He’s a Fox Ch 92

Chapter 92

“What, you got here way earlier than I thought.”

The voice came from deeper inside, where the others must have been; the text he’d sent when leaving had given them a rough ETA, so their surprise at his arrival made sense. If he’d come the usual way—by bus—Suhyun’s estimate would’ve been right; he’d be thirty minutes later. But today, Hohyun hadn’t taken public transit—he’d arrived by car. Sitting beside the fourth sibling on the sofa, watching a variety show, the third sibling looked over as Hohyun announced, proud as a cat with a prize:

“We came by car today. So we got here faster!”

“…A car? Baby bro, did you get your license?”

He shook his head immediately. Suhyun nodded, not surprised. With four older siblings loudly cheering him on the moment he turned of age, he’d tried hard to get licensed, but gave up quickly. Written tests and such were easy. The minute he hit actual streets, though—anything could happen. Even with an examiner in the passenger seat, it went sideways; everyone unanimously vetoed him driving alone. For Hohyun, the road was simply too dangerous a place.

Accepting that he hadn’t magically obtained a license in secret, Suhyun then followed the logic to its source.

“If you didn’t drive… who brought you?”

“Mm, the Boss did.”

“…Did he now?”

His nod narrowed Suhyun’s eyes. Nearly a decade of real-world experience under employers taught her to hear the undertones. The Ye family’s main house sat a bit out there—too sparse in amenities to feel like the city, too bustling to call rural. The odds that the youngest’s boss “happened” to have business nearby today, and “just happened” to give him a ride, were extremely low.

And a boss moonlighting as a chauffeur for a subordinate’s personal errand? Even less likely. Freelance or not, Ihyun tilted his head the same way, suspicion sharpening.

“What, does this boss of yours have a thing for our Hoya or what?”

“…”

Suhyun’s silence said she agreed. Both siblings stared, eyes asking, Is that true? With only one piece of data—“the Boss drove him here”—their guess was unnervingly sharp.

Denying it would be a lie; admitting it would stir a hornet’s nest. While he hesitated in that tightrope silence, Ihyun spun around, catching the scent of something off.

“Why’s the air like this—don’t tell me that’s a yes?”

Seeing those eyes flash, Hohyun pressed a hand to his forehead. Not five minutes home and the noose was already around his neck. Still speechless, the fourth-born barked.

“If he’s your boss, he’s older, right? What’s some old guy doing with our Hoya—!”

“Ihyun, hush. So—how old is he?”

“Thir—thirty‑one.”

“…Oh? Same age as me.”

“Younger than I expected.”

Unlike Ihyun’s flare‑up, Suhyun filed data calmly. Ihyun had pictured forty; hearing the difference from his own age was only three years took him down a notch. Then he blinked and scowled all at once.

“Wait. That makes him ten years older than Hoya!”

Three years against himself—but ten against a twenty‑one‑year‑old little brother. As his voice rose again, the sister right beside him grimaced. Being shocked once was understandable; to keep shouting after warning was not.

He read the warning in her expression. His big frame shrank on instinct; still, he leaned fast to whisper into Hohyun’s ear.

“You should’ve called me to pick you up! Why ride with a guy like tha—”

“Ihyun.”

“…What.”

“If your head’s not for decoration, use it. The kid wouldn’t have gotten in if he didn’t want to.”

“—!”

“You said you liked someone, remember? Was that someone—the Boss who brought you today?”

He hesitated a beat, then nodded. At that, Ihyun pretended to collapse dramatically while Suhyun looked satisfied that her deduction stood. Rubbing at the nape of his neck, Hohyun spoke, awkward but steady.

“Actually… we decided to date.”

“What!!”

The confession burst shyly; Ihyun’s shout followed immediately. Despite repeated warnings, he’d detonated anyway—and Suhyun moved to reestablish order on the spot. Seizing the younger brother by the collar, she slammed him into the sofa. Hohyun quietly backed away, out of the blast radius.

Hearing the strangled yell, the elder brothers burst in from the hall, faces startled. The sight of the third cuffing the fourth softened both first and second borns’ expressions.

“Minhyun and Hyun came by for once, and you two are fighting again?”

“Big bro, second bro—did you hear?”

“We were in the kitchen—how would we? What is it?”

“Hoya—Hoya…!”

Even with his collar twisted and his throat squeezed, Ihyun didn’t stop shouting. His voice grew hoarse—not just from yelling. Had the kids’ colds passed to him after all?

Curious as they were, it wasn’t the time to ask. Sidestepping the squall, the little brother slipped to the second brother’s side. After so long, he reached to his head—an affectionate gesture that on him had a different purpose. Ye Minhyun didn’t enjoy clichés. His fingers sifted his hair, checking the scalp for any unseen scar. Only when he confirmed there had been no “head‑split open somewhere” incidents did his hand drop.

On his placid face, the slightest relief flickered. From him, it was the same as a full breast‑clutched sigh; Hohyun smiled, warm at the care.

While those two exchanged greetings, Suhyun’s “lesson” continued; the fourth was half‑dead under it until the eldest stepped in.

“Suhyun, you’ll break him.”

Suhyun always treated Ihyun like a rat caught by the tail; today it felt a bit much. At the eldest’s word, she relented a fraction—though her final glare at Ihyun promised no second chances. He bobbed his head desperately, a man who wished to live.

Released, he rubbed his sore throat and addressed Hohyun again, voice capped low under Suhyun’s leash.

“So it’s true—really dating?”

“Mm‑hmm.”

“Urrrgh…!”

While the fourth clawed at his hair, the first and second widened their eyes at the news. Dating? Who? The youngest? The elder who had witnessed the “first love fiasco” was less shocked; the second’s jaw actually dropped. Under their fierce reactions, Hohyun let his gaze slide off, sheepish. On the floor, Ihyun clutched at his hem and pleaded.

“What does he look like—come on, you’ve got a picture!”

Judging by his look, he’d harry him all day until he got an answer. He sighed small, swaying with his tug. Come to think of it, they hadn’t taken a photo yet. Could they? He tucked “take pictures together” onto the quiet bucket list in his heart, then pointed to the veranda. No photo—but thankfully, the man himself was outside.

“No picture yet, but he’s in the lot right now—”

Before the sentence finished, Ihyun shot to his feet and bolted to the veranda. Even the quiet ones followed in a flurry; curiosity trumped reticence. Tall silhouettes packed shoulder to shoulder, filling the glass. Hohyun slipped through like water and peered over the rail.

Among familiar family cars sat a large sedan he’d never seen. Beside it—an unmistakably large man. With the hour odd and the lot empty, no one needed an explanation: that was his “Boss.” Leaning on the hood, talking on the phone, he drew a hushed gasp from someone behind.

Silence settled. Then, first to recover, Ihyun slung an arm over his shoulders, bringing his mouth to his ear, voice suddenly dead serious.

“Tell me the truth. Is that really him?”

—