DS Ch3

The volunteer group “Hatch,” founded by Prince Lee Rok, now King Hwachin, and Seo Baekhan as its core members, has been greatly loved by the public since its inception.dde6611d3f968622

This was inevitable, as first of all, only descendants of independence activists could join. Even after becoming a full member, if one did not contribute to the public good, they would be removed from the roster without exception. Being a full member of “Hatch” was tantamount to a certificate proving one’s faithful participation in various campaigns and volunteer activities.3cf32f2715797409

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As a result, regardless of political or business circles, families of note spared no effort to ensure their children could associate closely with “Hatch” members. For the next generation who needed to start making a name for themselves, there was no more attractive means than “Hatch.”92c38602547695e1

The massive conglomerate f33ef48d95 DH Group was c2fb001d1c no exception, though bdc3ed1668 they were different a06552a17a from the riffraff 7f6c3da7f3 in that they f0593f15ae actually qualified for 575e9d8477 full membership.ca5e2ca2cb2943a2

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A full member of “Hatch” and a major donor, of similar age and also a male alpha.1b25bea9f73d7d52

Due to fc6c36d5a4 these few 8abfb81f44 commonalities, Seo a14169a10d Baekhan and df5cc0ad9d Joo Taehyun 9ca12b2a4f had often 54ee38e75e been mentioned 4f35dc929b together in 2ff448910c the past.e1d003c3a0ee4865

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That’s not to say the two had a close friendship.951ebe25c6c61bd7

Theirs was a relationship cf6d9ab05b of exchanging just enough f20c76979c greetings to avoid mutual 52402ac310 exhaustion.1c9cf799bbd2817d

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To others, they would describe it as not quite friends, but more than mere acquaintances – honestly, a relationship so shallow that even if one were to delete the other’s contact information right now, it wouldn’t cause any inconvenience for the rest of their lives.aec128d16a0e4719

For Seo Baekhan, 073fcbf905 Joo Taehyun was 66a60cb1ac exactly that kind 6120b63122 of existence.55c62c847630b194

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‘Ah. I see.’c14be244605c35eb

And yet, this Joo 3fe70d3235 Taehyun liked him. No, had liked db4154e323 him.2bcef7443ae0344f

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It was unexpected, but that was the extent of his reaction. It didn’t even matter whether the kid’s feelings were in the past or present tense. The confession from a youthful boy who would look far more fitting in a school uniform than a tailcoat didn’t particularly resonate with Seo Baekhan. He was used to receiving admiring gazes from others.adb51a09ef384b7c

Someone he barely knew suddenly professing their love? He’d experienced it countless times since childhood. Having unintentionally gone through similar situations often, Seo Baekhan came to understand well why people confessed their past feelings to him.3a8435acc363d9e6

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When they 48f2a0aa6d desperately try 12bafb582c to convince 167742f724 themselves they d1f1a97209 have no dc274d0290 expectations, yet 568b6be504 secretly wish fa8bcb5020 for mutual dac26d2d22 feelings.86acb9d80bf28c67

At such times, people would utter confessions similar to what Joo Taehyun had just done, and glance at him with faces resembling Joo Taehyun’s, wearing similar expressions.3e301a3748f0a71c

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This was separate from Seo Baekhan’s keen nature. The repertoire was so identical, as if mass-produced, that he couldn’t even pretend not to notice.7882ac353d4b3965

‘I like you, actually I liked you…’ He’d already heard such words from five people who ran away after confessing just today. No, now it’s six including Joo Taehyun just now.a00abcf6e829f35a

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At this point, 74ac854503 it was exasperating.395f07ae0b06f41f

It’s not that he suddenly disliked Joo Taehyun for the unexpected confession, nor did he suddenly find him ridiculous or contemptible. He simply felt bored at yet another predictable situation repeating itself.39b530a93db9624b

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If anything, Seo Baekhan had a fairly good opinion of “Joo Taehyun, the youngest son of DH Group.” Despite how notoriously overprotective his family elders were rumored to be of their youngest, the fact that there hadn’t been any notable scandals so far meant Joo Taehyun was conducting himself quite well.9ce20a669c8e4e32

A person who 870a7c147f knows how to 585bc5277d live up to c2fc5e8485 their name in fa5ed82d87 their given circumstances.2925e8a6397f82da

