...
"How did it go in there? Did they agree?"
As soon as Theo and Nayun left after their brief conversation with Chae Shinhyuk. Nayun's brother approached, asking if his father had accepted the relationship.
"I think so, don't you Theo?"
"Probably?"
Jinyoon frowned, confused. If their father had accepted it, why did they both seem so at a loss for words?
"Hey, you look like you've just left a funeral. What exactly did Dad say?"
He insisted, crossing his arms.
"Dad said yes, it's just Grandpa..."
Nayun let out a low sigh.
"He was quiet the whole time... I think we were worrying for nothing."
That's exactly what she said and felt, even if she didn't want to admit it out loud.
For Chae Joochul, in the end, what really mattered was himself and the Chae family name. As long as Nayun didn't do anything to tarnish the reputation of the bloodline, who she had a relationship with seemed irrelevant. There were no words, no rebuke. Just that cold, emotionless look that seemed to pass through them as if he didn't care at all.
"So he didn't object?"
Jinyoon asked, uncertain.
"He didn't even say a word to us."
Nayun lowered her head, trying to hide the hint of sadness in her eyes. Deep down, she also wanted to receive her grandfather's blessing just as her father had given it to her.
But he wasn't even able to give her that.
"That's almost a blessing, coming from Grandpa."
Jinyoon tried to soften the mood with a half-smile
She forced a small smile, just so as not to leave him in the lurch. Deep down, she had already accepted the truth. Her grandfather's silence was, in a way, permission, not out of understanding, nor out of respect for what she felt, but out of simple indifference. An indifferent decision, as everything about him had become.
After all, the smiling, loving grandfather who used to play with her, who laughed out loud on spring mornings and told her stories about when he was young... was long gone. He was long gone. All that was left now was the impenetrable patriarch, whose only loyalty was to the family legacy and himself.
"Right! No more sadness. They're already coming."
As soon as Theo's words were spoken, the door behind them opened with a click, revealing Chae Joochul and Chae Shinhyuk stepping out.
Chae Joochul kept a stern countenance, his gaze distant as if he was already two steps ahead of everyone. Shinhyuk, on the other hand, had a gleam in his eyes and an almost palpable pride in his voice.
After the "immortal" disappeared into another doorway, Shinhyuk seized the moment and went to his children.
"All set, son?"
He said, putting a firm hand on Jinyoon's shoulder.
"Yes, Dad."
He also approached Nayun.
"...Daughter, I'm sorry about the things in there. I didn't mean any harm, you know, your father just wanted to protect you..."
Nayun looked at him for a moment, surprised by his apology, but then gave him a small, understanding smile.
"Oh, it's okay, Dad. I understand. You were just worried about me."
Shinhyuk nodded slowly, relieved, and then his eyes turned to Theo. The seriousness returned to his face, but there was a certain playful tone behind the words:
"And you, boy... you know, right? If you make my daughter suffer, I swear I'll spare no effort to kick your ass."
Theo's eyes widened slightly, not sure how to respond to the humor.
"Puhehe! You heard me, right, Theo?"
Nayun laughed, cutting his arm with her elbow.
"If I make you cry, I'll run and tell him."
Theo let out a nervous laugh, raising his hands in surrender.
"You got it. Always make my girlfriend happy, avoid beatings from the father-in-law. Got it."
After this little moment of relaxation, everyone started to head back to where the event was taking place, as it was time for Chae Jinyoon to make his return to the world.
"Let's go..."
With firm steps, everyone began to head back to the main hall, where lights, cameras and watchful eyes were already waiting for them.
After a brief ceremonial speech by Chae Joochul, they appeared.
And it was as expected, as soon as everyone saw Chae Jinyoon enter, the space seemed to freeze, giving way to the frantic clicks of the cameras, all to catch any and every detail of the return of the Chae family heir.
Nayun and Theo, who were walking a little behind, didn't escape the flood of attention. As soon as eyes turned to them, the flashes multiplied.
Even though she was uncomfortable, Nayun kept her composure as best she could. Theo, for his part, held his gaze calmly, with unwavering composure.
'...That's going to take some doing.'
But in his mind, he was already thinking about what would come next.
About an hour later, after countless conversations with people whose names they had already forgotten and who, with luck, they would never see again, Theo and Nayun finally found a moment to breathe.
They took refuge in a far corner of the room, partially covered by a thick curtain and a piece of decoration that looked overpriced.
Theo let out a sigh, loosening his collar with a lazy gesture.
"Hah... this is definitely not for me. If I'd known it was going to be like this, I'd have used magic to hide."
Nayun laughed, leaning against the wall with relief.
"It would be really nice, I'm about to die too. Answering for the tenth time where we met is very tiring..."
She grumbled, making a cute face.
...
While Theo and Nayun fought off the mental fatigue caused by hours of social interactions in the Blue House, on the other side of town, the mood was drastically different.
In the quiet interior of the Cube, specifically in Theo's dormitory, someone was there, and she acted as if she owned the space.
The lights were softly on, casting a faint glow over the neatly arranged furniture. The room exuded a tranquillity that contrasted with the buzz of the party.
And there, right in the center of that private refuge, slept a peculiar figure on Theo's bed.
She was lying on her side, her arms folded under her head, like a child in deep sleep.
Her outfit was curious: a long-sleeved red top and a short blue skirt, adorned with a red ribbon tied precisely around her neck. High pink stockings covered her legs up to the thigh, and her shoes had been abandoned at the foot of the bed, revealing her bare, relaxed feet, one of which slightly dangled off the mattress.
The most striking detail, however, was the blue beret with raised cat ears, a strange accessory, but one that seemed to fit her perfectly. A red button shone discreetly on the left side of the hat.
Her hair, tied back in a low ponytail, framed her face, which was partially hidden by the pillow.
Her diagonally cut bangs gave her a cheeky touch, reinforced by the red teardrop painted just below her left eye, a vibrant contrast against her smooth skin and the playful smile that remained even in deep sleep.
She didn't seem worried about being there. She didn't seem out of place or anxious about being discovered.
It was as if being there had always been a part of her...
...
Note: The time has come...