The White Tiger Clan’s Baby Cotton Ball - Chapter 67

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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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Chapter 67

 

“How wonderful it must be, Baek Saeon. To have such a cute, kind, and clever daughter.”

 

Cheongha spoke with a deliberately playful smile to hide her warmed heart.

 

“If you’re envious of that.”

 

Saeon replied in a leisurely voice.

 

“Why don’t you try becoming Baby Cotton Ball’s mother too.”

 

“Oh my, what are you saying. I have no intention of taking that child away from you…”

 

Suddenly, Cheongha’s words trailed off.

 

Cheongha slowly lowered her gaze.

 

He was holding her wrist.

 

As if embracing something very precious, desperately. And tenderly.

 

“You don’t need to take her away from me. You could easily become one, as long as you return to White Tiger Palace.”

 

Unlike his indifferent tone from moments ago, his eyes meeting hers were incredibly deep and profound.

 

“Baek Saeon. I…”

 

“The day you first met that child, you said so. That you could never beat me.”

 

Saeon interrupted Cheongha’s attempted response and spoke quietly.

 

“But that’s not true. You said you could never beat me, but the one who truly can’t beat you is me. I’ve always let you win.”

 

“…”

 

“No matter what you do, even if you point a spear at my throat, I will let you win for the rest of my life.”

 

“…”

 

“From when we were very young, through marrying you and accepting your divorce request. There hasn’t been a single moment when I didn’t let you win.”

 

“…”

 

“And even now.”

 

Saeon gripped her wrist more firmly and slowly traced the inside of her wrist with his thumb.

 

“Even now, I can’t beat you, so I’m waiting like this.”

 

At that calm confession, Cheongha quietly pressed her lips together.

 

Swoosh—

 

Cold winter wind swept between them.

 

“Cheongha.”

 

A quiet voice seeped through the cool night air.

 

“I’ve never been able to say these words to you all these years.”

 

Saeon smiled slightly and pulled her wrist that he was gripping.

 

In an instant, her body was drawn into his embrace.

 

He slowly lowered his head and whispered something in her ear.

 

“…”

 

“…!”

 

Suddenly, Cheongha’s earlobes turned bright red.

 

Saeon let out a gentle laugh and released her.

 

His quiet laughter echoed through the clear night air.

 

“Even now, the position of White Tiger Palace’s mistress remains empty. And as long as I remain as Family Head, that position will continue to remain empty.”

 

He curved his eyes leisurely as he spoke to her, who had immediately stepped away from his embrace.

 

“So anytime, whenever you want, come back.”

 

“…”

 

“Whenever that may be, after 10 years, after 20 years, even if 100 years pass, it’s fine… come back when you want to.”

 

“…”

 

“I and the children will always be waiting.”

 

“…”

 

Cheongha looked at him silently, then smiled gently like him and answered.

 

“Thank you, Saeon.”

 

* * *

 

The next morning.

 

Having stayed up later than usual the previous evening to admire the snowy night scenery of Horim Mountain, Soya woke up rubbing her eyes in the late morning.

 

“Are you awake, Soya?”

 

As Soya was getting up, she spotted Ga Hyeon just opening the door and entering.

 

“Elder Brother?”

 

“When you didn’t appear at the breakfast hall, I asked and they said you were sleeping in.”

 

Ga Hyeon smiled gently as he placed the tray he brought on the side table beside the bed.

 

On the tray were tangerines and honey tea that Soya had enjoyed when she caught a cold.

 

“I was worried you might be hungry alone, so I brought this.”

 

“I’ll eat well, Elder Brother.”

 

As Soya smiled and greeted him, she suddenly noticed something.

 

‘Huh? That is…?’

 

That silver hairpin embedded with blue jade that held Ga Hyeon’s hair up in a high ponytail…

 

‘That’s Cheongha’s gift!’

 

It was the very gift that Cheongha had brought to give to Ga Hyeon yesterday but ended up taking back without delivering.

 

‘They made up!’

 

Realizing this, Soya’s face brightened considerably.

 

‘That’s such a relief.’

