Chapter 419

In Jin Hae Roo, at a banquet where both the Orthodox Warriors and the Sapa were side by side, it was a jaw-dropping situation, even with the hanging signboard indicating it was closed.

But who could be blamed for that?

You can’t exactly blame the Jin Hae Roo.

Sure, if the Martial Alliance’s Hwa Ryong Jo folks had arrived first, maybe it would make sense, but technically, the guests were the officials from the Salwalmun.

Then suddenly, the Orthodox Warriors barged in, asking if there were any nice spots at the top.

And undoubtedly, Jin Seol was among them.

From the perspective of Jin Hae Roo, discussing Salwalmun was simply not an option.

Could they really say they couldn’t receive you guys because they had to deal with the Sapa folks?

That would just imply those guys—and the Jin Family—were worse than Salwalmun.

It wasn’t just a simple matter of accepting or declining.

Even the act of bringing it up was a problem.

Just asking to be careful or cautious could be seen as a serious insult, so the best they could do was say there’s no room and send them away.

But here they were, with the Gwangdong Jin Family’s exclusive special room firmly in place.

If that special room was empty, it would paint a very strange picture.

In other words, it was a situation where there simply had to be an open seat.

So what could they do?

They just had to overcome it with the power of prayer.

“Buddha, the Jade Emperor, Confucius, please let nothing go wrong!”

When a jaybird chases after a stork, it certainly mustn’t compete in speed.

In the first place, to win, one must highlight their strengths while exposing the opponent’s weaknesses.

If a jaybird wants to beat a stork, it should disguise its size and compete in cuteness.

But Gyeon Pohee wasn’t that clever.

So at such a gathering, trailing behind Qing—who was a giant of drinking and the embodiment of alcohol—she had no idea what would happen.

“Ah, it’s nice to meet you! Since we’re friends now that we know each other’s faces and names, how about a drink?”

“Come on, those who are struggling can just cover their cups. I’m still strong, I can take more! Let’s down another drink accompanying the Cheonhwa-geom, shall we? Cheers! Cheers, cheers!”

“Oh, it looks like that guy over there feels neglected. Just hang tight for a moment, I’ll be right back! How about a farewell drink? Cheers!”

Then, with a single drink in hand, she rushed off, excited about something. “Oh, excuse me, can I squeeze through? Hehe, nice to meet you, let me pour you a drink…”

As Qing made two rounds around the banquet, one could only wonder about the total amount of alcohol consumed by the uncle.

Gyeon Pohee was obviously someone who was supposed to receive the drinks Qing poured.

Because it was her rightful share, after all.

It’s the type of drink even strangers get poured for them.

Family must not miss out.

So she clung closely to Qing and kept downing the drinks.

Worried that if she didn’t drink, someone else would.

“Oh, Chang-bin looks kind of bored. Ah, I promised to pour him some drinks. Can I take a little detour? But if I come back to find him passed out, that’s just not right!”

With that, Qing cheerfully rose from her seat and headed toward Chang-bin’s table.

She could see Jin Seol’s simmering expression, probably owing to Brother Jo’s influence, and Chang-bin staring intently at the fascinating thing that is a drink.

And then it happened.

Suddenly, Gyeon Pohee dashed forward and wrapped her arms around Qing’s neck, clinging onto her like a little monkey.

Hanging on tightly, Gyeon Pohee rested her chin on Qing’s chest, looking up at her.

“Hehe, uncle.”

Qing was slightly startled.

Gyeon Pohee never leaned on Qing like this.

She never did anything that would make Qing uncomfortable.

So to see Gyeon Pohee hanging like a sloth around her neck was a completely new experience for Qing.

However, despite the surprise, Qing wasn’t flustered.

Because at a drinking party, it wasn’t unusual for any sort of events to happen.

“Ah, uncle, are you okay? No wonder you’ve been drinking so much. Are you drunk?”

“Hmm? Yeah, I guess I am. I’m so drunk. Hehe.”

“Oh dear, look at those eyes! You kept drinking even though you couldn’t handle it? Uncle? You need to clear the alcohol a bit, hey, stop right there. Not here!”

If I were a proper martial artist, I could dispel the drunkenness through Qi.

But getting rid of alcohol in a drinking context would be quite a serious faux pas.

If someone exudes a more potent drunken aura than the alcohol itself, the smell would be enough to overwhelm even someone weak with alcohol.

So if one really can’t hold it together and feels a slip, they should get some fresh air and come back after getting rid of it somewhere open.

“So where do we go?”

“I think I need to get some air. Let’s step outside for a bit.”

“Ugh, I don’t want to! It’s too cold! But what I really want is fresh air, let’s hurry up!”

“Hey, don’t lean on me, ugh.”

“Ah! No, I shouldn’t lean on you! I shouldn’t make it hard for you either. But, um, it’s uncomfortable, this is tight!”

“Leaning wouldn’t push me away like that? Hey, just stay still.”

“Hehe, okay. Ah, this feels good.”

Gyeon Pohee buried her face in Qing’s nape, giggling incoherently.

As they opened the door and leaned against the railing of the Jin Hae Roo’s upper story, the salty sea breeze grazed their skin.

Honestly, with Gwangdong’s winters, Qing felt it was already springtime.

Of course, Qing had been nearly poisoned by the ambiance.

Standing at the highest lookout point in Gwangju, with the howling wind in her ears, it was freezing for anyone not like Qing or the Seol family.

