Chapter 518: Making a Move
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 518: Making a Move
Tap, tap, tap, tap.
Hwangbo Yu-yeon ran and ran after bursting out of Lee Jae-won’s office.
As she sprinted, glistening tears streamed down her cheeks.
"Ugh... hic... sob..."
She knew she shouldn't cry.
Despite her current financial struggles, she was the Lady of the Cheonmu Alliance. She was a woman of high standing who should never seek the pity or sympathy of others.
But she couldn't control her tear ducts. Once the dam of sorrow broke, it refused to be mended.
"Hic... uuuugh... sob."
She had no choice but to cover her face. If she couldn't stop the tears, it was better to hide her eyes.
Tap, tap, tap, tap.
Tap, tap, tap, tap.
With her face hidden, Hwangbo Yu-yeon ran and ran. She prayed and prayed that her feet would lead her somewhere where no one else was.
How long had she been running?
Thud!
"Oof!"
She slammed into something hard and fell flat on her backside. Because she hadn't been looking where she was going, she had caused a head-on collision.
Soon, Hwangbo Yu-yeon’s expression crumbled even further. It felt like a day where absolutely nothing was going right.
The tea leaves she had bought in bulk turned out to be fakes, and her daughter had been scammed by a rival. The bribe she had accepted six months ago was now causing trouble, and her only husband, Lee Jae-won, had done nothing but hurl verbal abuse at her.
She had run with her face covered out of shame, only to crash into someone and tumble to the ground.
It was miserable. She felt utterly, completely miserable.
"Hic... sob... uuuugh... waaaaaah!"
Overwhelmed by the mounting misery, Hwangbo Yu-yeon finally burst into a loud wail. The sorrow was simply too much to bear.
"Waaaaaaaah!"
She cried and cried. Like a young child, she let out everything she had been holding back.
"Waaaaaaaah!"
She hated it. She hated everything.
She hated the Hwangbo Clan for being impoverished by their obsession with business. She hated herself for being foolish enough to keep sending them money despite their state. She hated Lee Jae-won for viewing her as a vain, profligate woman. And she hated her daughter, who was already struggling but had been born with a bear-like denseness that allowed fox-like girls to deceive her.
She hated it all.
"Waaaaaaaah!"
Her cries grew louder. Once the floodgates opened, all the emotions she had suppressed for so long came rushing out at once.
"Waaaaaaaah! Waaaaaaaah!"
She knew she had to stop. She was aware that she was trampling over the dignity and grace expected of the Lady of the Cheonmu Alliance.
But she couldn't stop. Though she had cultivated significant mental discipline to reach the exalted Super-Peak Realm, she was nothing more than a fragile woman in the face of this emotional storm.
I... have to stop... I have to...
But her heart wouldn't cooperate. Her body was reacting in a way that was entirely contrary to her rational thoughts.
I'm finished...
She thought to herself. By the time she stopped crying, it was certain that many within the Cheonmu Alliance would be laughing at her.
That thought only made her emotions surge even more.
"Waaaaaaaah!"
Her wailing grew even louder. It was then, as she was crying her heart out.
Whoosh.
Suddenly, a soft warmth began to envelop her entire body. Someone had pulled her into an embrace.
Pat, pat, pat.
She felt the sensation of someone gently patting her back. It was a touch so warm, a touch she had missed so dearly.
Held in that warm embrace, she began to cry even more sorrowfully. The warm, cozy feeling surrounding her further unraveled her suppressed emotions.
Her crying continued unabated until every bit of her pent-up sorrow was spent.
*
"Sniff... sniff... sniff..."
Hwangbo Yu-yeon began to sniffle. The suppressed sorrow and grief had finally been somewhat resolved, and her crying began to subside.
"Sniff... sniff..."
After sniffling for a while longer...
"..."
She was finally able to stop crying completely.
"Are you alright?"
As her sobs died down, a gentle voice drifted from above. Hearing it, Hwangbo Yu-yeon slowly lifted her head.
Ah!
In her field of vision, she saw the face of a man looking down at her with an infinitely serious gaze.
