Dirty Switch

‘…Hey. Choi Yeonjun.’
‘Hm?’
‘Do you know anyone at the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs who’s related to Kim Seungjun?’

Just then, the number on the dashboard changed to 1, and Seo Baekhan stepped out of the elevator, smoothly shifting the topic.
‘You think a loser like me who spends his days inlaid lacquer crafting by hand would know something you don’t?’
Choi Yeonjun, one of the founding members of Haechi, was a lacquerware artisan who had recently started gaining recognition. Though he benefited from his maternal family running one of Asia’s top antique galleries, his craftsmanship was well regarded on its own.

‘Ah, fuck! That reminds me, I need to finish reviewing the new museum merch lineup by tomorrow! Totally slipped my mind… ugh, god, I really don’t wanna do it…’
Watching Yeonjun suddenly grab his head and groan, Baekhan gave him a look of mild disdain—then paused, rubbing his chin slowly as a thought struck him.
‘Yeah? So that means you’ll see the director of the National Palace Museum tomorrow too, right?’

‘Huh? I mean… probably? I’m stopping by the museum anyway, so I should say hi. He’s petty about stuff like that.’
‘There was an event two days ago hosted by the Veterans Ministry. I heard the director attended. The National Palace Museum helped fund it quite a bit.’
‘Oh yeah? Didn’t know that.’

‘Right. So when you meet him tomorrow, slip in a little comment for me.’
‘Huh?’
Thrown off by Baekhan’s abrupt, context-skipping request, Yeonjun scratched his cheek in confusion.

‘Slip in what… wait, you mean about Kim Seungjun? You want me to tell the director?’
‘Yeah. Nothing more, nothing less—just exactly what you saw. That some scatterbrained punk was name-dropping a relative in the Veterans Ministry while badmouthing Joo Taehyun and stirring up a bad vibe.’
There were only so many people on the Crown Prince’s side who had access to Haechi. And among those, who also had ties to the Ministry and a link to Kim Seungjun? Whether it was a father, or the Prince of Conciliation himself... whatever the case, Baekhan was confident he could narrow it down himself.

He was also fairly certain whoever this "relative" was, they wouldn’t be anything special. But it did nag at him that Kim Seungjun seemed to know fairly specific details about the circumstances under which Joo Taehyun had confessed to him.
Where. How. When had something from a private Haechi event leaked out?
Especially since Taehyun hadn’t confessed in the middle of a banquet hall—it was in a quiet, secluded place.
Was there a hidden mic planted somewhere? Or had someone snuck in unnoticed?

As possibilities spun out in his head, Seo Baekhan cut them off with a mental flick.
One step at a time. He’d already been considering a full shake-up within Haechi anyway—this would be the perfect excuse to start culling staff.
‘Well… I mean, I could, but why bring that up to the museum director?’

‘With a budget as tight as the Palace Museum’s, do you really think they can afford to sponsor other departments’ events? They probably only did it out of obligation, and I’d bet the director’s got a pretty sour taste in his mouth over the Veterans Ministry right now.’
‘Fair enough… but still, why does that matter?’
‘Now imagine the director hears that some punk with ties to the Ministry made a scene at a scholarship event funded by the Crown Prince. You think he’ll let that slide? He’ll talk. He’ll pass it along.’

Even if all the museum director did was grumble that the Ministry of Veterans Affairs was full of useless pricks, rumors had a way of mutating as they spread—some people were bound to start asking questions.
Who the hell is this guy who got humiliated by Seo Baekhan? Never heard of him before. Why was someone like that even at the scholarship inauguration? Wasn’t that an event the Crown Prince really put effort into?... That kind of talk would spread naturally.
After that, it’d be easy. Without lifting a finger, people would bring him the information themselves.

And once speculation started about why the Crown Prince was even associating with someone like Kim Seungjun, Baekhan could simply pick the most plausible theories and follow the trail. He had a feeling something much bigger might fall into his lap. Possibly even something far beyond his original expectations.
‘If you’re planning that far ahead, wouldn’t it be better to just contact Joo Taehyun directly?’
Baekhan didn’t respond, glancing sidelong instead. Normally so sharp, Choi Yeonjun sometimes veered off into tangents like this. Baekhan didn’t want to waste any more energy arguing; he just wanted to leave now.

‘Seo Baekhan? Are you listening? Why go in circles like this?’
The valet attendants, catching his gaze from outside, bowed repeatedly through the glass. With an event this size, it seemed getting a car out was no easy feat.
‘If you’re right, then news will reach Taehyun’s family anyway. Once they get wind of it, they’ll be pissed and start digging things up. Isn’t that what you ultimately want—to set the stage?’

