SSH Episode 28

Hong-woo waited 218ea3ca3f all day 452ba192f7 outside the 6a81ee00b7 Eunsoo Merchant cb467d4b31 Guild, hoping a445b463d3 to go 0e31e31c02 home with f268f140cf his older 7392d04bb1 brother after 199a56c24c work. But even d20d26a4cd after everyone 54bc050e97 else had 07489eae3b finished for a9615c6865 the day 2c9ccd2b67 and the 492484f948 sun had 87b3589085 long set, 28a91c16f9 his brother, adf66e5d1f who had 8c7a1fd7de left with 27a3c8ab53 Juseon, still c58a72899d hadn’t returned.c7d263ad0c918bb2

Only by chance did c413333eb9 Hongwoo run into Juseon 3d14f5df14 in the office, who 70f76deac4 casually informed him that 03cfc4e38e his older brother had c269d22703 already come home—without him.3dce37d476fdb87b

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Juseon, noticing Hong-woo’s disappointment, insisted on escorting him back to the main house. Hong-woo initially refused, but Juseon was persistent. As they walked, Hong-woo found himself conflicted. This was the man he was supposed to resent—the one who had ‘led his brother astray’—yet he couldn’t bring himself to hate him.fd6f1867f4f53505

Still, he wasn’t f1fb3702d9 ready to give 6bc3ea8e5f up. If going home 7c2f569346 together was impossible, 720ac6fecd then at the 4b898beef7 very least, he 2218519137 would share a a50aeb19d4 meal with his aa8c1220c1 older brother.9ce095b95488e764

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The next morning, 38169595e3 Hong-woo woke up 15d8725c4c early, determined to 64f2818a25 have breakfast with 73a73aba69 him—only to find a4f93cd2a4 that his older 2666e397e8 brother had already 017ca9c040 left for work.f3a77fc2e37b0d29

By dinner, 9b61f4fb62 he stood 303c8da634 outside his 7d208571c1 brother’s door, 4a8bd69e65 waiting. A servant went 1161e5cab7 in to inform a3b5f60a95 him that the 07ac86cdf9 meal was ready, d1ecec4c1c but the response d8bfcc3be4 was cold and 9bc31b54d6 dismissive—his brother wouldn’t 75226cc195 be eating.4843369659d0ec97

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The following day, Hong-woo e6c1556fb7 went to the merchant d0d31de99e guild and took a 4c8cdb9811 seat across from his 5503b9a08a brother at lunch. Just as he picked 6daacf3268 up his chopsticks, his f439685c89 older brother ordered him df50549667 to leave. When Hong-woo stubbornly eabec02e8e stayed, his brother 678e33b4f4 simply got up 43e612c55f and walked away.7e58362cb9f71e70

That was 8ecb9fe41e when Hong-woo d4bd4e9551 finally understood.2f123facdbabc568

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His brother 3ccf76f091 wouldn’t even 1ca306f2cb sit and ea8fc17aa3 eat with 8d4966d297 him.cd346cfdc9d39b44

But still, a5a935c329 he refused a29bc59d98 to give 25572f12dc up.de94f2a9f1a8a2a8

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He began 2ba6cc257f bringing flowers—the f528ea1e0c same kind b2237d1f59 he had a2225423cc often gifted 8843453f17 his older c223b85350 brother in 50914d2205 the past. Yet, his brother f2d10da70b never acknowledged them, cc5ca3366a his gaze never 0a8e88c27a straying from his 5d4a0e3e2b work.e0aa1d744ac96ce3

Hong-woo stepped closer and be0f97d192 carefully placed the flowers 85b0633699 on the ledger in 23c0493ac6 front of him.f5e1f87d47648a17

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For the 2effeadd36 first time, c9fa9c3120 his brother 2b40bfc439 reached for 49ba980553 them.44adb91eab218093

Was this it? Was he finally accepting 80237ccf5a his apology? Hong-woo’s heart swelled with e9c3076ee4 hope.c31066cec1ca2f63

