The Beloved Baby Deer of the Hwangryong Family - Chapter 102
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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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The cover was worn and the corners were frayed, showing it was an old book. However, there were clear traces of careful maintenance. It was undoubtedly a precious book.
‘What kind of content could be written inside?’
It was a book he hadn’t seen even in Hwang Hyeon-ya’s study, which had many books, so he was quite curious.
Tae-heum came in carrying the entire steamer.
“Come on, eat it while it’s hot.”
“Wow! It smells delicious!”
Seo-yu’s expression brightened cheerfully when she saw the steamed rice cake with steam rising from it.
A savory and sweet aroma filled the mountain hut. The nutty smell of red beans and the soft fragrance of rice blended together, making their mouths water naturally.
Tae-heum generously cut the steamed rice cake and distributed it to Seo-yu and Bi-neung.
The red beans packed densely between the white rice cake layers looked appetizing just by sight.
Seo-yu received the bowl and took a bite of the rice cake with a happy face.
“Mmm! It’s really delicious!”
“You like rice cake that much?”
Seo-yu’s cheeks puffed out as she chewed earnestly.
“Yes, I love it!”
When having conversations, she seemed mature for her age, but at times like this, she was unmistakably a young child.
“Eating like that will give you indigestion.”
Finding her appearance quite adorable, Tae-heum chuckled while bringing her water.
“Anyone watching would think you grew up starving.”
At his casually thrown remark, Seo-yu replied with a nonchalant expression.
“Hehe, but now I get to eat lots of delicious things.”
“Hmm?”
Tae-heum wondered for a moment if he had misheard. However, his hearing was still sharp despite his age.
So if he heard correctly, it meant this child had indeed grown up starving in the past.
‘Come to think of it, they said she was an adopted daughter.’
He hadn’t known at first, but when he went down to the Medical Academy building after a long time, he happened to overhear other physicians talking.
They said the Golden Dragon Family’s youngest was an adopted daughter who had been registered this year.
No wonder she was so gentle and completely different from Hwang Hyeon-ya – there was a reason for everything.
‘But Hwang Hyeon-ya isn’t the type to let such things slide.’
She seemed to get along well with her siblings too, but family matters had many aspects that couldn’t be known without looking closely. It was worth checking just in case.
Tae-heum asked casually.
“Child, does your household starve you by any chance?”
“What? No!”
Startled, Seo-yu stopped eating her rice cake and shook her head vigorously.
“They take such good care of me with delicious food! They even remember all the foods I like and make them for me often.”
“I-Is that so?”
Tae-heum was rather flustered by her passionate rebuttal. Seo-yu spoke fervently.
“Once I went to visit the Dragon Palace, and I received kelp-wrapped scallop rolls as a gift. They were slippery and salty and delicious. Also, I ate shrimp skewers there! The shrimp were this big, and they tasted even better grilled over fire!”
Seo-yu explained enthusiastically while showing the size with both hands.
“Oh! The sweet red bean jelly that Master made was incredibly delicious too.”
“That… tastes good.”
Bi-neung, who was nibbling on rice cake beside them, also agreed.
‘I must have misunderstood.’
In Seo-yu’s expression as she chattered excitedly, there wasn’t even a trace of the shadow of abuse.
Rather, her face lit up brightly every time she talked about her family. Relieved, Tae-heum quickly gave her more rice cake, telling her to eat up.
After they finished eating all the rice cake until their stomachs were full.
“Grandfather, but what is that book over there?”
Seo-yu asked carefully, pointing to the desk.
“Ah, you mean the Herbal Records.”
Tae-heum got up from his seat, brought the book back, and opened it in front of Seo-yu.
“It’s a book I wrote.”
“You wrote it yourself, Grandfather?”
Seo-yu’s eyes widened. At her reaction, Tae-heum cleared his throat with a ‘hmm hmm’ and spoke with a pleased expression.
“That’s right. There are still many medicinal herbs unknown to the world, aren’t there? My dream is to travel every corner of Jusang Kingdom and record all the medicinal herbs in this world.”
“Wow, that’s really amazing!”
Seo-yu was amazed by such a wonderful dream.
Recording all the medicinal herbs in the world! How much time and effort would that require? And how much help would it be once completed!
Seo-yu suddenly wondered what her own dream was.
Originally, her dream was to go to the Medical Academy and walk the path of a physician, but before she knew it, that dream had come true.
‘Then now my dream is…’
Seo-yu thought for a moment and then smiled.
‘For now, I want to gather all the spirits together!’
Then the Demonic Arts would disappear from this land, and if the poison of the Demonic Arts disappeared, the land would become healthy too, so her family living in the Eastern Lands could live happily without worry anymore.
To do that, she had to quickly find the Thousand Year Spirit Herb.
‘Maybe those Herbal Records might have the information I’m looking for.’
But since it wasn’t a finished book yet, she didn’t know if it would be okay to ask. Hesitating, Seo-yu carefully spoke up.
