*SEOUL SOUTH KOREA*

 

Yoona's email pinged with a message. She checked it and her face lit up with a delighted smile, reminiscent of a child's joy.

 

Recalling her 9 AM appointment to monitor the second Jung, she decided to grab her car for the day. Her car keys had been handed to her by her secretary, Seolhyun. Outside the building, her brand-new car awaited – a sleek Black Rolls-Royce Sweptail, worth over $13 million.

 

Approaching the car with glee, she hopped in and placed her hand on the steering wheel. She couldn't help but feel immense gratitude towards her father for understanding her desires.

 

With the key in the ignition, she revved up the engine, and soon her car's purr echoed through the streets of Seoul. Wow, this thing's a beast!

 

Inputting the destination into the navigation, she followed the route. Minutes later, she arrived at the airport, parked her car, and waited by the exit.

 

Pulling out her phone, Yoona closely examined the image of the second Jung. As her attention was fixed on the exit, she spotted a girl clad in a black hoodie, blue denim jeans, and Converse emerging from the exit.

 

Gotcha!

 

The girl hailed a taxi, prompting Yoona to follow suit. The taxi stopped near a store, leaving Yoona baffled. Why was she taking a taxi when she could have just followed her mother's orders and avoided this cloak-and-dagger routine?

 

Exiting her car, Yoona entered the store, keeping a discrete distance from Krystal, who was shopping for various items.

 

Observing from a distance, Yoona watched as Krystal headed to the counter to pay for her groceries. While keeping an eye on her, Yoona's curiosity grew as she noticed Krystal searching through her pocket. Oh, don't tell me...

 

Yoona shifted her focus to the cashier, who rolled his eyes and shook his head in response to Krystal's actions.

 

Today's not a great day for spying, Yoona thought, shaking her head. She approached the counter, pulled out her wallet, and handed her card to the cashier without hesitation. Meanwhile, she sensed Krystal's curious gaze on her profile.

 

After paying, Yoona reached for the bags of food, only to have Krystal snatch them away before she could grasp them herself. Irritated, Yoona shot a look at the indifferent cashier, who simply shrugged. Yoona followed Krystal, and just as she was about to walk away from her, Krystal gently grabbed her wrist, accompanied by a brief glare.

 

Ah, this girl... Now I see why she's a Jung. I wonder if her mom was like this when she was young.

 

"What do you want?" Krystal's icy tone sent shivers down Yoona's spine.

 

Yoona scoffed playfully and shook her head. "Don't I deserve a 'thank you' from you?"

 

"I know my mom sent you to check on me, or at least, that's what I believe."

 

"If that's the case, then why avoid me? Let me take you home."

 

Krystal rolled her eyes and brushed Yoona off. "Are you dense? I don't need company right now." 

 

"Who said I want to be your company? I'm just doing my job, missy."

 

"Whatever," Krystal responded, crossing the street.

 

Yoona sighed, watching her go. She's so stubborn. Maybe I'll just let her be. She seems capable of handling herself. But as Yoona glanced to her left, she saw a car speeding towards Krystal, who was still in the middle of the street. In an instant, her adrenaline surged, and without hesitation, Yoona dashed towards Krystal, grabbing her and pulling her out of harm's way just in time. Yoona's strong arms kept them both steady, and she let out a breath of relief.

 

Seeing Krystal's wide-eyed stare, Yoona couldn't help but reflect on the situation. Krystal was clinging to Yoona's waist, her arms encircling Yoona's shoulders. Their eyes locked in a silent contest.

 

"Are you alright?" Krystal blinked rapidly, her gaze locked on Yoona.

 

There's something about her wide, concerned eyes that makes me want to keep looking into them. The way she asked that question... it makes me blush a little. Is this what Unnie feels when her bodyguard saves her?

 

Yoona cleared awkwardly, causing Krystal to snap out of her thoughts. Realizing their position, Krystal quickly pulled away and averted her gaze.

 

"Come on, let me take you home," Yoona said, gently tugging Krystal's arm towards her car.

 

Krystal continued to stare at her, inwardly noting how well the bodyguard suit suited her. Does that explain why people can't help but stare at her?

 

When Krystal saw the car, her eyes widened. She's so wealthy! Oh my, that car is absolutely gorgeous! Now I want one.

 

"Get in," Yoona offered, opening the passenger door for her. Krystal hesitated for a moment, then got in. The car was only built for two people, so she had no choice but to sit beside Yoona.

