Jeonghan glided effortlessly through the sea of partygoers, every step deliberate, his gaze locked on the girl he'd spotted earlier. He knew her name thanks to Joshua—Nabi—but for the sake of the game he was about to play, he had to pretend otherwise. Curiosity, after all, thrived on subtlety.
She moved toward the farthest, most isolated snack table, hovering awkwardly over the spread like someone trying to blend in without drawing too much attention. It was a thinly veiled attempt, one Jeonghan could see through immediately. He adjusted his posture, rolling his shoulders back as if preparing for a performance. If anyone could pull off a perfectly calculated encounter, it was him. Years of practice had honed his skill for charming white lies into an art form.
Sliding off his Seventeen pin, he feigned interest in the desserts, though he would have much preferred to be indulging in them. He noticed her eyes were still red, her expression clouded, and it piqued his interest more than the macarons ever could.
She was lost in thought, oblivious to his presence, so Jeonghan shifted just enough to orchestrate a "coincidental" bump. The plan worked flawlessly.
"Oh, I'm sorry," she muttered, her voice low and flat.
Jeonghan turned on his brightest smile, the kind that could melt even the iciest of strangers. "No problem at all. Are you enjoying yourself?" He asked the question with practiced ease, even though he already suspected the answer. Small talk was a necessary evil in the pursuit of information, and Jeonghan was willing to endure it for now.
She chuckled dryly, her honesty catching him off guard. "Not really."
Jeonghan blinked, surprised but secretly pleased. Bluntness made his job easier. "Really? Me neither. All my friends ditched me," he lied effortlessly, though he caught Jun glancing his way from across the room. Jeonghan gave the tiniest shake of his head, a silent signal for Jun to stay out of it. Luckily, the other member took the hint and turned his attention elsewhere.
"Same here," Nabi admitted with a humorless laugh. "My date and I kind of got into a fight."
Jeonghan raised an eyebrow but quickly masked it with a look of concern. "That sucks. Want to talk about it? You're honestly the first normal person I've met here."
A small smile tugged at her lips, a flicker of something genuine breaking through her guarded demeanor. "Non-celebrity too?"
"Yup," he lied again, smoothly. "I'm Jeonghan. You?"
"Nabi."
Jeonghan's grin widened as he gestured for her to follow him. "Well, Nabi, I know a spot that's way better than this chaotic mess. Care to join me?"
She hesitated for a moment, her instincts warning her against trusting a stranger. But Jeonghan's easy confidence and the way he carried himself made it hard to say no. She followed him cautiously, weaving through the crowd until they reached a winding staircase that led to a hidden alcove. Beyond a curtain, Jeonghan revealed a breathtaking garden bathed in soft golden light. It looked like something out of a dream, with lush greenery and flowers blooming in every direction.
"Pretty cool, right?" Jeonghan said, glancing over his shoulder with a smirk.
Nabi was too stunned to respond immediately. "It's... amazing. How'd you even find this place?"
Jeonghan shrugged, hands stuffed into his pockets as he strolled deeper into the garden. "I have my ways."
The two settled on a stone bench beneath strings of fairy lights. Jeonghan leaned back casually, tilting his head toward her. "So, what's up? You said you got into a fight with your date?"
Nabi sighed, her fingers playing with the hem of her sleeve. "Yeah. I've known him for a while now. He's... one of the hosts, actually."
"A member of Seventeen?" Jeonghan asked, feigning surprise.
She nodded. "We're close, and I guess I've been crushing on him for a while. We kissed tonight, and I thought it would feel different. It was great, but something about it just... felt off."
Jeonghan resisted the urge to smirk. This was getting interesting. "Off how?"
Nabi hesitated before answering, her voice tinged with frustration and sadness. "I just don't see how we'd ever work. He's so public, and I hate attention. I can't risk being seen with him or it would ruin everything for his career. I care about him too much to do that."
Jeonghan tilted his head thoughtfully, studying her. "Do you like him?"
"Yes," she admitted without hesitation.
"Then go for it," Jeonghan said simply. "If you both feel ready, the company can help protect you. And trust me, his members would back you up, no matter what. Seventeen doesn't let anything happen to the people they care about."
Nabi gave him a puzzled look, a laugh escaping her. "And how do you know that?"
Jeonghan shrugged with a knowing grin. "I'm a great observer, what can I say?"
