Chapter 350: Revealing Her Tender Inner Self
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 350: Revealing Her Tender Inner Self
"I love you, Sun-woo. Hehehe."
Bukgung Yeon spoke as she gazed at Sun-woo with hazy, unfocused eyes.
".............."
Sun-woo felt a wave of bewilderment wash over him at her words.
He had been somewhat aware that she harbored feelings for him, but he hadn't expected such a direct strike. It was far too sudden.
".......Do you hate me, Sun-woo?"
When Sun-woo remained silent, Bukgung Yeon spoke with a pout, her face clouding over. Tears began to well up in the corners of her eyes.
"No, it’s not that... It’s not that I hate you... it’s just so sudden..."
Seeing her on the verge of tears, Sun-woo continued with a flustered expression. Her emotions were shifting so rapidly he wondered if she might be bipolar. It was impossible not to be taken aback.
"Sniff... I knew it... hic... You hate me too, don't you?"
Bukgung Yeon began to sob as she spoke.
"Sob... sob... No one likes me... waaaah!"
Soon, she was weeping sorrowfully.
".......That’s not true. Do you have any idea how many people like you?"
Startled by her crying, Sun-woo hurriedly began to soothe her.
"Sniff... really?"
"Of course!" Sun-woo replied, his voice full of conviction.
".....Who?" Bukgung Yeon asked, looking genuinely confused.
"............"
Sun-woo clamped his mouth shut. Since he wasn't particularly close to her, he had no idea who her friends were.
"Waaaaah! I knew it, you're lying!"
When Sun-woo failed to answer, Bukgung Yeon burst into tears again.
"There is! I’m telling you, there is! Seol-hyang! Seol-hyang said she likes you!"
"Sniff... Seol-hyang?"
"Yeah, yeah. She definitely said she likes you."
"Hehehehe."
Hearing Sun-woo's words, Bukgung Yeon’s mood brightened instantly, and she began to giggle.
Whew.
Seeing this, Sun-woo let out a silent sigh of relief. It seemed he had managed to pacify her for the moment.
"Then what about you?"
"Huh?"
"What do you think of me?"
Bukgung Yeon looked at Sun-woo with eyes full of expectation.
"..........."
Sun-woo fell silent at her question. He took a moment to reflect on how he truly felt about her.
If he had to choose between liking or disliking her, he would say he liked her. However, it was more a feeling of gratitude for the favors she had shown him rather than romantic affection. While it was true she was breathtakingly beautiful, they hadn't shared enough to build a deep bond.
"You're someone I'm grateful to," Sun-woo said in a calm tone.
Shake, shake.
Bukgung Yeon shook her head vigorously.
"Not that. Do you like me? Or do you hate me?"
"........I like you."
"Hehehehehehe."
Satisfied with his answer, Bukgung Yeon let out a silly, giddy laugh, a cute smile spreading across her face.
Sun-woo stared at her, dazed. He had always felt this way, but he could never quite get used to the sight of a beautiful woman smiling. It felt fresh every time, making his heart flutter—just like it was doing right now.
Thump, thump.
Sun-woo felt his heart racing wildly. He had been hit point-blank by her adorable smile.
Though he hadn't known her for long, she had always seemed cold, harsh, and fierce. Seeing such a woman smile so cutely was more than he could handle. She was cute. She was far too cute.
"Sun-woo! Let's drink! Drink!"
Suddenly, Bukgung Yeon stopped laughing and hoisted a bottle of liquor.
"Uh... I think it's better if I don't..."
Sun-woo tried to decline politely. He was already overwhelmed by Bukgung Yeon’s drunken antics. If he got drunk too, things would only get more complicated.
"No!"
But Bukgung Yeon didn't care about Sun-woo's concerns. She raised her voice in protest.
"You have to drink with me!"
"I have a low tolerance..." Sun-woo trailed off.
"It's fine!"
Bukgung Yeon handed him the bottle as if it didn't matter.
It’s not fine for me!
Sun-woo screamed internally. Right now, Bukgung Yeon was completely wasted, incapable of rational thought and possessed by a stubborn streak. She wasn't just offering; she refused to pull her hand back.
