He called out that name like a moan. The relief at encountering his familiar roommate was fleeting, as his head throbbed not knowing how to explain this situation. However, Ray Jun linked arms with Kang Siwon as if he understood without being told and whispered.
“You can behave quietly now, right?”
When he nodded dazedly, Ray Jun started walking again.
“Good boy.”
“……”
Could someone who had crawled all the way up to a floor you couldn’t enter without a card key really be called a ‘good boy’? It was deeply ironic.
“But aside from me, why are you in a place like this……”
The question came a beat late. Ray Jun wasn’t the type of person who would be at such a party either, so what was going on? However, at the voice heard from behind, Kang Siwon closed his mouth.
“……I saw him coming this way, where did he go?”
“It looks like the hall direction!”
The guards had stubbornly chased all the way here. Ray Jun, seeming to have grasped the situation as well, whispered while leading Kang Siwon.
“Let’s talk later. This way for now.”
He headed toward the party hall. The guards who had entered the hall first were searching every nook and cranny near the opposite exit. Thanks to that, people’s gazes turned elsewhere, but too many people filled the open space. While reluctantly following Ray Jun, Kang Siwon muttered anxiously.
“There are too many people……”
“There’s nowhere else suitable. It’ll be fine once we pass through the hall, it gets quiet.”
Even those words didn’t put him at ease. Among people who reeked of wealth, he was a conspicuous presence in a bad way. Even oil dropped in water would blend in better than this. At least it was fortunate that the surroundings were rather dark—if it had been even a bit brighter, he would have been discovered immediately.
Kang Siwon clung to Ray Jun like an instinct. In this situation, the only one he could rely on was Ray Jun. Not just for psychological reasons, but being with him seemed to make himself look at least a little less suspicious.
Finally, when they exited the hall, a space like a backstage appeared. As Ray Jun had promised, there wasn’t a single person here. The moment Kang Siwon caught his breath, a commotion could be heard from behind.
“Excuse me. We’ll be brief.”
“We’re on patrol. Please cooperate.”
The guards had doggedly followed. The fact that this was inside a building hit home anew. No matter how vast, as long as it was indoors, it seemed he couldn’t escape being a rat in a trap.
His lips were parched dry. His heart was beating this fast, yet his hands only grew cold. Ray Jun looked at such a Kang Siwon and licked his lips slightly.
“Hmm……”
Suddenly, Ray Jun pushed Kang Siwon against the wall.
Bang, before he could even be surprised by his back hitting the wall, the hem of his hoodie flipped up over his head. Ray Jun didn’t stop at just removing the hoodie but pressed down on Kang Siwon.
“……!”
Something soft collided with his lips. Kang Siwon’s eyes widened. He couldn’t understand what situation this was at all. No, on the other hand, it was problematic that he seemed to understand all too well.
Ray Jun kissed him. Densely, like lovers in the midst of playing with fire.
“You, ……ngh.”
The voice that tried to protest was swallowed and faded by Ray Jun. It was a kiss as if it would devour his breath without leaving any behind. When a flustered Kang Siwon tried to push him away, Ray Jun embraced his waist.
“Tha……”
Meanwhile, the guards who had approached within five steps hesitated. They had to patrol, but they clearly couldn’t find the timing to interrupt. Ray Jun looked back at them and cast a cold gaze.
“Can’t you see I’m busy right now?”
Kang Siwon, held in his arms, held his breath and thought. I see. Ray Jun deliberately kissed him to hide him. Once he understood the reason, his pounding heart gradually calmed down.
“We apologize for the interruption. We were on patrol due to a report of an intruder.”
“Then go patrol, why are you lingering? Do you have a hobby of watching men make out?”
“……”
“Go do your business. I don’t mind, but my partner is very shy, so it won’t work.”
“Yes. Have a good time.”
He had no idea what kind of good time they meant. Whether Kang Siwon was going crazy or not, the guards passed by the two. Ray Jun watched until they completely left the area, then withdrew his gaze.
“It’s done.”
Ray Jun, who whispered that, released his waist. However, he still hid Kang Siwon with his body as if putting up a protective barrier.
“Hey, you, this place, no, but just now……”
The things he wanted to say tangled in his head and didn’t come out properly. After stumbling several times, Kang Siwon finally managed to ask a question.
“……Why did you take off my clothes?”
