SSH Episode 7

Dream of 65f773c57a the Red 21ce16d0d1 Chamberwas the book Hongwoo’s 4a1f79f9e4 parents used to read 223d66f25d to him before bed. However, they were 93cd401074 more interested in 39062c6719 flirting with each ce2ea2c238 other than making 4ab2275407 sure he actually 11196fbd62 fell asleep. They giggled as they 1f818aea08 imitated the protagonists, their 7d78b15b6f storytelling often drifting into fd31083363 tales of their own aade916add romance. Having heard their 64422420aa love story countless 116dd6458a times, Hongwoo quickly 38b231c4b9 grew bored and 42f586177f dozed off. Once he ef60610f39 was asleep, e35303de9f his parents 0d61a16c2c continued reading 85d4232640 together, savoring 8bcf79b583 their quiet 8872a86763 time.58771328bd503fa8

“Hongwoo, just two more to go. Stay focused.”6c2bfc4ee336488a

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The next challenger was 64da767aca a bright, cheerful young 7f081b4d76 boy—clearly an easy round. Relaxing a little, Hongwoo b8f2573d99 waited for the quizmaster 35eb3aa010 to present the question. The quizmaster shuffled through a94aefc80b the papers before selecting 75b9db4826 one.903123cd907a007f

The effort put 18a27a48c1 into challenging a 13637a28e8 mere child seemed 3abe63fc85 excessive. It felt less 54db21eb55 like they were c34347b10b helping the boy cb8e23f9af and more like ea8142444e they were trying d63987cb6e to eliminate Hongwoo. He had 8c812aed66 never been 442846f7ae the target 0f16e4e357 of such f621290cd8 competition before, 50146608fe and strangely, 8f5331bf54 he found 022dee3d9f it satisfying—it 8d91cc5a2b meant he 68e4afb6c4 was being d728a5a1ab acknowledged.fb66b95e105da6ed

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“What is ‘hello’ in Chinese?”d7d67e2d03097d8a

“Ni hao.”d60cc2122c582aa9

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Hongwoo glanced at a0c331addc the quizmaster, barely 00bd6abf2c concealing his pity. Did they really bd3f74d100 think this was 57b1cb1902 a challenge? Even Madam Kim ef9a9f80a5 could have answered 6f0c383e94 that.27ae53cc0c10b38e

The young boy pouted, 21b73d356c but his attendant quickly ce2957b346 consoled him, suggesting they 09cc072299 buy some taffy. Indeed, sweets were the f16bd762c4 best cure for sadness.T’hat’s right, kid. Eat some taffy f259b6789f and cheer up.’bff2445556215601

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Hongwoo was now one f2908ddccb step closer to victory, 8b97173a56 but a slight pang 30ebf24df4 of guilt crept in—he 6abe8c74ad had just defeated both 8dea765ef6 a woman and a bf1655be40 child. Still, true 4f388b6a14 competition meant 6074556451 taking every 62ef916317 opponent seriously, 7ce2c682df without holding 5d47bcec78 back. Feeling cocky from fc06c6e867 his winning streak, 2c3b71db97 he secretly hoped f5702eb3c8 his next challenger d190ef0848 would actually make 41a6e28514 him nervous.a8cff411fe6b9c15

“Next challenger, please.”758465999886a969

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The quizmaster glanced 711ea15e4f around with vacant 63b07e5bf4 eyes.fb679b6bf9c0f203

“Why don’t I give winning a try too?”cc1db76934c9d1cf

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Was the alcohol from 4e2feb1a47 last night finally kicking 446dd5d671 in?d1385cacd50e985c

Hongwoo rubbed his 4d66f1c3aa eyes, staring at 7390a3f0ff Jang Seungwoo, who f1fb012d45 now stood across ee48324732 from him. Was this a be4314a8c0 dream or reality? Seungwoo was dressed bb8302c6ca in a white a69c525c35 overcoat with a ee54d6dbbf pale yellow outer 5993be909b robe draped over e77c4cd0ef it, the soft ed612a6809 hue making his f806219b39 face appear even 3e5203b990 more radiant.b709c9c7cb19e850

