S Chapter 85

I clearly didn’t do anything wrong, so why do I feel like I’m walking on eggshells? Shin Jukyeong quickly shook his head, looking at the subtly sharp Yang U-dam.

“A girlfriend? What are you talking about? It’s nothing like that.”

He mumbled the rest of his words. Yang U-dam just let out a low ‘hmm’ without offering any further reply. Well, it was understandable. While he was working himself to death every day, it would be infuriating if his older brother was just oblivious, happily dating around.

So that’s why he glared at me?

‘I can’t be falsely accused of something I didn’t do.’

“Yang U-dam, a girlfriend…? Brother really doesn’t have one. It’s a misunderstanding. You know I don’t have time for that. I’m innocent.”

Shin Jukyeong strongly denied it, proclaiming his innocence. They say a strong denial is a strong affirmation, but that also depends on the person. Since returning to the past, all he had done was roll around trying to avoid a mass-death ending. A girlfriend? He hadn’t even held a woman’s hand, so how could that be possible?

‘I don’t even have time to go to Gusul’s fan meeting. A girlfriend, my foot…’

Yang U-dam, who saw Shin Jukyeong’s gloomy face, suddenly covered his mouth and laughed. Perhaps he found his brother’s single status funny, as his eyes crinkled beautifully, like spring flowers. For example, that’s what they must mean by a peerless beauty.

“Do you dislike being misunderstood by me that much?”

Unlike before, he seemed in a much better mood. His tone of voice, like his face, became breezy, as if carrying the scent of flowers.

‘Is it because he’s a child? His mood changes so quickly. …Cute.’

Shin Jukyeong let out a sigh of relief as the atmosphere softened. Then, seizing the momentum, he asked,

“What about you? Do you have a girlfriend? There’s no way my brother wouldn’t have one.”

“…”

“From what I’ve seen, there’s no one here better looking than you. Plus, you’re tall, have a good voice. There’s nothing you lack, so you don’t? Don’t people try to set you up? Is there anyone among your classmates you like? Tell your brother a little bit.”

Shin Jukyeong placed his hands on his hips, asking like a meddlesome relative. In truth, he just said it to lighten the mood, but once he’d spoken it, he became genuinely curious. It was even more so because he had never had such a conversation with his brother before.

His brother harboring feelings for a young lady! Isn’t the mere thought enjoyable? Who could she be, and from what family?

‘No. No, that’s not right. Whoever it is, she’s the one Yang U-dam chose, so I should treat her well.’

Already, in Shin Jukyeong’s mind, not one, but eleven nieces and nephews, a whole soccer team, were floating up, calling out “Big Uncle, Big Uncle!” with aegyo. He even went as far as giving them names, like Yang Cheol-su and Yang Young-hee, reaching the peak of doting.

‘My nieces and nephews, they’ll be national treasures in terms of looks, just like Yang U-dam.’

He laughed to himself, imagining, but then it was strangely quiet beside him. Only then did Shin Jukyeong instinctively realize something was wrong.

“…”

“…?”

It was chilling. His brother’s gaze fixed on him was colder than ever. A moment ago, he was clearly a single blooming flower in spring, but now he was nothing but a chunk of frozen icicle. The penetrating light in his eyes had sunken terrifyingly.

‘Even an enemy wouldn’t look at me like that.’

…No, why again?

“Is it funny?”

Even his voice was filled with a chill.

“Huh?”

“Are you really a nutcase?”

Yang U-dam let out a loud snort and turned his head away. The corners of his mouth trembled, indicating he was quite angry. He didn’t stop there, muttering “ridiculous” and even sweeping his hair back. Annoyance clung to his graceful fingertips.

Why was he angry? Only Shin Jukyeong was bewildered. He couldn’t understand his brother’s sudden change. Hadn’t he just praised him?

“Shin Jukyeong, come here!”

Just when he wondered what to do, his senior colleague called for help. She motioned for Shin Jukyeong, her eyes fixed on the computer.

Nice timing.

Shin Jukyeong immediately moved. He limped slightly due to his sore calves, but it didn’t hinder his walking.

“Yes, Senior.”

His brother’s sharp gaze followed him from behind, but he pretended not to notice until the very end.

“I think it’s this. Can you take it for me? I need to back this up.”

“Ah. Yes. Understood.”

“…”

“…”

“…Shin Jukyeong?”

“Yes?”

“Is there something you want to say? Aren’t you going?”

His senior colleague, who had been focused on the monitor, raised her head and spoke. She must have found it strange that Shin Jukyeong was still standing there after saying he understood.

“I’m waiting for my brother.”

She glanced at Yang U-dam beyond the monitor. He was staring at the two of them with a sulky expression. Shin Jukyeong, aware of this, nodded with an awkward expression.

“I should go. Yes…”

‘I still haven’t figured out why he’s angry.’

