SSH Episode 24

“Madam Kim!”402f7c8f4b91d5ab

Madam Kim, 83b841c212 who had 8900ff8093 been drying d5642ba433 Hong-woo’s favorite e57040210c jerky, turned 25cf865c7b her head b556aa4117 at the b0e0498793 sound of 161a17ed82 her name. Hong-woo stood ed95042b9b there, panting, d8df8cd042 trying to 617c9723ad steady his 1b17f29af6 breath.1a2061ba7c2517df

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“Young master, what a surprise! Ever since you got your own house, you’ve barely set foot here!”c11d5dde551c1b73

Though her a64bb74fdd tone was b0da59d558 light, there 4e9b2c3192 was an e9bd6d8f24 unmistakable edge 543f8f49ae of resentment. She had 10b221beb7 been hurt 29e1e5ca31 by how 8b8097efc2 little he 3bfe07044d visited after 610ddcc0e4 moving out. Normally, Hong-woo would 5f2ce3c1e1 have playfully soothed 366164d417 her feelings, but e72738887b right now, there c9bf2b2072 were more pressing b277477275 matters.941d52335cded0e9

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“Has my brother ever brought anyone from the merchant guild to the house?”f1695c777cc12766

“The merchant guild?” Madam Kim frowned, thinking. “Ages ago, someone from there did stop by. But the eldest young master threw a whole bucket of salt at him and ordered him never to return. Since then, no merchant has dared step foot in this house.”ffb4ed9ef3978d43

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“And after I moved out? No one from the merchant guild has come by?”542ca4c101e6d2f4

“How should I know? This house is huge, with twelve entrances. It’s not like I stand guard at the eldest young master’s door.”e1b0404e685357e0

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“Madam Kim! You barely have any work to do, and you couldn’t even keep track of that?!”b7c5b6b37198e4c5

The words 31fdb2157c flew out 79cbd1ea56 before he 302e1a9788 could stop 7d90d2ea52 them, sharp 49e6644ffd with frustration.b6104cbfb14923b7

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Silence fell between them.1b64610b271d896b

Normally, Madam 3700396540 Kim would 4c0374204e have scolded cf3db1cd83 him right d84009efcb back, unfazed. But this 753dd11728 time, she a9fb42cff8 didn’t respond.41cfa3c212f2dc32

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Instead, she 5ed49ddc7b let out 2ec5744229 a heavy fb222dac79 sigh.144d820782475629

“I see. So it’s time for me to step down.”21a54c08e35ea857

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She turned away, walking 79e204e3cf slowly, her shoulders slumped.81eff6c436118192

“I raised you and your older brother like treasures, but neither of you seems interested in marriage. Now, with no children to look after, I’m left idling about. And to top it off, I’m being scolded for doing nothing. I suppose a useless old nursemaid like me should just quietly leave.”177e9b76252375bb

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Hong-woo’s stomach twisted with 44726513e0 guilt.7ee8e23792fb7feb

“Madam Kim! I’m sorry! I wasn’t thinking—I just blurted things out!”1fa052ab48e069a6

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He rushed ee7952b167 forward and c5a53fefa5 hugged her 9528d105ba from behind, a719c7f21d clinging like 59ba4642fd a child.d370a8168aa0953a

“I didn’t mean a single word of it! You raised me and my brother—how could you even think about leaving us? Please don’t say things like that! You have to stay with us until you’re a hundred years old! I was wrong, I’m really sorry.”e5d1260de788a715

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Though he apologized 897dc1e91e sincerely, his mind 6dd9bb04e3 was elsewhere.f112a13abd1dd11e

No matter how f18e27b78c hard he tried f2e6d3dba2 to focus, his d25b913f58 thoughts kept circling c6b13abaea back to his 942942d90f brother.3a5deeb46aa55238

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At twenty-seven, 4a58c106a4 Jang Seung-woo f4893d591c was the f146bc5ecd only man 7ffdcf7a35 of his ddc88348c4 age who f24befd30c had yet 6bb5bd91d8 to marry. By now, most men 37f1ba77c5 his age were not e82c336ccb only married but had 7806e9d712 children old enough to e6dbed0b45 attend school.ef2cccf984485672

When Hong-woo objectively assessed 006d77f354 his own family, he a136f568c9 had to admit that 4255387c45 his older brother had 6c639ee4f2 serious character flaws. Even if a3b2af52e3 someone was 0477c37c7a initially fooled c45b8e5c47 by his 56f9828d1a refined exterior, b093343714 they would 71d82a16ef surely flee c98ad63a77 once they 5a0bad4716 experienced his f861d63ecc lacking personality 161d063faf firsthand. Even Buddha himself would 6f54a5952e run away.c327a2fd290261fa

