TS 042

It was definitely that voice. The one he had heard on the Center’s rooftop.

The image of Yoon Taehwa, smiling deeply as if having had a pleasant conversation, putting his phone in his pocket and smoking a cigarette, was still vivid. Whether it was the aftermath of the kiss or the Guiding, his nerves had been on edge, making it impossible not to hear the other person’s voice.

He couldn’t grasp the content of the conversation, but it was definitely this voice.

“And you are?”

Han Suryeon asked politely. The other person’s lips parted in bewilderment.

“I live in this house.”

It was only then that he realized he had asked an all-too-obvious question. As he mulled over how to phrase his words, he blurted out the question he was most curious about, without any preamble.

“Are you a Guide?”

What if he was a Guide? It was certain he wasn’t registered with the Center. If he had been a Center-affiliated Guide, there was no way they wouldn’t have crossed paths until now.

‘If he’s not registered, there shouldn’t be any inter-country issues.’

The only problem was Yoon Taehwa. If his Paired Guide were to die… Thinking of people he knew well, the reaction was obvious. Ah, it seemed killing him wouldn’t be an option.

“…Pardon?”

The man took a step back with a flustered face. As if it were a bewildering question, he stroked his cheek and opened his mouth.

“No, I’m not a Guide…”

“He’s my younger brother.”

“Hyung.”

Han Suryeon turned his head in the direction of the voice. Yoon Taehwa, wearing only sweatpants, was frowning as he dried his hair with a towel.

Younger brother? Han Suryeon once again stared at the man in front of him. He had thought there was no resemblance at all, but now that he looked, they did seem to look alike.

“…So you’re the Team Leader’s younger brother.”

It took quite a while for his on-edge nerves to calm down. Still, he should act nice. Han Suryeon spoke amiably.

“What was your name again… Is it Yoon Taein-ssi?”

“Yes. Um, so, I’ll take it, you know my brother.”

“He’s a member of my team.”

Yoon Taehwa gave a cursory glance at the two men standing blankly and made an introduction of sorts.

The situation that had suddenly unfolded before his eyes was not easily processed. When he came out of the shower, Han Suryeon, who he thought would be asleep drunk, was wide awake, and Yoon Taein, who had gone to the family home a few days ago, was standing at the entrance.

“A team member? I’ve never seen you before.”

“He was traded. It’s been a little over a month since he came.”

“I see. I was surprised because there was someone else here.”

With a bewildered expression, Yoon Taein bowed his head toward Han Suryeon.

“Hello, I’m Yoon Taein. I didn’t know you were one of my brother’s team members. He doesn’t usually bring other people home. I’m sorry.”

“I’m the one who should be sorry.”

Only then did the corners of his eyes crinkle. His fluttering eyelashes carried an air of being sorry and at a loss.

“There are so many bastards after our Team Leader that I must have been on guard without realizing it. The only people who would be coming in and out of our Team Leader’s house would be family, right?”

“That’s… right…?”

Han Suryeon extended his hand. Yoon Taein, who had been looking down at the pale hand, clasped it as if for a handshake.

“My name is Han Suryeon. I look forward to working with you. So… younger brother-in-law?”

Young Master? For a moment, Yoon Taein felt a sense of vertigo. It was a title he had only heard from the people who worked at his house when he was very young. The cringey term of address felt like it was giving him goosebumps on the back of his hand.

[The word used here is “도련님”. It can be translated as “young master”. Or it can also be translated as “younger brother-in-law.” HS used “younger brother-in-law,” but as it is the same as “young master,” Taein thought HS is calling him “young master.”]

Yoon Taein subtly let go of the hand and smiled awkwardly.

“Uhm… that title, ‘young master,’ is a bit… Are you perhaps teasing me? What’s so great about being a chaebol.”

Han Suryeon, who had tilted his head in return, corrected his words as if he had just realized the meaning.

“I didn’t mean it that way.”

“Pardon? Then?”

“Taein-ssi, you can call me sister-in-law.”

“…What?”

Yoon Taein blinked, mulling over the correlation between sister-in-law and young master. At that moment, the convenience store bag he was holding dropped to the floor with a thud. No way. Yoon Taein stiffly turned his neck to find his own brother.

Yoon Taehwa, who was tossing the towel into a basket, was looking this way with an annoyed expression.

“Hyung. …Are you and this person in that kind of relationship?”

“It’s bullshit, so ignore him.”

“To be precise, I’m the only one trying to seduce the Team Leader.”

“Haha… I see.”

Yoon Taehwa strode over, picked up the bag that had fallen on the floor, and handed it to Yoon Taein.

“That’s bullshit too, so ignore it. I didn’t know you were home.”

“I just came to see you, you know. I was about to leave anyway.”

Pitch-black eyes rolled toward the convenience store bag. It was clearly an excuse.

“I should grab my assignment stuff and go.”

Yoon Taein, with an awkward expression, headed toward the hallway. Yoon Taehwa followed behind his brother.

“You wait here.”

He didn’t forget to make Han Suryeon behave.

“Please tell my younger brother-in-law that I’m not a weird person.”

