Chapter Text
Jaemin's presence inside the university was a rare sighting. Despite being enrolled there, he would hardly attend his classes. More often than not, he would just do his school works at home and have his staff turn them in. There were even cases when he would take important exams at home.
None of those would have worked out with any other student. None of them would be allowed to skip that much classes without being dropped by their professors.
But Jaemin wasn't like any other student. He was Na Jaemin, the only child of the current head of the Na Clan, one of the city's most prominent families. Naturally, he was bound to succeed his father one day. Naturally, people were bound to respect and fear him, including all of the university employees.
Although to be fair, Jaemin would probably not care if any of his professors would fail him. He didn't even need to study at all. One didn't need a degree to be a mafia head and the only reason he's studying Psychology was so he could play mental games with both his family's allies and enemies.
Jaemin's presence at the university was a rare sighting, but his presence at the Economic's department building was just an unthinkable nightmare. Well, that was until Jaemin decided to just show up there one morning, by himself, wearing a sleeveless black shirt, denim pants, and white sneakers, an outfit that stood out among the smart casual attire that the other students in the building were wearing.
People stared at him for a lot of reasons. Some looked surprised to see him there. Some were merely curious as to what the heir of the Na Clan actually looked like. But most of them, specially the professors, looked at Jaemin with fear.
Jaemin knew that it wasn't him they were actually fearing. Maybe, a little bit, but mostly, they were afraid of what Jaemin's presence would bring.
And Jaemin couldn't blame them. There was some sort of unspoken and unofficial rule that he shouldn't step foot in that building. Quite frankly, he never had the interest to be there in the first place. He also never had any reason to be there before.
Not until a series of circumstances left him with no choice but to go there and look for the very same reason why he was avoiding that place.
♧
Jaemin was wondering if kicking the door down to announce his presence was an over-kill, but the lack of reaction from the people inside the classroom made him wonder if he should have done more.
On the other hand, it wasn't like Jaemin could have done something more extravagant, like explosives or smoke bombs. That would not only be against the university rule book, but that would also be a huge breech of the agreement made by the prominent families of the city.
The safe zone should not be harmed.
The university happened to be in the safe zone. Any activity that could disrupt the peace and order, could lead to retaliation from all parties involved. Even Jaemin wasn't above being sanctioned, and he was sure, his father wasn't above leading his.
So despite his disappointment, Jaemin decided to just settle with the lackluster reaction. Nevertheless, his target audience made up for it with their alertness. All of them had their eyes on him, watching his every move—waiting for him to make the wrong move. All of them, except the guy sitting down on the armchair at the back of the classroom. He didn't even bother to look up from the book that he was reading.
Jaemin clicked his tongue in disappointment. And then he shrugged. Some people were just meant to be boring. He then remembered the reason why he was there in the first place. He smiled sinisterly.
"Lee, " he greeted the person as if he was a long time friend that he hadn't seen in a while.
"Na, " the person nonchalantly greeted him back.
Those were the only words that they were able to exchange. As soon as Jaemin made a single step forward, guns were immediately aimed at his head.
♧
"Aww, the Lee family still hires bodyguards to accompany you to your classes? " Jaemin said in mock disappointment, while shaking his head at the bodyguards, slash, students, who were holding him at gun point. "Is your father still afraid that I would pour paint over your head like in high school? "
The student at the back of the classroom, raised his index finger.
"One, that was Donghyuck, not me, and I don't hold grudge for something that I also found amusing. He is, however, still on the process of making an elaborate plan to take revenge. "
"Noted," Jaemin replied while nodding to himself.
"Two." The person closed his book and looked at Jaemin for the first time. "The Na Clan should probably consider hiding bodyguards for you, too, so that you wouldn't be wandering in other in people's territory. Do you even know where you are right now, Na? "
Jaemin smirked at him. "I do. And I'm not on anyone else's territory. I'm at the safe zone. Do you know where you are right now, Lee?" He asked, gesturing towards the bodyguards.
The person looked at Jaemin as if the latter was an annoying pest that he wanted to kill. Nevertheless, he knew better and gestured for his bodyguards to put down their guns.
"Phew! " Jaemin wiped the imaginary sweats from his forehead. "And here I thought we're going to reignite a generational war with blood bath. But of course, Lee Jeno knew better than to kill a Na, at a safe zone of all places. "
Jaemin might be kidding, but he wouldn't put it past a Lee to kill a Na, and likewise a Na to kill a Lee, if given an opportunity. Long before Jaemin was even conceived, and long before his parents even thought of conceiving him, the two family were already in a bad terms with each other. The reasons for it were varying and very much dependent on who one would ask. Some would say that generations ago, a Na and a Lee were love rivals. According to some, they were ex-lovers. Not a single person was alive or still in their right mind to actually confirm what happened in the past.
