* * *

“Oh, don’t worry, I told them it’s a trade secret and absolutely not allowed. Anyway, you really did great today.”

“It’s all thanks to you, Ms. Cha.”

“Sure, it was my keen eye that found a gem like you. But honestly, it wouldn’t have been possible if you hadn’t agreed. Anyway, thank you for your help. I’ll treat you to something nice next time, with Yoonjae too.”

As soon as the show ended, Cha Haetsal reverted back to her kind, motherly persona.

Junhee found her professionalism admirable.

If only he could separate work and personal feelings like that.

It was a skill Junhee desperately needed right now.

“Oh, there’s an afterparty starting soon. You’re staying for a bit, right?”

“…Do I have to?”

“It’s not mandatory, but the client specifically wants to thank you. You can just make a quick appearance if you like. Besides, it’s a relaxed event. It’d be nice to unwind with a cocktail, don’t you think?”

While Junhee hesitated to answer, PD Park showed up.

“Ms. Cha, I’m really sorry about earlier.”

“It’s fine, PD Park. I know how hard you’ve been working. I just wanted it to go even better. Don’t take it too harshly.”

“Of course. I’m always learning from you. By the way, the designer is looking for you.”

“Oh? I’d better go, then. See you in a bit, Junhee.”

Cha Haetsal walked away with PD Park before Junhee could even respond.

“…I still need to return this.”

In Junhee’s hand was the white rabbit mask.

The staff had all but disappeared, so leaving it behind wasn’t an option.

The main stage had transformed into a party venue, with people gathering in small groups.

Holding the rabbit mask, Junhee resigned himself to finding Ms. Cha and made his way back to the stage.

“Excuse me, do you know where Ms. Cha is?”

“What?”

“Ms. Cha, where…”

“It’s too loud, I can’t hear you properly!”

The stage was so loud it felt like a full-on club party.

Almost everyone had a drink in hand, and a few people already seemed out of their minds.

“Never mind.”

That was the third person already. No one knew where Cha Haetsal was.

For Junhee, who had never been in a place like this before, it was impossible to tell who was staff and who was a guest.

He couldn’t just leave the mask with anyone—it would be a disaster if it got lost—so he had no choice but to search on his own.

Having already looked around the crowded areas once, Junhee started walking toward the quieter tables.

Just then, a sudden chill crept up his neck, making the hair on his nape stand on end.

He had a bad feeling, like he shouldn’t look, but his head instinctively turned in that direction.

Someone sitting at a table behind a pillar was staring right at him.

Even in the dim lighting, it was clear as day.

That elegant figure—Junhee knew exactly who it was just from their silhouette.

The person lifted a finger, beckoning him over.

‘…Damn it.’

Junhee spun on his heel immediately. His heart began pounding like crazy.

He pushed through the heat radiating from the crowd and managed to slip outside the event hall.

“Ha…”

Only when he reached the long hallway did he finally manage to catch his breath.

…Even if that man recognized him from the darkness earlier, there was no way he could be sure it was Junhee who had been on stage.

Junhee had hidden himself well behind the mask.

Just because their eyes met, it didn’t mean he was exposed—everyone had been watching him on stage, after all.

The fact that the man recognized him so easily felt like something out of a strange, magical tale.

As long as Junhee acted like he didn’t know, the man might just assume he’d seen someone who looked similar.

He was just about to breathe a sigh of relief when—

“Assistant Yoo Junhee?”

The party door swung open abruptly, and Junhee ducked toward the emergency stairwell.

It was Ki Taeryu’s voice.

‘Shit.’

He had no idea why the man had followed him, but he had a gut feeling he needed to run.

If he got caught, the fact that Junhee had been on stage would surely come to light as well.

A moment of stillness when everything seemed to narrow down to just one person’s gaze.

A silence so intense he forgot to breathe.

He was terrified that every unexplainable emotion in that instant might get exposed.

If he could just get out of here safely, everything would be fine.

Footsteps echoed, drawing closer and closer.

He heard a low hum beyond the door, and then the sound grew distant again.

Not missing his chance, Junhee quickly climbed the stairs and slipped into the bathroom on the upper floor.

He locked the stall door behind him.

“Ha… I thought my heart was going to burst…”

He held his breath when the automatic door to the bathroom slid open with a faint whoosh.

Ears perked, he focused entirely on the sound.

Tap, tap.

The footsteps were slow but steadily approaching.

He couldn’t be sure just by the sound of the steps, but for some reason, he imagined someone walking lazily with their hands in their pockets.

Shhhh—

He heard water running from a faucet.

‘…Maybe they’re just here to wash their hands.’

The tension in his stiff shoulders eased a little.

He let out a slow breath he hadn’t realized he was holding.

Knock, knock.

Someone tapped on the stall door where Junhee was hiding.

