Hyeonjilmusin - Chapter 155



Only Noblemtl

155. Reunion in Memories (1)

I think the first time I encountered Guan Shui in my previous life was probably in Beijing. Even then, I had braided my hair like that and swept it over my shoulders.

There was a time when the emperor summoned influential merchants from the Central Plains.

At that time, the Whiyoungsangdan was a merchant group representing the entire Hubei Province, if not the entire Central Plains, and was invited accordingly.

The gathered merchants stammered their opinions in front of the emperor. It was the same for me. No matter what, it was not easy for me to stand tall in front of the highest authority in the country.

The merchants who had been in a hurry left the palace and gathered in the main building as if they had made an appointment. It must have been because they were all eager to share their thoughts on meeting the emperor in person.

At that time, I was an inexperienced merchant, and I was excited by the thought of being recognized directly by the Emperor. So, I made the mistake of revealing my weakness while drunk.

I brought up my father’s story to brag about how I came out of difficult situations. When I was young, I was so immature that I considered the conflict with my father and the difficult family situation as a source of pride.

“Don’t you think that talking bad about your family in front of others is like spitting in your own face?”

It was at that moment that Kwanseo-ye and I became entangled.

Just as Gwan Yeong-sang cherished Gwan Seo-ye, Gwan Seo-ye also respected her father, Gwan Yeong-sang. It was unlikely that she would have liked to hear my father’s badmouthing.

But I was drunk, and I lost my temper and lost my temper.

“My family says I gossip. What’s the problem?”

“There’s no problem. I’m just letting you know that it looks ugly.”

“What’s so ugly about it? Oh. Well, it might have been a bit uncomfortable for the princess of the upper class to hear that.”

“It’s childish. They said that the Whiyoung Group would rise in Hubei, but now that I look at it, it seems like it’ll just disappear without much to see.”

“What? Are you done talking?”

The calligraphy exam had completely damaged my pride. It was my everything because I had achieved it on my own without any support and the twisted conflict with my father.

“No. I haven’t finished yet. Judging from the fact that you’re bringing up my family background, it seems like you have a deep inferiority complex about your family. I feel really bad for your parents. They hate the father they should love, so it goes without saying that they’re pitiful and unhappy.”

“Take good care of your father. I see that these days there are a lot of filial sons and daughters who only pay lip service to their filial piety.”

“What is it?”

Guan Shuye’s face turned red. I had really made a weak attack. Even though I had the top class representing Hubei, it was burdensome to turn one of the four Shanxi families into an enemy.

However, Guan Seo-ye clenched her fists and trembled, and eventually burst into tears before quickly leaving the place.

I was a little flustered because I didn’t know that people would react like that. Then, when other people told me the reason, I realized that I had made a mistake.

“It hasn’t been long since the Supreme Lord of the Unjangsangdan passed away. I think it was last winter.”

One of the merchants from Shanxi Province spoke to me in a reproachful tone.

It was early summer at the time, so it had only been half a year since Guan Xingxiang, Guan Xingxiang’s father, had died. It was also said that Guan Xingxiang and Guan Xingxiang had a very special relationship.

I cursed inwardly and followed the official’s calligraphy. It’s not that I didn’t have any complaints. I’m not so idle as to know about other people’s family circumstances. Also, my father’s age is roughly around Jicheonmyeong, so it was too early for a wealthy person who was well-managed to die.

But it was my mistake, so I quickly followed the calligraphy. The calligraphy had already disappeared from the streets, but I asked around and found the calligraphy.

Kwan Seo-ye was drinking alone in a bar. She was crying sadly, with her back to the door where I was standing, probably because she was reminiscing about her father. That alone made me feel very guilty.

I thought about just leaving, but I gathered my courage and sat down across from Kwan Seo-ye. As soon as Kwan Seo-ye saw me, her eyes widened and she quickly hid her face behind her collarbone.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know you had that kind of situation.”

“… … .”

“So, my father’s curse might have been a bit uncomfortable for you. I admit it all.”

“……i know.”

Guan Shuye spoke in a very small voice. At that time, I was not a warrior, so my senses were not that sharp, so I asked back.

“yes?”

“I know. You didn’t know my circumstances. I just cried because I thought of my father. You’re the only one who’s been labeled a bad person.”

“Oh, well. I appreciate you saying that.”

“I was a bit hasty, too. There are many parents in the world, but there are also many parents who don’t act like parents. Like coming home drunk and hitting on them.”

“Honestly, not to that extent. I was just a little squeamish. My father worked hard for me. As you said, I spat in my own face.”

We each took a step back and apologized. That’s how a natural drinking party was formed between the two of us. It was as if the two of us had intentionally left.

The taste of the restaurant chosen by Guan Shuye was objectively much worse than Beijing Banjeom. It was obvious. Beijing Banjeom was a place where big names in the business world gathered. Naturally, the chefs were also very skilled. It was incomparable to the low-class restaurant.

However, Gwan Seo-ye was a daughter of a prestigious family and had rather generous tastes.

“It’s delicious.”

“Isn’t it delicious because I cried for a long time and got so tired?”

“Don’t tease me. I’m already embarrassed enough.”