Shin Jukyeong wanted to stall for more time but realized it wasn’t the situation for it, so he sadly turned back. His brother’s annoyance was more terrifying to him than an S-grade Dungeon.

“Did you wait long? Sorry.”

He apologized and handed over a stack of papers.

“Do you need anything else?”

“No.”

“Oh… Okay. Keep up the good work.”

“Brother.”

“Huh, huh?”

In their strained conversation, Yang U-dam stopped Shin Jukyeong. His expression was still sullen, but his voice had softened considerably. Yang U-dam turned his head to gaze at the clock hanging on the wall. Even from the side, his eyelashes were remarkably long. His skin was flawless and smooth.

‘He really is beautiful,’

Shin Jukyeong thought, unconsciously lost in admiring his brother. Yang U-dam slowly opened his lips, as if he had finished his thoughts.

“Lunch.”

“Huh?”

“It’ll be lunchtime soon. Eat and come to the annex building.”

Then, he said what he needed to say and disappeared in a flash.

‘The annex building?’

Shin Jukyeong felt uneasy, wondering if something was wrong. It was the first time his brother had called him separately after enrolling in the Hunter Academy. So, Shin Jukyeong barely ate his lunch. The food wouldn’t go down his throat because he was worried about his brother.

In the end, he went to the annex building without even taking a proper bite. It was 15 minutes after lunchtime began. The inside was empty.

His brother appeared in the annex building about 10 more minutes later.

“You came early.”

Unlike Shin Jukyeong, his attitude was perfectly relaxed. It was clearly Yang U-dam who had the business, yet it was Shin Jukyeong who was fidgeting.

In fact, Shin Jukyeong had already envisioned various versions of his brother crying, saying how difficult the Hunter Academy was. But there was no need to worry. He had anticipated this and had run simulations over a hundred times on what to say and how to comfort him while waiting. Knowing his own lack of eloquence, he had practiced beforehand.

‘His peer relationships should be sorted out… Is it about classes? Maybe the class material is harder than expected, or the teacher is scary? Or is dormitory life uncomfortable? Hmm… No. Whatever it is, what does it matter? This big brother will pass on all his infinite tips.’

Now was the time to show his true big-brotherly side! The moment Shin Jukyeong’s Adam’s apple bobbed up and down, a single word came from Yang U-dam.

“Take them off.”

Take them off, he said.

Oh, this wasn’t in the script?

‘Ugh, he’s a handful.’

He was always a surprising child. To make him realize in such a way that he always had to stay on his toes. He prided himself on having experienced all sorts of hardships, from ground battles to naval battles to air battles, but this kind of event was a first. How was he supposed to react when someone calls him over, says they have something to talk about, and then suddenly tells him to take his clothes off?

‘This isn’t a changing room.’

“What are you doing? I said take your pants off.”

Shin Jukyeong stared at his brother, who was urging him, with a strange expression. Can’t you see your brother’s complicated face, Yang U-dam?

“How frustrating.”

“…!”

Shin Jukyeong felt greatly wronged.

‘Who’s supposed to be frustrated here?!’

Is it you, who suddenly told me to take them off, or me, who suddenly has to take off my pants?

But because the other party was so confident, Shin Jukyeong even began to wonder, ‘Huh? Am I supposed to take them off?’ He pressed between his eyebrows and carefully opened his lips, trying to remain calm.

“Yang U-dam. Explain the situation and then… Haa. Okay. Tell me why your brother has to take them off here. Your brother was worried something happened to you.”

“Something happened? What are you talking about.”

“So, explain, uh-uh-uh…”

Yang U-dam grabbed Shin Jukyeong, acting as if he didn’t care whether Shin Jukyeong spoke or not. He wondered where he was being led, and it was to one side of the stage.

“Sit here.”

With an indifferent remark, he made him sit down. Then he knelt on one knee in front of him. Shin Jukyeong, bewildered, silently watched what his brother was doing. Perhaps because of the lowered posture, the top of his head was clearly visible.

“Yang U-dam?”

He called out in wonder, but there was no reply. Instead, a white hand touched Shin Jukyeong’s ankle. Fingers slid under his pant leg, tickling him. Before he could ask what he was doing or stop him, his pants were pushed up to his hamstrings.

“Yang U-dam, hey, hey, wai—!”

His calves were exposed, defenseless. Shin Jukyeong’s face immediately flushed. His earlobes, his nape, everything turned bright red. Perhaps it was because this was his first time experiencing such a thing, but an inexplicable embarrassment crept up from his toes.

It was different from stripping naked to bathe together, or taking off his shirt while exercising. To show his vulnerable wounds to an unexpected person at an unexpected moment… it was indeed an unfamiliar and uncomfortable experience.

His hand, resting on the stage, slipped due to sweat.