It was the same on the day he first arrived at their Pyongyang honeymoon home after wrapping up his entire life in the United States after the wedding. Inside the cozy house facing Yeonhwa Palace, Joo Tae-hyun was greeted by people hired by Seo Baek-han and a large bouquet of flowers.
‘Seriously, this bastard doesn’t even show his face when his much younger groom flies all the way here from America?’
Thankfully, his brothers and sister had come to Pyongyang with him, except for his eldest brother, who couldn’t possibly take the time off. Still overly affectionate, his siblings insisted on taking their youngest brother from Incheon Airport to the house in Moranbong, even though they were so busy that they had to head straight back to the airport after dropping him off at the honeymoon home.
‘Yun-woo, people can hear you.’
‘That’s why I’m saying it. And if Seo Baek-han can’t come, shouldn’t he at least show his face from his in-laws’ side? Huh? Is sending a flower basket enough?’
‘My brother is really busy these days, and I told him not to take a half-day off. And Assemblyman Seo, no, Father and Mother, said they’d see me next time because I’d be tired.’
‘Then who are these people? They look like they’ve been carefully selected from those who have worked for Seo Baek-han’s family for a long time. Was this discussed with you?’
‘Huh? Yeah, yeah. I told him to take care of it, Sister.’
Joo Tae-hyun was just blurting out anything to appease the rampaging Joo Yun-woo, but he was just as taken aback. He had heard that a few people had been hired to take care of minor tasks, but the employees standing in a polite row in the entryway didn’t feel like mere servants. Their eyes showed their experience, and it was clear to anyone that they had been serving the Seo family for quite some time.
In contrast, Joo Tae-hyun hadn’t brought anyone with him except for his bodyguards. Even those were newly contracted with a company that Assemblyman Seo Hong-gyu trusted, so the personnel would be changing frequently, and his personal secretary would be newly hired sometime next week. He couldn’t exactly ask a secretary who didn’t have a specific job and only occasionally handled personal errands to come all the way to Pyongyang.
‘Baby. You said you’d find a personal secretary in Pyongyang, right?’
‘Huh? Yeah, yeah, I thought that would be easier.’
‘You should reconsider that.’
Even his usually easygoing third brother scanned the servants Seo Baek-han had arranged with a stern expression. It was clear that Seo Baek-han had managed the house to his liking during the two weeks Joo Tae-hyun was away, rather than it being an order from Assemblyman Seo or Director Ahn. It was obvious that Seo Baek-han had chosen them and that they would follow his instructions much better than Joo Tae-hyun’s.
‘We’ll take care of this issue as soon as we get back to Seoul, so don’t worry about it, baby.’
‘But, Brother, I’m really okay-‘
‘Oppa, how can we leave such a pushover alone in Pyongyang? He already can’t say a single word of complaint to that Seo Baek-han bastard!’
‘Sister, I really said I’m okay. It’s a really busy time these days…’
Joo Yun-woo was going crazy and pounding his chest, and this time, even his brothers didn’t stop his sister. They looked like they were holding back out of decorum, wearing similar expressions to Joo Yun-woo and just sighing deeply.
‘Tae-hyun, it looks like we’re going to be late for our flight, so we’re going to go ahead… Until we send people from our side, it’s best to keep the doors locked. Don’t entrust anything to them, whether it’s cleaning or laundry. Got it?’
‘Brother, even so-‘
‘Listen to your second brother, maknae. What you and Seo Baek-han did wasn’t a marriage, it was a contract.’
‘……’
‘Right now, this is Seo Baek-han, no, Assemblyman Seo’s family starting a fight first. It can only be interpreted as them wanting to monitor your every move.’
Joo Kyung-han forced a smile and squeezed Joo Tae-hyun’s cheek before letting go.
‘Baby, you know, right? You can just terminate a contract you don’t like.’
His third brother repeatedly urged him not to endure it and to tell them if anything difficult happened. His second brother and sister, who turned away with sighs, must have felt the same way.
That must have been when it started.
The sending of employees from the Seoul house in a competitive manner, causing the servants inside the house to be divided as if they were in a standoff.
“Then, Young Master, I will be on my way. Have a good day.”
“Yes, please go safely.”
Four years into their married life.
In the meantime, Seo Baek-han had risen to the position of the youngest director of the Royal Hospital, just as he had wished, but Joo Tae-hyun was still the Young Master.
‘Social Welfare?’
‘Yes, I’m thinking of taking over the scholarship foundation later, so I thought it would be good to have a title that’s easy to tie to the foundation.’
‘Hmm, that’s true, but. That field of study might be more disconnected from practical work than you think. If the title is really the only purpose, another university with active collaborative research might be better.’
‘Well. If news comes out that Seo Baek-han’s husband went somewhere other than Pyongyang University, I think something will happen to me, not you.’
‘Haha. That’s true too.’
He had been studying hard since transferring to Pyongyang University, but so far, the only modifier that could be attached to Joo Tae-hyun’s name was ‘Young Master’. Still, Joo Tae-hyun didn’t get impatient and just focused on what he could do right now. He couldn’t keep up with Seo Baek-han’s pace anyway. Once he decided not to stress about something impossible from the start, he felt a little more relaxed.
Above all, there were more than enough things besides academics that frayed Joo Tae-hyun’s nerves, so he didn’t have time to worry deeply about things like the direction of his unrequited love, like he did in his adolescence. He had to regularly buy Dirty Switches to deceive Seo Baek-han, he had to moderately mediate the constant provocations from Seo Baek-han from his Seoul main family, and he had to actively engage in extracurricular activities that didn’t suit him in order to look good to the Pyongyang citizens who scrutinized him up and down even when he just went out to buy coffee.
