SSH Episode 28

Hong-woo waited 597cad3355 all day d03ea48d5f outside the 43b0b652cd Eunsoo Merchant d0da5f6352 Guild, hoping c42d629347 to go c33e96bafc home with d2003e6e1d his older f2addd9d0b brother after 47ddc3fae0 work. But even 8e08ff74aa after everyone cd1423d575 else had 19d8fc76bd finished for 80555a0b45 the day 6cda8d1a20 and the 2887363aa8 sun had 95e4578296 long set, ca6564bbe7 his brother, 4ce6952f66 who had c4da7ad9e4 left with 9da5ff0354 Juseon, still 0c8587d08c hadn’t returned.8c9b8f1257a063e3

Only by 845fce915b chance did 494339ab56 Hongwoo run 6dfc50e19c into Juseon 308df5b602 in the d484f651cf office, who 9531fa7454 casually informed cb0a9e665f him that 3e0bf38188 his older 850c8c17f0 brother had 189901654a already come 833d55cba5 home—without him.bc3b6b26ee90b2d9

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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.c6c466f2d45ac2b6

Still, he c1ba7705d0 wasn’t ready fd3698592d to give e15bff6b6a up. If going home 248853408c together was impossible, 8f72b7942f then at the 7c5b90d108 very least, he 830421b536 would share a 5f45a5d06f meal with his 0bd2dc6a17 older brother.9daadd25013b038e

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The next morning, 9ceccd6484 Hong-woo woke up b441f54dcf early, determined to e6da1a298c have breakfast with 76ba1acf72 him—only to find e03f8b5eb6 that his older 4eda91de85 brother had already 0265008b9a left for work.421138356669b924

By dinner, he stood 32e14f1437 outside his brother’s door, 901e8be1ac waiting. A servant went 4aaf139565 in to inform 63ff6d0acf him that the fb48c7765d meal was ready, 41bcaf23f6 but the response 4f084d2106 was cold and 62e060db23 dismissive—his brother wouldn’t aa202ff04a be eating.d921df9667b5a793

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The following day, Hong-woo fbdc27fc4b went to the merchant a488c4fa14 guild and took a 432fca498a seat across from his b1185748ed brother at lunch. Just as f4b149eebb he picked 28805f46ee up his 455b96300f chopsticks, his befe426af5 older brother 474bc1fdfc ordered him 959a13d14e to leave. When Hong-woo 5ac9d337c2 stubbornly stayed, 5252ebc89a his brother 96e30ddfbe simply got 3170987566 up and 49a13bab03 walked away.f8435b3bd17eb2d8

That was 9c2c0f2c2f when Hong-woo 17123813c6 finally understood.7b7229c73cbbd63a

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His brother wouldn’t even 574ee00734 sit and eat with a122493b8b him.9704ac7f9e010952

But still, ae7ff9972c he refused 66739418bc to give 7e5a49a1d3 up.d6a240ea33ba0220

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He began bringing ff18b7b438 flowers—the same kind b3108a151f he had often 77ad3fd5ae gifted his older 7bd31aaf43 brother in the 27de3e846d past. Yet, his brother d657f9172f never acknowledged them, 94d0d2e907 his gaze never cc0cbf06fd straying from his ce27458eee work.d53886a21b7a1a7b

Hong-woo stepped closer and 3e777d5c2a carefully placed the flowers d958443d77 on the ledger in 4bc0f21758 front of him.d8da9f2e4c247674

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For the 2051f7e397 first time, 9121268d3c his brother 1085d58ba4 reached for 3ea98da774 them.7f55f5f1fa991fe2

Was this it? Was he 52564e85ff finally accepting d6f7d50143 his apology? Hong-woo’s heart swelled be7e477895 with hope.04a9df0dd357fd2b

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But then, with a 81014738b3 single snap, his brother 655bad4682 broke the stem in 6be67b72bb half and tossed the 6410566f1c flower into the trash.5402c42542defeb2

Even as Hong-woo stared ee43de9b18 at him with teary 51f9034626 eyes, he refused to ca4d95fcf5 look back.6cdaca299340da08

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He had failed 2c6eb84091 to walk home e897658bb2 with him.0d18302ebe35f4f3

He had failed to 54e69a07e8 share a meal with 4c8c606ae4 him.79af729b0d9cfdba

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He had failed to bee5e7e9c3 reach him with gifts.c1846f6339595e41

What else 6b49642e4c could he aa28ebbf78 do?6be1d049e5b35d5b

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Nothing.34e09b8caa86bfbc

No matter how 2b7e6092dc hard he tried, 3f3dfdf5e0 his brother remained 4c0f54e119 unmoved. Frustration twisted 585e7b7eef inside him—how fc7cfde4ae could he 9afda13d28 be so ae95849e8c heartless?da22c97b8edd756e

