By Zephyria 
A considerable number of reporters were gathering like a swarm of bees. Cameras, lights, and even a combined microphone setup quickly transformed the scene into a full-fledged press event.
“What the hell? These reporters followed you, didn’t they?”
“No.”
Not only was there nothing planned for me, but there wasn’t supposed to be anything happening at this police station today. Of course, I wouldn’t have set the date without confirming that. It seemed like a sudden, unexpected situation had just erupted. Seo Baek-han quickly contacted his reporter acquaintances and Secretary Nam to assess the situation outside.
“What is it? Is a celebrity showing up?”
“…No.”
“Really? Then what’s going on?”
Fortunately, Secretary Nam responded immediately.
010-0000-0000
Director, a man named Kang Bu-nam is reportedly filing a lawsuit against Young Master Joo Tae-hyun.
“Kang Bu-nam, apparently a relative of Joo Tae-hyun, is planning to sue him.”
“What?”
010-0000-0000
The exact circumstances are still unclear, but Kang Bu-nam’s side gathered the reporters less than 30 minutes ago.
It seems that reporters from various news outlets were already gathered nearby for an event, so they probably timed it to take advantage of that.
…And the headquarters of the news agencies are also in this vicinity, so they can easily rush over if needed. In many ways, it was a clumsy ploy.
“What the… No, this isn’t the time for this, Seo Baek-han. What should we do? Should we go in after they all leave?”
“No. It’s better to call it off for today. We should analyze what kind of nonsense they’re spouting first.”
The situation took an unfortunate turn. If I had known, I would have adjusted the schedule, of course. It was fortunate, if anything, that we arrived first by a narrow margin.
“Then should I pull the car out right away? Can you move to the back seat now?”
“Ah, I’m telling you, it’s all a bunch of lies!”
As I was contemplating our next move, someone’s loud shout pierced through the window.
“It’s suspicious even if they showed us the examination process right in front of us, so how can you believe a show with just a pregnancy test kit?”
A crowd gathered at the entrance of the police station. It was hard to see clearly because of the people, but it seemed that Kang Bu-nam had appeared.
“Wow. Is that Kang Bu-nam?”
“Probably.”
“Huh. He doesn’t look anything like Joo Tae-hyun?”
Seo Baek-han had never seen him in person either, but he fully agreed with the assessment that he was hardly a relative of the DH Group, practically a stranger. One shouldn’t judge people by their appearance or voice, but Kang Bu-nam had a stocky build that didn’t resemble anyone in the DH Group, and unlike Joo Tae-hyun’s elegant way of speaking with a moderately low voice, his coarse and rough manner of speaking even felt vulgar.
“Are you saying that CEO Kang Bu-nam believes Mr. Joo Tae-hyun’s press conference was a lie?”
Even though they probably knew he wasn’t a trustworthy person, the reporters seemed very excited, having found an interesting prey after a long time.
“No, that’s what I’m saying. Reporters, even the hospital Joo Tae-hyun is admitted to is Donghwa Hospital. If they’re determined to deceive, they can easily do it!”
As if he had seen it somewhere, Kang Bu-nam took out a thin document envelope from his arms. The words ‘Lawsuit’ were written largely on the cover.
“Well, what is it. Yes, I can’t stand by any longer, and I’m going to confidently seek my share of rights. I’ve been enduring unfair things because I’m related to the DH Group, but seeing Tae-hyun shamelessly lying in front of the whole nation after gathering you reporters, I realized this isn’t right!”
“Hey, Seo Baek-han. What is that guy talking about?”
Choi Yeon-jun, who had been holding his breath and listening to the situation outside, couldn’t hold back any longer and burst out with questions.
“No, he’s going to seek his share? I don’t know what he’s talking about, but what does that have to do with the incident and Joo Tae-hyun’s press conference being a lie?”
“He probably wants to take something that belongs to Joo Tae-hyun, using Joo Tae-hyun’s reputation as an excuse. Whether it’s shares or other assets.”
“Then he should be causing a ruckus at the general shareholders’ meeting, right? Why is he doing this here?”
“That’s what I’m saying.”
I couldn’t understand Kang Bu-nam’s claims at all, and I doubted anyone else did either.
However, I could guess why Kang Bu-nam specifically mentioned ‘Joo Tae-hyun’s pregnancy.’
He wanted to make people doubt the press conference itself and reignite the low-grade rumors about Joo Tae-hyun.
The reporters wouldn’t care as long as they could increase the number of views on their articles. They might even become indignant and say that they were just reporting the events of the day as the press, so what’s the problem…?