‘Well, if that’s why you chose Pyongyang University’s graduate school, then I should support you. Tell me if you need help.’
Seo Baek-han wasn’t unaware of Joo Tae-hyun’s struggles, and the more he tried, the more he gradually allowed him to be by his side, as if giving him a reward. Before, it felt more like he was bestowing favors under the guise of kindness, but now, it seemed like he had risen to the level of a child he was keeping.
Like when he confessed to Seo Baek-han and ran away to America, Joo Tae-hyun had been so busy since the wedding that his memories were scattered in fragments and remained only vaguely.
Still, there were days like today when he inevitably felt empty inside. He wanted to whine about not knowing his place, asking if his brother couldn’t pick out a gift for him himself instead of his secretary, even if it was something small, or if they couldn’t have a meal together in a nice place, even if it wasn’t today.
‘I don’t think you liking me should be a reason for you to lower yourself in front of me.’
Whenever that happened, Joo Tae-hyun would remember what Seo Baek-han had once said to him and steel himself.
Just do my best with what I can do now. I decided not to be greedy. Still, it’s something that I’ve gotten this close to my brother.
When attending official events, Seo Baek-han always took care of him first. Even if it wasn’t mandatory for couples to attend together. There must have been a reason, but he was just happy. Seo Baek-han introduced Joo Tae-hyun to people as his husband, his spouse…
“…He doesn’t even have a separate Heat Partner.”
Perhaps this is why Joo Tae-hyun kept having hope and hovering around Seo Baek-han.
Unlike what he had menacingly declared before the wedding, Seo Baek-han didn’t have a separate Heat Partner. He didn’t have anyone he met regularly, let alone a one-night stand.
At least that’s what Joo Tae-hyun knew, and if he had met someone even casually, his brothers and sister, who were always watching the trends in Pyongyang with their eyes wide open, would have noticed it first, so it couldn’t be wrong information.
He knew it was closer to Seo Baek-han’s own image management than loyalty to Joo Tae-hyun. In any case, he had spread enough rumors in the past that he didn’t feel regretful. In short, he had played around as much as he wanted.
Starting with taking on the position of the youngest director of the Royal Hospital, the things Seo Baek-han had dreamed of for a long time were about to begin, and there was no way he would let himself be tarnished by a mere sex partner. Especially in the midst of daring to marry a Shifter of the same gender.
So, fortunately, the guest room built underground had been left abandoned without ever being used for its original purpose.
“……Ah.”
That’s when it happened. Along with a small vibration that broke his thoughts, Seo Baek-han’s number appeared on his phone screen. The number he had hesitated about how to save and ultimately left blank, his number.
It was always at an amazing timing, as if he knew all too well that he was thinking about him.
“Ye, ahem, hello.”
–
Oh, Tae-hyun.
“Brother, I just received the flowers. And the gift.”
–
Oh, really? It arrived just in time.
“Thank you again this year, Brother.”
–
There’s no need to thank me. Thank you for putting up with me for four years.
Joo Tae-hyun nodded silently. Whenever Seo Baek-han gave him such encouragement, he would often dwell on the moment alone for a long time, feeling like they were no different from ordinary couples.
It was even more so when they celebrated their first wedding anniversary.
Joo Tae-hyun was greatly taken aback when he received an unexpected bouquet of flowers and a gift from Seo Baek-han.
Joo Tae-hyun, of course, remembered that today was their wedding anniversary, and he assumed that Seo Baek-han knew as well, but he didn’t bother to ask. After all, it would probably just be the day he signed an important contract to him.
But when did he prepare this?
After his secretary left, Joo Tae-hyun hugged the bouquet and cried a little, just a little. The gifts Seo Baek-han gave him were perfume and a watch, but in fact, neither of them were Joo Tae-hyun’s style.
Still, it was a choice that showed sense and consideration. The perfume blended well with Joo Tae-hyun’s Pheromone scent and had a slightly mature woody scent, and the watch was an expensive brand that only those in the know recognized, so it seemed like he could wear it anywhere without any problems.
Joo Tae-hyun cleared his throat and pressed the recent call history on his phone. It was rare for him to call him first, as he was worried about bothering him, so his heart felt like it was going to burst the entire time the ringing tone was playing.
–
Why, is something wrong?
‘Ah, Brother. Um… I received the flowers and the gift, thank you. When did you prepare them? I was really surprised…’
–
That’s, ah.
The sound briefly faded in and out, as if he was checking the time.
–
I did tell them to bring it to the house around this time. But what’s wrong?
‘Yes? Just, thank you. I, um, I didn’t even think you would take care of something like this, so I couldn’t prepare anything-‘
–
Haa… Tae-hyun, I thought something had happened because you were even calling me when you usually don’t.
Seo Baek-han lightly chided him, telling him to think about what medicine he often took.
‘Ah… I’m sorry, I was just so grateful and sorry to you, Brother…’
–
It’s fine if nothing’s wrong. Then let’s talk later, I’m outside right now.
The call ended abruptly before he could even reply.
Joo Tae-hyun felt very sorry to Seo Baek-han, and then he just felt embarrassed.
In the first place, anniversaries like wedding anniversaries probably didn’t mean much to him. He was calling and making a fuss over someone who was no different from sending a gift certificate of a suitable price when an acquaintance’s birthday notification popped up…
“But what’s wrong, Brother?”
–
Ah, I think I’ll be late getting off work today, but there’s something I need to discuss with you. Don’t go to sleep and wait for me.