By Zephyria 
Kim Seung-jun tried to shout angrily but quickly pursed his lips in pain. The torn, raw corners of his mouth bled profusely, a grotesque sight.
“Ugh, fuck…”
How long would he have to watch this spectacle? He was unexpectedly watching Kim Seung-jun’s one-man show, which he hadn’t even been interested in, when the secretary standing beside him signaled Joo Tae-hyun. It meant all necessary documents had been secured and sent to the main family immediately.
“I wasn’t exactly curious when I asked-.”
“It’s not like Seo Baek-han’s eyes haven’t rolled back and him acting like a mad dog over his own problems for the first time, fuck.”
Kim Seung-jun muttered under his breath as Joo Tae-hyun turned halfway away. It wasn’t out of consideration for Joo Tae-hyun that he lowered his voice. Whether it was a side effect of drug addiction or the aftermath of violence in the detention center, if his lips hadn’t been injured, wouldn’t he have been shouting at the top of his lungs like he always did?
Watching Kim Seung-jun, whose lips were so pursed in pain they looked somewhat pathetic, a guard leaning against the door chuckled.
They had obtained everything they needed, so there was no reason to provoke Kim Seung-jun further. It was also a waste of time to continue a conversation with someone who seemed incapable of coherent thought.
“Don’t you remember you were the one who brought up his constitution and being an Alpha in front of Baek-han hyung first? And it was even there-.”
“Not at the scholarship event, you son of a bitch.”
…Besides that? Was there anything else?
He had heard that Seo Baek-han had humiliated Kim Seung-jun at the Crown Prince Scholarship event. The rumors were so widespread that Cheon Seung-pil had even asked multiple times if it was true that ‘that Seo Baek-han’ treated him specially.
But he thought that was all.
At the time, Seo Baek-han was also young, so he couldn’t impose any personal sanctions on Kim Seung-jun. Joo Tae-hyun was even younger, so his family hadn’t explained in detail how the incident was resolved. They had only said that their child didn’t need to worry about it and that it was well-handled.
“You acted like you were having the love of the century, fuck… but I guess not.”
“Seeing you just hint around like that, it doesn’t seem like there’s any grand backstory, does it?”
No matter how much he thought about it, nothing else came to mind. He pretended to be indifferent and tried to provoke Kim Seung-jun, but the man just scratched his blood-stained back of his hand with a displeased laugh.
“Even if I have nothing, isn’t it better than someone like you who knows nothing? And anyway, you-.”
“Visiting hours are over.”
Another guard opened the door and announced in a booming voice. Kim Seung-jun, who had been sneering, suddenly let out a yelp and hid under the desk. A few seconds later, he poked his head out cautiously and, meeting the guard’s eyes, let out another terrified, high-pitched gasp.
It seemed like he had been dragged away like this more than once. His quick crouch was devoid of any wasted movement. Of course, he was easily grabbed by the guards, regardless of Kim Seung-jun’s will.
“Sigh, even if drugs were legalized in my country, I would never touch them.”
The lawyer clicked his tongue briefly, watching the man who alternated between begging, laughing, and crying. The thick steel door slowly closed, and Kim Seung-jun’s limp legs seemed to be sucked into the gap. Like a cliché scene from a B-grade horror movie.
“Young Master, President Joo Sang-woo just sent a reply saying he received all the documents.”
As the door closed completely with a heavy thud, the secretary whispered. He seemed pleased with the quick and accurate results obtained.
“Already? Thank you.”
It must be the middle of the night in Korean time, was he still awake? He felt sorry for adding trouble to his already busy family.
“Everyone will be proud.”
As if reading Joo Tae-hyun’s mind, the lawyer gently patted his shoulder.
“Proud?”
“That you, Young Master, came all the way to the detention center to confront Kim Seung-jun and obtain the evidence. Thanks to your efforts, the matter will be concluded smoothly.”
“That’s… Ah, by the way, um, how is Baek-han hyung… What did they say about his condition?”
It wasn’t that big of a deal, just adding a final touch to an already completed blueprint… As Joo Tae-hyun was about to reply, he realized he had let a bad habit slip out and quickly changed the subject.
Don’t blame yourself, don’t put yourself down, even as a joke.
He tried hard to remember it every time, but it was still difficult.
“I heard Doctor Woo saw him this morning… Ah, Secretary Nam just contacted me. It seems Director Seo Baek-han’s condition has improved. They say he might be discharged tomorrow?”
“What? Is that possible? Even so, he was grazed by a bullet.”
The lawyer asked in astonishment. That was exactly the point Joo Tae-hyun wanted to make.
