Chapter 372: Searching for the Lost Younger Sibling (6)
Kang Hawon’s defenses were impenetrable.
“So, can’t we at least follow each other on OneStar?”
“I don’t use OneStagram.”
“Then, can I at least take a picture of your hand without your face?”
“No.”
“Then, can I tell the fans you visited the dorm?”
“No way.”
Though the older brother couldn’t call his only sibling his brother, he wasn’t too devastated since he already knew it wouldn’t work. Honestly, the fact that Hawon had even appeared on the broadcast during the *Maze* promotion with his face revealed was a once-in-a-lifetime event.
“Well, fine then. Let’s get going.”
“Go? Where?”
“You said you had plans. I have to head to the company for recording now too. I’ll walk with you to the subway station.”
In truth, I wanted to insist that he stick around until his plans began, at least to watch me record, since it had been a while since I’d seen him. But I knew my company was like a lawless jungle for someone like Kang Hawon, who hated unfamiliar places and people. I couldn’t bring myself to ask him.
‘Plus, I’ll be recording, so I won’t even be able to pay attention to him…’
To make matters worse, Seo Taeil and Nam Daun were coming for the recording today.
‘Seo Taeil would be fine, but Nam Daun? Absolutely not.’
Sitting Hawon in front of Nam Daun, a chatterbox who couldn’t simply be labeled an “extrovert” and whose verbal barrage would exhaust even the most talkative person, was something I, as his older brother, could never allow. Otherwise, Hawon would probably cancel his plans and head home, locking himself in his room for three days.
“Aah…”
But something was off about Kang Hawon’s reaction.
‘What’s with that response?’
I expected him to grab his bag and suggest we leave immediately, but instead, he wore a strange expression and started to hesitate.
“Aren’t we going?”
“Well, yeah… we should.”
I asked him again, just to be sure, and this time, he blatantly looked disappointed.
‘Huh? That’s really odd.’
I cautiously asked him once more, thinking maybe, just maybe…
“When’s your appointment?”
“Uh, at 8.”
You came at two, and it’s only four now.
“Where’s the meeting?”
“… Konkuk University.”
We’re in Mapo right now…
Sensing my suspicious gaze, Hawon started rambling, offering explanations I hadn’t even asked for.
“Well, Mom said she made some side dishes, and I thought I should deliver them quickly… and in Seoul, if you don’t time it right, the subway and buses get really crowded. It’s easier to just arrive early and wait rather than be late and rush.”
A meeting at Konkuk University at 8 PM, and you come to my place in Mapo at 2 PM just to drop off some side dishes?
For someone like Kang Hawon, who needed a big decision just to walk to the neighborhood mart, this inefficient schedule made no sense. The only reason he would endure such inconvenience was clear.
“Well then…”
“…?”
I carefully asked, just to be sure.
“There’s still plenty of time until your meeting… Want to watch me record for a bit? I could show you around my company.”
Was he here because he wanted to hang out with me? Did he come on purpose instead of asking Mom to deliver the food?
Before I debuted, we were always together. But after debuting, I had the other members to keep me busy, while Hawon, who usually stayed home, might have felt my absence more keenly.
“Well…”
As if confirming my suspicions, Hawon scratched the back of his head, looking sheepish, and nodded.
“I guess so.”
Ha, what a cute guy.
How could I not love him?
I couldn’t stop the smile from spreading across my face, and my cheeks began to ache from how wide I was grinning.
—
“Hello!”
“Oh, Hajin! Hello.”
“This is my younger brother!”
“Huh? Oh! Hello!”
“Yes, hello…”
“Alright then, see you later!”
Without any particular reason, I burst into the planning team’s office and introduced my brother. Then, just as cheerfully, I exited, thinking about where to take him next, my steps light and bouncy.
As soon as he set foot in the entertainment building for the first time, from the security guard at the entrance to every employee who made eye contact, Hawon was forced to endure an impromptu introduction spree. At some point, he grabbed the back of my neck, his voice dark and ominous as he whispered in my ear.
“Stop it, stop. Please, just stop. How many more people are you going to drag me to? Are you planning to introduce me to everyone in this building?”
“Why? They’re all good people.”
“No, they’re not. Not for me.”
“Tsk, I just wanted to show off my brother.”
“Why would you show me off here of all places?”
His glaring eyes made it clear he wasn’t happy, so I reluctantly shut my mouth. I didn’t barge into any more offices or force any more introductions. In fact, even when someone showed interest in Hawon, I skillfully redirected the conversation, easing us away smoothly.
‘When we were younger, even if I said no, he’d push ahead a couple of times to get his way…’
Hawon walked for quite a while, following Hajin. As the surroundings grew quieter, he finally began to notice his surroundings. Once he stepped into the elevator, he saw Hajin’s music video playing on the wall monitor and was reminded that this was his brother’s agency.
‘…Has he gotten taller?’
