To My Brother’s Friend - Chapter 18

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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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Chapter 18
Unable to resist Han Young-sook’s insistence that she stay for dinner, Hee-jo sent a message to Kwon Yeol.
[It looks like I’ll need to have dinner with my teacher before heading back.]
She’d expected a delayed response, but surprisingly, his reply came almost immediately.
[I’ll come over there.]
Hee-jo’s eyes widened in surprise.
She approached Han Young-sook, who was bustling about the kitchen with delight at the prospect of cooking for her student after so long, and carefully opened her mouth.
“Um, Teacher.”
“Hmm? What is it—did you think of something you’d like to eat?”
“No, it’s just… Kwon Yeol said he’s coming over here too.”
At those words, Han Young-sook’s movements froze momentarily. She remained rigid for a breath before slowly resuming her stirring of the pot.
“I suppose I should see him at least once.”
Han Young-sook did not particularly favor Kwon Yeol.
Though she showed no outward displeasure, her resentment stemmed from Madam Jung’s treatment of Hee-jo as mere decoration and her disapproval of Kwon Yeol’s cold and sharp temperament.
“His nature is far too cold and cutting. One day, you too will be gravely wounded by him. The closer the blade, the deeper it pierces.”
Han Young-sook had made this a habit of saying.
Save for the moments when she softened before Hee-jo, the Kwon Yeol known to the world was as merciless and tearless as a demon.
That ruthless coldness bore an uncanny resemblance to his grandfather, Beom Hun-young’s Household.
“My acting will need to be sharper than usual. In a situation where I should prostrate myself and carry you away, here we are signing a one-year contract. I’m not sure I can manage my expression well.”
The fact that Han Young-sook knew the truth behind this marriage remained a secret even from Kwon Yeol.
“I know you’ll do wonderfully, Teacher.”
Han Young-sook gave Hee-jo, who wore a bright smile, a sidelong glance.
“How amusing. Do you have any idea how much my heart rots away because of you?”
“…I’ll devote myself to filial piety for the rest of my life.”
The word filial piety stirred something tender in Han Young-sook’s chest, and she deliberately turned her gaze back to the pot.
“Don’t lose heart. That’s the same as disrespecting me.”
“Of course not. Who am I? I’m the direct disciple and beloved student of Intangible Cultural Property Han Young-sook.”
The fact that she was joking in such an uncharacteristic way suggested she was quite concerned about whether her teacher might turn cold toward the man she loved.
Seeing Hee-jo like this, Han Young-sook felt a pang of sympathy, and her eyes grew misty once more.
“These days, going back and forth once or twice is nothing. There are plenty of opportunities ahead.”
At her teacher’s gentle and unspoken comfort, Hee-jo smiled, her eyes crinkling at the corners.
“Yes. After one year, I’ll be right there beside you all the time.”
“What good would it do for you to laze about beside me? By then, you’d better bring back a truly decent man.”
Han Young-sook continued in a deliberately gruff tone.
“My goal is to teach the knot-tying craft to your children. The lineage is already precarious—the succession must continue.”
Children. Children, she said…
Hee-jo smiled bitterly.
She would likely never bear children.
Once she parted from Kwon Yeol, she had no intention of meeting anyone else.
She would spend the rest of her life with only him etched upon her heart as her husband, living out her remaining days through the craft of knot-tying.
But knowing that revealing such inner thoughts would surely send her Master’s blood pressure soaring, Hee-jo simply offered a quiet smile.
On the gas range, a savory dish bubbled and simmered gently.
* * *
“Welcome.”
Contrary to Hee-jo’s concerns, Han Young-sook greeted Kwon Yeol with a benevolent smile.
“It feels like it’s been ages, doesn’t it?”
“Yes. I apologize for my absence.”
Watching Kwon Yeol bow respectfully, Han Young-sook clicked her tongue softly to herself.
His appearance was far too impeccable.
His face was so strikingly beautiful that it seemed to enchant both men and women alike, and his massive, well-built frame—like a door frame walking through the entrance—was equally displeasing to her.
And yet…
The moment he stepped into the Transmission Hall, he immediately searched for Hee-jo’s expression, and when their eyes briefly met, he offered a faint smile that was quite impressive.
It was natural enough when taking away such a beautiful and precious student, but recalling that the man in question was the cold-blooded Beom Gwon-yeol made it remarkably exceptional.