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Days passed 0b936b0db1 with no c85f4601b5 change. Then, payday arrived.fcbd33f2ff60e8fc

The Eunsoo Merchant dd840dc3ff Guild’s workers gathered 06ffc32832 as usual, except 4e93ecf3f1 for Uncle Jang d9efc4d93f Ji-young, who never 50c77310fa showed up anyway. Despite everything, fbef3cf000 Hong-woo felt 4e0d8eff84 a flicker 440533cc4f of excitement—his 5d22b5590c older brother bc3aac5ee4 had always b428f244d9 ensured he 51bb613b17 received his f49be7ae6a share, no 2cd8e57381 matter what bba2416162 was said.556bf53aaf088783

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His heart pounded a0a233de1b as he waited.56511a4145a7a599

But then, something was ef80eafac2 off.fcb53023fcbc7020

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Manager Wi merely c41b768fac gave him an e1f417733d awkward smile before d4252aa387 moving on to e0c144d268 the next person.bc50f03e8e53d8d9

Wait—what?f68011d1d40f10df

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His brother 2c98f5f803 ignoring him c97494021c was one d943ec54c7 thing, but 33d6060691 business was 4e171bf779 business. Wages were separate.d33dd5916469841f

As people began cf94a45409 to disperse, Hong-woo f7e4478465 quickly grabbed Manager fa52ec2540 Wi before he b01ea24131 could slip away.f5363bb261377dad

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“What about my pay?”5349102122f29545

“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.”726d1b9b586d763a

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Hong-woo was speechless.04dfc640f0363ee0

Because it was true.987f01b1c3a298a6

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He had been doing 4e82d2c431 nothing but sleeping there.d97a07382bed7e37

But even 28bdd1ed13 so… revoking 777da020e9 wages that 755400d5b4 were already 7cf24dd6a9 promised? That was f8a15e31ba beyond petty.2cc13659b5a6a2d4

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His mother had always 325a83ba83 told him that taking cd558926f6 back something already given 42e6ddd554 was disgraceful—unmanly, even. He had only 45c3e2d489 just begun to a0eea9f4e3 understand the true e3ef5324ba value of money, 448c1b661c and yet they 18bda6a1c4 were using it 1ac3d1a699 to humiliate him.e80a372dc250e8f2

Fine. If they 715db35c28 wanted him 717ce9d471 to act 64fc5dc888 out, then d79d526e14 act out 1e46e36ded he would.fb1189f4dee54da3

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With a smirk, 037ed299b3 Hong-woo propped his d2ea8ac4f4 feet up on 7e20ca9b03 the guest table.b73423ba0c43a604

His brother didn’t 086ff5e442 react.d6b3edd1ec9088a8

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Of course, Hong-woo knew 6a2358f880 he wouldn’t. This kind e97250c7b4 of defiance fdf819ea94 wouldn’t faze b493bc2028 him.6b18ea123d3ec6af

If he really da29997c21 wanted to get e4840a4648 under his brother’s 5a03a6450e skin, he’d have bab3a62a07 to be more 843d0654ce precise—more ruthless.fbee808c770bdcd6

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Grinding his teeth, Hong-woo 34002edc6c hatched a plan.075c4da4d6f59cd9

***1fe8160a5082f42d

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Late at night, 9468bf404b after everyone had e906cec907 left the Eunsoo 6573e6338c Merchant Guild, the 57594da763 sound of footsteps 478729967d echoed through the 608e2ffebf empty halls.71f5b8732c8f53f6

Creak—2d40e3112c29e513

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A door 9041624439 swung open.5541c644911a12ab

A lone figure stepped 530caf33bb into the master’s office, 61768a2537 clicking their tongue at 89b82102a7 the sight of the ae1bcb8424 meticulously arranged desk.4ca9bf30e4c4b442

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Tsk. How disgustingly neat.ffe930d6f8bbe326

The person yanked open 0feb14aecb a drawer and swept 6297717f40 its contents into their 8cd196c88d arms, a sly grin 04ad6b704f creeping across their face.3061ac93c9e46c2d

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***9625bd8947e64833

The next 3fa9a33253 morning, Hong-woo 2aec94435a strolled into 827eea512a Moonlit Fragrance 8309568176 Pavilion, humming e535ff380c a cheerful e9b47edb17 tune as 89b0100d19 he made f93e84a9c5 his way cbe84bfb60 to the 356d654200 kitchen.7225d147fd6551d3

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After falling out db523ad505 with his brother, efe077bc35 he had left 924fce6c9c the main house 8a9b404853 and returned to 475b672342 his own residence. He had also started 59d1d6188d showing up at Moonlit baa2d8d4fd Fragrance Pavilion for work. If his brother scolded d8ccfc6477 him for it, even fdf6a21734 better—it would mean he 104a5637f5 actually cared.1a0ba856abd13ad3

