Chapter 542: Conflict Between the Hwangbo Mother and Daughter
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 542: Conflict Between the Hwangbo Mother and Daughter
Trickle, trickle.
Hwangbo Yu-yeon lifted the teapot and began pouring into her cup.
Steam rose in wisps as the transparent liquid filled the vessel to the brim.
Gulp, gulp.
She drank it down quickly, as if trying to soothe her agitated insides.
Thud!
Having drained the tea in one go, she slammed the cup back onto the table. Anyone could see she was in a foul mood.
Trickle.
She poured another cup and downed it immediately, one after another. It was as if she were trying to extinguish a fire burning deep within her.
How much tea had she consumed?
Drip. Drip. Drip.
She soon realized the teapot was completely empty.
"Ugh!"
Hwangbo Yu-yeon’s face instantly crumpled into a look of distress. A surge of sorrow washed over her at the fact that she had finished all the Longjing tea, which she usually rationed so carefully.
This is the worst, she thought.
Truly the worst. She was already distraught over her daughter’s bizarre behavior, and now, having exhausted her precious tea, her agitation only intensified.
"So annoying..."
Her distress soon curdled into irritation, leaving her mind in a state of total disarray.
Knock, knock, knock.
Just then, someone tapped on her door.
"Who is it?" Hwangbo Yu-yeon asked, her voice slow and heavy.
"Mother, it’s me, Ran-ah!"
From outside came the voice of her beloved and precious daughter, Lee So-ran.
"Come in."
Hearing her daughter’s voice, Hwangbo Yu-yeon composed herself, continuing in the calmest tone she could muster.
Creeeeeak.
With her permission, the door swung open, and the undeniably adorable beauty, Lee So-ran, made her appearance.
"I heard you called for me."
Entering the room, Lee So-ran spoke with a bright, energetic smile directed at her mother.
"Yes. First, take a seat."
Hwangbo Yu-yeon gestured toward the seat opposite her.
"Okay~!"
Thump.
Lee So-ran answered cheerfully and marched over to the chair, plopping herself down.
"........."
Facing her daughter’s upbeat attitude, Hwangbo Yu-yeon’s expression grew complicated. She had intended to scold So-ran for waiting endlessly in front of Jang Sun-woo’s quarters, but seeing her so cheerful made it difficult to start.
"Is something wrong, Mother?"
When her mother remained silent, Lee So-ran asked with a curious tilt of her head.
".........I have heard the rumors."
After a long pause, Hwangbo Yu-yeon finally got to the point. She realized that dragging it out would only make her heart ache more.
"Rumors?"
Lee So-ran blinked, sounding genuinely puzzled. She seemed completely unaware of the talk circulating about her.
"Yes... Rumors that you have been waiting outside someone’s quarters for days on end... waiting quite desperately, I might add."
"Ah... so the word got out... Well, I suppose since I was waiting so openly, it was bound to happen."
Lee So-ran’s face began to flush with embarrassment. The realization that her actions were being watched by everyone made her feel shy.
"...........The rumors say that 'someone' is Jang Sun-woo. Is that true?"
Hwangbo Yu-yeon asked, her expression turning incredibly grave.
"That’s right! The person I’m waiting for is Young Master Jang!"
She answered with a bright, innocent smile.
".........."
Upon hearing the confirmation, Hwangbo Yu-yeon’s face darkened further, and she fell into a grim silence. Confirming the rumors only accelerated her distress.
"Stop this at once."
Hwangbo Yu-yeon spoke firmly, her expression stern.
"Huh!?"
Lee So-ran gasped, taken aback by her mother’s words.
"I am telling you to stop waiting for him outside his quarters. No, more than that—do not listen to news of him, do not look for him, and do not seek him out. Stop concerning yourself with him entirely."
"B-but... Mother... he is..."
Lee So-ran started to speak, her face filled with confusion.
"There is no need for long explanations. Do as I say... Just... do as I tell you."
Hwangbo Yu-yeon cut her off immediately. She felt she couldn't listen to whatever excuse her daughter might offer.