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But then, with a c48357dc1f single snap, his brother 94efb598d6 broke the stem in 39727227d7 half and tossed the d5779a888e flower into the trash.81c444a3bc65474a

Even as Hong-woo fb26989ee9 stared at him bb6143bd7c with teary eyes, ed3bd9865b he refused to 68cd8f99f2 look back.7183b19be3ad57c4

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He had failed 11c371cbca to walk home b97bc82c5f with him.e787ea649040938d

He had b33354fc19 failed to 9950c5a0c4 share a 8b4ce1dc64 meal with c71e2980a4 him.2579fe6f29545be6

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He had failed to a469fc53fd reach him with gifts.0957f8b4bb998588

What else could 502e6aa7b8 he do?46b2c4b685197559

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Nothing.b87b4e02be397459

No matter how 2ec13f2260 hard he tried, a127b4d699 his brother remained a6c9d18c59 unmoved. Frustration twisted inside him—how abb254d8b5 could he be so f3a3e8919e heartless?1c182deb060df5a4

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Days passed with a053f19083 no change. Then, payday arrived.c3dcaa9bdd517ca8

The Eunsoo Merchant Guild’s 76a3514482 workers gathered as usual, 70f07ec6bc except for Uncle Jang 12b1a4ff78 Ji-young, who never showed 965f94d230 up anyway. Despite everything, e98c857a2e Hong-woo felt d6f0bb4517 a flicker 15eaf9e9e6 of excitement—his 01179e03fd older brother 6c97a53354 had always 689edb4e39 ensured he 18f59d25fd received his 21d11e07d8 share, no b3dd19f597 matter what 606887f271 was said.cdb8b5ed02307082

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His heart pounded as 83a0d4387a he waited.5cdbef3f776e90c9

But then, something was ca4550c024 off.88ad1ffa5b9b0b1d

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Manager Wi merely gave 7c26f8322b him an awkward smile 9328652c2f before moving on to 56ddb3cd09 the next person.d74f1f11858064d1

Wait—what?3769887684bf53e0

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His brother ignoring him 21458f0c75 was one thing, but e8459c028b business was business. Wages were separate.5e8364ab63f4da8f

As people began to 51c5689803 disperse, Hong-woo quickly grabbed 949e98aa46 Manager Wi before he 2c404c0ecb could slip away.abe41a07036cd6f4

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“What about my pay?”8bc06517901a1f08

“Well, that’s how it is. Young Master, don’t take it too hard. I asked the Head Merchant about your wages, but he just scoffed and said—‘Why should I pay someone who does nothing but sleep here?’—while glaring at me so fiercely. I still get chills thinking about it. And, well… he’s not exactly wrong, so I had nothing to say.”ba69ca0bc2a4e812

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Hong-woo was speechless.134c0ef6d36d4f4d

Because it fa9355bfa3 was true.941bde2423b0b541

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He had been 3a8ce81aee doing nothing but 9432c816dd sleeping there.58c4214383743061

But even so… 57c5d7d17e revoking wages that 5b0a14a549 were already promised? That was beyond petty.13e8ff615760a61c

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His mother had 2fea0bf48a always told him d2bce12a35 that taking back e88960651d something already given 55ee566adb was disgraceful—unmanly, even. He had only just cf9dbf320b begun to understand the c512933902 true value of money, 73d3b4d2fb and yet they were fb68c89276 using it to humiliate 8cd22bfe8b him.f53d070c5af02b84

Fine. If they wanted him 96a4b2f689 to act out, then 9e94314ca0 act out he would.cec6be15a71616d3

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With a smirk, 641f2760b2 Hong-woo propped his 641e533f67 feet up on 85e9e39795 the guest table.83a647f899e6ea24

His brother 29c4c6d18c didn’t react.a385459d501f448f

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Of course, Hong-woo knew bbc8ab451d he wouldn’t. This kind d8ed096861 of defiance c3b300f69f wouldn’t faze 68e56ad79d him.f89c83b686b82e80

