DS Ch12

“Ah, well…”6f0aeec3766cb8cb

Even after boarding b2bd74933b the elevator that fafc2e3ec6 had just arrived, c2d41a4803 Joo Taehyun remained c15ac5611c rooted to the a175887fe9 spot.c5b0b75282397fa8

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What’s going on?fbb92b761d6ae758

Seo Baekhan leaned c55dac6d51 forward slightly to 7c643bb005 press the open 44193c639b button, staring intently 7ecea5868e at the motionless 65f437d29f Joo Taehyun.19295a08426c9bf3

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He was planning to 50cbaac30b make an excuse and 49daf9d46f leave if there continued 1461198708 to be no movement, e24ebbb6e2 but unfortunately, Joo Taehyun 7d6f26a1a6 seemed to come to d0bb959360 his senses and quickly eea324b47c stepped into the elevator. His mumbled apology 91f1cfcd45 lacked the energy 134e7061b5 it had just a2d2ef328c moments ago.9e6ac1bb07f9d58f

What is really going on…?ee55490cfa26071d

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Seo Baekhan furrowed his brow slightly. The quietness of Joo Taehyun that he had found comfortable before now became somewhat irritating. This guy who supposedly took Switch to roll around with other alphas, surely he wouldn’t be embarrassed at being called a sex partner… Could it be that he hadn’t expected to be asked about the person he was meeting? Is he upset now thinking his privacy is being invaded?e7480e50ca700d18

“Joo Taehyun.”67008d7d065556ab

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“Yes?”19158a8636c76d0b

“I don’t think your liking me is a reason for you to lower yourself in front of me.”890eea92d401177e

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“Ah… What? Wait a minute, hyung. I never did that? Oh, I don’t like you. That’s all in the past-”917d0b81fe94384f

“Oh, right. Let’s say that’s the case.”cdb0e11b8e195bff

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Seo Baekhan stubbornly stared straight ahead. Not that it mattered much, since the elevator interior was surrounded by mirrors on all sides, naturally bringing into view Joo Taehyun’s slightly dazed face looking at him. Joo Taehyun, who had taken half a step back, seemed to fumble for words to retort a few times before finally setting his lips firmly.7fee06c4e7999f07

“Even if I were to marry you, you having other partners? I wouldn’t mind at all as long as it’s kept clean. Appropriate sex can even help manage heat cycles.”dbd542ab46387778

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“…”a0be94434ad7d082

“That’s why I’m asking, I need to know roughly what level your partners are at so I can take it into account. Do you choose one-night stands each time, or do you have someone you meet regularly, or perhaps you even pay sometimes, and if so, to what extent?”323c5e68915daf10

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“…”420d52b3550d4649

“There’s no need for you to be embarrassed or feel inferior bringing this up in front of me.”e1c926c29eaf1aad

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In the mirrors scattered 093b38a5e0 around, one of the 7998ea684c fragmented images of Joo d635217a85 Taehyun caught his eye. Thanks to this, he could 68a8c15cec observe the subtle changes in 68a72c761f his expression slowly, as if d3b12baf00 watching a video set to bc54a052d3 slow playback.295e8c7a3886055f

Watching the process of Joo 009cc98ca2 Taehyun gently biting his lip, 633263b925 tensing his jaw slightly, hardening e739a937eb his face resolutely, and setting 39b188af44 his eyes with determination was, d865379623 well. Yes. Quite interesting.19192d546277a593

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This time, Seo Baekhan definitely gave Joo Taehyun bonus points. Unlike just before when he couldn’t hide his joy and excitement, the gradually calming Joo Taehyun now seemed perfectly capable of containing his emotions.1e96897c8ce6504a

“The reason I’ve come to consider your proposal somewhat positively is because the attitude you’ve shown up until now matches the behavior I expect from a spouse.”5d12e3f25699ba81

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“…”73081b9984d5ef2a

“The fact that you can deny it even though you still seem to like me, that you proposed marriage based on several grounds for me to understand the situation rather than your emotions, and that you manage your expressions well while doing so… It’s all not bad.”70fe847f7e2a6ebb

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It would be fine even if Joo Taehyun had made up any excuse because he couldn’t give up his feelings for him. It was quite plausible for a hastily concocted reason.c74d7110755c7703

