episode_0301

“But why did you come here?”

Lee Hyeon asked Jin Ga-ryeong, who was pouting her lips.

“I never thought I would see you like this.”

“Isn’t this a parent-observation class? If I don’t come, who will?”

“Ah.”

Lee Hyeon let out a small exclamation at the blunt answer.

The title of Head of the Five Clans and Baekgwang was so impressive that I had momentarily forgotten about it.

If you think about it, Jin Ga-ryeong is also one of the parents of a student who was born in the cradle.

“How was it?”

“It’s pretty good.”

Jin Ga-ryeong, who had belatedly let out the wind of the ball, waved her hand in a shaggy manner.

“The part about the response to the post-war security vacuum was particularly impressive. It was very skillful to draw a clear line without avoiding responsibility for the cradle. I didn’t know there were students who could think like that.”

Then he put his finger on the corner of his mouth and thought back over the speech he had just given.

“At this point, there’s no need to bother with the second half budget increase plan. Well, let’s stop talking about the small stuff… ”

She stood back for a moment and gestured to the employee who was walking around.

And he glanced at Lee Hyeon while sipping the small cocktail glass he handed him.

From head to toe, her sharp eyes, as if looking inside, examined his face for a longer time.

Jin Ga-ryeong, who had been staring intently into those gray eyes, smiled bashfully and said.

“But this is… The more I look at it, the more surprising it is, huh?”

Perhaps because she was slightly drunk, her pure white cheeks had turned bright red.

Lee Hyun tilted his head, seeming puzzled by her reaction.

“What are you talking about?”

“Don’t pretend not to know. They say that being too humble can be annoying.”

Jin Ga-ryeong answered immediately and continued speaking.

“Oh my, how could you have thought of hiding something like that under that mask? I thought you were an ugly man. No, maybe that’s why you hid it… ”

“… You are too kind.”

Although Lee Hyeon had long since overcome the verbal abuse he once received, he still couldn’t get used to compliments.

At this, he smiled faintly and expressed his gratitude, but he avoided Jin Ga-ryeong’s gaze shyly as if he was embarrassed.

“Huh, huh… ”

And Jin Ga-ryeong, who saw that destructive sight, opened her lips in disbelief.

Then, as if he had realized something, he nodded and muttered softly.

“Yes, I think I know why you’re so obsessed with it. Well, if I could keep my sanity while having this kind of art in front of me, I wouldn’t be in your blood. But even so, this is really… ”

“What did you just say?”

“… Hmm, nothing.”

Jin Ga-ryeong, whose expression changed in an instant, approached Lee Hyeon without a care in the world.

And then, as if stretching out a thin, white finger, she slid it between Lee Hyun’s arms.

Jin Ga-ryeong naturally linked arms with Lee Hyeon and led him out of the banquet hall.

“Jin Ga-ryeong?”

“Let’s go out for a moment. I have a lot to talk to you about.”

“If you mean…?”

“Well, I want to hear about my daughter too. She never tells me anything about the cradle. I think she doesn’t want to bother me, but as a mother, I’m worried that something might be wrong… ”

A little moisture was reflected in her green eyes. Jin Ga-ryeong continued speaking in a tone that seemed a little lonely.

“I’m embarrassed to say this, but you’re the only one I can rely on right now. Won’t you help me out a little? It’s not easy for a woman to raise a child alone… ”

“… Okay.”

Lee Hyun nodded. Jin Ga-ryeong’s appealing words somehow didn’t sound like someone else’s story.

It’s not like there’s anything particularly worrying her, but it wouldn’t hurt to be kind to her in the long run.

“Haha, thank you… ”

Jin Ga-ryeong, who smiled pitifully like an ill-fated woman, wiped her eyes slightly and dug deeper into Lee Hyun’s arms. Lee Hyun ended up making an embarrassed expression at the soft touch of something rubbing along her arm.

“I, Jin Ga-ryeong… ”

“I’m sorry. I haven’t had much to drink in a long time, so my body isn’t listening to me properly. Could you help me out a little?”

“If that’s the case… ”

Well, if you think about it, Jinyeseo was weak to alcohol too.

As expected, a daughter is a daughter. Even so, I didn’t know that a light cocktail would lead to this.

“Thank you. Now that I look at it, you’re really good at escorting. Huh? You’re also very dependable… ”

“Thank you?”

“Haha, it’s a compliment, so don’t be shy. Oh, do you drink alcohol? My winery is good… ”

“Jin Ga-ryeong.”

