The Beloved Baby Deer of the Hwangryong Family - Chapter 100

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Su-jeong strode over and pushed Seo-yu aside, beginning to rummage through the book wrapper herself.

 

She flipped through the books one by one, opened the ink and brush set, and checked every corner of the book wrapper.

 

However, when she couldn’t find anything, Su-jeong’s eyes gradually became fiercer.

 

‘What? Why isn’t it here?’

 

Cho-ok had clearly said so. She had delivered the necklace to the errand runner and conveyed her orders well.

 

But why wasn’t the necklace coming out of Seo-yu’s book wrapper!

 

“What is this…”

 

It was the moment Su-jeong, with her brow deeply furrowed, opened her mouth.

 

Creak.

 

The front door opened and Ho Baek-a entered. Ho Baek-a’s gaze turned toward where the children were gathered.

 

“Why are you all so noisy? Class has started. Why are you all crowded together over there?”

 

The students who had been watching nervously scattered one by one and returned to their seats. Seo-yu also sat down.

 

Finally, when Su-jeong also went to her seat, Ho Baek-a held up something she had been holding in her hand.

 

“Oh, and whose necklace is this?”

 

The glass beads sparkled brilliantly in the sunlight streaming through the window. It was unmistakably the glass necklace.

 

‘Why is that in that teacher’s hands?’

 

It was an utterly absurd situation, but Su-jeong couldn’t even manage a hollow laugh. All eyes had quickly turned to her.

 

“Oh! Isn’t that Su-jeong’s necklace?”

 

“It really is! It looks like glass, doesn’t it?”

 

“…Yes, it’s mine.”

 

Su-jeong had no choice but to acknowledge it. Anyone could see it was made of glass, and such an item wouldn’t be common, so denying it would only make things stranger.

 

“It was lying in the courtyard on the way into the Academic Hall. It doesn’t look like something worth just a coin or two, so take better care of it. Otherwise, I’ll consider it a donation to me.”

 

At Ho Baek-a’s joke-like comment, several children burst into laughter. But Su-jeong couldn’t laugh at all.

 

“Here, take your necklace.”

 

“…Thank you.”

 

Su-jeong stepped forward with a stiff expression, took the necklace, and returned to her seat.

 

Seo-yu’s gaze fell on the fist clenched so tightly it seemed like it would crush the glass beads.

 

“Look at me. I came back without getting the books. I must have been completely distracted by the necklace. Wait just a moment. I’ll be right back.”

 

It was while Ho Baek-a briefly left her seat.

 

“Aren’t you going to apologize?”

 

Ryeong-ah’s voice rang clearly through the classroom.

 

Su-jeong, who had been gnawing on her lower lip, turned her head at the gaze she suddenly felt.

 

“What? Are you talking to me?”

 

“Is there anyone else besides Su-jeong? You haven’t apologized to Seo-yu.”

 

Ryeong-ah spoke firmly.

 

In fact, Su-jeong’s behavior was rude by anyone’s standards. They had understood that she might be flustered since a precious item had disappeared, but it was a situation where Seo-yu would have every right to be angry.

 

Su-jeong tensed her jaw and glared at Seo-yu.

 

‘Quickly say with your own mouth that it’s fine.’

 

And Seo-yu immediately understood the meaning contained in that look. She couldn’t help but know. She had been tormented by Su-jeong for a long time.

 

Seo-yu was originally generous about others’ mistakes. So normally, she would have said this incident was fine and forgiven her.

 

But this time, she didn’t want to do that.

 

‘If it had been other friends instead of me who went through this, I would have been really upset.’

 

If Seo-yu understood and let it pass this time, next time another child might go through the same thing.

 

Having made up her mind, Seo-yu took a breath and opened her mouth.

 

“I did not take Su-jeong’s necklace. I understand your suspicions, but I was very embarrassed and flustered. So I would like you to apologize to me.”

 

Has she lost her mind?

 

Su-jeong’s eyes widened at the unexpected words. Unable to contain her temper, she was about to shout immediately, but the other children whispered among themselves.

 

“Well, she did search through her book wrapper in front of everyone.”

 

“I would have felt bad too if it were me.”

 

“Su-jeong must have done that because she was so shocked.”

 

Su-jeong, who was about to slam the desk and stand up, hesitated.

 

No matter how nasty Su-jeong’s temper was, she wasn’t oblivious. She could tell that if she exploded in anger here, only her reputation would suffer.

 

Su-jeong gritted her teeth and barely parted her lips.

 

“I was rude. I’m… sorry, Seo-yu.”

 

Though her trembling voice contained not a trace of sincerity, Seo-yu nodded.

 

“You were flustered, so it’s understandable. I hope you’ll be more careful next time.”

 

“Of course.”

 

Ryeong-ah chimed in from the side.

 

Su-jeong, who had been trembling with rage, snapped her head forward.

 

Soon Seo-yu and Ryeong-ah’s eyes met.

 

‘Thank you!’

 

Ryeong-ah responded with a blink to the greeting conveyed through lip movements with a bright smile.

 

* * *

 

In the private residence of Yeonshim-jae, in the quiet back garden dormitory where lotus flowers bloomed, an untimely shouting echoed.

 

“Why was the necklace lying there! Are you trying to play games with me right now?!”

