Even if I have to cross the line - Chapter 1

As soon as he stepped into the club, the sound blasting against his eardrums made his ears ring. At the same time, the nauseating mix of food, staleness, alcohol, and smoky cigarette scents hit him, making him feel sick to his stomach.

Although he was familiar with the smell and the atmosphere, tonight, everything grated on his nerves more than he could tolerate.

“Ha.”

Looking around the club, loud voices—some having conversations, some shouting—mixed with bursts of laughter, he caught sight of drunken men and women tangled together.

His lips twisted bitterly as he stared bitterly.

An hour ago, he’d been informed that the reckless girl who’d been provoking him for days had dared to set foot in his establishment. He had called off his dinner appointment with a client to come here after hearing that some fool had dared to lay hands on the young woman he’d been taking care of.

Chaehyun turned, glancing at the floor where Hayun had recently been, then began walking further inside, trailed quickly by two men in black suits.
As they climbed the stairs to the third floor, one of the men following him spoke up with a tense expression.

“I apologize, sir. He’s new, and this happened because he didn’t know what Miss Hayun looked like. It’s my responsibility for not training him properly.”

Panic had ensued when they learned that three men were in the room where Hayun had been taken.

To make matters worse, even among the club’s staff, the reputations of these three were already less than ideal, and the new staff member in charge of the room hadn’t known this—an oversight that was practically a disaster.

“Haa…”

Chaehyun released a long, controlled breath, pressing his clenched jaw shut to keep his temper controlled.

The third floor. Only two rooms were there. Chaehyun’s hand reached for the door to the left without hesitation, pushing it open with force.

As soon as the door swung open, a pair of dazed eyes, clouded from intoxication, met his gaze and curved lazily into a smirk. The man next to her was panting against her neck like a dog in heat, but she paid him no mind, even pulling him closer by the back of his head in a defiant display. Chaehyun couldn’t help but let out a laugh.

“Lee Hayun.”

“Yes, Mr. Chaehyun.”

His eyes darkened ominously at her careless response.

“Enough. Come here.”

“….”

Despite his command, he stood with both hands casually stuffed in his suit pockets, just watching her. Hayun stared back at him for a moment before responding.

“Why should I?”

Chaehyun motioned with a nod toward the man beside her. At his signal, the two guards moved swiftly. The people in the room shrank back, looking intimidated as the guards approached.

“Didn’t you get what you wanted? Here I am, right in front of you.”

Hayun merely glanced at the man, who had previously been beside her, as the guard carried him out of the room. Resting her chin on her hand, she smiled.

As Chaehyun suspected, she had wanted him to come here. That was why she’d shown up at the club in his hotel, entertaining unwanted men just to rile him up.

She knew that if he heard rumors about her mingling with men, he would inevitably show up. And so, here he was.

Kang Chaehyun, the man she had an intense crush on.

With her head spinning from the alcohol, Hayun blinked, looking up at him.

“Do you really think that’s all I wanted?”
Her voice, more languid than usual, almost sounded like she was singing.

“If you saw me here with other men, you should know, right? Why else would I come to this place when there are better clubs out there?”

She rose slowly, her heels clacking with each step as she moved closer to Chaehyun.
Her slender fingers lightly touched his firm chest.

The refreshing scent mixed with the lingering smell of alcohol made the nape of his neck tense up.

For months, this was the fragrance that had been testing his patience, and now, here she was, leaning against him. Hayun looked up at Chaehyun and smiled sweetly.

“I came here to hook up, didn’t I? Rather than breaking the mood looking for someplace else, it’s easier to play here in the club attached to the hotel.”
“….”

“But you ruined everything, Oppa.”

She shot him a cheeky look, then lightly brushed her lips against his chin and whispered,

“So take responsibility, Chaehyun. Sleep with me.”

Chaehyun’s jaw tightened, his masculine face tightening. The scent of alcohol on her breath was dizzying.

“Haa…..Hayun.”

Chaehyun swept his hand across his face as he held the slender body that had flown into his arms.

“I didn’t look after you all this time to hear something like that.”

As if she found his words amusing, Hayun let out a soft laugh, her flushed cheeks pressed lightly against his firm chest.

