230 – TIO Side Story 7

The results of the baby’s blood tests had also been reported to Han Seung-jae first. Only after receiving his instructions had they been conveyed to Han Yechan. Even then, despite constant urging from Chief Secretary Kang, the physician had maintained a consistent stance.

Han Yechan could by no means guarantee the physician’s bright future. No, a man like him would change his word as easily as flipping a palm.

Watching the curtains close so that the inside of the glass was no longer visible, Han Yechan’s eyes widened.

“No, that! That brat…!”

Han Yechan was appalled by the physician’s attitude. Chief Secretary Kang was also aghast. Han Seung-jae watched silently before blurting out,

“You wouldn’t have even come to see the baby if it were an Omega, so why are you so angry?”

Since it wasn’t a lie, Han Yechan couldn’t refute it. He simply muttered to Chief Secretary Kang as if searching for a target for his blame.

“Bring that man before me this instant!”

Han Seung-jae twisted his lips.

“But thinking about it now, I think I might get a bit angry if I suddenly get a ‘half’ sibling under me.”

“….”

Han Seung-jae had known since he was very young that Han Yechan kept several Omegas around him. However, he had never mentioned that fact so blatantly in front of his father until now.

“I wonder what I’d do if that happened.”

Han Seung-jae’s expressionless face turned cold in an instant, and a meaningful low voice leaked from his lips.

“Should I make sure they can’t even walk from the start? Or should I slowly and thoroughly crush them so they can’t even look up?”

“You… is that something you say in front of your father?”

“Do you think I’m incapable of it?”

“….”

Han Yechan trembled. The Han Seung-jae he knew had always looked at him with those same eyes since childhood. Respect was nowhere to be found, even if one searched with washed eyes; there were only pupils filled with hostility like a sharpened blade. And Han Seung-jae was not a man to speak idle words.

“I hope such a thing never happens.”

Having said his piece, Han Seung-jae turned around.

“A-Are you alright, President Han?”

Behind him, Chief Secretary Kang supported the staggering Han Yechan. Regardless, Han Seung-jae’s steps did not stop as he walked away.

* * *

It was the next day.

Jin Seon-yu, who was walking down the stairs, pricked up his ears.

“W-What’s going on? Right now?”

Jin Seok-young, who had been sitting on the first-floor sofa talking on the phone with the device propped against his shoulder, stood up. Watching this, Jin Seon-yu dashed up to his room in one breath.

“Quick, let’s pack quickly.”

Jin Seon-yu scurried around the room. Since he hadn’t been able to see Seo Yi-kyung, he had spent his time shopping instead.

“I need to pack things to give to Yi-kyung. Ah! I should take this too.”

Jin Seon-yu left the room with both hands full of presents for Seo Yi-kyung. As he approached the first floor, he quieted his footsteps and carefully scanned the surroundings.

‘Did Second Hyung leave?’

Although Jin Seok-young handled work from home, it didn’t mean he was always home. Seon-yu had seen him leave the house several times when urgent matters arose via phone call. And when he received such calls, he usually didn’t return until late.

That was the case just now. Having seen him take a call and go into his room to grab clothes, Jin Seon-yu had hurriedly returned to his own room and finished preparing to leave.

‘If I just see Yi-kyung’s face and come back quickly, I won’t get caught.’

It was just as he was about to brush past the sofa, where only the indentation of a person remained.

“Jin Seon-yu! Where are you going this early in the morning?”

Standing at one end beneath the stairs, Jin Seok-young strode toward him. Jin Seon-yu turned around and frowned.

“You didn’t leave?”

“You brat, where are you going with all those bags?”

Jin Seok-young glared, looking at the shopping bags filling Jin Seon-yu’s both hands.

Since he was already holding shopping bags, he wasn’t going out to buy something. Jin Seok-young knew this well, as he had accompanied him during his shopping trips.

“Ah, I’m going to meet Gi-jun.”

“General Manager Kwon?”

Jin Seon-yu nodded vigorously, spewing lies. He hadn’t made such an appointment, but since he had used Kwon Gwi-jun’s name so often, it wouldn’t arouse Jin Seok-young’s suspicion. Besides, Jin Seok-young had actually seen Jin Seon-yu meeting Kwon Gwi-jun before.

“A date?”

“Yeah. That’s right. We’re having lunch together. And these are all presents for Gi-jun.”

All of this. Jin Seon-yu lied skillfully, adding details that weren’t even asked for. Jin Seok-young looked at the opaque shopping bags before raising his eyes.

“Are you two actually dating?”

Jin Seon-yu didn’t even blink.

“Yeah.”

“Since when?”

“What do you mean, since when?”

There was no way there was a specific date.