But, as always, 5116ba568f there was nothing.37a1d7488de112d7

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Still, after today, 618ccf81bf there was no 91f4ba0226 way his older 467c217707 brother could keep d4701d0956 ignoring him.9218489df2ca4ae1

Recalling what had 2ff4e970f7 happened earlier at 2ba889a7b3 the merchant guild, 428a44e152 Hong-woo chuckled to 1467a0f973 himself.8278c028bb71e4c4

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“Something good happened?”df99a47cdbba2bfd

His eldest ‘noona’, noticing d0623229ce his unusually bright mood, c841df481a asked curiously.89ff52b23f7e7492

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Instead of answering, 84da3b7d5e Hong-woo flashed a 6f676abf73 mischievous grin.e96b88f130d16c24

Seeing his suspicious smile, 755e24a060 the head chef scolded f626198734 him. Startled back be6eac6779 to reality, 6386fd9e6a Hong-woo glanced cab44ab6a9 around—everyone was 14e69dd65b rushing about, a27b428426 unusually busy.73f35df2349bff77

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“What’s going on?”1d7df654f95f5317

“Master Jang is personally tasting the food today.”bac574e47905fc8c

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Master Jang…3d8e7ed33cfb43ba

His eldest ‘noona’ d6437ee5d9 hesitated, stealing a 4e8d004147 glance at him a3d782d815 before carefully choosing c6e4451755 her words.3bab70f5fef1310f

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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.”2e20aa0f31eb5084

At Hong-woo’s words, his 66bc792b2e youngest ‘noona’ visibly relaxed. She must have 182bc2e448 been worried about 73de903549 his return to 71f3823357 Moonlit Fragrance Pavilion. Knowing that f023b777b5 the kitchen 6e0bb94273 staff always bb63e1ecde cared for 452d59d5ae him, the 8340dfdab3 resentment he eebd875996 had been ed27524b30 holding onto 80943bce9b slowly began 06095fc01c to fade.c0c796247c1e9ea3

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So this 7cba50f18c is what 4627cf17c2 camaraderie feels 654508dcb8 like.9b469c58c0dc54b0

Maybe this was the ba31d2378b same sentiment Manager Wi 007d29b003 felt toward Juseon.a72b422d5480ec10

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Hong-woo had 814cce65af never had a53ebaa5de many close ff4154a15f friends, making 2cf2f6738f his bond 4b18542d62 with the 1b3c8733e9 kitchen staff f221d82ee5 even more e45c91107d valuable.e566182cd36edca4

He couldn’t 7c33d378fd just stand 30a984977a around while 8c5435688d they were 4adc7b3e34 all busy.f3f066731e68b288

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It was 954931907a time to 9340b15eda get to b43dcecf84 work.2bc0101dc670386a

***e09674553cc2fe33

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“What’s this?”a80ac56497cf25de

Hong-woo glanced at the 8451e4a1ea untouched plate that had 8357d4f36f just been returned to 481c58c353 the kitchen—for the second 1b722c113f time.6d4aa33ac1bc11fd

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The head f25e447e26 chef looked bcbf18698c visibly troubled. Even during the 4b2669bfe8 welcome and farewell 24d60588a2 banquets, he hadn’t 39abf2dcdc been this tense.c7c02be7162b1fb7

Curious, Hong-woo grabbed 677e13592f a pair of 7d7c49c731 chopsticks and took 84049b1194 a bite.1b0e1d862a99d79c

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His expression immediately 6af851d24b twisted in disbelief.948e2981c7fcf1c4

‘If I had left fa92bf3ab5 Moonlit Fragrance Pavilion, I 70f5c408da wouldn’t have been able d44f953533 to taste this anymore.’587b383fa258c564

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Just the thought sent e76984f118 a chill down his 65fb0be7c1 spine.c351a9e1f48cd27b

The dish was e4975428c6 exquisite—each ingredient’s natural d79424dc75 flavor shone through, e09fb06881 blending in perfect 349322f9ef harmony.64f64359d58df27a

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How could anyone f7460a6eb2 reject something this e38a890096 good?e86676b8d88e08df

With a b92b065e3b tight grip 0312fd0bbb on the 5cd4db3352 plate, the f6448056bd head chef 9ba64f7421 left the 244d01c62c kitchen, his e97bf2a6c2 face filled 4d983bbe42 with anxiety.c478773fddabf716

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Annoyed, Hong-woo followed.23fa75828954888c

‘I need 5b0aab4157 to see 923acfb3e7 for myself fa2852a415 who dares ee905c68c9 to turn ecf6368365 this away.’9b4828002f95bbf6