He was remarkably sly, even though he must have known full well that he would get an earful later.

Yoon Taehwa let out a short sigh and roughly ruffled his still-damp hair. He supposed he had no one to blame but himself for bringing him here.

As soon as he entered the room, Yoon Taein started stuffing his laptop into his bag. The hand that was gathering his report suddenly stopped.

“Why?”

“Did I leave it like this? …No.”

The pace of packing his bag gradually quickened. Yoon Taehwa simply watched his brother’s back. Yoon Taein, perhaps feeling his gaze, glanced back.

“Are you really not in any kind of relationship with that person?”

Why is he spouting such nonsense? The bridge of his nose wrinkled on its own.

“I said no.”

“Really? Hyung, I’m not prejudiced. I won’t tell Noona either.”

“Have you ever seen me date a man?”

“Why? A lot of Espers date people of the same sex.”

“He’s not a Guide.”

Yoon Taehwa replied, leaning askew. Only then did Yoon Taein let out a long breath.

“Not a Guide?”

“I have no idea what made you think he was a Guide.”

“Well, he asked me if I was a Guide, so I just wondered.”

“…He said that to you?”

Yoon Taein, with his bag on his shoulder, nodded his head.

“What did you say?”

“What do you mean, what did I say? I said no. Anyway, I’m leaving.”

“I’ll take you.”

“You have a guest at home.”

He was more of an uninvited guest than a guest.

“I’ll drop him off on my way to take you.”

“Uh… I just called a taxi. It’s on its way.”

When Yoon Taehwa made a displeased face, Yoon Taein smiled sheepishly, then ran over and suddenly hugged his waist.

“Sorry, hyung.”

Then, as if running away, he left the room first.

“I’ll be going now. I hope you and my brother have a good time… ah, no. Anyway, see you next time.”

“Yes. I hope to see you again next time.”

When he went out with a sauntering gait, he saw Han Suryeon seeing Yoon Taein off. At his perfectly natural demeanor, Yoon Taehwa pulled his lips into a snort. Perhaps sensing his look of disbelief, Han Suryeon tilted his head as if he didn’t know why he was looking at him that way.

“Hyung, I’m going. Call me if anything happens. Oh, right. Grandpa said you should drop by the main house soon.”

“Tell him I will.”

“Okay. I’m going.”

Yoon Taein, after bowing to Han Suryeon again, soon waved his hand and left through the door. With the sound of the lock turning, the surroundings instantly became quiet.

“Our little Suryeon really takes me for a pushover… You’re not drunk, are you?”

“I’m not… I still feel dizzy. I just woke up because I was so thirsty.”

Han Suryeon’s gaze went to the kitchen. On the table was a half-empty bottle of mineral water.

“I just sobered up a little after drinking some water. And I came to my senses when I suddenly felt a presence outside… You know, Espers sober up quickly when their senses are heightened.”

An Esper’s body was different from that of an ordinary person. Not only did severe wounds like stab wounds regenerate, but they could also quickly detoxify drugs produced through natural occurrence or chemical combination. Alcohol was no exception.

‘Though not everyone is a good drinker.’

Even so, it wasn’t a power that could be activated at will. Regeneration was a phenomenon that occurred when the ability energy covering the body stirred as it felt its life was on the line.

This meant that if they drank in a normal environment, they could also get drunk. The only time they would suddenly sober up due to detoxification was when their nerves were so on edge that they had to prioritize their survival instincts.

“So you’re saying you’re fine now.”

“I think I’m getting drunk again…”

“Stop with the nonsense. I’m going to dry my hair, so be gone by then.”

“What if I don’t go?”

“I’ll kick you out.”

Yoon Taehwa replied indifferently as he headed to the dressing room. He heard a whining voice from behind him, but he completely ignored it.

He hadn’t expected him to leave obediently, but he had never imagined he would cause trouble.

“I’m sure they have manners in Russia, too. Where did you sell them off?”

Two wine glasses and a bottle were strewn on the living room table, which didn’t even have a common vase. Han Suryeon, who had been sipping wine by himself, had flushed cheeks and a smile that broke his composure.

“It’s because the Team Leader keeps trying to kick me out.”

“You sold your conscience too.”

“I’ll be quiet and then leave.”

Yoon Taehwa neatly gave up on kicking out the uninvited guest. Judging by his surprisingly calm emotional state, it seemed he had subconsciously expected Han Suryeon to be like this.

It was just amazing that he had found the wine and glasses he didn’t even know existed. His older sister, Yoon Taeseon, must have brought them.

“Why are you wearing a t-shirt?”

“Why? Want some eye candy?”

“Will you take it off for me?”

“If you take yours off first.”

At the words thrown out without any particular meaning, Han Suryeon blinked his eyes. Soon, his cheeks turned red with shyness. It was surprising that his cheeks, already flushed from the alcohol, could turn even redder.

“Should I go wash up?”

Look at this. Yoon Taehwa slanted his lips. Following the movement of the muscle, the mole underneath it twitched.

“Go wash up.”

His sharp eyes narrowed thinly.