Passion Translation "Fanfictions"

Vol 1 - Chapter 14: Puppy love

Looking back, Jeong Taeui had never dated anyone, not even once.

He had experienced feelings of excitement when facing someone, but before he realized his emotions, that person had disappeared. He had many experiences in bed, but it was hard to call it love.

There was a young man who was his bed partner for a while - the same one involved in that knife fight - but their relationship wasn't romantic, so Jeong Taeui couldn't understand the young man's actions afterward. He realized he could only have such relationships without progressing any further.

After that, he never met anyone he wanted to protect for life, and besides, he had no time because military life was already enough trouble.

So, this current feeling was strange. But not bad at all. Even unrequited feelings felt good. Seeing someone that made him feel comfortable was a pleasant experience.

"Sorry..."

Jeong Taeui said as he entered a room with four men inside. Three were in charge of logistics, and one was the deputy minister.

When Jeong Taeui saw the deputy minister he had met on his first day, he straightened his clothes and stood at attention by the door. Perhaps the man had just finished his work, he nodded slightly and walked past Jeong Taeui out of the room.

Rudolph Gentil. He was his uncle's direct superior.

Jeong Taeui didn't know much about him, having only exchanged brief greetings once. But from what he had heard, he was a gentle yet formidable character.

He guessed that Gentil might be someone cheerful on the outside but difficult to read on the inside. But all those assumptions were very vague.

In any case, it didn't concern him much. He only needed to focus on staying alive for the next six months, so whoever had a dark heart didn't matter.

"Taeil-hyung? What brings you here?... and what happened to your shirt?"

Jeong Taeui had been staring at the deputy minister's back but turned around when he heard a familiar voice.

Xinlu, sitting near the window, seemed slightly surprised to see his appearance.

"Huh? Oh, my shirt got torn during training. I came to get a new one, is that alright?"

Jeong Taeui smiled awkwardly and touched his torn shirt.

"Of course, it's alright."

Xinlu responded and went into the room inside the office, returning with a new set of clothes.

"Thanks. What should I do with this one? Should I take it off and give it to you, or just throw it away?"

"Hmm... It's pretty badly torn, so it's hard to fix. You can just throw it away... Are you hurt anywhere?"

"Getting hurt is a daily occurrence. It's nothing. Thanks for worrying."

Jeong Taeui smiled awkwardly. Xinlu also smiled lightly and whispered.

"Please be careful."

Xinlu, the youngest here, had been extremely shocked to see him in the bathroom that day. But after meeting and talking a few times, he seemed to have lowered his guard, often calling Jeong Taeui as 'Hyung' and being friendly.

"..."

From his position, Jeong Taeui could see the top of Xinlu's head. He was touching the torn part of Jeong Taeui's shirt, checking if it could be repaired. The faint scent of soap made him want to touch it.

Jeong Taeui's fingers trembled as he debated whether to touch that hair. But he quickly dropped his hand when Xinlu looked up. If his uncle saw him like this, he would surely click his tongue and call him unmanly.