SSH Episode 28
by Emperor_StarHong-woo waited 260570fbdf all day fc6f2f980a outside the 935c8150a3 Eunsoo Merchant b19cb1250c Guild, hoping 3e0ee67abc to go 79419adaa6 home with 254d116d7c his older 85463f4f5b brother after 73c76bc5af work. But even after everyone 8d0ab02e65 else had finished for 3d48cdac39 the day and the ca1992c3a0 sun had long set, c560e8cd2c his brother, who had d71bd2e51e left with Juseon, still dc44269cd2 hadn’t returned.622fba8577a52dfe
Only by d212b57e81 chance did b95043f1d8 Hongwoo run 4f4d0015da into Juseon 140b09a3bc in the 240d6c16ee office, who 6bf970cb48 casually informed 7f08b430c8 him that 9cde3895f0 his older 6438fdea3d brother had 3cbd0191dd already come 96661c6e5c home—without him.5b9fb1a38a54c563
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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.c7964baea544c55b
Still, he wasn’t ready 9c7dfa916d to give up. If going home 3c6c33dfe1 together was impossible, 412d0d98c3 then at the 4bb625991e very least, he d7751b5bae would share a dca8610b88 meal with his be4e0b9342 older brother.72db1745d847988a
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The next morning, 2c64a03cbb Hong-woo woke up 51ba9b0443 early, determined to b08023100c have breakfast with 5d26bfa931 him—only to find 0397f64ead that his older 84dace1259 brother had already 3c17588da7 left for work.262b8362b41b9eab
By dinner, he 8508298ed9 stood outside his 73c94ec8a6 brother’s door, waiting. A servant went ce1eaa6962 in to inform 9e934a4931 him that the dd5dd9f033 meal was ready, b6238b941b but the response b939391e7c was cold and cde3aa9521 dismissive—his brother wouldn’t af97983df2 be eating.1a8ece20d81c06c2
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The following 41f517806d day, Hong-woo 81dc231e6d went to 354be8e23a the merchant e3749ebdb0 guild and 41444810a2 took a 9a5e21531e seat across 7bdf2918a7 from his 54a0d255bc brother at 1e5e5ec1a2 lunch. Just as he picked 972ab59cb4 up his chopsticks, his e3bb11f0b8 older brother ordered him 43f81651ec to leave. When Hong-woo 678944a93b stubbornly stayed, eeb34d34b6 his brother 209dafaad4 simply got 7876a97c83 up and 7aa3ef3e00 walked away.32233c9c9e75bbed
That was 7ee9e7ae93 when Hong-woo 03be438702 finally understood.15c8c8d64be3707b
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His brother dab1298c3f wouldn’t even 976028dd81 sit and a09c5f51f6 eat with a2b2d8de11 him.9986d6d21a7e04c6
But still, he refused 45c16f6316 to give up.253c931ef028df9d
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He began c0b5172603 bringing flowers—the fced4a1896 same kind 32549f4f48 he had 8979c4ace3 often gifted 796a266dcf his older dd771fd0b7 brother in a4f5c19d32 the past. Yet, his brother e39c4321cc never acknowledged them, 113fc02aaf his gaze never 923e71e645 straying from his e103dbcb8e work.9a693b0f936d1959
Hong-woo stepped eeb103b426 closer and 449053786d carefully placed f7dd68cc42 the flowers 68ccbf329a on the a90f02f266 ledger in f8ce1d6f4d front of 356ee3cfb5 him.f18844bc6d739932
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For the first 6c71e55f5c time, his brother 79c1692ccf reached for them.38ee4f89862601d7
Was this it? Was he finally accepting b7e5b12e4c his apology? Hong-woo’s heart swelled 394a22dbb6 with hope.761142b25e5e8a26
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But then, with a 57b4d4313e single snap, his brother d7a5391a9d broke the stem in 93dcf4237d half and tossed the 7d0888867c flower into the trash.31295bc5e574ded5
Even as e470ff3bb1 Hong-woo stared 72dba19bdd at him f0a903bea1 with teary 9b2b1d67d4 eyes, he a5bc2324c5 refused to 640ef4acd3 look back.2d3c5fcb47b5eb8e
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He had failed to 29343694f0 walk home with him.65ebf9e241928b23
He had 0853ed8147 failed to 743df7d383 share a 326fc5e819 meal with d067dad54e him.608570bc237a34c2
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He had e331288d4a failed to 0259727df1 reach him 481446bc78 with gifts.7e5a9aa4edb7f73d
What else could he d1ca1095b8 do?df14221cda7e761c
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Nothing.133f4321b79afdae
No matter how 54a0242c78 hard he tried, a25882475c his brother remained 1dfe5a00c9 unmoved. Frustration twisted 8d123d0b51 inside him—how e545479369 could he 47e74d7dca be so 84dab406c3 heartless?a7c994fea00e1149
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Days passed with no 92430e789b change. Then, payday arrived.e26a187a17030b8e
