Dirty Switch

Maybe it was just his imagination, but when DH Group was mentioned under the major donors a moment ago, it felt like Seo Baekhan had looked directly at him. No matter how much he thought about it, it didn’t seem like Baekhan had been casually glancing around and just happened to make eye contact with him by chance.
During the ceremony, Baekhan exchanged glances with a few others. From what Joo Taehyun had observed, it wasn’t coincidence—it was a carefully calculated move, down to the timing.
If that was the case... then maybe it wouldn’t be out of place to go up and say hello. Baekhan had gone out of his way to call him and had even given him a knowing look.

“If we get caught now, we’re seriously never getting out of here. Keep it low, got it?”
“...Um, noona—”
“Oh, Yoonwoo!”

Just as Joo Yoonwoo was hurrying toward the exit, someone leapt up behind her and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. It was Cha Sojin, granddaughter of the president of Shinuiju University and Yoonwoo’s closest friend.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
Even though she was much shorter than Yoonwoo, Cha Sojin stood on her toes and kept her arm tightly around her shoulders. Her ankles looked wobbly in her tall heels, so Yoonwoo sighed and lowered her neck slightly to match her height.

“I have to take care of my baby.”
“Hello, noona.”
Joo Taehyun, who had quietly stayed silent, greeted Cha Sojin. From the look of things, it didn’t seem like she had fought with his sister—probably just some misunderstanding. If that were the case, he hoped they’d clear it up while they had the chance. Sojin lived abroad most of the time, so it wasn’t easy to see her.

“Oh my, Taehyun! You’ve really grown! You’re taller than most adults now. But your brothers didn’t come? Just you two?”
“Yeah, so today, I’m the only one taking care of our baby—”
“Oh, really?”

Cha Sojin cut off Yoonwoo mid-sentence, a mischievous smile flashing across her face. Feeling a strange sense of unease, Yoonwoo tried to stop her with a “Hey, wait—” but Sojin suddenly raised her voice and shouted.
“Hey! Seo Baekhan!”
Seo Baekhan, who had just stepped off the stage after wrapping up the event, turned toward them at the unexpected call. Joo Taehyun’s heart dropped with a loud thump. It felt like all his organs had been knocked out of place and were tumbling around inside him.

And shockingly, Seo Baekhan began walking toward them.
Even though he’d been called out so loudly—and rather rudely—he didn’t look the least bit irritated. If anything, he looked much more gentle in person than he did in photos.
Joo Taehyun swallowed hard without realizing it.
Until just now, he’d only been considering whether to approach and say hello. But now that Baekhan was really right in front of him, actually getting closer step by step... he couldn’t come up with a single proper response.

All the polite bows and smooth greetings he’d practiced in secret while lying awake had vanished. All that was left was the pounding thump, thump, thump of his heartbeat ringing in his ears.
“Sojin noona, ever thought about showing a little dignity?”
“Ugh, why do you always sound like that? What, you think you’re some kind of prince?”

“Ever thought about how you might come off as vulgar?”
“Blegh. Anyway, shut up. You’re free right now, aren’t you? We’re going to have some girl time, so you look after the Joo kid, got it?”
She grabbed Baekhan’s hand and shoved it toward Joo Taehyun’s, forcing their hands together. Baekhan’s large palm completely enveloped Taehyun’s.

“Aw, look at these little cuties,” Sojin cooed.
“Hey, hey! Cha Sojin!”
“You were going to rest anyway. Just one hour. I’m going to run around with Yoonwoo a bit. Watch the baby. Got it?”

“I said no!”
“If not now, then when am I supposed to have a drink with you? Let’s go!”
Without giving them even a second to exchange greetings, Yoonwoo and her friends disappeared in a flurry of motion.

“Will you be okay?”
“Huh?”
“I mean, will you be alright being apart from Yoonwoo noona? If you don’t like being alone, you can stick by her side.”

Baekhan gave Taehyun’s hand a little shake and teased gently.
“You’re still at that age where someone has to hold your hand.”
“Ah, no!”

