Homework.
It’s just nicely packaged, but isn’t it just another way of saying let’s have sex?
Joo Tae-hyun covered one ear with his hand, pretending to loosen his neck muscles as he tilted his head. He didn’t want Seo Baek-han to see his earlobe, which was sure to be terribly red.
“Ah, if you don’t feel well tomorrow, just say so.”
“I th-think I’ll be okay.”
He tried to reply quickly, but the end of his voice faltered slightly. However, Seo Baek-han didn’t seem to notice him particularly.
“It’s good to be a man at times like this. You recover quickly and are physically strong.”
“Haha, I guess so.”
…He really didn’t notice him at all, to the point where he felt a little sad.
Ⅴ — present progressive tense (2)
Hey, then nothing really happened, right?
I don’t have to worry about that piece of paper that bastard gave me, right?
8:15 PM
8:15 PM
Yeah, I told the Hyungs just in case.
Aish, that Kim Seung-jun, even his face is fucked up.
Suddenly shoving his face in mine and acting like that
I was so surprised, Siba.
8:15 PM
“Who is it?”
Joo Tae-hyun had been replying to Cheon Seung-pil while Seo Baek-han was paying the bill, but it was embarrassing that he asked who he was messaging. Recalling their conversation from a few days ago, he seemed to have less-than-favorable feelings towards Cheon Seung-pil.
“…My Hyungs and my sister.”
“Ah.”
Just in case, he quickly brought up the family group chat right below. He had actually shared the story Cheon Seung-pil had told him with his Hyungs and sister.
Joo Tae-hyun didn’t take Kim Seung-jun’s threat very seriously.
Switch use was a common rumor that followed famous figures both domestically and internationally who were married to other Shifters, so DH Group was managing public opinion to dismiss it lightly.
Even if Kim Seung-jun actually had proof of his Switch purchase, it wouldn’t be easy to release it.
The region where Joo Tae-hyun ordered the Switch was Washington, not the drug-tolerant West Coast or the pleasure-soaked New York. Of course, this city was by no means a safe zone, but it was a place where politicians, aides, major media reporters, and various social group members who controlled the American political landscape were as common as hot dogs sold from street food trucks.
And, of course, those people also dabbled in drugs.
Even if they didn’t themselves, their spouse or child, or at least one close family member, was highly likely to casually enjoy drugs. A Dirty Switch? That was a tame level.
Joo Tae-hyun was certain that even if Seo Baek-han stepped in, he wouldn’t be able to untangle the unique, delicate, and complex knots of this region.
It wasn’t for nothing that articles only poured out about cheap drug manufacturers near the Washington area campus or random mafia cartels.
No matter how young and immature Young Master he was, he wasn’t so naive as to buy drugs without considering even that much.
However, he was concerned that Kim Seung-jun had specifically sought out ‘Cheon Seung-pil’ and presented him with a crude printout.
According to Cheon Seung-pil, DH Group and Seo Baek-han’s side had all ignored him, so he had no choice but to come to him. However, according to Joo Tae-hyun’s confirmation, Kim Seung-jun had not contacted anyone.
‘Huh? This is the first I’m hearing of it. That bastard has always spoken badly about our baby. If he does that again? I really won’t let it slide.’
‘Assemblyman Seo wouldn’t let it go either, right? He’s still attached to Taeja’s side and is at the forefront of obstructing all Shifter-related bills. There’s no way he’d let a guy like that get away with such dirty tricks, right? He’d use it as an excuse to launch a counterattack.’
His family was so sure of it that it must be true.
His Hyungs and sister told him that they would take care of the rest, so the youngest didn’t need to worry about the noisy stuff. But how could he stand by and do nothing?
He was twenty-six years old now. He wasn’t a little Young Master who only received protection from adults.
Above all, there was a secret he couldn’t even fully reveal to his family. His parents, Hyungs, and sister didn’t know that he had lied about using the Switch to hold onto Seo Baek-han.
“Thank you for visiting us again.”
Joo Tae-hyun, who had been following Seo Baek-han like a drifting weed without his own will, snapped out of his thoughts only after hearing the manager’s cheerful greeting.
“No, we are the ones who are grateful. The desserts you gave us were beautiful and delicious.”
“…Thank you for your consideration. I was sorry then.”
“Haha. You two are so happily married that I’m full just watching. Have a good time, and please visit us again. Congratulations again on your anniversary.”
“We’ll have to come here every year now. Right, Tae-hyun?”
Joo Tae-hyun also gave a polite nod to the manager’s enthusiastic farewell. He wasn’t as sociable as Seo Baek-han anyway, and moving his neck or bending his waist was still too much. He had rested well since the day before yesterday, so he thought he would be able to move without difficulty today, but today seemed to be the most painful.
