Chapter 9
Note: This Chapter Was Previously Added as Chapter 8, This is actual Chapter 9. Original Chapter 8 has been Fixed!
It was just as expected.
The details I heard from Park Chun-sam.
Starting some time ago, the servants of the Namgung Family were called in by Namgung Jin, one by one, and given a single order.
‘Avoid Lee Se-woong. Anyone seen associating with him will be severely punished.’
Although the order seemed rather absurd, the servants could only comply.
Even if I was being considered as a potential son-in-law, the engagement ceremony hadn’t been held yet.
“What else could we do? We’re just following the orders of the master who feeds and clothes us.”
At that point, Chun-sam paused for a moment and carefully observed my reaction, as if there was more to say. What a clever man. He wouldn’t starve anywhere with that wit. I slipped a few more coins into his hand.
“I heard some of the servants were summoned separately and given additional instructions.”
It turned out that spreading rumours about me was also Namgung Jin’s doing.
‘Interesting.’
Namgung Jin was engaging in a covert operation to influence public opinion.
Given the size of the Namgung Family, the number of servants was no small figure.
If I were branded as a despicable wretch among them, it was only a matter of time before such rumours reached the ears of the family elders.
So far, my efforts to leave the Namgung Family had been in the wrong direction. There was an easier path all along.
I had allies without even knowing it! Was this the support that a family-in-law provides for its son-in-law? (Not really.)
‘But the scale is a bit disappointing.’
I wanted to give him credit for preparing things meticulously.
But how long did he think it would take to achieve his goals at this pace?
For a member of the Namgung Family, his ambition was quite small.
But thanks to this, I realized something.
‘I have to target Namgung Jin.’
His current dislike for me was only vague, so he chose such a lukewarm approach.
I needed to provoke Namgung Jin to fuel the anti-engagement faction!
After finishing my conversation with Park Chun-sam, I spent a long time in bed contemplating until a suitable plan came to mind.
Operation name: Brother-in-law is Being Unfair.
*
My grand plan faced obstacles right from the start.
Namgung Jin had no intention of meeting me at all.
If the weather was clear, he said it was too hot; if it was cloudy, he said it was too damp. On days that were neither, he claimed he wasn’t feeling well.
His excuses were endless and varied.
‘This isn’t going anywhere.’
Namgung Jin kept delaying our meeting.
He didn’t say no outright, but was just testing the waters.
I had no choice but to come up with a special measure.
‘I’ll use the Namgung Family’s obedient-husband DNA against them.’
Looking at Namgung Hyuk and Namgung Hyeo, it was obvious.
The men in this family were all tightly controlled by their wives.
Thankfully, Yeon-hee had a good relationship with her sisters-in-law.
“Yeon-hee, how is it that you get more beautiful every day?”
“I’m nowhere near as beautiful as you, Noona. Gaga, say hello. This is Noona Hyang.”
“Hello, Madam.”
“We met at the meeting, right? It was so romantic.”
“Haha, I’m flattered.”
“Ahem!”
Namgung Jin coughed disapprovingly while his wife, Jo Shim-hyang, watched with a gentle expression.
Unlike her stern husband, she had a soft and pleasant demeanour.
“Sit down. I asked the chef to put in extra effort today, so you can expect something special.”
“Thank you.”
Following Jo Shim-hyang’s lead, we moved to the dining table.
Before sitting down, I reached out, blocked Yeon-hee’s path, and pulled out her chair first.
Pat pat.
I lightly tapped the cushion on the chair, and Yeon-hee, looking bewildered, took her seat.
“Oh my, how sweet. You should learn a thing or two from him.”
“Stop being so dramatic.”
“Dear?”
“Ahem!”
Jo Shim-hyang smiled warmly, as if watching children playing house.
On the other hand, Namgung Jin looked irritated, as though he was witnessing something he wished he hadn’t.
‘Just as expected.’
After a short wait, the servants began bringing out the dishes one by one.
Although it wasn’t a mountain of food like at Namgung Hyeo’s table, the spread was still enough to make the table legs creak under the weight.
I picked up a piece of dongpo pork and held it up to Yeon-hee’s lips.
“?”
Yeon-hee tilted her head in confusion, as if not understanding what was going on.
“Yeon-hee, say ‘ah~.’”
“Ga-Gaga! What are you doing? This is so embarrassing!”
“Ah~.”
“Gosh, I don’t know anymore!”
Despite grumbling and complaining, Yeon-hee obediently accepted the food I offered her.
The way she quickly turned her head to hide her flushed face was adorable.
She really had no resistance to things like this.
‘You’re making me embarrassed too!’
This kind of thing should be handled naturally so neither side ends up feeling awkward.
“Do you not know proper table manners?”
“What’s wrong? It’s a lovely sight to see.”
“……”
I was really thankful that Jo Shim-hyang was here.
If Namgung Jin had been alone, it wouldn’t have been surprising if he had flipped the table by now.
His scowling gaze locked onto me was one I had encountered before.
‘Like father, like son.’
The disapproving look Namgung Hyuk used to give me.
The current gaze of Namgung Jin mirrored that exactly.
The look one gives when a worthless scoundrel is sticking close to a precious sister!
‘This is just the beginning, Namgung Jin.’
From the information I had gathered so far, I knew that Namgung Jin was stoic and conservative.
In other words, the perfect ‘Confucian BOY.’
I had never heard of him showing any form of affection, even to his own wife.
‘How does it feel? Are you trembling with rage?’
So, this was the plan I had prepared.
