Chapter 246
246
“Th-That marriage proposal… I heard you didn’t accept it?”
“Yes. I didn’t.”
“Th-Then why… the Divine Dragon……”
“Pardon?”
Songhwa, who had turned pale, couldn’t continue speaking and just mumbled.
Puzzled by his strange reaction, I realized what he was misunderstanding and waved my hand.
“Hold on, Dojang Songhwa. You’re mistaken, it’s not like that, okay?”
“…Ah, ah! It’s not, right? Right?”
“It’s not, so lower your voice. People are staring.”
“Oh, you startled me. Forgive me, you two. I was thinking nonsense……”
Songhwa, his face reddened, hurriedly apologized, and Namgung Hwi gave him a strangely cool smile as he looked at him.
But he soon hid his displeasure and changed the subject.
“If you’ve had enough of your chat, may we pass now?”
“Ah, I was disturbing you two. Yes. I’ll be going now. I’ll see you again. Dang Sojeo.”
“Go in, Dojang.”
I greeted Songhwa, who was hastily retreating, and rolled my eyes, pretending to put Tanghulu in my mouth.
He’s upset.
Who would feel good being mistaken for a suitor just for being together, but the guy who had been smiling all along revealed his emotions, so I felt awkward even though it wasn’t my fault.
As I awkwardly crunched the fruit in my mouth, the hardened sugar crystals pricked my tender flesh, causing a stinging sensation.
Perhaps noticing my awkwardness, Namgung Hwi pointed the way with a smiling face.
“Then, shall we go?”
“Yeees.”
Namgung Hwi, who had moved his position, tried to lighten the mood as if nothing had happened.
As I nodded along appropriately and moved my feet, he seemed relieved and smiled brightly with sparkling eyes.
It wasn’t a forced smile like usual, but a smile from the heart, and I unknowingly relaxed.
I wondered what his ulterior motive was, but it seemed he just wanted to get some fresh air.
Even if he acts like an adult, he can’t hide his age. He’s kind of cute.
“Dang Sojeo, have you ever been to Dongho Lake? If you go now, the spring flowers are in full bloom……”
“So-hye.”
The moment Namgung Hwi mentioned Dongho Lake with a very excited expression, a familiar person blocked our path.
“Brother, you’ve arrived.”
“Woon Oppa? What brings you out here?”
“I came to meet So-hye because she seemed to be late. It’s been well over half an hour. Shouldn’t we go back before nightfall?”
Dang-un, lightly ignoring Namgung Hwi’s greeting, reached out his hand to me.
Is it because Namgung Hwi’s first impression wasn’t good? He openly dislikes him.
I was a little embarrassed, but it was difficult not to follow Dang-un’s firm stance.
As I glanced at Namgung Hwi with a troubled expression, Namgung Hwi nodded slightly as if to say he was okay.
Just as I was about to obediently take Dang-un’s hand, he murmured as if whispering.
“I smell orchid fragrance.”
“Pardon?”
“Orchid fragrance.”
Dang-un, who slowly turned his head, had eyes that gleamed eerily.
He slowly closed and opened his eyes, then bent over and began to cough dryly.
“Cough, cough!”
“Oppa? Are you alright?”
“Cough, So-hye. Can you support your brother?”
“Yes? Yes. Lean on me.”
Dang-un’s complexion was pale as he coughed and staggered as if he were about to lose his breath at any moment.
Why is he suddenly like this? I checked that his Qi and Blood Points were stable. His breathing is still regular.
I was startled and supported Dang-un, but I soon realized why he was groaning and swallowed a hollow laugh.
There was a figure in the distance, anxiously watching us.
“Cough!”
Every time Dang-un trembled and hunched over, Gwisu-sin flinched and bit his lip.
I’m going crazy. Is he pretending to be sick on purpose to get Gwisu-sin to see him?
And that elder is really worried and stamping his feet?
After coughing for a long time without Gwisu-sin approaching, Dang-un must have thought it wouldn’t work, so he covered his mouth with his sleeve and bit his tongue.
The moment he raised his blood-soaked Green Robe sleeve with tearful eyes, Gwisu-sin rushed over at an incredible speed and snatched Dang-un away.
“Uh……”
“Oh.”
Namgung Hwi also exclaimed in admiration, seemingly surprised by the speed.
The way he obediently nestled in his arms and wrapped his arms around Gwisu-sin’s neck was so natural that I was speechless with absurdity.
Looking at that ridiculous sight, it seemed that Dang-un had always been carried like that.
……What a pathetic sight.
As my expression twisted harshly, Namgung Hwi spoke with a questioning look.
“Dang Sojeo. Just now……”
“Could you please not say anything? I want to erase what I just saw from my mind.”
“Yes, I understand.”
I stopped Namgung Hwi from speaking, pressed my eyes, and sighed.