The two weren’t in that kind of relationship. The time they spent together had increased, and they talked on the phone. They had grown closer because of it.

But it wasn’t as if they had specifically told each other to date. Eating lunch together.

Going to the Ivory Pavilion.

—Yi-kyung loves eating this.

Going shopping.

—Since I’m buying, I should get something for Yi-kyung too.

Going to the art museum to see paintings.

—Yi-kyung would have loved this painting. He has a few paintings hanging stolen contentdata-wm="visit our site" style="display:none;" aria-label="visit our site">visit our sitein his painting studio. Wait, I took a photo, hold on. I’ll show you.

Aren’t those things not exclusively done by couples?

Friends can do those things too.

“H-Has it been a month?”

Because it wasn’t a question he had prepared for, Jin Seon-yu stammered in panic.

“A month?”

“Yeah. Probably… I haven’t counted the exact date. What’s today’s date? Anyway, who counts the days when they’re dating these days!”

Flustered, Jin Seon-yu’s cheeks twitched. Fortunately, Jin Seok-young was relatively inclined to believe Jin Seon-yu’s words.

“I’m going to be late for my date. I’m leaving now!”

There was no benefit to talking further. While Jin stolen [unauthorized copy]visit our siteunauthorized copy -->contentSeok-young was in the middle of thinking, Jin Seon-yu tried to flee the scene. However, Jin Seok-young suddenly grabbed his arm.

“What now?”

“Where are you meeting? I was about to head out anyway, so I’ll give you a ride.”

As expected, it seemed Jin Seok-young really was planning to leave.

‘Dammit. I should have come out a bit later.’

Because he had rushed too much, the timing seemed off.

“I can just drive myself.”

“But you said you’re having lunch together, so why are you leaving so early?”

“Huh?”

“It’s not even 10 o’clock yet. Where [[Read on Read BL Novels]style="opacity:0;font-size:1px;user-select:all;">unauthorized [unauthorized copy]copy]did you agree to meet that you’re leaving already?”

“…Eh? That’s…”

When Jin Seon-yu made a blank sound and couldn’t answer immediately, Jin Seok-young’s thick eyebrows furrowed.

“Tell me the truth. You’re not actually going to meet General Manager Kwon right now, are you?”

“I told you I am! Why don’t you believe me?”

“Do you have any idea how many times I’ve been slapped in the face because I believed your words?”

My face has become asymmetrical. While holding Jin Seon-yu’s arm, Jin Seok-young put his phone to his ear. He proceeded to call Kwon Gwi-jun right in front of Jin Seon-yu.

“General Manager Kwon, it’s me.”

The corners of Jin Seon-yu’s eyes drooped, and his face turned into a pout.

“Our Seon-yu says…”

* * *

As Jin Seon-yu opened the front gate and stepped out, Kwon Gwi-jun revealed himself inside the parked car. His massive frame, wrapped in a suit, was sturdy and made him stand out. Jin Seon-yu held out the shopping bags he was carrying in both hands toward Kwon Gwi-jun.

“Here, this is a present.”

Kwon Gwi-jun looked at the shopping bags piling into his arms before staring at Jin Seok-young standing behind Jin Seon-yu.

“Sorry for the trouble this morning. I thought our Seon-yu was lying again.”

“It’s fine.”

“Get in, quick! That’s enough, Second Hyung, go back inside.”

“I was on my way out!”

“Then just go anywhere quickly. Gi-jun, get in! Just get in…”

Jin Seon-yu, who had already claimed a seat in the car Kwon Gwi-jun had stepped out of, kept calling and urging him. Kwon Gwi-jun sat in the back seat holding the shopping bags in both hands.

“Have a good date. I’ll tell Big Hyung for you.”

“No! Don’t do it until I tell him!”

That would be a real disaster. Once word reached Jin Tae-won, it couldn’t be corrected. If that happened, he would have to confess that he had been selling out Kwon Gwi-jun’s name until now. Then Jin Seon-yu’s face would also become asymmetrical.

“Sure, sure. Eat something delicious for lunch. If General Manager Kwon is too busy to drop you off, call me. I’ll come pick you up.”

“I won’t call you!”

Jin Seon-yu shouted at Jin Seok-young through the open car window, with Kwon Gwi-jun between them.

“Stop interfering without any tact!”

“I have tact. Since you said you’ve been dating for a month, I won’t int[visit our sitevisit our siteabsolute;left:-9999px;">];">unauthorized copyerfere with your date.”

And the car departed leisurely. Watching the two of them drift away, Jin Seok-young muttered.

“…Hah, I wondered who would take him after he even got his engagement broken. Now I can live comfortably without getting hit.”

Jin Seok-young dusted off his palms and turned around.

How old am I now, and I’m still getting beaten by Big Hyung because of that brat.