# Chapter 111
The day Dojin declared he would deliberately cause trouble had dawned. Secretary Lee, who had desperately hoped this day would never come, headed toward Dojin’s room while heaving deep sighs. Although the party was at 7 PM, they needed to move quickly since they couldn’t go in disheveled attire.
“Come in.”
Shortly after knocking, a response came. Upon entering, Secretary Lee discovered Dojin sitting on the sofa, staring only at his phone, and internally clicked his tongue.
Seeing him waiting for a message that would never arrive made Secretary Lee feel pity, but that sympathy completely vanished when he remembered that Dojin was the very person who would cause trouble today and create more work.
“We need to depart.”
Only then did Dojin lift his gaze from his phone to look at Secretary Lee. Noticing the faint dark circles under Dojin’s eyes, as if he hadn’t slept well, Secretary Lee blinked in surprise.
‘Dark circles? Under the young master’s eyes?’
Though he couldn’t believe what he was seeing, the dark circles didn’t disappear even after time passed. He spent about a minute coming to terms with the fact that Dojin had developed dark circles.
“Already? Wait a moment. I’ll change my clothes and be right out.”
Dojin, who seemed tired as he rubbed his eyelids, carelessly put down his phone and headed for the dressing room. His steps lacked energy, making him look somewhat pitiful, but Secretary Lee slapped his cheeks to shake off these emotions. He was in no position to feel sorry for Dojin right now.
“What are you doing?”
Dojin, who had changed clothes in a short time, was leaning against the doorframe, staring at Secretary Lee’s foolish behavior. Secretary Lee cleared his throat with a “Ahem” at the contemptuous look in his eyes.
“You’re already finished?”
“We’re going to a shop anyway, right? There’s no reason it should take long to change clothes.”
“Yes, that’s true. Let’s go quickly.”
Dojin, who had been staring at Secretary Lee with narrowed eyes, straightened his posture and nodded.
“It seems we’re leaving earlier than usual.”
“The Vice President said that if you’re going to cause trouble, you should at least look presentable.”
Dojin let out a chuckle and nodded as if he had expected as much. He hadn’t thought she would try to stop him, but to actually push him along like this was something else.
Though they were people he had known his whole life, sometimes they let him get away with things to a degree that made him wonder if it was really okay.
“I’ll get my hair done as well.”
“Would you like to get a perm?”
Dojin checked the watch on his wrist. Secretary Lee would have already confirmed the schedule before asking, but there was no harm in checking once more.
“Just a touch-up.”
“Yes, I’ll inform them in advance.”
Dojin nodded slightly and habitually wondered, ‘Would Habin like my curly hair too?’ He knew that Habin liked his face not just as a preference but sometimes to the point of staring at him absentmindedly, so he couldn’t help thinking about it.
Since his appearance was a powerful weapon when it came to Habin, he couldn’t do anything to ruin it himself.
However, after hearing the other party say something like “let’s not meet for a while,” it was a useless concern. It wasn’t the kind of worry he should have in a situation where there had been no contact for days.
Somehow feeling pathetic, Dojin sighed and ran his fingers through his hair in frustration.
“Are you tired?”
Since it was a fact that couldn’t be hidden, he nodded, and Secretary Lee took out vitamins and handed them to him. Dojin put the solid vitamins in his mouth and slowly let them dissolve.
After leaving home like that, they arrived at the shop where Dojin got a perm and light makeup on his face. Looking at his reflection in the mirror, he was quite satisfied with his appearance and smiled.
“Would you like to take a photo?”
“A photo?”
“Yes. I heard that person really likes the young master’s face.”
“Did I ever mention that?”
Dojin habitually went to touch his forehead but remembered he had makeup on and lowered his half-raised arm. Instead, he slightly furrowed his brow as he searched his memory.
“You didn’t mention it.”
“Then?”
“Driver Park subtly told me.”
Driver Park was the one who had driven him and Habin to the villa. It seemed he had noticed something then. Since he was perceptive despite pretending not to be, it wasn’t that strange.
“Never mind. There’s no point when I can’t even contact him.”
“How about showing him later? I think he would really like it.”
After persistently persuading Dojin, who had laughed self-deprecatingly, Secretary Lee finally managed to get one photo. Dojin checked the photo sent to him via messenger and considered using it as an excuse to contact Habin first, but ultimately gave up.
In his opinion, to draw Habin out of his house, he needed something other than such a photo. And that something would probably be obtained today.
Thus, Dojin headed to the party venue with Secretary Lee, showing off his appearance that was more radiant than usual. Though it took some time, they were able to arrive at a reasonable hour.
