HIS |KookV|

21

"I heard something big happened today."

Chairman Jeon set his drink down and asked about the incidents of the day. Kim Seon-young, his wife, scooped up food with tongs and placed it on his plate. The rest of the family, including Seok-joo, turned to look at Jungkook.

"It wasn't that big of a deal."

Chairman Jeon clicked his tongue when Jungkook responded briefly.

"Someone almost died, but it's not a big deal."

"I'm not dead, I'm alive. Thanks to that, I was able to eat the delicious food that my stepmother prepared with great care."

Jungkook thanked Kim Seon-young with his eyes as he picked up the ribs with chopsticks. Taehyung was well aware that he was attempting to irritate Kim Seon-young. He could tell roughly by the way he spoke to Seok-joo or his expression that the two were not close friends. Actually, it was odd if there was someone who was on good terms with Jungkook.

Unsurprisingly, Kim Seon-young forced a smile to the point that her cheeks trembled. Chairman Jeon focused his attention on Taehyung rather than Jungkook's attitude.

"I had a visitor and gave him a messy appearance. Please bear with me."

Taehyung responded politely.

"It's alright, Chairman."

"I thought about it, but since Jeon's house seems dangerous, how about staying here? Seok-joo is also here."

It was as if the recently swallowed meat had been piled on top of the unexpected offer. Thank you for your consideration, but he needed to bring something from there. And the discomfort was the same here and there. Seok-joo urges him to do so with his eyes.

It was amusing to act as if we had become close friends simply because we had played together a few times. A child was simply a child. He squinted at Jungkook, who was sitting next to him, but he chewed the food in his mouth like a machine and did not respond.

"I appreciate the favour, but I feel comfortable there. Director Jeon is also nice to me."

"Really?"

Even Chairman Jeon doesn't seem to believe him when he says Jungkook was nice to him. Would the father who gave birth have had such a reaction if he had behaved normally? It was completely understandable. Jungkook smiled as if he already knew. Taehyung had no idea why he was smiling, but he seemed satisfied.

They ate while conversing. He laughed at times, and it was more normal than he thought. He had no idea what they were thinking on the inside, but on the outside, they looked like any other family. Even in the midst of it, Taehyung could feel the subtle war of nerves going back and forth once in a while.

Who hired him to kill Jungkook? Before coming to Korea, he expected two people. Tae-han and Seok-joo. Those who will keep Jungkook in check during the succession battle. Taehyung didn't know much about Tae-han, and Seok-joo was still young, so his mother may have taken the initiative.