POISONED YOUTH: TWISTED

CHAPTER 40

Both Yeoreum and Jaemin stepped into the mansion, immediately greeted by the concerned looks of the boys gathered in the living room.

Something was clearly wrong. The usual noise that filled the mansion was missing, replaced by an uncomfortable silence that made Yeoreum slow her steps as she looked between them.

Jaemin raised a brow at Jisung, silently demanding an explanation, but the younger boy only sighed and glanced toward Jeno, who wore the same uneasy expression.

"Look, just tell me what happened," Jaemin said, remaining beside Yeoreum, who had stopped behind the sofa.

Chenle finally broke the silence.

"Jaehyun is here," he said, and Yeoreum's face immediately brightened. "But he's dealing with some serious stuff with Renjun and Mark right now, so... I don't think you can go to him."

Her expression fell almost as quickly as it had brightened.

Jaemin noticed the change and immediately tried to distract her, flashing the sweetest smile he could manage as he reached over and gently ruffled her hair.

"Why don't you go to Haechan? You came here for hi—"

"No!" The sudden response from Jeno made the siblings flinch.

"Jeno?" Jaemin gave him a pointed look.

Jeno shifted uncomfortably before finally speaking. "Yeoreum can't go to him either."

"But why?" she asked softly.

"Just..." Jeno hesitated, his eyes dropping toward the floor. "Not now."

He sat back against the couch, leaving Yeoreum even more confused.

She looked up at Jaemin, silently asking him for an explanation, but he only gave her a small shrug.

"I'm going."

"No!" Jeno immediately shot up again. "Yeoreum—Jaemin, stop her!"

"She needs him, Jeno!"

"But Haechan doesn't!"

Jaemin's expression hardened. "What happened?"

Jeno opened his mouth, but Jisung answered instead, his voice much quieter this time.

"Jaehyun found a clip-on recorder attached to one of Yeoreum's shirts when he was doing the laundry. Renjun confirmed that it had been recording since last week, and the timing matches Woojin's mission."

Yeoreum's face slowly went pale. "A recorder?"

Jisung nodded. "And Haechan isn't exactly in the right mood right now." He hesitated before adding, "He kind of snapped."

Jaemin's eyes narrowed. He looked toward the stairs, already understanding where Haechan was.

Yeoreum did too.

"Then I need to see him."

"Yeoreum—"

But she was already walking toward the stairs.