In present, the Na's and the Lee's were mostly in conflict with each other because of business. They were the top two most powerful clans in the city—arguably in the whole country—with both competing on who'd get the upper hand against the other.
Naturally, such conflict was passed on to Jaemin and to the person in front of him named Lee Jeno.
Jeno rolled his eyes at him. "Let's quit the nonsense and just jump straight to the point. What do you want from me, Na? "
Jaemin wave a finger at him teasingly, much to Jeno's annoyance. "I don't want something from you, Lee. But there's someone who needs something from you. Someone named… Huang Renjun. "
Jaemin smirked when he saw a spark of interest flash across Jeno's eyes. The latter clapped his hands to gain the attention of his bodyguards.
"Leave! All of you! Now! "
♧
"What did you do to him? " Lee Jeno asked with a heavy and intense tone, once he was sure that his bodyguard's weren't eavesdropping.
Lee Jeno. The youngest son of the current head of the Lee clan. Or the second youngest, if you'd consider the fifteen minutes time interval between him and his twin brother, Donghyuck. Unlike Jaemin, Jeno wasn't responsible in succeeding their family business. He was mostly allowed to live a normal life, or as normal as one who's connected to a prominent family could get.
Lee Jeno. He was mostly calm and collected. Who would have known that it would only take one Huang Renjun to ruin his composure? Jaemin would have loved to exploit his weakness, if only Huang Renjun wasn't his as well.
Huang Renjun, Chinese of Korean descent. His family decided to move to South Korea after his father was offered a better job opportunity, thus allowing Jaemin to meet him, one fine day, in a university event that he was bored enough to attend.
From the moment he saw Renjun selling tickets for his department's booth, a mini planetarium, Jaemin knew, he had to make the former his
Huang Renjun. Astronomy student. That explained the presence of stars in his eyes.
He should have known that such beauty would be admired by many, and part of that many was Lee Jeno. And as if the stars aligned to make sure that a Na and a Lee would again be rivals, they were the strongest contenders for Renjun's heart. So strong that even Renjun couldn't handle the thought of choosing between them, to the point where it was painfully obvious that making a choice was hurting him.
So, in the end, he didn't.
Because both Jeno and Jaemin loved him so much, that they'd rather put up with each other, than to force Renjun into a decision he couldn't make. Anyway, it was very clear to Jaemin that he was, in fact, Renjun's favorite.
"Na Jaemin, " Jeno called his full name sternly. This time, he was aiming his own gun at Jaemin's forehead. "I will only be asking you one more time. What did you do to him? "
"Love him, of course, what else? " he answered before feeling the coldness of the metal on his skin. Jeno clearly wasn't playing.
"He told me that he's in a bit of trouble. "
Jeno raised an eyebrow questioningly. "And how come he didn't tell me this? "
Jaemin smirked. "Because he loves me more. "
He watched in amusement when Jeno's jaw tensed. "Your life span is currently dependent on my patience, Na. Don't test me. Safe zone be damned. "
Jaemin just cackled in response.
"I'll tell you, " he said, before holding Jeno by the wrist, and pulling the gun closer to his forehead. "But you have to play nice. "
♧
"I think, someone has been threatening the owner of the art workshop, " Renjun finally confessed after a lot of coaxing from Jaemin.
It was supposed to be a good day. Jaemin happened to close a really good transaction the previous night, and he also happened to close down the eyes of some underlings, who were trying to sabotage the business from the inside. His good performance earned him a week of freedom, that he fully intended to spend entirely on Renjun.
Except, something was clearly bothering his boyfriend.
Renjun had been working part-time on that workshop even before Jaemin met him. Jaemin had met the owner once. She was an old lady with a kind smile, who pretty much didn't strike Jaemin as someone who could make an enemy.
"She told me that someone has been breaking the lock for quite some time now. At first, she thought that someone was just trying to play a harmless prank. But then last night, the people who broke the lock came inside and destroyed one of her properties. Now, she's thinking that some gangs are actually threatening her for money. Jaemin, do you think, that's possible? "
Jaemin choked on his coffee. He nervously looked at Renjun's face to check if he already knew something, but his facial expressions told Jaemin that it was just a simple question with no malice.
His secret was still safe.
