Chapter 19

Chapter 19

“Cheers!”

Haewon blended naturally with Yeonwoo’s group. She held a glass in her hand. They had settled into a famous club in Gangnam. A party must have been happening, because the club was packed solid with people.

Yeonwoo’s group seemed to be regulars. As soon as they arrived at the entrance, an MD immediately ushered them into a private room. On the surface, they looked ordinary. But they all seemed to enjoy nightlife in a way that didn’t quite suit their polished appearances.

“Is this your first time here, Haewon?”

Junseo’s voice cut through the booming bass and the blaring music. He was a year younger than Yeonwoo and had a surprisingly boyish face for his tall physique.

“It’s my first time.”

“Huh?”

“I said, it’s my first time!”

She practically yelled into his ear. He finally seemed to understand and nodded.

“Look forward to tonight. Some famous people are coming later.”

“That sounds fun.”

Haewon smiled brightly, though she felt no excitement whatsoever.

Just then, Seol-ah, who was sitting across from her, yanked open the curtain covering the room’s wall. Beyond the glass, the club’s enormous main hall and stage spread out below them.

Haewon stared out, a hint of surprise in her eyes. This place was truly another world. A massive space, dazzling lights, and countless people thrashing wildly beneath them.

Haewon, who disliked loud environments, found the scene almost unbearable. But she was the only one struggling. Everyone else laughed boisterously, clinking their glasses. She sighed inwardly and sipped her watered-down drink. Suddenly, a hand emerged beside her, offering her a fresh glass.

“Drink.”

It was Yeonwoo. Haewon raised her own glass.

“I have a glass.”

Yeonwoo leaned in closer, speaking right into Haewon’s ear.

“I saw you watering it down.”

“…”

She wanted to protest, to explain she was on duty. But he wasn’t the kind of man to be swayed by that. Haewon accepted the glass Yeonwoo offered without a word. She was no stranger to alcohol herself.

“Cheers.”

Yeonwoo grinned, clinking his glass against hers. Haewon mirrored his smile, letting the amber liquid trickle past her lips. The first taste was sweet, like caramel, but as it slid down her throat, her insides burned as if seared by fire.

This must be pretty high-proof.

She downed it in one go, then licked her lips. Yeonwoo, who had been watching, chuckled.

“You drink well, so why play games? That’s cowardly.”

“Because I have to protect Kwon Yeonwoo.”

She whispered into Yeonwoo’s ear. He burst out laughing as if she’d told the funniest joke.

Just then, the room suddenly grew noisy. She wondered what was happening and looked around. Several unfamiliar people had entered the private room.

They seemed to be Jisoo’s friends: slender figures, heavy makeup, and unusual clothes that made them look like celebrities.

“Say hello~ These are my friends Ayeon and Sian. They said they were performing tonight, so I invited them.”

“Wow, Jisoo’s the best! Long live Yoo Jisoo!”

Dohoon and Junseo, already quite tipsy, cheered for Jisoo. Then they ambled over to Ayeon and Sian, striking up a friendly conversation.

Haewon quietly observed Dohoon, Junseo, and Jisoo.

When she first saw them earlier that day, she’d assumed they were just ordinary college students. But after some digging, she learned they were scions of highly esteemed families.

Jung-in had informed her that Dohoon, Yeonwoo’s age, was the son of a re-elected ruling party assemblyman. Seol-ah’s father was the Chief Prosecutor of the Central District Prosecutor’s Office. Jisoo was even the D Group’s third-generation heir, and Junseo was the son of a highly successful entrepreneur.

She suspected their connections and family backgrounds were key to how they’d formed their close bond. Haewon shifted her gaze from the group and glanced at Yeonwoo.

She wondered if Yeonwoo might also be interested in the celebrities. But he didn’t spare them a glance, instead staring indifferently through the glass window.

“We’ll come back after our performance. The CEO is looking for us, so we have to go now.”

“Ah, okay. You absolutely have to come back, alright?”

The instant friends exchanged regretful goodbyes. Once Ayeon and Sian were gone, Dohoon started chattering excitedly.

“I want to hang out with them tonight.”

“Who? Ayeon?”

“Yeah. Well, Sian isn’t bad either.”

Junseo, beside him, asked with gleaming eyes.

“Are you taking them to the Alpha Room?”

“Yeah. Yoo Jisoo! They’re gonna…”

Dohoon trailed off, glancing discreetly at Haewon. Haewon averted her gaze, pretending she hadn’t heard a thing. Dohoon then leaned in and whispered into Jisoo’s ear.