Although I didn’t say anything, strangely enough, I also subjectively felt that the food was delicious. It was as if the seasoning was strangely done, with some parts being salty, some parts being sweet, and some parts being spicy, but even that felt like a special trick of the chef.

Anyway, since then, Guan Shuye and I have become close. Whenever I visit Shanxi, I go to Yunzhangsangdan and have a drink with her, and whenever she visits Hubei, she also comes to Huiyingdan and spends time with me.

The most glorious day, the day when the nation designated the Hwiyoungsangdan as the top of the Daebang-class. While others only sent letters of congratulations, Gwanseoye put aside his busy work to come and congratulate them in person.

Our relationship was that close. It was rare to meet a friend of the same age, like the morning star, but since we did the same things, it was only natural that we became close.

We were similar in that we knew how to avoid saying things that would make each other uncomfortable, we both acknowledged each other’s wit, and we both placed our responsibilities as leaders above all else.

One day, when the snow was falling heavily, I was exhausted from my hard work and suddenly missed my friend Guan Xueye, so I left for Shanxi with only one escort.

I was able to meet Guan Shuye in Henan, which is between Shanxi and Hubei, not Shanxi, and surprisingly, she also suddenly missed me, so she put her work aside and went to Hubei. At that time, we confirmed that we had each other in our hearts at the same level, and we shared a drink, trembling with the comfort and thrill that it gave us.

Maybe it was because we were so comfortable with each other. I couldn’t help but feel sad when Gwanseo-ye looked at me like a stranger.

It was unfair that I had to carry all the memories that should have been remembered and commemorated together, but the current Gwanseo-ye did not have me in her heart at all. It was the first time that I tasted the bitter taste of return, not the sweet taste.

“Yes, I told you to look at it.”

That must have been why my voice came out with a lump in my throat.

“Are you crying?”

“No. What is there to cry about?”

“No. I think she’s crying.”

Kwan Seo-ye smiled bashfully. As someone who was a bit older than her age, her smile was full of freshness that was unfamiliar. It was different from the intelligent and elegant smile of Kwan Seo-ye that I usually knew, but it was still nice to see.

“How about replenishing the moisture lost from crying with tea?”

“That’s why I said no.”

Guan Shuye teased me about my suffocation. It seemed like she was paying the price for teasing me about crying before I returned.

As soon as Guan Shuye sat down, tea was served. As expected from a tea house that Guan Yingsang had visited, it was a tea house that used very high-quality tea leaves.

“Okay. Why did you ask to see me?”

Guan Shuye said. When I was about to open my mouth, Guan Shuye suddenly held out her palm.

“Oh, wait a minute. Let me guess.”

“… … .”

“You want to flirt with me, Shanxi First Beauty! Actually, that’s all there is to it, right?”

“haha.”

I laughed because it was so ridiculous. Gwan Seo-ye and I had known each other for decades, and we had spent many nights drinking together that could change the kind of relationship we had. In all that time, we had never once created that kind of atmosphere, and we had never even talked about each other’s ideal types.

“No, that’s not true. But I will admit that it might be thought that way. That’s what it is at our age.”

“You look so carefree, but you’re actually quite shy.”

“… … Then let’s do it that way.”

“Okay. Then it’s my turn to answer. I’m currently trying to inherit the fortune of the company. So I don’t think we can have a good relationship. Sorry.”

As she said that, Gwan Seo-ye smiled as if she was sorry. It was a smile that I couldn’t hate, so I burst out laughing too.

“That’s too bad. Then, let’s wrap it up and talk about other agenda items.”

“Any other agenda items?”

“yes.”

“What other agenda? By the way, don’t say the same thing as if there’s no tree that won’t fall after ten strikes.”

“Don’t worry. That’s not it. You’re really self-conscious.”

“What?”

Guan Shuye opened her eyes wide as if she had not expected to hear such words. Of course, at this age, Guan Shuye would be less mature than the Guan Shuye I had seen.

It was quite fun to see the past of an old friend I didn’t know about. This guy also had a bit of princess syndrome when he was young. It’s a disease that you would expect someone of this age and appearance to have. I nodded to myself.

“Then what are the other agenda items?”

“Can I take a tour of the shipping company?”

“A field trip? Is that on the agenda?”

Guan Shuye’s voice sounded slightly weak. It was probably because she thought the agenda was not as important as she had thought.

“yes.”

“Oh, well, there’s a lot to see if a latecomer comes to see our company. But you told me not to tell my father about that. My father is the head of the company.”

“It’s a bit difficult to tell you, Your Majesty.”

“What’s the problem?”

“It’s not like I’m going there to learn about organizational structures or anything.”

The expression on Guan Shuye’s face changed to one of bewilderment at my answer.

“Then what is it?”

“You have to keep this a secret.”

“Huh? What the heck… … .”

“It seems there is a spy from the Demonic Cult at the top of the stairs.”

At my words, Guan Shuye looked at me with a blank look in her eyes. After some time had passed, Guan Shuye regained her composure and took a sip of tea.

“… … What the hell are you talking about?”

Of course, my hands and voice were shaking. I cleared my throat and began to speak, thinking that it would be a long story.

It started with the story of how I became involved with Sapa in Hubei Province, the Black Dragon Gate where Moon Il-ji is currently the head.