After getting out of the car, Dojin clicked his tongue at the sight of the lavish cruise. Somehow, it seemed even more extravagant than the last time he had attended.
He closed his eyes to calm his emotions and wiped the expression from his face. Then, he raised the corners of his mouth slightly and put on a ceremonial smile. Even though he was already tired from putting on a fake smile after so long, he endured it.
After entering the venue, Dojin, representing his mother, went around greeting various people. Only after the ship departed could he finally take a breath. After freshening up with light finger food and drinks, he discreetly looked around to find today’s protagonist.
Found him.
The moment Dojin spotted Ji Haecheon, the corners of his mouth lifted, so he brought his glass to his lips. After pretending to wet his throat by tilting the glass, he put it down on the table.
“Young master.”
Secretary Lee urgently grabbed Dojin and silently asked with his eyes if he was really going to cause trouble, but Dojin merely turned his body slightly as a response.
Seeing the firm determination in his action, Secretary Lee gave up trying to stop him and deliberately composed himself before moving elsewhere. It was clear there would be a fight, and there was no benefit to staying by his side.
Having successfully removed the interfering person, Dojin headed straight for where Ji Haecheon was without being distracted.
“…Kwon Dojin?”
“Happy birthday.”
Ignoring Ji Haecheon’s puzzled call, Dojin bluntly greeted him. Ji Haecheon frowned, finding it strange both that Kwon Dojin was at this place and that he was brightly smiling and offering what seemed like sincere congratulations.
“Why are you here?”
“Am I at a place I shouldn’t be?”
“You shameless bastard who hasn’t attended for years—”
“Don’t make a fuss when you were the same.”
Dojin quickly whispered without even moving his lips while maintaining a smile. Then, exhaling a long breath, he tilted his head slightly.
“By the way—”
Deliberately drawing out his words, Dojin rolled his eyes, looking Ji Haecheon up and down.
“You still can’t control your expressions like a child. Why don’t you relax your face?”
Dojin whispered from a close distance so others couldn’t hear, in a tone full of contempt. Since Ji Haecheon’s expression became even more severe at those words, they weren’t very meaningful.
Since he had said it with the intention of provoking Ji Haecheon’s temper, Dojin was rather satisfied with the reaction. Of course, knowing that he would also become the subject of gossip if his expression contrasted with Ji Haecheon’s, he quickly put on a concerned look.
“You’re the protagonist of the party, you know. Can’t you even tell how much attention is focused on you right now?”
He patted Ji Haecheon’s shoulder a couple of times. Dojin kept his hand there and squeezed his shoulder tightly. In response, Ji Haecheon, raising an eyebrow, gritted his teeth and whispered.
“Why did you come all the way here to cause trouble?”
“You ask why? Ah, perhaps you’re so stupid that you don’t even remember the trouble you caused?”
As soon as Dojin finished speaking, Ji Haecheon irritably knocked his arm away. Despite the rather harsh sound, Dojin didn’t even frown and stepped back.
“Things aren’t going well with Lee Habin, I guess?”
“Does it look that way?”
Seeing Ji Haecheon barking back at him, trying to provoke his temper in the same way, Dojin gently smiled. Though he was seething with irritation inside because Ji Haecheon had Habin’s name in his mouth, he wasn’t naive enough to show his emotions in a provocative situation.
“I heard your brother has entered the country?”
Instead, Dojin deliberately brought up a topic Ji Haecheon would hate, and as expected, he watched Ji Haecheon’s shoulders twitch while deepening his smile.
“It overlaps with the time when kids were bitten around Habin.”
“Kwon Dojin.”
“At your age, still tucking your tail between your legs and running away because you’re afraid of your brother—it’s quite ridiculous, isn’t it?”
Dojin slowly concluded with a snicker, mocking him. Ji Haecheon, whose hands had been trembling, finally collapsed at the mockery. Unable to contain his temper, he threw a punch at Kwon Dojin’s face.
“Young master!”
Despite being able to dodge it completely, Dojin deliberately took the hit, and his lip split. Secretary Lee, who had been watching with an anxious heart at the clear injury, rushed over in one breath to block between Kwon Dojin and Ji Haecheon.
“Are you alright?”
As Dojin covered his mouth and lowered his head, Secretary Lee, still concerned, thoroughly checked his well-being.
“Ah, really.”
How delightful that he had moved exactly as wanted. This was why Dojin couldn’t shake the thought that Ji Haecheon was stupid. How empty-headed must one be to think of raising a fist in front of so many people?
“Congratulations on causing trouble, Ji Haecheon. Looks like this will be the worst birthday ever, huh?”
Adding that he had nonetheless gotten what he wanted, Dojin bit his lips firmly, afraid that laughter might escape.
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