Perhaps it was because the meal earlier wasn’t very comfortable.
‘Um, yes. I’ll go with that wine in this order.’
Seo Baek-han was surprisingly not picky about food. He definitely had preferences, but he ate well whether it was there or not. Perhaps it was due to the influence of his politician father. The imperial family and high-ranking officials had to eat heartily in order to survive in news photos.
But today, Seo Baek-han was being picky as if he had made up his mind to be. He commented on everything he could, from the accompanying wine to the doneness of the ingredients, the minor details of the plating, and the recombination of seasonings and sauces that could be added or subtracted. At least he didn’t ask for it to be re-cooked or refuse to eat it.
‘Was I being particularly difficult today?’
‘…Well, maybe.’
Seo Baek-han asked playfully as the course was coming to an end, but Joo Tae-hyun found it difficult to understand what answer he wanted. Did he want to let him know that this was his real taste? Was he telling him to keep these preferences in mind if they were going to eat out in the future?
In fact, Joo Tae-hyun had never eaten out with Seo Baek-han. He had lightly enjoyed finger foods together at events or gatherings, or accompanied him at grand occasions such as luncheons and banquets, but this was the first time he had spent time observing his personal tastes.
So he just thought that he was a little picky when he didn’t have to worry about other people’s opinions.
‘I usually don’t discriminate. You have to eat whatever they give you anywhere to avoid gossip. I’m not particularly obsessed with gourmet food either.’
Hmm. It must be Assemblyman Seo’s influence, right? He was listening to his words with an indifferent attitude, but with his ears perked up. Seo Baek-han’s confession of his tastes that followed was a little unexpected. To be exact, he found it difficult to understand why he was telling him this at this timing.
‘But suddenly, I wanted to eat something. So let’s say I took the time out of my busy schedule to come to this restaurant. Then I want it to be made according to my taste. Very, very well.’
Seo Baek-han added playfully, saying “absolutely.”
‘I don’t care about the chef’s standards. What’s important is my standard and my taste. It has to match that exactly.’
Ah… Joo Tae-hyun thought he knew a little why he was being so picky, and why he was bringing up this story when the meal was coming to an end. If he wasn’t an idiot, he would have realized that what he was saying now wasn’t just limited to eating.
‘I know I don’t have a good personality. I know that it can be frowned upon by the person I’m with.’
Seo Baek-han had clearly put down his silverware without a sound, but it felt like he could hear the friction hitting his eardrums. Joo Tae-hyun only drank water to avoid grinding his innocent lips. Not biting his lower lip even when something frustrating happened was also a habit that Seo Baek-han had created.
‘But what can I do? This is my taste, and I’m the kind of person who has to eat like that to be satisfied.’
So… throughout the dinner, Seo Baek-han had been subtly hinting to Joo Tae-hyun about the ‘homework’ that would follow.
If it was a task that he had to solve anyway and a job that he had to take responsibility for, he had no intention of avoiding it, but if that was the case, he was asking if he was willing to follow this taste, where the other person had to match his taste to be satisfied. Could Joo Tae-hyun handle it?
Joo Tae-hyun stared blankly at the perfect meal in front of him. The plating, which was already beautiful, had become even more perfect with Seo Baek-han’s intervention. Regardless of Joo Tae-hyun’s taste, it was true that it was more delicious and looked better.
‘Tae-hyun, what do you think of my bad habit?’
If he rejected him here by saying something like, ‘Hyung, you’re a much more picky person than I thought,’ Seo Baek-han would respond with sex similar to what he had done at the Lotus Flower Palace. A relationship where all he did was pour semen inside him and fill him with Pheromones.
However, he didn’t want to give a predictable and boring answer like, ‘Well, isn’t it enough to eat deliciously?’ There must be a reason why he gave such a twisted hint.
And if he gave an answer that pleased him even a little… Well, he couldn’t deny that he had a slight expectation that he would give him an act that could be called sex.
What should I say to make Hyung interested in me?
What should I do now to make up for the disgrace I showed at the Lotus Flower Palace, even a little?
What kind of reaction should I show so that Hyung… doesn’t think of having sex with me as a responsibility or homework?
Joo Tae-hyun’s throat suddenly felt dry, so he put down the silverware he was holding and drank water. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Seo Baek-han subtly checking his table manners.
The fact that he was checking his eating habits now meant that he hadn’t been paying attention to them until now. Joo Tae-hyun hid his bitterness and stiffened his lips.
‘Well, I don’t know because I haven’t eaten it yet.’
Wearing the mask of ‘Joo Tae-hyun, the spouse of Director Seo Baek-han,’ which he had always been praised for, Joo Tae-hyun shrugged lightly.
This was the best wit and skill that Joo Tae-hyun could think of right now.