Sigh.
Sun-woo sighed inwardly and took the bottle. He realized that no matter how many times he refused, he wouldn't be able to break her stubbornness.
Gulp, gulp.
He tilted his head back and began to drink.
"Kgh!"
After a few swallows, Sun-woo grimaced at the burning sensation in his throat. He had heard it was strong, but this was beyond intense.
If this were any more concentrated, I’d believe it was poison.
Sun-woo thought as he drank. At this strength, it was no wonder Bukgung Yeon was so drunk.
Thud.
I should flush out the alcohol poisoning.
After a few more gulps, Sun-woo set the bottle down on the table. He slowly began to circulate his internal energy to neutralize the alcohol's toxicity. He intended to clear it all out before the intoxication could truly take hold.
Grab.
However, he was forced to stop his internal energy circulation when he felt a firm grip on his wrist.
"Why!?"
Sun-woo looked at Bukgung Yeon in surprise.
"You can't," she said firmly.
"....Can't what?" Sun-woo asked, feigning ignorance.
"You drink alcohol to get drunk."
Bukgung Yeon spoke with a resolute expression.
"..........."
Sun-woo slowly withdrew his internal energy. Her expression was so determined that he didn't dare try to flush the alcohol out again.
Is she pretending to be drunk?
A suspicion began to take root. Was she just acting? How else could she have sensed his internal energy circulation so perfectly?
"Um... Yeon-ah?"
Feeling a sense of incongruity, Sun-woo called her name.
"Yes, yes! Speak!"
Bukgung Yeon replied with a bright smile, as if she had never been serious a moment ago.
What is with you?
"Weren't you drunk?"
"Yeon-ah isn't drunk! Yeon-ah is a total heavyweight!"
Bukgung Yeon spoke with a boastful expression.
Thump.
Did she just refer to herself in the third person?
Sun-woo felt like his heart had been firebombed. Normally, he would have dismissed such speech as eccentric, but coming from a peerless beauty like Bukgung Yeon, it hit differently. He knew she was a "tough woman," and that gap in personality was beating his heart into submission.
"Ah... so that's why you noticed I was trying to flush the alcohol out?"
"Yup! It was so obvious! I went whish and caught you!"
Bukgung Yeon nodded along. Sun-woo realized he would have to give up on staying sober.
Chomp.
Suddenly, something was shoved into his mouth.
What the—!?
Startled by the sudden sensation, Sun-woo looked down. He saw Bukgung Yeon’s fair hand holding a piece of jerky.
"Drinking on an empty stomach is bad for you."
Bukgung Yeon spoke with a faint smile.
".......Thanks."
Munch, munch.
After thanking her, Sun-woo began to chew the jerky. The salty flavor of the meat spread through his mouth. It actually felt quite good; the jerky seemed to neutralize the harshness of the strong liquor.
*
"Waaaaah......."
Bukgung Yeon began to cry. It was a deep, sorrowful wail.
"Why... are you crying?"
Sun-woo asked, his own eyes growing hazy from the alcohol.
"Sniff... sob... I'm sad..."
"Why... are you sad?"
"Everyone precious to me leaves me."
Bukgung Yeon looked at Sun-woo with sorrowful eyes.
"My father... my mother... my uncles... they all left me..."
Tears streamed down her face incessantly.
"I'm... a cursed... child... That's why... everyone around me... becomes unhappy... Sob... sob..."
".........That’s not true."
Hearing her mournful voice, Sun-woo shook his head.
"No, I'm definitely cursed... The people who hid me... they were all caught and killed by the Northern Army... It's all... all... because of me. If only I hadn't been there..."
Bukgung Yeon continued to pour out the words she had kept bottled up inside, weeping bitterly. Sun-woo watched her with pity.
Surely, it wasn't her fault. He didn't know the full details, but he could guess. She was blaming herself for every misfortune that had occurred.
His heart ached. Beneath that cold, hard exterior, she had been hiding an inner self as soft and fragile as a child. The sense of disconnect vanished. This was who Bukgung Yeon truly was.