Being lovey-dovey with Yeon-hee right in front of Namgung Jin.
It would be unbearable to see a guy he already disliked showing off his relationship right under his nose.
“Yeon-hee.”
“Yes?”
“You have to feed me too. Ah~.”
“Ah… A~”
Even though her hands were trembling slightly, Yeon-hee couldn’t refuse.
Jo Shim-hyang looked on warmly, acting as our shield.
‘This is my plan in action.’
With the support of two allies, I would provoke Namgung Jin.
I was prepared to do whatever it took for that purpose.
*
Namgung Jin loved his family.
He was born into a great household and grew up surrounded by love.
He was grateful to have been fortunate enough to live a happy life.
Among his family, his affection for the youngest, Namgung Yeon-hee, was particularly strong.
She was the first person he could truly look after, having always been the one to receive care from his older siblings.
He cherished his younger sister as much as the love he had received.
His long-standing headache was the men who approached his sister.
In truth, it was unavoidable.
She was known as the Unrivalled Beauty of the World.
The youngest, who resembled their elegant mother, possessed such exceptional beauty that it was overwhelming.
Not to mention, she had the Namgung Family name as her background.
‘Pests keep swarming around her.’
Countless men tried to get close to Namgung Yeon-hee, dreaming of changing their lives through a connection with her.
Fortunately, all of them were just worthless chaff that Yeon-hee didn’t even give a second glance to.
‘One day, Yeon-hee will get married too. But!’
While Father said he wouldn’t give Yeon-hee to just anyone, Namgung Jin thought differently.
What he wanted for Yeon-hee was simple: to meet someone from a respectable family and live happily.
That was his only wish for her.
‘But a mere gatekeeper?’
He couldn’t believe Father had permitted this.
After realizing that even Mother, the second eldest brother, and even Grandfather had all been swayed by that man, he felt like he was living in a dream.
In the end, he concluded that the man only coveted the Namgung Family’s prestige.
He resented his family for being enchanted by such a gigolo-like face.
‘I’m the only one who can protect Yeon-hee!’
So he took action.
Spreading rumours about Lee Se-woong through the servants was just the beginning.
Gradually, he aimed to reduce the influence of that man within the family.
‘But why is he coming here?’
He truly was a shameless man.
Every time they met, Namgung Jin would throw hints of disapproval, but Lee Se-woong would always respond with a friendly smile, greeting him as if nothing was wrong.
‘He must be plotting something!’
It was even more suspicious that he didn’t show any signs of discomfort.
Thus, Namgung Jin kept his eyes wide open, looking for any flaws he could exploit.
“So, how did you two meet?”
“Oh, it’s a bit of a long story, but at first—”
“Wait, Gaga! I’ll tell him!”
“It was the day Yeon-hee came to the East Gate without any guards.”
“Oh, stop it!”
Watching the three of them chatting so happily made Namgung Jin feel like he was the only one left out.
“She said she wanted me to show her some techniques, but she just stood there staring at my face. That’s when I knew—ah, she must like me.”
“Oh my goodness!”
“When did I ever do that!”
At first, he thought, ‘What’s all this fuss about from a man?’ But as time passed, he realized something.
The mischievous smile as he looked at his embarrassed sister.
The way he paid close attention whenever she spoke during meals.
The look on his face as he recalled their first meeting, lost in memories.
None of it felt like a lie.
‘Have I been fooled by his tricks too?’
No.
There was no need to focus his senses. He could feel the strong, genuine energy radiating from Lee Se-woong’s core.
Then what was this?
The way Lee Se-woong looked at Yeon-hee.
There was no doubt—there was love in those eyes.
Just like how he, Namgung Jin, used to gaze into his wife’s eyes in his younger days.
‘Could I have been wrong?’
Unlike his father, he didn’t think he was a doting fool.
Yet, had his concern for his sister blinded him to the point where he misjudged a young man trying to live a decent life?
‘What does it matter where he came from?’
He had heard that Lee Se-woong had managed to last ten seconds against their father in a sparring match.
Achieving such a feat at his age meant that in ten years, he could become someone whose name would resonate throughout the martial world.
He was tired of himself, calculating things like this.
‘As long as they’re happy, that’s all that matters.’
Watching Yeon-hee clinging to Lee Se-woong’s shoulder, laughing gleefully.
He was reminded of when his little sister used to act aloof about toys she wanted as a child, and he couldn’t help but smile unknowingly.
“You.”
“Yes, Hyung.”
“To be honest, I don’t like you.”
“……”
Lee Se-woong had a solemn expression on his face as Namgung Jin, who had been silently sullen for a long time, suddenly spoke.
‘Hah. I was wondering when he’d give in, Namgung Jin!’
Lee Se-woong felt a sense of triumph. To provoke Namgung Jin into reacting, he had to shamelessly act like an affectionate fool.
He almost suffered internal damage every time he spewed those unbearable, cringe-worthy words, made worse by Jo Shim-hyang’s playful commentary.
It had been a long wait.
Now, it was time to be rewarded.
“But no ordinary person can stop the love of young people.”
“?”
“I can see clearly how much you care for Yeon-hee.”
“???”
“Can you continue to cherish my sister from now on?”
At that moment, time seemed to freeze for Lee Se-woong.
“…Yes.”
He couldn’t possibly say no.
—
Read More at – GENZNOVEL.COM!!
-> MAKE ACCOUNT AND GET [50] COINS FREE!!
PLEASE JOIN OUR DISCORD AND SUBSCRIBE THE ROLE TO RECEIVE LATEST NOTIFICATIONS!!
Comment