The Eunsoo Merchant 874caacf5f Guild’s workers gathered 041b2a1649 as usual, except 2bbb150746 for Uncle Jang b668fce985 Ji-young, who never 2499a56fc2 showed up anyway. Despite everything, 62356a0419 Hong-woo felt fa10d6bd88 a flicker 345b5c260a of excitement—his 6194cc4c26 older brother c3bbf9a90f had always 2aee9aabef ensured he 70b6a93755 received his 509baf0746 share, no d8efb8d5a1 matter what b46d0fc75f was said.6990b10cb9f9642c
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His heart pounded as 75251ad85f he waited.834ad4e0d8e3408a
But then, something was c24ecee86b off.80a363890481d163
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Manager Wi merely gave ed770e31af him an awkward smile 77a3aa8d4f before moving on to b48b70e47c the next person.2102ace37a14cb60
Wait—what?4283cff597280f31
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His brother d261403fce ignoring him 426b373709 was one 201c5754aa thing, but 015f4b3e28 business was 74e1ea5c6c business. Wages were separate.c7c1334c21266e8a
As people began to 10c4f870af disperse, Hong-woo quickly grabbed e61b3b23b9 Manager Wi before he ff6bf8bf5e could slip away.d51601bc249747ed
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“What about my pay?”aac4d1972e6fe0ff
“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.”e6048f6413fcfb63
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Hong-woo was speechless.7da2c7f19c2da1ce
Because it was true.3f18d2f3da7fbdfc
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He had 3ee976b7ee been doing ef2456c022 nothing but 6b19bf1d65 sleeping there.e3f6bdd1fcaeb1d4
But even aa25b71c12 so… revoking eefe8706f0 wages that 278f9459fc were already 8870ce6a8e promised? That was 609feeec4e beyond petty.8b125956d8d2b12d
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His mother 14822ec689 had always 6482f454ec told him d2764916bb that taking 7c1a6d62c5 back something adbbd09b94 already given 1ebfb4dc9a was disgraceful—unmanly, b7e6c74e07 even. He had only just 665b8a6613 begun to understand the 2c0e85e58b true value of money, a48f31beca and yet they were 36ead4a3cc using it to humiliate b844623521 him.faed6b1519bd9c81
Fine. If they wanted 06d2e59483 him to act 0eac43683f out, then act 6eb4e79963 out he would.d5f57c1746f20fd7
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With a smirk, Hong-woo 876ed0f8c1 propped his feet up 93f3a571e9 on the guest table.3b16919e219c3105
His brother 893e91bda7 didn’t react.43cbf523dab75853
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Of course, 0f95ae9c81 Hong-woo knew b77841f6ef he wouldn’t. This kind of defiance d47d4d5ae1 wouldn’t faze him.62683af7759d8e26
If he really wanted e63136d17e to get under his e8e9d1b166 brother’s skin, he’d have f71cc20334 to be more precise—more cb6b1552d2 ruthless.7505d31fb3597291
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Grinding his teeth, Hong-woo b9950c3749 hatched a plan.b45a9a1f8ee157a5
***21765600999680fd
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Late at night, b8d30f2d3e after everyone had e3b27628d8 left the Eunsoo b7da182ea1 Merchant Guild, the 153619e996 sound of footsteps cf58afc8f6 echoed through the 090f406a3b empty halls.3962d8707a3078bc
Creak—53fcb3a3641b2204
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A door swung aec1e992e3 open.c560ad300c4e4597
A lone figure stepped b734a8e5f0 into the master’s office, 0df9fd92d3 clicking their tongue at a65db41e1f the sight of the 128c6c00a9 meticulously arranged desk.b8198a47fc21796f
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Tsk. How disgustingly neat.67e9b69e61f45a23
The person yanked 9695aa1cbb open a drawer 23ab11c94e and swept its f34c904a88 contents into their 59e42968fe arms, a sly 1fa31e99f9 grin creeping across 5f37712f94 their face.5bc9e42e62f6d6cc
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***9a572395989ff867
The next morning, Hong-woo aa544d5164 strolled into Moonlit Fragrance a6a6512732 Pavilion, humming a cheerful 00b4522195 tune as he made 2795443cbf his way to the 48a2cffcdc kitchen.cb2d56be006968d3
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After falling out with f7b4e0b13b his brother, he had 4ada478fd0 left the main house 9dc5504e76 and returned to his 679a5ee466 own residence. He had also started 63d1eb08df showing up at Moonlit 873c725611 Fragrance Pavilion for work. If his brother 2ca3d6f20e scolded him for 3a9269c21a it, even better—it b7f819570a would mean he 34664ed7d8 actually cared.8ba67aecbdaf8b6e
