Office Diaries

"Best editor?" Yanee looked at the potato. But wasn't the best editor… Tohru James? 

"Yep. Me," Tohru James answered unabashedly as he stared at her. 

"Urgh… You did not even pretend to be humble," Yanee commented making the people laugh even the old man. 

"Why would I need to pretend in front of my family?" he countered and Yanee sighed. 

"Yeah, family," she muttered and a flash of realization appeared in his eyes before Tohru's face became serious. 

"Yanee, this is my home. I'm really with my family," he said and Yanee stared at him disbelievingly. 

HUH?

Tohru pointed at everyone. "That's my dad and my mom. Marian's my real sister."

She turned her questioning gaze from one person to another. They were all looking at her with excitement but remained quiet, waiting for her to absorb things. 

"You mean…"

The old man smiled as he pointed at himself. "Daddy James."

Then the old lady followed. "Mama James."

EH?

She looked at Marian. "Marian James Kang. Yanee you're so slow. I already told you my story last night."

EEEEEEEEEEH? 

 "But yesterday you went to your apartment to get clothes." It's why he left last night after eating, right? 

Tohru shook his head. "I have no apartment. This is my house. I left last night to meet up with the authors."

"B-But…" Seriously? 

"Why are you so shocked?" Tohru sighed. "Didn't I already say I'm from Kyoto? And didn't you already know the interviewees are my family and friends? And my dad's an American and my mom's Japanese."

Urgh…

Yes. Yanee even had the details about the clients. She had seen Marian's name before but was too stupid to connect the dots. She really couldn't blame the potato for her stupidity. 

Yanee looked confused, but when she thought about it, he was right. 

"Ah, my daughter-in-law is really so cute," Mrs. James giggled. 

Daughter-in-WHAAAAAAAT? 

"Mama, don't be so hasty, Yanee hasn't answered me yet," Tohru said sadly and the madam placed a hand on her mouth in surprise. 

"I'm sorry…" the elderly apologized and Yanee was at a loss as to what to do. 

She didn't even know what to say. She'd been placed into a very awkward position. It's because she hadn't agreed to date the potato yet, but already met his family. They looked like they were expecting something and they treated her well. If she didn't date the potato, would they change? 

"But, oh pooh!" Mrs. James suddenly said with a chuckle. "It's fine. If she's not a daughter-in-law then she can be just my daughter from now on."

Huh? Yanee was surprised again. Daughter? 

"What do you think Yanee? You can just be our foster daughter if you're not interested in that ugly little thing," Mrs. James said as she pointed at Tohru who choked on his coffee. 

"Why was I reduced suddenly to an ugly little thing?" he demanded as he placed a hand on his heart dramatically. 

"Sons who can't bring wives home are useless ugly little things," Mr. James suddenly spoke in defense to his wife that made Yanee snigger. 

"Why are you laughing? Isn't it your fault I was suddenly rendered useless?"Tohru pouted at her, but Yanee wanted to take this opportunity to pay him back. 

"Don't forget the ugly and little part," she said menacingly. She could actually feel the horns and devil wings on her back right at this moment, but it didn't last long. 

"Oh… you've already seen my body last night. Can you tell me which part of me is ugly and little?" he suddenly countered making everyone at the table squeal. 

Even the servants were reduced to a giggling mess as they all looked at her and the shameless potato. 

"What happened last night?" Marian asked with stars in her eyes. 

"Nothing!" Yanee hurriedly answered as she glared at Tohru, asking him to behave with her eyes. 

"I won't kiss and tell," he answered flirtatiously that made everyone giggle again. 

"Alright. Take your time. Just tell us when you're ready," Mrs. James said with a knowing smile. 

Yanee who felt her HP reduced to zero just gave up. No wonder she'd been instantly adopted into Marian's family. It turned out the potato was their actual child and that he had already told them about her. This was also why the servants had been calling her Young Miss. It's because Tohru was their Young Master, and they all thought she was his girlfriend. 

She was shocked. The potato just confessed to her the day before and then the very same day she already met his family. It was as if she got suddenly hit by a derailed train she had no time to even sidestep and escape. 

