Emily’s POV
Instead of asking such a personal question, I did something else. I tilted my head, feigning a curiosity that was only half-feigned. “What is ‘Hyung’?”
The question seemed to startle him out of his intense appraisal. The unreadable expression on his face shifted into something softer. He was amused by my question.
“It’s Korean,” he explained, his voice losing its edge. “It’s what a younger brother calls an older brother. A term of respect.” He paused, his gaze flicking in the direction Minjun had disappeared. “Or, in some cases, a term used to maintain a pretense of respect.”
The bitterness in that last part was subtle, but I caught it. It was another crack, another glimpse into his family's complicated dynamics.
“Oh,” I said, processing this. “So he has to call you that