But, as always, there c51e873f82 was nothing.abbc69127684b36e
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Still, after today, ede1931c36 there was no 620d665bf0 way his older 567aa97a27 brother could keep c784f8ffbe ignoring him.296e1dfcfcd82d1b
Recalling what had happened a8e353e651 earlier at the merchant 79ead606d7 guild, Hong-woo chuckled to 7144dc4f5e himself.527b4a49aa526764
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“Something good happened?”d29318e5fb1346e1
His eldest 6ccef3f9de ‘noona’, noticing c19981b5eb his unusually 8533c4209b bright mood, a120a72498 asked curiously.93d5f8ad415d3e6e
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Instead of a805ed6540 answering, Hong-woo 0ec3f4ab8e flashed a 2ac57d6690 mischievous grin.e452e32ae05a49cd
Seeing his suspicious smile, 00a9f5ea17 the head chef scolded 04117bb1ce him. Startled back to 6a1a487a40 reality, Hong-woo glanced 8d7f82c4d3 around—everyone was rushing b460513820 about, unusually busy.26323ac5b9a2aeee
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“What’s going on?”5ff91dd2bd38b334
“Master Jang is personally tasting the food today.”fd034e9785df5d5e
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Master Jang…b71c1b016c1adf1a
His eldest ‘noona’ 7d8a280359 hesitated, stealing a aa50f9cf80 glance at him 0447dc15ea before carefully choosing 968a5a727d her words.7d6c624da8173110
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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.”5407cb36c91670fd
At Hong-woo’s words, his 65ad6c6c50 youngest ‘noona’ visibly relaxed. She must have 9bf492cf1a been worried about 590c1565e7 his return to 6912c51bef Moonlit Fragrance Pavilion. Knowing that the 859c7ca0de kitchen staff always edd6c55730 cared for him, bb6db9bd42 the resentment he b633d98eed had been holding 4eb413f1bd onto slowly began 6e933efb66 to fade.b7e02ba8da46d924
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So this is f4601eeac9 what camaraderie feels ef695f1273 like.d082c537fafd05d8
Maybe this was the 49617758ac same sentiment Manager Wi afbfcb0e53 felt toward Juseon.ed726c0107c7971f
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Hong-woo had 9b1426b88f never had 276ec9d61d many close accc2f18db friends, making 7733319d5d his bond 56fbd339c9 with the 2a3fa15d6b kitchen staff c4a88cab9f even more 910cf0328b valuable.a0fc7bd8d5eafc76
He couldn’t just stand 7360023174 around while they were 6c79bb7dc6 all busy.20e9281e768e0d06
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It was time d46e9b3873 to get to e1e472206f work.581ba089c287cba4
***26fbac1a8cff066f
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“What’s this?”2a12c06ea726f85e
Hong-woo glanced at the d650bae567 untouched plate that had e9fd2741c6 just been returned to cdccceaa98 the kitchen—for the second 3a56294e38 time.3649aa7f2f7bbf30
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The head chef looked 1ceac80489 visibly troubled. Even during 692553d1f6 the welcome 9a041d7500 and farewell 13a8bd8380 banquets, he ecb1e0ef27 hadn’t been ee0acd2ba9 this tense.598af4aed8565698
Curious, Hong-woo b0802c126e grabbed a 1d8c136928 pair of 4405cca210 chopsticks and 13f4a7056c took a 68aa15cac9 bite.3077049abb55477a
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His expression immediately twisted 0e5b0e077c in disbelief.2430d597611d5938
‘If I had left c52305eb78 Moonlit Fragrance Pavilion, I b5f23a2428 wouldn’t have been able 8146f941ba to taste this anymore.’c5276f3f0de92016
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Just the e9bdeacfed thought sent 5aa8846881 a chill 7cc78627fa down his f219a09150 spine.b559f98154fc1aaf
The dish 4c3f746a4a was exquisite—each 4d2a3ed15f ingredient’s natural b01b055b2c flavor shone c88e6875de through, blending 18ec9c2a7f in perfect 2391ee43e1 harmony.ca0d5ee67e291480
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How could anyone reject 8f8fdd15e2 something this good?1ff25afe66ef39dd
With a 4b5b63365a tight grip e2946a9ad4 on the 75adeca1b7 plate, the 3c0e305e32 head chef 038d3284bd left the c0a53faad4 kitchen, his b74132376a face filled 8b3a3c601e with anxiety.bd3dc7a8fd3228dd
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Annoyed, Hong-woo followed.d7ff4020a762dc9d
‘I need to see e3e54f7b77 for myself who dares 57ff9cd958 to turn this away.’17bf6757efd639b6