 

"Be grateful that you're the first person to ride this car with me," Yoona quipped, earning an eye roll from Krystal. She was undoubtedly a confident person, fitting the image of a wealthy woman.

 

Yoona chuckled at Krystal's reaction. The Jungs are going to be the reason I age prematurely, she thought.

 

Starting the engine, Yoona's phone rang. She tapped the earpiece in her left ear to answer the call and began driving. "Hello?"

 

"Detective Lim? The unresolved cases have been resolved. Can you confirm what time you'll be here tomorrow?"

 

"Probably in the morning, around 8."

 

Krystal sneaked a glance at Yoona. When their eyes met, she quickly turned her gaze away, her cheeks slightly flushed. Seriously, that was embarrassing. Why did I have to look at her?

 

"You'll be on your own, right?"

 

"Yup, Seul is in the States. I think she'll be there for about a month."

 

"Understood, Detective. See you tomorrow."

 

Ending the call, Yoona sighed. Now I'll have to handle solving cases all by myself. I wonder what tomorrow will bring.

----

 

*UNITED STATES OF AMERICA*

 

As the Red Velvet Mare tour moved from Los Angeles to Miami, Seulgi found herself seated beside Irene, at the latter's insistence. Irene had pulled Seulgi to her side, preferring her company over her fellow member Wendy, who playfully pouted. There was an undeniable comfort between Irene and Seulgi since their chance encounter, and Irene wanted to capitalize on that.

 

"Let's take a selfie," Irene suddenly suggested, pulling out her phone.

 

Seulgi tilted her head and adjusted herself in her seat as they took multiple shots from different angles. Unbeknownst to them, their interactions didn't go unnoticed by their fellow members.

 

"They seem to have gotten really close," Yeri remarked while observing them.

 

Joy joined in the conversation, her eyes fixed on the two giggling, "Yeah, they've really bonded since that day."

 

Wendy couldn't help but smile secretively, "I think their closeness is inevitable. After all, Seulgi is also a girl and happens to be Unnie's bodyguard. That probably made them connect more easily."

 

The younger girls nodded in agreement, exchanging glances. "They do look adorable together," Yeri said.

 

Wendy concurred, "Indeed. Now, Yerimmie, take out your phone and snap a picture of them." Yeri giggled and sneakily took a photo.

 

"I'm going to send this to our group chat," she announced, opening their chat and sharing the pictures.

 

Irene's phone buzzed with notifications. Curious, she checked her messages and saw Yeri's pictures.

 

Yeriana sent a picture...

 

Irene's eyes widened as she looked at Yeri, but the younger members had teasing grins on their faces. Irene rolled her eyes and focused on her phone, trying to keep the content hidden from Seulgi.

 

yDynamite - I bet Irene Unnie just saved a picture of Seulgi Unnie.

 

Yeriana - Her gallery must be filled with pictures of her and Seul Unnie by now since they've been taking pictures together.

 

Irene blushed slightly and shook her head.

 

yDynamite - I wonder what's going on in Unnie's mind when she takes a picture with our Seulgi Bear.

 

Yeriana - She's probably squealing on the inside, trying to keep her excitement in check.

 

Irene couldn't help but wonder if Yeri and Joy realized they were teasing their leader. Did they forget who they were talking to? I'm the older one here, and they're teasing me so casually. Shouldn't they be showing some respect?

 

Baechu - Knock it off! 😑

 

Son-olaf - Oh, she's not having it!

 

Baechu - Yah, Seungwan! Can't you be on my side for once?!

 

Son-olaf - What? I didn't do anything wrong. 😐

 

yDynamite - Don't worry, Unnie. Seulgi Unnie won't find out unless you tell her. 😉

 

Yeriana - What's discussed in the group chat stays in the group chat. 😉

 

Baechu - Whatever. 🙄

 

The sound of her members' laughter filled the air, and Irene couldn't help but roll her eyes once more. They truly had a knack for teasing her, and they seemed to be thoroughly enjoying it.

----

 

*MIAMI FLORIDA*

 

Upon arriving in Miami, Seulgi displayed her gentlemanly side by opening the car door for Irene. As they stepped out, Seulgi found herself instinctively patting Irene's head. The touch elicited a warm feeling in Irene, and she glanced up to see Seulgi's smile. Unable to resist, she returned the smile.

 

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Irene inquired playfully.