"...I'm... I'm okay..."
Meeting the man's serious eyes, Hwangbo Yu-yeon stammered, her face flushing with embarrassment. The realization that she had been wailing in the arms of a strange man hit her like a tidal wave of shame.
"You... you can let go now..."
Hwangbo Yu-yeon continued, looking at the man who was still holding her. It wasn't that she disliked his firm, warm embrace, but she was the Lady of the Cheonmu Alliance. She couldn't be seen being held by a strange man.
"It is not difficult to let go... but if I let you go like this, everyone will know you were crying. Would that be alright with you?"
The man asked her in an extremely soft tone. His voice was filled with concern.
"..."
Hearing that, Hwangbo Yu-yeon fell silent. She could feel his deep consideration for her.
He had held her in his arms to hide her face while she wailed. And even after she stopped, he was still being mindful of her and hadn't let go.
Thump.
Her heart began to flutter. How long had it been since she had received such kindness and consideration? To her, in her utterly exhausted state, the man's small gesture of thoughtfulness felt like a grand, moving act. It was enough to bring fresh tears to her eyes.
"Then... could I ask you to... escort me to my quarters?"
She spoke hesitantly, her voice small.
"Understood. I shall guide you."
After speaking, the man took off his outer coat and draped it over her. Then, keeping her close, he began to walk slowly.
"Ah... my quarters are..."
As he moved, Hwangbo Yu-yeon slowly opened her mouth, intending to give him directions.
"I know where they are, Madam Hwangbo," the man replied in a calm tone.
"...Oh..."
Hwangbo Yu-yeon blushed and lowered her head. The thought that the man already knew who she was brought a fresh wave of embarrassment and shame.
"...I looked quite pathetic, didn't I?" she added, her face turning even redder from the shame.
"Even while wailing, you were quite beautiful."
"...Your jests are excessive."
"I am sincere."
The man replied with a faint smile.
"...Thank you."
Hearing his comfort, Hwangbo Yu-yeon’s face turned as red as a ripe apple.
Thump, thump, thump.
Furthermore, her heart began to race. His gentle comfort and the compliment that she was beautiful had pierced deep into her heart.
Step, step.
Hwangbo Yu-yeon walked slowly, matching the man's pace, all while trying her best to calm her racing heart.
*
Creak.
The man slowly pushed the door open. A view that was quite modest for the room of the Alliance Leader's wife came into sight. It was a very neat space, devoid of any ornaments.
"We have arrived."
The man spoke, looking at Hwangbo Yu-yeon, who was still tucked against him.
"Th-thank you..."
Hearing him, Hwangbo Yu-yeon hesitantly and slowly pulled away from his embrace. Although a desire to stay in his arms a little longer welled up within her, she forced herself to suppress it. She couldn't be a burden to him any longer. Escorting her to her quarters was already more than enough of a bother.
"Thank... you."
Once out of his embrace, Hwangbo Yu-yeon bowed her head slightly to express her gratitude.
"It was nothing."
The man waved his hand dismissively at her thanks.
"Then, I shall take my leave."
He gave a slight nod and turned around without a hint of lingering attachment. It seemed he intended to leave immediately.
Ah...
Watching his retreating back, Hwangbo Yu-yeon let out a regretful sigh. While it was incredibly embarrassing to face the man who had seen all her vulnerabilities, she felt a sense of disappointment now that he was leaving.
"W-wait a moment!" Hwangbo Yu-yeon called out urgently.
"Yes?" The man turned back to her with a puzzled expression.
"Would you... like a cup of tea?"
Hwangbo Yu-yeon spoke as she gently lifted the Longjing tea she had received from Paeng Ga-ryeon. Her eyes began to tremble incessantly. She was worried about what she would do if he refused.
"If you are offering, I shall gladly accept."
Hearing her words, the man gave a slight nod.
"Yes!"
Immediately, Hwangbo Yu-yeon’s face brightened.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Trickle.
Hwangbo Yu-yeon began to gracefully pour the tea into the cups. Soon, hot steam began to rise from the teacups.