“Haa…”
Whether Kang Bu-nam planned this himself or was instructed by someone else, it was utterly disgusting.
“Choi Yeon-jun. Give it to me.”
Perhaps that’s why.
Seo Baek-han no longer wanted to make any plans.
Such things had become useless the moment he had imprinting on Joo Tae-hyun anyway.
“Huh? Why, did you forget something- Hey, Seo Baek-han!”
Choi Yeon-jun, who had handed over the documents he was holding, was surprised by Seo Baek-han’s unusual movements and grabbed his arm.
“Wait, why are you unbuckling your seatbelt?”
“I’m going to submit it myself. The lawsuit.”
“What? Now?”
“Yeah, now.”
“Are you crazy? There are so many reporters? If you go out there now-“
“Either way, some of the reporters will be camped out here trying to get information, and at least one person will recognize you and me. Then the picture will get even weirder.”
Of course, I was acting somewhat impulsively, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t thinking at all.
Director Seo Baek-han condoned Kang Bu-nam’s lawsuit filing.
Why did Director Seo Baek-han only watch the lawsuit filing?
Turns out Director Seo had infiltrated the parking lot in advance and was watching the whole situation.
I could already imagine the titles the reporters would come up with. Unlike Kang Bu-nam, who had hastily thrown them a sensational source, they might try to fan the flames even more because they were resentful that I hadn’t said a word to them.
“Even so, isn’t there another way? Think about it, that’s what you always do!”
…Choi Yeon-jun’s words were also right.
Was there no better option than this?
That wasn’t true. There would be a cleaner and more certain solution.
Seo Baek-han also knew it. The fact that he didn’t want to be caught by the reporters was just an excuse.
Above all, acting on a whim like this wasn’t Seo Baek-han’s preferred method. Quickly responding to an unexpected situation with improvisation was completely different from impulsively starting something.
However, his body moved on its own, out of control.
He was aware that he was doing something unlike himself, to the point that even Choi Yeon-jun was trying to stop him. But…
Joo Tae-hyun’s voice, hesitantly asking if I had directly confirmed the fetus, Joo Tae-hyun’s face, with tears streaming down as he asked why I was doing this to him, Joo Tae-hyun’s appearance this morning, calmly retorting that his opinion didn’t matter at all in everything I was trying to do-.
It stirred up Seo Baek-han’s insides.
Was this also because of imprinting?
No, it didn’t seem so.
Seo Baek-han finally realized. In the end, all of this was his choice.
Even if this wildly impulsive behavior stemmed from imprinting, it wasn’t as if there was no way to suppress the rampant pheromone. At the very least, he could have gone to a psychiatrist and gotten a prescription for a sedative.
So… I was knowingly neglecting this phenomenon. I knew everything, and I had been driving Joo Tae-hyun into a corner like that.
“Baek-han, think again. If you go out there now, it’ll really turn into a dogfight.”
“I know. That’s why I’m going out there.”
“Seriously! Hey! The image you’ve been so careful to maintain, it could all be shattered.”
A group of people who were about to get out of a car parked in an area slightly away from here stopped moving for a moment when they discovered the hem of a dopo sticking out from the slightly open car door.
“I know that too.”
Seo Baek-han replied curtly and opened the car door.
“The DH Group should be thoroughly investigated this time. Reporter, what do you call it… collusion? There’s a fancy word that high-ranking officials use, isn’t there-.”
“Huh? Isn’t that Director Seo Baek-han over there?”
At someone’s words, the murmuring of the people seemed to grow louder, and soon flashes started going off everywhere.
Carefully holding the document envelope in his hand so that it wouldn’t get crumpled, Seo Baek-han strode towards the people.
“Director Seo Baek-han! Please look over here!”
“Director Seo!”
Kang Bu-nam’s face, with his mouth wide open as if he hadn’t expected to run into me here, was quite a sight.
“Damn it, I really, Seo Baek-han, because of you…”
Forcibly pushing away the people who had rushed over and clung to him, Choi Yeon-jun gritted his teeth. He seemed to be refraining from cursing in front of the cameras.
“Director Seo Baek-han!”
“Yes, hello.”
“Did you visit the police station in person because of CEO Kang Bu-nam’s lawsuit?”
“I know everyone must be taken by surprise. Shall we take a moment to catch our breath and then start?”
If this impulse was his true feelings, his will, and his desire, even unknown to himself.
If that was the case, he didn’t want to make excuses with imprinting anymore. He didn’t want to do that anymore.