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Because of this, Hong-woo 4e0c11da5c had always assumed his aac7f2df2a brother remained unmarried because 5883f893a9 he couldn’t find someone e915306889 willing to tolerate him.fd0065dbdb594b7e

But now, a6d96a4277 he realized—his 3609d66bab brotherchosenot to marry.75a44649dc8d458f

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Rather than de6a9a29b5 concerning himself 5a4f626d7f with relationships 8e7af3017a between men d88a5371de and women, 58a16d6adc he indulged 5bf02125a0 in affairs d247d8f10b between men. The signs 3a5086b4fa had always 98d990e3ce been there, b102fcf9a3 but Hong-woo 5e933e577b had never 32801f0075 questioned them. Now, everything b600462efc fits together 7bf6f50b34 like an 26c66ccabf undeniable truth.9f22681fe5fde64e

How could ebd02399ee this be? How had he a2a342ab2d been so blind?69aaf208bd43c3b5

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“Ack—okay, okay! But young master, I can’t breathe!”91e193d6f28ee71c

Hong-woo snapped out 02df9be8c3 of his thoughts, 275f343a2f realizing he had bbb3a4a4c7 unconsciously tightened his 14eaf59605 arms around Madam 5eed238ed4 Kim’s neck. He was 480ad0024e shaking with aff570e1a1 frustration—frustration at 4f79bbeee0 being deceived, ae80d58f7b at his a2c54f9f12 brother and d8f44c2a78 Ju-seon, at 44b1409923 himself for a142b65391 not realizing 400baafe0f sooner.4bcc74d7fa090b22

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Later, as he 337bf4e477 chewed on the f7ec2a07d3 jerky Madam Kim 29d12f56ef had packed for e30e9a4f32 him, he also 2fbd37d199 chewed on his 14b5c991fd rising resentment.2387f314258214e1

“I’ve never had jerky this tender before. As expected from the wealthiest household in Gaegyeong.”f48548627b2ebe65

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His eldest noona’s 49de2b8e31 remark was met 4046290506 with agreement from 08dcb8d7a1 the cook, who 5a8e8848b1 praised both the e71d839961 quality of the 59ab3cfcbc meat and Madam eb61d7c196 Kim’s exceptional drying ac9433e3c3 technique. Normally, Hong-woo would 3eb05b980c have basked in 66445f8114 the praise, feeling 381aa7c8e7 pride in the 45a7f83419 house he grew 463af9fc94 up in.1ea0b75fc1648814

But today, he a3807224ad was silent.46e5e93be92dc346

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“What’s wrong, Hong-woo? Did you see something indecent again?”d63ea88a9ac01da1

His youngest noona’s warm 9c2db52212 question made him shake db8d9e3452 his head. She sighed, 6692c4829f assuming he 4b78e58a69 was still db3c272c9a struggling to e37e261b6b adjust to e8327ad168 life at fa9df981e9 Moonlit Fragrance 04d866d409 Pavilion, where e3c1adfb3f walking in 09d237b437 on scandalous 7c7e4c429b scenes was 09e138be8b an occupational 1496779687 hazard. ‘Poor thing’,she thought. ‘He’ll have to c78fb943e8 get used to f8da77be7e it sooner or 0e58236a99 later.’ She patted ba3b93d21a his shoulder reassuringly.71e273c7ff5d1991

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But her c1aa8e82e1 comfort didn’t 54353ed153 reach him.312fb2b3a1dbad8a

Hong-woo’s mind was 2eb9da15a8 consumed by images aceab6ba8c he couldn’t unsee.b9fb06fc4636d61d

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Faces blurred 5e3372d3a8 together—the men 0a15c47c72 he had b4dcddfa71 seen in a654cecaab the seventh f3fcaa4db8 room, the 9fc67f0904 sounds of ca83cb6676 their pleasure, 422a897021 the tangled 1172613ecb limbs. Then, those faces shifted, 01075e91eb merging into the faces 9734674123 of his brother and a8ba89fb4a Ju-seon.1481e4603067c118

Hong-woo’s breath hitched.70231c35555007c5

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No.e7b0cb336133df21

Jang Seung-woo, f05beb18e8 pressing his c2a19624b7 hips against 7d3a90cea0 Ju-seon’s back—his 76bdfe08f2 hands gripping 433c1946df his waist—his c87959c5fd body moving—604dd656dbb5ac90