Only then did Joo Taehyun let go of Baekhan’s hand and take a small step back.
“And I’m not a kid anymore... Noona has her own social life too. And it’s not just any event—it’s one attended by His Highness Prince Yi Hwang. It’s not like anything bad would happen, right? If it were dangerous, hyung wouldn’t have asked me to come.”
This was the event his brother had worked so hard to plan. He hesitated to add that last part, worried it might come off as arrogant—but instead, Baekhan seemed genuinely pleased to hear it. He hummed low in his throat and looked at Taehyun with soft eyes, his gaze lowering slightly.

“You two are still the same.”
“Pardon?”
“You and your sister. The way you get along—almost oddly close.”

With one hand in his pocket and a slightly tilted stance, Baekhan gave a crooked grin. It was the kind of posture and expression that should’ve looked villainous, but somehow, it gave off the aura of a tired hero who’d just saved the world and was asking for a little praise.
Maybe it was the outfit. Or maybe his build...
Baekhan was wearing a suit layered over a dress shirt. The fabric clung perfectly to his body, and with even the smallest movement, the outlines of his form rippled visibly. Taehyun knew it wasn’t right to size someone up like cuts of meat, but as Baekhan’s muscles flexed visibly through his shoulders and arms, his eyes «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» kept drifting.

In short, his frame and lines were all decadent, but his gestures were gentle.
Trying to erase that irreverent observation, Joo Taehyun extended his hand toward Baekhan. He hoped his face wasn’t as red as his blushing fingertips.
“It’s been a while, hyung.”

Seo Baekhan glanced over Taehyun’s hair, face, and hand in order, then threw his head back and laughed loudly.
“Ah, it’s been ages since I laughed like this.”
When he added, “Because of you,” Taehyun smiled just a little, too.

“Yeah. Have you been well?”
Baekhan’s hand, now properly shaking his, was much hotter than Taehyun remembered—and even larger. It felt like he’d been working out more; there were calluses forming on his palm and his knuckles had thickened. Maybe it was because Baekhan always gave off a meticulous, tidy image, but Taehyun found it surprising in more ways than one. It wasn’t that his hand was rough in a jarring way—just that it felt like an ordinary man’s hand. And that, somehow, made it hit home that Seo Baekhan was a man, which surprised him more than anything.
“...Yeah. I’ve been okay.”

“Oh, right. You said you were thinking about studying abroad last time, didn’t you?”
“Yes. Nothing’s set in stone yet.”
“Sorry. With the time difference and how busy I’ve been, I couldn’t get back to you right away.”

“It’s alright. I didn’t really have anyone specific in mind—I just asked without thinking...”
Even though he knew it sounded like a poor excuse, Baekhan simply smiled.
No matter how few people Taehyun knew, he had his brothers, his sister, and the money to hire a professional. And yet, rather than ask them, he had reached out to Baekhan. Still, Baekhan didn’t ask why. He didn’t make Taehyun feel embarrassed. He just smiled quietly. “Well, I guess the baby brothers are fond of me.” That teasing line was just a bonus.

He’d already thought Baekhan seemed mature when they first met, but now he seemed like a completely grown man. Others might scoff at that, but to fifteen-year-old Taehyun, twenty-two was more than adult enough.
“But hyung. I can be alone.”
“Nah, Sojin noona was right. I’m really tired—I need a break.”

Baekhan leaned heavily against Taehyun. Though Taehyun wasn’t short, Baekhan was so big that if he hadn’t quickly thrown an arm around him, Taehyun would’ve stumbled awkwardly under the weight.
“Oh, right—wanna take a look around inside? The interior work on the office is mostly finished.”
“I’d love to… But isn’t this a really busy time for you?”

“I’ve been the one running around all day. Now it’s His Highness Yi Hwang’s turn to be busy.”
With an exaggerated sigh, Baekhan added, “I’ve been worked like a dog, and I’m only twenty-two.”