The rich, dimly lit club was a world of extravagance, with neon lights glowing and sleek, well-dressed people lounging in plush seats. Namfoon and Ratana stepped inside, their black glasses and masks immediately making them stand out in the sea of fashionable club-goers. Namfoon took in the opulent surroundings with wide eyes, her voice a mix of awe and admiration.

“So luxurious,” she murmured, adjusting her glasses as she scanned the club. She turned to Ratana, raising an eyebrow. “Are you sure your son is here?”

Ratana nodded confidently, her expression unshaken. “Yeah, his manager informed me he’s here tonight.” She paused for a moment, sensing Namfoon’s concerned gaze. “What? Why are you glaring at me like that?”

Namfoon tilted her head, her voice laced with suspicion. “Does your son often come to drink here? Is he some kind of... drunkard?”

Ratana flinched, looking offended. “No! No, he just comes to chill here. You know, even celebrities need to unwind sometimes. And I swear, he drinks, but in limit. He has his diet to keep in check. I’d never let him become a full-on drunk.”

Namfoon narrowed her eyes, her lips curling into a smile. “Good, because if he’s anything like the other spoiled rich kids here, I’ll be... very disappointed.”

 “So... where is he?” Namfoon asked, now scanning the club for any sign of Ratana's son. 

Ratana looked around, her eyes darting as she searched for a familiar face. “Well, he’s a bit of a mysterious type. Maybe he’s—” 

 Before Ratana could finish her sentence, a waiter passed by carrying a tray of champagne glasses. Namfoon, not paying attention, grabbed one.

Ratana watched in horror as Namfoon casually took a sip of the champagne, her eyes widening. “Namfoon, no! That’s—”

But it was too late. Namfoon already savored the flavor and let out a contented sigh. “Whoa… rich people and their taste,” she muttered, swirling the glass as if she’d been drinking the finest champagne her whole life.

"So, did you find you're son yet?" Namfoon asked, still taking a sip.

“Cover your face,” Ratana hissed. “He cannot know I’m here.”

Namfoon, still leisurely sipping her drink, nodded before pulling a sleek mask back onto her face. “Alright, alright,” she grumbled.

Ratana sighed, trying to stay calm as she adjusted her own mask. Just then, she caught sight of someone familiar. “Oh, it's Atid,” she whispered, her eyes lighting up.

“Atid?” Namfoon asked, brow furrowed in confusion.

“Than’s manager,” Ratana explained.

Namfoon’s eyes followed Atid across the room, her curiosity piqued. She watched him stride confidently through the crowd and begin making his way toward the stairs. “Ah,” Namfoon muttered, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “Let’s go follow him.”

Ratana looked at her with a deadpan expression. “Are you sure this is a good idea?”

Namfoon didn’t even hesitate. “Shh… follow my lead.”

The two women exchanged a quick glance and, after a silent agreement, they followed Atid up the stairs. As they ascended, they passed a group of clinking glasses and laughing celebrities. The atmosphere was thick with glamour, and Namfoon couldn’t help but whisper in awe, “Ohh… is this like, celebrity headquarters or something? Wow… look at them.”

Ratana, already on edge, hissed, “Shh... be quiet.”

But, Namfoon’s wide eyes didn’t miss a single detail. “Look at her!” she said, her voice filled with awe. “Hey, isn’t she the lead of Jan Nai Jai? Look at her, she is so gorgeous!”

Ratana shot Namfoon a warning glare, her patience wearing thin. “Namfoon…” she said, her voice taking on a sharp edge. “Don’t forget why we are here. It’s you who wanted to test my son—whether he likes boys or not.”

Namfoon sighed dramatically, as if she had just been interrupted from the most important revelation of her life. “Alright, alright, I remember.” She waved her hand dismissively, trying to refocus.

Ratana narrowed her eyes. “So, what’s your plan, then?”

A devilish smirk curled on Namfoon’s lips. “Simple,” she said, her voice low with mischievous intent. “I’ll send a cute, hot guy to him... to seduce him. Of course.”