"Please... drink before it cools."
"Thank you."
The man smiled faintly and lifted his cup. After taking a moment to appreciate the aroma, he took a sip.
"The fragrance is wonderful. Thank you, Madam."
Clack.
The man spoke as he set the cup down.
"I didn't do much. It's just that the tea leaves were good."
Hwangbo Yu-yeon replied with a slight smile.
"I have heard that the Way of Tea is about sincerity. No matter how good the tea leaves are, without the sincerity of the one preparing it, how could it have such a wonderful fragrance?"
"You flatter me so much, I don't know what to do with myself."
Hwangbo Yu-yeon’s face flushed deeply. It had been so long since she had received a compliment that she was overcome with shyness.
"Flattery? I am merely speaking what I truly feel."
The man spoke, looking at Hwangbo Yu-yeon with a serious gaze.
Flush.
Meeting that gaze, Hwangbo Yu-yeon’s face turned beet red. She couldn't help but think that his incredibly serious eyes were very handsome.
Flutter, flutter.
Hwangbo Yu-yeon slightly raised her hand and began to fan her reddened face. She intended to cool down the heat that had risen.
"You must be feeling hot."
"A little... yes... since it is summer, after all..."
She blurted out the words as an excuse. In truth, she was flushed because she was excited by his handsome appearance, but there was no way she could just say that. Blaming the weather was a hundred times better.
"If you are hot, it might not be a bad idea to take off your clothes," the man said in a calm tone.
"Excuse me!?"
Hearing that, Hwangbo Yu-yeon asked back with a bewildered expression. Take off her clothes? What on earth did that mean?
Is he... after my body?
Her face began to turn even redder. She felt a surge of shame and insult. Even if she had shown him a pathetic side of herself, she was still the Lady of the Cheonmu Alliance. How could he harbor such lewd thoughts toward her?
It was preposterous. No matter how handsome, considerate, and kind he was, this was unforgivable.
"What do you mean by that!"
Hwangbo Yu-yeon raised her voice. Her tone was thick with agitation.
"Are you not wearing an outer coat? You will feel much better if you take it off."
The man replied calmly to her outburst.
"The... the outer coat?"
"Is there anything else for you to take off?" the man asked back, as if he didn't understand her reaction.
"..."
Hearing that, Hwangbo Yu-yeon fell silent, her face flushing with embarrassment. She realized she had made a foolish assumption.
Sigh... am I an idiot?
She felt a wave of intense mortification. Come to think of it, there was no way such a handsome man would be interested in an old woman who had been crying pathetically. Yet, she had forgotten that reality and indulged in such a shameful delusion. It was impossible not to feel embarrassed.
"I... I think I'm okay for now. Thank you for your consideration."
She slowly opened her mouth to offer her thanks. However, a red blush still lingered on her face.
"...It was nothing."
Perhaps the man had sensed her reaction, as he spoke with a slightly awkward expression.
"..."
"..."
Soon, a quiet silence settled between the two. Having made such an embarrassing mistake, she found it difficult to speak.
Change... let's change the subject.
Hwangbo Yu-yeon’s eyes sparkled as she made a decision.
"Now that I think about it, we haven't introduced ourselves. You are the benefactor who helped me, yet I have been so rude. It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Hwangbo Yu-yeon. I am the seventh wife of the Cheonmu Alliance Leader."
Hwangbo Yu-yeon quickly changed the subject, feigning as much composure as possible.
"Ah, I have also been rude. I should have introduced myself, yet I remained silent."
The man spoke with a regretful expression. He seemed sorry for not properly revealing his name.
"My name is Jang Sun-woo. In the Murim, I am known by the humble title of the Heavenly Dragon. It is an honor to meet you, Madam Hwangbo."
The man, Jang Sun-woo, offered his greeting with an incredibly polite attitude.
"...Jang... Sun-woo?"
Upon hearing his name, Hwangbo Yu-yeon’s expression turned to one of shock. She had not expected the man's identity at all.
Why are you coming out of here!?
A look of pure bewilderment began to wash over Hwangbo Yu-yeon’s face.