SDM 71

Seong-woon let out a long sigh as he got into the car. This was a German SUV that Ryu Chang-yoon had bought him, and he was finally able to drive it after getting his license. After sitting in the garage collecting dust for nearly a year, he had it serviced and drove it around for a few days to break it in, and now the ride was quite smooth.

He couldn’t get his driver’s license among high school students about to graduate with this face, so he used money and power. He bribed a driving school that doubled as a test center during early morning hours, quickly took the required lessons, and obtained his license right away.

Hyeong-seok looked at Seong-woon as if he were some kind of freak for passing both the skills and road tests without any practice, but Seong-woon ignored him.

“See you later.”

Although he had told him not to come down because he might be photographed again, Baek Sang-hyun still followed him to the parking lot. When he tapped on the window, Seong-woon rolled it down all the way, only to hear that.

“…Later?”

You mean you’ll see me again later?

“I’ll call you.”

Ah, he means he’ll call me later. Just as Seong-woon understood and was about to nod, Baek Sang-hyun’s head came through the open window as if he was going to kiss him, startling Seong-woon who pushed him away.

“…Hey!”

“The tinting is dark anyway.”

“You want another article about you?”

“Well, since it’s the same person this time, they’ll probably let it slide.”

Did I make a mistake revealing my identity and helping him back then? As Baek Sang-hyun pouted his lips in disappointment, Seong-woon pressed the back of his hand firmly against Baek Sang-hyun’s lips before pulling away. Whether it was Hyeong-seok or the bodyguards, someone was probably watching from somewhere, so kissing was absolutely not allowed.

“Make do with this.”

Baek Sang-hyun grinned, seemingly pleased even with just being allowed to kiss the back of Seong-woon’s hand. Feeling like he really needed to leave now, Seong-woon grabbed the steering wheel while rolling up the window.

His mother had called cautiously that morning, unable to hide her disappointment, asking when he would come. Seong-woon, who had been languishing under Baek Sang-hyun’s wandering hands as soon as he woke up to that call, had rushed down without even eating breakfast.

The city roads were hardly congested, as if everyone had already left Seoul. After parking the car in the garage, Seong-woon ran into the housekeeper carrying loads of groceries on his way up.

“The youngest master is here?”

“Yes, hello. …Shall I help you carry those?”

“Oh my, no need.”

Following the housekeeper who waved her hand as if to say not to say such nonsense, Seong-woon climbed a few more steps to find his father sitting on the living room sofa, who quickly turned around.

“Chae-yoon, you’re here?”

“Yes.”

“Breakfast…”

“Ah, breakfast….”

“Young master, you haven’t had breakfast? I’ll prepare it right away.”

“No, it’s okay. I can just eat something quick…”

His father’s gaze sharpened. Seong-woon gulped and quickly changed his words.

“…I guess not. Then please, I’d appreciate it.”

“Just wait a moment.”

After thoroughly chewing the breakfast that the housekeeper prepared at lightning speed, Seong-woon came out and sat across from his father. Not seeing the person who had been looking for him since morning, Seong-woon looked around and asked.

“…Where’s Mother?”

“At the department store with Ha-yoon. She was planning to go with you, but you must have missed each other.”

“I came as quickly as I could…”

“It’s fine, she just went to work anyway, so don’t worry about it.”

After that, his father’s lips quivered for a while before he let out a very slight sigh, so slight that it would go unnoticed if you weren’t paying attention, and then addressed Seong-woon.

“…So, did you have fun?”

“Pardon…?”

Seong-woon’s eyes widened. He felt unnecessarily guilty.

“Why are you so surprised?”

“Oh, no… it’s nothing.”

“I guess you get along well since you’re both actors.”

Yesterday, we did more than just talking... Seong-woon was shocked when he looked at his body after waking up in the morning.

Surely, there had been no issues with his body when he lost consciousness, but as soon as he opened his eyes, what he saw were distinct lip marks trailing from his collarbone down to his lower abdomen.

When he grabbed Baek Sang-hyun by the collar and shook him, demanding to know what on earth he had done, Baek Sang-hyun tilted his head with an infuriatingly innocent expression. And then he said…

‘I just gave you some kisses.’

How could he spit in the face of that softly smiling expression? Seong-woon clutched his head and bent over deeply. He had no idea how his father viewed him.

“Chae-yoon.”

“Yes?”

“We have a family tradition.”

“…A tradition?”

“Yes. We did it when Hae-yoon got married too.”

When Hae-yoon hyung got married? Seong-woon narrowed his eyes. Today was the day before Lunar New Year, the so-called “Magpie New Year’s Eve.” There must be a reason for bringing this up today, right?

But they didn’t do anything during the last Chuseok. They just went to the temple briefly on the morning of the holiday… and even then, only the immediate family gathered, so his sister-in-law and nieces and nephews didn’t come. So Seong-woon had never even seen his nieces and nephews’ faces.

“When a new person joins the family, we make jeon together.”

“…A new person?”

A new person? Is that the meaning of “new person” that I know? Is someone getting married? Surely not Ryu Chang-yoon?

“Is Chang-yoon hyung getting married?”

