The Shadows (Underworld 4) JH

1: Back to China

Meanwhile, Jun found himself wandering the halls of the famous Art Museum, his footsteps echoing against the polished marble floors. The air was thick with the scent of oil paint and the hushed whispers of fellow art enthusiasts as they admired the masterpieces lining the walls.

Lost in thought, Jun's gaze drifted from one painting to the next, each one telling its own unique story. And then, as if drawn by some invisible force, his eyes fell upon a familiar figure standing before a canvas, brush in hand.

It was him—the same painter guy from the art exhibition.

But before Jun could gather the courage to approach him, his attention was diverted by the sudden appearance of a familiar figure. It was the same lady from earlier, her elegant demeanor and confident stride unmistakable as she approached the painter.

Jun watched in silence as she wrapped her hand around the painter's arm, a gesture that spoke volumes of their familiarity with each other. Between their conversation, snippets of dialogue drifted towards Jun's ears, and amidst the murmur, he caught a name: Zhang Yulan.

In that moment, everything clicked into place. Zhang Yulan—the renowned art collector and patron whose name adorned the walls of prestigious galleries around the world. Jun had heard of her before, her reputation preceding her like a whisper on the wind.

As he watched the exchange between Yulan and the painter, Jun couldn't help but feel a pang of disappointment. It seemed that fate had other plans for their encounter, and for now, he would have to wait for another opportunity to unravel the mysteries surrounding the enigmatic artist.

With a heavy heart, Jun turned away, his footsteps carrying him deeper into the labyrinth of the museum. But even as he walked away, the image of the painter and Yulan lingered in his mind, a puzzle waiting to be solved amidst the beauty of the art that surrounded them.

                                          _

Jun was in his office, staring out the window at the city skyline. His mind was a whirlwind of thoughts about Xu Minghao and the mysterious Zhang Yulan. The more he learned about them, the more he felt the pull to go to China and deal with things personally. There was no other way to get closer to Minghao, and Jun knew he had to act quickly.

He pressed the intercom button on his desk. "Xiaojun, come to my office."

Within moments, the door opened, and Xiaojun, his secretary, stepped in. "Yes, sir?" he asked, noticing the intense expression on Jun's face.

"I need you to start making arrangements," Jun said, turning away from the window to face Xiaojun. "I'm going to China soon. I need to meet Xu Minghao in person, and there are some other matters I want to take care of while I'm there."

Xiaojun blinked in surprise, then composed himself. He was used to Jun's sudden decisions, but this one seemed especially urgent. "Of course, sir. But... have you discussed this with Boss? You know how he feels about us making major moves without his approval."

Jun's expression darkened slightly. He knew Xiaojun was right—Seungcheol was not just their leader but also someone who demanded respect and loyalty. Making a move like this without his blessing could lead to serious consequences.

"I haven't told him yet," Jun admitted, his tone firm but conflicted. "But this is something I need to do. I can't let Minghao slip away. I've never felt this way about anyone before."

Xiaojun nodded, understanding the gravity of Jun's emotions. "I get that, sir, but Seungcheol hyung won't be happy if you just take off without talking to him. Especially for something this personal. You know how protective he is of all of us."