1119 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

"......" What was this situation? I found myself speechless at the scene unfolding before me. "Cough..." Mi Hyo Ran noticed me and tried to clear her throat, but her mouth was so full that she barely managed to hold it in. "Oh. What brings you here?" Nam Gung Hyung greeted me as if nothing was out of the ordinary, holding his chopsticks with a calm expression. Hyun So Yeon, who was carrying some dishes, also looked directly at me. "You've arrived?" She greeted me with an unsurpassed calmness. "...Uh, yes." What on earth was this situation? I responded, but I couldn’t grasp it. Why were these people gathered here? And at Nam Gung Hyung’s place, no less. "Would you like to sit? We made quite a bit." "..." At Hyun So Yeon's suggestion, I hesitantly took a seat. That’s when I noticed Mi Hyo Ran. Her eyes were swollen as she hurriedly chewed her food. The traces of tears were evident in her eyes. "So, why are you here?" Nam Gung Hyung asked. "...Just had some business." "With who? Me?" "Something like that." I decided to leave it at that. "You’re not here to freeload a meal from my decrepit place… So, what’s your business with me?" "I had something to say, but I forgot." "What?" Nam Gung Hyung looked at me incredulously. I ignored his gaze. Thump. A dish was placed in front of me. It was brought by Hyun So Yeon. Seeing this, I promptly asked her. "...What are you doing here?" "Pardon?" At my inquiry, Hyun So Yeon tilted her head. "Can't you tell by looking? I'm cooking." "......" Who asks why one cooks? I meant, why are you cooking here...? Hyun So Yeon chuckled lightly as if she understood the meaning behind my question and elaborated. "What else? It’s because of our young master." By 'young master'... she must mean Nam Gung Hyung. "Oh... If only I hadn’t lost the bet." Hyun So Yeon sighed. A bet? It sounded like she had wagered something with Nam Gung Hyung. So that’s why she was cooking at this time in his quarters. '...Was there a space for cooking?' I wondered if such a place existed in Nam Gung Hyung's quarters. Obviously, it did since she was cooking. Recalling this, I glanced at Mi Hyo Ran. She continued to ignore my gaze, intently focused on eating. "....." As I silently observed, Hyun So Yeon spoke to me. "When I found her sulking nearby, I decided to bring her along. It seemed like something had happened. I thought at least a meal might help." "Who... cough." As Mi Hyo Ran was speaking, she halted. Hastily swallowing what she was chewing, she spoke to Hyun So Yeon with an indignant expression. "Who said I was crying?" "Miss Mi, you know what you’re saying isn’t convincing with those eyes, right?" "......" At those words, Mi Hyo Ran quickly rubbed her eyes. "It's... because something got in my eyes." "What kind of massive thing must have gotten in to cause that?" Hyun So Yeon laughed as she spoke. Mi Hyo Ran, realizing her excuse was futile, pressed her lips firmly together. 'Refreshing.' I thought to myself watching her. Mi Hyo Ran was crying? From what I knew of Madam Mi in the future, she was hardly the crying type. Ah, but I had seen her on the verge of tears once. 'Was it in the past life?' Was it right after the war with Kunlun? After the mass slaughter of the orthodox factions of the time. Right when she was unifying the demonic practitioners for the next move. During that, I encountered the forces of the orthodox sect once more. The Baekhwa Merchant Guild was involved back then. It was then I met Madam Mi. 'That time.' I vividly remembered her expression. The face she made, the tears brimming in her eyes as she looked at me. 'What did she say?' Madam Mi said something to me when we met. ZGVPdDc2cnQxMFU0bVlrbnZITXlVcmxzTWVzWnI4RHMzMmdoQjhEeGs4WVJnZ0ZMeFJmY1JTMDNPQ0VBbHdDUQ But I didn’t have the leisure to remember it then. Or perhaps, I didn’t wish to remember it. Anyway. The expression on Mi Hyo Ran now looked no different from the Madam Mi of that time. "......" As I recalled this, quietly watching her. Clatter. Mi Hyo Ran abruptly stood up, as if she'd finished her meal. "...Thank you. I'll pay you back later." "Oh, no need for that. Such pleasantries aren't—" "Then I'll take my leave." "Ah... Oh. Yes." Before Nam Gung Hyung could finish speaking, Mi Hyo Ran moved. As the door opened and she left, a momentary silence filled the air. Just as I was pondering what to do next. "What are you doing?" Hyun So Yeon spoke. "Pardon?" What am I doing? I replied with a puzzled look, to which Hyun So Yeon pointed outside with her chin. "You came to fetch her, right? Go after her quickly." "......" “Didn't you?” I chuckled awkwardly as if she had seen right through me. How did she know? Without answering, I got up. Then glanced at the untouched food before me. "What about the food? I didn’t get to eat it?" Noting that she had prepared it, I felt a bit sorry for leaving it uneaten, but Hyun So Yeon just shook her head. "It’s fine. I didn’t bring it for Young Master in the first place." "Really?" "There’s a glutton here, so it’s not an issue." "......" Turning my gaze, I saw Nam Gung Hyung ravenously devouring the food. Ah, I see. Indeed, it should be fine. After offering a brief nod of gratitude, I confidently stepped outside. It was getting late by now. Where could Mi Hyo Ran have gone? It wasn’t hard to find her. 