A beautiful woman who was playful and knew how to laugh brightly. But the harsh storms of the world had forced a cold mask upon her.
Perhaps it was because the alcohol had made him overly emotional, but seeing her vulnerable side made his heart feel like it was being wrenched apart. It might have been compassion for a girl who had been thrown into a ruthless world at a young age and grown up weathering such cruel storms.
Sun-woo thought to himself. He wanted to be a source of comfort. He wanted to wipe away her tears.
Sun-woo slowly stood up from his seat.
"..Ah."
Seeing this, Bukgung Yeon let out a small gasp of disappointment. She thought Sun-woo was leaving her.
Brimming.
At that thought, more tears welled up. She didn't want him to go. She wanted him to stay.
Drip.
"Sob..."
Bukgung Yeon lowered her head, tears falling once more. She didn't want to watch him walk away.
Hug.
Suddenly, a warm heat enveloped her entire back from behind. It was warm. So warm that it felt as if all the sorrow that had been overflowing was being gently cradled.
Bukgung Yeon realized then. Sun-woo hadn't left; he was holding her.
"Sob... hic... sob..."
Bukgung Yeon cried even harder. These weren't tears of sadness. They were tears of gratitude for the comfort Sun-woo was providing. She cried and cried until the overwhelming emotions in her heart finally began to settle.
.
.
.
.
.
.
"............."
Bukgung Yeon remained silent for a long time after she had calmed down. Seeing this, Sun-woo slowly tried to pull away, thinking he had held her for quite a while.
Grab.
But Bukgung Yeon suddenly gripped Sun-woo's arms.
Squeeze.
She held on tight, as if she had no intention of letting go. Sun-woo felt a bit awkward. He wasn't sure how to react to her adamant refusal to let him move.
"......Sun-woo."
Then, Bukgung Yeon’s voice drifted from in front of him.
"Thank you."
She spoke with deep sincerity.
"Thank you for telling me it wasn't true. Thank you for comforting me... and thank you for taking my revenge."
Bukgung Yeon poured out her gratitude. She slowly stood up, turned around, and looked Sun-woo in the eye.
"The Evil Demon was my sworn enemy, someone I chased for over twenty years. Thank you so much for crushing his head."
Bukgung Yeon spoke with a look of utmost seriousness.
"I have received such a great favor. How can I ever repay this debt?"
Her alluring eyes sparkled as she spoke.
"......It's fine."
Perhaps embarrassed by her gaze, Sun-woo looked away.
"No, it's not fine with me.... Sigh... I must repay you."
Bukgung Yeon followed Sun-woo's gaze, her voice turning seductive.
"But the favor is so great that it's impossible to repay it all at once."
"............."
"So, I'll spend the rest of my life repaying it. By your side."
Bukgung Yeon exhaled a hot breath as she spoke. Sun-woo felt his face flush deep red. He was already tipsy. Furthermore, ever since his assimilation with Jang Sam, his emotions were twice as sensitive as a normal person's.
Bukgung Yeon’s seductive words sparked an excitement in him that quickly began to turn into desire.
".......Yeon-ah.... I... I mean."
Sun-woo barely managed to hold onto his fraying sanity. If he agreed here, it would lead to total chaos. A scene beyond imagination. He had to refuse. He had to refuse somehow.
"Sun-woo."
Then, Bukgung Yeon’s sweet, lilting voice rang in his ear. Sun-woo slowly lowered his gaze at her call.
And there she was. A woman of intoxicating beauty, looking up at him with a flushed face and a seductive gaze.
"Haa.... Tell me your honest feelings..."
Bukgung Yeon asked, her hot breath brushing against him.
"..............."
Feeling that heat, Sun-woo felt his mind go blank. This was cheating. How was he supposed to endure this?
No, no, I can't!
Sun-woo shook his head repeatedly in his mind. He absolutely couldn't.
Mwah.
But Sun-woo's resolve was blown far away by the soft sensation against his lips. Bukgung Yeon had suddenly kissed him.
In an instant, Sun-woo found himself completely captivated by that pillowy softness.