But then again…

Yanee surreptitiously scanned everyone's faces at the table. She noted each and every person in the family as they happily interacted with each other. She knew that Tohru James came from a very huge background but the sight before her was a far cry from what she imagined how very rich family members interacted with each other. Aside from her own family, Yanee didn't think other rich families could be this warm and spontaneous. Even her own father's brother and his family had been making life difficult for them. 

But this family's rapport— this gentleness and harmony was not an act. 

"Yanee," Marian called out and she turned to her with a questioning gaze. "I hope you don't get angry at my brother okay?"

Yanee smiled. "He's the twin you were telling me about last night? The one who stole all the brainpower in the w.o.m.b?"

Marian nodded. "I realized last night that this ugly little thing still hasn't told you about our real relationship so I didn't tell you who he was."

Ugly little thing…

Yanee's lips twitched again and Tohru leaned over to whisper in her ear. 

"Honey, are you going to let them continue calling me like that?" he complained. 

"Serves you right," she told him matter-of-factly. 

On the other hand, while Yanee was especially trying her best to be mean, one potato was extremely happy. 

She didn't deny that she's my honey… 

It was all worth it, being bullied by his family. At first he had been too nervous to be found out. But then again, he just confessed to her yesterday and now he's willing to tell her everything— at least little by little. It was a good thing he was able to talk to Chummy yesterday. It was not too late. 

Also, he took note of her requests the night before. He would adhere to it. As much as he loved teasing her, he had to keep his promise to separate work and his love life even if he's working with his love. 

A smile broke into his face as he looked at her. He's really happy. Even if she looked grumpy, she seemed amicable in giving him a chance. 

"What's with that creepy smile?" she asked suspiciously and he laughed. 

"You should take care of your notes. Ria and Michael will arrive this afternoon. You will have the interview with her today," he informed her. 

"Really?" her eyes grew big and he nodded. 

"I'll come pick you up in your room at eleven. We'll head to the city to meet up with the authors," he said as he glanced at his watch which indicated nine in the morning. "You have two hours."

Yanee nodded and excused herself to the others politely. 

"You don't have to mind us. Do your work first, "Mrs. James assured her before she left. 

As soon as Yanee was gone, Mrs. James sighed. "I hope she's not too shocked that she doesn't want to stay with us anymore."

"Don't worry. I will try my best to make it up to her," he promised as he smiled at his mother. 

"You should so Yanee will say yes and you'd finally stop being an ugly little thing," Marian teased him. 

Tohru raised his brow at his sister. "I look like your second child, though. Is Jian an ugly little thing too?"

"Ah— no!" Marian protested and he grinned. 

"If you won't stop teasing me, your little bumpkin will look like her uncle too," he threatened and Marian placed a hand protectively on her baby bump. 

"No way! My little girl will look like her Auntie Yanee," Marian announced as she pointed her finger at him and he laughed. 

Just as he guessed, the reason why his sister always wanted to see Yanee was because she was the target of her pregnancy this time. Each time she conceived there's always one person she liked to stick around with. 

"Don't go overboard, okay? Don't scare your sister-in-law off," he told her, and Marian pouted but she agreed. 

He ruffled her head as Marian was already doing a good job. If not, Yanee would have been pinched all over by her. 

"Son, is Yanee's project the one you are going to enter in the Ai Awards?"Mr. James asked and he nodded. 

"It's the perfect way to establish the new company under Niji," he said, and his family approved. 

Ai Awards was an annual literary award for romance novels. When he took over Yanee's company, he noted that aside from the magazines, the other departments were mediocre. The worst was the romance section. It was why he was able to come up with this unique project. It was to kill two birds with one stone. 

"Ah, that's why Ria and Michael will rush here today even if you already managed to confess to Yanee. It's because you don't really have much time if the book will participate in the award," Marian commented and he nodded. 

"When Yanee interviewed me before, we talked about her dream," he said with a soft smile recalling that moment months ago. 

"Oh? What's her dream?" 

"To be an awarded writer," he answered.