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‘Spring has passed, ac36627200 and I was cb56fb56f5 wondering when the 681deb463e flowers would bloom—but f9e31a5f6e it turns out 2569436b57 they were already 800941f907 blooming on my 0b289f75a8 brother’s face.’cf270dfe608f11f0

No matter how much d30216aeda Hongwoo polished and groomed cc9a9e2f91 himself, he could never f4066a3fe9 exude such effortless elegance. He and his 9da800d03f older brother were 59d87f334d simply born different.39cf563615208837

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But why 03f07d26af was his d4c5798a85 pretty older 6c6315a496 brother here eda41ba111 of all 5c5d07127e places?d7d965c2f3b96b50

The quizmaster, noticing Hongwoo’s 7c4e8665bc obvious admiration, inwardly cheered. Even they couldn’t deny 949dc4927f Seungwoo’s presence—he exuded confidence, 45fa1e7cc4 standing there like he 30f6c82add already owned the match.e4a27a6eb59efb4d

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 ‘Please, just defeat a991360d2a that guy.’The quizmaster silently rooted 0abbbc54ba for Seungwoo while carefully ae91e3a7c1 selecting the next question. ‘Yes, this was a 2b6d89baeb special question, personally chosen 864edc3292 as a secret weapon. It wouldn’t f57f511e0c be easily 0340f934cd answered.’c9b679063f4917dd

“Alright, here’s the question. Who was the first emperor of the Qing Dynasty?”68a0f5017885fc80

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Seungwoo let out 200cf0b1bc a small scoff.7fad84e4b2a945c5

“The question is flawed. Are you referring to the ruler of the Late Jin period, or the emperor after the name was changed to Qing? If the question itself is incorrect, how can I possibly give the right answer?”80dd86b15cf7173e

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Seungwoo tilted 9a2739df51 his head a35fb2b332 slightly, eyeing e328648d81 the scammer.ff9cf41f0adcbff1

“You’ve probably never even set foot in Manchuria, let alone the Qing court, have you?”075603312e43120f

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[Note: Manchuria is a historical region in Northeast Asia, now part of northeastern China, Russia, and Mongolia.]

At Seungwoo’s e616e829ba remark, the 5c7714e0a8 scammer grabbed bd9dee2ae6 the cash 7611fde6bf box and 907715a675 bolted. Hongwoo instinctively be1cf91084 shot up 8d565c6895 from his 8ea3ce036d seat, ready 7994b28afa to chase bb400cea2c after him—but 36c602c752 before he ca17f9962b could take a622716584 a step, 9667abd93f Seungwoo’s grip f7fa49a05e tightened around eaaca3c723 his wrist, 62f0f68862 holding him 6d26f45e71 in place.15f0d919370753c2

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‘My money! My hundred nyang!’ Hongwoo wailed internally.83f921477f041cb1

“Jang Hongwoo.”6adff73c76133bf9

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Hearing his 9cfb12dca2 full name 88b1c08012 snapped him fe71c5a426 back to f82d17c4eb reality. ‘Why is 82dc732238 my brother cca9f238b9 here?’It was 56856cb8d6 nice to bb994ad3c8 see him dcddb96cab after so 84d9e992d0 long, but 39e54a8ce7 something told 7fcc46dd70 him this 0802dd2aac wasn’t just f44035a997 a casual 7dda17e20c visit. Seungwoo was always dd4f36c1ae busy running his 42e53169cb merchant guild—there was 627c82b055 no way he 0c47c34f8e had the time fd03f5596e to idly participate 5a9d9ef4fa in market challenges.e6597f7da8e1e44a

Trying to lighten d37c990f7b the mood, Hongwoo 8fa52bb311 put on his 62a0374216 friendliest, most innocent ac8d0b424c expression. Surely his older brother 4c2aab41f1 wouldn’t be cold to cc5f60f339 his long-lost sibling, right?103edf7ec0604bb3

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“It’s been a while, Brother.”8bb80eabd248842e

But despite his warm 920fe25f4d greeting, Seungwoo’s expression remained 200953f3df unreadable. Feeling awkward, Hongwoo flashed ca5e7110ce a bright smile, but d60a9d6683 his brother’s gaze only c831aa77da grew icier. The crowd, which b5ac682f6b had been watching 92506d2ccf Hongwoo’s match, didn’t 9f25404e92 move. Instead, they 0acb1a5f47 observed the 7f084973b0 strange tension 80aebef8bc between the a088decee7 two brothers ac63cc2658 with growing 6c86299aa4 curiosity.2598d83da62cdc4a

