Dirty Switch

When Seo Baekhan briefly froze at the absurd question, Choi Yeonjun exploded with excitement, having clearly interpreted it his own way.

“Hey, you bastard! I knew it. I knew something was up when the guy who said men weren’t his thing suddenly announced he was marrying Taegging.”
“…Taegging?”
“Eh? You don’t know the meme? It’s a combo of Taehyun and ‘baby’.”

Choi Yeonjun, who had puffed up his shoulders in glee at the chance to tease Baekhan, wilted into silence a beat later under the chill of that sharp gaze.
“Come on, think about it. You’ve always been kinda soft on Taehyun—”
“How long has it even been since those cheating rumors about Joo Taehyun started? You’re already calling him ‘baby’?”

“…Huh?”
“Calling someone else’s spouse ‘baby’ or whatever is a great way to get misunderstood. So knock it off.”
Was he seriously blowing up just because I called Joo Taehyun ‘Taegging’? Choi Yeonjun, stunned and preparing a tirade of curses, ended up grumbling with puffed cheeks like some grumpy cartoon villain instead.

“Then what, you want me to sit back and do nothing while Taehyun gets dragged into this?”
“You said they were getting divorced anyway.”
“We’re not divorcing. Secretary Nam, you’re outside, right?”
Raising his voice to end the conversation, not wanting to waste another second on Yeonjun’s idiocy, the door creaked open right on cue.

“Yes, Director. I received an urgent message and—”
“Unless I specifically ask you to step out, there’s no need to excuse yourself. We don’t have time.”
“Ah, yes… I’m sorry, Director.”

“By the way, has there been any response from DH? Like checking him into a hospital, or requesting medical records from our side?”
Choi Yeonjun’s jaw practically unhinged.
“Wait. ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) So… Taehyun really is pregnant? No, right?”

“I said I don’t have time. I need to leave for Seoul soon.”
“You’re kidding me, right? Are you fucking serious? With that kid?! What shocks me more than Taehyun being pregnant is that you two even had the chance to make him pregnant. Holy shit…”
“Go ahead. Try to make me say ‘no’ one more time. See what happens.”

Only then did the chatterbox finally shut up, and Seo Baekhan could finally turn his attention to the documents. But even as he read the words, he couldn’t concentrate at all.
That sharpness when Yeonjun mentioned ‘Taegging’ just now, the childish way he clung to Joo Taehyun trying to stop him from leaving for Seoul…
He hadn’t been acting like himself ever since the imprinting.

He had definitely lashed out at Joo Taehyun on purpose, swept up in emotion. But hadn’t Taehyun started it? He was the one who brought up divorce on camera without a word to Baekhan.
“Before anything else, there’s something I’ve been wanting to ask you. It’s not to test you—I’m genuinely curious.”

Every time he closed and opened his eyes, Taehyun’s image flickered in his mind, right there in that seat from last Friday.

“What do you think… about kids?”
Seo Baekhan ran his tongue along the inside of his cheek, quietly chewing on those words Taehyun had floated at him. He’d been surprised by the sudden mention of children. He’d even asked whether Taehyun was thinking of having kids with someone else. Was that when it started? When Taehyun made up his mind to insist the child was his?
“Hey, Seo Baekhan. I’m not trying to mess with you—seriously. You always said you didn’t even like guys, even if they were Omegas.”
“Choi Yeonjun, from now on, stay the hell out of the Kim Seungjun situation. If you get involved, it’s going to look like Prince Yi Hwang’s whole faction is going all in.”

“See? You’re dodging the question ‘cause it hit a nerve.”
“If you’ve got time to gossip, get out.”
“Wow… Are you seriously Seo Baekhan? No, wait—judging by that shitty temper, yeah, it’s definitely you.”

To someone like Yeonjun, who knew nothing, it might’ve seemed like some random romance. But the connection between Baekhan and Taehyun was the result of biology, plain and simple.
That imprinting had been an accident caused by pheromone disruption. A natural disaster, basically.
Do I like Joo Taehyun? Yeah, I do. Who would go this far for someone they hated? He made Baekhan feel at ease. Made him laugh. He grew on him slowly, like a drizzle soaking into clothes.

But that would’ve happened with anyone, wouldn’t it? Even if a coworker quit, you’d feel something. Living in the same house—of course you’d get attached.
That time he held Taehyun’s hand in public, threw an arm around him? He could’ve done the same with Yeonjun. He’d done it with plenty of other guys, too.
Sex… even Baekhan had been surprised it was possible.