'There she is.' Mi Hyo Ran was not far from the martial arts compound. She couldn’t have gone far, considering she wasn’t well-versed in martial arts. Keeping this in mind, I found her shortly. A small pond set within the Nam Gung estate. Mi Hyo Ran was crouched there. Her small back hunched. Confirming this, I halted my steps. About twenty paces away. I watched quietly, masking my presence. "......" I had come, but what did I intend to do? 'Right.' What did I want to do? Was I trying to console Mi Hyo Ran? Suddenly I wasn't sure. So, as I deliberated... Crunch. ‘Huh?’ I sensed a presence a short distance away. Squinting, I recognized a familiar face. ‘Oh?’ A young man with white hair and piercing blue eyes. It was Nam Goong Jin. With a visibly nervous expression, he was slowly approaching Mi Hyo Ran. At that moment. "...What is it?" Mi Hyo Ran spoke without turning around. Only then did Nam Goong Jin pause. Surprisingly, Mi Hyo Ran seemed aware that Nam Goong Jin was approaching. "Ah..." Nam Goong Jin stammered, looking flustered. "I, uh, happened to be out on a walk and saw you. I was wondering if something might be wrong, if you’re alright." "......" Mi Hyo Ran glanced at Nam Goong Jin at his words. In that instant. “...Were you crying? Miss Mi, were you crying?” Seeing Mi Hyo Ran’s swollen eyes, Nam Goong Jin frowned deeply. "I wasn’t crying." "Who? Who made you cry? Was it that damned Goo Cheol Woon?" To call someone else's father a damned fool. Hearing this made irritation surge through me. "Who are you calling a damned fool? Watch your words." Mi Hyo Ran warned Nam Goong Jin with a cold look, causing him to flinch. "Ah... I didn’t mean..." "Isn't Goo Young Master your senior? Show some respect. Don’t act rudely." Rubbing her eyes with the back of her hand, Mi Hyo Ran stood up abruptly, as if she had no reason to continue the conversation. As she began to walk away. "Miss Mi. Wait...!" Nam Goong Jin moved toward her and grabbed her wrist. That guy? Seeing that, a vein pulsed in my temple. I felt like yanking his arm out. Thud! Mi Hyo Ran shook his hand off the moment he grabbed her. Her expression seemed icier than ever. "What do you think you're doing? Why are you touching me like that?" "…Ah, sorry. I acted in haste." "What's your business?" "..." Mi Hyo Ran asked, lightly brushing her wrist. Nam Goong Jin hesitated, opening and closing his mouth. His words were inaudible. Just as Mi Hyo Ran was about to turn away. "…Why can't it be me?" Nam Goong Jin spoke. “Goo Cheol Woon, that fellow, is okay. Why can’t it be me?” There was a profound sadness in his voice. ‘As expected.’ Watching this, I furrowed my brows. It was evident that Nam Goong Jin harbored feelings for Mi Hyo Ran. "Sigh." Mi Hyo Ran sighed at his words. "Young Master Nam Goong, I appreciate your feelings, but there’s little point in seeking reasons for something that isn’t meant to be." "..." It was clear Mi Hyo Ran was already aware. How could anyone not know with such obvious affections? "Rather than someone like me, wouldn't it be better to focus on the one beside you?" "..." The one beside him. That likely referred to his fiancée, Hyun So Yeon. "The one beside me? Haha..." Nam Goong Jin let out a laugh filled with disbelief. "Who’s beside me, pray tell?" "That would be Miss Hyun..." "She knows it too. She isn't truly beside me." "..." In the face of Nam Goong Jin's decisive words, Mi Hyo Ran fell silent. "She merely chose me for the legitimacy of staying here..." His tone was a bitter mix of resentment and resolve. Suppressing a sigh, Nam Goong Jin continued to speak to Mi Hyo Ran. "The moment Nam Gung Hyung disappears, she will leave here without hesitation." '…Huh?' Hearing this, my eyes widened. Why was Nam Gung Hyung being mentioned here...? 'Oh?' Some phrases from Hyun So Yeon came rushing back. 'This isn't love. It's just something that needs to be done.' 'Take it from someone with experience. Grab it while you can.' "..." Recalling how she had said she didn’t like Nam Goong Jin. The engagement she deemed necessary. Her words and bitter expression back then resurfaced in my mind. '…And Nam Gung Hyung?' Then, I remembered the times she prepared meals for him and spent time in his quarters. 'Oh. Oh?' Could it be…? Was it really what I was imagining? In that case, this... ‘Is a real mess of a household.’ A complete and utter chaos couldn’t even begin to describe it.