Joo Tae-hyun’s expression and voice are usually impassive, but this time it was a little different. It was the confidence unique to a spoiled young master who had never faced opposition to whatever he did.
Seriously, what’s that bastard banking on to blurt out to me that he’s using Switch . Absurd as it was, Seo Baek-han wanted to observe Joo Tae-hyun a little more closely for the first time since meeting him. Could this be called interest? It had both positive and negative connotations mixed in, but it could be seen that way.
He thought it was a childish proposal from a kid who had a lot and was therefore greedy, but Joo Tae-hyun had derived the most correct answer from his own situation.
“I’m a little ashamed because it feels like I’m borrowing the power of my family rather than my own ability… but you said that what you want in a marriage partner is good conditions.”
Tap, tap-tap. As Seo Baek-han, lost in thought, began to tap his knee with his index finger, Joo Tae-hyun’s voice, who was constantly glancing this way, gradually shrank.
“Marrying an Alpha of the same gender would also have a big impact, and I’m also a member of 〈Haechi〉. So, if you marry me, I’m sure that Crown Prince will really hate it, if nothing else.”
When he heard the last words, he almost laughed without realizing it. A combination that the Crown Prince would really hate… That’s not bad.
“…Okay, I understand a little better now. When I first heard you say you wanted to get married, I was honestly very angry, but if that was the reason, then okay. I see the flow.”
Seo Baek-han slowly stroked his dry face with one hand to hide his laughter, and refined the final ultimatum he would throw at Joo Tae-hyun.
“But you miscalculated, Tae-hyun. With that logic, there’s even less reason for you to be my marriage partner, isn’t there?”
“…Yes?”
“A chaebol family that wants to join hands with me? It’s a bit much to say this myself, but there are quite a few besides DH. And unlike you, other chaebol families could even put forward a female Alpha.”
“……”
“Choosing me might be the best option for you, but it’s not for me.”
Joo Tae-hyun seemed not to have expected his argument to be refuted so easily, and for a moment, his lips just gaped.
“…But, in other places-“
“Yeah, other chaebol families might be less interested in the issue of traits than DH. But I don’t think there will be a big difference in the outcome.”
“……”
“In summary, what DH, or rather, what you have to offer is that you’re a Switch user, so you’re a little more desperate to marry me than other people…”
Seo Baek-han smiled faintly and stared intently at Joo Tae-hyun’s face.
“Am I supposed to marry you for that reason alone?”
The uncomfortable silence created by Seo Baek-han filled the lounge.
Knowing the kid’s circumstances made him feel better than before. He seemed to have grasped my biggest concern, so I don’t intend to push Joo Tae-hyun any further on the marriage issue. I also know that there’s no need to kill a kid’s spirit this much…
Even in this situation, he was amazed that Joo Tae-hyun’s expression didn’t change, and at the same time, he wanted to see that impassive face crumble or his eyes well up with tears. There was no reason for this. If he had to pick one, it was because Seo Baek-han’s temper was terrible.
“…But.”
How deeply he had fallen into thought in such a short time, Joo Tae-hyun’s voice was deeply submerged. His voice was in a strange color that was past puberty but not yet a fully grown man.
“I like the world you want to create.”
“…The world I want to create?”
“Yes. When I first joined 〈Haechi〉, you said that. You said your dream was to create a world where people aren’t discriminated against because they’re trait holders, and that everyone should be equal in the face of trait issues, whether they’re a chaebol heir like you or a basic livelihood security recipient who lives from day to day.”
Joo Tae-hyun, who had been trying to maintain a neat expression even while tearing at the tender flesh under his fingernails, finally broke down his frozen face and smiled slightly. It was an awkward smile, vaguely raising the corners of his eyes and mouth.
“That’s why I liked you…”
As if dreaming for a moment, Joo Tae-hyun retraced a point in time that Seo Baek-han didn’t know. Then, belatedly regaining his senses, he shook his head briefly.
“Ah, sorry, um, sorry. Of course, I know that listing more conditions that I can offer is more to your taste. But, this is my true heart. I don’t want to tell a lie that I made up on the spur of the moment.”
