Chapter 179
Chapter 179
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 179
Chapter Title: Yoon and Jaeyeon (1)
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The party hall was spacious and elegant.
People splendidly dressed entered through the open door. Already feeling drained.
The moment I spotted the Spitfire, I had to ask for the game.
Then I could escape this place. There were surely all sorts of delicacies prepared, but I had no appetite whatsoever. I just wanted to hole up in my cabin and boil some cup ramen by myself.
Where was the host?
I looked around, but there wasn't even a sign of the elders, let alone their underlings.
Was the protagonist arriving fashionably late?
Grumpily, I headed further inside.
Matching Yoon's pace, I muttered lowly.
"Judging by the situation, it seems like it'll be at least two hours before they show themselves."
"No way a big shot like that would arrive first to greet the guests."
"By the way, black really suits you."
It was a shame he usually wore a white lab coat.
"You should wear black more often."
Yoon rolled his eyes and scanned me up and down.
"You're the one who should stop wandering around in just a T-shirt and windbreaker and start wearing suits."
"What's wrong with a windbreaker?"
My master conveyed his intent with a look.
I gave an awkward smile and rubbed my neck.
"I thought those things suited me just fine..."
"Suits suit you best."
Yoon said matter-of-factly.
It was a compliment, I suppose.
I didn't bother asking.
As we entered the bustling space filled with lively chatter, I scanned the surroundings. The others probably knew each other, and even if not, someone would introduce new faces. But socially speaking, I wasn't the type to be invited to a place like this.
Yoon wasn't the type to introduce me to anyone either.
In fact, he got stuck with some physicist or biologist or whatever.
Choi Hyun-jun, the eldest son of the Choi family, approached with a bright smile.
Etak's chairman spotted me and gave a light greeting.
"Mr. Talib. Long time no see. How have you been?"
"Chairman."
I lightly returned his offered handshake.
"Pleasure. How have you been?"
A formal reply in return.
The conversation didn't continue.
It was only natural—I had nothing to offer him. That's how social gatherings worked.
Under Choi Hyun-jun's lead, the scientists began chatting.
I wasn't tone-deaf enough to butt in.
Choi Hyun-jun seemed to be brainstorming a new item with that scientist. He probably wanted confirmation on its feasibility from his adopted little brother. I watched Yoon, who was stuck listening grumpily to the eldest brother.
When it seemed like the talk would drag on, I slipped away.
Nowhere to go, though...
A hall with museum-like high ceilings. Plaster statues affixed to the walls at regular intervals. All the white statues were headless. Winged ones, ones twisted in agony, serenely seated ones—all missing everything above the neck.
Some taste.
The tables varied in shape too.
I headed to the only unoccupied one.
Time to eat dinner.
"Um..."
I'd just popped some finger food in my mouth and was examining a bottle of liquor.
Someone spoke up from behind.
I set down the bottle and turned.
"Yes?"
"First time at a party like this?"
Looking down, I saw a woman with striking eyes.
"If you're alone, want to join me at that table over there?"
Jaeyeon?
The thought flashed through my mind.
His specialty was disguising himself as someone else.
If he'd gone all out on the disguise, I wouldn't recognize him. I quickly dismissed the suspicion that the woman before me was Jaeyeon.
Then I focused on her words.
"That table has some really good stuff. I tried it during a shoot once—it's sweet and delicious."
"Ah."
She's an entertainer.
No knowledge of the industry, so I didn't know her name.
I pulled the woman into my arm.
"That's fine, right?"
Without waiting for a reply, she tugged me along.
"It's this way inside."
Bewildered, I let her lead me.
Odd.
I had time to kill anyway, and social gatherings were for mingling, so I didn't refuse and just went along.
Following the nameless woman led to a differently lit area.
I narrowed my eyes. It felt worlds apart from the elegant museum-like hall.
The surroundings darkened in an instant. Unlike the hall, the vibe here freely indulged in cigarettes and booze.
A strange smell wafted.
"Weed?"
"You must not know since it's your first time at this party. If you want any drugs, just say so. We've got everything."
The woman looked up at me and grinned.
The glitter on her eyelids sparkled.
"You're not here to talk business, right?"
Ah.
The elegant main hall must be for politicos and tycoons, while this back area was for the artsy crowd.
Fitting for the host, I suppose.
Memories of getting dosed with drugs in the Colosseum popped up. Not a fond recollection.
"What'll it be? Weed?"
"I'm good."
Didn't Black Badger say Enhanced Body gets decommissioned if you do drugs?
"Can't do drugs because of my job."
"As expected. Aspiring actor, right?"
Pardon?
No?
"It's fine, no reporters here! I'll introduce you to some seniors."
Her manicured nail pointed to a massive semicircular sofa at the end.
The table in front was crammed with all sorts of liquor. Men and women lounged lazily on the sofa. As I got closer, their faces came into view.
Actors, probably. I even recognized one.
But I'm really not an aspiring actor.
Ignoring my fluster, the woman stopped in front of the table.
The nameless actress now had my arm fully embraced.
Should I say I'm not an aspiring actor?
The moment I thought that, the man in the center of the sofa spoke up.
