Chapter 20 : Shy Eun Hye

In that room,

A heavy, suffocating aura hung in the air, as if time itself had frozen.

Jinhyuk's footsteps echoed across the slightly cracked marble floor, each one like the toll of a death bell growing nearer. His body was wrapped in a vortex of blinding white energy, streaked with sharp, yellow crackling electricity. His eyes—usually calm and indifferent—now burned bright red, like embers blazing in the dark.

Seo Eun-hye sat on the floor, frozen in place. Her legs wouldn't move, paralyzed as if trapped under invisible gravity. Her gaze fell downward, fists clenched but trembling, her heart pounding like war drums in her chest.

Step by step, Jinhyuk approached. He raised his right hand. The white energy condensed, gathering in his palm. Miniature bolts of lightning coiled around it—alive, wild, and filled with lethal intent.

And then that hand moved—aiming straight at Eun-hye—

Eun-hye could only bow her head and shut her eyes.

She couldn't resist.

Then...

Nothing happened.

Silence.

Stillness.

No impact of energy, no screams or explosions, not even the heat of destruction. Just an eerie silence wrapping around them like a cloak.

Slowly, her body still shaking, Eun-hye opened her eyes.

Jinhyuk was still there—but he looked... confused.

His eyes had returned to normal—no more red glow.

His expression was blank. He stared at his own hand, then down at the woman sitting before him, as if shocked to see her... untouched.

"Eun-hye?"

In an instant, all hostility vanished from his body.

"...What are you doing here?" he asked in confusion.

"No... what am I doing here?" he added, even more bewildered.

Eun-hye stared back, unsure of what to say. Her breathing was still heavy, but her fear had shifted into something else—sympathy... and confusion.

Jinhyuk bent down, trying to rouse Eun Hye, who sat slumped and unresponsive.

Suddenly—

BANG!

The door burst open as if someone had slammed into it from outside.

Ye-eun stormed in, fury blazing in her eyes. Dark energy swirled around her fists like death incarnate. Her jet-black gaze locked onto the scene before her—Jinhyuk gripping Eun-hye's arm.

Without hesitation, Ye-eun launched forward like an arrow.

"Let go of her!" she yelled.

But—

Clang!

Her attack was blocked. With a swift reflex, Eun-hye stood and caught Ye-eun's arm.

Ye-eun froze.

Eun-hye stood tall—her body still trembling, but her eyes sharp. She stood between Jinhyuk and Ye-eun, shielding him.

"Don't, Ye-eun! It's not what you think!"

"But... he—"

"I said it's fine. Everything's okay."

Ye-eun stared at her, confused and skeptical. Then, slowly, her expression shifted as she looked at Jinhyuk... as if realizing something.

The hypnosis... failed?

She studied Jinhyuk, who now looked dazed, like someone waking up from a long, strange dream.

The room—with its grand pillars and slightly swaying crystal lights—felt quieter and eerier than before. A few chairs had toppled, and flower arrangements lay scattered on the floor. Signs that something had definitely happened... but never fully escalated.

"I... why am I here...?" Jinhyuk muttered. He rubbed his temple, like someone grappling with fragmented memories. "Did I get kidnapped twice in one night."

"Ye-eun," Eun-hye said gently. "Give us a moment. I want to talk to him alone."

Ye-eun looked reluctant but eventually backed away, stepping slowly toward the door. Before leaving, she cast one more look at Eun-hye—a protective, questioning look, but also filled with trust. She stood guard at the door, making sure no one entered—especially those two figures, whose whereabouts were still unknown. She called the other security members, instructing them to sweep the entire villa.

When the door closed behind her, only the two of them remained.

Eun-hye turned slowly, then looked back at Jinhyuk.

Her face was flushed.

Her eyes lowered.

But she wasn't afraid anymore.

"Eun-hye-ya... what's going on? Why are we here? And... what's with your clothes?" Jinhyuk asked, breaking the silence.

His gaze was full of confusion, landing on her disheveled blouse. The aggressive movements from earlier—whether panic or instinct—had left her shoulder and chest slightly exposed. Her hair was also a mess.

Eun-hye looked down and finally noticed her condition. "H-Hyaaa!" a small squeal escaped her lips.

Panicking, she pulled her collar up and crossed her arms to cover her chest. Her face turned red—not just from embarrassment, but from the sheer uncertainty of how to explain any of this. Cold sweat formed on her brow.

"J-Jinhyuk... I... I…"

Seeing her flustered like a lost kitten, Jinhyuk sighed and gently reached out, placing a hand on her arm.

"Eun-hye," he said softly but firmly, "I don't know where we are, and I don't understand what just happened to me. But... if I did something terrible to you… I'm sorry. I honestly don't…"

His voice was sincere. Too sincere for someone who had just woken up from a mysterious trance.

Eun-hye suddenly looked up, interrupting him. "No! No, you didn't do anything wrong!" she said quickly. "I... I'm the one who made the mistake. I brought you here."

"Huh?" Jinhyuk frowned. "You brought me here? But... how?"

He tried to recall the last thing he remembered. He had been with Han-na, watching Gyeol walk away in front of a restaurant. And then... everything went dark. His vision faded. After that—nothing, until now.

He looked around. The room... it was luxurious but unfamiliar. Red-and-white walls with golden patterns, paintings and flower pots decorating the space—and a massive, lavish bed. This was a bedroom.

"...Did I pass out, and you carried me here?" he asked in disbelief, his eyes widening.

Eun-hye said nothing. She didn't know where to begin. She wanted to explain, but didn't know how Jinhyuk would react. Should she lie a little? But how could she lie to someone she shouldn't lie to?

A moment of silence passed.

Then Jinhyuk—without warning—laughed. "Hahaha! Seriously? You should've just taken me back to my dorm. I live there, you know. Poor room like this… totally wasted on someone like me, hahaha."

Eun-hye nearly choked on her own breath. At least he wasn't making it a big deal.

Before she could say anything, her eyes sharpened. She sensed something off. Her gaze snapped toward the large window in the room.

"Who's there?!"

Her voice shifted—serious, commanding.

Jinhyuk turned to look too.

Seconds later, two black-clad figures—hooded and masked—entered the room through the window. They seemed to emerge from the shadows themselves. Silent. Swift.

One of them nodded slowly. "You found us," the figure said. The voice was cold, almost mechanical.

Jinhyuk blinked, eyes narrowing. For some reason... one of them felt familiar. The posture. The way they stood. But their face was completely covered—like a lazy ninja who skipped breakfast.

Eun-hye stepped back half a pace. "Jinhyuk... stay behind me."

They locked eyes, tension thick in the air.

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