“That guy… don’t even mention him. He’s been saying he won’t get married for 10 years now.”

“Then Ho-yoon hyung?”

That hyung… getting married? Seong-woon shook his head, thinking it was absurd, and named another person.

“Or Ha-yoon noona?”

Maybe there was a reason why Mother specifically took Ha-yoon noona out? Perhaps to buy her a gift since she’s getting married….

But his father just stared at Seong-woon intently without answering. After enduring that gaze for a while, Seong-woon pointed at himself with his index finger.

“Me? Why am I a new person…?”

“Not you.”

“What?”

Seong-woon didn’t want to sound stupid by asking again, but he really couldn’t follow this conversation. While staring seriously at Seong-woon, who had a blank expression with his eyes wide open, his father drove the point home.

“I’m talking about Baek Sang-hyun.”

“Baek Sang-hyun… I mean, why is Baek Sang-hyun sunbae a new person? I am dating him, but…!”

After blurting that out in confusion, Seong-woon covered his mouth in shock. Wait, is this some kind of leading question? Is Father, who secretly knows all about the relationship with Baek Sang-hyun but pretends not to, trying to make Ryu Chae-yoon admit it directly?

“That’s why he’s a new person.”

“So, so we’re making jeon together today? When did you invite him? Have you even met him before?”

“Our Chae-yoon really has good vocal projection, doesn’t he?”

His father suddenly praised something strange and laughed heartily. Seong-woon’s rapid-fire words came to an abrupt halt. It was because the intercom on the wall rang. The housekeeper came out from the kitchen and picked up the receiver.

“Yes, yes… Oh my, just a moment please.”

The surprised housekeeper addressed his father with a smiling face.

“Chairman, actor Baek Sang-hyun is here.”

“He keeps his appointments better than expected. Tell him to come in.”

“Yes, he says to let you in.”

The ringing sound, the sound of the door opening, the sound of changing into slippers provided by the housekeeper, footsteps that now sounded somewhat familiar, and then…

“It’s been a while, sir.”

“Yes, come on in.”

“…”

Seong-woon found himself gaping, wedged between his father and Baek Sang-hyun, looking back and forth between them. They were both smiling, but Seong-woon couldn’t manage even a small smile.

“What on earth is this…?”

Baek Sang-hyun supported Seong-woon as he staggered in shock.

“Are you okay?”

“Do I look okay?”

Forgetting to speak formally as Ryu Chae-yoon, Seong-woon shouted. Baek Sang-hyun frowned slightly and turned his head to look at his father, asking in a low voice.

“…Didn’t you say you’d tell him directly?”

“I was in the process of telling him.”

Pushing Baek Sang-hyun away and standing up straight, Seong-woon glared at his father. To an outsider, it might look like he was talking back, but in reality, it was more like someone who’d been blindsided whining about the pain.

“What? So you’re saying Baek Sang-hyun… Baek Sang-hyun sunbae is the new person, so we’re making jeon together today?”

“…That’s right.”

“Father has accepted me as a daughter-in-law…”

Seong-woon whipped his head around to Baek Sang-hyun, who was muttering, and widened his eyes.

“Is that why you were talking about being a daughter-in-law yesterday?”

“Chae-yoon.”

“You two met? When? …You don’t want to answer that either, right? Do you enjoy keeping secrets from people and making fun of them?”

“We’re not making fun of you…”

His father, with furrowed brows, tried to placate him, but Seong-woon took several steps back from his seat, feeling like he couldn’t believe anything right now about when these two had met behind his back and what they had plotted.

“I don’t care, you and Dad can do whatever you want! Make jeon or fry things, do as you please!”

Seong-woon ignored their calls and ran into his room on the second floor, burrowing into his blankets. He felt like he was going to go crazy from embarrassment. He was angry, dumbfounded, irritated, furious… Among all the negative emotions swirling inside him, the dominant one was the embarrassment that made his face burn bright red.

Sure, he knew his family had more or less figured it out. It was his fault for not giving a proper answer when he said he wanted to live independently. He never imagined they would pry so much, nor did he expect his own response to be so pathetic!

But still, wasn’t there a big difference between everyone tacitly assuming they were dating and outright declaring “We’re dating!!”?

And of all people, his father? Inviting Baek Sang-hyun? Daughter-in-law? Approval? And making jeon together? Seong-woon couldn’t help but put a question mark after each phrase in his thoughts. None of it made any sense.

He punched his fluffy pillow several times. In truth, what he wanted to hit was his own mouth for blurting out that they were dating.

“Chae-yoon.”

Seong-woon froze at the voice outside his firmly closed door. He pulled the pillow over his head and rubbed his hot forehead against the bed sheet. It felt like his face was about to explode.

“Open the door, please.”

Seong-woon threw the pillow aside and jumped up. He was determined to at least hear what they had to say.

When he flung the door open, Baek Sang-hyun looked surprised, as if he hadn’t expected it to open so quickly. Seong-woon glared at him for a while before spotting his father peeking from the stairway landing behind Baek Sang-hyun’s shoulder.