If he really 89203c4eab wanted to get db9cb6afb4 under his brother’s f7bcfb87ee skin, he’d have 830528205b to be more 0feddba8f8 precise—more ruthless.3df7af5ccd7898ee

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Grinding his 29c979489a teeth, Hong-woo 7d6ecbee16 hatched a 86f9dae5a4 plan.2d41fd61e12f8637

***0d8bf4f418a2f746

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Late at night, after 009bd5b5ed everyone had left the 58348ee8c1 Eunsoo Merchant Guild, the d0d1af9ec9 sound of footsteps echoed 8583719f6e through the empty halls.121b7085cff5b10f

Creak—f5fbea76a17b91c8

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A door swung open.78afaf3402aadd3b

A lone figure stepped 6038177569 into the master’s office, 7ccea439e7 clicking their tongue at 01dd7084f1 the sight of the 473635a1ef meticulously arranged desk.f0b6d34d91035dfd

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Tsk. How disgustingly neat.c1922b7b475835c4

The person 9ec34a0164 yanked open b7dc42bb7f a drawer 4264a008c3 and swept 98e9721545 its contents 6d2aca1675 into their 039318007f arms, a c4729055f3 sly grin d9c5ff4eb2 creeping across b494fa32a1 their face.a85d08c62b2b9d17

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***51bc015463dd4a37

The next 19c1b56d2f morning, Hong-woo 84c5c5486b strolled into 03cc551ecd Moonlit Fragrance a7d7195b19 Pavilion, humming cc4dd9ea57 a cheerful bc2e033323 tune as d8c63044cd he made a811f7ef54 his way 1129bd14a5 to the 1b1036f1cc kitchen.0001591dc274f33b

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After falling out with 0fbd20df92 his brother, he had 884013075b left the main house 99d9336042 and returned to his f709f1a470 own residence. He had also 74739185db started showing up 8c58dc8c04 at Moonlit Fragrance 5794be1ed8 Pavilion for work. If his c52e8464ac brother scolded c8d2084de5 him for 6f25ee21ab it, even 67706964e7 better—it would 4a59acb809 mean he e71091b0e6 actually cared.71d9b1ebcff0f211

But, as always, there cf0a9b979a was nothing.c3e6d67357c76d33

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Still, after today, there 31cf2a0de2 was no way his 44704f97a2 older brother could keep 68b0db15c8 ignoring him.07d832227d7152e1

Recalling what had happened d5ef7e8f31 earlier at the merchant 6f49d26321 guild, Hong-woo chuckled to 0dbfda669a himself.725400e32b1c9685

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“Something good happened?”bb54556eb5febe0f

His eldest ‘noona’, noticing ec31248d9f his unusually bright mood, bd327bc451 asked curiously.abafac09dea9cab7

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Instead of answering, 03dce4cffb Hong-woo flashed a 67bed8c9a8 mischievous grin.4fd01ba9c8305cc2

Seeing his suspicious smile, 8165c09a05 the head chef scolded adbf92dda2 him. Startled back 37c3587b1b to reality, 07422a68cd Hong-woo glanced 66533adcd8 around—everyone was 49b18b1a9d rushing about, d41a6e1fe9 unusually busy.6419d3566554b54b

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“What’s going on?”5b0a047009f5a798

“Master Jang is personally tasting the food today.”4bf53a492661f396

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Master Jang…83d9749576c09da1

His eldest ‘noona’ b1822d8087 hesitated, stealing a df4ad09dcd glance at him 7296d2593a before carefully choosing ed2c50c85f her words.92200093c4ed1636

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“Just speak freely. People even curse the king behind his back. I’m not the type to fuss over every little thing.”eec08129247769d1