"How would I know, baby? " he feigned ignorance. "I'm not really familiar with that. Why does she think it's a gang? "
Renjun shrugged. "She said that back in the days, gangs and mafias would harass businesses to extort money. "
Jaemin clicked his tongue. "But, that was long ago. Nowadays, they pretty much ignore businesses that has no involvement to them. I mean, not that I would know that personally. I just heard it from other people. "
"But it wasn't just the workshop. They were threatening the other nearby shops, too. They're even leaving notes behind them. "
"What notes? " Jaemin asked.
"Notes that says they'll have to give money, or else something worse will happen. "
"And did the art workshop owner receive the note, too? "
"Not yet, " Renjun replied. "But she said that if she does, she might as well close the shop. It's barely breaking even, and she wouldn't be able to keep up if people will extort money from her. "
Renjun sighed. Jaemin could already see how upset he would be if the art workshop was closed down. He really loved working there, and he enjoyed being able to exercise his passion and help other people.
That's when Jaemin knew that he had to interfere.
Jaemin planted kisses on his boyfriend's cheeks alternately, ignoring the stares of the other people, and ignoring the fact that they were in public. At least, it managed to put a smile on Renjun's face.
"Don't worry about it, baby. I'm pretty sure that that the art workshop would not be closed down. "
"But, Jaemin, how can you be so sure? "
Jaemin shrugged, but he didn't answer. He would just do what was needed to be done.
♧
"For the record, he doesn't love you more. He only told you first because it was your day with him. "
Jaemin shook his head disappointingly. "I see that you really have your priorities, Lee. "
Jeno ignored his comment. "It doesn't make sense, though. That shop is in the safe zone. Who in their right mind would be stupid enough to try that? "
Jaemin shrugged. "I don't know? People who are powerful, I guess? People who think they're above not following the rules of the safe zone. People like… the Lee clan. "
Jeno narrowed his eyes at him. "The Lee family respects the rules of the safe zone. "
Jaemin pointed at the gun that was still directed at his head. "Really? "
Jeno put his gun down and repeated, "The Lee family respects the rules of the safe zone. "
Jaemin rolled his eyes.
"And may I remind you that our family isn't the only one with power. "
Jaemin smirked once more. "Well, it's great to know that you acknowledge our power, Lee. But the Na family has more important things to do than to extort money from small time businesses. "
"Well, it certainly isn't the Lee clan who had a recently failed transaction. "
Jaemin pressed his lips together and glared. It was Jeno's turn to smirk.
"Oh, right. A transaction that your family purposely sabotaged. "
Jeno rolled his eyes. "Again, Na, my twin brother wasn't there to sabotage your transaction. He was on a date. Who would expect that your people would do an exchange at a fucking resort, of all places? "
"Well, we need to be creative because your people are always out to get us! "
"Oh, let's just stop it! " Jeno screamed in frustration. "Let's get back to the point. The art workshop. Did Renjun give you an update if the same thing happen again last night? "
"Not yet, " he replied. "But I'm going to meet up with him later to ask him. "
"Wait! " Jeno raised a hand to stop him. Jaemin could almost see his vein popping on his forehead. "Did you just say that you'll meet up with him, today? It's my day with him, Na! "
"Priorities, Lee! "
"No! " Jeno insisted. "I will ask him myself later, and you'll only hear the information from me, you got it? "
Jaemin sighed and crossed his arms. "Fine then. But you better make sure you'll get important information from Renjun, or else, I'll just work on my own and fix everything, myself. "
Jeno looked at him knowingly. "If you can, then you wouldn't be here, talking to me. "
Jaemin didn't respond.
"I thought so, " Jeno nodded to himself. "I guess, this is a win for me. "
"Whatever, Lee. "
♧
"It's nice that you've finally arrived, Lee, " Jaemin said, the moment that Jeno entered the room that he had rented in a tiny inn located in the safe zone. He didn't bother getting up from the bed where he was sprawled out.
"I feel like I'm secretly meeting a cheap hooker, " Jeno commented. "Couldn't you have chosen a better place? "
"First, don't insult hookers. They're hard working employees who are vital to our respective businesses," Jaemin scolded him. "Second, I could have checked in on our hotel, but I don't want my family to know that I'm associating myself with you. By the way, I see that you don't have your bodyguards with you. "
"Well, I don't want my family to know that I'm associating myself with you, either, " Jeno mimicked.
"Whatever, Lee. Now report to me. "
Jeno scowled. "A Lee would never report to a Na. You better start speaking nicely, or I'll do this on all on my own. "
"As if you could, Lee. We both know that we need each other. It's not like we can use our family's influence, can we? "
Both of them knew that turning to their family would mean exposing their relationship with Renjun. The relationship itself wasn't the problem. It was the fact that he's dating both a Lee and a Na. Jaemin didn't even want to imagine the chaos that it would bring.
