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Chapter 39
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It was a peaceful evening.
After dining with Yeon-hee, we went for a short stroll.
The cool mountain breeze greeted us in the flower garden.
However, our tranquil steps were interrupted by Yeon-hee’s suggestion.
“A tour?”
“Yes, I’d like to take a look around the White Sun Squad.”
“It wouldn’t be difficult…”
“As your future wife, shouldn’t I at least see where my husband works?”
Her polite request was to visit the White Sun Squad.
Since it’s part of the Murim Alliance, there was no real reason why she couldn’t visit.
It shouldn’t be an issue.
‘Then why does this make me feel uneasy?’
It was strange.
As soon as I heard her words, my chest felt tight, as though something was weighing it down.
An inexplicable sense of anxiety washed over me.
“Gaga?”
“Well… there’s no problem with you coming, per se. I’m just a bit worried the members might feel uncomfortable.”
“We’ll keep a low profile. It’s not like I’m conducting an inspection; I just want to take a little look at where you work.”
“That should be fine, I guess.”
“Or… is there any reason I shouldn’t come?”
For a moment, her eyes flashed.
A subtle coldness in her gaze—was it just my imagination, or was there a hint of suspicion there?
“Oh, come on, nothing like that.”
“Right? Then I’ll drop by sometime this week.”
Yeon-hee smiled, looking like she was going to enjoy this immensely.
Well, whatever. The idea that Jegal Yeong might like me was just my misunderstanding. Everything would be fine.
***
“Yeon-hee’s coming to visit?”
“Yes, Squad Leader.”
“Well, well, I should tell the boys to clean up properly.”
“She just wants to stop by quietly. Going overboard might make her uncomfortable.”
“Well, if I’d known, I’d have told her not to come in the first place.”
The Squad Leader made a playful remark, but he didn’t seem too serious about it.
Teasing me, he questioned if Yeon-hee didn’t deserve proper formalities, but he let me go after some good-natured ribbing.
“It’s not uncommon for family members of the Alliance Leader to visit. Just show her around and then send her off. No worries.”
“Yes, sir.”
“And if possible, let her know how disciplined the White Sun Squad is, would you?”
That might be asking too much.
Anyway, I had the Squad Leader’s permission, so now it was just a matter of waiting for Yeon-hee to come. There was nothing special to prepare. After all, Yeon-hee was just curious about my daily life. With no assigned duties at the moment, my steps naturally led me to the training grounds, where my mentor would be waiting.
“Namgung Yeon-hee’s coming for a tour?”
“Yes, didn’t the Squad Leader inform you?”
“I didn’t hear a thing.”
That man, he’s always piling the pressure on me. It seems he didn’t actually notify the squad members. Perhaps it’s better this way. If they’d made a big fuss over Yeon-hee’s visit, it would’ve been quite troublesome for the new recruits.
“The tour’s just to see how I spend my time here.”
“That could be a bit awkward.”
“Why now?”
“The White Sun Squad is part of the Murim Alliance; we’re not private guards for the Alliance Leader’s family. Relatives showing up unannounced… it doesn’t exactly look good.”
Jegal Yeong frowned, clearly uncomfortable. I could understand. She seemed uneasy about letting an outsider into the White Sun Squad.
“All we need to do is act as we always do. Let’s train, Senior.”
“Still…”
“What, are we going to waste today? We should follow protocol.”
“Sigh.”
Despite her sigh, Jegal Yeong reluctantly joined me in training. Yes, we just needed to go about our day as usual. After about half an hour of training, Yeon-hee arrived.
“Gaga!”
Yeon-hee, beaming as she approached us.
Though she said it was a casual outing, she was dressed to impress, her red outfit accentuating her figure.
She only wore it on special occasions—like that first night we had drinks together.
“You’re early.”
“I rushed over because I wanted to see you, Gaga!”
“How’d you find me here? I was going to come pick you up.”
“I just had a feeling you’d be here!”
“Really?”
“Hehe. Actually, I asked another squad member.”
Yeon-hee looped her arm through mine, smiling brightly.
“Um, I’m a bit sweaty since I was just moving around.”
“Not at all! All I smell from you is a nice scent!”
No need to bury her face into my shoulder, though.
Jegal Yeong, watching us, looked visibly disturbed.
“Let me introduce you. This is Senior Jegal Yeong, who’s been mentoring me since my apprentice days.”
“Oh, I know her. We met once at a previous gathering, right? It’s been a while, Unni!”
T/n: Unni or eonni I used in a respectful or familiar context.
“I don’t think we were on a unni basis back then.”
“Were we not? It was so long ago, I guess my memory is fuzzy. But since you’re working with Gaga, wouldn’t it be okay if I called you unni from now on?”
“…Sure.”
Jegal Yeong’s response held a hint of resignation.
“I’ve heard a lot about you from Gaga. He said you look after him so well. Thank you so much!”
“There’s no need for your gratitude. I’m just doing my job.”
“Gaga’s work is my work as well. I’m more than grateful!”
How to describe this?
