The Mask and the Mirror

Since he had achieved his goal, his pace leaving the orphanage was quite brisk. His expression was cleanly erased just as before, but the vibe was subtly different.

“……Baek Seohan.”

He was curious. For the first time in a long while, something had piqued his interest.

What was the meaning behind that behavior earlier? Of all people, Baek Seohan was doing volunteer work? Why? What was the gain? Why the change? Since when, exactly?

As endless questions swirled, the flat line of his lips curved upward. His lip trembled slightly, making the expression look eerie.

“I want to see him…….”

He wanted answers. It had been so long since he’d felt this many questions piling up at once.

He stood there blankly for a moment, only moving again when his phone rang loudly. Once more, an expression was etched onto his face.

“Hello?”

The voice he let out was refreshing.

It was hard to believe this was the same person who, just moments ago, had spoken in a voice so chillingly devoid of emotion.

The place Seohan went to meet Baek Jaehyun was the headquarters of the Baekyoung Group. Since this was technically Seohan’s first meeting with him, he chose the cleanest, most sharp-looking suit among those he had eyed earlier.

Observing the clothing styles the original Baek Seohan favored seemed to have paid off.

“I will guide you.”

As if Baek Seohan’s visits weren’t rare, a man approached Seohan the moment he entered the lobby. Not knowing where Baek Jaehyun’s office was, Seohan had no choice but to follow him obediently.

They took the executive elevator to the top floor of the building. Because the elevator was glass, Seohan watched the landscape below recede into the distance.

Ding. Only when the sound announced their arrival did Seohan tear his eyes away from the view.

The man who stepped off the elevator with him took exactly one step and moved no further. He bowed at a 90-degree angle, held it for several seconds, and then straightened up to head back down.

“Welcome, Seohan.”

A gentle voice reached his ears. Seohan maintained his poker face as he turned his gaze toward the source.

Baek Jaehyun sat comfortably behind a desk featuring a flashy gold nameplate that read [Baek Jaehyun]. He was a man with a generally soft impression, but strangely, he looked nothing like Baek Seohan.

[Info | ‘Baek Seohan’ and ‘Baek Jaehyun’ are half-brothers ( °࿁°)!]

No wonder. Seohan clicked his tongue inwardly.

Isn’t this the classic trope in every chaebol family drama?

But aside from that realization, Seohan faced his first hurdle. There were numerous chairs in front of him. Which one should he sit in, and how should Baek Seohan greet this man?

‘If only Baek Seohan would pop out at a time like this.’

As he pushed aside his complaints and prepared to move, he felt a familiar sensation. Control of his body was snatched away in an instant.

‘……Suddenly?’

He was being so cooperative all of a sudden? It was so absurd he couldn’t even laugh. Even if he tried to speak, this body—now under Baek Seohan’s control—wouldn’t allow it.

For the first time, Seohan fully welcomed “Baek Seohan’s” appearance.

“It’s been a long time, Brother.”

Was this what cognitive dissonance felt like? Seohan froze on the spot, unable to think or say anything. He spent the next few seconds wondering if the person who just spoke was truly Baek Seohan.

‘You weren’t this kind of character, were you……?’

A friendly, affectionate Baek Seohan? Out of everything he had seen in his life, this was by far the most shocking. Moreover, hadn’t Baek Seohan known from the start that this man was monitoring him?

He was a guy who surely needed to hold a weakness over someone’s head and manipulate them to feel satisfied.

But regardless of Seohan’s confusion and shock, the conversation between the two proceeded smoothly. Sitting on the chair closest to Baek Jaehyun, he wore a bright, welcoming smile.

“Have you been doing well lately?”

“I’ve been the same as always, thanks to the care you show me, Brother.”

“That’s a relief.”

The man across from him wore a benevolent smile, but Seohan didn’t trust him. The fact that he had people monitoring Baek Seohan at all times proved he was black-hearted.

[Info | Baek Jaehyun feels a severe inferiority complex toward ‘Baek Seohan’ (⚆_⚆)!]