“You should say it right. It was Taegun, not you, who actually took care of me,” she muttered, her voice tinged with a sigh.

“So what if there’s a bit of an age gap?”
“Lee Hayun.”

Hearing the stern voice from above, Hayun looked up at Chaehyun, her face brimming with longing.

“You feel it too, don’t you? You’re drawn to me—not as a little sister, but as a woman.”

Watching him remain silent despite her pleading tone, her eyes welled up, her gaze gaining strength.
And then…

“…!”

The soft, yielding touch against his lips made Chaehyun’s eyes widen, a lump rising in his throat. His forearm tensed under the slender waist he held, her tear-dampened eyelashes fluttering before his eyes.

It was hardly even a kiss—just a brush of lips, nothing more. But the simple, innocent peck was more provocative than any embrace, and he gritted his teeth to keep his control. If he didn’t, he feared he’d lose himself, rough and unrestrained, and devour her small mouth.

But even that effort was in vain as Hayun pressed her heated body even closer.

Chaehyun swallowed hard, his chest trembling with each breath. For a moment, he felt her body tense in his arms, seemingly startled by the undeniable reaction beneath her.

The scent of her skin, which had stirred his patience for months, surrounded him, his body reacting instinctively.

His hand trailed down her back, and as if answering, she pressed her lips, still slightly damp, against his. The quiet, wet sounds seemed to echo louder than anything else in his ears. As she parted her lips and let her tongue slip in, he pressed his hardened body against hers without thinking.

“F*ck.”

The phrase echoed in his mind as his patience rapidly wore away, his breathing growing rough.

“Mm…”

The teasing sound she made, along with the slight tapping at his lips, finally broke through his restraint, and his mouth opened as if lured by hers.

Her soft lips invaded his mouth, and he tasted a faint sweetness on the tip of his tongue. Holding her slender frame tightly, Chaehun tilted his head to deepen the kiss, pressing hard to make her lips part further.

“Mmh!”

As he twined his tongue around hers, drawing her closer, a soft moan escaped her lips.

Listening to the wet sounds of their lips and tongues intertwining, Chaehun pushed his tongue deeper, feeling her quickening breath. With his mouth full of her taste, he felt her breath grow ragged. Tracing his tongue along the roof of her mouth, he felt her shudder, her sensitivity laid bare.

Her every reaction satisfied him, drawing a small smirk to his lips. But suddenly, it was like a bucket of cold water had been poured over him, as he came back to his senses.

“…”

As he pulled back, his breathing heavy, Chaehun stared at Hayun with conflicted eyes. Her cheeks were flushed, her lips plump from the kiss, and only then did he realize what he’d just done.

With a clenched jaw, he brushed his hand over his face, swallowing the taste of her lingering in his mouth. Finally, he spoke, his voice steely.

“That’s enough. Go back.”

Hayun’s eyes widened, unable to believe what she was hearing. Avoiding her gaze, Chaehyun took a step back.

“Now I know well enough that you’re a woman.”

“Oppa…”

“Lee Hayun. Stop.”

The cold voice he used, so unlike the man who had just passionately kissed her, made Hayun bite her lip. The hand she had been reaching out to him dropped, defeated. The heat that had filled the room instantly cooled, leaving chills on her bare skin.

Staring at his eyes, tainted with guilt, she murmured softly, “Coward.”

She shot him a resentful look before turning away. She couldn’t stand to stay in the same room as Kang Chaehyun for another second. Not like this—not after she’d humiliated herself.

Why don’t you look at me? Just once, can’t you see me as a woman?

Then why are you making me misunderstand? Why did you keep making me hope? Am I really just a little sister to you?

Swallowing all of those emotions, Hayun moved away from him.

“…Move.”

“Where are you going?”

“Didn’t you tell me to go? Why do you care?”

With a trembling smile that barely hid her tears, Hayun turned her head away before he could say anything more, reaching for the door.

“I’m sorry for making a scene. I know you’re busy.”

The loud music from the opened door filled the room, drowning out her voice. She hoped he wouldn’t notice the tears.

Clack!

She closed the door and quickly crossed the hallway, heading downstairs. Even until she reached the lower floor, there was no one following behind her.