Chapter 63

Jennie never thought a nickname could ruin her entire day.

Yet here she was—standing in front of their apartment door, eyes puffy, nose pink, clutching her bag like it personally betrayed her—because a bunch of her coworkers decided it was hilarious to call her “fluffy mandu” all afternoon.

She sniffled.

“They said it with that tone, Lili would understand,” she mumbled to herself, wiping her cheeks with the back of her hand before punching in the passcode.

The door clicked open.

Warm light spilled out. The faint smell of something sweet—probably the cookies Lisa attempted earlier—lingered in the air. It was comforting. Familiar.

And then—

“Jendeukie~ you’re home!” Lisa’s voice echoed from the living room, bright and excited like always.

Jennie’s lips wobbled.

That was it. That was the final straw.

She kicked off her shoes with zero grace and shuffled inside, already feeling the tears building again.

Lisa peeked around the corner, her grin wide—until she saw Jennie’s face.

Everything in her expression dropped instantly.

“Hey… hey, what happened?” Lisa rushed over, concern replacing her playful energy in a heartbeat.

Jennie didn’t answer.

Instead, she walked straight into Lisa and buried her face into her chest, arms wrapping tightly around her waist.

“I hate them,” she mumbled, voice muffled and shaky.

Lisa blinked, then immediately wrapped her arms around Jennie, one hand coming up to cradle the back of her head.

“Whoa, okay—who do I need to fight?” she said softly, already guiding Jennie toward the couch.

Jennie sniffled again, clinging tighter.

“My coworkers,” she muttered. “They kept calling me fluffy mandu… all day… like I’m some kind of… dumpling mascot…”

Lisa paused.

There was a dangerous moment—a very dangerous moment—where her lips twitched.

She almost smiled.

She almost said it was cute.

But then Jennie let out a small, broken sob, and Lisa immediately snapped back into Girlfriend Duty Mode™.

“Oh no, no, no,” Lisa murmured, sitting down and pulling Jennie onto her lap like it was second nature. “Hey, don’t cry, baby…”

Jennie groaned softly and hid her face deeper into Lisa’s neck.

“It’s embarrassing… they kept poking my cheeks…”

Lisa’s eyes softened.

Ah.

Now she understood.

Her hands gently moved to Jennie’s face, carefully lifting it up despite Jennie’s weak protest.

Red eyes. Puffy cheeks. Tear-stained lashes.

Lisa’s heart melted instantly.

“Hey… look at me,” she said quietly.

Jennie tried to look away.

Lisa gently cupped her cheeks—yes, those cheeks—and turned her back.

“Jendeukie,” she whispered.

Jennie’s lips trembled. “I’m not a fluffy mandu…”

Lisa tilted her head slightly, thumbs brushing away the remaining tears.

“No,” she agreed softly. “You’re my fluffy mandu.”

Jennie gasped softly, offended. “Lalisa!”

“I said my,” Lisa corrected, leaning forward to press a soft kiss on Jennie’s forehead. “Exclusive. Limited edition. Not for public teasing.”

Jennie tried to stay mad.

She really did.

But the way Lisa was looking at her—like she was the most precious thing in the world—made it very hard.

“They’re mean…” Jennie muttered, voice smaller now.

Lisa nodded seriously. “They are. Completely unacceptable behavior.”

“Right?” Jennie sniffled.

“Absolutely. Only I get to say cute things about you.”

Jennie huffed, but she didn’t pull away this time.

Lisa smiled gently, brushing Jennie’s hair behind her ear.

“Did they at least say it because you’re adorable?”

Jennie squinted at her.

“…That’s not the point.”

Lisa chuckled softly. “Okay, okay. Not the point.”

She leaned in and kissed Jennie’s cheek.

Then the other one.

And then—because she couldn’t help herself—she lightly squished both cheeks.

“Still… very soft though.”

“LISA!” Jennie whined, swatting her arm weakly.

Lisa laughed, pulling her back into a hug before Jennie could escape.

“Alright, alright, no more teasing. Promise,” she said, kissing the top of Jennie’s head. “You had a bad day. I’ll behave.”

Jennie melted against her, still grumbling a little.

“Good…”

Lisa rocked them gently side to side, one hand rubbing circles on Jennie’s back.

“Did you eat?” she asked.

Jennie shook her head.

“Of course you didn’t,” Lisa sighed dramatically. “My poor baby was too busy being bullied.”

“I was not bullied,” Jennie mumbled.

“Mhm. Emotionally attacked by dumpling accusations.”

Jennie let out a small, reluctant laugh.

Lisa smiled at the sound, her heart instantly lighter.

“There she is,” she whispered.

Jennie sighed, finally relaxing completely against her.

“Lili…”

“Yeah?”

“…Can you pamper me?”

Lisa’s eyes softened instantly.

“Always.”

And she meant it.

That night, Jennie didn’t have to lift a single finger.

Lisa made her favorite comfort food—slightly overcooked, but full of love. She wrapped her in the softest blanket, put on her favorite show, and didn’t let her go for even a second.

Every few minutes, Lisa would press kisses all over Jennie’s face.

Forehead. Nose. Cheeks.

Especially the cheeks.

“Stop kissing me there,” Jennie mumbled at one point.

“Can’t,” Lisa replied immediately. “They’re my favorite.”

Jennie huffed, but she was smiling now.

By the time they ended up in bed, Jennie was curled up against Lisa, half-asleep, fingers loosely holding onto her shirt.

“Better?” Lisa whispered, brushing her hair gently.

Jennie nodded sleepily.

“…Only you can call me that,” she mumbled.

Lisa grinned softly in the dark.

“Good,” she whispered back. “Because I plan to.”

Jennie made a small sound of protest, but didn’t argue further.

A few seconds later, she was already drifting off.

Lisa pressed one last kiss to her cheek.

“Goodnight, my fluffy mandu,” she murmured.

This time—

Jennie didn’t complain.