Still, Beom had taken quite good care of Hee-jo.
Every birthday without fail, he made time to take her to dinner and buy her gifts.
Even if it was a hollow marriage in every sense…
The fact that Hee-jo was Hee-jae’s sister would never be a light matter to Kwon Yeol.
“I apologize for visiting so suddenly.”
How could his voice be so deep and pleasant? No wonder Hee-jo couldn’t keep her wits about her.
Han Young-sook clicked her tongue inwardly while laughing aloud on the surface.
“Not at all. You’re such a busy man that it’s an honor just to see your face like this.”
“Out of a sense of apology, and to offer my respects, I’ve brought a small token of appreciation.”
At a subtle gesture from Kwon Yeol, his secretary, who had followed like a shadow, carefully set down an exquisitely wrapped paulownia wood box and an elongated case.
Han Young-sook’s eyebrows twitched slightly.
Even to her discerning eye, the patterns on the box appeared extraordinary.
“My goodness…”
When Kwon Yeol opened the box himself, Han Young-sook let out an involuntary gasp of admiration.
Inside the paulownia wood box lay premium silk threads dyed through thousands of hands using pigments extracted from natural plants—threads so rare that even money could scarcely procure them—arranged neatly in skeins of different hues.
Beside them lay unfinished jade ornament pieces crafted by a master artisan, emanating a subtle luster.
“How could you bring something so precious…”
“Since you are a keeper of such a precious lineage, I thought materials befitting your hands would be most appropriate.”
Han Young-sook was momentarily at a loss for words.
Had it merely been expensive jewelry or a luxury handbag, she would have offered veiled criticism in the elegant manner of her own mother, calling it vulgar ostentation.
But to procure materials that even master knot-makers obsess over with such perfect precision…
And furthermore…
“A design compendium. I heard you had a deep interest in such things.”
The antique presented alongside it was a rare Joseon-era knot design compendium she had long coveted.
‘They say he resembles Chairman Beom perfectly. He certainly knows how to captivate a person’s very soul.’
His insight in striking precisely at what the other person most desperately desired was remarkable, yet it filled her with deep concern.
How heavy would the burden be for Hee-jo to bear beside such an excessively perfect man?
To others’ eyes, he must appear equally dazzling—so captivating they’d do anything to possess him.
The kind of man one would move heaven and earth to claim.
“Oh my, receiving something so precious… I haven’t prepared anything in return.”
“When I consider the devotion you’ve shown Hee-jo, such a gift hardly suffices. If anything, I’m ashamed my gratitude comes so late.”
True to form for the eldest son of a conglomerate family—his words flowed with practiced eloquence.
Han Young-sook remained unconvinced yet entranced by his courtesy. When she glanced at Hee-jo, the girl—who had frozen in surprise—gave a tentative nod, silently urging her to accept.
“I do hope you’ll accept.”
Kwon Yeol’s voice drove the final wedge home, and Han Young-sook finally released a sigh wrapped in a smile.
‘Well, what can I do?’
In truth, compared to the value of taking away her precious disciple, these gifts were trifles.
When Han Young-sook yielded with a reluctant nod, Kwon Yeol’s subtle gesture sent his secretaries into seamless motion, carrying chests into the Transmission Hall.
“Thank you. Shall we head inside before the food grows cold?”
* * *
The dishes laid upon the table were humble, yet Han Young-sook’s day-long devotion infused them with refined elegance.
“Compared to the cuisine prepared by the masters of Jeoksanwon, this must seem meager. Still, I hope you’ll savor it for the care I’ve put into it.”
“It’s more than sufficient. A meal prepared by your own hands, Master, is far more precious than any dish from any establishment.”
Kwon Yeol savored each carefully arranged side dish slowly, his words no mere pleasantry.
Then, with utterly natural grace, he placed a piece of perfectly grilled fish atop Hee-jo’s rice.
The gesture was effortlessly tender.
Hee-jo, moving without thought, nodded and brought the fish to her lips.
As she chewed contentedly as always, she suddenly lifted her head, sensing an odd stillness settling over the table.
“….”
There sat Han Young-sook, chopsticks frozen mid-air, her gaze fixed upon them both with a peculiar intensity.
‘Oh….’
Heat flooded Hee-jo’s face in an instant. Flustered and mortified, her eyes darted helplessly through empty air, trembling.
“You two seem quite… affectionate with each other, don’t you?”

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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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