Chapter 10: Blue Diamond

This was already the third club.

Jiwon checked the sign reading Blue Diamond once more through the car window.

According to the tip, a witness who had once associated closely with the suspects was currently working here.

It had been years ago, but since they had lived and struggled together for quite a long time, the person was likely to have a fair amount of information about them.

Jiwon turned to look at Seowan’s profile as he gently pressed the brakes and spoke.

“I’ll go in alone and come back out.”

The man, who had completely turned off the engine, slowly turned his head.

Meeting that cold expression, Jiwon added her explanation on her own.

“You said the chances are high he’s here.

And he’s quick to notice things, right.

If he tries to run, shouldn’t one of us stay outside to block the escape route?”

She suggested splitting up, offering what was barely an excuse, but the man gave no answer.

He simply blinked lazily, his eyes raking over her face as if inspecting her.

The pressure felt like an interrogation, making her heart race as a strange tension built up inside her.

Is it a habit.

Why does he always look at people like this.

“Why… are you doing that?”

“I don’t want to be with you for even a second.”

For a moment, Jiwon wondered if she herself had said that and instinctively pressed her lips together.

“Something like that.”

“…….”

Mind reading.

He really does do that.

As if he’d expected it, Cha Seowan let out a short scoff and opened the driver’s door with a clack.

“Stop talking nonsense and get out.

And take off that ragged jacket.”

At that moment, Jiwon realized that his earlier words about working uncomfortably with an uncomfortable boss had not been an exaggeration.

It was freezing outside.

Why did she have to take off her jacket too.

Swallowing down her boiling irritation, she followed Seowan toward the club entrance.

But then, strangely, the guard who had let Seowan pass without question blocked Jiwon with a suspicious look.

“Wh, why?”

“Hmm.

Your outfit’s a bit…”

She looked at him, confused about what the issue was, and realized he clearly didn’t like her clothes.

She was wearing an ordinary checkered shirt and jeans.

Jiwon couldn’t understand what was wrong, faced with the critical gaze directed at what she wore every day like a uniform.

“What’s wrong with my outfit.

This should be f, fine, right?”

Hearing her awkward question, Seowan—who had already started inside—whipped his head around and frowned.

“She’s with me.”

Even after that, the guard still didn’t move aside.

In the end, Seowan reached out, grabbed Jiwon’s wrist firmly, and pulled her inside himself.

Only then did the guard hesitate and step back.

Dragged inside like that, Jiwon felt her face flush hot red.

Now that we’re in, can you please let go of my hand.

Yet throughout the long hallway, Cha Seowan kept a tight grip on her wrist.

The spot where their skin touched felt strangely prickly and hot, making her uncomfortable.

This wasn’t simple discomfort due to gender.

That much was clear.

It was strange.

Since her teens as an athlete, physical contact with big, rough men had been an everyday, familiar thing.

She’d never had any aversion to this kind of contact, regardless of gender.

So why did touching this man alone make her feel so sensitive.

Deciding she couldn’t stand it, Jiwon started subtly twisting her wrist to pull free.

“Behave and follow me.

Unless you want to get kicked out alone for dress code violations.”

The man glanced back and muttered ominously as he tightened his grip even more.

What’s wrong with my clothes.

Jiwon shot him an incredulous look just as the long hallway opened into a massive hall packed with people.

Men who looked perfectly styled from head to toe, and women dressed so scantily it was hard to tell if they were clothed at all.

Scanning their outfits, Jiwon finally understood what the guard had meant.

She alone looked painfully ordinary.

How would I even have a chance to come to a place like this.

Feeling awkward for no reason, she glanced to the side.

Cha Seowan was already climbing the stairs toward the second-floor VIP rooms, following an MD.

Unlike her stiff, uncomfortable self, he looked completely at ease here.

Watching him casually order expensive liquor without hesitation made that obvious.

After the MD left and the two of them were left alone in the spacious room, Jiwon spoke first.

“Isn’t renting a room like this really expensive?”

“I’m not making you pay, so don’t worry.”

As always, every word, every breath from him was infuriating.

Did he think she was some broke nobody who’d never set foot in a club.

“Looks like you come to places like this a lot.

You seem really comfortable here.”

“I do.

A lot of people I meet ask to meet in places like this.”

“Who.

Women?”

Cha Seowan, who had answered indifferently until now, finally glanced over and met her eyes.

“You’re awfully interested for someone dealing with a bad bastard.”

“Hey.

You bad bastard.”

So he reads minds and hears everything too.

“Ah.

You heard that.”

“You shouted it.

And you’re surprised I heard it?”

She didn’t think she’d shouted that loudly.

Jiwon cleared her throat awkwardly and gulped down the water on the table.

