Chapter 399
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 399
Seo Ho-jin grumbled, his face twisted in a pout.
However, he was clearly on edge. It was as if he were hiding something he couldn't let me find out.
"I mean, if you'd at least tell me why you're acting like this..."
I let his grumbling slide in one ear and out the other as I slowly scanned the room. The moment my gaze landed back on Ho-jin, the realization struck me like a bolt of lightning.
Ah.
I realized that even though December was almost over, he hadn't mentioned a single word about law school.
He must have failed the exams.
Why the hell would he hide something like that from his own brother?
I clicked my tongue softly and stared at him. Ho-jin scooted his butt back on the seat and furrowed his brows.
"...W-what? Why are you looking at me like that?"
"..."
"I'm getting a bad feeling here!"
So what if he failed? He could just take them again, or quit if he wanted to. It wasn't like his brother wouldn't take care of him.
But I didn't let those words out. He had clearly worked hard in his own way; I couldn't just treat that effort lightly.
Right. If he doesn't want me to know, the considerate thing to do as an older brother is to play along.
Reaching a conclusion filled with brotherly affection as usual, I firmly gripped Ho-jin’s shoulders with both hands. Even as he flinched in surprise, I flashed him a bright, harmless smile.
"Ho-jin, a year passes by in the blink of an eye."
"...What?"
If you're that upset, just take the exam again next year.
While Ho-jin blinked, unable to process my words, I pulled my wallet from my back pocket and held out a card.
"Here. Go buy yourself something delicious today."
My brother’s face went even blanker. When he tried to pull his hands away to refuse, I tossed the card onto the coffee table and stood up.
"Whoa! W-wait, Hyung! What’s with that look?! Why are you getting up?! Hold on! Let’s talk—!"
"Ah-ah, Hyung is busy."
"No, what the—!"
I shook off Ho-jin, who was clinging to my pant leg and begging for a conversation, and immediately called a KakaO Taxi. One happened to be nearby, so I was able to hop in quickly. I leaned back against the seat after giving the driver the address to the dorm. I noticed the driver glancing at me through the rearview mirror, but I ignored him and looked out the window.
...What should I do?
It was possible that Ho-jin and that bastard hadn't crossed paths yet. Then again, he might already be loitering around.
As I tapped the armrest with my index finger, pondering my next move, a name I’d seen in Ho-jin’s chat list came to mind.
Woo Gyeong-un... that was it.
The guy who had cried his eyes out when Ho-jin was taken to the emergency room.
Despite the attention I’d paid to my brother, I hadn't seen him get particularly close to anyone else worth remembering. It wasn't that he didn't have people around him, though.
I didn't have high expectations for Woo Gyeong-un, but since Ho-jin kept in touch with him even after showing such a vulnerable side, and since the guy seemed quite sociable, I thought I might be able to get at least a little information out of him.
I remembered my manager giving Gyeong-un a business card before to offer a reward. I sent a text to the manager, and Woo Gyeong-un’s phone number arrived shortly after. After reciting the eleven digits a few times, I sent a brief introduction and asked if he was free to talk. A reply came back within seconds.
[Woo Gyeong-un: Omg! Omg omg omg! Of course I remember you!!! It’s been a while!! How have you been?!]
[Woo Gyeong-un: My phone is always open, so please feel free to contact me anytime!!!]
With a response time like that, is he an automated chatbot?
His texting style was strangely similar to Jeong Da-jun’s. Seeing that I had arrived at the dorm, I got out of the taxi.
Then, I called Woo Gyeong-un immediately.
[H-hello?!]
"Ah, Gyeong-un-ssi."
I intentionally laced my voice with a hint of a smile.
"I'm sorry, was this too sudden?"
[Hyung-nim, what are you talking about? You're making me feel bad! I'm totally free, so it's fine!]
"...Haha, it's nothing major. I know it's a bit late, but I wanted to thank you again. To my embarrassment, I only recently found out that you didn't accept any reward after helping Ho-jin."
Before getting to the main point, I expressed the gratitude I had genuinely wanted to convey for a while.
What do kids this age usually like?
I figured if I gave him the gift I couldn't give before and got him in a good mood, he might be more talkative.
However, Woo Gyeong-un shut me down firmly, as if he knew exactly what I was going to say.
[Ho-yun Hyung-nim, if I take anything from you, Seo Ho-jin will actually kill me!]
"Excuse me?"
[I mean, honestly, I really want Kang Yi-chae-nim’s autograph since he did that collab with IRIX... but, uh, it's not worth risking my precious life over!]
What do you mean, "life"?
I thought he was being overly dramatic, but then I heard Gyeong-un muttering about how he didn't want to die at such a young age. I deleted the parts I didn't understand from my mind, filed away the request for Kang Yi-chae’s autograph, and spoke again.
"Well, alright. From the sounds of it, it seems you and my brother are still getting along well?"