 

“Ah, Young Miss, I definitely delivered it properly…”

 

“Shut up! You can’t even handle one simple task properly? What exactly can you do!”

 

Smack!

 

The sound of a slap rang out clearly. Cho-ok was trembling with her head bowed.

 

“I don’t need someone like you, so get out right now! Don’t let me see you!”

 

Su-jeong, in a fit of rage, pushed Cho-ok outside.

 

Bang!

 

The door slammed shut roughly, leaving Cho-ok alone in front of the pavilion.

 

Since there was no separate dormitory given to maids who came to serve their masters, she had no choice but to leave the Medical Academy for now.

 

If she lingered outside and caught Su-jeong’s eye, there would really be trouble then.

 

‘Anyway, Young Miss will be going to the Qilin Family later, so I should return to the Great Antlered Deer Family until her anger subsides.’

 

Cho-ok cupped her stinging cheek with her hand. Her cheek burned terribly from how hard she had been hit.

 

It was just then, as Cho-ok hurried her steps in case someone might stare at her.

 

She probably encountered someone when turning the corner of a building that she remembered as the West Hall.

 

“Oh my!”

 

But it happened to be Seo-yu.

 

Seo-yu, who paused for a moment, was startled to see Cho-ok’s swollen red face.

 

“Cho-ok, your cheek… are you okay?”

 

Cho-ok felt inexplicably angry at the worried gaze examining her.

 

‘Who am I like this because of?’

 

If Seo-yu had just been a little more obedient to Su-jeong, if she had just stayed quietly in the family clan, she wouldn’t have had to suffer like this.

 

But suddenly Seo-yu, who had disappeared and made her suffer, was talking to her, which annoyed her. Moreover, unlike her own shabby state, Seo-yu looked very neat and beautiful, which made her even more spiteful.

 

“I don’t know how you got into the Golden Dragon Family, but Young Miss must be comfortable.”

 

Just as Cho-ok snapped at her haphazardly and tried to pass by Seo-yu, Seo-yu grabbed Cho-ok.

 

“Wait, Cho-ok!”

 

“Ugh!”

 

Cho-ok groaned, clenching her hand as pain surged through her.

 

“Why, what’s wrong?”

 

Seo-yu reflexively looked down and her eyes widened.

 

“The wounds are severe!”

 

Cho-ok’s hands had scratches from ceramic shards all over them. Some still had blood beading on them, while others had dried but hadn’t even formed scabs yet.

 

“It’s none of Young Miss’s business!”

 

“How is it none of my business!”

 

An even louder voice came back in response to her shouting.

 

Since it was the first time she had heard Seo-yu raise her voice, Cho-ok flinched.

 

“I came to the Medical Academy to heal sick people! How can I become a physician if I pretend not to know when there’s a patient!”

 

Seo-yu, who shouted as if frustrated, took something out from her belongings. A small, round medicine container made of carved wood contained medicinal ointment.

 

Swish, Seo-yu scooped up plenty of ointment and applied the medicine to Cho-ok’s palm.

 

“It’s made from silk grass. You have to be careful not to let it touch water until it’s completely absorbed.”

 

Then she carefully gave detailed precautions. Cho-ok, who had been staring at her blankly, unconsciously asked.

 

“…Young Miss, don’t you hate me?”

 

“Hm? No. I don’t hate you.”

 

Seo-yu shook her head. Cho-ok hesitated and spoke again.

 

“Why not? I was mean to Young Miss.”

 

“But that was because Miss Su-jeong hated me. Cho-ok… I didn’t hate you, but I was scared.”

 

“…”

 

“But Cho-ok must have been scared too.”

 

At the words that followed, Cho-ok’s eyes shook violently. For some reason, her chest ached.

 

“Cho-ok acted that way toward me because you were afraid of getting scolded by Miss Su-jeong, right?”

 

That’s right.

 

At first, that’s how it was. Miss Su-jeong’s words were absolute, and powerless Cho-ok had no choice but to follow them.

 

But later, she didn’t even have such thoughts.

 

It was just comfortable that way. Following Su-jeong’s words and tormenting Seo-yu wasn’t difficult at all.

 

So she hadn’t thought at all about how Seo-yu might feel. She only began to understand a little after she took over Seo-yu’s role.

 

But this small young miss said she understood all of her feelings. That made Cho-ok feel strangely moved.

 

“But Cho-ok, I’m not scared of Miss Su-jeong or you anymore.”

 

After applying medicinal ointment to Cho-ok’s swollen cheek one last time, Seo-yu closed the lid of the medicine container.

 

“My sister taught me that if you get scared, you lose. I won’t be someone who loses anymore.”

 

And she pressed it firmly into Cho-ok’s hand.

 

“Though I don’t really want to beat anyone, you know.”

 

Her giggling face was so excessively kind that Cho-ok somehow felt like crying.

 

“Cho-ok, you won’t get in trouble for being with me, will you? I’ll leave quickly. You need to diligently apply the medicine!”

 

Seo-yu looked around and quickly stepped aside. Watching her retreating figure, Cho-ok murmured the greeting she hadn’t been able to give.

 

“Thank… you.”

 

As Cho-ok carefully clutched the medicinal ointment in her hand, a new sprout was blooming in her heart.

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