BHB 39

“…Stop talking nonsense and go.”

“You’re the one making a fuss over nothing.”

“It’s just a few hours anyway.”

“I said I don’t want to.”

“Just endure it. You can do that much, can’t you?”

“You know I don’t do that stuff anymore.”

Yeowon frowned at the calm rebuttal that seemed too nonchalant.

“Are you a child? What if your mother goes crazy again and does something?”

“If I was afraid of that, I wouldn’t be acting like this.”

“That’s why. Since you came here instead of a foreign language high school or science high school in Gangnam, you should at least endure this much.”

“Then are you going to pour drinks for women in my place?”

“What are you saying, fuck. It’s just hanging out.”

“If I don’t want to go, I won’t go.”

“You have to go even if you don’t want to.”

Yeowon was being more adamant than ever. Although it wasn’t his business, he became particularly sensitive when it came to matters related to Taegang’s parents. Knowing that punishment would come in some form if Taegang defied them, he hoped Taegang wouldn’t do anything to upset them. Yeowon was well aware that their patience had probably already reached its limit with Taegang, once known as a prodigy, coming to this delinquent school.

“You’re being cold.”

“It’s not being cold, it’s because I’m worried.”

Taegang met Yeowon’s gaze, which had softened from irritation. His eyes, spreading with worry and concern, were devoid of any self-interest.

“Sometimes I go crazy with worry when you act recklessly.”

“……”

“Listen to me today.”

Yeowon playfully stroked the back of Taegang’s head as if patting him.

In the end, Taegang couldn’t argue back anymore. Whether it was because of the touch on his nape or the seemingly trivial worry, he couldn’t easily ignore it as usual. It had always been like this. Somehow, Yeowon had become the one to indulge his stubbornness and handle him. Of course, Taegang didn’t dislike it. After all, that’s why he was here.

**

Taegang’s mother, who had been internally anxious, seemed to breathe a sigh of relief when she saw Taegang arrive home on time, maintaining a bright smile throughout the event. With Lee Seungkwon’s re-election approaching, there was a heightened sense of tension in the atmosphere. The malicious underlying thoughts as they smiled at each other were palpable even to Taegang, still a minor.

Although Seungkwon’s support rate was always high, times were changing daily, and it was uncertain how the opposition’s support might increase through political maneuvers. Despite having good backing and strong support from his wife, his parents habitually became highly sensitive as the general election and re-election approached. If Taegang hadn’t arrived on time today, who knows what might have happened, as Yeowon had warned.

Taegang uncomfortably buttoned up his shirt, feeling constrained in the suit his mother had specially ordered. Soft classical music played by a hired orchestra flowed, and the carefully selected guests they were hosting were as refined and elegant as befitting their status. Among them was Taegang’s older brother, who rarely visited the main house.

Taegang wasn’t close to his older brother. Not only was there a significant age gap, but his brother had already become independent by the time Taegang was learning to walk and read Korean. As a result, Taegang’s relationship with his blood relative was practically non-existent.

Lee Taejoo, who had grown up without issues under those peculiar parents and proved himself despite the pressure, was a born maverick acknowledged by those around him. Known for graduating from law school at the youngest age with top honors and receiving the highest scores at the training institute, he was praised for inheriting his parents’ good genes.

From the moment he became the pride of his parents, who knew no satisfaction, they couldn’t help but acknowledge Lee Taejoo’s abilities. But perhaps he had also inherited their cold-blooded nature, as he rarely showed his face at the main house. He would only visit briefly during occasional holidays or for official family gatherings. Because of this, Taegang had no interaction with the person who was his brother.

Unlike Taegang, Taejoo was graciously entertaining the guests, engaging in light conversation and even showing a pleasant smile. Pleased with this sight, their mother didn’t leave Taejoo’s side, laughing even more boisterously and ceaselessly bragging about her son.

Moreover, Taejoo is currently famous as the most eligible bachelor. As the eldest son of a prestigious family with good education and connections, and already a well-connected, influential young prosecutor, everyone in the field knew about him. His handsome appearance and robust physique had even caught the eye of third-generation chaebol daughters, leading to several proposals to provide political funds to Lee Seungkwon. Since marriage often leads to business opportunities, Taejoo’s marriage prospects were currently the hottest topic.

