediately laughed.

Lisa’s mother proudly nodded.

“Best cheeks in the family.”

Ruby looked thoughtful.

Then she gently touched one of her own cheeks.

Then Jennie’s.

Then compared them seriously.

Finally she announced-

“We are premium mandus.”

Jennie burst into laughter.

Lisa fell sideways laughing.

The entire family erupted.

And as Ruby proudly sat there with her matching Kim cheeks beside her Mommy, Lisa’s mother couldn’t help pulling both of them into a hug.

One arm around Jennie.

One arm around Ruby.

Squishing both of their cheeks at the same time.

“My two favorite dumplings.”

Ruby giggled.

Jennie laughed.

And Lisa took a photo.

Because honestly?

Seeing her mother adore her wife and daughter exactly the same way was one of her favorite things in the world.

And from the giant smile on Ruby’s face, it might have been hers too. ❤️