[Ah, yes! Who else but a social butterfly like me could handle Seo Ho-jin?! He ignores nine out of ten texts I send, but I've learned to just live with it.]
"Ah... my brother is a bit shy."
Instead of heading into the dorm, I leaned against the wall next to the elevator and continued.
"He lacks social graces and can be quite clumsy, so he always needs someone to look after him. But I'm sure his words and actions aren't malicious, so please look kindly on him."
[...Uh, what?]
"It would be even better if you two continue to stay close."
Woo Gyeong-un, who had been chirping away like a restless chick, hesitated for the first time.
[Lacks social graces...? Clumsy...?]
"He's the type that requires a lot of hand-holding, isn't he?"
Silence hung between the speakers. After a long pause, Woo Gyeong-un asked hesitantly.
[...Um, Hyung-nim. We are talking about the same Seo Ho-jin, right? S University, Political Science and Diplomacy?]
"Yes."
At my answer, Woo Gyeong-un stammered for a moment before blatantly changing the subject.
[Uh, anyway, Seo Ho-jin is doing so well you don't even need to worry about him. Now that he’s passed the law school exams, he won't even be that busy, though it's still hard to see his face—.]
But there was one phrase in that sentence that stood out prominently.
"Passed the law school exams?"
[Yes! He’s not the type to waste time on useless things, so I figured he might be doing some extracurricular activities or something...]
"Wait, wait."
At the sudden rush of facts that hit me like a typhoon, I pressed my palm against my fluttering chest.
"Seo Ho-jin... didn't fail the law school exams?"
[Huh? He passed!]
"What?!!"
My voice echoed through the stairwell connected to the hallway.
I could sense Woo Gyeong-un’s bewilderment over the phone.
[Eeeh?! Hyung-nim, you didn't know?! He’s the 'Legend of Legends' in our department lately!!]
"Ha..."
[He served as class president, swept up every scholarship, is practically guaranteed to graduate valedictorian, and even got into law school... the other kids are joking that this ba—I mean, Ho-jin has no conscience. Seeing how surprised you are, I guess he really didn't tell you....]
After that, Woo Gyeong-un poured out stories about Ho-jin’s university life as if he were a man on a mission. Fortunately—if I could call it that—there was no information regarding any relatives.
I gave him some half-hearted responses before hanging up and pressing the elevator button.
As soon as I stepped into the elevator and it reached the first floor, I slammed my forehead against the mirror.
"Fuck."
I was just... so, so, so proud of my brother.
Man, I raised that kid well.
Honestly, I wanted to scream it from the rooftops. I wanted to hang banners across the whole country. I used to think people were being excessive when they praised me during my school days, but now I felt like I finally understood that sentiment.
Even without looking, I could feel a smile creeping onto my face.
Belatedly, I pressed the button for the dorm's floor. When I arrived, I swiped the card key, opened the door, and shouted.
"Hey guys, Hyung is home!"
"....!!"
Mmm, that acrid scent.
I enjoyed the sensation that was threatening to destroy my sense of smell as I took off my shoes. Jeong Da-jun came flying out of the kitchen holding a spatula.
"H-H-H-Ho-yun Hyung! You're back already! I can explain! I'll clean it up right away!! The smell will probably go away soon too..."
"Ah, it's fine. It smells lovely."
"...L-lovely?"
As I hummed a tune and walked inside, a frantic Jeong Da-jun froze in his tracks, his eyes darting around in confusion.
Passing him, I saw the other members poking at a lump of charcoal on a plate with their chopsticks.
Kang Yi-chae was the first to speak, teasing me with a mock-stern tone.
"Oho~, why is the eldest son coming home so late?"
"You guys haven't eaten yet?"
"Mm. We couldn't bring ourselves to take a bite... today is really serious..."
Apparently, they were in the middle of a heated debate over whether the dish was basalt or kimchi stew.
I sat down next to Kim Seong-hyeon, who was chugging water as if his throat were parched, and picked up a spoon.
"The food looks delicious, though?"
The members stared at me with horrified expressions, but I took a spoonful and put it in my mouth anyway.
"Ho-yun Hyung, are you sick... gasp, he actually ate it."
"...Is your head okay?"
I was the one who chewed and swallowed, but they all grimaced as if they were the ones suffering. In the midst of that, Seong Ji-won asked cautiously.
"...Ho-yun, are you in shock because you didn't win David and Goliath today?"
"Wow, that sounds plausible..."
"I think he's right."
"But even if he's in shock, eating this is a bit..."
Hahaha, they're misunderstanding me just like I did with Seo Ho-jin.
Right now, I felt like I could smile while drinking lye, so Jeong Da-jun’s cooking was nothing.
"David and Goliath was fun."
"...Oh, really?"
"I even saw someone I haven't seen in a long time."
Thinking of that piece of shit relative, I even finished the blackened kimchi stew until not a single drop of broth remained. The members' faces crumpled even further.
