Return With The Bride

[Shinji gets up and heads to the door, scratching his head. As he opens it, the sunlight temporarily blinds him. Blinking, he's greeted by an unexpected yet familiar voice.]

Stranger Guest: "Heeeyyyy, Shinji!"

[Before Shinji can react, a figure launches at him, throwing their arms around his neck and clinging to him like a koala.]

Shinji: (stumbling backward, flailing) "Y-Yuxi?! Hey, stop! You're going to crush me!"

[Yuxi finally lets go, stepping back with a playful grin.]

Yuxi: (teasing, poking his stomach) "Wait, wait, wait! Why do you feel so... solid? Is this muscle? Don't tell me—you've got abs now, don't you? And—hold up—did you get taller too?!"

[She starts measuring her height against his with her hand, her expression growing more dramatic with each comparison.]

Yuxi: "I'm jealous! What have you been eating? Did you take some kind of growth serum? Or... are you secretly on steroids?"

[She pokes his abs again as if trying to confirm their existence. Shinji's face flushes as he tries to step back.]

Shinji: (thinking, panicking) "Well, I was in another world for ten years. My body didn't age, but it did become stronger than a normal person's... Oh no, why is she poking me so much?!"

[His gaze inadvertently shifts to Yuxi's chest as he mumbles to himself.]

Shinji: (whispering) "That... grew a lot too..."

[Yuxi glares at him suspiciously.]

Shinji: (snapping out of it, flustered) "Hey! Stop touching me, and no, I didn't take any drugs!"

[Yuxi crosses her arms, giving him a knowing look.]

Yuxi: "Uh-huh. Sure, Mr. Abs-and-Tall-Now."

[Shinji sighs, rubbing the back of his neck, trying to change the subject.]

Shinji: (thinking) "Yuxi Xia... one of my best friends from high school. We used to spend so much time together... and, well, she's the person I liked back then. Why is she here now of all times?"

Yuxi: (tilting her head) "So... are you going to let me in, or should I just stand out here all day?"

Shinji: "Huh? Oh, yeah, come in."

Inside Shinji's Apartment

[As Yuxi enters, her eyes immediately land on a pair of women's sandals near the door. She pauses, her expression shifting to suspicion.]

Yuxi: (raising an eyebrow) "Shinji... What's with the ladies' sandals?"

[Shinji didn't notice that Yuxi said something he went in kitched and Yuxi didn't ask again]

Shinji: "Why didn't you tell me you were coming?"

Yuxi: (crossing her arms, smirking) "Oh, I tried to call you, but guess what? Someone's phone wasn't working."

Shinji: (rubbing his hair awkwardly) "Yeah, I, uh... lost my phone. But wait—how do you even know my address here in the capital?"

Yuxi: "I asked your mom."

Shinji: (stopping in his tracks) "Mom told you?!" (thinking) "Wait... I haven't talked to Mom or Dad in ten years. I need to visit home soon..."

Shinji: (grabbing a kettle) "Do you want coffee or tea? I'm making breakfast too."

Yuxi: (smirking) "Anything's fine... my dear Shinji~"

Shinji: (mumbling, flustered) "Stop calling me 'dear'... and while you're here, can you call my house and let them know I lost my phone?" (thinking) "Wait... I forgot something important..."

[Simultaneously, Elie emerges from the bathroom, her hair damp and a towel in her hands. She calls out cheerfully.]

Elie: "Shinji!"

[Yuxi, mid-call, turns toward the sound and freezes. Her eyes widen as she takes in the sight of Elie standing in the living room, radiant and beautiful even in her simple nightwear. Yuxi's phone slips from her hand, clattering to the floor.]

Yuxi: (shocked, pointing) "S-So beautiful... Wait, WHO IS SHE, SHINJI?!"

Elie: (tilting her head innocently) "Who is she, Shinji?"

[The phone on the floor buzzes faintly, with a muffled voice calling out, 'Hello? Hello?']

Shinji: (waving his hands, nervous) "Yuxi, calm down!" (thinking) "Why did I forget Elie was here?! How do I explain this?!"

Yuxi: "First, tell me who she is and why she's in your apartment!"

Elie: (calmly, looking at Shinji) "Shinji?"

Shinji: (sighing, rubbing his temples) "Alright, alright. Listen up. Elie is my... wife."

Yuxi: (gasping dramatically) "WHAT?! Your WIFE?! Since when?! How?! What?! Explain yourself right now!"

[Meanwhile, Elie blushes deeply, her hands clasped in front of her as she glances shyly at Shinji.]

Elie: (thinking, her heart fluttering) "He introduced me as his wife..."

Shinji: (scratching his head, groaning) "It's... complicated. Will you believe me if I say I was in another world for ten years? I fought, survived, and when I gave up hope of returning, I decided to start a family there. On my wedding day, I was suddenly sent back here—with Elie."

Yuxi: (staring at him, deadpan) "Are you kidding me? Do I look like an idiot? You're telling me you were some kind of 'hero' in another world?"

[Shinji looks at her helplessly, while Elie stands silently in the background.]

Shinji: (thinking) "Of course, she doesn't believe me... No one would."

Yuxi: (frowning) "Alright, fine. But at least tell me—when did you get married?"

Shinji: (resigned) "I guess I can't hide it anymore. Elie, is it okay if I share... our 'secret'?"

Elie: (blinking, confused) "Secret? Okay..."

[Shinji clears his throat, improvising.]

Shinji: "She doesn't have parents, only her grandmother, who passed few days ago. Her uncle and aunt were forcing her to marry some random guy for money. She didn't want to, and... she was about to do commit suicide. So I stepped in and helped her and i can only help her if i were married to her otherwise her uncle and aunt will force her again"

Yuxi: (tearing up) "That's so cruel! How could they treat her like that?"

[Yuxi suddenly rushes to Elie and hugs her tightly. Elie's face turns pale as she struggles in the suffocating embrace.]

Elie: (silently, with pleading eyes at Shinji) "Help me!"

Shinji: (stepping forward) "Yuxi, you're going to kill her! Let her breathe!"

Yuxi: (sniffling, letting go) "Sorry, sorry! I just... I can't believe people were so cruel to you."

[As Yuxi moves to sit at the table, Elie takes a deep breath, looking at Shinji with a mix of confusion and gratitude.]

Shinji: (thinking, sighing) "This is going to be a long day..."