“Yes, it’s me. Hwa Young. If you recognize me, get in already! We really need to hurry!”

Hwa Young, sitting in a sports car that looked just like him, urged Ji Wan.

His tone was very rushed, as if something urgent had happened.

Not understanding the situation, Ji Wan asked with a puzzled expression.

“You came looking for me? Why?”

“Why do you think I brought my Nix out at this hour to pick you up? Think about it. The answer is simple.”

At Hwa Young’s cryptic reply, Ji Wan racked her brains.

The only reason Hwa Young would look for her had to be because of Tae Sung. It was also the time she had agreed to meet with Tae Sung.

“Perhaps Tae Sung…”

Ji Wan brought up his name to Hwa Young.

Before she could finish speaking, Hwa Young immediately frowned.

“Come on, I said we’re busy and you have to bring up that bastard? Get in quickly. We’re really in a hurry.”

Seeing him react so sensitively, it must be right that Joo Tae Sung had sent him.

If Tae Sung hadn’t told him, there’s no way he would have known Ji Wan’s workplace.

Ji Wan got into the sports car while still being very wary.

“Fasten your seatbelt tight. We’re cutting it close on time so I’ll have to drive a bit rough.”

Hwa Young said as he smoothly shifted gears.

Still not understanding the situation at all, Ji Wan continued asking questions even as she put on her seatbelt.

“Where are we going? What about Tae Sung? Before that, have you two made up?”

But she couldn’t get an answer to any of it.

Because the sports car had started weaving through the busy 4-lane road.

“Ahh! Slow down a bit! Ahh! There are so many cars!”

“What? Scared? Want me to turn on some music?”

“Right now music isn’t important… Ahh!”

Ji Wan’s body shook violently from side to side.

Instead of slowing down to ease her fear, Hwa Young turned on fast-paced music loudly.

The unnecessarily good car audio system transmitted the booming sound right through the seats.

I usually hate cars that play music loudly, but to think I’d end up riding in one today.

Ji Wan already felt like she wanted to get out.

If this wasn’t a 4-lane road, she probably would have jumped out regardless of Joo Tae Sung or anything else.

Buzz buzz buzz― Buzz buzz buzz―

Just then, Ji Wan’s ringing phone vibrated loudly.

But buried under the vibrations of the car audio and music, Ji Wan didn’t notice anything and just kept staring straight ahead.

At that time, at Seyoung Daily News.

A black sedan that Ji Wan would have recognized instantly pulled up in front of the main entrance.

People’s gazes were drawn once again to the large sedan with a different kind of mature charm than Hwa Young’s.

The man sitting in the driver’s seat checking outside was, of course, Tae Sung.

Rrrrr― Rrrrr―

He’s been trying to call her for a while now but she still won’t pick up.

He scans the surroundings, but there’s not even anyone who looks like her around here.

―The call cannot be connected so it will be transferred to voicemail…

Around then, the monotonous ringing ended and the guidance message for switching to voicemail was heard.

Tae Sung pressed the end call button and immediately pressed the call button once more.

Ji Wan’s phone was buzzing away busily in her bag.

“Oh my god…! Take the corners more gently!”

“Sorry. I’d like to be more gentle too but if we’re even a minute late something really bad will happen.”

“Just where are we going in such a hurry!”

“It’s a secret!”

Meanwhile the phone’s owner was too distracted by the driver’s aggro to notice it at all.

* * *

The luxurious and grand exterior of the musical theater, L Theater.

The raucous driving and blaring music finally ended when his car found a spot in a corner of the parking lot.

I’m not sure how I made it here. I also don’t understand why Do Hwa Young got involved in this meeting to repay Joo Tae Sung.

To Ji Wan who was still dazed in this completely incomprehensible situation, Hwa Young smiled childishly and said,

“We’ve arrived. Luckily we’re not late. Shall we go in then, lady?”

Ji Wan’s eyes filled with bewilderment at the suddenly gentlemanly line he dropped.

I didn’t want to confirm the rumors about the LU Department Store director being crazy like this, but why do I keep getting tangled up with this person…

“Did we come here to see a musical?”

Ji Wan asked.

“What, did you think I came to perform? Even I can’t get in if we’re even a minute late. Hurry and get out.”

Hwa Young replied with an expression that said ‘why are you asking something so obvious’ as he got out of the car first.

Ji Wan followed him out, still unable to wipe the dazed expression off her face.

“What shoes are you wearing?”

“Shoes? Just sneakers.”

“Good, at least I won’t have to carry you… Is your bag heavy?”

“It’s heavy because my laptop is in it, but why?”

“Okay. Give it here. I’ll carry it for you.”

Hwa Young took the heavy bag from Ji Wan’s hand.

Ji Wan looked at him with a surprised expression, as she hadn’t asked him to take it.

But before she could say anything, Hwa Young grabbed her wrist.

“Alright, take a deep breath. When I count to three, we run. We have 5 minutes left.”

“What, what?!”

“One, two, three!”

Hwa Young, who counted to three in just one second, started running while holding onto Ji Wan.

Suddenly finding herself sprinting, Ji Wan frantically followed while searching only for Tae Sung.

“Where is Joo Tae Sung?!”

“Save your breath! We have to climb stairs!”

“No, I’m asking where Joo Tae Sung is…!”

“The stairs aren’t too high so we can take two at a time, right?!”

Hwa Young never once answered her questions about Joo Tae Sung.

At this point Ji Wan felt that something was strange, but she was running so hard without stopping that she had no time to think about it calmly.

Like that, they arrived breathlessly inside the theater.

Only when they reached the VVIP seats with the best view of the stage did Hwa Young finally let go of Ji Wan’s wrist.

