Dirty Switch

— …Ah.
After a brief silence, Joo Taehyun’s response was a vague murmur, neither affirmative nor negative.
Glancing at the phone screen, the call duration was progressing slowly. That meant the connection was fine.

Though Taehyun wasn’t usually talkative, hearing the word “date” should have made him visibly excited, yet watching him seem bewildered and speechless was somewhat irritating. Had Baekhan been foolish enough to expect a different reaction this time?
“If you’re busy, we can meet later.”
— Ah, no. It’s okay.

I’ll head out now. Taehyun’s small added voice felt close to resignation.
Having only seen his expressionless face with slightly downturned lips, Baekhan hadn’t realized before how easily his feelings came through during a call when they weren’t face to face.
Come to think of it, Baekhan had never consciously called Taehyun without a specific purpose before.

Well, that was interesting in its own way… though unexpectedly, Baekhan felt a flicker of annoyance at the way the conversation was going.
Using the tip of his tongue to lightly stroke inside his cheek, Baekhan tossed out a topic Taehyun might like.
“Then, shall we go ride the Ferris wheel later?”

— Ferris wheel?
“Yeah. Like how people in Seoul go to Namsan Tower, in Pyongyang we go ride the Ferris wheel on dates.”
This time, Taehyun’s silence carried a clear excitement and anticipation unlike before. That’s more like it. Baekhan smiled faintly and got into the back seat.

“Then let’s meet there around seven.”
— Okay.
Ah, did he expect to go to the hotel again today? Taehyun’s body was still rough from the relentless pounding over the past few days.

Baekhan wasn’t trying to push him too hard. He just planned to eat something simple outside and maybe practice some oral in the car.
Sex with Taehyun couldn’t be called varied even as a joke. Since he was with a guy, not only were the positions limited, but the caresses he could give were restricted. Honestly, the sex itself was a bit dull.
But there were quite a # Nоvеlight # few violent acts possible because the partner was male. Unlike anyone Baekhan had met before, the sheer excitement of being in a situation where he could knot at will without complaint was not insignificant.
Beyond sex, the instinctive pleasure from controlling and dominating the partner was no small matter.

So, unlike the initial disgust when first holding Taehyun, Baekhan was now quite enjoying the sensory transition replaced in various ways.
“By the way, Director, I just got a call from Yeonhwagung.”
“Oh. Was it about this incident?”

“Yes. They said it was just a quick call to confirm and that since they have lunch and dinner scheduled, we’ll talk again over the weekend.”
“I see.”
Baekhan recalled a problem he had momentarily forgotten while pushing Taehyun.

Rumors around an Alpha couple of the same sex were nothing new. The stories about Dirty Switch use had been relentless since the marriage announcement.
Still, his father had a particular reason for sharpening his focus on this matter, so it seemed worth investigating separately. Since Baekhan already suspected everything Taehyun had shown him was questionable, looking into it wouldn’t hurt.
Baekhan buried himself deep in the seat and closed his eyes.

It was the first time he’d looked forward to leaving work more than going.
***
Friday evening traffic was a nightmare anywhere, but the twisted, congested streets of downtown Pyongyang were a battlefield.

Joo Taehyun glanced repeatedly at his phone screen, wristwatch, and then out the car window, restless.
Even a luxury sedan with excellent ride comfort couldn’t ease his weary body. The bruises and muscle soreness from the sex at Yeonhwagung barely faded before another session at the hotel with Baekhan.
Joo Taehyun possessed all the features people associated with “Alpha”—a strong body and excellent recovery.

Yet this time he was whining more than usual. Was it because of unfamiliar pain? Just sitting like this caused cold sweat to bead on his forehead.
He roughly wiped his face with rough hands and buried his nose in Baekhan’s frequently worn home gown.
Apart from dozing off while following Baekhan’s pheromones these past few days, he hadn’t done much else.

While wanting his imprint partner’s pheromones was expected, he’d never felt such overwhelming sleepiness before. Taehyun was embarrassed by how often he nodded off like a sick chicken whenever he had the chance.
Well, it was sex that couldn’t be endured otherwise.
Even inexperienced Taehyun understood sex with Baekhan wasn’t normal.

Trying to mask bitterness, he yawned and caught sight of the Ferris wheel in the distance, snapping out of it a bit. Maybe it was his imagination, but he thought he could smell stronger pheromones from Baekhan’s blanket wrapped around him...
Intoxicated by the pretty scenery and Baekhan’s scent, Taehyun was jolted awake by a sharp vibration. Like someone caught doing something wrong.
“...Uh, noona.”

If it had been Baekhan, it would have been awkward, but fortunately, the call was from Joo Yoonwoo.
— Eh? Baby, do you have a cold?
Hearing his hoarse voice, Yoonwoo skipped greetings and asked worriedly.

— You do have a cold, right? Your breathing sounds just like it!
Probably calling to check on him because of Kim Seungjun’s incident, but hearing his concern made Baekhan think family was family after all. Earlier, Baekhan hadn’t seemed to realize Taehyun was sick...
“Noona, I just woke up.”

— You? Our genius slept this late? You must be sick! Have you called Dr. Woo?
“I’m not a doctor yet. I was just really tired.”
— Really? You’re not crying because of that damn bastard, are you?

Taehyun denied it but hesitated briefly. It was hard to guess who the bastard referred to—Baekhan or Kim Seungjun?
— Anyway, I told them not to worry. This seems like a backlash from Pungjin Industries over the traitor welfare bill repeal. They’ve been ranting about making those damn rutting emotion chips for a long time.
Then, Yoonwoo hesitated.

— The Yunra Foundation seems a bit upset too.
“Why?”
— Kim Seungjun visited Cheon Seungpil. Journalists have always bugged Seungpil whenever they wanted info on you. With this latest incident, they seem really displeased.

Taehyun, who’d been lounging lazily, suddenly straightened. Right, he had been pretty careless with Seungpil, barely apologizing despite recent contact...
“Ah, sorry. I should have paid more attention to Seungpil...”
— Nah, we decided to assign security to Seungpil. Since his family isn’t short on money, maybe if our baby makes an effort it’ll help.

“How?”
— Since school hasn’t started, why not invite Seungpil to Pyongyang?
Though called a tour, it seemed more like helping Seungpil write his transfer essay.

Taehyun wasn’t working in the lab anyway, and Seungpil wasn’t a traitor, so staying close for a few days wouldn’t be a problem. Above all, Baekhan was willing to endure that little trouble for a friend who had suffered far away.
— If Seungpil stayed and was cared for at your place, I think his family would be relieved... But, your husband probably wouldn’t allow it, right?
“Hmm, Baekhan doesn’t like having guests at home... but I’ll ask.”

Yoonwoo clicked his tongue as if to say “Whatever,” wanting to badmouth Baekhan but refraining since forcing a stranger to stay with the couple felt inappropriate.
— Or maybe you two should go on a trip to the north with Seungpil.
Laughing about his sister’s eagerness to spend money, Taehyun responded with a small smile that he’d consider it. They hadn’t talked much, yet the Ferris wheel was already close ahead.

“Noona, I think I should get off soon. I’ll call again tomorrow.”
— Okay. Rest up with your studies.
If you feel unwell, don’t hesitate to call Dr. Woo, and if you want to see family, I’ll adjust schedules however I can, so definitely tell me...

Her loving nagging continued at length.
Taehyun rubbed his heavy eyelids and silently nodded.