CG | Chapter 1.1

The weather was amazing from Saturday morning. It seemed like summer was finally making its appearance, with the sky clear and cloudless, and the wind blowing coolly—ruffling hair without being cold.

Sean Delight, who had passed out after a party that lasted until dawn, woke up to the breeze sneaking in through the open window. As soon as he became conscious, an unbearable thirst hit him. When he lifted his stiff body, he felt a heavy weight on his chest.

Looking down to see what it was, he saw a head of lush brown hair. Tilting his head slightly to take a closer look, he realized it was the girl he had been introduced to at last night’s party. Wasn’t she a first-year theater student? He couldn’t remember her name.

Damn, did something happen? He had never made a mistake while drunk before.

Even though he had just woken up, his handsome face—without a single flaw—twisted in embarrassment. Sean brushed back his tousled platinum-blonde hair and quietly assessed the situation. Fortunately, both of them were clothed. After confirming that not a single button was undone, his heart felt instantly lighter.

Of course. No matter how drunk he got, he had never given up his purity.

Praising himself, Sean carefully laid the girl’s head—which had been using his impressive pectorals as a pillow—onto the bed and slipped out. If he woke her up, it would lead to the awkward emergency of a morning greeting, so he tiptoed to the door, hoping to leave without encountering anyone.

“Hey, Sean. How was it with Rose?”

But as soon as he stepped out, he ran into someone. It was Robert—the host of the party and the friend who had lent him the house—greeting him with a mischievous smile. Unfortunately, the bathroom was right in front of the room. Swallowing his embarrassment, Sean waved his hand and greeted him as if nothing was wrong. So the girl’s name was Rose.

“Sorry, but nothing happened.”

His friend Robert was a good guy, but he had the fatal flaw of having a mouth as loose as SpongeBob’s. It was likely that rumors had already spread since last night, just from knowing they’d shared a bed. Still, trying to manage the situation, Sean sincerely denied it, placing a hand on his chest.

“Haha, you? If you’re going to joke, put a little more effort into it.”

“I’m serious.”

Once he started talking, he fully regained his senses. Then, the memory from before he fell asleep finally came back. The first-year theater student—Rose—had been clinging to the toilet bowl after drinking too much, and fearing that someone mischievous might take a picture and tease her, he had helped her to bed. Sean, who had been about to leave, quietly closed the door at the sound of men calling for him, and seemed to have fallen asleep while resting.

He argued sincerely that he’d only done a good deed and had no good experience, but Robert didn’t believe him. It was understandable—Sean was known as a notorious playboy on campus.

It wasn’t a nickname he earned only after entering university. Sean Delight had been called a player since middle school. He dated at least three to four girls every year, and the guys who had known him since then called him amazing. But while he might have seemed cool to the guys, to the girls, he was probably just a lightweight. Being amazing among guys usually doesn’t help much in life.

But there was truly an unavoidable reason for this. However, it was too embarrassing to say out loud, so he had endured until now, bearing the disgraceful stigma.

“Okay, I’ll pretend to believe you. Want to go out for breakfast? Everyone’s still asleep, so I was thinking of going out to eat.”

Robert agreed without showing even a hint of belief. At the suggestion, Sean shook his head and raised the corners of his mouth. A playful smile appeared on his face.

“Unfortunately, I’ll make my exit here. You’ll miss me terribly, but hang in there.”

“Then you’re not going to Emily’s party today? It’s at a restaurant in Soho.”

“I’ll pass this time. I had enough fun yesterday.”

“Aw, don’t be boring. With only ten days left until training resumes, you should enjoy yourself while you can.”

Robert coaxed him, throwing an arm around his shoulder. He was in a different department but had become friends with Sean through their shared time on the football team.

A young man from a well-off family who had grown up playing American football, Robert enjoyed being popular and having fun. He lived by the motto of enjoying life as much as possible before graduating from college—and he acted accordingly.

“I’m planning to rest at home. I haven’t been able to go because of training and classes. You should visit your parents too.”

“Won’t you be bored with nothing to do in town? Should I come with you?”

“Thanks for the offer, but I’ll be with Lane, so it’s fine.”

Sean declined with a wink. When he mentioned Lane with an excited smile, Robert, as if he couldn’t understand, made a dissatisfied remark.

“I don’t know why someone like you hangs out with a guy like him. How can you be friends with someone who acts like a social misfit?”

Ha, this guy still holds a grudge. It’s been a year already.

Lane was Sean’s closest friend, but he was extremely reluctant to get close to new people. Like someone who blocked out external stimuli, he ignored conversations and only communicated when absolutely necessary. He had been like that since childhood, so people other than Sean found Lane difficult.

“Lane is an amazing person, incomparable to me. Don’t talk about him like that.”

Unlike his previously lighthearted demeanor, Sean’s tone suddenly became firm, and Robert looked slightly taken aback. To soften the mood, Sean gave a sly smile, patted Robert’s shoulder, and added a word, lest he sulk.