So-ran must not get involved with Jang Sun-woo.
Yu-yeon herself had been consciously avoiding him ever since that drunken incident. She feared that if they crossed paths again, a similar disaster might occur. But now, her daughter was getting entangled with him—and so deeply that she was waiting outside his door day and night.
How could she not try to stop this?
"I... I can't do that."
Lee So-ran spoke slowly, voicing her refusal.
"What!?"
Hwangbo Yu-yeon snapped back, her anger flaring.
"I can't stop now... I’m going to keep waiting."
"Are you planning to disobey your mother!?"
Hwangbo Yu-yeon raised her voice, shouting.
"Didn't you tell me yourself, Mother?! You told me to apologize relentlessly until his anger melted! Why are you changing your mind now?!"
Lee So-ran argued back, her expression one of utter incomprehension. It made no sense to her. The person who had encouraged her to be persistent in apologizing to a precious friend was none other than Hwangbo Yu-yeon.
How could she go back on her words like this? It was impossible to understand.
"That was before I knew that 'friend' was Jang Sun-woo!"
Hwangbo Yu-yeon furrowed her elegant brows, her voice rising. It was true she had given that advice. In human relationships, the attitude of admitting fault and apologizing is vital.
But the situation changed if the target was Jang Sun-woo. If she had known that the "precious friend" was him, Hwangbo Yu-yeon would have urged her to cut ties immediately rather than apologize. She did not want the man she had committed an impurity with to be involved with her daughter.
"How is he any different from anyone else?! To me, Young Master Jang is also a precious friend!"
"He is your enemy! He is a rival fighting you for the succession! It is absurd for you to get close to an enemy!"
"Even if he supports Lee Ye-seol, he is still a friend I’ve shared drinks with!"
Lee So-ran flared up, her voice matching her mother’s volume.
"He supports Lee Ye-seol, therefore he is the enemy! Nothing good will come from being close to him!"
"That’s just being stubborn!"
"Enough! Do as I say!"
"I won't! I can't do that!"
Lee So-ran adamantly refused her mother’s command. She simply couldn't accept it. Even if they were on opposite sides due to the succession competition now, that competition wouldn't last forever. There would be far more days spent outside of that conflict than within it.
How could she be so petty as to never see someone again just because they were on different sides of a temporary struggle? Moreover, he was the greatest of the Rising Stars, a man who shook the very foundations of the Murim. It was obvious that whoever took the succession should maintain a good relationship with him.
So why was her mother ordering her to cut ties? It made no sense at all.
"Why will you not listen to your mother?!"
"Because you're wrong! Because what you're saying is incorrect! Why should I follow a parent's words when they are clearly wrong?!"
"What did you say?!"
"Mother, you are being unreasonable!"
Slap!
Whish!
With a sharp, stinging sound, Lee So-ran’s head snapped to the side.
Throb, throb.
A burning pain began to radiate from her right cheek.
"...Ah..."
Dazed for a moment, she soon realized what had happened. She had been slapped. And by her mother, who had never once laid a hand on her in her entire life.
Blink, blink.
Her eyes began to well up, moisture blurring her vision. Tears overflowed at the shock of being struck by the mother who had always been so gentle.
"Mo...ther?"
She looked at Hwangbo Yu-yeon with trembling eyes.
"Are... are you trying to lecture me now?!"
Hwangbo Yu-yeon glared at Lee So-ran with eyes full of rage, her voice booming. Though she was internally panicked by the fact that she had actually slapped her daughter, she did not back down. She felt that if she wavered here, So-ran’s rebellion would only grow.
She had to break her. She had to break her will.
"How... how could you... to me..."
Facing her mother’s furious gaze, Lee So-ran’s voice shook. Fear and sorrow surged within her because her mother didn't even offer an apology for the blow.
"That... is why... I told you... to listen to me..."
Hwangbo Yu-yeon forced down the sorrow rising from the depths of her heart. Seeing her daughter’s wounded expression made her feel an infinite sadness. This was her only daughter, a jewel she had raised with the utmost care. The thought that she had hurt her made her feel as if her own heart were being torn apart.