Roughly pushing back his fallen hair, Seong-woon grabbed Baek Sang-hyun’s arm and pulled him in, telling him to come inside. Before Seong-woon could speak, Baek Sang-hyun beat him to it.

“I’m sorry for keeping it a secret.”

The first words, being an apology, cut Seong-woon’s fighting spirit in half. …Sigh, well, what fault did Baek Sang-hyun have? That lion-like chairman probably called him in and told him to keep it a secret.

“Your father called me at the beginning of the year.”

“…Since when did you start calling him ‘father’? Are you that close?”

“He told me to see him as ‘Chae-yoon’s dad’ from the start.”

“…”

“Sunbae?”

“…Go on.”

His head was pounding, probably from all the excitement. As he held his heavy forehead, Baek Sang-hyun supported him and sat him on the bed. A worried gaze fell on him, followed by Baek Sang-hyun’s voice.

“Are you okay? Should you rest… or do you want to go to the hospital?”

“No, just continue talking quickly.”

“He just said to take good care of you. And when he takes in a daughter-in-law…”

“Daughter-in-law…”

“Well, since you’re his son.”

No, you shouldn’t just accept that so easily! Seong-woon lifted his head in disbelief, only to see Baek Sang-hyun’s brightly smiling face.

“You’re finally showing your face.”

“…I’m seriously dying of embarrassment.”

“Why? Don’t you like family approval?”

“Isn’t that obvious? And what’s this about a new person? We’re not getting married, we’re just barely dating…”

“Barely… dating?”

“No, that’s not…”

“Were you planning to bring in another new person?”

“No, that’s not it, but I’m only twenty years old!”

“So you were thinking of bringing someone else later…”

“I said that’s not it!”

Seong-woon cut off Baek Sang-hyun’s deadpan responses and lay back down, covering his reddened face with both hands. He couldn’t make sense of this mess.

“Are you embarrassed because only I got family approval?”

“…Any family approval is embarrassing.”

“Then, should we tell my parents too?”

“What?”

Seong-woon sat up abruptly and snatched the phone from Baek Sang-hyun’s hand. Shaking his head, he hid the phone under the blanket.

“Don’t say such nonsense.”

“Why is it nonsense… I like family approval.”

Baek Sang-hyun held Seong-woon’s hand tightly and whispered in a pleading tone. Seong-woon stared at that face as if mesmerized for a moment before turning away and muttering.

“Using your looks against me…”

Right, the water has already been spilled. There’s no point in grumbling about it now. If it’s a tradition to make jeon together on holidays when a new person… that damn new person joins, doesn’t that mean all family members will now be certain that Seong-woon and Baek Sang-hyun are dating? He should at least try to prevent that…

“Have you calmed down?”

“…I wasn’t angry.”

“Ah… But that’s the first time I’ve seen you so angry, sunbae.”

“If I say I wasn’t angry, I wasn’t. And you should go home. I’ll try to handle my father somehow, but at least to the other family members…”

“It’s already too late.”

“What?”

“After you came up, all the other family members arrived, and I greeted them.”

“Hey!”

Wow, he really wanted to faint and pretend to forget everything! But his body, which had oddly recovered, was firmly holding onto consciousness.

“I practiced a lot.”

“…So what kind of jeon did you… like they do in Andong’s head family house.”

“How was it? Do you think they’ll like me?”

The way he rolled his eyes… he looked like a puppy who had stolen some food. Beyond disbelief, Seong-woon now felt defeated and couldn’t help but laugh.

Taking advantage of the moment, Baek Sang-hyun kissed him quickly and then nuzzled his chest affectionately. As Seong-woon stroked Baek Sang-hyun’s soft hair, he looked up at the spinning ceiling and laughed out loud.

“Brother, you say…”

The form of address was hilarious. Seong-woon chuckled for a while.

“He got angry when he saw me and left.”

“Really?”

“But when Father called, he came back.”

Even Chang-yoon can’t win against Father. It should be fine since he’ll be independent in a few days anyway, right? The comforting arms carefully holding him pushed away all negative thoughts.

“Chae-yoon!”

Ho-yoon’s cheerful voice was heard. It seems his patience in waiting has run out. If he didn’t answer, he’ll call him by another ridiculous name, but before Seong-woon could move his lips, the follow-up came.

“Baby!”

Baek Sang-hyun’s eyes widened at hearing that.

“Baby?”

“…He’s the youngest son.”

“Baby?”

“Are you really going to get scolded?”

When Seong-woon lightly punched his shoulder, Baek Sang-hyun suddenly showed off his acting skills and pretended to be hurt. Seong-woon, who was startled thinking he had actually hit something wrong, realized it was an act and slapped him once more with his palm.

“Chae-yoon, Dad says dinner’s ready. Come out quickly!”

As he shook his head vigorously, his thoughts seemed to clear a bit. Actually, there was nothing to sort out. It’s just about letting things flow.

“You should go show off your daughter-in-law skills.”

“Yes, sunbae-nim, you just need to eat. I’ll choose something delicious for you.”

Holding his warm hand, Seong-woon nodded. Walking down the stairs while holding this hand… well, it wouldn’t be bad, he thought.