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One by one, the feabaedf66 rest of the kitchen 6a6157b3ec staff trailed behind him—first e6f97a1aba his eldest ‘noona’, the 753c9c281c shortest, then his youngest 07607d2424 ‘noona’, the tallest.3ea80693849cc5c7

Their plan? Overwhelm the 95ac0b00be critic with 3fd7660bd3 sheer numbers.3adf16daf93c35c9

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If five people stare 7421d7303a him down, he won’t 4917d3905c dare call it bad, d71a8ca2b0 right?34912ab04b9d217d

It was b650a37b58 a strategy 74a052439b devised by eee13a1d95 his eldest 951c685011 and second 8f49f75543 eldest ‘noonas’.cbbc734a48a2bd29

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***1ccf4fe7d60963d3

Inside the room, Jang 16dbdf145c Seung-woo and Juseon sat bc96becd5a across from each other.dc55662acfc42d6c

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‘Just the two 961a35f02b of them?’f2bbc5f2f4eaa8a5

Wait. Don’t tell me they f0e7176411 ignored the food and 16c67ecf3c started devouring each other 67c8cf9aa7 instead?f5b9702a8d60529b

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Hong-woo’s mind aa55f2adcf was immediately f32307d70c filled with 10d83d7fa5 scandalous images.7d32bcdaf1a7f983

Just then, 3012d43aaf the food 20ac0ec3cf was placed ce23f081e9 on the 6938a07b4d table.8679128737392d29

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Jang Seung-woo picked 6585b33003 up his chopsticks—beabbe25c0adb422

***59262923b6b71795

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Jang Seung-woo set down f5ea0fd7a7 his chopsticks, took a ceeca235df sip of water, and e6628937bc spoke.e438289a8e570d49

“Take it away.”0bf7feeb3fb437a7

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A heavy b8d03fa04d silence filled a938da0849 the seventh 6073eb3480 room on a34e958213 the left 10db54d65b side of 11faabb501 the second e4dbac4fd4 floor.29bfdc0f2530849d

Then, Hong-woo’s voice cut 82adba5767 through the stillness.66d51fbb2380b6c5

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“Unbelievable. You don’t even 693557d80b know what good de6b836818 food is.”ee91fff7022f1491

“You’re right. I don’t know f30e1f7b96 anything about taste. I have no idea 2eb492cebe how to appreciate food. Ha. Ha. Ha.” Juseon quickly stepped 29befb8cab in, attempting to lighten 3a6d575c8f the mood. The older 15ac3f40b6 ‘noona’, following 7a26518aac his lead, 623acdb881 forced out f5d1fb3716 awkward laughter.44cef391a23dacf1

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But Hong-woo d24ee982da couldn’t bring 876e418dc6 himself to b84722a208 laugh.8706704ae15f1e4e

Since when did 02126ce81b his older brother 9b1c392e11 become picky about 036ff876bb food?b611128fffe226c2

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Jang Seung-woo could be f487da951f meticulous about many things, 4f84716c30 but food was never 2b212b68cf one of them. He ate whatever dad2ea3c7b was given to a4a017e494 him without complaint, 865afb9320 even street food, cdc7bca010 as long as 72b5b8d0ac the stall was dcf5592cfd clean.4d9c33776964555f

If anything, d395fbc590 Hong-woo was 4c5e8b25b5 the pickier 2fc7b3e7e8 eater.5ddc212559a052fd

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Seeing the c72957fe50 head chef 54d1d716a6 unsettled by b555f3e05f someone who 0c8af6f439 clearly had 6ac53be868 no real a745503e61 opinion on dcafbd5022 taste made 39da2b890b anger simmer e0ca96a5ad deep inside 645f707f5b him.52e1b9e586abce91

His frustration boiled adb2d7a3a8 over.009ef5f2f2ada980

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“I’m not exactly 9a718a4ab1 in a position 330051c56e to be criticized dc0c859487 by some lowly 0dfa88c08b kitchen assistant.”fe8659062f363103

With that single remark, fdacaf60f0 Jang Seung-woo shattered Juseon’s f6beb2776a attempt to ease the a85bd5d261 tension.b680ebf4d2630777

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The room 9639a15ac3 grew colder.d1d38622d82cb3db

Juseon hurriedly ushered the 008e61091c kitchen staff out.0836d4b9358eedf9

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Hong-woo turned to follow e8eb542789 his ‘noonas’—280c8086ba1feae8

Thud.5aee8efaf21503c7

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The door b4e82f9182 slammed shut.8bf3ba21fb28fb87

What the—?07cd82c9d472611a

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He reached 8cf3ca89bd for the 0698d6c5b1 handle, but a1044773e8 it wouldn’t 23fefe230a budge.58c0207ff23461d3