 

When Soya looked at him with a pleased expression, Ga Hyeon felt her gaze and blushed slightly.

 

He had deliberately come to let Soya know about making up with Cheongha, but he felt a bit embarrassed.

 

“Well, I have classes so I’ll go first, Soya. Make sure to eat your meal properly.”

 

“Yes, Elder Brother!”

 

Soya giggled and waved her hand.

 

And there was one more piece of good news.

 

Gayul had finally finished his growth pains!

 

“How about it, Cotton Ball? Isn’t this elder brother incredibly cool?”

 

Grrrrowl—!

 

Gayul, who had completed his first growth and transformed into a large tiger, spoke boastfully.

 

Soya just rolled her eyes silently.

 

With a deeply shocked expression.

 

“What’s wrong? Are you surprised because this elder brother is too cool?”

 

Gayul remembered when Soya first came to White Tiger Palace and clapped her hands in admiration upon seeing his beast transformation.

 

Surely this time too, she would admire him just like then, he thought, his eyes sparkling with anticipation as he looked at her.

 

“…You’re not cute at all!”

 

Soya cried out with a face as if the world had collapsed.

 

“What…?”

 

Gayul was flustered and his pink nose twitched.

 

“You’re not cute at all. What is this?”

 

“Cute? Who? Me? Cotton Ball, have you been thinking I was cute all this time?”

 

Gayul began jumping around frantically with his large body.

 

As he began leaping around with a body as large as a house rather than a small baby tiger, the ground shook with thuds.

 

However, instead of being surprised, Soya pouted and puffed out both her cheeks.

 

Of course, Soya had seen Ga Hyeon’s beast transformation several times, so she knew how large a tiger became after completing first growth.

 

But until now, the Gayul in Soya’s mind had always been a cute baby tiger, and it felt like that image was completely shattered in an instant.

 

“Really? I think I’m cute even in this form.”

 

Cheongha stroked the chin of the huffing Gayul as she said this.

 

Then Gayul, who had been thrashing about, flinched and stiffened his body before unconsciously making purring sounds.

 

Seeing this, Soya showed slight interest and approached the opposite side of Cheongha, stretching out her arms to stroke Gayul’s chin.

 

“D-don’t, Cotton Ball! It tickles…! Purr, purr.”

 

Every time Gayul purred, his long white whiskers twitched along with the sound.

 

At this, Soya’s eyes widened into perfect circles.

 

“Really, Cheongha! Looking at him again, this form is so cute too, Yul!”

 

“Cute? I’m the third son of the Great White Tiger Family…! Purr, purr.”

 

“And the fur under his chin is even fluffier, which feels nice!”

 

“Right?”

 

When Cheongha winked, Soya burst into giggles.

 

Gayul was surrounded by Soya and Cheongha, making happy purring sounds.

 

Though his body was that of a large tiger, his behavior was still that of a baby tiger.

 

Poof!

 

Before long, Gayul’s beast transformation was released.

 

Since it hadn’t been long since his First Growth, he still couldn’t maintain it for extended periods.

 

As his strength gave out and he was about to fall, Cheongha caught him.

 

Gayul buried himself in Cheongha’s skirt, then slightly lifted his head up, and when their eyes met, he grinned with a “hehe.”

 

Gayul, who had been too young when Cheongha left White Tiger Palace, was simply overjoyed to have his mother by his side.

 

‘Yul must be happy that Mother came too. He has a different expression than when he’s with Father. I wonder what it feels like to have a mother?’

 

Soya was quietly watching this scene when it happened.

 

“Soya.”

 

Cheongha called to Soya while extending her arms.

 

“…!”

 

Understanding the signal, Soya hurried over, and Cheongha pulled the small girl into a warm embrace.

 

Snuggle—

 

Father’s embrace had been firm. But Cheongha’s embrace was soft and warm.

 

It was the kind of cozy warmth that would melt away a cold body after being embraced following snow play.

 

‘Was my birth mother’s embrace also this soft and warm?’

 

Soya naturally found herself thinking about her own mother.

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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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