"Renjun said that someone broke in again, last night, " Jeno told him once he's already settled down on a chair. He declined joining Jaemin in a bed that he seemed to find disgusting. "Apparently, the last time, the culprit destroyed a really important, but not of great financial value, vase. Last night, he said that there was another broken vase. The catch is, it doesn't belong to the owner. "
"That's bizarre, " Jaemin couldn't help but comment. "What about the note, then? "
"There was no note. "
Jaemin huffed. "Well, we're still pretty much on the same place as before. But thanks for your report, I guess. "
Jeno grumbled, much to Jaemin's amusement.
"There's still more though, " Jeno added with suspense. "Renjun said that the owner got his hands on two of the notes left on the other shops. He was told that there were symbols on it. "
"Well, that's something! " Jaemin exclaimed excitedly. "Tell me! "
Jeno huffed. "One note has the symbol of the dragon. "
"Hah! I knew it, Lee! " Jaemin pointed an accusatory finger at the other. "It's your family, after all. "
"Don't get to confident yet, Na," Jeno warned him. "The other note has the symbol of the butterfly. "
Jaemin's jaw dropped. "You've got to be kidding me. "
♧
Never in Jaemin's wildest dream did he ever thought of stepping his foot inside the Lee's Dragon's Lair.
Or maybe he did. But back then, he didn't imagine himself to be in a glittery cropped vest and a matching glittery pants, while wearing a metallic gold mask that was covering most of his face. He also didn't imagine that he would be clinging to Jeno as if his life depended on him, which, given who he was and where he was, might have been the actual case.
"Remind me again why we're doing this? " Jeno whispered aggressively.
"Because there's a dragon symbol on one of the notes, so now, we are investigating your family, " he replied through gritted teeth.
"But why this? " Jeno asked, referring to his outfit.
"Do you think, I actually enjoy dressing up like this? "
"I saw you dancing while getting dressed! "
"You were watching me get dressed?! "
Well, at least he had Jeno's funny reactions to entertain himself with. Jeno and his bodyguards, who were all looking too red and close to combustion. It's almost clear to him that it was the first time he brought someone over. For someone in the business, Jeno was so prude.
One of the bodyguards stepped forward hesitantly. "D-do… do we still need to c-check him first s-sir? "
"No! " Jeno denied immediately, in fear of Jaemin's identity being discovered.
"Aww, sweetie is so possessive of me. He doesn't really like it when other people touches me, " he said in a sickeningly sweet voice. The bodyguards looked away. Jeno's glare intensified.
"O-okay sir, " the bodyguard backed down. "E-enjoy the night. Be safe! "
Jaemin couldn't anymore hold back his laughter.
♧
"A few rules, Na. Only focus on relevant information that's related to the problem. Don't touch anything else. Got it? "
"Isn't this the legendary flute owned by the Chinese musician named Lu Han? I thought this was lost in a fire. I didn't know your family has it! "
"Na Jaemin! " Jeno shouted impatiently.
"Keep shouting like that and people will know that I am here, " he said. "That, or your people will think that you're screaming my name while—"
"Stop! " Jeno groaned in frustration, which only made Jaemin want to tease him some more. "I can't believe this! I shouldn't have brought you in my brother's office. You're no help, anyway. I can investigate on my own. Why don't you just wait outside? "
" And let you cover up for your family? I don't trust you, Lee! "
"Well then do your job and stop being distracted! "
Jaemin huffed. Nevertheless, he carefully put down the flute and began his own search.
♧
"You're already on the process of finalizing the transaction with the Seo? "
Jeno groaned in protest once again, before snatching the piece of paper from his hand. "I swear, I'll end you if I find out that your father does something to sabotage that. And for the last time, Na, focus! "
"I'm trying! " he replied with an equally frustrated tone. "But I can't find anything to link your family from the extortion going on in the safe zone! "
"Well, that's because we have nothing to do with it! " Jeno exclaimed. "You're just biased for even suspecting us in the first place. "
Jaemin narrowed his eyes. "You wouldn't have agreed to my plan if you're also not suspecting your own family. " Jeno didn't respond. "I thought so. But at least, now, you got me convinced. Your family, or at least your brother, really had nothing to do with it. "
"Great, " Jeno replied in a tired voice. "Now let's get you out of before someone finds ou—!"
Jaemin quickly put a hand over Jeno's mouth to silence him. "Can you hear that? I think, someone's coming. "
Footsteps were quickly closing on their location.
