DS Ch11

[Next weke tues

No Sun night

Can transit somewhre else

Aorryyy

Sorry]

…What the hell is he saying?

Was he originally planning to leave next Sunday, but he’s postponing it?

Seo Baekhan, who was secretly trying to decipher Joo Taehyun’s code-like message, realized a beat late that Joo Taehyun had also entered school early. He doesn’t know the exact time, but it seems like it’s around the time he’s preparing to graduate… It must be the busiest time.

There may be differences between schools, but winter break is generally not that long in the United States. The halo of DH Group will be so faded that the world’s top gold spoons will be packed, so he will have to be diligent in his school life.

It’s time to go back quickly and focus on research projects.

Seo Baekhan stopped trying to ask Joo Taehyun if he could adjust his schedule. If that was the reason, he didn’t want to push his own convenience.

“I’m sorry. I have something urgent, no, urgently…”

Joo Taehyun took a step as he turned around. The problem was that Seo Baekhan was closer than he thought. Joo Taehyun’s dazed face didn’t seem to grasp the situation yet. Because of the flustered Joo Taehyun, the two became close in an instant, to the point where his vision blurred because it was out of focus.

Joo Taehyun, who had been frozen in that state for a while, only blinking, jumped back.

“I-I have something I need to reply to urgently, s-sorry.”

Didn’t he think that if the other person was approaching this close, he might have been peeking at the message? Or did he not care that much?

Anyway, Joo Taehyun pressed down on his flushed cheeks and hid his phone again. He couldn’t even turn off the screen properly, so he fumbled several times.

In the secretary’s message that he caught a glimpse of, the phrase ‘Christmas, so the flight schedule is being adjusted’ particularly caught his eye.

Ah… Christmas.

So that’s why Joo Taehyun has been acting like he’s so excited since earlier. Seo Baekhan happened to ask him to go to the museum together on Christmas Day to see the exhibition.

“Yes, you said next Sunday, right? I’m free then.”

Only after hurriedly stuffing his phone deep into his pocket did Joo Taehyun put on his usual expressionless face as if nothing had happened. Seeing him unable to hide his excitement or good mood, he seems like a child, but seeing him quickly manage his expression, he really didn’t learn from Chairman Joo Ilwook in vain.

By the way, the scariest thing is a guy who quietly causes accidents like Joo Taehyun… The secretary must have had a hard time raising the immature young master.

“Joo Taehyun, phone.”

“Yes?”

“I think your phone is ringing.”

“Ah. Ah…”

When he pointed to the left pocket where the vibration was coming from, Joo Taehyun blinked quickly.

Was he going to turn it off completely? Seo Baekhan could clearly see Joo Taehyun’s hands, with an anxious expression, swimming around in his pocket, but he pretended not to notice. He didn’t want to tease him at this timing and have the conversation jump in an unexpected direction, or have the story drag on unnecessarily.

Seo Baekhan waited for Joo Taehyun to sort out the commotion in his pocket for a moment, then took a step forward.

“Shall we really get up now? Both of us.”

“Ah, yes.”

Joo Taehyun, as if wanting to hide his fidgeting hands, put his hands behind his back, which didn’t suit him, and followed Seo Baekhan. His quiet footsteps, which were almost imperceptible and didn’t match his size, were pleasing.

“…Um, hyung.”

“Hmm.”

“Then, uh, should I prepare anything separately by next Sunday?”

“Hmm. A study plan?”

“A study plan?”

Joo Taehyun seemed a little surprised, as if he hadn’t brought it up to get a proper answer. But after seeing the message he secretly sent to his secretary earlier, Seo Baekhan was also keeping this in mind.

“I’m curious about what your future plans are.”

“I’m graduating soon. I entered school early.”

“I know that, but aren’t you going to graduate school? You’re too young to be in charge of practical work right away.”

“I… I’m planning to.”

“Yes, so come and organize exactly what that plan is. Whether you’re going to make use of your current major, or go to business school or law school, whether you’re going to continue studying in the United States, or think about going to another country, or if not, where and what you’re going to do.”