“Hyung, just… ngh, can we take a little break…”
“You don’t want to?”
“…It’s not that I don’t want to, it’s just… ugh!”

There had been no grand connection beyond insertion and climax. Just base pleasure, shackled by their cursed biology.
Seo Baekhan tapped the printed copy of Taehyun’s ID photo. Of course a piece of paper wouldn’t react, but even if he touched the real Taehyun’s cheek, he’d probably just blink dumbly at him the same way.
Do I like Joo Taehyun?

Yeah, I do. Even if the feeling wasn’t the same kind Taehyun had for him, he did like him. And yes, Taehyun was his.
Without realizing, Baekhan let out a soft chuckle. The unfamiliarity of his own smile made him wipe it away in a hurry.
“A kid, huh…”

The odds were low, but if it were true—
It might actually be convenient. A pregnancy caused by pheromone anomalies wouldn’t be stable, and the only way to keep Taehyun’s condition steady would be through partner pheromones.
“You’re kinda scary, you know…”

Choi Yeonjun muttered, half hiding behind Secretary Nam. But Seo Baekhan didn’t care.
No, really—Joo Taehyun’s pregnancy… might not be such a bad thing.
He hadn’t had time to think clearly before, but now that he had, it was all benefit. It would blow away all the filthy rumors, give him leverage to push for a domestic reformulation of Switch, and solidify Jejungwon’s international standing. A research center led by someone with firsthand experience of a rare case? Couldn’t ask for better PR.

“In fact, this could play in our favor. If we spin the old rumor as something a drugged-up loser made up, it’ll make for a nice little show. Though in that case, the crown prince’s name gets buried.”
“Then…”
“If Kim Seungjun did something even worse than using drugs, let’s get creative. Money laundering, illegal lobbying… Considering how clean the Thomas trail went cold, maybe he even hired a hitman.”

“Dude, what are you on? This isn’t Hollywood. You’re not writing a movie script, this is— Wait. Where are you going?”
When Seo Baekhan stood up and grabbed his coat, Yeonjun, who had been about to push back, awkwardly got to his feet too.
“Director, I’ll accompany you.”
“No. I prefer to move alone. Secretary Nam, just focus on what I asked you to handle.”

“Seo Baekhan, you bastard—are you seriously going to keep throwing out cryptic shit like this and walking off? How am I supposed to prepare when you don’t fill me in? You’re the one who said you didn’t want our family dragged into—”
“Seoul.”
“…Huh?”

Yeonjun, stomping around in frustration, blinked dumbly.
“Where are you… going?”
“Seoul. I’m going to Joo Taehyun’s family home.”

Baekhan replied in a flat voice, opening the airline app on his phone.
***
“So you’re saying… our Taehyun really is pregnant.”

President Yoo kept repeating the same thing, like she couldn’t believe it. Chairman Joo looked like he was about to bury his nose in the test results.
Feeling oddly embarrassed, Joo Taehyun cleared his throat again and again.
He was the one who had asked Dr. Woo to run a blood test in front of the whole family. He didn’t want to hide anything anymore. They’d already twisted the fever he had at age three into some mutation of his secondary gender to use however they wanted. If he was going to live with that debt hanging over him forever, then he would at least live the rest of his life without lying. Not a single one.

“As you know, it’s still extremely early, and given the circumstances, our priority should be the young master’s health rather than the fetus.”
Dr. Woo sounded apologetic, stressing that he was only being honest because they’d asked him to be.
“No, Dr. Woo’s absolutely right. We need to think about Taehyun first.”

“But… is Taehyun’s body really that bad? I mean, even aside from the pregnancy.”
“Yes. I would recommend immediate hospitalization. His levels have all hit rock bottom. We’re still struggling to determine which department and what treatment he needs, but as soon as we do, I strongly recommend he be admitted right away.”
President Yoo clasped her youngest son’s hand tightly as he sat propped up in bed. A round band-aid clung to her forearm—probably a mark from the IV she got yesterday.

She hadn’t spared a thought for herself. Just “my baby, my baby” on repeat, on the verge of tears. Looking at her made Taehyun’s throat sting like it was being scalded. He couldn’t even bring himself to say he was sorry. He felt too guilty for that now.
“…Mom, I’m okay—”
“E-Excuse me.”

The nanny peeked her head in hesitantly from the open door, clearly uncomfortable. She’d been with the family for years and was usually unflappable, so her unease was unexpected.
“What is it?”
“Um, that… gentleman, outside… is here.”

“What gentleman?”
“Director Seo Baekhan… is asking to come in. What should I do?”