Dirty Switch

“Hyung?”
“Huh?”
“We’re almost there.”

Joo Taehyun tilted his head toward the window and glanced outside. That slight motion caused a soft scent of wildflowers to spread subtly through the air. Seo ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) Baekhan instinctively held his breath, suddenly feeling lightheaded.
“Taehyun-ah.”
Without meaning to, he let out the name with his breath. He hadn’t had anything particular to say.

“Yes?”
“…You know Choi Yeonjun’s coming today, right? It’s been a while, so I want to talk to him for a bit.”
He’d brought up another topic just to distract himself from the damned pheromone thoughts, but it was also true that he had something to say to Choi Yeonjun privately—so stepping away for a moment wasn’t just an excuse.

‘Why are you asking me to do even this? I know the guy well—digging into him feels shady.’
Seo Baekhan had been quietly tracing Joo Taehyun’s past through Choi Yeonjun.
He didn’t know where the lies began and the truth ended. But one thing was certain: Joo Taehyun was not, as he claimed, someone used to Dirty Switch. After countless times of being physically intimate with him over such a short period, Seo Baekhan’s certainty had only grown stronger.

‘Did you call just to whine? To a guy already exhausted from having to care for some kid?’
‘God, your temper… It’s hard to explain over the phone. You’re coming to that—what is it—academic conference? Then let’s talk there.’
And today was the day he was supposed to hear, at least broadly, how his one and only friend had been doing.

“Can you be alone for a bit?”
He asked in a lightly teasing tone, and Joo Taehyun turned toward him with a sullen face—as if trying to gauge whether the concern was sincere or just mockery.
“…You made Dr. Woo not come, didn’t you?”

After a pause, Joo Taehyun spoke in a tone that was part sulky, part negotiating. His eyes were still dull, lifeless as ever.
“Was it really that disappointing?”
Seo Baekhan couldn’t help but let out a pleased smile. So now you’re complaining that I met my people freely while you weren’t allowed to?
They say even a school dog learns to recite poems in three years. Having been by his side for four years now as his legal spouse, Joo Taehyun seemed to know all too well which types of conversations piqued his interest.

“At this point, even if your doctor from Seoul came all the way up to Pyongyang, people wouldn’t take it well. You know that too, don’t you?”
Instead, he paused to choose his next words—but Joo Taehyun only glanced his way. His expression was so cold, it would’ve been hard to believe he was looking at someone he’d loved for a long time.
“Let’s go to Seoul together this Friday.”

“……”
“Spend a day on a date, and while we’re at it, you can meet Dr. Woo in person.”
Just then, the car doors opened on both sides to announce their arrival, and Seo Baekhan couldn’t see how Joo Taehyun’s expression changed. It almost seemed like he wanted to ask, “Really?”, but his voice had been too faint to be sure.

Still, he probably liked it. It was the first time Seo Baekhan had suggested stopping by Seoul for no particular reason.
“Oh my, Director Seo and your spouse! It’s been a while.”
“Hello.”

Since there were quite a few people recognizing them from the entrance, Joo Taehyun quickly returned to his usual dull expression.
No matter who spoke to him, he responded with a disinterested tone and a bored face. Yet, behind Seo Baekhan, where Joo Taehyun stood like a door—just half a step away—there drifted that same gentle wildflower scent, totally out of place. As if showing off the excitement he couldn’t express, the scent clung clearly in the air—for Seo Baekhan alone to notice.
“Um, Director Seo Baekhan…?”

“Yes? Oh, yes. I just need to put on my name tag, right?”
“Yes, and please sign here as well.”
Seo Baekhan brought his curled fist to his mouth and cleared his throat for no reason. That was also a first. He always handled these things automatically, yet here he was, zoning out in distraction—to the point where someone else had to gently prompt him.

Sneaking a side glance, he saw Joo Taehyun had already attached his name tag and was casually signing the guestbook.
“There seem to be more people than last year.”
“Yes. Since there’ll be an overview of the conference starting tomorrow, quite a few students have shown up. By the way, Director Seo…”

The receptionist who had helped them whispered belated congratulations on his marriage.
“Ha-ha, thank you.”
Seo Baekhan replied in a low voice with a slight bow.

He hadn’t planned to be this friendly with a mere staff member, but Joo Taehyun’s side-eye glances made him unexpectedly act lighter than usual.
Try as he might not to dwell on it, the damn pheromones really were the cause.
Both he and Joo Taehyun kept behaving like people with a few screws loose.