“He didn’t have surgery, so they are insisting… no, they are claiming that outpatient treatment should be sufficient.”
Even so, how could he be discharged so soon, not even a phoenix? The murmuring group soon fell silent. They seemed to have just remembered that Seo Baek-han was unilaterally imprinting on Joo Tae-hyun.
“Well, if he can just get a whiff of your pheromones…”
“…After that, there are no other appointments, right? Anything else I need to look into.”
“Yes? Ah, yes! Do you have any other appointments?”
“No. I was just… thinking of stopping by the hospital.”
“You mean the hospital where Director Seo is admitted? I’ll relay that.”
“By the way, Young Master, Mr. Lambert has been repeatedly requesting a meeting. What should we do?”
“Ignore him for now.”
Liam had also said he was taking a gap year, but it was uncertain if he would return to this lab.
The fact that he tried to publicly confess to someone who wasn’t interested in him, preparing grandly with a pool party, only for a Korean to barge in and shoot, leading to a spectacular failure……
Liam’s actions that day became a huge meme in themselves. How many people could endure the entire world mocking them?
Although Liam’s attempt at something absurd was irritating, he felt he was already paying enough of a price. And he had heard that Liam’s innocent parents were being called everywhere to clean up the mess and were getting thoroughly scolded, so he wanted to end it here.
“Oh my, he can barely open his eyes.”
Leaving the dimly lit visiting room, which resembled a mole’s burrow, Joo Tae-hyun and his companions paused outside, their eyes closed. Even though they hadn’t left the building, just stepped into the hallway, the bright white lights were blinding.
“Are you alright, Young Master? Ugh. These Americans, will they take responsibility if our Young Master’s eyes get damaged?”
Yet, the lawyer, who kept checking on Joo Tae-hyun’s condition, looked the most exhausted.
“Are you alright, Lawyer?”
For her, who was still keeping her eyes tightly shut and pointing vaguely, he made a visor with his hand.
“I guess there are no cafes in the detention center.”
It would be nice to have a place to rest for a moment. Hearing Joo Tae-hyun’s murmur, the lawyer opened her hazy eyes and smiled.
“Oh my, our youngest Young Master……. I’ve seen you since you were smaller than my forearm when you were just born, when did you grow up so much……”
The lawyer, whose hair had turned white and who suited the description ‘elderly’ perfectly, began to praise Joo Tae-hyun ramblingly. As people who had watched Joo Tae-hyun since childhood, including his family, usually did.
“Does Secretary Yoo know? Our Young Master, since he was little-.”
“Um, Lawyer.”
“Yes?”
“Since you mentioned my childhood, I was wondering.”
As soon as he heard the words ‘childhood,’ what Kim Seung-jun had blabbered earlier came to mind. He wasn’t dwelling on the ramblings of a drug-addled man, but just in case……
“You were the one who handled it when Kim Seung-jun brought me up at the Crown Prince Scholarship event, weren’t you?”
“Ah. There’s not much to handle. I just went to Poongjin Industrial and threatened them to send their legal team, and the rest was handled by other family members behind the scenes.”
“At that time, perhaps…”
Now looking more relaxed, the lawyer opened her eyes wide and smiled gently. He felt an indescribable affection from her looking up at him. Pride, admiration, affection… a warm gaze as if she were looking at her own grandson.
“…No.”
“Ah, if you say that, it makes me more curious.”
“No. Please go in and rest quickly.”
“Oh, you’re trying to leave me out now that I’m old.”
“You haven’t slept a wink for over a full day. Go to the hotel and rest well, then let’s have dinner together later. My treat.”
“Ah, I know there aren’t many good restaurants in Washington.”
…Let’s not make excuses like ‘just in case’ when all my attention is already focused on that issue. That wouldn’t be polite to those who care about me this much.
“But Young Master, why did you suddenly ask about that time? Is there something bothering you?”
“Ah, it’s nothing. I was just curious if Kim Seung-jun was this crazy back then. But what’s the point now, as you said, he’s a man whose mind is clouded by drugs.”
“That’s right. Don’t pay attention to any baseless nonsense, and you should go in and rest quickly too.”
After seeing off the lawyer, who insisted on refusing to be escorted, Joo Tae-hyun pressed his eyelids, feeling a scorching heat.
Yes, why should he upset Lawyer Park unnecessarily? He would soon meet someone who could give him a proper answer anyway.
\ \ *
“Oh, Tae-hyun.”
He felt a sense of déjà vu, as if he had seen this scene before… Joo Tae-hyun frowned, feeling a strange familiarity.