The black-haired barbarian is devouring pineapple pizza?! Crunch!
There won’t be any blood proof worse than this in the Sichuan Tang Family. Gulp!
The dining hall fell silent as the members of the Guard Unit focused their attention on me. I finally asked the Guard Head if he would accept the reality now.
The Guard Head glanced around and, realizing the situation, wore a puzzled expression.
“Just admit it already. You’ve seen clear evidence and blood proof. If you admit it, it’s over.”
The Guard Head continued to look at me with a displeased expression before finally speaking up.
“Prepare to leave for Sichuan Tang Family.”
Finally admitted it, huh?
His declaration of no longer considering cutting off my limbs also subtly acknowledges me as the illegitimate child of the Tang Family Head.
“That’s not enough.”
I responded with a firm expression, showing no signs of retreat.
The Guard Head continued to shoot me skeptical looks, but I kept our staring contest going.
Why are you trying to take the easy way out? You still have something to say. The Guard Head looked at me and, after giving up, let out a deep sigh before declaring for everyone to hear.
“Ugh. Fine. I’ll stake my name on protecting you and this child and taking you both away.”
Now that’s how it should be!
The Guard Head proclaimed that he would protect me in front of everyone’s attention, effectively recognizing me as the illegitimate child of the Tang Family Head.
“When do you plan to leave?”
“Tomorrow, right away.”
“Well, if it’s just Hwa-rin going, that’s one thing, but if I’m going too, we’ll have to temporarily close the Tea Bookstore. Tomorrow sounds difficult.”
I have documents to handle regarding debt issues and problems with the Rise of the Tang Family, so leaving right away is impossible.
“What’s so hard about closing a single shop that you need time?”
Have you never run a business? If I need to post an urgent notice and get things done, I’ll face a carriage protest. A carriage protest organized by the Tea and Book Club? The mere thought is terrifying.
“There are many things to sort out. How can I easily leave?”
“I can’t wait around any longer.”
“We’re not goin’ to slaughter a pig here; we’re escorting customers. You’ve been acting on your own since you showed up today, so now you should show some consideration.”
“……”
You don’t want to give in, huh? The Guard Head crossed his arms and glared at me.
Well, it’s understandable that delaying the schedule because of an illegitimate child looking for the Sichuan Tang Family might not be desirable. But that’s their business, and my issues are my priority.
I have no choice but to use another method.
“Guess I should introduce myself. Hello!”
I rose from my seat, breaking the deadlock with the Guard Head, and smiled while greeting the Guard Unit members who were watching me.
“Oh, hello there.”
“Greetings!”
Are they confused about how to treat me? Generally, illegitimate children are treated worse than even the lowborn, but given the current situation of the Sichuan Tang Family, it’s awkward.
“It’s an honor to meet members of the Great Sichuan Tang Family. I’m Kang Yoon-ho, the one who devoured a whole pineapple pizza.”
Right now, I’m merely the illegitimate child of the Tang Family who can’t even use their surname. But let’s emphasize my bloodline in a comedic way so they won’t treat me carelessly.
“I assume you’ve already heard of me from others. Since there are many ears listening, let’s save the chat for a quieter place next time. For now, I’d like to treat the members of the Great Sichuan Tang Family. Drinks and food!”
“Sure thing!”
“Let’s have sweet and sour pork and Kung Pao chicken plus a few more, serving one appetizer per two people.”
“Whoa!”
“Drink as much as you want. Just put the bill on the Tea Bookstore.”
“Wooo!”
Cheers erupted from the members of the Guard Unit. This is how you win people over!
“Haha. Let’s loosen our belts today, shake off our fatigue, and get ready to head back to Sichuan. I look forward to working together in the future.”
“Let’s eat well!”
Unlike the Guard Head, I showed respect and politeness towards the Guard Unit, acting like a courteous young man as I sat back down.
“It seems difficult for the members to depart right away with a hangover tomorrow.”
Telling the Guard Unit members who just returned to Yichang without having any food to skip eating would ruin the atmosphere. No matter how much of a lone wolf one may be, they probably wouldn’t want to spoil the ambiance right now.