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Even without personal interest, Seo Baekhan always highly valued such individuals. Moreover, Joo Taehyun was considerably younger, so wasn’t he a promising seedling?bb9fb711ad344e72

‘Taehyun, how old were you again?’03223f83e8f6deb2

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As he 70be4a89e6 asked, he 4ab4b0cc93 recalled the 4c56b186b6 adults earlier 01134319c6 fussing over 2d3fb28cbd the kid c896394bbc about boarding ff7cdb2950 schools and c31ad223a8 liberal arts. They even 4700f083a1 praised him e7a06de003 for being 7b7d2013d7 only seventeen.7bbb07ef5d9a867e

‘Seventeen, huh…’2422fd639966609d

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Seo Baekhan, muttering Joo Taehyun’s age under his breath, couldn’t help but let out a small laugh.41801a94c9a14646

It seemed unlikely he’d become close with Joo Taehyun in the future, but there was no need to make things awkward with him either. Well, it was amusing that he was even making such calculations.fa7795aed6b9e606

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The unwanted ardor of others remained annoying as ever, but he didn’t want to get serious with someone seven years his junior either.3bc63f80e589b602

‘Seventeen…’7a03733f2ea21b1a

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Joo Taehyun’s shoulders hunched more and more each time Seo Baekhan mentioned his own age.cf15080706731190

Now Joo Taehyun could barely lift his face, his gaze fixed somewhere around Seo Baekhan’s solar plexus.417d39c98c218dc6

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‘Do I need to give an answer right now?’304172fcda663586

‘Sorry?’28569adb18ff74e6

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Joo Taehyun’s head, which had been tilting ever lower, suddenly jerked up. Had someone poured ink into his eyes? The color was so deep, yet strangely hazy, that Joo Taehyun’s eyes remained in their original shade, deflecting even the brilliant lights. If one had to categorize, his features were flashy and pretty, yet Joo Taehyun rarely received such compliments, probably due to those melancholic eye corners and lips.1bfe25e3445dcd55

‘No, that’s not… Absolutely not.’267372203ec49bb3

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Seeing Joo Taehyun shake his head with wide eyes, Seo Baekhan couldn’t help but laugh. So the kid does get flustered after all, he thought. Seeing Joo Taehyun act his age for the first time, Seo Baekhan’s usual inclination to tease subsided slightly.e3938eab6f1d441d

‘I’m leaving the country soon, to study abroad. I won’t be coming back to Korea for a while, so I just wanted to say it at least once before then.’3294270261db4042

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‘I see. Well, thanks for thinking highly of me, Taehyun.’3e1e437e567e013f

Seo Baekhan simply d88f7d4640 pulled up the a431afd0dd corners of his faa00cdd80 mouth in a 69f60590f0 faint smile. He knew people tended 19046c8357 to lose their composure 7c2f18fd63 when he made this fe0ca6a103 expression, and Joo Taehyun b1719dc420 was no exception. Indeed, there was 5557aa8f6f no easier way 76cde35a73 to wrap up c082019bd8 an unpleasant situation.304fcba87f0cb18f

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‘You’re going to London for your studies, right? Study hard.’2aeb79afe2905bfb

It seemed like the first time he’d seen Joo Taehyun this close, and under the chandelier light, even the soft down on his cheeks was visible. He looked so young that Seo Baekhan felt a bit sorry for getting irritated earlier at the thought of “even you, Joo Taehyun.”1eb84aa7aa6eedfd

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‘Let me know when you’re back in Korea. I’ll treat you to something delicious.’4e57508e42bc55aa

As he offered this suitably friendly yet hollow consolation, Joo Taehyun took a small breath. He seemed to have just realized his confession wasn’t taken seriously. While not completely oblivious, he appeared unaccustomed to rejection. Well, having been doted on at home, perhaps no one had ever drawn a clear line for Joo Taehyun before.74cca73e7b49752a

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‘…Yes.’a0cc118ecf053343

After opening and closing his mouth several times, as if still harboring lingering feelings despite Seo Baekhan’s roundabout rejection, Joo Taehyun finally put on his characteristic calm expression and offered a stiff greeting.ae76504e86ea5366

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‘Then… Happy New Year, hyung.’faaa26225c9d6a21

‘You too.’809b6df81a00c3e4

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He didn’t seem the type to cause trouble out of wounded pride, which was also fortunate.27ab0200d6cdfc0c

