At the edge of his vision, he saw Joo Tae-hyun’s fiddling fingertips. He only glanced at the kid’s face, and it was shockingly the same as when he encountered him at the year-end party.
It would be difficult to find a kid who grew up so loved in a similar environment, yet Joo Tae-hyun looks at me with eyes like a stray dog who has spent his entire life on the streets. A gaze that momentarily captures even the attention of those who aren’t interested, a heavy, stifling look.
Thanks to Joo Tae-hyun’s unchanging gaze, Seo Baek-han predicted that whatever he was about to say today, his feelings for him would remain the same.
It’s not just wishful thinking. Only belatedly did I realize that Joo Tae-hyun only showed that face in front of me, or rather, that he was trying his best to create that expression. That he had pushed himself quite hard the day before his departure to show his face at the 〈Haechi〉 year-end party, to confess to me, before embarking on a study abroad that wouldn’t end until he turned twenty.
‘Isn’t the Imperial Family being too much? What’s so important about a scholarship foundation event that they’re making so many people come?’
‘The Crown Prince threw a fit, saying they absolutely had to have more people than the 〈Haechi〉 inauguration. I saw the grandson of the Yoonra Foundation making an appearance earlier, too.’
‘Crazy, they even called back that kid in Washington? What grudge does that guy have against the Second Prince that he’s making such a fuss?’
‘It’s because the Second Prince is an Alpha, I guess. Come to think of it, Joo Tae-hyun didn’t come? Doesn’t Joo Tae-hyun go to the same school as that Yoonra kid?’
‘Yeah, right? Joo Tae-hyun is an Alpha too, so they must have made a fuss about him showing his face no matter what.’
Seo Baek-han, who had been casually ignoring the whispers of the riffraff, paused with his glass to his lips. Ah, so Joo Tae-hyun’s study abroad destination wasn’t London, but Washington?
‘Joo Tae-hyun once took the wrong suppressant and collapsed at the airport. Since then, DH has never let Joo Tae-hyun attend any external events.’
‘Huh? Was that the Christmas party? The year-end party? Anyway, they said he overdid it trying to go to some gathering and collapsed from overwork?’
Ah. So he pushed himself to attend the year-end party before leaving the country. Well… I feel bad, but what can I do about it now?
Seo Baek-han took another drink. He intended to use his drunkenness as an excuse to escape this uncomfortable situation. If the Crown Prince himself hadn’t contacted him and asked him to show his face, he wouldn’t have set foot in a place where even these pathetic guys were showing their faces.
‘Bullshit. I heard it directly from His Highness the Crown Prince. A chaebol son who had problems with his body from taking suppressants? Owner risk is a disaster in itself. DH’s PR team obviously made up another excuse so the stock wouldn’t plummet.’
‘Uh, uh? Guys, the story is getting weird?’
Choi Yeon-jun, who was said to be Seo Baek-han’s only friend because they had been together since childhood, intervened tactfully.
‘There are a lot of people coming and going, so let’s stop talking about a young friend who isn’t even here.’
‘Anyway, the problem is always the traits. All the Yeonhwagung budget goes to the Second Prince’s wife, because that idiot took the wrong medicine and became a half-baked Omega. Shit. Why do I have to pay taxes to make medicine to control those bastards’ heat!’
‘Hey, hey! Kim Seung-jun!’
The atmosphere turned cold for a moment. Seo Baek-han, who was still at his seat, was also a trait holder who had to take suppressants, and an Alpha. Therefore, what Kim Seung-jun said was an attack not only on people like Joo Tae-hyun and the Second Prince’s wife, but also on Seo Baek-han.
Of course, Seo Baek-han showed no reaction. Whether it was intentional or sincere, it was none of his business. He didn’t like people bringing up traits to insult others, but annoyance and disappointment were emotions that could only be felt when there was minimal respect for the other person. The moment he reacted, he would be lowering himself to the same level as that idiot, so why bother?
‘Ah, no, I wasn’t trying to talk about Baek-han… It’s because Joo Tae-hyun is weird! Baek-han, of course, has no problem! But Joo Tae-hyun is an Alpha, but he just follows Baek-han around… That’s, it’s impossible unless there’s something wrong with him-.’
Hmm. So even guys like him know that Joo Tae-hyun only looked at me…
Seo Baek-han put a grape in his mouth and rolled it around, thinking of the kid after a long time.
The seventeen-year-old kid with a shadowed face, who couldn’t say anything even when he saw me being called away by other people for obvious reasons, and finally mustered up the courage at the very end.
What was Joo Tae-hyun’s expression like when I turned away that day? Seo Baek-han, who was briefly trying to recall, suddenly tilted his head in confusion. He didn’t believe that Kim Seung-jun had heard the story directly from the Crown Prince, but judging from the atmosphere, it seemed like Joo Tae-hyun’s name had been mentioned often before… Was it because I hadn’t been paying attention until now? What was there to gossip about that boring guy?