I shot a victorious smile at the Guard Head.
“……Ugh. I’ll give you a day.”
“The schedule can be adjusted later.”
A day? You’ve got to be kidding. If you can’t compromise further down the line, I have other tricks up my sleeve.
I served a drink to the Guard Unit members and wrapped up the meal at the Tea Bookstore.
————————
The security at the Tea Bookstore is quite tight.
There was an attempt by a thief to invade, targeting the Rise of the Tang Family, so money was spent on security measures.
I thoroughly locked the Tea Bookstore’s door, checked the safety devices, then locked the second-floor door, headed up to the attic, and locked that door as well.
The Guard Unit members promised to keep watch for protection, but I declined, asking them to relax from the fatigue of the day. After all, there’s a reason why no one should come into the Tea Bookstore today.
I turned my head to look at that reason.
“Hey. Yoon-ho. Explain.”
Standing there with arms crossed and a sinister expression was Hwa-rin.
“A story about a friend?”
After hearing my account, Hwa-rin asked me back.
With a mix of my experiences and coincidences alongside Hwa-rin’s existence, I found myself in a corner, forced to tell a lie. It must sound ridiculous to Hwa-rin.
I actually wanted to tell the whole truth about this incident. She’s the only one I can vent this injustice to. But it looks like I have no choice but to swallow this grievance inside.
If I’ve started lying, I must carry it through to the end.
The base I built to connect with Hwa-rin was my connecting thread with my friend. If I deny this, our relationship faces catastrophe.
“Yeah. It’s my friend who’s the illegitimate child of the Tang Family Head, not me.”
I decided to deny one of the two contradictory narratives.
“Why did you talk about a friend as if it’s your situation?”
“What else could I do? If your friend decides to cut off my wrist, be it a friend of yours or not, do you think I’d let my wrist be cut regardless?”
“W-Well, I guess that makes sense.”
“I didn’t want my wrist to get cut, so I had to think on my feet in a crisis.”
It’s a greater crisis than the Black Tiger Society incident. I have no reason to lie further to Hwa-rin. I lie to the people from the Guard Unit, while I inform Hwa-rin that it’s a lie.
Let’s create a secret between us two in this crisis, turning the disastrous circumstances brought forth by our contradictory lies around.
Using both fact and fiction to further solidify our bond.
Understanding my explanation, Hwa-rin nodded and then spoke.
“Why did you include a story about friends in the Rise of the Tang Family?”
I was about to respond, “to use a friends’ shield.”
But I stopped myself. No, I think of the dead friend as my best buddy. It would sound too selfish to say that was my only reason. I needed to come up with a rational reason fitting the situation.
“I just wanted to see the face of the guy who’s my friend’s father.”
“For such a trivial reason?”
Hwa-rin asked with a slightly angry face. To her, it must look like I brought this situation upon myself.
I needed to buy some time. Let’s adjust the emotional tones. I imagined someone crushed by their friend’s unfortunate fate. Who would that be… Ah!
“It’s ridiculous, isn’t it? Some people become like the Black Tiger Society because of blood ties and suffer throughout their lives until they die, while the person who passed that blood lives happily. I wanted to see his face because if he’s decent, maybe I’d want to let my friend know about his death.”
Why did all that misfortune befall my friend, and none of it touched me?
I thought of a black-haired girl tormented by a tragic fate, empathizing with the sorrowful and heartbreaking expression I directed at Hwa-rin.
“……”
Hwa-rin gazed at my face, her expression peculiar. When logic fails, appealing to emotions is the best tactic.
“I know my friend……”
“That’s it.”
Hwa-rin interrupted me with a frown.
“Yeah?”
“Was it that important for us to risk our lives?”
Hwa-rin asked me with a face full of frustration and resentment.
Is Hwa-rin displeased with my reference to a friend? I understand. She’s in peril because of that.
“Hwa-rin, no. I wouldn’t be like that. The Color Demon wasn’t even my story; I didn’t know about my friend’s father. I only wanted to put in the mention of my friend’s father so if there were problems with the Rise of the Tang Family, I could use this Bracelet of Remembrance.”
