1111 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

The Best Under Heaven's Sweetheart, Chapter 1111 "……." "……." Sitting on the floor and munching on a carrot, Namgoong Hyeong, his striking blue eyes and handsome face, made eye contact with me. While he was indeed a striking figure, the white hair characteristic of the Namgoong family enhancing his good looks, I couldn't help but think: 'What’s up with that look?' To see such a refined man sitting and chomping down on a carrot in such a manner was indescribable. His noble appearance seemed incongruent with his current downcast state. It was hard to explain, but something about it just felt off. "Ahem." Surprised by our sudden eye contact, Namgoong Hyeong cleared his throat, causing carrot crumbs to fly out of his mouth. "*Cough*, *cough*... just a moment, *gag*..." He was having a hard time managing due to an unexpected cough. "……." "*Ahem*... *Cough*! Could I, uh, get some water?" At Namgoong Hyeong's request, I handed him the water bottle next to me. He took it and drank greedily. "Fuuu…" A sigh of relief escaped him, as if he'd narrowly avoided an untimely fate. "Phew, that was close. Haha." He scratched the back of his head, looking visibly embarrassed. The silence that followed was awkward, until Hyun So Yeon broke it. "It's been a while, young master." Young master. An unfamiliar address. Yet, Namgoong Hyeong seemed accustomed to it, as he scratched his cheek and replied to Hyun So Yeon. "Yes. Have you been well, sir?" She was a lady in his eyes. It seemed they had some prior acquaintance. "I've been well. But... it seems you haven't been faring as well, young master?" The heir of the Namgoong family, here of all places? From the way he was seated and munching on carrots, Hyun So Yeon seemed to have deduced things hadn't been going too smoothly for him. "Hahaha. Ah, isn't it normal to feel a tad hungry at night? My appetite led me here, surely the same happened to you, right?" "That's true." Hyun So Yeon nodded in agreement, though I wondered why she found it so convincing. Not that this was the right moment to delve deeper. "So, sir. Have you snuck in here again?" Namgoong Hyeong's comment caused Hyun So Yeon to clear her throat, this time. The pertinent part was the word 'again?' Namgoong Hyeong's reference to 'again' hinted at past events. He'd seen her behave like this frequently enough that it seemed familiar. ‘I often wonder what she's up to.’ This woman... what had she been up to in someone else's home? The more I learn, the more perplexing it all seems. "Anyway…" Hyun So Yeon attempted to nonchalantly gloss over things. She was visibly trying to ignore our gaze, awkwardly evading it. "…It seems like you both have matters to discuss. Shall we move on smoothly?" "Haha, well, that won't do," Namgoong Hyeong stood up slowly in response to Hyun So Yeon's words. Plop. Bits and pieces fell from his clothes as he rose. What I thought were mere carrot pieces at first turned out to be a mix of other things. ‘What exactly had he been eating?’ Apparently, it wasn’t just carrots. “Oh dear…” Namgoong Hyeong quickly dusted himself off, causing more flakes to fall. How does one manage to get food all over like that? “Why not?” Hyun So Yeon, seemingly unconcerned with Namgoong Hyeong's predicament, pressed on with her question. He hurriedly brushed off the pieces while replying to her. “Though I am part of the family here to satiate my hunger, it’s not the same for you, isn’t it? The pretext is troubling, the pretext.” “Why? I am family to the Namgoong clan, too.” “Not quite yet. Besides, our clumsy elder brother is trying everything in his power to prevent it.” “Just because he's trying doesn’t make it untrue.” “That is true, yet…” Namgoong Hyeong smiled gently as he spoke. “It is also true that it isn't time yet.” “…….” “Furthermore, it's not just you. Those two over there…” Namgoong Hyeong paused as he glanced at me, then at the lady beside me, pausing even longer. “...are not supposed to be involved, are they?” Click. Hyun So Yeon seemed momentarily at a loss for words, clicking her tongue briefly. Has the negotiation failed? I wondered how things would unfold as I waited for Hyun So Yeon's reaction. “What do you want?” With a resigned sigh, she spoke. Namgoong Hyeong’s smile widened as if he had been expecting this. “Ah, as expected. Our prospective sister-in-law is always easy to converse with.” It seemed he indeed had something in mind. I wondered what it was as Namgoong Hyeong approached me. Then, out of the blue, he said: "What I want, isn't it something you already know, sister-in-law?" “…….” “Right?” He spoke solemnly, his tone heavy, standing very close to Hyun So Yeon. ‘Oh?’ What was this atmosphere? Could it be... ‘A forbidden romance?’ The thought flashed through my mind. Is this why Namgoong Hyeong abruptly left the Namgoong family to join the Wudang Sect? Was this all because he loved his brother’s woman? It was a compelling idea, and I found myself drawn in. “……Oh my.” Even my mother, intrigued, reacted audibly until I lightly pulled her back to quiet her. Then. “Anyway…….” At Namgoong Hyeong's words, Hyun So Yeon reluctantly shook her head. And then she said. “Alright.” This time, Hyun So Yeon approached Namgoong Hyeong to speak. “I'll grant your wish. Once again.” She said, holding onto Namgoong Hyeong’s collar with a gentle hand. Wow. I found myself watching intently, covering my mouth unconsciously. What followed was what Namgoong Hyeong had hoped for with Hyun So Yeon. Surprisingly, it did happen. * * * Hissss. In the midst of the scorching heat, seated at the desk, resting my chin on my palm, I was observing the scene unfolding in the heated room. There, full of anticipation, was Namgoong Hyeong, his eyes gleaming as he looked towards the kitchen area. I couldn't help but wonder what he found so exciting, so I turned my gaze toward the kitchen. Roar-!! Sizzle! Over the rising flames, Hyun So Yeon could be seen diligently stirring a cast iron pot. Despite the heat looming in the air, causing beads of sweat to form on her forehead, she continued to cook with her delicate hands, unfazed. "Ohh! Ohh!" "……." Meanwhile, my mother watched in awe, and I observed the situation with a mix of emotions. 'What is this?' Suddenly, this whole scenario seemed strange. Namgoong Hyeong had mentioned wanting something, and Hyun So Yeon agreed to fulfill his wish. Then, she went straight to the kitchen, grabbed a pot and ingredients, and started cooking. As if she had done it many times before. And that’s where we were now. "There. It's done." It didn't take long before a fully prepared dish appeared. "Let’s eat." The fragrant aroma wafted from the dish. What type of food was this? It was certainly a form I hadn’t seen before. "Oh wow…" Before me, Namgoong Hyeong let out a murmur. This man had already picked up a spoon and was digging in. He even wore an expression of utter satisfaction. "This is it... This is what I wanted…" "……." He looked on the verge of tears. What could possibly taste that amazing? I didn’t quite grasp the situation, but I took a bite. ‘Oh?’ I was taken aback. ‘It's delicious?’ It tasted so much better than anticipated. As I savored the flavor spreading in my mouth, "It's good, isn't it?" Hyun So Yeon said with a chuckle. "Yes. It’s delicious. Why is it so good…?" I answered truthfully. It was genuinely tasty. Perhaps even better than dumplings. "My hobby is making and eating various dishes… and young master seems to like this a lot." "Thanks to you, I've been eating well." "If only I hadn't been caught cooking last time, it wouldn't have been such a hassle." "Oh come on. It works out for both of us, doesn't it?" "Sigh." "……." Listening to their conversation, it seemed this wasn't the first time such a situation had occurred. Namgoong Hyeong had tried to sneak in here for food, and it so happened that Hyun So Yeon had been cooking in someone else's kitchen. 'What peculiar people.' A bizarre pair indeed — he who tried to raid a kitchen for food, and she who secretly cooked and ate in another’s kitchen. “People must eat like people to truly enjoy life, don't you think?” Namgoong Hyeong, clearly taken with the meal, continued to spoon it into his mouth. Did he starve the whole day or what? Why sneak food like this? ‘But he is family, right?’ Just then, something was placed on my spoon. "……?" "This one's tasty too. Try it." It was Mother. She had put some side dish intended for her into my spoon. "Oh... Ah, thank you. But aren’t you-" “Just eat it already.” "……." Momentarily flustered, I was urged by Mother to try it quickly. So, I put it in my mouth. "Tasty?" “Yes.” “Really? Then try this one, too.” "……." And she placed another on my spoon, which I again ate. This repeated about four or five times when— “Why don’t you eat, Mom? You mentioned you were hungry earlier.” Recognizing that Mother hadn’t eaten much, I pointed it out, prompting her to widen her eyes. “Oh! You’re right. I should have, too.” Noting this belatedly, she reacted. “What’s this? Why is this? How curious.” She chuckled, then continued with her strange remarks. “But watching you eat makes me happy. So just eat more.” "…….” Once again, more food was placed on my spoon, and I answered with my actions by consuming it. ‘Is it really okay to be doing this?’ Thoughts crossed my mind, questions, even doubts. Both Hyun So Yeon and Namgoong Hyeong had gone entirely unnoticed by me. ‘It must be having Mother so close by.’ It felt as if my senses had dulled significantly. This uncertainty lingered — if we failed to notice someone approaching? It would certainly be troublesome. Lost in these worry-driven thoughts, more food landed on my spoon. Just when I thought Mother had provided yet another, Thunk! The door to the building suddenly opened. Everyone inside froze like a stone as the door flung open. The first thing visible was a pair of glowing red eyes staring in. Eyes that seemed capable of bursting into flames. Huff. Huff. The palpable sounds of uneven breathing made it clear that the intruder's breath had yet to settle. And those rolling crimson eyes turned directly towards us. Whoosh. Heat seemed to brush past the room — and with it, the owner of the eyes made their entrance, visible at last. Creak. The individual stepping into the room was— ‘Father...?’ It was Father. His expression twisted and his breath labored, his searching gaze then moved to Mother. ‘Ah.’ Could he have been searching for Mother? “Chul Woon?” Reacting to his glance, Mother called out. In that moment, Father's gaze sharpened as it directed more precisely somewhere. That place was— ‘Hmm?’ The spot where Mother had been placing side dishes onto my plate. "……." And witnessing that, Father's eyebrows twitched intensely. …Oh dear?