"I mean here…"
Then he opened his little finger and continued.
"Right here—there's a red thread between us. We were born on the same day, at the same time, and even in the same place. So if it's destiny, then maybe it's just that. But… let's cut it off now."
"…What?"
What kind of nonsense was that? Jeong Tae-eui blinked in confusion. His older brother often existed in realms beyond comprehension, but he had never said anything quite this inexplicable before.
Tae-eui had long known that his brother's mind didn't work like everyone else's. Still, for the briefest moment, he wondered if maybe it didn't even qualify as normal.
His brother remained calm, as always, holding up his fingers like scissors and miming a snip between their pinkies—as if cutting some invisible red thread that bound them.
Then, as if nothing had happened, he lowered his hand. Jeong Tae-eui, still watching him, hesitated, then asked quietly:
"Hyung… Did you hate me or something?"
He thought back. Had he done something lately? Nothing came to mind. What could have prompted such a sudden declaration? Why now?
His brother blinked at him like he'd asked something ridiculous.
"Why would I?"
That was all he said. Jeong Tae-eui tilted his head, searching his brother's face for any sign of sarcasm or hidden meaning—but there was none. Just that expressionless face.
But looking back, maybe what his brother really meant was: "Then why would I like you?"
Not that it mattered anymore. The only one who could answer that question had already left, trailing behind him vague parting words about needing to experience misfortune.
At the time, Jeong Tae-eui had thought, what a load of nonsense. But now… now it looked like even that had been another stroke of uncanny luck. His brother had left just in time—before this troublesome visitor arrived and threw everything off balance.