“Then why didn’t you mention your friend earlier?”
“While listening to the Guard Head, I figured out midway that my friend’s father is the Tang Family Head. Once I realized, it all made sense. It’s quite common for the illegitimate children of high officials to be abandoned, and at that moment, there was really no need for attention on my friend when it should’ve been on you. I decided it wouldn’t help to bring up the Tang Family Head, who might not even be able to make it this far, and complicated matters.”
I twisted my explanation a bit to avoid complicating the situation for her.
“……”
Hwa-rin’s expression didn’t ease. Instead, she looked at me with an expression tinged with sadness. What’s up with that? Oh, I realize I haven’t said an important thing.
“Again, I honestly didn’t know about your father. If you’re angry about that, I’m truly sorry. No, it’s all my fault for dragging you into this situation. I apologize.”
I bowed my head and sincerely apologized to Hwa-rin.
I had some assumptions, but it was a matter of life and death for Hwa-rin without knowing what’s going on. Not to mention, she suddenly learned the secret of her birth.
So, I definitely needed to apologize.
“It’s fine. What does it matter who my father is? He’s a rapist. And you’re not the only one who should be apologizing. It’s because I’m here in the Tea Bookstore that such issues arose and I wrote about the Color Demon. So, I’m sorry too.”
Hwa-rin lifted my head and urged me to watch her. I appreciated her for thinking of it this way.
“I want to argue that it was just a coincidence, but it really doesn’t seem plausible anymore.”
I complained dramatically to Hwa-rin, feeling wronged.
“You did well. Thanks to that, I might be able to punish that bastard Tang Geoh when we go to the Tang Family. So, I’m grateful, really.”
“That’s a relief.”
“But…”
Hwa-rin seemed to hesitate, drawing out her words.
“But?”
“That crazy woman must have had a reason for hating me… I keep thinking that. She never told me in my life, yet all this while, she had that secret.”
Hwa-rin murmured with a somber face, possibly thinking of her mother, who had treated her coldly all her life.
Yet, not telling her she was born from a rape—was that a minimal acknowledgment as a child or a secret she couldn’t admit as a woman?
Is that why she looks so gloomy?
“Hwa-rin, just because of that doesn’t justify the abuse you faced.”
Hwa-rin, you’ve just transformed from a crazy woman to one with an understandable rationale.
“I know. It’s just… knowing that there was a reason behind that crazy woman feels like crap.”
“Hwa-rin…”
The only thing I can offer in this situation is comfort. I carefully held both of Hwa-rin’s wrists.
She then firmly grasped my hand and shifted her center of gravity, resting her forehead on my chest.
“Why’s my life such a damn mess?”
I could feel moisture in her voice.
“It’s our life too.”
Mine is a mess too.
“You really… have a talent for digging into people’s hearts in the middle of a crisis.”
That’s a talent I didn’t even know I had.
Hwa-rin buried her face in my chest and remained still for a while.
*
So many problems piled up.
Tang Hwa-rin felt the sturdy chest of the man beside her and thought.
It was just a moment’s relief. Plenty more is bound to come. But Tang Hwa-rin didn’t feel overly worried.
With him right beside her, filling her heart, she felt they could move forward.
There were many things to ask and tasks to tackle because of what happened at the Tea Bookstore. Among them, priorities that needed to be addressed would arise. However, Tang Hwa-rin wanted to ask something else first.
“Yoon-ho, I have a question.”
Tang Hwa-rin lifted her forehead from his chest, raised her face, and looked up at him.
“Yeah?”
“Hwa-rin, about your friend.”
As her heart fluttered, her tongue stumbled.
“Uh-huh.”
Hwa-rin tried her hardest to keep her expression serious so that Kang Yoon-ho wouldn’t notice how her heart raced.
She had something she wanted to ask him.
A question that always swirled in her mind, hovering at the tip of her tongue, only to be shoved deep into her heart again.
She didn’t want to care about it, but like a thorn stuck in her shoe, it stubbornly lingered in her thoughts.
This time, she was determined to bring that curiosity to light.
“Is she… a girl?”
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