‘Study hard.’10fa9a4f2b27e4ab

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Seo Baekhan ruffled Joo Taehyun’s hair roughly before turning away without hesitation. He pretended not to notice the lukewarm gaze that lingered on the back of his head for quite some time.52a871d156851ac6

And so ended their b381960ed9 first truly private conversation db1da1842c with the gloomy-looking kid.175041ab6e6dd900

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“I’m sorry, hyung.”ad9e33fbdf68b47e

“Mm.”b6bddbb3a95b6cc2

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Seo Baekhan, who had been recalling Joo Taehyun’s young face from three years ago, cleared his throat unnecessarily as he snapped out of his reverie.b147790e74f4b6bc

“It’s just that it’s an important matter… I’m a bit nervous.”c238fe6bced4ad24

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At seventeen, Joo Taehyun had always looked as if he wore whatever adults recommended, regardless of the outfit. But now he seemed to have grown enough that coats and jackets of his own choosing no longer look out of place on him. He’s not just grown taller; his build has clearly improved from his previously skinny frame, and his cheeks are no longer as downy as before.f34d677e15133a49

Of course, traces of youth hadn’t completely faded.2d30917d9351fd6a

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“It’s fine, just speak when you’ve sorted out your thoughts. I only need to leave here by 6:40.”08ca9cc05d476216

“But I know you’re busy…”74d02b0bab4ba0a0

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“Taehyun.”cef09c26f56814c9

Seo Baekhan glanced at 27a6d75a8b his wristwatch and picked 8da5e0d1bd up the book on 8d7ec20369 the table. It was a e09c8aa434 special exhibition catalog 0ba4741bd6 from the National 03b86fd856 Museum of Korea 4efe1ced3d that he had 1293ec6ddd been looking through 2c5a79682a while waiting for 04c1ebc9c0 Joo Taehyun, who 2afb4177bf was a bit 385a628ec0 late.485c4c5cc846428a

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“We still have 53 minutes.”d7eeec89f3572c53

Opening to the bookmarked page, Seo Baekhan caught the eye of a staff member waiting at a distance. He slightly shook his head at the employee who was about to approach, gesturing towards the water glasses. Having worked at the “Hatch” lounge for quite some time, the employee likely understood the meaning from just this simple signal.c01bab24e17e717b

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“Yes, I am busy, but I said I’d come out because I can spare this much time today.”95c06005a4d23c8e

“…”c96c0e5882bd4922

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“If it’s a topic that’s difficult for you to broach easily, it’s better for me too if you organize your thoughts and explain clearly.”f24355e00131e84f

“Excuse me. Is there anything else you need?”b5b23db0e05da2cb

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“No, thank you.”b72a92eebdb25075

The staff member intervened a837acc927 at the appropriate timing 7b9390c97a as instructed, placing a e1cfc6d5b4 glass of water in bb363d58a4 front of Joo Taehyun, ba474a8080 and Seo Baekhan thanked b0f95bea65 them on his behalf.2bd0d3b28dab6bdc

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“I’ve set aside this time specifically for you, so how you use it is up to you. There’s no need to apologize.”9d28ff501987d1ee

“…”c02be0fc6f7b3356

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“If you waste this moment hemming and hawing out of guilt, then you’d really have something to be sorry about to me.”70e70e7641acf3c7

“…Yes. I understand what you’re saying.”aa8b20620c2816b6

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“Good, let’s talk again when you’ve sorted out your thoughts.”dc931233a6718796

Seo Baekhan 111f63bd4b sank into b97cc0fb9b the sofa 67a14da0db in a 402f5a086b somewhat relaxed 061b7f87f2 posture and 7c95e20b3f turned his 716bdcb427 attention back 3ad6e7ab79 to the bd908e04f7 catalog.dc22d8ce0d316f7a

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Surely he’s not going to say something like he still likes me, now that he’s twenty please accept him… I hope it’s not anything like that.940f5aaca1ef343d

He sincerely hoped it wasn’t. If after making excuses about family matters to call him out, all this person who knew the weight of his own name better than anyone had to say was a rehashed confession, Seo Baekhan would be greatly disappointed in Joo Taehyun this time. To the point where he’d never want to associate with him again, regardless of Joo Taehyun’s background.fc276af9f4b2f6c7

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T/N: Btw this is set in the same universe as Willow Romance/Willow Love Story. I haven’t read that though, so please let me know if there are any shared terms I got wrong. 9ede19742eb2da7a