“…Haa.”
Seo Baek-han sighed long through his nose. Now that he sees it, this bastard’s head is a flower garden.
As expected of a precious young master, Joo Tae-hyun’s view of the world was so pure that it was immature.
Desperation? Dream? Sincerity?
He’s bringing up those words while proposing one of the most important deals of his life? He was bitterly ridiculing Joo Tae-hyun in his mind like that, but… Seo Baek-han belatedly realized that his arms, which had been crossed, had loosened slightly.
He quickly fixed his crumpled expression, but Seo Baek-han stroked his chin several times because he was surprised that he had unconsciously lowered his defenses a little.
Seo Baek-han hated unexpected things happening as much as he was quick to accept situations and acknowledge his own condition. That’s because it’s the only way to properly control himself and those around him.
From that point of view, it was true that the nonsense from a while ago, which seemed to be grasping at clouds, touched a corner of Seo Baek-han’s heart more than any logic Joo Tae-hyun had put forward so far.
“I sincerely want to help you with what you’re trying to do.”
As he had rebuked Joo Tae-hyun, he could meet other chaebol heirs with similar specs to DH. But it’s also true that, as Joo Tae-hyun said, he can’t find someone who is as sincere about what I have to do as he is.
“I won’t bother you anymore. I won’t call you out for this issue after today. Instead, this… please review it just once.”
Joo Tae-hyun, who had somehow returned to his usual gloomy face, fumbled for something in his coat hanging on the back of his chair and held it out. It was a new cell phone that DH Electronics was pushing like crazy these days.
“I’ve put a few documents inside… Yes, just press that folder.”
The space between Seo Baek-han’s eyebrows gradually narrowed as he tried to skim through the titles.
Detailed corporate information of DH, the status of major members and assets, the conditions that DH can promise and, conversely, the requirements that DH wants, guidelines for media response related to marriage, and Joo Tae-hyun’s detailed profile…
It was a detailed and honest record of the DH family that had never been dealt with anywhere.
“I prepared it in the hope that you would at least review it…”
“…Did the adults allow you to share these documents with me?”
He deliberately tossed the cell phone he had received lightly upwards and caught it, and examined Joo Tae-hyun’s complexion. Knowing that he could share the documents on his personal phone, or rather, here and there, with just a few touches, Joo Tae-hyun was still just staring blankly at Seo Baek-han.
Rather than containing trust, it seemed that he couldn’t even imagine that the other person could do such a thing with malice.
“Um. Not all of them, but… it’ll be okay. Probably.”
Listening to him say such carefree things made him feel drained. Seo Baek-han was so dumbfounded that he couldn’t even tease Joo Tae-hyun any more.
“Then I’ll get up first, so please take a look at your convenience.”
Joo Tae-hyun, who had nonchalantly placed his weaknesses in the hands of others, greeted him casually, unaware of what others were thinking.
“The cell phone… send someone to pick it up whenever you contact me.”
While he was speaking leisurely, Joo Tae-hyun seemed busy picking up his clothes in a hurry. He had caused all sorts of trouble, but he was like a five-year-old trying to avoid it, so it was ambiguous to grab him and scold him.
“Then… thank you so much for taking the time out of your busy schedule, hyung.”
With the same expressionless face as when he first greeted him, Joo Tae-hyun bowed his head.
Seo Baek-han stared blankly at the cell phone he had received in a daze. He doesn’t think his mind will change even if he skims through these documents. No matter how he looks at it, this marriage is only a good deal for DH.
“Thank you for listening to me, too. I’m really grateful that you didn’t get upset and storm out.”
Anyway, Joo Tae-hyun isn’t completely clueless, so he seems to be aware of his place…
Seo Baek-han closed his eyes deeply and opened them. Are you handing over family confidential documents instead of a marriage proposal and running away now?
He couldn’t help but sigh at the sight of the kid stubbornly insisting… He couldn’t honestly deny that the unpleasantness that had surged up as soon as he heard the proposal had subsided quite a bit.
“Joo Tae-hyun.”