Joo Taehyun was silent for a while, then nodded, saying he understood. He brought important documents containing all sorts of corporate information, but he didn’t even think about preparing such basic matters.

“It’s obvious, but bring the content agreed upon with the family elders, not just your wishes.”

“I will. Hey, hyung… would it be a little uncomfortable if the person you’re going to marry continues to live abroad?”

“I don’t know. I’m not very happy about it, but I think it would be worse if they gave up everything they were doing because of me.”

As soon as those words were spoken, Joo Taehyun’s expression brightened ever so slightly. Seo Baekhan decided to give the little brat a slight bonus because he seemed to have the desire to finish what he wanted to do.

In fact, it wouldn’t be a big problem if he transferred to a domestic school because of marriage. Not only Joo Taehyun, but no matter who he marries, his spouse’s education or academic plan will not have much impact on Seo Baekhan’s career.

It’s just Seo Baekhan’s personal preference. He wanted the person who would become his spouse to also have their own dreams and ambitions. He wanted someone who had a clear direction in life and knew why they had set it that way.

“What about you? Don’t you have anything you’re curious about about me?”

Was it a change of heart? When he came out of the lounge and entered the long gallery-like hallway, he asked Joo Taehyun casually.

He wanted to say something to him anyway, so he threw him a question as if giving him a reward. Then Joo Taehyun stuttered, “Yes? Me, me, to hyung?”

Perhaps he lost strength without realizing it, his hands, which had been behind his back, fell weakly to his thighs, and then he was startled by the intensifying vibration of his phone and straightened up again.

Joo Taehyun, this kid is more fun to tease than I thought.

“Yes. I may not be able to go into as much detail as this document, but…”

Seo Baekhan held the phone he received from Joo Taehyun in one hand and shook it briefly from side to side, smiling.

“I can answer you within reasonable limits.”

“Ah… Yes, yes…!”

He nodded so quickly that it was hard to tell whether the small whooshing sound was the vibration of the phone or Joo Taehyun’s nodding.

Joo Taehyun was far from having a cute impression, but watching him like this made him feel like he was looking at a huge dog.

He didn’t know how to be affectionate, but his eyes were always following his owner, and he seemed like he wouldn’t have any complaints even if he was tied up in the yard instead of inside the house, so he’s a bit stupid and stubborn, and you want to tease him for no reason.

“I will. Thank you, hmm, thank you. Hyung.”

“Okay.”

What did Joo Taehyun say earlier?

He didn’t like hyung anymore?

Yeah right. Seo Baekhan scoffed inwardly.

It was obvious that Joo Taehyun still liked him to death. He seemed to be trying to hold back until just now, but now it seems like he can’t help it anymore.

Joo Taehyun, who seemed so excited just because he said a few words to him, was now even amazing. He even heard earlier that he seemed to have someone he’s meeting separately. But why did he like him so much?

The longer someone likes someone alone, the more they tend to be proud.

Because they hate the other person who doesn’t return the reaction they expected, even though they know it’s unrequited love.

Because they feel pathetic about their situation where they can’t give up.

Because they feel sorry for their heart, which has been boiling for a long time and has been scorched black on the bottom.

But Joo Taehyun showed that he was happy to death even at Seo Baekhan’s trivial question. It was a somewhat innocent sincerity, with no hint of hurt pride. Is it because he’s a young master who has only received love?

“But… don’t you have anything, hyung?”

Joo Taehyun asked, subtly standing next to Seo Baekhan, as if he had made a great decision on his own. Even then, he couldn’t bring himself to walk side by side, and only managed to maintain that distance, vaguely half a step behind.

“Don’t have what?”

“Besides the study plan, anything else you’re curious about about me…”

“Well.”

At the same time, the elevator dashboard lit up. Joo Taehyun’s eyes, glancing at Seo Baekhan’s hand pressing the button, were filled with regret before disappearing. Seo Baekhan pretended not to see it and straightened the cuffs of his coat.

“Curious… Ah. Who’s your partner now?”

“…Yes? Part… ner?”

“I heard you’re taking Switch. Didn’t you have someone you were dating or a sex partner?”