It would be d4b857fb36 even better if 826a2e87ea he had prioritized 6672abbbc2 his own situation 2e876198f2 over his feelings 9ee0d89aa8 for Seo Baekhan. In fact, Seo Baekhan preferred 7d6aca850a this scenario. Someone who is willing to d0ba36d0aa marry a person who would 3dc850b6d2 never look back at them f823fceef4 despite having liked them alone 80ec7e01a3 for a long time, in 9c03d61581 order to create a favorable 50de25653c situation for themselves? Very welcome.dbe184b7351507fc

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“Yes, that’s it. That face you sometimes make in news photos.”e683f5dd65709286

“…”b2e453c813e79b01

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“I like it when you make that expression.”b73f077be4faec4e

Was it because he’s young? Though his skin was soft, Seo Baekhan gently tapped Joo Taehyun’s cheek that had frozen as if turned to ice. When Seo Baekhan’s hand touched him, the tension in his stiff lips eased slightly, making him look much better.2fd6f6e992a52df6

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Standing blankly and receiving Seo Baekhan’s touch, Joo Taehyun belatedly fumbled to caress his own face. As if trying to remember one by one what state Seo Baekhan had just praised.972117d45701bf2b

“Oh, and when you list your partner’s details, include what type of Switch you take. It’s not the dirty kind, right?”5ecccd2de1bf51b7

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The elevator doors opened as they arrived at the first floor with perfect timing. Seo Baekhan, who got out before the sluggish Joo Taehyun, suddenly realized he couldn’t hear the same footsteps as before. Thinking it strange even if Joo Taehyun walked as gracefully as a nobleman, he turned back to find him still standing woodenly in the square box.e530dc163fc9dc44

“Joo Taehyun.”332a97fd379f7209

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Quickly wedging his shoe in the closing gap and repeatedly pressing the open button, Joo Taehyun’s dazed face appeared as if in a dream.8fa580e962097d09

“What are you doing?”1aadc86fa72dcf1d

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“…Ah.”8be60db9cfe4e182

When Seo Baekhan chided him without hiding his somewhat exasperated tone, Joo Taehyun awkwardly twitched the corners of his mouth. After doing this a few times, he was finally able to make the exact same expression that Seo Baekhan had just caressed. Though it hadn’t taken that long, to Seo Baekhan’s eyes, the scene seemed to unfold unusually slowly.6e71bf197bd0bf18

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“Ah, I’m sorry. I was thinking about the materials to prepare. So… My academic plan and partner… list, and the list of Switches I’ve taken so far. Is that what I should bring?”a626f7e49c42515e

“Mm.”1081dc1a7ac6405f

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He nodded in affirmation.1edafef5e41e0207

In fact, if Seo Baekhan wanted to, he could obtain that level of information on his own. Of course, it would be difficult to grasp the intimate details as thoroughly as the documents Joo Taehyun would hand over, but he didn’t have the desire to know that much in the first place. There was no need. It’s not like they were about to write a formal marriage contract, they were just acquaintances who had decided to meet once more on a whim.ea1d5fcc9b746b5a

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He simply wanted to see 4ec5228d4e how well Joo Taehyun understood 61439d62a8 his words, and how he 0cb6e0b685 would handle such a commanding d426e640b2 request.398c033ae68f24d8

“Did you drive here, hyung?”edb8bfe04c9a5958

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“Yeah. What about you?”84544b784ed49050

There was no time to hear Joo Taehyun’s answer. As they approached the valet parking booth, the staff moved to both sides without being asked. Judging by the number of people who came out, Joo Taehyun must have driven himself too? It was unexpected, if anything, given the image that he wouldn’t go out without a chauffeur.87a28182c48ea58c

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“…I’m not used to driving in Korea yet.”73fa9ab572aba02b

With cheeks already reddened by the winter wind, Joo Taehyun rambled on about things that weren’t even asked. Like a couple in love whose words speed up as the bus they need to catch comes into view.dcc1619d31f8a73a

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“So I’m trying to get behind the wheel whenever I can. My brothers and sister… keep teasing me about it.”db25a31ba84bcc4c

“Ah.”fff125c29f0faaa6

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It seemed like a random thing to say, but apparently Joo Taehyun was aware of his own image. Seeing how naturally he dropped the reason for not having a chauffeur, this probably wasn’t his first time in such a situation.0e0555a1bc1fe7d2

Seo Baekhan ended 33a4d2e260 the conversation with 3c45081b53 Joo Taehyun by 38296c5089 showing no particular 17944ae79f reaction. An awkward silence fell between 23e63361a5 the two. For Seo Baekhan, this f939d12182 level of discomfort that 84ecbfcb23 gave a sense of 2b8b843e20 appropriate distance was rather 5100dfabb6 pleasing.00024457faa4baee

