Between two worlds | Chanlix

Illegal involve

The weekend air was crisp, a light breeze stirring the autumn leaves as Chan and Han walked down the bustling streets of Seoul. They made their way to a cozy coffee shop tucked away from the main road, a small place Chan had come to appreciate for its calm atmosphere and rich espresso. Today, however, his thoughts felt anything but calm, and he welcomed Han's easygoing chatter to distract him from the disarray in his mind.

As they settled into a booth near the back, Han beamed with excitement. "Have you seen the new projects Felix gave us? It's going to be huge! There's a lot of pressure, but I know we can pull it off." He stirred his iced americano, his energy contagious. "So, what's up with you, Chan? You look like you've got a lot on your mind."

Chan hesitated, swirling his own drink in his hands. "It's... Felix," he began, his voice dropping slightly. He wasn't even sure where to start. "We... had a moment. A weird moment. I saw him in a situation, and then... things just escalated. I still don't understand how it even happened."

Han raised an eyebrow, curiosity lighting his features. "What kind of situation?" He leaned forward, eager for details.

"Let's just say it involved him kissing me," Chan admitted, the words spilling out before he could second-guess himself. "It wasn't just that—he told me something that completely threw me off. I guess... I never saw him like that." His cheeks burned as he replayed Felix's words in his mind.

Han's jaw dropped, and he choked slightly on his coffee, laughing in disbelief. "Wait, you're saying Felix kissed you? As in, the ice prince Felix we work for?" He shook his head, still chuckling. "I never thought I'd hear that. And you—" he pointed at Chan, still laughing, "you're saying you didn't think he was a top? Come on, Chan. The guy practically oozes dominance. Have you seen the way he controls a room?"

Chan rubbed the back of his neck, feeling foolish under Han's amused gaze. "I just... I never really thought about him that way, okay?" His voice was defensive, but his thoughts were jumbled. "And all those guys we've seen around him... I guess I assumed they were just... friends or acquaintances."

Han's laughter faded into a knowing smile. "Felix doesn't do 'just friends,' especially not with people who look like them." His tone softened as he saw the confusion clouding Chan's expression. "Look, I'm not trying to scare you, but you have to understand that Felix's life is complicated. His father is practically a shadow king in this city, controlling not just business but people, too. There are things Felix has to deal with that you and I couldn't imagine."

Chan absorbed Han's words, but they only deepened the pit forming in his stomach. "What do you mean? Is his father involved in... illegal stuff?"

Han hesitated, his expression tightening. "It's not something I've ever looked too deeply into. I keep my distance, you know? But yeah, there are rumors. Things you hear when you've been around as long as I have. It's why Felix is the way he is—cold, detached, always in control." He reached out and gave Chan a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "But don't think too much about it. You're better off keeping your distance."

Before Chan could respond, Han's phone buzzed, pulling his attention away for a moment. "Anyway," Han continued, pocketing his phone again, "I was thinking of heading to Changbin's studio later. He's got some beats he wants us to check out. You should come."

Chan nodded absently, trying to shake off the heavy thoughts. "Yeah, that sounds good," he said, forcing a smile. He was eager to distract himself from everything that had been going on with Felix.

Maybe a session with Changbin would help clear his head.

The studio was a spacious, modern setup, and Changbin welcomed them with open arms. His energy was infectious, and it wasn't long before Chan found himself engrossed in lyrics and melodies, bouncing ideas back and forth with the others. It was the kind of creative flow that Chan lived for, the perfect escape.

But as the session continued, his phone buzzed in his pocket, and an uneasy feeling settled over him as he checked the screen. A notification popped up from a news app, and his stomach twisted as he read the headline: "Heir Apparent: Felix Lee Engaged to Top Model, Heiress of Bae Group."

Chan stared at the article, his heart pounding in his chest. The accompanying photos showed Felix and a striking young woman, both impeccably dressed, attending an upscale event together. She was beautiful—almost painfully so—with elegant features and a smile that screamed high society. Her hand rested possessively on Felix's arm, and he wore that practiced, polite expression that Chan had come to recognize as his mask.

"It looks so... wrong," Chan whispered, almost to himself.

Han glanced over his shoulder, his eyes catching sight of the article. "Yeah, that's the kind of thing his father would pull." His tone was casual, but there was a dark undertone to it. "It's not uncommon for families like his to arrange things for the sake of business. Marriages aren't always about love, Chan."

The truth of Han's words hit him hard. The entire situation with Felix had been confusing enough, and now there was this—the reality of Felix's world, where even something as personal as marriage was reduced to a transaction. Chan's thoughts spiraled back to Felix's cold demeanor, the way he seemed to live life behind a thick sheet of glass, always distanced from the world around him. Was this engagement just another part of that facade?

Changbin noticed the shift in mood and shot them both a concerned look. "You two alright? You're looking kind of serious over there."

"Yeah, we're fine," Chan said quickly, shaking his head as if to clear it. "Just... distracted." He forced a smile, hoping it would mask the turmoil churning in his gut.

But even as they resumed working, the image of Felix in that article stayed with him. It felt like the last few weeks had built up to a moment he wasn't prepared for. And as much as he wanted to believe Han's reassurances that he should stay out of Felix's complicated life, a part of him couldn't let it go.