SSH Episode 7
by Emperor_StarDream of the Red Chamber was the book Hongwoo’s parents used to read to him before bed. However, they were more interested in flirting with each other than making sure he actually fell asleep. They giggled as they imitated the protagonists, their storytelling often drifting into tales of their own romance. Having heard their love story countless times, Hongwoo quickly grew bored and dozed off. Once he was asleep, his parents continued reading together, savoring their quiet time.
“Hongwoo, just two more to go. Stay focused.”
The next challenger was a bright, cheerful young boy—clearly an easy round. Relaxing a little, Hongwoo waited for the quizmaster to present the question. The quizmaster shuffled through the papers before selecting one.
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The effort put into challenging a mere child seemed excessive. It felt less like they were helping the boy and more like they were trying to eliminate Hongwoo. He had never been the target of such competition before, and strangely, he found it satisfying—it meant he was being acknowledged.
“What is ‘hello’ in Chinese?”
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“Ni hao.”
Hongwoo glanced at the quizmaster, barely concealing his pity. Did they really think this was a challenge? Even Madam Kim could have answered that.
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The young boy pouted, but his attendant quickly consoled him, suggesting they buy some taffy. Indeed, sweets were the best cure for sadness. T’hat’s right, kid. Eat some taffy and cheer up.’
Hongwoo was now one step closer to victory, but a slight pang of guilt crept in—he had just defeated both a woman and a child. Still, true competition meant taking every opponent seriously, without holding back. Feeling cocky from his winning streak, he secretly hoped his next challenger would actually make him nervous.
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“Next challenger, please.”
The quizmaster glanced around with vacant eyes.
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“Why don’t I give winning a try too?”
Was the alcohol from last night finally kicking in?
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Hongwoo rubbed his eyes, staring at Jang Seungwoo, who now stood across from him. Was this a dream or reality? Seungwoo was dressed in a white overcoat with a pale yellow outer robe draped over it, the soft hue making his face appear even more radiant.
‘Spring has passed, and I was wondering when the flowers would bloom—but it turns out they were already blooming on my brother’s face.’
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No matter how much Hongwoo polished and groomed himself, he could never exude such effortless elegance. He and his older brother were simply born different.
But why was his pretty older brother here of all places?
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The quizmaster, noticing Hongwoo’s obvious admiration, inwardly cheered. Even they couldn’t deny Seungwoo’s presence—he exuded confidence, standing there like he already owned the match.
‘Please, just defeat that guy.’ The quizmaster silently rooted for Seungwoo while carefully selecting the next question. ‘Yes, this was a special question, personally chosen as a secret weapon. It wouldn’t be easily answered.’
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“Alright, here’s the question. Who was the first emperor of the Qing Dynasty?”
Seungwoo let out a small scoff.
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“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?”
Seungwoo tilted his head slightly, eyeing the scammer.
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“You’ve probably never even set foot in Manchuria, let alone the Qing court, have you?”
[Note: Manchuria is a historical region in Northeast Asia, now part of northeastern China, Russia, and Mongolia.]
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At Seungwoo’s remark, the scammer grabbed the cash box and bolted. Hongwoo instinctively shot up from his seat, ready to chase after him—but before he could take a step, Seungwoo’s grip tightened around his wrist, holding him in place.
‘My money! My hundred nyang!’ Hongwoo wailed internally.
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“Jang Hongwoo.”
Hearing his full name snapped him back to reality. ‘Why is my brother here?’ It was nice to see him after so long, but something told him this wasn’t just a casual visit. Seungwoo was always busy running his merchant guild—there was no way he had the time to idly participate in market challenges.
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Trying to lighten the mood, Hongwoo put on his friendliest, most innocent expression. Surely his older brother wouldn’t be cold to his long-lost sibling, right?
“It’s been a while, Brother.”
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But despite his warm greeting, Seungwoo’s expression remained unreadable. Feeling awkward, Hongwoo flashed a bright smile, but his brother’s gaze only grew icier. The crowd, which had been watching Hongwoo’s match, didn’t move. Instead, they observed the strange tension between the two brothers with growing curiosity.
“Can you let go of my hand?”
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Seungwoo remained silent, his grip unwavering. Hongwoo’s request was completely ignored. Without a word, Seungwoo turned and began walking away—dragging Hongwoo along with him.
With their significant height difference, Hongwoo had to half-run just to keep up.
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Then, without warning, Seungwoo came to an abrupt stop. Unable to react in time, Hongwoo smacked straight into his back, his nose colliding with his brother’s shoulder.
“Where are you staying?”
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Finally, Seungwoo released his grip and turned to face him.
Brother is actually concerned about my well-being?
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Maybe he had grown sentimental after leaving home. Even though Seungwoo had just disrupted his match which cost him a hundred nyang, Hongwoo couldn’t help but feel a little touched.
“I’m staying at an inn… Were you worried about me?”
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“Worried? About someone who does nothing but eat and take dumps?”
‘Come on, just admit it—you were worried.’
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Seeing Hongwoo smirk playfully, Seungwoo’s expression twisted with irritation.
“You run away from home, and now you’re acting all high and mighty?”
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Without warning, Seungwoo flicked Hongwoo’s forehead—hard.
“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.
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“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.”
“What? No way.” Hongwoo quickly shook his head. “I’m an adult now. I can’t keep relying on you forever.”
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“I said I’d let it slide, didn’t I?”
“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.”
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At Hongwoo’s response, Seungwoo’s eyebrows shot up. But Hongwoo, too busy rubbing his sore forehead, didn’t notice the shift in his brother’s expression.
“Fine. Do whatever you want, then.”
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With that cold remark, Seungwoo brushed past him without another word.
“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.
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* * *
With his challenge ruined, Hongwoo found himself lazing around, struggling to find work. He was worried, sure, but since he was still comfortable, there wasn’t much urgency.
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One day, while idling at the inn, his market hyung came to find him.
“The house is finished.”
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Hongwoo hurriedly put on his shoes and rushed over. When he arrived at the plot where his old straw hut once stood, he was met with a cozy house, neatly enclosed by a wattle fence.
He covered his mouth with both hands, his eyes wide in disbelief.
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‘This is my house.’
A broad yard stretched before him, with a wooden bench placed in just the right spot. He loved it already. Overcome with emotion, Hongwoo headed straight for the door to peek inside.
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Compared to his family’s grand estate—with its anchae (women’s quarters), sarangchae (men’s quarters), detached quarters, and servant quarters—his house was nothing more than a single, tiny room. But when compared to the straw hut he used to live in, it felt almost like a palace.
Beside the room was a small kitchen, but since Hongwoo knew next to nothing about running a household, he only gave it a quick glance before moving on.
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The outhouse was a massive upgrade. Back in the straw hut, he had to wait for the right moment to relieve himself outside, making sure no one was watching. The only real downside was the lack of a proper bathhouse. When he’d brought it up, his market hyung had simply clicked his tongue and told him that kind of luxury was reserved for noble families.
‘But I am a noble.’ Hongwoo thought. He considered arguing but decided to let it go.
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“Do you like it?”
“I love it.”
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It wasn’t as extravagant as his old home, and there were definitely some things missing. But it was his—and that was enough to make it perfect.
Home… He had never realized how sweet that word could be.
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Seeing how lost Hongwoo was in admiration, the market hyung chuckled. “You’ll need some furniture and supplies, won’t you?”
Without waiting for a response, he led Hongwoo to the market. And in an unexpected show of generosity, he even offered to lend him the money to buy everything he needed.
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