Just then, the MD returned carrying their drinks and snacks, glancing suspiciously between Jiwon and Seowan.

“So, what are you two.

Friends.

Or lovers?”

“No.

Neither.”

Jiwon snapped sharply, slamming her water glass down without thinking.

“Then what.”

“Just…”

She stopped herself just short of saying coworkers.

If the MD sensed she was a cop, it could be trouble.

“Just what.

Just a fling?”

A fling, my ass.

Swallowing down the curse rising to her lips, she grabbed the whiskey bottle.

Feeling Seowan’s gaze boring into her, she poured herself a full glass and knocked it back in one go.

Instantly, her eyes flew wide as her entire mouth felt like it was on fire.

Ugh, how many degrees is this.

She spat what she couldn’t swallow back into the empty cup and checked the bottle.

A small label read 65 clearly.

Watching the whole thing, Cha Seowan leisurely dropped ice into an empty glass and curled one corner of his mouth up.

He was clearly laughing at her for drinking without knowing what it was.

*He knew.

That devilish bastard.*

Soon, his smooth, infuriating voice followed.

“Let me ask you something.

There’s supposed to be an employee here named Kim Yongcheol.”

“What.

Kim Yongcheol.

I don’t know anyone like that.”

Jiwon held up a photo saved on her phone toward the MD.

“He looks like this.

Do you recognize him?”

“Oh.

Yongchil.”

The MD reacted as if it finally clicked.

“Yongchil?”

“I don’t know if his real name’s Kim Yongcheol, but we call him Yongchil here.

Why.

Want me to call him?”

“That’d be great.”

Cha Seowan tilted his head slightly, smiling faintly.

“Okay.

Since a handsome oppa asked, I’ll go get him right away.”

The MD blushed for some reason, winked at Cha Seowan, and left the room.

That’d be great.

Compared to the curses and irritation he’d thrown at her, his tone just now had been absurdly gentle.

So that rumor about him getting by on his looks back in school must have been true.

Watching him sit there casually, legs crossed, accepting women’s attention as if it were natural, she didn’t even need to ask.

Just how many women had cried because of that slick face.

“I’ll wait outside.

If he comes in and runs, it’d be bad.”

Using the excuse, she slipped out of the room.

Truthfully, being alone in there with Cha Seowan had made her more uncomfortable than anything.

Stepping out, she looked around.

Deafening music and dazzling, chaotic lights.

As she took in the unfamiliar scene, she suddenly spotted Kim Yongcheol climbing the stairs.

Found you.

Thinking this exhausting club hopping was finally over, she fixed her gaze on him.

Then, their eyes met.

The man slowed, stopped, and abruptly turned around, heading back down the stairs he’d just climbed.

A bad feeling flashed through her.

He was quick-witted, just like they’d said.

Had he realized she was a cop.

“Hey, wait—!

Damn it…!”

Before she could say anything, the chase began.

The man skipped down the stairs two or three at a time, then outright leapt, clearing more than ten steps at once.

“Team Leader.

He noticed and he’s running.”

Jiwon pressed the receiver button deep in her ear to report, then took off after him.

Under pounding music and flashing lights, the man weaved through the crowd of dancing bodies.

Jiwon chased him relentlessly, refusing to let him go.

She had a gut feeling she had to catch him.

She hadn’t even asked him anything yet, and he was running this hard.

That meant he definitely had something to hide.

After chasing him for some time, the man finally spun around at a dead-end fountain in a corner of the main hall.

Catching her breath, Jiwon tried to talk him down.

“Hah… you’re Kim Yongcheol, right?”

“What are you.

A cop?”

“Yes.

I am.

But I’m not here to arrest you.

I just want to ask you something, so stop running and—”

“f*ck.

How do you know about this place too?”

Frowning deeply, he scanned his surroundings.

Confirming there were no other cops nearby, he suddenly charged at her.

He must have thought he could overpower her easily since she was a woman.

But Jiwon didn’t miss her chance.

She grabbed one of his arms tightly the moment he rushed in.

“Hey.

f*ck.

Let go.

You won’t let go?”

Panicking, he started swinging his free hand wildly.

Jiwon deliberately didn’t dodge.

Just as expected, his weak punches landed against her mouth again and again.

Soon, she tasted blood as her lip split painfully.

Only then did Jiwon block his fist with her hand and ask calmly.

“Uh.

Did you just hit me.

Looks like I’m bleeding.”

“Wh, what?”

Seeing the eerie curl of her bloodied smile, Kim Yongcheol’s eyes widened in fear.

Then, with a sharp clack, a pair of gleaming handcuffs snapped around his wrist.

“Kim Yongcheol.

You’re under arrest for assault, caught in the act.”

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