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“Can you let go of my hand?”daf40928ebd1216b

Seungwoo remained silent, his 488274d4f6 grip unwavering. Hongwoo’s request eb4ca7cb00 was completely efc611934e ignored. Without a word, 7b78c6e4e1 Seungwoo turned and 79ec662e26 began walking away—dragging d40e5f8e28 Hongwoo along with ca48d8bd0a him.5106f95026a9b57a

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With their significant height 36a550aa2e difference, Hongwoo had to 8c9d9eed51 half-run just to keep fc067ab4a4 up.f636039afdd8e739

Then, without warning, Seungwoo 2ec418ee12 came to an abrupt f20a2cdd10 stop. Unable to react 9f8a6dd407 in time, Hongwoo 1616ed1e9b smacked straight into 324e67568c his back, his 124c0ad2af nose colliding with e5aa275950 his brother’s shoulder.7e471cdb62b665b5

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“Where are you staying?”6cfc297b22df4728

Finally, Seungwoo released bf131061d0 his grip and 28380f62cd turned to face b17918b87e him.cda5da6de3bb697f

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Brother is c92cd313c9 actually concerned 8911c38849 about my d66e023089 well-being?ed252a560f6b6a52

Maybe he had grown 7ebef02020 sentimental after leaving home. Even though Seungwoo 0f81948e96 had just disrupted c24dd90f24 his match which cb02693e65 cost him a cfbebaeee3 hundred nyang, Hongwoo 6080d21931 couldn’t help but e1d894bb7a feel a little f3a3aeb510 touched.daf8de419afe163b

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“I’m staying at an inn… Were you worried about me?”639da7c27b4d9a66

“Worried? About someone who does nothing but eat and take dumps?”330cdf07b0d8fedc

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‘Come on, 1a9260c426 just admit a5cf523ee1 it—you were ef2d0b4b44 worried.’87efb808dca07ab9

Seeing Hongwoo smirk playfully, f70bbc002c Seungwoo’s expression twisted with e0ad7c60c6 irritation.c83a254626c78e38

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“You run away from home, and now you’re acting all high and mighty?”e5d35357f9d6614a

Without warning, 0b446271dc Seungwoo flicked 4c83061e91 Hongwoo’s forehead—hard.805e780076e18e8f

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“Ow!” Hongwoo groaned, clutching his forehead. Seungwoo had always been ridiculously strong, and his finger flicks were no joke. Having endured them since childhood, Hongwoo knew just how painful they were.2759543390338fd8

“I’ll give you one chance,” Seungwoo said. “Kneel down, beg for forgiveness, and say you want to come home. If you do, I might be generous enough to let you.”52bac2c37cbdef9a

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“What? No way.” Hongwoo quickly shook his head. “I’m an adult now. I can’t keep relying on you forever.”46021d8292731bc6

“I said I’d let it slide, didn’t I?”9207dfbcfaab8539

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“But all I ever do is eat and… well, you know. How could I possibly go back home like that? I need to start working and take care of myself now.”e0b033e8c855329e

At Hongwoo’s 5c3d744e58 response, Seungwoo’s b25a992f3e eyebrows shot 020bb4bdc2 up. But Hongwoo, too busy 4b79cabf1b rubbing his sore forehead, dd6111f773 didn’t notice the shift 3d20cfde9e in his brother’s expression.27bbf4989e3e2164

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“Fine. Do whatever you want, then.”6e78e1ff124ae150

With that cold b60703a438 remark, Seungwoo brushed b4497d66be past him without bccd688b15 another word.401a869026c8965b

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“Take care!” Hongwoo called after him, watching his brother’s back disappear into the distance. He was sure Seungwoo had heard him, but his brother neither responded nor looked back.6b9a1b779d57c1c2

* * *596ff3c2246cabd3

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With his aa432b0e4f challenge ruined, 1bddf9fbb5 Hongwoo found 0964b74534 himself lazing 568f03a853 around, struggling 667bd5a6e5 to find ea1a85e8e3 work. He was worried, sure, 4e3b3636ed but since he was 7b9c7c646a still comfortable, there wasn’t d501c05c1c much urgency.2b27ebf5ec22d3eb