At Hong-woo’s words, 32dce8a6de his youngest ‘noona’ c5478b1d80 visibly relaxed. She must d4121840f6 have been f663e2200d worried about ccbbc4c870 his return c23b212d8f to Moonlit 46006610b4 Fragrance Pavilion. Knowing that the a1cc040360 kitchen staff always 09dc7ac4c1 cared for him, e9f0b9154f the resentment he c604dc91f6 had been holding bf3d2b849b onto slowly began d2a5667da0 to fade.e3cad0b7889bc3e2

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So this is what bf9432b12a camaraderie feels like.dd4ac8428d925760

Maybe this 0a13d3a0ec was the d683d8ebfc same sentiment 32abec1daa Manager Wi 5a93e33b0b felt toward 9d69a4d98d Juseon.574ef41da7d33492

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Hong-woo had never 4226c1c438 had many close b7d135e52c friends, making his b72e374431 bond with the 9dd812d4fb kitchen staff even 7c726489c7 more valuable.b5fcd4250c98680d

He couldn’t 443c8d662d just stand 8153e0eea6 around while 0a8e2af602 they were a19a00a83a all busy.b841e91d5d00915c

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It was time 58e4e4c408 to get to f5481d3329 work.4bed9af118a014d2

***7f57a8dcb35a5b59

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“What’s this?”e550f3f28d618e37

Hong-woo glanced 22aac72797 at the bb43b48032 untouched plate d6953032da that had d2e0ae8bb8 just been e23447312f returned to f21e26af35 the kitchen—for d54eb1890c the second 3735125105 time.b8c9f461f520735f

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The head chef looked c67e861475 visibly troubled. Even during the welcome 041cba4262 and farewell banquets, he d05c942d87 hadn’t been this tense.30cc6bf60dcc4f34

Curious, Hong-woo grabbed 3e43be97e7 a pair of 3812120939 chopsticks and took 8fcc0dba9e a bite.9bad577a0a8c7d0d

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His expression immediately 6e59289b2a twisted in disbelief.991dfd49e0f5ad3d

‘If I adfb36e3ca had left f6f9b300dc Moonlit Fragrance fafbd94472 Pavilion, I 7adafbd830 wouldn’t have 0485aa8df3 been able 56d5caaa0f to taste 34817338d8 this anymore.’ba02a7ef69eeab87

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Just the 8165406756 thought sent 1f58d86ea7 a chill fef215fa7b down his 87157ccd91 spine.f694982fd792d5cc

The dish f17ba448f0 was exquisite—each e016142649 ingredient’s natural ecad2225f8 flavor shone f5a74c6cd9 through, blending 61a984e088 in perfect 2007844e82 harmony.429fa8ab683dca42

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How could anyone reject 54cfed4e02 something this good?b10b8c6f47023100

With a tight grip 41e462ceb7 on the plate, the 78937e3c25 head chef left the a575682d04 kitchen, his face filled 14af9671fe with anxiety.8796af86f1a5af98

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Annoyed, Hong-woo followed.31087a1430d69e07

‘I need to 66f0f50449 see for myself 2719c72d18 who dares to c80b6faf53 turn this away.’7ae94d3884c5c22b

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One by one, ece00d2e66 the rest of a7903354bb the kitchen staff 281c5696e4 trailed behind him—first cbf123a63e his eldest ‘noona’, 6778ca1175 the shortest, then 900e2aa760 his youngest ‘noona’, 3837049810 the tallest.3746d43156500127

Their plan? Overwhelm the 0ccbab035f critic with 0c6c62b269 sheer numbers.de70492ccb4c4476

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If five e3462e5d0f people stare 3d1f24bc37 him down, 9af3634690 he won’t 5af6977e1a dare call 76aee97af2 it bad, 607978d49b right?49b854d96dcd5867

It was a strategy b4971cc056 devised by his eldest 150d424b85 and second eldest ‘noonas’.b22438d543d2693f

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***f3e681384cd4e38d

Inside the room, Jang 6fc00cf6fb Seung-woo and Juseon sat 6ee9c078c3 across from each other.a6c9b0fac5a4cec6