“Then, you wanted to get caught by the scruff because of your outfit? Isn’t disguise a basic skill for infiltration? Not knowing even this, I guess you’re still a beginner.”
“O-of course. It’s not like I’m some kind of pro, so I wouldn’t be used to infiltration.”
Hearing it put that way, he felt embarrassed for asking something so obvious. Kang Siwon picked up the hoodie and pondered. Since the guards would roughly know his appearance, it was dangerous to walk around wearing these clothes. But to go around without the clothes—that would look suspicious in its own way.
“Wear this.”
As if noticing Kang Siwon’s dilemma, Ray Jun took off his jacket and draped it over his shoulders. Kang Siwon, who was in no position to refuse, slipped his arms through the jacket. As the smooth lining brushed his bare skin, he could feel Ray Jun’s body temperature still remaining.
“Thanks. Really.”
He lowered his head deeply in embarrassment. Then Ray Jun’s upper garment entered his vision. He was wearing a black changpao. Perhaps modernly modified, it looked like a shirt at first glance, but the collar part was a mandarin collar. The closing that extended from the neck to the right chest was antique.
“Shall we go down?”
Ray Jun turned around briskly. Kang Siwon followed him as he walked somewhere without asking anything.
* * *
The path to the elevator was longer and more complex than expected. He didn’t know what kind of intention the building was designed with, but it wasn’t a structure friendly to first-time visitors. He thought that if it hadn’t been for Ray Jun, even if he hadn’t been caught by the guards, it would have been difficult to escape this building on his own.
Beep-.
Ray Jun, who got on the elevator, tagged a card key on the reader next to the panel. Kang Siwon glanced at that golden card.
“Can I ask how you got that?”
The scene in the party hall was by no means an ordinary gathering. It was an atmosphere where anyone not from the upper class couldn’t even set foot. However, Ray Jun said nonchalantly.
“This card? It’s nothing. An acquaintance was invited to the party, so I entered with partner qualifications.”
“Ah……”
It was impressive that he had such a person as an acquaintance. But if it was the attractive and sociable Ray Jun, it was certainly plausible enough.
Kang Siwon looked Ray Jun over anew. He’d been too busy being chased earlier, and the surroundings were too dark to see his face properly. But seeing him under the bright lighting, it made him wonder who that person was.
Ray Jun was especially splendid today. Of course, he was always handsome, but now he even seemed to exude elegance. Was it thanks to the black changpao that fit his body perfectly and the dress pants, or was it thanks to the baroque-style decorations of the elevator? In any case, the impression was completely different from the ‘ace dealer of Sovereign Casino’ Ray Jun that he knew.
Especially eye-catching were his pupils.
Not the usual black, but bright hazelnut-colored pupils.
Each time the elevator lighting reflected in his pupils, the light swayed like liqueur in a glass. Just as he was inadvertently admiring how mysteriously color lenses were being released these days—
Ding-.
The elevator arrived. Beyond the open door, an unfamiliar space unfolded.
“Where is this?”
“Parking lot. Follow me.”
Ray Jun got off the elevator. Kang Siwon followed his steps.
Befitting a luxurious building, the parking lot was lined with high-end cars. Among them, Ray Jun opened the door of a sleek white sedan.
Could he be telling him to get in? When Kang Siwon hesitated, Ray Jun, who had gotten in the car first, rolled down the window and asked.
“What are you doing? Aren’t you getting in?”
“……Can I get in?”
“Then you’re not getting in? Ah, are you waiting for an escort?”
“No!”
Kang Siwon, who had suddenly become someone hinting for an escort, quickly opened the car door and got in.
The car interior was spacious and comfortable. The white leather seats had not a single stain, and it smelled of a new car. It was completely different from Ju Xiang’s car, which was permeated with the smell of cigarettes.
“I didn’t expect to meet in Hong Kong.”
He turned his head at Ray Jun’s low voice. He wasn’t wearing his seatbelt, and was just leaning his body against the backrest with his head slightly turned, looking at Kang Siwon.
“Weren’t you with Ju Xiang?”
“Yeah. I didn’t have anything particular to do……”
“Hmm, I see.”
He didn’t seem to believe it very much. Well, he would have been the same. Thinking that his lie had been exposed in the worst way, Kang Siwon swallowed a sigh.