“Grandfather, would it be okay if I read that book?”
Though she had worried, surprisingly Tae-heum answered very happily.
“Of course! I was just feeling lonely since I’ve only been writing by myself.”
He smiled warmly and handed the book to Seo-yu.
“Here, take it with you when you go down.”
“Really? Thank you, Grandfather! I’ll read it carefully and return it to you!”
“I’m not worried at all. I don’t have any additional content to add for a while anyway, so take your time reading it and return it.”
“Yes!”
Seo-yu hugged the precious book tightly to her chest.
* * *
“Well then, Family Head, I’ll come visit again next time.”
“Yes. Next time, bring Tae-eon with you too.”
Su-jeong greeted him with a laughing face.
But the moment she withdrew her gaze from Gi Tae-ha and turned around, that smile disappeared as if washed away.
‘Whether it’s the Family Head or Lord Tae-eon, they’re all annoying.’
The Qilin Family Estate was large and beautiful. The garden was splendid, and there were many servants attending.
But dining with Gi Tae-ha was not enjoyable at all.
First of all, there were too many questions. Where she had found the Snow Scale Flower, whether she had been interested in medicinal herbs since childhood, what she planned to do after graduating from the Medical Academy.
Su-jeong had only stolen the Snow Scale Flower from Seo-yu and knew nothing about it. Medicinal herbs and medical arts were naturally not her interests.
So she couldn’t give proper answers.
But lying felt uncomfortable because Gi Tae-ha’s steady gaze seemed to see right through her.
‘The Family Head is one thing. Doesn’t Lord Tae-eon even feel sorry for me? Why doesn’t he come to apologize?’
Since that day when the three of them encountered Hwang Seo-yu, she hadn’t met with Tae-eon separately.
Of course, it was Su-jeong who had told him not to visit, using the excuse that she would be fine on her own for a while and wanted to become friends with the students.
But still, shouldn’t a fiancé naturally notice Su-jeong’s mood and try to comfort her?
‘If I had known it would be like this, I shouldn’t have bothered with the Qilin Family at all!’
Thinking that this wouldn’t have happened if she had chosen the Crown Prince made her even more angry.
Of course, she liked Tae-eon’s appearance much more. Golden hair with neat features, tall height and elegant bearing.
‘What good is all that? He has no sense at all.’
Su-jeong grumbled inwardly as she walked down the corridor.
“Miss Su-jeong, shall I bring dessert to your room…?”
The maid following behind carefully spoke up.
“No need!”
Su-jeong shouted irritably.
Her father had nagged so much about manners that she had behaved properly at the Qilin Family, but she wasn’t in the mood for that now.
It was already annoying enough to suppress her temper at the Medical Academy; she didn’t want to cater to a lowly maid’s feelings too.
“Yes, understood.”
The startled maid withdrew. Su-jeong ground her teeth as she entered her room.
‘What good is Father being Sa-ryeong-ryeong! He can’t even get rid of one little girl!’
Once the resentment started, it spread like sparks everywhere.
The child sent as an errand runner wasn’t impressive either. To cause such trouble by not properly putting a necklace in the book wrapper.
Cho-ok was also displeasing. She was always struggling and never did anything properly.
‘Why won’t they let me talk about the Snow Scale Flower? If they just let me mention that, things wouldn’t have gotten this bad!’
It was then that a coquettish voice was heard from outside the door.
“Young Miss, are you inside?”
‘I said I’m not eating, how annoying!’
Just as she was about to furrow her brows menacingly, the following words immediately continued.
“It’s Cho-a.”
“…Cho-a? From the Feather Trading Company?”
Su-jeong’s expression softened a little.
“Yes, Young Miss. I heard you were visiting the Qilin Family today, so I adjusted my schedule in advance. I came to see you.”
“What do you want to see me for?”
Though she replied curtly, she actually felt her mood improve considerably just from that.
“There’s no one in this Western Region with as refined taste as you, Young Miss.”
Cho-ah’s voice became even softer.
“If there’s no one to appreciate precious items, there’s no point in bringing them. There are things I wouldn’t want to show anyone but you, Young Miss.”
At those words, Su-jeong’s heart melted completely.
“…Really? Then I’ll give you special permission. Come in.”
Cho-ah hurried inside, and as soon as she saw Su-jeong’s face, she showed a shocked expression.
“Young Miss, why is your beautiful skin so damaged?”
“…”
“Something must have happened to you, right? What on earth is the maid serving you doing?”
When someone appeared who understood her grievances, Su-jeong lamented.
“I really must have no luck with people.”
Su-jeong’s voice trembled.
“I don’t know how they can all be so lacking. There’s not a single thing they do properly.”
“Why? What happened?”
Cho-ah asked gently as she sat down next to Su-jeong.
Su-jeong felt like talking about anything. She wanted to pour out this frustrating feeling to someone.
So she began to bring up a story she shouldn’t have told.
“Actually, you see. There was an ungrateful thief in our household.”
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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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