Chapter 6
At the entrance to the party, Sa-hyuk stopped and held out his arm to Seobin.
Walking a step behind him, she froze and glanced back and forth between his arm and his face.
She had followed him because Yoo Inha was hosting the party, but she was suddenly unsure of what position she was supposed to take here.
As a reporter covering Kim Sa-hyuk? That felt too much.
As his partner? That felt even stranger.
“…This is a bit…”
She couldn’t finish the sentence Won’t this look strange? and only made an awkward expression.
“It’ll be easier to be my partner than Reporter Bae Seobin. For our purpose.”
Sa-hyuk looked down at her. Unlike her, his eyes showed no emotion.
His calm indifference made her feel like she was overreacting. Heat rose to her face.
Embarrassed, she pouted slightly and lowered her gaze, then lifted her left arm and hooked it through his.
“Let’s go.”
Looking straight ahead, Sa-hyuk’s lips curved faintly.
Together, they stepped toward the entrance.
Right. It’s just linking arms.
Compared to what she could gain by staying beside him, a few misunderstandings meant nothing.
Focus on your purpose, Bae Seobin.
Repeating his advice to herself, she walked into the party.
The outdoor lounge for the VIP event was far more glamorous than something labeled a “charity function.”
Blue lights floated through the night sky in time with house techno music selected by a famous European DJ. In the infinity pool beside the lounge, people in swimsuits swayed to the music, the water rippling with their movements.
Some, already quite drunk, were tangled together on sunbeds and cabanas, creating a suggestive atmosphere.
“When did you get back from the States? Why don’t you answer calls? Busy dating?”
“Sa-hyuk, I’ve got a new business idea… Think you could get me into Meridian? It’s your uncle’s place, right? You should’ve told me earlier.”
As soon as he appeared, people gathered around him, eager to exchange words.
The fourth-generation heir of Jeongho Construction. The grandson of a former Minister of Justice. The son of a real estate tycoon who owned skyscrapers in Gangnam.
They greeted him casually, but beneath their smiles were subtle requests.
And naturally, their eyes shifted to the woman beside him.
“Who’s that?”
“Since when do you bring women to events?”
“I don’t recognize her. Or do I?”
When Seobin gave a small polite nod in response to their curious looks, their gazes grew more blatant.
She wore the black dress Sa-hyuk’s secretary had prepared. Their eyes slowly traced her from head to toe. One of them rolled his tongue inside his mouth and smiled crookedly.
Uncomfortable under the attention, she tried to remove her arm.
But Sa-hyuk tightened his grip and pulled her slightly closer.
“I’m not interested in unnecessary attention.”
His cold tone froze the mood instantly.
The air turned awkward.
Even as his black shirt was slightly unbuttoned and looser than before, his presence remained overwhelming.
“Hey, it’s not that uncomfortable. I just said your girlfriend is really pretty—ugh.”
Kim Seokju was elbowed sharply by Oh Jihan before he could say more.
“Ha ha. Sorry. We were just happy to see you after so long.”
Sa-hyuk smiled lazily at that.
“Fucking stars.”
The curse slipped quietly between his lips, lost in the music. Only Seobin heard it.
“Enjoy the party. Looks like Yoo Inha put in some effort.”
He patted Jihan’s shoulder and walked away with Seobin.
Behind his back, sharp glances followed.
“Arrogant bastard.”
“He’s always been like that.”
Their words were just loud enough to be heard, but soft enough to pretend they weren’t.
That was the unspoken rule in their world of gossip.
Seobin felt their stares burning her back and glanced behind her.
When they were far enough away, she gently removed her arm.
Sa-hyuk said calmly, “You should get used to it.”
She looked up at him. His face was cold, but his voice sounded strangely softer.
“Backtalk. Misunderstandings. Rumors. And scandals.”
“Ah…”
She was used to those.
She had lived through them eight years ago, after her sister died.
Her stiff expression relaxed into a faint smile.
“If it’s for my purpose, I’ll do anything.”
“Anything?”
She nodded lightly.
The night breeze stirred her hair.
Their eyes locked again.
Deep, she thought, looking into his eyes.
As deep and dark as the water her sister had fallen into.
For a moment, the noise of the party seemed to fade.
Then—
“Mic test, mic test. Attention, everyone!”
The host on stage drew the crowd’s focus. Sa-hyuk looked away first, a crooked smile on his lips.
“Planning to act like my girlfriend?”
Her pupils trembled.
She turned to the stage, pretending to be unaffected.
“You’ll have to be prepared.”
The host announced enthusiastically:
“Please welcome the host of tonight’s event and the future leader of the YOU Foundation, Director Yoo Inha!”
A man stood from a raised luxury cabana overlooking the lounge and walked toward the stage.
Yoo Inha.
Seobin’s gaze followed him slowly. But part of her attention remained on Sa-hyuk.
Applause filled the air as Yoo Inha stepped onto the stage.
Like a hyena waiting for prey, Sa-hyuk clapped slowly, his eyes sharp.
Reluctantly, Seobin joined in.
Sa-hyuk leaned close to her ear and whispered,
“I really mean it. All of it.”
She startled and stepped back.
He straightened, looking ahead, and smiled faintly.
What was that?
Feeling teased, she shot him a glare.
On stage, Yoo Inha began his speech.
“Thank you to everyone who joined our foundation’s first event and stayed for the after-party. The YOU Foundation was created to realize the public value of art, a dream I’ve had since childhood…”
Sa-hyuk gestured to a server and picked up a glass of champagne.
He sipped calmly.
Seobin, however, felt increasingly uncomfortable.
The black dress that revealed her silhouette. The high heels she rarely wore. The curious glances that came simply from standing beside him.
But most of all, she disliked how easily his words unsettled her.
“I need to make a call.”
Needing air, she stepped away from him and headed toward the back of the lounge.
Sa-hyuk watched her retreating figure for a long moment.
Unaware that a far more dangerous encounter awaited her.
