Chapter 83

Seeing that.

Even though I had prepared a high-quality costume.

I was grateful that Min Chae-yeon just said it was good and let it go.

If it had been anyone else, they would have thrown a fit, asking why I brought such a thing to wear at a party.

‘Then I should repay her, right?’

I returned to the store.

Holding the costumes I had ordered earlier, I went to the counter and said,

“Please give me 20 of these.”

“Pardon? 20 sets?”

“Yes, and these too.”

I placed the black dress and accessories that Min Chae-yeon had chosen on the counter.

“Twenty sets of these as well.”

“We don’t have that many in stock...”

“Then give me all you have, and please tell me about any other places in Seoul where you might have stock, whether it’s a store or a factory.”

“Ah, yes.”

Selecting high-quality costumes.

That’s my specialty.

*

Boutique Hotel <Fabianna Seoul>, Opening Party.

The photo zone at the entrance was already packed with people.

Click─

Click, click─

Influencers entering in Halloween costumes.

Photographers taking pictures in front of them.

Hotel promotion managers and party planners watching nervously.

And even the PR managers of the collaborating brands.

Click─

Click, click─

“Okay, that’s it.”

The photographer lowered his finger from the shutter and gestured to the witch in front of him that she could enter now.

But the witch didn’t seem ready to go in.

“Excuse me, can you take one more shot?”

“No, go in.”

“Tch.”

Frowning, the photographer turned away.

Joo Ha-jung, the PR manager of the famous jewelry brand <Tiphanium>, approached and spoke to him.

“Don’t have any good shots yet?”

“No, they’re not real models, just celebrities and influencers. The costume concepts are all the same.”

“Exactly. I’ve been watching to see if anyone stands out, but they’re all the same.”

Joo Ha-jung kicked the grass with her black shoes.

“Why? Are you planning to scout someone if they stand out? From the great Tiphanium?”

“Why not? These days, the mysterious new faces are quite popular.”

“Ha, wake up. It’s like looking for Son Heung-min in a soccer club.”

Just then, on the red carpet leading to the photo zone,

a vampire appeared.

The photographer glanced and said dismissively,

“Another vampire. No creativity, no creativity.”

“Ha ha, just go and take a quick shot.”

“It’s not me, it’s Mr. Kim’s turn now.”

“Really?”

Joo Ha-jung turned her gaze back to the vampire.

‘Hmm... but something’s different.’

The long, straight limbs, the black suit, and the pale skin were cliché.

But the golden glasses with chains and the slightly curly hair were not typical of a vampire.

Even the calm mask.

‘It has a warm feel to it.’

The hesitant gait was also uncharacteristic of a vampire.

Then, at that moment,

a noble lady approached the vampire quickly.

She had a familiar face.

A mask that caught her eye while searching for influencers.

“...Is that Min Chae-yeon?”

It was a mutter, but the photographer immediately responded.

“Yes, it’s Chae-yeon.”

“Do you know her?”

“We did a shoot together a while ago. But she seems different today? She’s usually a bit fruity, like soap...”

Joo Ha-jung looked at Min Chae-yeon more closely.

A black mini dress with a bare back.

A pale face hidden by a black veil.

Blood tears streaming down her cheeks.

‘She actually has an aura when you see her in person.’

The photographer beside her also exclaimed in admiration.

“Is she capable of such a performance? She’s got some hidden talent.”

“But those two... their costumes are also really good. Are they custom-made? The material and details are amazing even from here.”

The decorations on the dress and shirt, the mini bag, shoes, glasses, and gloves were all excellent.

“Exactly. Oh, they could be Best Dressed candidates.”

“Wait, look at this.”

Joo Ha-jung held up her hand in front of the photographer.

At that moment, the vampire and the noble lady faced each other.

The noble lady approached the vampire closely,

while the vampire hesitated, turning his head.

And then, in an instant,

he wrapped his arm around the lady’s waist,

turned her around to face away from the camera,

and pressed her against him.

“Oh.”

“Wow...”

The pale neck and shoulders of the lady,

her hair cascading like a waterfall,

and the delicate, mysterious face revealed as the black veil slipped off.

“...”

And the vampire’s face buried in her pale neck.

The golden chain of the glasses trailing down her collarbone.

Breathtaking.

Magnetic, fatal, and dangerous, the two figures.

‘This is... a café owner?’

Joo Ha-jung almost screamed.

“Give me that person’s profile! And tell the photographers to take as many pictures as possible. As many as they can!”

They were really vicious.

Click, click─

Click─

After a while, the flash barrage subsided.

“This way, please.”

The vampire couple followed the usher away from the photo zone.

The main party was held in the buffet restaurant inside <Fabianna Seoul>.

But the path there was somewhat unusual.

Especially for Min Chae-yeon.

‘...I have to go this way.’