But she hid those feelings deep inside, projecting only anger.
Even if her heart broke.
Even if her daughter was scarred.
Even if she became a "bad mother."
She had to do this. To sever the connection with Sun-woo.
Spring!
"........Mother...... you are...... truly the worst!"
Lee So-ran bolted upright from her seat. Without looking back, she turned and ran toward the door.
"I am not finished yet! Sit back down this instant!"
As she headed for the exit, Hwangbo Yu-yeon shouted in a panic, trying to stop her. She needed a promise. A promise that So-ran would never seek out Jang Sun-woo again. A promise that she would never get involved with him.
Stomp, stomp, stomp.
Slam!
Despite her mother’s cries, Lee So-ran slammed the door and left. She didn't look back even once.
".............."
Hwangbo Yu-yeon was left alone in the room. Soon, a deep sorrow washed over her face.
*
"Are you here again today?"
Joo So-yang asked, looking at Lee So-ran, who had arrived as usual.
"Yes....... Auntie."
Lee So-ran answered with a slumped, dejected expression.
"Did something happen? You seem to have no energy at all."
Observing her lack of spirit, Joo So-yang asked curiously. Usually, So-ran waited in front of the quarters with a stout heart. Seeing her suddenly so drained was strange.
"No... nothing happened."
Lee So-ran shook her head.
".....I see."
It was obvious to anyone that something had happened, but Joo So-yang didn't pry. She felt it would be rude to dig into something the girl clearly didn't want to talk about.
"That aside, do you realize it has already been Seven Days and Nights since you started waiting for him?"
"I know."
Lee So-ran nodded her head in response.
"You’ve stood guard in front of his quarters for Seven Days and Nights, yet he hasn't given you so much as a glance, let alone forgiveness. Do you still intend to keep waiting?"
"My answer is always the same. I will wait. Until he forgives me."
Lee So-ran spoke in a quiet, steady tone.
"You truly are the blood of that stubborn Hwangbo Yu-yeon."
Joo So-yang let out a small chuckle. The girl’s bull-headed persistence was the spitting image of her mother.
"............"
At the mention of her mother, Lee So-ran bit her lip and fell silent.
"I’ll make sure to tell him you’re here."
Joo So-yang watched her closely for a moment, then offered a faint smile.
"Thank you, Auntie."
Bow.
Lee So-ran bowed deeply in gratitude. She felt that Joo So-yang was looking out for her in her own way.
"No need for thanks..."
Joo So-yang waved off the polite gesture. She always felt that this child was far too earnest for her own good, lacking any sense of guile.
Step, step.
Joo So-yang began walking into Sun-woo’s quarters with a very relaxed gait. Lee So-ran watched her back until she completely disappeared from sight.
*
"Sun-woo~♡"
Having entered the room, Joo So-yang called out to Sun-woo with a bright smile.
"Oh, you're here?"
Sun-woo greeted her while lounging comfortably on the bed.
"My, you're on the bed today........ Should I take that as a signal that you want to have sex?"
Joo So-yang spoke with an alluring smile.
"I'm just lying here because I'm lazy."
"You're allowed to be lazy, Sun-woo. Being diligent is a job for a sow like me..."
Joo So-yang spoke with a dazed, dreamy expression.
"Stop talking nonsense and report on the situation outside."
"Yes, sir~"
Hearing Sun-woo’s rough tone, Joo So-yang gave a cute reply, looking blissfully happy. She didn't look like a woman in her forties at all.
"Lee So-ran came again today."
"Anything different about her?"
"Hmm.... Other than the fact that she seemed drained and her cheek was swollen, nothing much."
She scratched her head lightly as she recalled the details.
"Her cheek was swollen?"
"Yes, it was slightly puffed up. As if someone had slapped her."
"Really? Is that so?"
Upon hearing this, a satisfied expression spread across Sun-woo’s face. He felt that the situation was finally reaching its peak maturity.
'It won't be long now.'
The smile on Sun-woo’s lips deepened.