Running to You | Park Han + JL + Steven | Haneulz + Stejay AU

Chapter 21: Chih En's House

The Monday after the cultural festival saw the team trudging into the locker room like they had just finished a bootcamp. Any residual glow from their successful -- albeit slightly scandalous -- maid café booth was eclipsed by what was now glaring at them from the whiteboard: a red-lettered warning that looked more like a death sentence than a countdown.

"REGIONALS: 6 DAYS LEFT."

Below it, underlined twice in an even angrier scrawl, was the real kicker: "REGIONAL GPA CLAUSE: FAIL A SUBJECT = NO COMPETITION."

Woongki dropped his bag with a dramatic thud and stared at the board as if it had personally insulted him. "Okay but hear me out. What if we all drop out, become influencers, and just live off product sponsorships?"

"No," Steven said without missing a beat, already lacing up his shoes.

JL flopped onto the bench beside Han, letting his head fall back with a groan. "I think I blacked out the moment I read 'fail a subject.' Physics is out for blood. I swear my last quiz was written in ancient Latin."

Han, who had been pensively reading the board, scowled and muttered "Chemistry", with the air of a funeral director.

Juwon, who looked suspiciously smug, raised his hand like a student in class. "I volunteer as tribute -- to gloat. I'm passing everything. Even Advanced Bio."

"Sit down, nerd," Shuaibo grumbled, chucking his towel at him.

Then Kyungho turned to Chih En with a thoughtful look. "Wait, you're top- ranked, right? Like academically?"

Before Chih En could reply, Jeongwoo chimed in. "Top of the department. It's practically common knowledge."

Every head turned. Even Han raised an eyebrow. Chih En shifted slightly, visibly uncomfortable under the sudden attention. "I... just study. That's all."

"You speak Korean like a native, Mandarin like a native, and your English is as good as mine," Steven said flatly. "And you're top of every test. You're basically a Terminator who can conjugate irregular verbs."

"I'm willing to help," Chih En said, his voice steadier now. "But I need all of you to pass. I want us to compete together. I want us to win. All of us."

The noise died down. 

Chih En wasn't one for speeches. He was quiet, serious, and always in the background. But that conviction -- soft but ironclad -- brought everyone's attention to a sharp point.

"I'm in," JL said instantly, sitting up straight. "God knows I need help."

"Me too," Han added, without hesitation.

Kyungho nodded and clapped his hands once. "Alright. Study camp. It's time for pain."

The address came via group chat: a string of numbers and a pin dropped in the map app. No context. Just:  "my place - see you at 7."

They were expecting a shared apartment. Maybe a modest townhouse at most. But when they reached the destination, even Woongki, who was the most dramatic by default, couldn't find the words right away.

A towering set of wrought-iron gates loomed before them, flanked by sculpted hedges and softly glowing lanterns. Past the gates was a private driveway lined with maple trees, the leaves fluttering gently in the evening breeze. And at the end of the drive was a house -- no, a mansion - bathed in warm light, sleek and modern, with high windows, a wraparound balcony, and ivy climbing elegantly along the walls.