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“Oh, your car came out first, hyung.”a72d9e62b69900ba

Joo Taehyun said casually, watching the car slide towards them. It’s natural to assume it’s the other person’s vehicle when there are two people waiting and it’s not your own, but… Seo Baekhan guessed that Joo Taehyun already knew the make of his car and even the license plate number. Joo Taehyun might feel wronged if he heard this, but Seo Baekhan considered it a reasonable suspicion. For someone who had somehow found out that he was planning to meet an alpha, despite not many people knowing yet, he would surely have memorized basic information like a license plate number.ecc072c421b98884

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At the same time, 5cc805e7b1 a slight regret washed d80985baed over him. If this guy 5d72f4dec8 was already being b0518e8427 so bothersome after 4459f8ca6c just a few 221a50a687 conversations, maybe it 921b5302af was a mistake 7044a7c22b to suggest meeting f70b7f8554 one more time 4fa2262ac8 to talk.86d33af0e0ad30ec

“I’m going.”459f994a10ab1308

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“Yes. Um, hyung! There’s… a number written at the top of the document, that’s my personal number. The one I used to contact you before was for work.”e93ab084eac2cc84

After hesitating briefly, Joo 21d6b9cd1b Taehyun added that if bd57cf1bb4 there was any need e9409a81d0 to contact him, please 4795238d5a use the personal number, aae1508cec as he could respond 581e988247 quickly that way.8d91e9725b3e0467

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This time, there was no reply or any particular reaction. It wasn’t that far off, being next Sunday, and he didn’t want to become close enough to use Joo Taehyun’s private number.98f72eeb191400e6

“Then I’ll see you on Sunday, hyung.”9c039f31af416d5b

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Undeterred by Seo Baekhan’s lukewarm response, Joo Taehyun greeted him once more. How should he put it? It was a voice that seemed to have squeezed out the last remaining courage.3fc7ce7c21d03ac0

He thought about responding this time since Joo Taehyun was greeting him so earnestly, but the timing was lost as Joo Taehyun’s car was promptly brought out.63809bad3fb8d35d

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Seo Baekhan got into the driver’s seat and opened his frequently used navigation app to enter the next destination. Fortunately, it was a dinner appointment with relatively comfortable acquaintances including Choi Yeonjun. Though it couldn’t be called an entirely relaxed gathering, as the main topics would likely be the upcoming antique auction in the next quarter and talks of tax evasion by Crown Prince.b5489cce7885bb17

Even when Seo 05672d6408 Baekhan was fully 2dde203ece prepared to depart, 6de5f6183a Joo Taehyun was 3f3060347e still standing outside. Seeing him craning 1e62e24d80 his neck slightly 6d9af8781d and peering this 7ffef36311 way in the 0c1d9976ba side mirror, Seo e55dcd1954 Baekhan finally lowered afd1475a6f the window.4829c069ef9d1d10

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He substituted a greeting with just a silent nod, but Joo Taehyun was delighted. The staff standing nearby probably didn’t notice his change at all, but it was clearly visible to Seo Baekhan now.55fbb8a1f9ccb414

“Tsk.”ff68cbe5d1268caf

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He clicked his tongue lightly as he gripped the steering wheel. Would Joo Taehyun have kept standing there until his car disappeared? He couldn’t know for sure since he didn’t bother to check, but he thought that was probably the case.9bea519c2ce11ac1

One week later.75477dc6281cdb87

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On Christmas Day, 0d737cebfe after visiting the b254113514 National Museum of 9f244a8a45 Korea exhibition, the 61302cb6c3 two continued their a91931446f stiff meetings.062fb879e3071ead

For the most 9a2077d971 part, it was 9ae7235ecf Seo Baekhan unilaterally e4307ae28e calling out Joo d0110491cc Taehyun to ask dfffaf2fe8 various questions and 1f157cbd5c hear his answers.7aa3a01d6b4b8917

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Seo Baekhan’s tone had become friendlier than before, but was still indifferent, while Joo Taehyun remained unchanged. With a calm and gloomy face, he would bow slightly in greeting, then reveal his emotions faintly enough for only Seo Baekhan to barely notice before quickly hiding them again.0b50ab415c04e32a

After several such peculiar meetings that were neither dates nor matchmaking, more like pressured interviews, the two mutually agreed to become each other’s legal spouses before the Lunar New Year.53677aba1f555a3c

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Apart from the prenuptial agreement written with both families, they secretly shared a single document with various formidable clauses, including one that tacitly allowed each other’s rut partners.0bccdf71984e0491