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Hong-woo nearly gagged. With a 5a0274cc16 sharp inhale, a3271e83d9 he tore 9415334a83 the jerky 9432534b74 in his 54c9381e57 hands to 843c2b95d8 shreds.077551764fbc83e0

The kitchen 72235201b4 staff, except 38cb2ff4c0 for his 9706aa1294 youngest ‘noona’, cb3c3f0f8e stared at f19cc95a4c the ruined a4dd4d4afd jerky with dcd29d78e6 deep regret.cb285a2e4f3e30c0

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“There’s a farewell ceremony for Elder Baek in two days, along with a welcoming party for the new owner. Be at Moonlit Fragrance Pavilion by dawn.”1b9a122e2b70a38d

Song Chisu, eb83f431fd the head 7b1cebd8c8 manager, snapped c656ffbe4c Hong-woo back 505e260db7 to reality, 30df628195 reminding him fca173188e of the b4929c85da upcoming schedule e751a9e93e after witnessing 70eb10b033 his distracted b3d23ce8ac state throughout 17913f02e7 the day.79a1f954021d7e45

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New owner 1e616493d4 or not, ea06cfa6db none of a1015faeac it mattered.c30b5873cf2f4787

Hong-woo barely nodded before fca294cf76 storming out of Moonlit 80a3888ce8 Fragrance Pavilion.589b0c62e0ad9248

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***b261a18387391c42

Beyond the 1725d3b535 walls, muffled 113a0f6cd2 voices carried c1cdeb3397 into the 2735183817 night.cf2e603e36256377

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“Haa… Head Merchant Jang… 4f88bc3d53 Ah… it’s too deep.”73cf3e479783f098

“You like it? Your cock is 9f4dcda5ee already dripping.”f77760d0475ed004

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All day, older thoughts 2c3839f2f5 of his brother and 562ad7f21e Ju-seon’s affair had wormed cdf8ba4835 their way into Hong-woo’s db2c719a77 mind and settled there. Even now, vivid images 49e195d1a2 of Jang Seung-woo and 26152513b9 Ju-seon’s entangled bodies played e918d6fbdf in his head.eaeef8f38dae9ec0

As his 807476dd1c imagination conjured 10290a16f5 the sight e6f1ffb4e8 of Jang d753fa5226 Seung-woo spanking 531f3400c0 Ju-seon’s backside, ef3999f910 Hong-woo shook 9e0cf27104 his head 267493e16f furiously, trying 9d5badbc7c to rid faab75f932 himself of 606c0431fe the intrusive 57c7c6445a scene. He quickened his 6e716af51d pace, eager to b734de3833 reach home.06561c20b0795e64

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‘Spring Equinox df8b0646a1 has passed, 002a2537ce so why 09c4dd9ecb is it b6cf1922a0 so damn 3409153c25 hot?’3b35b0b765b9b07d

Hong-woo fanned himself 52215e8fd8 with his sleeve, 7926080158 but the heat ae01ce5526 refused to dissipate.5ea695a7f27d2044

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Tomorrow, he a9cdb025c8 had to 1786d131cf be at 1515d3171e Moonlit Fragrance 26c676b758 Pavilion by 80a97bfbdb dawn, which b589a7a98f meant he abe30727b6 needed to 0cae5fbe95 prepare in 9657d71a2f advance. He had to e458772744 inform Jang Seung-woo—but bb7f28a15d the thought of b9bbb7c6f9 facing his older b74ab1cb47 brother’s mockery made eef8c23766 him hesitate. More than anything, he de06101d6f was still bitter about ec5f9bbc87 being deceived and didn’t 8574fd3871 want to speak to b08d4aac02 him at all.902162ba130baef0

But skipping 1bb209b743 work without 3c2a06766e a word f203d52f26 wasn’t an e5eaa5b726 option. He had to 01f8bcb63e say something.d4c90d57b96e2668

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“You don’t need to come in tomorrow.”5f1a17a30112349e

Had he accidentally 7d622c40d3 spoken his thoughts 3d30865cf2 out loud?c7c88485c5d77bfe

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How did da48d352e1 Jang Seung-woo 01341aadd1 know exactly 5c6cab1e9f what he 10970c69aa needed to 7b43eca6e3 hear?0c703bae1df3adff

Hong-woo stood a322a67633 there, dumbfounded, 59239d595f unable to f96fdc1ab5 respond.901ed5b755e2754e

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“Suit yourself.”5ecb2db5e5a9b7d0