Jin Ga-ryeong was about to lead Lee Hyeon, who was feeling awkward, out of Hwayang-gwan. Just one step away, the call of someone filled with cold air was heard.

“… ?”

For a moment, Jin Ga-ryeong’s face hardened into a cold expression. It was also the face she had when she killed her parents to prevent the destruction of her family several decades ago.

She had done something like that without any problem during her time as a freshman.

Moreover, while the great dialogue between the five families was taking place, how dare he block the road by calling out his name, the head of the lofty Baek Gwang family.

This is clearly a grave sin that cannot be forgiven even with one’s life.

“Who dares… ”

“Who could it be?”

However, Jin Ga-ryeong, who was about to personally condemn him, stopped moving as soon as he turned around.

-Crunch, crunch…

The space was terribly shaken by the waves generated by the particles colliding with each other. Even in the midst of the chaos, the sound of approaching heels could be heard clearly.

Soon, beyond the green eyes, a woman wearing a tight-fitting dark gray one-piece dress and thin fur began to appear.

“Dare… ”

The woman who appeared was glaring at Jin Ga-ryeong with a determined attitude as if she was facing an enemy. Even the brilliant light from the jewel chandelier seemed to be consumed by her darkness.

“How dare a prostitute like Baek Gwang try to talk to my son?”

The landlady of Heukryeon recited coldly. Her gaze remained on Jin Ga-ryeong, who was buried in Lee Hyeon’s arms.

“Can’t you let go of my hand and leave me alone?”

“… It’s been a while, senior Yejieun.”

However, Jin Ga-ryeong accepted the cold gaze without a care. The attitude from just now when she was staggering around drunk was nowhere to be seen.

Instead of simply following the landlady’s words, she responded by squeezing Hyun’s arm tighter with a seductive smile.

“Or should I call you the 7th Royal Guard, ‘Cold-Blooded’? I miss you. Seeing you like that reminds me of the old days… ”

“I told you to fall down…!”

The soft flesh pressed even closer to Lee Hyun’s sturdy arms. The hostess tried to take control of the space while acting even more viciously.

And in the suddenly unfolding situation, Lee Hyeon was left bewildered.

Before they knew it, Hwayanggwan’s attention was focused on them. That said, no one would dare approach the sharp fight between Heukryeon and Baekgwang to find out what was going on, but in any case, the situation was not good in many ways.

To begin with, he, the successor of Heukryeon, and Jin Ye-seo, the successor of Baek-gwang, had very close feelings for each other.

Lee Hyun glanced around and looked at the owner of Heukryeon. She was biting her lip and glaring at Jin Ga-ryeong like an enemy.

It was a sight that felt even more unfamiliar, as the landlady had always been kind and gentle.

Now she was closer to the ‘cold-blooded magician’ that Sa Jae-hyeok had seen in his memories. Lee Hyeon could now understand a little why the hostess had been called by that nickname.

‘No, no…’

Anyway, right now, the priority is to handle the situation. After organizing his thoughts like that, Lee Hyeon gently uncrossed his arms.

At this, Jin Ga-ryeong unconsciously pouts her lips and makes a look of disappointment.

“I, mother. Lord Baek Gwang didn’t do anything.”

Hyun Lee stepped forward and tried to appease the landlady.

“Just talk to me for a bit… huh.”

However, Lee Hyun was instantly pulled into the hostess’ arms. He was speechless at the warmth surrounding his face and could only gasp for air.

And soon, the landlady’s kind voice whispered in his ear.

‘Shh, leave it to Mom for now.’

The landlady who had whispered so affectionately suddenly changed her attitude and glared at Jin Ga-ryeong. Jin Ga-ryeong looked at her in disbelief and snorted.

“Hehe, aren’t you being too attached to your child? Well, I can understand that, but… ”

The secret story of the Black Lotus related to Sa Jae-hyeok was already well known. It was a sarcastic remark aimed at that point, but the hostess did not budge and maintained her cool demeanor.

“No, I don’t know.”

“You’re an adult now. Aren’t you embarrassed in front of others?”

“You are still a child who needs your parents’ care. I know your filthiness, so why are you trying to cover it up with your three-inch tongue?”

“Ugh, ugh… ”

Lee Hyun’s heavy breathing could be heard, but the landlady only tightened her grip on him. She continued speaking as if making a bold declaration.

“Our Hyun-i still likes to sleep on his mother’s lap the most. How dare you try to talk to a child like that. Baek-kwang is definitely a shameless author.”

“… ”

And it was Lee Hyeon who was dizzy with shame.