“Hyung, I think we need to take a picture together.”
“Mm, just a sec. I’m almost done.”
After this, they’d need to pose for a few commemorative photos in front of the panel and give a short interview for a local Pyongyang broadcaster. The event was essentially a donation drive, but since it was presented as an academic conference, there weren’t many reporters buzzing around—so this would be the extent of it.

“J-Joo Taehyun!”
That’s when it happened.
“You filthy junkie bastard!”

The vulgar, harsh curse made people frown briefly before their gazes all snapped toward one spot.
“My tax money is wasted on the pills freaks like you gobble down, fuck’s sake!”
The voice belonged to a short man wearing a name tag that clearly displayed his department and name—presumably a student attendee. His tone was erratic, fluctuating with unease. His speech was slurred, his hands trembling, his face flushed red.

Looks like he’s drunk…
The security guards seemed to think the same, sighing as they moved swiftly toward him.
“Student! You can’t act like this he—Ugh!”

“Die, all of you! You disgusting Alpha fuckers!”
“Kyaaa!”
The man, who could barely stand, suddenly began splashing an unknown liquid everywhere.

“Ugh!”
“C-Call the police! Hurry!”
People scrambled in panic, and the venue entrance turned into chaos in an instant.

“Cover your mouth.”
Seo Baekhan used his sleeve to shield Joo Taehyun’s mouth while keenly watching the attacker’s movements. Since they didn’t know what the liquid was, it was best to follow protocol.
“Ack! Let go of me! I said let go!”

Fortunately, the terrorist—if he could even be called that—was quickly subdued by the swarming guards. His behavior had been so idiotic, it barely qualified as a real threat… Still, they couldn’t be careless.
“To my knowledge, police manpower isn’t currently lacking. Please secure the CCTV footage immediately.”
“Huh? Oh, y-yes!”

Seo Baekhan quickly grabbed an officer who looked high-ranking and made the request politely.
“Students have been coming in and out of here for about two weeks preparing for the conference. You should check footage from that period. I’m actually an alumnus of this school and have attended several conferences, so I thought this might help.”
“Yes. Thank you, Director Seo. But I don’t think it’s safe for you to stay here—”

“Just in case, I’ll keep monitoring the situation a little longer. I’m not a doctor, but I can at least provide basic first aid.”
What a joke. He was the director of Jejungwon, and the son of Assemblyman Seo Hongkyu. It was only right to stay until he confirmed everyone’s safety.
“Taehyun.”

Still, he wanted to get Joo Taehyun out first. But Taehyun shook his head, as if to say he was fine. The fabric of the robe lightly dampened where it had touched his lips.
“You should go. That guy mentioned you by name.”
“……”

“Don’t be stubborn.”
He’d heard one of the soaked guards mutter, “Feels like just water…”, but it was too soon to feel relieved.
With royalty and high-ranking officials attending, security was definitely present. So how had such an idiotic bastard planned a surprise attack this elaborate? And if all he did was throw water, was that really the end? If so, great—but what if it wasn’t?

“No.”
“Joo Taehyun.”
“Being insulted like that by someone who probably doesn’t pay a cent in taxes makes me too pissed off to move.”

If he had said “I want to stay with you” or “How can I just walk away alone”, Seo Baekhan would’ve cut him off and sent him out.
But instead, he made an absurd remark, not with his usual emotionless mask used in public, but with a face that plainly expressed how genuinely beneath him he found the other man. It was so unlike him that Seo Baekhan, rare as it was, was left speechless—then let out a quiet laugh.
“Well, I mean, you’re not wrong—”

“Die, you motherfucker!”
Before he could finish, a loud, shrill scream burst from just behind them—like someone slaughtering a pig.
Who the hell now? What’s going on? There was no time to even think. Seo Baekhan’s body moved on its own before any rational decision could be made.

“…Hyung!”
Ah. That earlier splash—he was faking it. That was the smokescreen. This was the real plan.
Seo Baekhan shoved Joo Taehyun in the opposite direction of the sound and raised one arm to block the attacker—but the distance was too short, and his defense failed.

“Long live patriotism! Purge the deviants! Unite in righteousness! Unite!”
Thwack. With a sickening sound, a small knife dug into Seo Baekhan’s abdomen.
“You bastards fucking each other, getting married! Filthy Alpha scum!”

Even though he was the one who’d done the stabbing, the attacker collapsed onto the ground, trembling and babbling incoherently.
“Baek-Baekhan hyung!”