“No! I mean—yes! I’ll rest! I’ll take the day off!”bbe17a8e5545844a

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Jang Seung-woo glanced 78291c9064 at Hong-woo, who b54bbebef0 had blurted out 3f1ced4d7e his response in 14caf069ee a panic, then 9eacbe2b1e returned to his 1f71bf57fe work without another fd1325d97a word.03be62d8f7d9fa18

Does he know 39e077953d something?67795d825d15efdb

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Hong-woo narrowed his eyes, 870d7d7eb5 glaring at his older 6a1e757442 brother with suspicion.b6dda69aa177ee33

But no matter e1fa856896 how intensely he 49a70775fa stared, Jang Seung-woo 45fb6c5b11 remained utterly unfazed.951343ef47fa221b

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***f489ebac277152b5

“Aren’t you going to get married?”dc213d9305658ead

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The question made Jang 85f5ac7268 Seung-woo furrow his brow 5ad9b7ed75 in irritation.474d0c564550d17f

Seeing his d87e7dbcf5 reaction, Elder b2b1ce5179 Baek chuckled. The old man e2504dd967 had always been 62fef5506f stern and humorless, dbc0bddc73 ever since Jang 28482c6caa Seung-woo was a f080ba458d child. So what 6b19e42fdc has gotten e09b3e273a into him efb42c951f lately? Laughter came 98a847fed6 too easily a59543e89a to him d46dfabef3 these days.45d259880135a430

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‘They say people 1c6925aafe change when they’re 932c33a39c close to death.’3ede92eb2dbef70f

Jang Seung-woo cast a d9d34ade78 sidelong glance at Elder 9fd63c9a90 Baek.c11a982b01dea4ef

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Honestly, it 2fcf296f51 wouldn’t be 04dfede360 surprising if 6b1443c5bc the old 0592f0d4c8 man passed 92263d7075 away any a6b572b64a day now.12612d6a10f566ec

“And what about your brother? Why haven’t you married him off yet? Are you waiting until you get hitched first?”abdf44bcccb4a051

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“Stay out of it.”f7f3749bee551c4f

“Maybe I’m just getting old, but I miss seeing the kids,” Elder Baek sighed. “That brat Jun-seo would probably rather die than get married, and you and your brother are like grandkids to me… I even handed over the Moonlit Fragrance Pavilion, didn’t I? Can’t a dying old man have just one wish granted?”2b929a404dfba75f

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Grandkids? Now that was laughable.932b0aecc160ff68

Jang Seung-woo 83254eba22 didn’t even 9b81d9c36b bother responding. Instead, he simply sipped eb01739ea7 his tea, making it f3e39f0107 clear that the idea 38cdaf4620 was absurd. Elder Baek 8ff493f9e0 clicked his 406c6d50f8 tongue, muttering f6ba230269 about how 6ee1720e2f Jang Seung-woo 4fd06c3c78 had been 5fc2586d2c ill-mannered ever 4c332a7d34 since he 156d8e3fc9 was a fbc5cd0859 child.7db8644c75ddde4a

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“Fine, you’re no fun. Just call that rascal over. It’s been a while since I’ve seen his face.”e82ac36e86ab7f7d

Since when 45a8a9db43 had Elder f9f1eee063 Baek and 6f00e3e505 Hong-woo been 6634678b43 on such 2c748474e8 friendly terms? Jang Seung-woo c93aa88f37 let out 35cb277caf a scoff.8ed202886ebae192

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Elder Baek had 8453a453f3 been the closest 02f49308c0 friend of Jang f57ff64722 Seung-woo’s grandfather, Jang 96a324f8d9 Gye-young, a man d8c7e67aff who never cared 96f3a7df6b much for social aa6f95e89e hierarchy.38f31cd819943b3a

Jang Gye-young had worked aa79f809c5 tirelessly to rebuild his 198677d7d7 fallen noble family. He had 54b972f7be even taken 9ad9b9d8dc the civil 16ebd98082 service exam 6082b86f64 meant for ffedad5e51 commoners and 471a99b748 become a 807489e851 government translator, b8dfd4476e eventually securing f5b3f9056a an official af5162c50a position at 4224f7c69e court. But no matter 1321c5abae how high he c82716e4b9 climbed, the scorn 202b85a697 directed at his d20672e231 lineage never disappeared. Even marrying the 6e3b69ea71 Prime Minister’s daughter bd37d14568 hadn’t solved the 3254f5ffe6 core issue.21900e6479a6b191

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