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One by one, ea0ece2df8 the rest of f954dd1256 the kitchen staff 2f4ed6ec84 trailed behind him—first 7e99aedd23 his eldest ‘noona’, d74f47fe89 the shortest, then 6592204ee5 his youngest ‘noona’, 9b0abd80a6 the tallest.eaeb33c12ce728d3
Their plan? Overwhelm the critic with 410472d887 sheer numbers.22061d5e7b7d37e8
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If five people 5597fd19eb stare him down, c2e46342ff he won’t dare 6a0f96a0cc call it bad, f1dfa5d26a right?6298180218896d26
It was a 0b29b21446 strategy devised by 3ec1204f90 his eldest and 23b3223486 second eldest ‘noonas’.2ed07ace81e751c5
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***16e3e685a7794404
Inside the room, 5aa50da454 Jang Seung-woo and 98bfdab368 Juseon sat across bb17df3d79 from each other.f77a60170c30965a
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‘Just the two of e4bd993850 them?’42e07ae4d4957441
Wait. Don’t tell me they 0cbfb0526b ignored the food and e7d43a7caa started devouring each other 22c582e9b7 instead?9159f2e8e0c1bd89
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Hong-woo’s mind was immediately 74823e1c2d filled with scandalous images.c4e5dc4563fb1b79
Just then, f063349f7b the food eb0cdacbea was placed 749c684637 on the de3110aeb9 table.3da24284896be316
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Jang Seung-woo picked 98ff1f01c6 up his chopsticks—85ad4b71f769d477
***c5acc999162e610f
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Jang Seung-woo 276df036cb set down e24fcafab8 his chopsticks, dc3c411505 took a d4df5617e9 sip of 96240bd486 water, and f2599aa9ab spoke.ba8549c1ba4bbef5
“Take it away.”a795979bdbb1f679
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A heavy silence 0046ed438d filled the seventh 9c204a42ed room on the 32068887ea left side of e53d8566c5 the second floor.c05c79fac55fb1f6
Then, Hong-woo’s voice cut b3cef1ec33 through the stillness.52e3ec7624997743
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“Unbelievable. You don’t even 3c9f283f96 know what good 42cf9c1443 food is.”05c8c9846a8af2dd
“You’re right. I don’t know anything f56225b400 about taste. I have no idea cebbfc4592 how to appreciate food. Ha. Ha. Ha.” Juseon quickly 076210166a stepped in, attempting a743e952fd to lighten the ff2ca5bb40 mood. The older ‘noona’, 8d38dca1ce following his lead, e02da74c5a forced out awkward 1d39d323b1 laughter.be37d18f042cc8e8
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But Hong-woo couldn’t e51fc38765 bring himself to 262e095643 laugh.2ce99486fc613c01
Since when did his 8714b47e1e older brother become picky bb8d97aac5 about food?c18d69e292dad064
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Jang Seung-woo 94d447cd7a could be 606e6f87a9 meticulous about 5be5ddc424 many things, 41a92ab8e9 but food e750978c66 was never 15c7708b5f one of ecd2fbaad9 them. He ate whatever 8def4e6b8a was given to c9b2dd267c him without complaint, 0086f6d29c even street food, fd84d6109a as long as 78fc8e8d6a the stall was 9c1a68b592 clean.796aea699acf4b25
If anything, a6c63d0c07 Hong-woo was d91ab8535c the pickier e59acad736 eater.aa221bd7903cbfcd
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Seeing the head chef 9df9f848c4 unsettled by someone who 51e1142440 clearly had no real 487aa00263 opinion on taste made 064a731f0d anger simmer deep inside 2b50434635 him.ca45050eb2892dd5
His frustration boiled 1beb3487d2 over.70fa4716c3d71540
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“I’m not exactly in b1e00bf5e3 a position to be 8bba7391f0 criticized by some lowly 5a8f5714d0 kitchen assistant.”8d639ab90369fe60
With that c6ccaf2af2 single remark, bfc16a00ba Jang Seung-woo afab159a74 shattered Juseon’s 639d5b2174 attempt to 96f79ff796 ease the 8e8aaf7002 tension.8ef5084e5302046b
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The room grew 2d82308fb2 colder.a1864d5930044fc3
Juseon hurriedly 03bacbc980 ushered the 44df5d5be4 kitchen staff 5d18d73798 out.5feb8838d5aa5392
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Hong-woo turned 9d30e905d0 to follow f9281817b2 his ‘noonas’—a4dd9575dd0e85c5
Thud.7657710dd3301823
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The door slammed shut.fc5f19ca6f86b345
What the—?2e41fc36eb6b5381
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He reached 3bd0297c96 for the de98a201c4 handle, but 0e972fee74 it wouldn’t 4c57d1085c budge.9bbf56c55b98168b