I Thought the Youngest Daughter of the Sichuan Tang Family Was Hated - Chapter 76

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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“Ugh…”
I watched Jo Man leave through narrowed eyes, my face twisted in displeasure.
Soon, the door closed.
I immediately tried to stand up….
“You.”
“Kyaaah! Mmph!”
I couldn’t even get to my feet and collapsed right back down.
It was because Jin Hwa had suddenly approached me.
If he hadn’t quickly covered my mouth, I would have screamed loud enough to shake the Warehouse down.
Jin Hwa bent down to meet my eyes and spoke in hushed tones.
“Why does your stomach hurt?”
“Mmph, mmmph?!”
Is that really the issue right now?!
“Why does it hurt? Is it an illness? I’m asking. Answer me.”
When I didn’t respond, he raised one eyebrow and asked again.
Remove your hand first before asking questions, you fool!
“Phew!”
I finally pushed his hand away and exhaled sharply.
After catching my breath, I glared fiercely at his serious expression.
“Hey!”
At my shout, he flinched in surprise.
“I told you to stay quietly in the Warehouse! Why are you wandering around?! Do you really want to get caught?”
As I rattled off my words, he narrowed his eyes and asked back.
“Did you really think I believed what you said?”
“What, so you knew…?”
Oh no. I should have denied it, but an honest reaction slipped out before I could stop myself.
“Of course I… ow, my head.”
Perhaps from the shock, my head suddenly throbbed with pain.
Then Jin Hwa grabbed my shoulders and slowly pushed me back against a crate as he spoke.
“You’re hurting everywhere. Sit down. Now.”
“Ugh, it’s because of you!”
I felt like I might explode from frustration.
That calm expression on his face, oblivious to what situation he was in, was absolutely infuriating.
“You!”
I grabbed his tattered sleeve and asked.
“What did you come to take? Hurry and get it and leave. I’ll help you find what you’re looking for.”
“What?”
His eyes widened in surprise.
He seemed to think I wouldn’t know what he’d been doing just moments ago.
“You knew? That I….”
“How could you not know?”
I let out a hollow laugh and continued.
“You’re the thief who destroyed that village.”
“So how did you….”
“Grandfather told me.”
I answered deliberately dismissive.
‘Go mad from frustration just like I did!’
Whether my intent worked or not, his expression remained clouded with confusion.
I slowly pushed myself up using the box and spoke.
“You found your way here well. Our Family Estate has so many miscellaneous things that no one would notice if you took a little.”
I grabbed the still-dazed Jin Hwa’s hand and walked toward the door.
“What did you come looking for? Tell me quickly. I’ll help you find it.”
When I asked casually, Jin Hwa hesitated for a moment before answering briefly.
“…Medicine.”
I stopped walking and turned around.
‘He came looking for medicine? How did he manage to find this place?’
More importantly, why had he been looking for medicine?
“Why, are you hurt somewhere else?”
I asked with concern, tilting my head as I examined his body.
“Are there other injuries? Hmm?”
It was strange. I’d examined him carefully, but his other wounds weren’t severe.
“That’s not it, you….”
Just as Jin Hwa was adjusting his collar and about to say something.
The heavy door began to creak open.
‘This is bad. Jo Man must be back!’
I quickly grabbed his hand and ran frantically to the opposite side.
I hid my body in the corner of the stack of boxes, urgently scanning the surroundings.
I needed to find a place where we could be completely hidden.
A hand truck for carrying boxes came into view at the right end.
‘If we hide behind that….’
Without a word, I led Jin Hwa again.
Surprisingly, he followed without complaint.
“Get in quickly!”
I pushed Jin Hwa’s back, sending him behind the hand truck.
He was completely obscured by the shadows and barely visible.
I nodded in satisfaction and was about to turn back.
“Ugh!”
Why was a stone post used for carrying loads lying carelessly on the floor?
Stepping on it caused my ankle to twist at a sickle-like angle.
I tumbled forward.
A stifled whimper escaped my throat as I braced myself against the floor.
Thankfully, I hadn’t made a loud noise.