The system notification that followed confirmed it. Seohan, having managed to calm the confusion caused by the “kind” Baek Seohan, finally began to observe the situation dispassionately.

Based on everything he’d seen, Baek Seohan was not the type to be affectionate toward anyone—not even blood relatives.

Baek Jaehyun had spent a long time monitoring and checking him, and Baek Seohan knew this. Yet, he acted like a submissive, loving brother. It was a 100% act, but why bother acting?

‘Does he have a weakness on him?’

But even if Baek Seohan had a weakness caught, he was the type who would rather crush the person holding it. He might steal the weakness back, but acting subservient was just bizarre.

At least, it was based on Seohan’s observations so far.

Thinking differently, it meant there was something to be gained from this behavior.

Looking at it now, perhaps he was trying to catch Baek Jaehyun off guard for some future gain.

‘……Wait.’

Is he……?

‘Is he aiming for the Baekyoung Group?’

Was he drawing a big picture to take Baek Jaehyun’s spot right now?

The moment that thought struck, goosebumps broke out over his skin. His mind went blank. His vow to live as a wealthy, unemployed man was waving goodbye and flying away into the distance.

I take back thinking he was being helpful for once. Baek Seohan had been handing Seohan a pile of sh*t from the very beginning.

Internal power struggles in chaebol families were really not his style. Regardless of why he was playing nice with Baek Jaehyun, it was certain that whatever “Baek Seohan” was planning was not something Seohan would enjoy.

“I heard a rough summary from your secretary recently. Secretary Choi came to me because he was worried about you, so please don’t hate him too much.”

“I know Secretary Choi is working hard for me, so there’s no way I’d hate him.”

This is what you call a scripted conversation, he thought.

After that, Baek Jaehyun repeated much of what Secretary Choi had said. Are you alright lately, I’m worried because you seem different… To put it plainly, he was asking why he wasn’t out partying with people like before.

If someone heard this without knowing the reality, it would sound like he truly cared for Baek Seohan. In that sense, he was a snake of a man. The way he held full power over the company yet still felt insecure enough to check his half-brother was pathetic.

“Yes. Thank you for worrying about me.”

The pressure disguised as worry continued until an affirmative answer came out of Baek Seohan’s mouth. Only then did a satisfied smile bloom on Baek Jaehyun’s face.

“By the way. I heard you’ve recently taken someone into your house…….”

It was at that moment. The warm atmosphere was severed.

Seohan, who was receiving the sensations Baek Seohan felt in real-time, realized the smile on his face had vanished as if it had never been there.

“Brother.”

Just one word. He hadn’t said more or less than that, but Baek Jaehyun, looking at Baek Seohan, flinched visibly. It was a reaction completely different from the calm, smiling face he had shown until just a moment ago.

His eyes wavered and his fingertips trembled—he was clearly terrified of Baek Seohan.

“Ahem, cough. Yes. I asked something unnecessary.”

Only after he cleared his throat and shifted the topic in an awkward voice did the smile return to Baek Seohan’s face. The cold expression from before felt like it had been nothing but a dream.

It was only for a split second, but Baek Jaehyun looked beyond displeased; he looked angry that he had been intimidated by Baek Seohan. His face was slightly flushed, and though he was smiling, the corners of his mouth were twitching.

‘I knew it.’

Seohan, who had been listening with bated breath, let out a hollow laugh. There was no way Baek Seohan would ever suck up to someone or worry about their opinion.

Even now…….

‘The one walking on eggshells is him.’

At first glance, it looked like Baek Seohan was catering to Baek Jaehyun, but the one actually watching for reactions was clearly Baek Jaehyun. To think he’d tremble just because Baek Seohan hardened his face once.

‘I can see why he’d have an inferiority complex.’

He could somewhat understand the term “inferiority complex” that the system had used.

……Though it was very bad news for Seohan.

Baek Seohan definitely had an ulterior motive. The problem was that Seohan didn’t know what that motive was, and even if he tried to ignore it, this man would continue to pointlessly check Baek Seohan.

Whatever the case, as long as Seohan couldn’t leave this body, it was obvious he would be caught in the crossfire of their fight.