‘Ah, you guys. You’re ruining my appetite. Let’s stop, okay?’
Choi Yeon-jun tapped the table with the glass he was holding. It was a quick move by someone who knew that Seo Baek-han wouldn’t bother to act out if it ended here.
‘Since we’re on the topic, let me say something too. Joo Tae-hyun, that bastard!’
Kim Seung-jun, whose eyes were half-blurred as if he was drunk, slammed his glass down hard. He seemed to be trying to imitate Choi Yeon-jun’s actions, but he was too drunk to control his strength properly.
Seo Baek-han turned his gaze sideways and swallowed the pulp that was half-remaining in his mouth. Normally, he would have gotten up and left at this point. But was it because Joo Tae-hyun was the most unexpected memory among those who had confessed to him? He wanted to know what those bastards, specifically Kim Seung-jun, were saying about Joo Tae-hyun.
‘Actually, have you heard the rumor that Joo Tae-hyun isn’t even an Alpha?’
‘Hey, Kim Seung-jun… Stop watching those clickbaiting broadcasts by the wreckers. What kind of ridiculous conspiracy theory are you bringing up?’
‘Why, it’s interesting. I’m curious, so tell me. So, what about Joo Tae-hyun?’
‘Please be careful what you say! Don’t you know there are people from DH here?’
‘You’re acting like a saint. So what? They’re chaebols in a nice way, but in the end, they’re all just merchants like us, aren’t they? Why do we have to be mindful of them?’
‘What’s with this guy’s tone? What is this, the Joseon Dynasty?’
‘Did I say anything wrong? And speaking of which, the reason Joo Tae-hyun is hitting on Baek-han is because of that. Because Baek-han’s family has been producing prime ministers since the Joseon Dynasty.’
Kim Seung-jun licked his lips, running his palm over his side hair that was slicked back with pomade. The logo on the gold watch was clearly visible. He twisted his wrist unnaturally, only making his hair messier. As a result, the face of the already repulsive guy became even more vulgar.
Choi Yeon-jun, who had been trying to fix Kim Seung-jun’s loose mouth, raised both hands low as if he couldn’t listen anymore, and whispered.
‘Seo Baek-han, I’m backing out of here. I don’t have the talent to stop such a blockhead.’
‘Who told you to step in?’
‘Forget it, let’s get up now. People are starting to stare over here.’
Seo Baek-han lightly ignored Choi Yeon-jun, who was nudging him with his elbow.
‘What are you doing? Aren’t you leaving?’
‘I’m curious to see what kind of nonsense that bastard will say next, so I’m going to watch a little longer.’
It wasn’t an empty word that he was curious. Kim Seung-jun’s father was known to be the CEO of a small startup. He didn’t want to judge people’s character by the size of the company they ran. But there must be a reason why the Crown Prince, who was the epitome of snobbery, invited such a guy to the inauguration of the scholarship foundation that he had been working on for so long.
‘But is Kim Seung-jun really on the Crown Prince’s side?’
‘I don’t know. Judging from the way he keeps bringing up traits and spouting nonsense, it seems like he’s been influenced by that side.’
Seo Baek-han closed his eyes tightly, looking at the several layers of gold bracelets revealed under Kim Seung-jun’s watch. He wanted to watch a little longer, but it felt like his eyes would rot if he kept looking at that trash.
‘Sigh. What should I do with these guys who have no connections? A close relative of mine knows a lot of people in the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs. But that relative said that at the last 〈Haechi〉 year-end party, Joo Tae-hyun-‘
‘Kim Seung-jun.’
Was it good timing? Because Kim Seung-jun mentioned 〈Haechi〉, there was no need to watch that trashy appearance that threatened his mental and physical stability any longer.
Seeing him bring up things that actually happened inside 〈Haechi〉, it seemed that the Crown Prince had given that bastard some sources.
Why would the Crown Prince recruit such a low-class person? Guys like Kim Seung-jun are pawns that should be used and discarded behind the scenes. Even the lacking Crown Prince wouldn’t be unaware of this. But he even invited such a guy to the inauguration of the scholarship foundation, where he had gathered all kinds of VIPs?
‘Huh? Uh… Baek-han.’
Scholarship foundation, startup, discrimination against traits…
Seo Baek-han stood up from his seat, trying to figure out the direction that the connection between the Crown Prince and Kim Seung-jun was pointing to. First of all, he needed to look into the financial situation.
‘Be careful what you say. It’s pathetic to badmouth a young kid who isn’t even here with lies just because you’re jealous that Tae-hyun is an Alpha.’
Some of the people who had been giggling thoughtlessly at Kim Seung-jun’s low-class criticism looked at Seo Baek-han with somewhat bewildered faces.
In the end, they were all the same bastards. They pretended to stop Kim Seung-jun, but they were vulgar guys who enjoyed the base criticism through someone else’s mouth. Even now, the way they were shining their eyes with curiosity amidst their bewilderment was nothing short of repulsive.