“Of course, you’re amazing too. You’re both my friends, right? Got it? I’m leaving now. Thanks for the party. Tell Rose to get home safely.”

Deliberately mentioning the girl’s name quickly shifted Robert’s attention. He relaxed his expression and chuckled, pushing Sean’s back instead of saying goodbye. As Sean was nudged down the hallway, Robert’s voice calling for Rose echoed behind him.

Now, Robert would probably spread this story at Emily’s party tonight. Then, during just a year and a half of college life, Sean Delight would have supposedly seduced his twentieth girl.

Ha, really. Being popular is a hassle.

Sean figured it was better to be popular than not, even if the rumors were far from the truth. Still, sometimes he worried that by the time he graduated, he might become infamous as the guy who supposedly slept with a hundred people. Thinking about such a future made him suddenly tired.

Why are people so interested in others’ affairs? It’s no different from when I was young.

The college life he had dreamed of was fresh and fun, but in this regard, it wasn’t much different from middle and high school. Being a prestigious school like Shale University, it was fortunate that everyone was serious about studying, creating a good academic atmosphere.

After leaving the condo without even washing his face, he called an Uber. New Haven, during the vacation, was quieter than usual, with many students gone. Watching the few people walking around, Sean checked his nearly dead phone. Just in case, he looked—but there was no message from Lane.

I said I’d visit today… This guy.

Lane Surf, whom Robert had mentioned earlier, was Sean’s childhood friend. Sean, a native of Greenwich—a town nestled between Connecticut and New York State—had met him back in elementary school.

Lane’s first appearance had been extraordinary. Despite it being a neighborhood where only the wealthy—successful in their respective fields—lived, Lane had arrived with the full attention of the residents, including Sean’s parents, because a tycoon was moving in.

Lane’s father was an executive at an international company, descended from a prestigious political family, and his mother came from French nobility. When the residents learned this, they all tried to cozy up to the Surf family in advance. Parents with children around Sean’s age even pre-selected Lane as a future friend.

But in the end, Sean remained Lane’s only friend to this day. Fortunately for Sean, Lane didn’t make friends easily. He had a clear inner world and a personality that didn’t particularly need others.

So usually, it was Sean who reached out first.

There had been a time when that disappointed him, but by now, he was used to it. He understood that, for Lane—who rarely engaged in long conversations with anyone other than Sean—even replying to a message was a meaningful gesture. Still, at times like now, he couldn’t help but feel a sudden pang of regret. He had texted Lane last night saying he’d visit today; a simple yes or no would’ve been nice.

While rubbing his forehead and debating what to do, the Uber arrived. The driver stopped in front of him, having been leaning against a roadside tree. As Sean opened the door of the white Tesla and got in, a cheerful morning greeting followed.

“Good morning. You’re heading to Greenwich, right?”

“Yes, please.”

“You live in a nice neighborhood.”

“I was lucky. Can I open the window?”

“Yes, as you like.”

“Thank you.”

With that, Sean fell silent. The middle-aged white man glanced at him in the rearview mirror, then started driving.

Sean leaned his head against the open window. Though it was late May, the wind wasn’t cold—thanks to warmer weather compared to last year. The taxi drove straight along Interstate 95h. The wind seemed to soothe the aftereffects of the all-night party.

After about forty minutes of driving, properties along the beach came into view. Near the shoreline, landscaped like a vast park, stood luxury housing complexes—each worth tens of millions. A private security company hired by the residents patrolled frequently, ensuring safety.

Most of the homes were built grandly, like European mansions. But Sean’s house stood out with its sleek, modern design. The large swimming pool at the center, the nearby sunbeds, and the glass wall that exposed the front of the mansion were its defining features—though they did compromise privacy.

As he entered the quiet and peaceful neighborhood, Sean’s tired face began to brighten. He checked his slightly haggard face from the all-nighter with a quick selfie. Hmm. It’s passable. After tidying his hair, it looked decent enough.

Satisfied with his appearance, Sean pressed the security key to open the house gate, washed his face lightly in the first-floor bathroom, and then went straight back out.

Instead of going inside, Sean took a side path and walked along the road near his house for about 10 minutes. The further he walked, the narrower it became, eventually turning into a bridge-like two-lane road. After walking for over 10 minutes, an elegant mansion surrounded by a small forest slowly came into view. Hidden beyond the large trees, the secretive mansion was decorated like a fairy tale castle.

The two-story brick mansion was built in a rare European style in America. The vast estate, with a separate corridor leading to an annex and a greenhouse, was Lane’s home.

Beautiful flowers swayed near a small pond, and walking to the back of the mansion revealed a rocky beach as the slope gradually lowered. The expansive estate, with the best view in Greenwich, was astronomically priced. Robert would be shocked if he knew.

Crossing the garden, arranged with all sorts of plants as if decorated by fairies, Sean stood in front of the main door. Then, as if it was open just for him, he pushed up the first-floor window and climbed inside. Sliding his slender, toned body under the window and stepping on the floor, the scent of old wood wafted.