Chapter 65: First Visit

What should someone prepare when visiting their crush's house for the first time?

Erwin had never had such an experience before.

But today, he would face this milestone.

After leaving Knockturn Alley, Erwin hurried back home and selected a bottle of red wine as a gift.

Cho had mentioned that her father enjoyed drinking, whether it was from his homeplace or from here, he appreciated them all.

This particular bottle of Rhône Valley red wine had been given to him by shareholders of a company in which Erwin had invested.

According to them, it was a collector's edition of considerable value.

After changing into more appropriate attire and wrapping the red wine carefully, Erwin made his way to the meeting place he and Cho had agreed upon.

Soon, Cho arrived.

Looking at Erwin, who was dressed in a completely different style from his usual school clothes, Cho's eyes lit up with appreciation.

The fit he wore, combined with his gentle smile, made him look like a young gentleman from an ancient noble family.

The two talked and laughed along the way, but as they approached the gate, Erwin suddenly felt nervous.

Cho noticed his anxiety and gently took his hand, silently reassuring him.

“Don’t worry, It’s not like I would run after coming this far?”

Smiling at Cho, Erwin signaled that he was fine, and together they walked inside.

Cho's home was located on the outskirts of London.

The house wasn't large, just a normal-sized dwelling.

No one would have guessed that a family of wizards actually lived here.

"Mom! Dad! We're back."

As soon as they entered, Cho called out to the interior.

Cho's mother was cooking in the kitchen, while her father sat on the sofa with a copy of the Daily Prophet in hand.

“Oh, welcome, welcome, come inside both of you,”

Hearing her daughter's voice, Cho's mother, Helen, emerged from the kitchen, offered a quick greeting, then hurried back to continue cooking.

Erwin noticed, however, that she didn't really need to supervise, all the kitchen utensils were enchanted and could prepare the meal without any manual intervention.

Cho's father smiled warmly as his daughter came home.

However, when his gaze shifted to Erwin, his expression instantly became serious.

Erwin felt rather speechless.

He hadn't expected Cho's father to be so protective. It seemed today's visit would be quite the challenge.

Despite her father's stern look, Cho was excited and pulled Erwin upstairs to her room.

Walking into Cho's bedroom, Erwin looked around curiously.

This was the first time he'd entered a girl's room.

The space wasn't large, just a single bed, a desk, and a wardrobe.

Posters of the Tutshill Tornadoes decorated the walls, and a Nimbus 2001 broom, Erwin's gift to Cho, rested beside the desk.

 It was clear evidence of the girl's love for Quidditch.

However, two stuffed dolls on the bed revealed her softer, girlish side.

Seeing Erwin examining her room with such curiosity, Cho felt slightly embarrassed and playfully covered his eyes.

"Don't stare so much."

Erwin nodded with a smile, then sat on the bed. She sat beside him and the two started to chat.

It wasn't until Helen called them downstairs that Erwin and Cho got up.

"Come on, Erwin. Don't be nervous. Make yourself at home. Eat whatever you'd like."

Sitting at the dining table, Helen greeted Erwin with a warm smile.

Erwin settled into his chair and looked at the table laden with sumptuous dishes. He couldn't help but express his admiration.

"Your cooking looks wonderful, Mrs. Chang. These dishes look so good." It was a mix of Western and oriental cuisine.

"Then please eat plenty."

Helen was delighted to hear such kind words and kept serving Erwin dish after dish.

Both Cho and her father were momentarily forgotten.

Erwin didn't hold back.

Enjoying food was the greatest compliment to the cook. He praised each dish as he ate.

"You know about oriental cuisine?" Cho's father asked with interest when he heard Erwin talk about their original land dishes. He hadn't expected that at all.

Erwin brightened at the topic, he had been quite the food enthusiast in his previous life.

He immediately began discussing various dishes with the man.

However, seeing that Erwin understood oriental culture so well, Cho’s father developed a favorable impression of the young man.

Suddenly, he stood and retrieved a bottle from the cupboard.

"I didn't expect you to be so knowledgeable. Let's drink and chat. It’s been a while since I enjoyed something like this,"

Cho's father had a mischievous plan.

Though he had a good impression of Erwin, he still felt the need to test the boy who had captured his daughter's attention.

His solution was to drink with him and see if he could handle his liquor. He didn’t care that he was still young. He was a wizard after all.

"David! Don't be ridiculous, Erwin's too young for that."

"It's fine. This is a family dinner, a couple of drinks just adds to the atmosphere."

David wouldn't let Helen spoil his plan.

He quickly waved his hand, insisting it was perfectly acceptable.

Erwin looked at the bottle and immediately perked up.

In his previous life, as someone working long hours for little pay, he'd never had the opportunity to drink that specific brand, and this was vintage from this era.

"It's okay, Mrs. Chang. I'd be happy to share a drink with Mr. Chang."

Erwin smiled and gently dissuaded Helen, who had been about to intervene.

Cho smiled and watched silently.

Last semester, she and Erwin had secretly shared butterbeer that Fred and George had brought. She knew Erwin's tolerance quite well.

Watching her father prepare to get Erwin drunk, Cho knew that it was actually her father who would have a difficult evening ahead.

Seeing that Erwin was so agreeable, David nodded with satisfaction, unaware that his sweet little daughter had become somewhat mischievous herself.