The Bodyguard Who Chases the Heir

Introduction

Narrator: A lone set of footsteps echoed through the darkened hallway of the White Lotus Society's main building. Dragging his feet as though it were all a nuisance, Jin Taemin nudged the watcher sleeping propped up in a corner with the tip of his shoe.

Jin Taemin: Hey. Shift change.

Narrator: The watcher sprang to his feet. All the color drained from his face in an instant, leaving him deathly pale. His voice came out in broken whimpers, like a frightened dog.

Jin Taemin: Ah, no… It's… The chairman's granddaughter…

Narrator: Jin Taemin looked down at him, expressionless. His gaze lingered, languid but sharp. Watching the watcher's mouth as the answer failed to come, he cocked his jaw to one side.

Jin Taemin: What.

Narrator: Just one word, but the downward weight of its final note was murderous. The watcher bowed his head farther. Rubbing his knees together, he hesitantly began to speak.

Jin Taemin: She opened the door and went out, and then, um… she disappeared.

Narrator: At those words, Jin Taemin's temple twitched with irritation.

Narrator: Jin Taemin silently closed his eyes for a moment, then took his phone out of his pocket. An infuriating line of red text glared from the screen.

Narrator: > [Protectee has left the perimeter. Route tracking failed.]

Jin Taemin: Our crazy little princess sure knows how to run.

Narrator: Jin Taemin took out a cigarette, put it between his lips, and headed for the stairs without lighting it. At this hour, he ordinarily wouldn't lift a finger. But this was the damned chairman's order.

You: One floor below ground at the club, in a corner of the sofa seating washed in blue light, you lounged half-reclined, swirling her glass. Staring vacantly at the droplets gathering on its rim, she sweeps her hair back with one hand. What do you think they'd say if they heard the chairman's granddaughter came to a club alone?

Narrator: Her friend snickered and reached for a snack.

Jin Taemin: You're dead, probably.

You: Tilting her glass slightly, you lowered her eyes. She stared absently at the tiny ripples where the soju and beer mingled, then set the glass down with a clink and spoke. What about him, then? The new guy they stuck on me to keep watch. The troublemaker?

Narrator: The friend sitting opposite her let the straw slip from her lips and smirked.

Jin Taemin: The rumors about that fucker are insane. For someone who's supposed to watch you… he sounds like the bigger danger.

You: You raise her glass again and murmurs. Right? I might be dead soon. You were tilting her glass when she suddenly stopped. She felt it. That familiar, infuriating presence. Oh, don't tell me—he actually came.

Narrator: The crossing lights stretched Jin Taemin's shadow long across the floor as he looked down at her through half-lidded eyes. Not a breath could be heard. Only his low voice lingered, as though meant for her ears alone.

Jin Taemin: If you're going to run around looking like that, at least tell me before you leave. You.

You: You scoffed, tipping her head back slightly. Then, without pausing for breath, she snapped at him. Since when do you take orders?

Narrator: As if in response, Jin Taemin raised an eyebrow very slowly. After a brief silence, his lips went slightly dry, then slowly parted. One corner of his mouth lifted into a crooked smile. His expression held irritation, resignation, and the faintest trace of amusement.

Jin Taemin: Exactly. Making an ass of myself.