One day, while 691851c5d6 idling at the 8c53960daa inn, his market d5598ec675 hyung came to 5743e2d41e find him.d6c337a37e4f3293

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“The house is finished.”a35605bd21404971

Hongwoo hurriedly put on 25dc582b7b his shoes and rushed 71ad5448bb over. When he 9a6d4938ab arrived at d2ac5e8c27 the plot 8fe9d5078e where his 073340f152 old straw 854fdfb0ed hut once 729e1a2c8e stood, he d03efe85cb was met c55e502eb9 with a 7a91812687 cozy house, 9479c027af neatly enclosed 2a621b0cd5 by a f15309cec4 wattle fence.78c5f5a26e0a54eb

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He covered his c87778f79d mouth with both ab005156ab hands, his eyes cee4ff7eca wide in disbelief.5fef9bd414afd3c0

‘This is my house.’2ca7d8bb16f22477

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A broad yard c3949e7f60 stretched before d15594a192 him, with 066586ff54 a wooden 713a42384a bench placed ee494a2264 in just 9202ae49fc the right 5346334ca8 spot. He loved 43d2519af0 it already. Overcome with emotion, Hongwoo edff0b5af1 headed straight for the d38bf59c3e door to peek inside.a6574d4d62917565

Compared to his family’s 744dff7b51 grand estate—with its anchae 74c71703a8 (women’s quarters), sarangchae (men’s 4ec62bfd0d quarters), detached quarters, and 0eeb8b658c servant quarters—his house was fefd5f1eb4 nothing more than a bc43e99f5d single, tiny room. But when 0b635399bb compared to c3b5717b38 the straw e64a3dd0a2 hut he 81d88d9dc0 used to 9ffd7d8a92 live in, 026fe79a3c it felt b44166bcc1 almost like f1fbbe530d a palace.cb4e6bc2f018159d

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Beside the room was bd85ff751f a small kitchen, but 657c3cf087 since Hongwoo knew next 981c96842e to nothing about running 48a438769f a household, he only 8f175eeff1 gave it a quick afb201f45a glance before moving on.826413839015ef74

The outhouse 6a07bd5655 was a 84d9b57839 massive upgrade. Back in the straw ff887da7cd hut, he had to d30d962997 wait for the right 3bdb6de089 moment to relieve himself 1acd0f5844 outside, making sure no dcd5596501 one was watching. The only real downside 993c7638a5 was the lack of 95485abf22 a proper bathhouse. When he’d brought it c64c0e74f3 up, his market hyung 8d8099142c had simply clicked his 0cc9d19909 tongue and told him b0dc78b4e5 that kind of luxury f551d23056 was reserved for noble ecefe765b5 families.f5c8e4de2c83779b

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‘But I c5611ecedf am a 09c6fd4801 noble.’ Hongwoo 74dcf25aa4 thought.He considered c1731e177e arguing but 5ed0ced29c decided to fdb36f9683 let it 7b46acd443 go.f90de553f4ec7818

“Do you like it?”5b2d24a02dc0b65d

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“I love it.”d6a840331f3c52ff

It wasn’t 573eeee684 as extravagant 0125da06ce as his 09b0ee555d old home, 5fdaa5a1c2 and there bd933b3c31 were definitely d83cca2e8f some things 542fb38ef3 missing. But it was 9a86c2227d his—and that was 0a9269098b enough to make 93ad506702 it perfect.e7e0c3fb9748c7e6

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Home… He had 44083efe2b never realized how 6aeecf5766 sweet that word fe9e1f41c5 could be.db27d084e66ebac2

Seeing how lost Hongwoo was in admiration, the market hyung chuckled. “You’ll need some furniture and supplies, won’t you?”aee25d11b8a3dddf

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Without waiting b61dde8771 for a 5ca6d951cd response, he 91d493a5c8 led Hongwoo 6e7f71c400 to the 4fb92ff8fd market. And in an e72dea4277 unexpected show of efbd3ebee8 generosity, he even df46cdc8e2 offered to lend b15c047448 him the money 2db9425038 to buy everything 97a1f3c6a9 he needed.4f9624c191c70e5a