‘Yeonjun, Choi Yeonjun. If you’re gonna break rocks, don’t break your own skull.’
‘You little shit!’
‘If you’re trying to catch a rat, do you use a high-caliber shotgun? No, right? You gotta match opponents by weight class before you throw them in the ring.’

‘Hey!’
The valet announcing his car had arrived had never been more welcome. As Yeonjun grumbled, ‘Inlay’s not made from rocks, you idiot, I’ve told you that like three thousand times,’ Baekhan kept walking toward the car.
‘And if I’m the one who tells Joo Taehyun about all this, how do you think he’ll feel?’

‘Dunno. Maybe he’d be happy to hear from you?’
‘Choi Yeonjun. Do you think Taehyun’s the one chasing after me?’
‘Of course! Who wouldn’t know that? Even idiots with no social sense have noticed.’

‘Exactly. If you know, then it’s obvious. And you want me to go and tell that kind of guy, “Hey, some jerk said you’re a heat-crazed Omega chasing me around even though you’re an Alpha?”’
‘…Oh.’
He didn’t regret drawing a line that day, even if it was cold. It was Taehyun who had forced an unasked-for confession on him. But just because he couldn’t hide his feelings well didn’t mean others got a free pass to mock him for it. Baekhan would’ve done exactly the same thing to defend anyone in Taehyun’s position.

‘Talk to the director properly tomorrow.’
‘Yeah, get going.’
‘Right. Unlike some people, you’re my real friend, Yeonjun.’

He winked as he headed to his car, and Yeonjun pretended to gag—then suddenly darted after him and grabbed his sleeve, like something had just clicked.
‘Seo Baekhan, wait. Before you shake things up in Haechi, you’ll give me a heads-up, right? Right?’
‘Now what?’

‘I mean it! I really like someone this time! For real!’
‘How many times have I heard that? I told you to stop messing around with the staff.’
‘I mean it this time! I’m serious! Hey! Seo Baekhaaan!’

After that incident, some ridiculous rumors started circulating—stuff like “Seo Baekhan really dotes on Joo Taehyun now”—but he didn’t bother correcting or denying any of it. It wasn’t like anyone was saying he was madly in love with the kid. Claiming he cared for a younger brother-type wasn’t going to damage his reputation.
In any case, thanks to Joo Taehyun—or more precisely, thanks to the DH Group throwing a fit—he had managed to successfully shake up the inner workings of Haechi. Digging into Kim Seungjun’s background even revealed the direction of certain covert policies the Crown Prince was pushing. A satisfying haul, all in all.
“Hyung.”

“…Hm?”
Joo Taehyun’s quiet, flat voice pulled Seo Baekhan out of his thoughts.
“Can I speak now?”

Apparently embarrassed their eyes had met, Joo Taehyun quickly bowed his head. Maybe it was his large pupils—his eyes always looked wet, enough to make you think he might be crying.
“Ah, sorry. I was just thinking about something. Go ahead.”
Maybe because he’d been reflecting on the past, the young Taehyun who had once timidly confessed his feelings seemed to superimpose itself over the face of the one sitting before him now.

Maybe that’s why… Baekhan suddenly felt inclined to be a little more lenient. He didn’t know what kind of family matter Taehyun wanted to consult about, but as long as it wasn’t some ridiculous favor, he was willing to help.
“The reason I wanted to see you today, hyung, is…”
Taehyun’s lips—bitten and ragged—moved with effort. Something about his tone made Baekhan sit up slightly straighter, folding his hands over his crossed knee in preparation.

“It’s not that I need advice. I actually wanted to… propose something.”
“A proposal? To me?”
“Yes.”

Even a poorly-oiled robot would’ve moved more naturally. Taehyun’s head nodded stiffly, his face pale to the point of pity.
Baekhan stared at him intently, not looking away. He knew his direct gaze made Taehyun visibly anxious. But if something this minor was enough to rattle him, then he really had no business talking about proposals or favors at all.
He hadn’t made time today to meet some emotionally attached kid he knew from way back.

He had made time to meet the youngest, most beloved heir of the DH Group.
“Hyung.”
Just as Baekhan leaned slightly toward him, his posture slacked again. He could tell Taehyun was nervous… but seeing this scene repeat so many times had dulled his interest.

How long was he ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) supposed to wait through these meaningless deep breaths? It was starting to get boring.
Once again, Taehyun gulped loudly and parted his dry lips. Since this wasn’t the first time, Baekhan only glanced at him with low expectations.
Hopefully it would be something interesting—something that could overwrite the old impression. But judging by how he looked right now, even just not hearing another “I still like you” would be a blessing.

And then—
“Let’s get married.”
“…What?”

After all that hesitation, what came out wasn’t a report about DH’s internal affairs, nor another confession of lingering affection.
Joo Taehyun… had just asked him to marry him.