She had to pass by the pool party, which was separate from the influencer event.

Loud electronic music.

The DJ waving his hands wildly from the booth.

Numerous red lights.

And the large pool that absorbed all the noise and light, with dozens of young people enjoying themselves.

“Ah!”

“Squeal, don’t do that!”

“Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey!”

Even for an SNS celebrity, it wasn’t easy to walk past such a wild scene in a vampire costume.

‘...’

Her bare back and shoulders,

the short hem of her dress, were more noticeable.

“Wow! You look beautiful!”

“Hey, come into the pool!”

“Jump! I’ll catch you, hehehe!”

The catcalls from the pool made her feel a bit embarrassed.

Then, at that moment,

Rustle─

A soft, warm sensation on her bare shoulder.

It was the black cloak that Shin Yu-won was wearing.

“...Brother?”

“Come this way.”

Shin Yu-won gently pulled her by the arms, and their positions were reversed.

Shin Yu-won was closer to the pool,

while Min Chae-yeon walked on the side farther from the pool.

“...Thank you.”

“No problem.”

Min Chae-yeon, completely hidden by Shin Yu-won and the cloak,

heard the boos from the pool.

“Hey, move!”

“We can’t see!”

But Shin Yu-won didn’t even look at them, just raised his chin.

After passing the pool, the path became calm again.

Thud, thud─

Clack, clack─

As they walked through the well-landscaped garden,

Min Chae-yeon gently touched her neck.

‘...Different.’

She thought she had understood Shin Yu-won to some extent,

but today’s Shin Yu-won was really a different person.

Even when they met at the shop in the afternoon,

the things he brought were not the costumes and accessories they bought in Itaewon yesterday.

The designs were similar to what they had chosen yesterday,

but they were much more luxurious and detailed.

The quality was too good to be wasted on Halloween costumes or a one-day event.

[ What’s all this? They’re really high-quality. ]

[ I told you. The goal is to be Best Dressed. ]

[ Wow... where did you get them? ]

[ Secret. ]

Even at the photo zone, she was almost shocked.

‘...Really surprised.’

When they were practicing poses at the shop, Shin Yu-won moved stiffly and had an awkward expression.

[ Brother, here you need to spin me around. It’s like the vampire finally gives in to his desire after holding back until the last moment. ]

[ Ahaha, right... ]

She understood.

It was a rather intimate pose. Even Min Chae-yeon’s heart skipped a beat several times while practicing.

[ I’m so nervous, hahaha. ]

[ But... think of it as a photo or acting. ]

She thought she had to lead, being the more experienced one.

But,

Shin Yu-won in front of the camera was a completely different person.

Click─

Click, click─

His face remained steady even at the close distance.

The gesture of turning her waist was so powerful that it made her gasp.

The atmosphere Shin Yu-won changed in an instant.

Min Chae-yeon was completely absorbed.

‘...I was the one who got swept away.’

Even when she leaned back and let her hair fall,

and when the cold chain and the vampire’s hair touched her skin,

Min Chae-yeon focused on expressing that moment.

And when she straightened up again, she saw

the intense gaze directed at her.

[ ... ]

Min Chae-yeon felt her heart stop.

[ Is it over now? ]

[ ...Yes. ]

[ Phew, good job. ]

[ You too, brother. ]

[ The photos will turn out well, right? Thanks to Chae-yeon’s good leading, we finished well. ]

Well, Min Chae-yeon thought differently.

‘...Who was leading whom?’

Anyway, an unpredictable person.

Min Chae-yeon pulled the cloak over her shoulders to wrap herself.

*

But Shin Yu-won’s strange behavior continued at the main party.

“Let me check the list.”

“Min Chae-yeon and Shin Yu-won.”

“Just a moment... Yes, you’re confirmed. All food and drinks are free, so feel free to enjoy.”

“Thank you.”

As far as Min Chae-yeon knew,

Shin Yu-won’s purpose for coming here was to meet influencers who could promote his café.

So whenever someone she knew passed by, she introduced them to Shin Yu-won.

“Brother, this is Si-hyuk, who is active on Instagram.”

But Shin Yu-won didn’t seem interested in deep conversations.

“Really? Nice to meet you. I’m Shin Yu-won.”

He only exchanged light greetings and introductions,

and then left immediately.

‘He’s not usually like this...’

After 2 or 3 times,

she was both puzzled and a bit hurt.

Shin Yu-won whispered,

“Chae-yeon.”

“Yes?”

“Thanks for introducing me to people.”

“No problem. But you’re not looking for anyone today? Someone to promote your café.”

“No, I’m actively looking.”

“Huh? You’re looking?”

What did he mean?

Just as Min Chae-yeon was waiting for Shin Yu-won’s answer,

“Squeal!”

She screamed in shock.

“A scythe! A screaming mask!”