Golden ◂ NCT Jaemin

12 ◂ Important

◂ 12 ▸

Jaemin had linked arms with Jie. It was a friendly gesture despite the fact that she had declined his offer to help. She didn't want to bother him with it yet since they were walking together anyway, it was no big deal. 

Especially since, like this, Jaemin had an easy time pulling her to the side, just a few meters before they reached Taeyong's office. 

He leaned her against the wall, his hand on her arm as he looked down at her strictly. Jie frowned. 

"What?"

"You don't lie a lot, do you?" he asked. 

"I don't," she agreed. 

"So when we go in there, leave the talking to me, okay?" 

She let her eyes wander over his tense expression. His grip around her arm was tight. She didn't know why he made it seem so urgent but she agreed anyway.

"Sure. Are you worried about something?" 

Jaemin bit the inside of his cheek before he explained with a deep sigh that, "I just don't want Taeyong to know the reason why you agreed to help me." 

It took her a second to understand that he was talking about the tattoo. It took her another second to realize that, apparently, he didn't get it. 

Frustrated, she leaned her head against the wall. "You don't listen when I talk, do you?" 

Jaemin stayed silent. And in his silence, Jie pushed out an empty huff at his astounding behaviour. 

She couldn't understand him and he didn't seem to understand her either. It didn't make things easier but she also never expected them to be easy right away. 

She yanked her arm out of his grasp before she pushed past him and made her way towards the office. Jaemin looked after her with wide eyes. 

"Wait-" he called out as he hurried to linked their arms again to help her into the office. "Doyoung said to take it easy," Jaemin mumbled as he ignored her surprised eyes. 

In the end, they made their way into the office next to one another. They knocked before they entered which Taeyong replied only with an absent-minded 'enter'. 

Waiting patiently, they stood in the middle of the room, looking around. Nothing ever changes inside. Neither the pictures on the walls nor the pile of files on Taeyong's desk. No matter how hard he worked, they didn't seem to get less. 

The oldest glimpsed up briefly, eyes falling onto Jie who bowed her head politely. 

"You are going to look into who that guy was during the dinner party, right?" he questioned. 

"Yes, I am working on it," she began. "I am sorry, I will hurry-" 

Taeyong shook his head. "I wasn't criticising you, don't worry," he reassured her before focusing back on the computer screen. "It's weird that you didn't recognize him. Since you know what all the politicians there looked like, he isn't one of them. Which raises the question of why he was there in the first place." 

"He might be a lobbyist or just some rich guy," she noted, which Taeyong agreed with. He typed something. 

"I sent you a list of names you can work with." 

Jie nodded. "Thank you." 

And with that, Taeyong got up with a clap, serious expression suddenly turning bright and soft. 

"Okay kids~!" He got up as he said that but then gestured towards the sofa right afterwards. "You can take a seat," he offered. 

Whereas Jaemin quickly moved towards the sofa, Jie didn't. She pulled her arm out of his grasp to let him go but that only made him stop.