Since I’d collapsed on top of Jin Hwa, at least I wasn’t hurt.
Yes, if I was quiet about this, I could slip past unnoticed….
“Ah-hee.”
…or so I thought.
I creaked my head upward with aching joints.
The owner of the shadow looming above me came into view.
“Oh, Father….”
“Father?”
At the trembling in my voice, Jin Hwa squinted his eyes and looked up at Father.
Father’s gaze, which had been boring down at me with such intensity, shifted to Jin Hwa like a phantom.
“Why are you sprawled on top of that young servant?”
His voice cut like frost-laden wind, settling coldly across my shoulders.
Goosebumps erupted across my skin.
“Care to explain?”
***
***
That was Gui-heon’s “important matter,” which meant Father had been nearby the whole time.
When he heard that I was here and had collapsed with stomach pain, he rushed over at once….
And discovered us.
“So that scrawny wretch pinned Yeon-ah down!” Dang Lim shrieked, his face flushed crimson with rage.
“No, that’s not—”
Actually, I was the one who’d collapsed on top of Jin Hwa, so technically I was the one who’d pinned him.
Before I could even explain, Dang Lim lunged at Jin Hwa.
“I’ll kill you!”
Gui-heon restrained him from behind, locking his arms.
“Stop. Father is restraining himself as well. And besides, we heard it was Yeon-ah who pinned him.”
At those words, Dang Lim seemed to barely regain his composure.
He continued to glare at Jin Hwa with murderous intent, though his breathing had steadied.
Gui-heon’s expression had hardened into something grave.
‘…This is driving me insane. How did things spiral this far out of control?’
Gui-heon, Dang Eum, Dang Lim, and Father—they’d all gathered at the Damrok Trading House.
The entire household had been turned upside down.
With Jin Hwa and me seated in the center, they stared at us for what felt like an eternity.
Except for Dang Lim, who occasionally raised his voice, and Gui-heon, who tried to soothe him, no one spoke.
But I could feel it.
With me and Jin Hwa seated in the center, they stared at us for a long time.
Except for Dang Lim occasionally raising his voice and Gui-heon soothing him, there was silence.
But I could feel it.
They were all absolutely furious.
“…Was it because of that outsider? The one who was always holed up in the Warehouse.”
Gui-heon asked cautiously.
I hung my head low and stole a glance at Jin Hwa.
‘You too—look ashamed. Quickly!’
I tried to warn him with my eyes, but he didn’t catch on.
Or rather, he didn’t seem inclined to.
He simply held his head high and stared straight at Gui-heon.
“Look at that attitude. Unbelievable!”
Dang Lim extended his hand again, nails bared.
If Gui-heon hadn’t stopped him, he would have actually lunged.
“….”
Throughout all this, Father remained utterly silent.
I would have preferred him to scold us harshly.
Being scolded until tears streamed down my face would have been easier than this.
This suffocating silence and his piercing, almost painful gaze were far more unbearable.
“What’s all this about? Why are you gathered here so suddenly?”
A voice broke the silence from outside.
The door swung open and Dang Mu-seon stepped in.
Word had apparently reached him as well.
Only then did Father’s gaze, which had been fixed on me, finally lift.
“Phew.”
I exhaled the breath I’d been holding, as if released from chains.
Father turned to Dang Mu-seon and asked quietly.
“Were you aware of this?”
“Aware of what?”
Dang Mu-seon folded his arms and countered calmly.
Seeing that composed expression, I felt slightly reassured.
Dang Mu-seon was the one who had allowed Jin Hwa to follow me and overlooked our hiding in the Warehouse.
He was my accomplice.
‘Grandfather will protect us. Both me and Jin Hwa.’
“That outsider snuck into the Family Estate. Then he deceived my daughter and wandered freely through the compound.”
…Hearing it put that way made it sound like a grave matter.
And truthfully, it was.
“Were you aware of this?”
Father asked heavily.
Dang Mu-seon blinked slowly. His serene gaze drifted toward me.
As he looked at me, Dang Mu-seon….
“Well.”
He smiled?!

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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