“Want a drink?”

Approaching Taegang, who was boredly keeping his place while watching his pretentious brother, were peers he had encountered a few times at these gatherings. They were on the list his mother had recited since childhood, urging him to befriend them.

“This is alcohol.”

What Shim Jooyoung, the grandson of a chairman of a long-established construction company, offered was wine mixed with alcohol.

“Why so out of character? Your reputation precedes you, why the false modesty?”

As Jooyoung laughed as if he’d found something interesting, the others around also chuckled pointedly. Taegang’s behavior had apparently become so notorious that even those who had barely spoken to him knew about it. Taegang, with an indifferent face, was contemplating how to retort when he inadvertently made eye contact with his mother from afar. Seeing the crowd gathered around her son, she frowned as if warning him not to cause trouble.

After a moment’s hesitation, Taegang accepted the wine Jooyoung offered.

“If you’re envious, join in. I’ll treat you to something better than this wine you drink with permission from the old folks.”

Taegang gently swirled the glass and smiled diplomatically.

“Ha, going to that delinquent school, your level is apparent.”

“Then why talk to someone of such low level? You’ll lower yourselves too.”

Taegang retorted sharply while maintaining a polite face that, from a distance, looked like he was having a normal conversation. Jooyoung furrowed his brow, gripping his wine glass tightly, his jaw clenched as if unwilling to lose.

“Do you act so brazenly knowing how much of a laughingstock your family has become because of you? Your mother’s face, which acts so perfect, trembles at the mention of you. It’s become a trend among the mothers to bring you up.”

“Do you fucking tag along with your mom’s social circle too?”

“What? No, my mom told me…!”

“Go listen to your mom and study, you idiots.”

Taegang deliberately left the scene, his face showing no impact from their words. He had no desire to engage in childish arguments, and his mind was elsewhere entirely.

Passing by Jooyoung, who looked upset and was about to say more, Taegang took out his phone with a troubled expression.

Kim Myungjoo: [Don’t regret not coming today, you bastards.]

[Wow, fuck, the noonas(older sisters) were amazing today.]

Jin Youngchae: [Han Yeowon is getting totally wasted lolololol so funny]

[Photo]

What caught Taegang’s eye among the flood of messages was a single photo. It showed a dumb-looking Han Yeowon, his face flushed red, leaning his head on women’s shoulders. But it wasn’t just that one photo.

[Photo]

[Photo]

[Photo]

All the photos that followed showed Yeowon’s drunken face. He seemed quite popular, with photos of women touching his face or sitting close to him. The veins in Taegang’s hand holding the phone bulged instantly.

Taegang closed the chat screen and immediately made a call. But the other party seemed unwilling to answer, and the dial tone just kept ringing. Then,

“Hello?”

Kim Myungjoo’s voice, not the phone’s owner, rang out boisterously.

“Why are you answering?”

“Why? Because Han Yeowon is totally wasted.”

“How much did he drink?”

Hearing the irritation in Taegang’s voice, the sound of the other party flinching could be heard.

“N-not much. Maybe because he drank quickly… Yeowon keeps losing at drinking games.”

“Where are you?”

“Are you coming?”

“Tell me the address.”

“No way. We’re having a good time now! The noonas are totally into Yeowon, it’s really fun…”

“Tell me, you bastard.”

“…We can’t.”

“Hey.”

Despite Taegang’s increasingly menacing tone, the other party hesitated.

“Tell me.”

“Ah… we can’t…”

“Fucking hell…”

“Ah, Yeowon told us not to tell you…!”

The other party, finally unable to withstand Taegang’s threat, continued in a troubled voice.

“What?”

“Yeowon said earlier, just in case, if you say you’re coming here, not to tell you.”

“……”

“He said he’d really get mad if we told… I’m scared of you, but I’m also scared when Yeowon says he’ll do something, you know?!”

“Ha….”

Taegang let out an exasperated sigh and irritably ended the call. Yeowon had calculated even this possibility. The uncharacteristic meticulousness was laughable, but the fact that he was reading Taegang’s actions so well, and even his desire for Taegang not to leave this event, made Taegang inexplicably furious.