Jeno let out a muffled curse before pushing Jaemin's hand away. "Quickly, jump out of the window! "
"It's the fucking fourth floor! Do you want me to die? "
"It's either you or both of us! Someone has to make the sacrifice! "
"Fuck you! "
Jaemin barely registered what was happening. One moment, Jeno and him were arguing about who should die, and in the next one, the former was harshly pushing him down on the antique, victorian style sofa.
Jaemin tried to protest when Jeno climbed on top of him. "What are you—"
His protest was quickly muffled when Jeno pressed his mouth over his.
♧
"Jeno, are you here? The guards told me… oh god! Why are you doing it here in my office?! "
Lee Taeyong, the eldest son of the current head of the Lee Clan. He's currently responsible for almost fifty percent of their family's businesses. As far as Jaemin knew, Taeyong also went to the same high school as he, along with Jeno and his twin, did. Jaemin never had the chance to meet him though, because he already graduated when Jaemin started his freshmen year.
He never expected that their first meeting would be that interesting.
Jaemin immediately reached out for his mask to conceal his identity, when Jeno finally removed himself on top of him. He then politely bowed his head at Taeyong, not fully trusting his voice to not blow his cover up.
"Really, Jeno? In my office? "
"Uhm…" Jeno smoothen down his clothes, which weren't even crumpled in the first place. "We were trying to be a-adventurous. "
Taeyong looked incredibly weirded out. "Okay? I mean, I never expected you'll be into… exhibitionism. But, I'm not judging. Just don't do it in my office next time, okay? For my privacy… and sanity. "
Jeno nodded his head like an obedient puppy. Jaemin would have teased him if the circumstances were different.
"Okay… mind if you continue somewhere else? "
"Y-yes hyung! "
Jeno immediately rushed towards the door, almost leaving Jaemin behind.
"Uhm, aren't you going to take him with you? "
Jaemin glared at Jeno for his betrayal.
"Oh, right! "
Jaemin didn't realize that he was still pretty much half lying on the sofa until Jeno hastily pulled him up. He hissed, but otherwise didn't say anything. He was still scared that Taeyong would figure him out.
"Uh, hyung, can I ask something? "
Jaemin swore he used up all his will power to not scream at Jeno when he stalled.
"About what? "
"Well, I heard that there are rumors that some people are extorting money from some businesses in the safe zone. Do you happen to know about it? "
"In the safe zone? " Taeyong sounded disturbed. "Isn't that against the rule? "
"Well, yes, I know. I was just wondering if… if…"
"If our family has something to do with it? " Taeyong smiled. "You silly child. Of course not. Our family doesn't really care about those legal businesses. We only care about those that are transacting with us, those who owe us, and those who are competing with us… like the Na clan, for example. "
Jaemin shivered.
"I thought so. I know you wouldn't harm the safe zone. Sorry for overthinking. "
Taeyong walked over towards their direction to ruffle Jeno's hair. Jaemin almost bolted at the door.
"But it's a good thing that you told me. I think, I need to look into it, just in case those people cause trouble for our family. "
"Well, I think I should get going now, " Jeno said. Jaemin automatically elbowed him. "I mean, we! We should get going. "
"Oh, right, " Taeyong grimaced before walking towards his desk and pretending to read his papers. "Uhm, enjoy, I guess… and practice safe sex. "
"Hyung! "
♧
"Damn it, Lee! When I said, 'fuck you', I didn't actually mean it that way! " he complained, the second Jeno shut his bedroom door behind them.
"And do you think I actually want to kiss you? " Jeno hissed back. "I should have just pushed you out of the window. No. I should have just pushed myself out of the window! "
Jaemin sneered. "We didn't even achieve anything, " he complained, before dropping himself face down on Jeno's bed.
"Well, we crossed off my family from the list, " Jeno pointed out before sitting at the foot of the bed. "Now, we only have yours. It's your turn to sneak me in. "
Jaemin hummed. "Yeah. It's your turn to wear this outfit. "
"Like hell I will! "
Jaemin huffed. "Fine! I'll think of something else. Happy? Now can you sneak me out? "
"Not yet, " Jeno replied. "If you leave so soon, it will be suspicious. We have to convince them that I'm actually, uh, using your service. "
Jaemin snorted.
"Which, I am not interested with by the way. You're not my type, Na. "
Jaemin crossed his arms in indignation. "And do you think you're my type? For the record, Jeno, you're such a bad kisser. I would rather shoot myself in the head than to kiss you again. "
Plot twist: he was lying.