Ratana’s eyes went wide, and her voice broke through the noise of the club louder than intended. “What!” she practically shouted, a mix of shock and disbelief coloring her tone.

The people around them turned briefly, some raising an eyebrow at the sudden outburst. Even Thanthorn, who had been casually surveying the crowd, paused and looked suspiciously at the two women in black glasses and black masks. His eyes lingered on them for a moment before he shrugged it off and turned his attention elsewhere.

Ratana, meanwhile, was still reeling from the audacity of the plan. “You’re sending a guy to seduce my son in a club full of celebrities!” she exclaimed, gesturing wildly.

Namfoon shrugged nonchalantly, as if she were discussing the weather. “Well, what else did you expect, huh? We need to test him, right? Gotta see if he’s got the same taste we’re hoping for.”

Ratana blinked in disbelief, her jaw practically hitting the floor. “I didn’t think you’d go that far, Namfoon. Seduce him? Seriously?”

Namfoon gave her a sly grin, clearly unbothered by the shock she was causing. “Oh, don’t worry. Nothing will happen. It’s just a little test. A harmless flirtation to see where his interests lie. If he bites, he bites. If not, well, at least we know.”

Ratana groaned, rubbing her temples as she tried to process the madness unfolding before her. “You can’t just send some random guy over to my son and... seduce him! This isn’t some kind of rom-com, Namfoon!”

Namfoon, completely unfazed, took another sip of her drink. “Shut up,” she said, as if the whole thing were no big deal. Then, in a matter-of-fact tone, she added, “Don’t you want to know whether he likes boys or not? Just think—if we find out he does, we can become in-laws. In-laws, Ratana!”

Ratana stared at her, eyes wide, trying to absorb the chaos of the situation. She blinked a few times, as if waiting for the ridiculousness to disappear, but it didn’t. Instead, she let out a heavy sigh, resigned to the madness.

“Okay, then... let’s do it,” she said with a dramatic wave of her hand, as if she were signing up for a really bad reality show.

Namfoon, as if she'd just won the lottery, shot her a thumbs-up.

Ratana watched, half in disbelief and half in dread, as Namfoon interacted with a waiter. She leaned in, whispering something conspiratorial, and slipped him a neatly folded wad of cash. The waiter’s eyes lit up like he’d just been handed a golden ticket. He nodded enthusiastically and disappeared into the crowd.

Moments later, Namfoon returned, looking utterly pleased with herself as she sank back into the chair. Ratana eyed her warily. “You told him not to overdo it, right?”

Namfoon waved dismissively, like she was an expert in orchestrating this sort of thing. “Yeah, yeah, don’t worry. I won’t let my to-be son-in-law get seduced by just anyone. It’s just a test!”

Ratana sighed, rubbing her temples. “I don’t think you understand how completely insane that sentence sounds.”

                                                                               ***

Later,

The club's dim lighting reflected off a shimmering crop top, drawing attention to the figure of a cute yet undeniably hot guy stepping up the stairs. His thin waist and confident stride turned more than a few heads, a wine glass balanced effortlessly in his hand.

Namfoon perked up instantly, nudging Ratana. “There he is,” she whispered excitedly, practically vibrating in her seat.

Ratana curious and mortified, followed Namfoon’s gaze. Her eyes landed on the guy walking directly toward Thanathorn, his confident smirk suggesting he knew exactly the kind of effect he was having on the room.

But just as he got close to Thanathorn, Atid, his manager, stepped in front of him like a human barricade. “Who are you?” Atid demanded, his tone sharp and suspicious.

The guy froze for a moment, then glanced over toward Namfoon and Ratana, as if silently pleading for backup.

Atid’s eyes followed his gaze and landed on Ratana, who immediately panicked. Sliding her mask up a little higher, she gave him a sheepish little wave, signaling him to step aside. “Let him through already!”