He had seen with his own eyes that two of the three stalls were empty, yet they chose to knock on the very one where he was curled up.

Knock, knock, knock.

Fear surged up again.

Junhee pressed his palm over his stiff lips and cheeks.

In the freezing air, the man’s voice rang out, damp and resonant against the ceiling.

“Hey, bunny.”

Holy… What the hell?

Junhee’s fingertips, white as a sheet, trembled.

Click, click-click.

He watched the shaking doorknob under his quivering eyelashes, praying the man would just go away.

A heavy, crushing weight settled over his pounding heart.

“If you don’t come out, I’ll strip you bare right here.”

…Fuck.

Bang!

Junhee quickly unlocked the door and flung it open.

He burst out with such force that he wanted to curse him out right then and there, but the moment their eyes met, even that thought vanished.

“I told you not to even think about running away.”

The man’s large hand gripped Junhee’s jaw. His wet brown eyes wavered.

“I-I wasn’t running…”

“Oh? So what, you want to play hide-and-seek?”

Those dark, swirling eyes looked like they could swallow him whole.

“W-what brings you here?”

“Shouldn’t I be the one asking that, Junhee? Why are you here?”

It would take too long to explain everything.

There were many reasons he could give, but if he went back to the main issue, he’d have to admit it was because of the junior staff member.

Eventually, Ki Taeryu took Junhee’s right wrist and gently gripped it.

“You took it off,” he muttered, peeling the bunny mask from Junhee’s frozen fingers.

He held the mask up to Junhee’s face.

“…What are you doing?”

Junhee grimaced, trying to push the mask away, but his jaw was still firmly held, making it impossible.

The man aligned Junhee’s eyes with the mask’s cutouts and stared directly through them.

It felt like he was winding a clockwork toy, trying to drag Junhee back to that moment when everything had paused.

A dry gulp slid down Junhee’s throat.

The sound was much too loud.

“You really know how to act cute, don’t you?”

“Get that away from me.”

Junhee slapped the mask aside, and Ki Taeryu’s face drew closer.

“Why did you come here, bunny?”

“….”

“I’m asking you.”

Their lips were so close they could almost touch.

The thick scent of pheromones filled his nose, clouding his mind.

Afraid he’d be interrogated further if he tried a clumsy excuse, Junhee swallowed his words.

“Ugh…”

Junhee bit his lip, stifling a groan.

Before the man could bite him again, Junhee hurriedly blurted out a question.

“And you, Director, why are you here?”

“Why do you think? I was invited.”

Invited?

Junhee’s sluggish mind finally started piecing things together.

It felt like pushing the pedals uphill on a heavy bike.

After much effort, a few sentences floated up from the well of his memory.

‘…What’s this?’

‘As you can see, it’s an invitation.’

The mysterious invitation card Ki Taeryu had handed him.

The one where a trump card popped out the moment it was opened—it couldn’t be… Wonderland?

“Is this jewelry brand’s client that person, Kang Haesung?”

Ki Taeryu tilted his head slightly, raising an eyebrow.

“You really didn’t know?”

“…It was a coincidence.”

He truly hadn’t known.

He had been fixated on the sender’s name, and half the invitation was written in curly English cursive.

“What a shame. If you’d come knowing, I would’ve really given you a hard time.”

What a load of crap. And what would he have done if I did know?

Junhee felt a petty frustration at the whole situation, still shaking slightly.

“You’re glaring at me again.”

“…When did I do that?”

“Just now.”

“You misunderstood.”

“You definitely thought, ‘Who does he think he is, trying to scold me?’ Didn’t you?”

…Close enough, but not quite.

Junhee averted his gaze subtly, only for Taeryu to pull his chin back, drawing Junhee’s face right in front of his own.

“Want me to punish you, Junhee?”

“No.”

Junhee’s response was immediate.

Seeing the sneer curl at the corners of Taeryu’s lips, he wondered if he had answered too quickly.

“Let’s go.”

“Huh? Go where all of a sudden…?”

Taeryu grabbed Junhee’s left wrist, dragging him out of the bathroom.

Judging by the direction, it seemed they weren’t heading toward the event hall downstairs but rather toward the exit.

“Wait a moment, Director! This mask…”

Taeryu suddenly came to a halt. Junhee narrowly avoided bumping into his broad back.

“You like the mask, little rabbit?”

“Don’t call me that…!”

Junhee trailed off as he heard footsteps approaching.

The sound echoing in the stairwell wasn’t just from one person.

“Where are you taking me right now?”

“Stop talking and follow me.”

The voice was oddly familiar.

The problem was that, regardless of whether it was an event staff or anyone else, just being alone with Taeryu in a place like this was enough to raise suspicion.

Panicking, Junhee pulled back on Taeryu’s arm.

* * *