He hadn’t noticed much before because Hajin was always wearing a red cape, posing for paparazzi shots in morning cars, or winking under a terrible white fur hat. But seeing him after so long, Hajin definitely seemed taller and more dependable.
He was always complaining via text about having to stick to a diet and exercise, but it looked like it had paid off.
“Hey, look at this. My music video is playing here.”
“I know. I’ve seen it.”
“Isn’t it awesome? Did you at least like the video? Or subscribe to our AiTube channel?”
“Why would I subscribe to my own brother’s channel?”
He had.
Since the *Maze* promotion, he had liked every video his brother appeared in, and the *Kairos Today* episodes on Kairos’s official account were Hawon’s faithful mealtime companion.
But Kang Hawon feigned ignorance, pretending not to know. For some reason, he didn’t want Hajin to know that he always checked up on him, lest Hajin get too cocky about it.
“Wow, seriously. So cold-hearted. Here I am, working so hard to make money, and my own brother can’t even like my videos…”
“…Huh? Is that Hajin?”
Just then, someone else entered the elevator, breaking their private conversation. A middle-aged man, towering and imposing, but clearly friendly, greeted Hajin. From the way they casually chatted, it was clear they were quite close. Not wanting to intrude, Hawon stared intently at the monitor on the wall, but the man soon noticed him and gestured toward Hajin.
“And who’s this? He seems familiar somehow.”
“Oh, just a friend of mine. He came with me today because I have a recording session.”
“Aha. Hmm, not a celebrity, huh? You’ve got a nice mask.”
“He’s just a regular college student. He’s too shy to even dream of being a celebrity. You’ll have to settle for me, CEO.”
“Really? What a shame. Come by more often!”
“I’ll bring him by often. Oh, but we need to get off now. See you later! Take care!”
“Sure, sure. Take care~.”
Hajin quickly slipped out of the elevator with Hawon, avoiding any further introduction. As the elevator doors closed, Hawon let out a silent sigh of relief, grateful for the timely escape. He hurriedly caught up to his older brother, walking right behind him.
“Who was that? He seemed pretty important.”
“Who? That guy just now?”
“Yeah.”
“Oh. That’s our CEO.”
Wait, what?
“He’s the CEO of this company. Han Sewon. You saw him briefly during the live broadcast of the final.”
It took a moment for Hawon’s mind to process the information.
And as soon as his brain rebooted, he grabbed Hajin by the collar in a panic.
“—Ack!”
“Wait, so just now, you—your—no…”
Did I just ignore the CEO of your company!?
With his brother’s extreme, all-or-nothing mindset driving him into a pale panic, Hawon pressed Hajin for answers, but Hajin responded with a face that showed he didn’t see the problem.
“Why? You said you didn’t want to feel pressured.”
“You should have introduced me properly to your company’s CEO! When did I ever say not to introduce me? I just said don’t drag me to meet random people I have nothing to do with!”
“Wow, you keep changing the rules. If you want consistency, either stick with the ‘friend’ label or introduce yourself as my brother. You can’t have both. You’re being biased in your self-introduction.”
“What kind of nonsense are you even talking about? Who in their right mind introduces their brother as just ‘a friend’ to their company’s CEO!?”
“Right here, what are you gonna do about it?”
Maturity? Yeah, right. Kang Hajin was still the same old Kang Hajin.
Standing right outside the recording studio door, the two brothers continued their heated argument, tugging on each other’s collars and shoulders. Their fight covered all sorts of topics, but mostly revolved around the pointless debate of “When are you ever going to grow up?” vs. “I’m already plenty mature.”
The quarrel between the two brothers was loud enough to leak through the soundproofing of the recording studio.
“What’s going on? Who’s making all that noise… Huh? Is that Hajin’s nephew?”
“Hajin’s here? But who’s that next to him?”
“You don’t know? Judging by the way they’re fighting, it’s probably Taehyun.”
“…? I’m right here though?”
“…Then who’s the guy grappling with Hajin outside?”
Inside the studio, Seo Taeil and Nam Daun from Utopia, along with Seo Taehyun and Lee Doha from Kairos, were having some light conversation to warm up their voices before recording when they witnessed the commotion outside.
“Oh.”
“?”
Lee Doha, the tallest of the group and the one standing closest to the window, peeked through the small crack in the door and remarked.
“I think it’s Hajin’s younger brother.”
“Hajin’s younger brother? Wait, does the nephew have another sibling?”
“I only have one son.”
“You haven’t even married yet! Why are you saying such outrageous things?”
Amused by the nonsensical jokes of the senior members from Utopia, Seo Taehyun sighed deeply and clarified.
“No, not that son. Hajin’s *real* younger brother from the Kang family.”
“Oh, I see.”
Only then did the two senior members, who seemed as immature as Hajin, nod in understanding.
Then, they suddenly perked up again.
“Hajin has a real younger brother!?”
“Hajin has a sibling!??”
Their eyes gleamed like hyenas spotting fresh prey!