As I looked troubled, Namgung Hwi rolled his big eyes and chose his words, then asked softly.
“You seem very surprised, if you need time to calm down, shall I take you to a teahouse? I know a quiet place.”
“That would be nice.”
I answered, trying to hide my fatigue.
\ \ *
Namgung Hwi took me to a teahouse and quietly stayed by my side until the sun had completely set, then took me back to my lodgings and left.
As I soothed my tired body from the storm of incidents and accidents and opened the gate, I saw Grandfather sitting on the roof, smoking a long pipe.
“Grandfather, were you waiting for me?”
“Where’s Woon? He went out before sunset to pick you up.”
“Yes. I met him. I met him, but… something else came up in the Market street. I think Brother will be late.”
“Something else? What business does a guy who doesn’t know anyone in Mu-han have?”
Grandfather frowned and asked as he lightly jumped to the ground.
“That guy, his recent behavior is very suspicious. Why? Did your brother find a lover or something?”
“……Ahahaha.”
As I avoided his gaze and pretended not to notice, Grandfather opened his eyes wide as if it were a big deal.
“So it was true. I wondered why he stubbornly came all the way to Mu-han, there was a reason. Is the maiden he’s meeting participating in this competition?”
……He’s not participating himself. It seems the Martial Artist he taught is participating.
Grandfather’s expression was filled with interest as he accepted my silence as affirmation.
“What kind of maiden is she? Is she beautiful? How old is she? Has she ever been to Sichuan? If her family is far away, it will be difficult to visit after the marriage.”
“That… um. I don’t think I’m the one to tell you. Grandfather. It would be better to hear it directly from Brother.”
Grandfather flicked my nose lightly, which I could only awkwardly laugh at, and chuckled.
“Alright. It’s okay if it’s difficult to answer. You’re probably worried about your brother’s feelings. It seems Woon is finally doing well. He refused all the arranged marriages that came in, saying he didn’t want to cause trouble.”
My father will also be happy to see his eldest grandson soon, so I wanted to run away immediately at the voice.
Grandfather, who was muttering that he should prepare a Marriage proposal letter, soon changed the subject.
“That’s not important, were you with the Namgung child until this hour? How fun was it?”
“Ahaha, it just happened that way.”
“He chased Gyeongwon away without giving him a chance. It seems you like the Namgung child quite a bit?”
“Yes? What, no, it’s not like that, Grandfather.”
“You. Enough with the excuses. If you like him, there’s nothing I can do. What good would an old man’s advice do but make you go astray?”
Grandfather, who was looking at me with a complicated gaze, muttered unhappily.
“Gyeongwon is much better than a guy who’s just handsome……. Seeing that you look at faces first, there must be something wrong with the Dang bloodline. Haa.”
I was sweating at Grandfather’s words, which were clearly a misunderstanding.
That’s not it at all.
Namgung Hwi’s face is beyond my taste, but it’s just the appearance.
It was difficult to treat the guy whose memories of being thirteen were still vivid as a man. And that goes for him too.
“Baby. If there’s a man you like, feel free to meet him. To tell if he’s just smooth-talking or the real deal, you have to meet and compare this one and that one. If you want to do that, I won’t stop you.”
“……”
“But So-hye, you are this old man’s direct disciple. Even if dirt gets in this old man’s eyes, I have no intention of giving you to another clan. And I shouldn’t. The guy who will be your husband must be a Dang. Do you understand?”
“Yes. I will.”
Grandfather, who had earnestly urged me, sighed and stroked my cheek.
I watched his expression and asked carefully.
“Um… if I say I won’t get married, will you be angry?”
“Why? Are you worried it will be boring to live with only one guy?”
“Yes? No! I’m not that shameless, Grandfather!”
Grandfather, who chuckled at my shrill voice, looked at the sky and opened his mouth.
“What’s so shameless about it? Do as you please.”
“Really?”
“There’s no need to live with someone you don’t even like. Look at your grandfather. There’s no problem living without marriage, rather, you can live doing everything you want.”
He made a self-deprecating joke and was silent for a long time. Then he muttered quietly.
“……But it’s just as lonely. I hope you never know that loneliness.”
“……”
“Forgetting about Grace and grudges, it would be nice to bring a man to rely on for a lifetime and live happily together……. Is that just my greed?”
A faint pain was mixed in Grandfather’s voice as he gently urged me to see if I could change my mind.
Grandfather smiled bitterly when I closed my mouth tightly and didn’t answer.
“Alright……. I won’t nag you. Stubborn as always.”
“Grandfather……. That’s…….”
“You must be tired, go and rest.”
Grandfather, who cut me off as if he hadn’t heard me, turned his back.
His slowly receding figure looked particularly lonely today.
I stared at him silently and dropped my head.