"What's with this scrub?"
"Yes?"
"First time at the party, so I brought him."
The woman leaned her face on my shoulder and laughed.
"Cute, right?"
"Never seen him before."
"Ah! Kinda feels like I have."
"Is he the new guy Airhart's sponsoring?"
The good-looking folks on the sofa scanned me this way and that, tossing comments.
Eyes appraising my score. Amid the barrage of gazes and words, I missed my chance to clarify I wasn't an aspiring actor.
"Hey, even so, bringing some no-name here? Kinda weird."
"Pretty face, so potential?"
"This industry doesn't make every pretty face succeed."
"But Airhart has unique tastes, you know."
"Airhart's the type to support fully once hooked."
"Still, usually knows who to pick."
The most familiar-faced male actor—the one who'd called me a scrub—said it while looking at me.
Whiskey glass lazily in one hand. The other held a cigarette, draped arrogantly over the backrest.
"I thought he knew how to distinguish invite-worthy from not."
"Matthew."
"Seems like a miss this time."
Hm.
From the looks, they were underrating me as a nobody.
"Cece, no matter how handsome, you can't try forgetting an ex like this."
The blonde beauty next to the male actor laughed at the woman holding my arm.
As she tossed her hair back with both hands, it fanned out like a peacock.
"Rude to the guy."
I smiled faintly and just listened to their banter.
"Obviously brought to provoke Michael's jealousy."
"What?"
"No one's gonna care about you no matter what~ Still don't get it?"
Entertaining.
If this were back when I remembered nothing, this treatment might've hurt. But now, with memories recovered, it barely registered.
I quite enjoyed spectating their power play.
"Rachel, didn't you brag on that talk show about chatting up a newbie who couldn't mingle? Who's the one desperate for attention?"
"Brought a pretty boy but keeps glancing at Michael's reaction..."
"What's your name?"
The central male actor ignored the actresses' spat and asked.
I blinked and met his gaze.
"Hildebert Talib."
"Never heard of you."
Figures.
I probably wasn't on Earth when you were born.
"How'd a scrub like you get in? Who'd you suck up to?"
I stared straight at him silently.
He was familiar. That meant a huge A-lister. I don't watch dramas, movies, or SNS, so not many actors I know.
Is that why the arrogance?
As he furrowed his brow under my stare, someone shouted.
"Senior!"
Heads whipped around.
I followed their gazes. A tall man approaching.
Model-like height, perfectly tailored clothes.
Sharp, refined features. Immaculate all-black attire. Crisp shoe clicks echoed clearly.
He commanded attention just by walking.
Even the arrogant male actor straightened up at his entrance.
As the center of attention drew near, the area buzzed instantly.
"Thought you weren't coming today!"
"Would've brought your favorite if I knew. Scored something amazing recently."
"Hey! Make some room for him!"
"Sit here, senior!"
The man said nothing.
He ignored the actors' greetings as he bent at the waist, pretending not to hear. Then, fluidly, he picked up a cigarette pack from the table.
He pulled one out and put it in his mouth.
One of the actors lit it for him.
I watched the whole sequence and let out a massive sigh.
Ha.
"You came?"
Jaeyeon turned to me and smirked.
"Hair's gotten longer?"
I didn't want to run into you.
Grumpily, I eyed Jaeyeon smoking.
Same face as last time. Upturned eyes, well-shaped nose. Impeccable hair.
Why's this guy here without Colton?
I replied without hiding my displeasure.
"What are you doing here?"
The actress clinging to my arm gasped.
But I ignored her stepping back and the actors' shock.
"Came to see you."
Jaeyeon's grinning reply soured my mood further.
"Growing it out again? Back to the good old days?"
"Too lazy to cut it."
Ignoring his deliberate mimicry of Kyle's speech, I answered.
"Hair grows if you leave it."
Jaeyeon exhaled smoke.
The puff was loud. Coming to, the surroundings were silent. The actors had shut up, eavesdropping on us.
Did the vibe shift this fast?
Actors with clamped or agape mouths, wide eyes.
What was Jaeyeon's position here? Veteran superstar?
Gazing grumpily at their stunned reactions, the blonde spoke to Jaeyeon.
"Wait, is this your acquaintance, senior...?"
"An old friend."
Since when?
"You've been taking good care of him?"
"Uh... well..."
"Doing drugs?"
Jaeyeon offered a syringe.
I showed my palm, declining.
This jerk knows...
"Not really my thing."
"Yeah? Thought with your recent situation, you'd turn to them."
Jaeyeon grinned and scratched his temple.
"Still manageable, huh?"
Maybe sock him later when there's an opening.
I seriously pondered while eyeing the smirking bastard. No Colton, no Ye-hyeon—should be fine.
On second thought, no better chance than tonight.
If issues arise later, blame it on being drunk?
Mood lifted at the thought of clocking him.
So I smiled back, but Jaeyeon's gaze flew past me.
The fox-demon-like man grinned sinisterly, flashing even teeth.
"Oh dear, honey."
I whipped around following his gaze.
A familiar face entered my view.
"I've been waiting."
Choi Yoon.
My stone-faced master approached, face screaming barely contained lust.