She couldn’t make out what he said, but a strange uneasiness settled over her. She watched them discreetly. Surely the son of a re-elected assemblyman wasn’t doing drugs in a place like this? And dragging others into it?

She sharpened her senses, wondering if Yeonwoo might be involved. Just then, Seol-ah, who had been sitting quietly a short distance away, approached Yeonwoo and tugged on his hand.

“Oppa, let’s dance outside! Please?”

Seol-ah, with her round eyes wide and feigned innocence, was flirting with him. She seemed quite drunk. Haewon doubted Kwon Yeonwoo would go along with it. But surprisingly, he rose from his seat, feigning reluctance.

Dance… him? That man?

Haewon looked up at them, startled. Yeonwoo smirked and addressed her.

“Wanna come with us?”

“…Okay.”

Haewon forced a smile, the corners of her lips resisting, and stood up. She couldn’t let Yeonwoo go out on his own.

The moment they stepped out of the room, deafening music assaulted her ears. The booming bass vibrated through her body like a frantic heartbeat. She covered her ears with her hands and followed Yeonwoo, who was ahead. But a man, stumbling nearby, bumped right into her.

“Ah!”

Haewon nearly toppled over. By the time she finally regained her balance, Seol-ah and Yeonwoo were already descending the stairs to the dance floor below.

“K-Kwon Yeonwoo!”

The instant she called his name, all the lights flickered off, then blazed back on. It seemed a deliberate dramatic effect: colorful lights danced more wildly, and the music swelled.

The problem was, in that brief moment, she’d lost sight of Yeonwoo.

A surge of panic hit Haewon. She hurried down the stairs, but finding Yeonwoo on the packed dance floor, under those constantly shifting, multi-colored lights, was nearly impossible.

“Ugh, where did he go?”

Haewon clenched her fist. She’d never imagined losing him so quickly. Gritting her teeth, she pushed her way forward through the throng.

The savage music, the constant jostling of bodies, the occasional lingering hands that deliberately snaked around her waist, and the gazes of men on her face were all deeply unpleasant.

“…This isn’t going to work.”

After searching for Yeonwoo for a long time, Haewon concluded it was impossible to find him down there. She left the dance floor and headed for the stairs. She hoped she might spot Yeonwoo from a higher vantage point. But even after scanning every inch, she couldn’t find a single trace of Kwon Yeonwoo in the vast crowd.

Had he hidden on purpose?

With Kwon Yeonwoo, that was entirely possible. Haewon decided to check one more place. She headed back to the room they had occupied earlier.

But the moment she opened the door, she froze.

In the short time she’d been gone, the room was filled with strangers. Men and women alike, they drank, danced, and intertwined, engaging in casual physical contact.

She wondered if she’d found the wrong room and checked the door again. But the room number was correct.

So where had her companions gone?

Even if Seol-ah and Yeonwoo had left, shouldn’t Dohoon, Junseo, and Jisoo still be in here?

Then a chilling thought struck her, cutting through her confusion.

What if they had all vanished, intentionally leaving her behind…?

“Ha.”

Haewon ran a hand through her hair, letting out a humorless laugh. No wonder he’d let her stay by his side so easily.

She stood at the stair railing, gazing down at the countless people. If he’d intentionally hidden, he wouldn’t be in plain sight. He might have even left the club entirely.

Haewon’s gaze swept over the dozens of private rooms lining the corridor. She meticulously observed the people entering and exiting the rooms. Then she pulled out her phone and sent a text to Jung-in.

[Please check W Club’s entrance CCTV in real-time. Let me know immediately if Kwon Yeonwoo’s image is captured.]

Haewon gripped her clutch, her phone tucked inside, and headed toward the corridor with a determined stride. Click-clack, her heels echoed sharply against the floor. She planned to check the private rooms, starting from the front.

She started checking the rooms sequentially. Suddenly, someone grabbed her wrist. She spun around. A burly waiter in a sharp suit was smiling down at her.

“Hey, pretty lady. You shouldn’t just open strangers’ doors.”

His wide grin looked menacing. Haewon gazed at him for a moment, then her eyes curved into a soft smile.

“Yeonwoo oppa called me over, but I don’t know which room he’s in.”

“Yeonwoo?”

The waiter repeated the name, a clueless expression on his face. Haewon studied his expression, then, after a brief pause, stepped closer to the waiter and whispered into his ear.

“Oh, no, I misspoke. It was Dohoon oppa. He said you’d know if I mentioned the Alpha Room…”