“How is it? I snatched these seats. With a proper incentive added on.”

Hwa Young, who normally goes jogging every dawn, had a refreshed expression without any sign of fatigue even after the intense run.

In contrast, Ji Wan, who had no talent for running, couldn’t even answer properly as she gasped for breath.

“Haa… No… What is…”

“Yeah yeah, you don’t have to say it. I know. You must be moved. That emotionally stunted Joo Tae Sung would never enjoy cultural activities like this.”

“Haa, that… Haa…”

“I usually hate dark places so I really don’t come to places like this. But I specially came, even taking medicine, because of you. Joo Tae Sung would never make such a sacrifice.”

“Medicine…?”

Ji Wan’s face showed that she didn’t understand at all, but Hwa Young unilaterally pulled her to sit down in the seat next to him.

Since she heard the name, Ji Wan started looking around for Tae Sung even while still catching her breath.

But the seat next to Hwa Young, the seat next to Ji Wan, and even the seats behind were all occupied by other people.

No matter where she looked within her line of sight, Tae Sung was nowhere to be found.

“Hwa Young, I really feel like I’ve been asking this over and over…”

“Hm?”

“Where is Joo Tae Sung?”

Feeling an immense sense of unease, Ji Wan asked Hwa Young.

She was ready to grab his collar and shake him if he didn’t answer this time.

Fortunately, Hwa Young didn’t ignore her question anymore.

“He’s probably at home.”

“What…?”

“I came to meet you today. To apologize for barging in that time, and to compensate for breaking the teacup.”

“W-wait. So Tae Sung didn’t send you?”

“Why would Joo Tae Sung send me? No, more than that. Would I come even if he sent me? I don’t listen to anyone, but especially not Joo Tae Sung.”

“If it’s not because of Tae Sung then why did you bring me here… How did you know my workplace…”

“Shh, you’ll get hurt if you ask too much.”

Suddenly her head felt dizzy.

She had followed all the way here solely because she was certain Tae Sung had sent him.

To think it had nothing to do with Joo Tae Sung.

To think it was all done unilaterally by the crazy super lunatic Do Hwa Young alone.

“This can’t be…”

Ji Wan, who had frozen with her mouth hanging open, hurriedly reached for her phone.

3 missed calls. Joo Tae Sung.

It was a small number for being out of contact for an hour, but why did it feel scarier than hundreds of calls?

“Put your phone on airplane mode. You know, right?”

Hwa Young whispered, oblivious to her inner thoughts.

Ji Wan looked at Hwa Young with blazing eyes full of the bewilderment and resentment of this moment, and loaded harsh curses on the tip of her tongue from pure instinct.

“In the world, such a luna…”

Right at that moment, the lights in the theater went out.

It became so dark that even Do Hwa Young’s white face couldn’t be seen.

The one who had angered her was Do Hwa Young, but suddenly Joo Tae Sung came to mind.

More intensely than ever before. Fiercely enough to make her knees weak.

* * *

―So… she disappeared?

Choi Yu Ria’s cold voice came through the phone.

At the unusually cold and subdued energy, even Secretary Yang’s expressionless face showed cracks.

“She said she was going to the restroom briefly before heading to the hotel, then disappeared just like that.”

―Isn’t this a repertoire we’ve dealt with before?

“I thought following the director even to the restroom would be a human rights violation, so I didn’t specifically check. I’m sorry.”

―Sigh… Other than sticking around for a long time, you don’t have any praiseworthy abilities, do you?

Chairwoman Choi Yu Ria criticized Secretary Yang after hearing his apology.

Quick action was needed at times like this, but catching the runaway Hwa Young was no easy task.

“I will find Director Do as soon as possible and escort her to the banquet hall.”

Secretary Yang, finding the situation very awkward, first gave her the answer she wanted to hear.

Chairwoman Choi Yu Ria then asked him the question he feared most.

―How will you find her? By what means?

Right. By what means should I find her?

I’m constantly monitoring SNS.

Secretary Yang’s thumb was getting sore from refreshing the newsfeed, having followed not only Hwa Young but all of Hwa Young’s acquaintances with a secret account.

But there was no sign of Hwa Young’s whereabouts, no matter who she was meeting or where.

Even if she didn’t post anything herself, people around her who like to brag would surely secretly upload traces of her, but not even a single strand of Hwa Young’s hair could be found.

―Huu… As expected, I knew you wouldn’t have a clue.

Choi Yu Ria sighed towards Secretary Yang, who couldn’t give any answer.

Then she displayed information that surprised even Secretary Yang.

―Departed at 5:03 PM, arrived at Seyoung Daily News headquarters at 5:35 PM. Arrived at L Theater at 6:15 PM. No movement since then, so go after her.

Secretary Yang couldn’t hide his bewilderment at the excessively detailed record of Hwa Young’s movements.

“Did you… have her followed?”

Hearing those words, Choi Yu Ria let out a scornful laugh.

―This morning, Do Hwa Young took her eighth car key. She’s simple. On days she takes that key, she invariably meets a woman and does foolish things.

Is this what they call a mother who flies above her running son?

Secretary Yang secretly marveled at Choi Yu Ria, who showed not a moment’s carelessness in dealing with Hwa Young.

But even more impressive was the young master who repeatedly caused trouble against such a chairwoman.

The tense battle of wills between mother and son that must have been repeated for as many years as Hwa Young had lived.

Hwa Young’s task here was set.

―You must catch her without fail. If she falls out of favor with her uncle again this time, LU Department Store will be snatched away by some undeserving fellow.

“Yes, I understand, Chairwoman.”

Secretary Yang’s eyes grew more solemn as he immediately responded to Choi Yu Ria’s order.