 

Seulgi shook her head, still smiling, and replied, "Nothing."

 

The other members were quick to remind them of their presence, Joy's pout signaling her hunger. She led the way into the restaurant, followed by Wendy and Yeri. Seulgi motioned for Irene to go ahead, prompting Irene's curiosity.

 

"I need to call Yoona Unnie first," Seulgi explained, and Irene nodded before heading inside, giving Seulgi's back a light pat as she did so.

 

Watching Irene walk away, Seulgi mentally scolded herself, Get a grip, Kang Seulgi.

 

With her phone in hand, Seulgi dialed Yoona's number, hoping she wasn't interrupting her sleep.

 

"Okay, so what's with the 'bothering my sleeping time'?" Yoona's voice sounded groggy.

 

Seulgi checked the time and realized her mistake. She hadn't meant to disturb Yoona's sleep, knowing well that the older woman needed her rest.

 

"I'll take that, because you know I miss you," Seulgi responded, a hint of sheepishness in her voice.

 

Yoona scoffed on the other end, "Well, it's a good thing you know. So, what's up?"

 

"Unnie..." Seulgi hesitated.

 

"It's alright, Seul. Don't feel bad. We're not exactly on our own here. Besides, it might be a good challenge for me to handle things solo. It'll test my abilities to tackle new situations. And you should be grateful that your current task is just to stick by your boss's side, rather than dealing with those challenging cases that even the police struggle with."

 

Seulgi's smile widened, appreciating Yoona's understanding. She chided herself for letting her thoughts wander into uncharted territory, deciding it was best to focus on being supportive of Yoona.

 

As the conversation lightened, Seulgi asked, "So, any specific souvenirs you'd like?"

 

"Surprise me," Yoona responded.

 

Seulgi chuckled, shaking her head, realizing that some things never change with Yoona. "Sure thing."

 

"Take care, Seul. Talk to you soon."

 

"Bye, you jerk!" Seulgi playfully retorted, laughing as she ended the call.

 

---

*SEOUL SOUTH KOREA*

 

Jessica's behavior was puzzling. One day she was cold to Yoona, but now it's as if yesterday's coldness had never occurred.

 

Tyler, Jessica's boyfriend, repeated a question for the umpteenth time, "Aren't you good at sports?"

 

They were at the Haesley Nine Bridges Golf Club in Yeoju-gun, South Korea. Tyler invited his girlfriend Jessica, and her sister Krystal, to play golf.

 

Despite my skills, acting competitive with him seems pointless. Better to stay respectful, Yoona thought.

 

"It's not my strong suit," Yoona replied with a small smile, mindful of staying polite.

 

Tyler was coaching Krystal in golf. Yoona leaned in, watching them intently.

 

"Why do businessmen like him favor golf?" Yoona asked, causing a slight hitch in Jessica's breath due to their close proximity.

 

Jessica shook her head, reflecting on her own thoughts. He has his charms, especially those broad shoulders, but honestly, choosing golf for our monthsary date wasn't the best idea.

 

"Why don't you ask him?" Jessica returned the question, laughing off any tension. Yoona laughed too, though she soon regretted it, as their faces ended up inches apart.

 

Jessica's heart raced as Yoona's wide smile transfixed her.

 

"Jess," a call from her boyfriend made Jessica turn around abruptly.

 

"Yes?" she replied, ready to shift her attention.

 

"Come here, let me teach you to play," he asked, his pouting expression earning a roll of Yoona's eyes. Annoying, she thought.

 

After a moment's hesitation, Jessica agreed, swayed by his cute expression. She walked over to Tyler, who jumped for joy. His hands found their place on Jessica's arms, causing Krystal to back away with a smile, admiring the sight.

 

Meanwhile, Yoona approached Krystal, standing behind her. Sensing Yoona's presence, Krystal couldn't help but shiver at her scent – Violet Blonde by Tom Ford, a seductive choice. She turned to address Yoona, her tone wary. "What are you doing?"

 

"Protecting the second Jung," Yoona shrugged, playfully waving the black umbrella she held.

 

Krystal raised an eyebrow, asking curiously, "Protecting me from what?"

 

Yoona smirked and responded, "Protecting you from the sun." Krystal's confusion deepened, and Yoona chuckled. "It's funny, that's why I laughed."

 

Rolling her eyes, Krystal turned her gaze back to her sister.

 

Krystal contemplated whether or not to address the situation