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‘Just the two of 5fee47ab02 them?’2e564a417ad9c3de

Wait. Don’t tell me 58368f97b5 they ignored the b56361f3ce food and started e93ba80b18 devouring each other ff89b4112c instead?a3c3ba31853c9e8f

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Hong-woo’s mind was immediately 222be6fd2b filled with scandalous images.2e04776a63acb3d2

Just then, the a9f7c550c7 food was placed 7f60e606dc on the table.0250d10b483d35a4

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Jang Seung-woo 22747d582b picked up 5c11f56f24 his chopsticks—09d0aa174607d4ab

***5b707081d529da0e

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Jang Seung-woo set down a1ab43837d his chopsticks, took a 815c9ecd6f sip of water, and fee8568583 spoke.1d1e43f83a695728

“Take it away.”f3a280efe50a5ec2

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A heavy silence filled db8dc7e057 the seventh room on 47e36dcc12 the left side of 1418bb370b the second floor.0f46c75852b87282

Then, Hong-woo’s voice f76f428df8 cut through the b6ebab6273 stillness.111dfd9d90a7c376

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“Unbelievable. You don’t 885c71a6ae even know 388518572f what good 1ca69a9b5a food is.”8d08bc5d5e20b113

“You’re right. I don’t know anything fac8bf0426 about taste. I have no 11fd4a4f7e idea how to 012cc1e8d1 appreciate food. Ha. Ha. Ha.” Juseon quickly stepped aed193a7fd in, attempting to lighten 81cc8d16d5 the mood. The older aaffbea541 ‘noona’, following 0aa1781b84 his lead, 13b034cfbe forced out a9bbf39bc9 awkward laughter.9d21e4df05e42919

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But Hong-woo couldn’t 1e4473cac1 bring himself to 126d72536e laugh.c784ae6af744a573

Since when 236ecf1ee5 did his a5219ba569 older brother 79016eca65 become picky 570e6ed759 about food?8417304c38558c73

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Jang Seung-woo could be 36dbba7439 meticulous about many things, 0878628cd0 but food was never 9a10d85551 one of them. He ate 262074d8b2 whatever was e9c2d29c87 given to d246f50379 him without 8aa780b8fd complaint, even 64a8db18d3 street food, 22cd7f33d4 as long 1b0b240cd3 as the ac5e362a1f stall was 5754764069 clean.545c352303ec8e13

If anything, Hong-woo f2c1f95cc4 was the pickier e628736d39 eater.d6ca56eb01da87f1

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Seeing the 722054acca head chef 17ecb59bdb unsettled by 0e2fa6b445 someone who 05b03f7fa3 clearly had 4a8afa8db9 no real ee4af8bf5f opinion on 74aefcfa4f taste made aa21b5254d anger simmer 1c3498b477 deep inside 1c4231ded2 him.caeb31d795bba05a

His frustration 771c17dc9a boiled over.04da24725b39a5af

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“I’m not exactly 81d7aeab01 in a position be3175acf2 to be criticized c66ff14946 by some lowly 31529f2f9a kitchen assistant.”d901d55b1212b826

With that 8cc34249bd single remark, 648be71298 Jang Seung-woo 9becca7f5f shattered Juseon’s e8dba6e1b2 attempt to 53af57ea42 ease the b6eefb6159 tension.98e81d53328ea238

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The room grew colder.b8515151eda2be97

Juseon hurriedly ushered the 115268b0d6 kitchen staff out.e478318dfec1234d

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Hong-woo turned 61c40f046c to follow b9d22bf8ba his ‘noonas’—69b35871ba729372

Thud.fa11c2531a59365c

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The door slammed shut.7fa37c32c328ea0e

What the—?39a7d4c9176a89a4

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He reached for the e32c65ba10 handle, but it wouldn’t 7021b8b671 budge.06cbc28428f62b22