Atid’s jaw dropped. “Madam?” he mumbled in disbelief, blinking several times as if he couldn’t trust his eyes.

Atid, finally snapping out of his shock, cleared his throat and reluctantly stepped aside, allowing the guy to pass. He looked back at Ratana one last time, his expression screaming What is going on?

Namfoon, looked at Ratana asking “Why didn’t you just ask him if Than likes guys? Why are we wasting time here?”

Ratana shot her a withering look. “Do you seriously think Atid would tell me something like that?”

Namfoon tilted her head, genuinely curious. “He wouldn’t?”

“Never!” Ratana replied, exasperated. “Than never lets us know anything about his relationships. He thinks we might… you know…” She hesitated, then waved her hands vaguely. “…interrupt and do weird things.”

Namfoon nodded. The guy in the crop top sauntered toward Thanathorn, his wine glass in hand and a confident sway in his hips. His thin waist and sparkling demeanor were hard to miss, and several heads turned as he approached.

Thanathorn, still swirling his wine on the red sofa like a bored king, barely glanced up as the guy slid into his line of vision. 

"Hi there," the guy purred, leaning in close to Thanathorn with a coy smile. "I couldn’t help but notice you sitting here. You’re Thanathorn Wachirayan, right? The heartthrob of many. I absolutely Loveeeee your dramas."

Thanathorn blinked at him, his face as impassive as ever. "I’m not in a drama," he replied dryly, taking a leisurely sip of his wine, never once looking at the guy.

Undeterred, the crop-top guy leaned in even closer, twirling a strand of his hair with a mischievous grin. "I know, but I still can’t take my eyes off you. You're even more handsome in person than on screen. You have that ‘my life is pain, but I’m still ridiculously hot’ vibe. It’s, like, so attractive."

Thanathorn's brows twitched, and he finally turned his head to look at the guy, his gaze cool and measured. "Are you always this... direct?"

The guy grinned wider, seemingly oblivious to the chill in Thanathorn’s tone. "Only when the vibes are this strong. You, me, this club... It’s destiny, don’t you think?"

Thanathorn set his glass down with a soft clink and leaned back against the sofa, comfortably. "No."

The guy’s confidence wavered for a moment, but he quickly recovered, glancing over toward Namfoon and Ratana, who were eagerly signaling him to keep going. Atid, standing nearby, couldn’t help but feel exasperated by the whole bizarre situation. He couldn’t believe he was witnessing a mother actively sending someone to seduce her own son.

The crop-top guy, desperate to salvage his approach, flaunted his waist dramatically. Thanathorn gave him a once-over, his eyes scanning the guy briefly before offering his flat opinion. "You look cold."

The guy blinked, momentarily caught off guard. "Cold?"

"You should consider wearing a full shirt next time," Thanathorn added casually, picking up his wine glass again. "It’s drafty in here." With that, he stood up, his gaze still unwavering, and walked away down the stairs, exiting the club with a deliberate, confident stride.

Atid, who had been watching from a distance, glanced toward Ratana and Namfoon, his face filled with panic. Without thinking, he rushed after Thanathorn, trying to catch up.

Namfoon and Ratana were left standing in stunned silence. Namfoon blinked several times before turning to Ratana, her voice low and uncertain. "So... he like boys or not?"

Ratana, still processing the failed plan, could only shake her head. Their entire scheme had crumbled, and they were no closer to knowing the truth.

"Let's go now," Ratana finally said, standing up with a sigh. 

She motioned for Namfoon to follow, both women defeated by the turn of events. As they made their way toward the door, Ratana couldn’t help but mutter under her breath, "Your plan failed. You told me it would work."

Namfoon sighed in response. "I know."

Just then, a voice cut through the air, sharp and unmistakable. "Mommmm."

Ratana froze, her heart skipping a beat as she turned to see Thanathorn standing behind them. His eyes were cold, his arms folded across his chest, and his expression unreadable.

The moment hung in the air, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife.