DS Ch5

“What, what? Jealousy? Me? Seo Baekhan, are you crazy?”

Kim Seungjun, who had jumped up as if feverish, quickly sat back down with his tail between his legs under Seo Baekhan’s icy glare.

“S-so why would I be… jealous of J-Joo Taehyun…?”

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Seo Baekhan quickly scanned the press line that had started stirring as soon as he stood up. The major media outlets would be too busy mingling with celebrities to pay attention to this childish squabble, but it was different for the small news agencies that had barely managed to secure spots on the outskirts of the banquet hall.

They’d already be desperate to catch anything newsworthy, so there was no need to give them more bait. In fact, smaller outlets were often trickier to deal with, as they tended to embellish minor issues with all sorts of extras to boost views, or try to leverage their coverage for unreasonable deals.

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So it would be better not to escalate things further here.

“Oh really? It might be better to say you were just talking nonsense out of jealousy for Joo Taehyun.”

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Seo Baekhan tilted his head as he accepted and put on the coat handed to him by a server.

“The son of a small company CEO with no real position yet criticized the Second Prince’s traits at a scholarship event, and even brought up the traits of DH Group’s youngest son while saying tax money was being wasted… Wouldn’t my suggestion be much better than having that kind of story circulate?”

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“I-I never… No, that’s not what I meant… I was just speaking casually since it was just us…”

“Right. You casually ran your mouth, directly bragging that you were personally invited by the Crown Prince. Kim Seungjun, how do you think the people gathered here will interpret it when the Crown Prince’s acquaintance criticizes the Lotus Palace and DH Group while constantly bringing up traits?”

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Unlike when he was fired up mocking Joo Taehyun earlier, Kim Seungjun now drooped his eyebrows and shrugged his shoulders. Was he actually crying? Why on earth did the Crown Prince bring in this brat who couldn’t even handle this level of pressure without bursting into tears?

It wouldn’t be the first time the Crown Prince, consumed by his inferiority complex towards trait-bearers, thoughtlessly caused trouble. This time too, he must have wanted to hang out with someone who only tells him what he wants to hear. But Kim Seungjun was far too inappropriate to simply brush off lightly, which only added to Seo Baekhan’s concerns.

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“Baekhan. I think he just got a bit carried away since this is his first time at an event like this. He probably spoke harshly because he wanted attention, so let’s stop here. Kim Seungjun, you should apologize too.”

The granddaughter of the Minister of Culture, who hadn’t said a word until now, stepped in to mediate. Since it wasn’t yet clear whether her family was aligned with the Crown Prince or the Second Prince, Seo Baekhan decided not to raise his voice any further.

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However, he did stare intently at the press line. It was a warning that if they kept talking nonsense, he’d have articles published linking them to the Crown Prince, so they should watch themselves. While Kim Seungjun and his lackeys didn’t seem to notice at all, the others nodded slightly to Seo Baekhan. It was an acknowledgment that they understood and would keep Kim Seungjun in check even after Seo Baekhan left.

“Um, Seo Baekhan. I… I’m sorry, I…”

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Ignoring Kim Seungjun’s attempts to speak to him, Seo Baekhan finished tidying up the table.

“Soyeon is right, I was… too excited, Baekhan, Baekhan! Wait a moment!”

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As Seo Baekhan moved away from the table, several guys held their foreheads as if dismayed. Reporters started swarming over, drawn by Kim Seungjun’s wailing. Those exchanging awkward glances in that area were likely all Crown Prince supporters… Seeing an unexpected figure biting their lip hard, Seo Baekhan felt a little better. At least he’d gleaned some useful information from this cesspool of a place.

“Hey, Seo Baekhan! Let’s go together!”

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“Shut up.”

Conveying his desire to not remain in this place for even a second longer, Seo Baekhan repeatedly pressed the elevator button. Choi Yeonjun, who had trailed after Seo Baekhan, hunched his body and looked around.

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“Hey. Was it because Kim Seungjun messed with Joo Taehyun?”

That name sure is coming up a lot today. Seo Baekhan clicked his tongue lightly and just stared at the dashboard.

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“Could it be, Seo Baekhan, you…” Choi Yeonjun was about to teasingly ask if he had feelings for a kid barely out of diapers, but when Seo Baekhan didn’t engage, he awkwardly ran a hand through his neatly styled hair.

“Well. I’m glad, it was boring keeping my seat. But, Seo Baekhan. Don’t you think Kim Seungjun likes you too?”

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“Stop saying disgusting things.”

“Why, he seemed to be acting out like that out of jealousy towards Taehyun, just like you said.”

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“How does him being jealous of Joo Taehyun lead to the conclusion that he likes me?”

“Ever since Joo Taehyun joined Hatch, you two have been linked day and night. Both alphas, from powerful families, major donors… It’s perfect to push the buttons of guys like Kim Seungjun. I mean, how can someone as sharp as you not realize this?”

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“Because I don’t want to know. You should read the room too. Why do you keep bringing up that bastard Kim Seungjun in front of me at a time like this?”

Seo Baekhan agreed with the point Choi Yeonjun made. He didn’t think the size or history of one’s company determined a person’s worth. But Kim Seungjun’s insistence on bringing up family and honor to put down Joo Taehyun likely stemmed from his own feelings of inferiority in those areas.

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“Anyway, thanks to you getting all worked up earlier, the rumors are going to spread like crazy again.”

When Seo Baekhan didn’t engage, Choi Yeonjun couldn’t resist fiddling with his phone. Some trendy, obnoxious music started playing, as if he was watching a short-form video.

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“Your specialty is usually making snobbish, sarcastic remarks. Everyone knows you’re twisted as hell, not just a pretzel, so why the sudden outburst… Oh? Seo Baekhan. This is Joo Taehyun, right?”

Choi Yeonjun held out his phone, saying “Look at this.” Seo Baekhan furrowed his brow and pulled back from the screen that was thrust so close it was hard to see.

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“Wow. The algorithm really is scary, huh? Look how news about Joo Taehyun pops up right after we talked about him a bit.”

“Is this Joo Taehyun’s account?”

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“No. Looks like it’s pieced together from photos posted on some community site? Could also be something DH’s PR team secretly released.”

Seo Baekhan was about to wave his hand dismissively, saying he wasn’t interested, but his gaze became fixed on the man’s face filling the screen.

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Strange.

It was Joo Taehyun, but…

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Had Joo Taehyun always had such a cold expression?

“Wow, when we first met him he was such a baby, but looking at this, he’s all grown up now.”

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“Choi Yeonjun.”

“Huh?”

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“Was Joo Taehyun’s face… always like that?”

“Well… he does look a bit worse than in person.”

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“No, that’s not what I mean.”

How should he explain this? Seo Baekhan covered his mouth with one hand as he stared at the face that was both familiar and unfamiliar.

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The short video compiled from several photos of Joo Taehyun was so crudely made that it didn’t seem like something released by a corporate PR team. Even in the blurry, half-smeared photos, Joo Taehyun’s eyes were piercingly sharp. Someone who didn’t know him might think, “That guy looks like he’s got quite a temper.”

“…Hmm. I guess you could say it feels a bit different from how I remember.”

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“Hm. Is that so? Well, I suppose Joo Taehyun did suit being called pretty more than handsome… Whoa! Hey, this watch Joo Taehyun is wearing, it’s the one I mentioned before!”

The point wasn’t to analyze Joo Taehyun’s looks.

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Though they hadn’t spent time together specifically, they often crossed paths. Every time they met, Seo Baekhan was surprised by how Joo Taehyun had shot up like a bamboo shoot, and found it curious how despite growing so tall, his body still seemed completely unripe. He even occasionally worried that Joo Taehyun wasn’t just shy, but perhaps a bit withered.

But the Joo Taehyun on the screen Choi Yeonjun showed was not the gloomy kid Seo Baekhan had known until now.

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“Now to get that model, you’d need to pay at least the price of a Seoul apartment. Damn, money really is everything. Who needs family trees or whatever.”

Was it because the photo was taken while he was brushing back his bangs? Unlike usual, his eyebrows were arched sharply and his eyes were extremely keen.

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That was all. Joo Taehyun’s clothes and upright posture weren’t much different from usual. He was simply wearing an expression he had never shown Seo Baekhan before.

Seo Baekhan felt he understood Joo Taehyun’s true feelings much more in this moment than when he had directly said he liked him. Because until now, he had no idea that Joo Taehyun could observe others with such a cool gaze.

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