Yeon-hee was all smiles, while Jegal Yeong remained cool and distant. Yet, it felt as if there was an icy chill emanating from Yeon-hee.
“Oh, right. Gaga.”
“Yes?”
“I must have rushed too much because I feel thirsty. Could you fetch me some water?”
Why was she being so clingy today? Still, there was an undeniable air about her that made refusal impossible.
“I’ll be right back.”
I sensed it instinctively.
If I didn’t leave now, things would get dangerous.
***
“Gaga, gaga, gaga.”
Does she always have to say that word after every sentence?
Can’t she speak without attaching “gaga” to everything?
Left alone with Namgung Yeon-hee, Jegal Yeong felt an inexplicable discomfort.
“unni, are you feeling hot?”
“Huh?”
“You seem lightly dressed, so I wondered if you were hot.”
After a long silence, Yeon-hee’s first words felt as natural as asking after one’s health, but Jegal Yeong picked up on the hidden meaning. Was she trying to provoke her?
“It gets hot when you’re moving around. Aren’t you the one overdressed?”
“Me? I’ll endure a little heat. After all, don’t we all want to look our best in front of the ones we love?”
It felt like solving a riddle.
Every word Yeon-hee spoke held a subtle edge.
“Well, you’re at an age where you like to dress up.”
“Exactly. You’d look even more beautiful if you dressed up a bit, unni.”
“I’m not interested in that sort of thing.”
“Oh, unni, you should enjoy it while you’re still young.”
Namgung Yeon-hee was a master.
She didn’t attack recklessly like an amateur.
It was an assault that seemed like one, yet didn’t.
Mixing reality and falsehood, she wielded her words expertly.
If she were more direct, Jegal Yeong would be ready to counter.
But the subtle, barely-there taunting made Jegal Yeong’s mind foggy.
“Add a little decoration… How about this hair ornament?”
“It’s pretty.”
“Isn’t it? Gaga gave it to me as a gift. He said it would suit me and put it on for me himself.”
“And you’ve been wearing it ever since?”
“unni! No, no, I’m saying it was just a cherished memory when I first received it. You’re such a tease.”
Yeon-hee lightly tapped her on the shoulder, but Jegal Yeong felt unmistakable hostility in the gesture.
‘Why is she making such a fuss with me?’
Jegal Yeong had sensed it from the beginning.
Though smiling sweetly, this girl had come to put her in her place.
Every word she spoke was like dealing with a mistress.
Like a cat marking its territory.
‘I don’t care about your gaga, whatever that is!’
Jegal Yeong wanted to retort immediately, but as she thought about doing so, something pricked at her conscience.
‘What… have I even done?’
All that happened was Lee Se-woong appearing in her usual daydreams. It wasn’t intentional on her part; if anything, she felt invaded. The one whose routine was disturbed was her, after all!
“Sister, do you know why I came here today?”
“How am I supposed to know your intentions?”
“Strange. I thought you might already know.”
Softly, Yeon-hee leaned close and whispered into her ear.
“I truly mean it when I say I’m grateful for the way you look out for Gaga as his senior.”
“And?”
“But it’s hard not to worry when someone as attractive as you stays close to him.”
“He’s just my junior.”
“Oh, that’s a relief. It’s just that your skill at managing men’s hearts is well-known, unni.”
All lies.
“It would be wonderful if you could keep focusing on your role as a senior, just like you are now!”
“Shouldn’t an outsider refrain from telling me what to do?”
“Oh, please think of it as the gentle advice of someone about to be his wife.”
With that, Yeon-hee stepped back from Jegal Yeong.
Yeon-hee wore a serene smile, clearly enjoying herself. Jegal Yeong, eager to return the favour, spoke.
“Fine. If that’s the case, there’s nothing more to be said.”
“Thank you for understanding.”
“Se-woong’s muscles have grown a lot lately, haven’t they?”
“Se-woong…?”
Jegal Yeong, who usually addressed Lee Se-woong as “junior” or “you,” chose this moment to call him by his name, as if addressing a familiar younger sibling.
She was acting purely on instinct.
“That’s all my doing.”
“….”
“I managed how intensely and frequently he trained. I oversaw his regimen, just like you asked. As his senior.”
Jegal Yeong said, wearing a sly smile as she looked at Yeon-hee.
“Isn’t it impressive? Muscles shining like sculpted marble. My handiwork.”
“What exactly are you trying to say?”
“Enjoy the view.”
Your man was shaped by my hands.
It was the best move to rile up Yeon-hee.
“Thank you. You must have worked hard.”
“I appreciate the acknowledgment.”
Both knew.
The first to break composure would lose.
The nerve-wracking battle, initiated by Yeon-hee’s taunts, kept the two women smiling sweetly at each other without a single concession.
“What are you two chatting about so animatedly?”
Which was why Lee Se-woong, upon returning, didn’t notice a thing.
The fierce war that had raged between the two in his absence.
‘What’s this? They seem to be getting along.’
His concerns were unnecessary.
It looked perfectly harmonious.
Lee Se-woong felt relieved.
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