I didn't need to go out of my way to warn Seo Ho-jin not to cross paths with that guy.
I can just take care of it myself.
I’ll meet him, hear what kind of bullshit he spews, and see which 'Seo Ho-yun' he remembers. Then, I’ll find a weakness or a flaw to throw at the company, and they’ll tear him apart on their own.
Two weeks should be enough.
There were still plenty of year-end stages and events scheduled. I had plenty of worries, but for now, I was in a very good mood.
I pulled Kang Yi-chae—who was now looking at me with genuine concern for my mental health—into a side-hug and grinned.
"Kang Yi-chae, give me an autograph."
"...What?"
*
Around lunchtime the day after the David and Goliath filming, Seo Ho-yun started a solo live stream in Kang Yi-chae’s studio. He gave it a title that was somewhat unlike him: "I miss you, can you come see me?"
"Hi."
As soon as they joined the stream and saw Seo Ho-yun on screen, fans were so bewildered they could only post question marks in the chat.
[????]
[???]
[?????]
And for good reason. Unlike his usual self, he was wearing a snow-white sweatshirt despite not having an official schedule. He was even wearing light-colored jeans.
But the most shocking part was his expression. His eyes were sparkling as if they were filled with stars, and a bright smile was naturally etched on his lips.
"Why is everyone just posting question marks?"
He even tilted his head slightly to the right and asked in a curious tone, looking as if he were radiating a holy aura.
[Hey... Seo Ho-yun... what did you do to your face??]
[No, he looks the same as yesterday... but... what is this?]
[I don't know what it is but... something... he's so radiant I can't even look at him]
The Noeuls couldn't pinpoint exactly why Seo Ho-yun’s vibe had changed, but they knew for certain that this was a critical moment to start spamming the screenshot button.
"I don't have any official schedules. Ah, you're asking why I'm wearing bright clothes?"
As he slowly read the comments, Seo Ho-yun’s eyebrows suddenly drooped.
"Do you not like it?"
[AS IF WE WOULDN'T LIKE IT FUCK]
[The beauty of a black-haired cool-beauty truly shines when he wears white]
At the sudden flood of compliments, the corners of Seo Ho-yun’s eyes crinkled into a wide smile. And in that moment, though it shouldn't have been possible, the somewhat dim studio seemed to brighten instantly.
"That’s a relief. I wore it hoping you'd like it."
[?????????????]
This time, the social media feed was plastered with question marks.
[What’s wrong with him???]
[Seriously, what is up with him???]
[No, but really, why is he like this???]
[Ah, everyone is saying the same thing LOL]
Seo Ho-yun’s "acting cute" wasn't anything new within the fandom. Who wouldn't love it when a handsome guy, who clearly looked sensitive and prickly, was consistently polite and said only sweet things to them? The fans were completely used to his behavior.
But today, it was excessive. In a good way.
"What do you want to do together?"
Seeing that Seo Ho-yun was in an exceptionally good mood, the hungry hyenas didn't miss their chance and pounced.
[Ho-yun-ah, Ho-yun-ah, can you tell us the members' sleeping habits??]
"Of course, of course."
After a chuckle, Seo Ho-yun took a sip of the Frappuccino sitting on the desk and slowly began to speak.
[Hey, emergency! Seo Ho-yun is spilling tea on The Dawn]
[OMG]
[Taking notes like crazy right now
Kang Yi-chae has a habit of hugging something when he sleeps
Jeong Da-jun kicks off all his blankets and lies spread-eagle
Seong Ji-won sleeps so peacefully they call him Snow White Ji-won
He says he doesn't know about Kim Seong-hyeon because they've never been roommates, but he says he sometimes sees Kim Seong-hyeon closing the maknae's mouth when he sleeps with it open
└ LOL wtf Kim Seong-hyeon
└└ Kim Seong-hyeon basically raising Jeong Da-jun is canon ffs LOL]
[Hey, Seo Ho-yun is insane. Someone asked where the members' moles are, and look at him laughing like it's so absurd
He’s asking why we're curious about that
└ Ah, every time he does this, he feels like such an Oppa... even though he's actually a nephew...
└ He’s actually telling us the mole locations now
└ LOL the fact that he knows is so funny
└└ I'm dying at him tapping the bridge of his nose saying, "You know Ji-won has one here, right?"]
He continued to smile and answer questions whenever someone asked. Every now and then, he would just stare at the scrolling text as if he found it endearing.
[I can't stand Seo Ho-yun looking at us like we're cute, I'm actually getting mad]
[Seriously, if anyone else did this, I'd be like 'ugh, stop trying so hard,' but why is it so good when Seo Ho-yun does it....
└ It’s good because he’s usually not like this...
└└ He looks genuinely happy....;; It’s making me feel weird too;;]
He was already strikingly handsome, but with kindness dripping from his every word, his entire aura was different.
[Hey, the bunny is even humming a song.]