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.

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.

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.”

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The massive conglomerate DH Group was no exception, though they were different from the riffraff in that they actually qualified for full membership.

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

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Due to these few commonalities, Seo Baekhan and Joo Taehyun had often been mentioned together in the past.

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

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Theirs was a relationship of exchanging just enough greetings to avoid mutual exhaustion.

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.

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For Seo Baekhan, Joo Taehyun was exactly that kind of existence.

‘Ah. I see.’

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And yet, this Joo Taehyun liked him. No, had liked him.

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.

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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.

When they desperately try to convince themselves they have no expectations, yet secretly wish for mutual feelings.

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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.

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.

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‘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.

At this point, it was exasperating.

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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.

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.

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A person who knows how to live up to their name in their given circumstances.

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

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‘Taehyun, how old were you again?’

As he asked, he recalled the adults earlier fussing over the kid about boarding schools and liberal arts. They even praised him for being only seventeen.

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‘Seventeen, huh…’

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

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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.

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

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‘Seventeen…’

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

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

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

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‘Sorry?’

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.

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‘No, that’s not… Absolutely not.’

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.

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‘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.’

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

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Seo Baekhan simply pulled up the corners of his mouth in a faint smile. He knew people tended to lose their composure when he made this expression, and Joo Taehyun was no exception. Indeed, there was no easier way to wrap up an unpleasant situation.

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

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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.”

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

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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.

‘…Yes.’

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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.

‘Then… Happy New Year, hyung.’

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‘You too.’

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

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‘Study hard.’

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.

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And so ended their first truly private conversation with the gloomy-looking kid.

“I’m sorry, hyung.”

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“Mm.”

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.

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

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.

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

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

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“But I know you’re busy…”

“Taehyun.”

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Seo Baekhan glanced at his wristwatch and picked up the book on the table. It was a special exhibition catalog from the National Museum of Korea that he had been looking through while waiting for Joo Taehyun, who was a bit late.

“We still have 53 minutes.”

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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.

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

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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.”

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

“No, thank you.”

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The staff member intervened at the appropriate timing as instructed, placing a glass of water in front of Joo Taehyun, and Seo Baekhan thanked them on his behalf.

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

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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.”

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

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

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Seo Baekhan sank into the sofa in a somewhat relaxed posture and turned his attention back to the catalog.

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.

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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.

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.

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