“It’s cold!”

“Okay, let’s hurry up and get back inside.”

“No, I don’t want to!”

“Huh?”

Just like that, Pohee went off on a tangent.

What was this, did the uncle become stubborn after drinking?

“Sister. Be my sister. Sister. Hurry!”

“Um, that’s a bit…”

“Then I won’t go! I want to freeze here alone. I’ll be shivering here, and then you’ll be sad and crying for me later, huhuuu.”

“Oh dear.”

“Please, sister, please! If not, I will freeze to death right here, and huuu, hiccup.”

“Uh, come on.”

Qing was at a loss for words, feeling the shivers crawl across her body from the strong wind.

It would be better to hear the words “mommy” from her son representative than to say “sister” herself.

Her mouth just wouldn’t let the word sister come out, chills ran down her spine, her heart raced, and she subconsciously tangled her fingers into a knot.

Qing tried to lighten the mood with a playful jab.

“Uncle lives here. Uncle is going home.”

“Don’t want to? Why? Why? Is it because I’m not good enough as a sister? Because I’m a dumb girl?”

“It’s not that. Wait, what? Who dares call you that?”

“Nah, I know I’m dumb. At Hwanhui Palace, they always said I was a silly and lacking girl. Yeah. Udgh. I’m embarrassed about that too. I’m a fake sister after all.”

And with that, tears started rolling down her cheeks.

Qing felt a pang of regret.

Sure, she’d only been calling her that out of habit, but evidently, Pohee had internalized that sentiment.

With a deep exhale, Qing felt the remorse wash over her.

Then Gyeon Pohee, startled, hurriedly wiped her own tears.

“Nah, hehehe. I’m not crying. Am I drunk?”

“Uncle?”

“No, I didn’t mean to think it was a hassle. Ah, do you want to touch? You like my chest, right? Well, um, it’s not flowing well, just wait a sec.”

Gyeon Pohee began fumbling with her clothes.

But her hands trembled, perhaps from the cold or the rush to unbutton, but the act was just a struggle.

Gyeon Pohee put her hand on top of hers as Qing coaxed gently.

“Uncle. No. Phew.”

Taking a deep breath, Qing said.

“Sister.”

Gyeon Pohee’s eyes widened, the seductive sharpness from earlier was replaced with pure innocence as she stared up at Qing.

“See? I got goosebumps. The reason I’m not calling you sister is that there’s a serious personal issue at play here. I’m embarrassed for you, truly. It is a little embarrassing. A grown lady crying like this in the open while being clueless, acting like it’s nothing.”

“Uh…”

“Be honest. Do you think I see you in that way? Am I just some lowlife?”

“It’s not that I’m just a gal—”

“Okay, regardless.”

“… No.”

With that, Qing smiled brightly and affectionately ruffled Gyeon Pohee’s hair.

“Honestly, you’re a bit embarrassing to show off, but have I ever tried to hide you? Even inside? I’ve never once claimed the Cheonhwa-geom sisters weren’t Gyeon Pohee. Never! And that won’t change. Whether it’s embarrassing or shameful, you’re my uncle, and yeah, we’re family.”

“Yeah… but still, I feel embarrassed…”

“Family doesn’t lie.”

Gyeon Pohee’s expression grew complicated.

Happy to be thought of as family, yet wrestling with the complexity of, am I actually embarrassing?

“Being dumb is okay. I like that side of you too. You’re cute and kind of silly. You’re much better than me being smart and pompous. I prefer my sincere uncle who cares for me a hundred times over.”

“Hundred times?”

“This place, the Central Plain, has been going crazy trying to pull things together. Uncle, or should I say Gyeon? No, would that emphasize our different surnames? Then maybe just stick with Pohee? Which do you prefer, Pohee or Uncle? I’m getting a bit tangled here.”

“Then give me Pohee…”

Seems she couldn’t give up on the older sister title.

Qing smiled gently at her.

“Got it. Pohee it is.”

“Yup!”

“Do you understand my feelings? Alright. Now come here.”

Qing pulled Gyeon Pohee into a tight embrace.

“Ah, okay. But if anyone dares to point fingers at Pohee and call her a dumb girl, I’ll break their fingers, no, their whole arm until they become a fool! Then I’ll say, what have you done for me to call me stupid? Just because I’m silly and useless doesn’t mean it’s not part of my charm. Don’t you know what ‘bimbo charm’ is?!”

“Bimbo charm?”

“What I mean is, a true beauty is often considered cute when they’re a bit dim-witted, right? I prefer someone like you, Pohee, who’s sweet and genuine over some know-it-all.”

“Hmm? I see. Hehe.”

“Okay, now let’s shake off this drunkenness. It’s not too cold, but it’s kind of lame to linger here. Let’s head back inside.”

“So, could I stay here a sec longer? My eyes are red, right? I’ll take a quick break before going in.”

Her ‘so-mae’—younger sister.

While she was still mindful of the ‘uncle’ title, shooting the younger sister title out was clearly weighing her down.

Was I not giving enough assurance?

Qing reflected just a bit.

Truthfully, didn’t Pohee’s misunderstanding about her own foolishness and clownishness cause the most trouble?

If we were to sort through the missteps, Qing was to blame.

“Yes. Don’t take too long or you’ll catch a cold.”

—

Qing told Gyeon Pohee that if anyone pointed fingers and called her a dumb girl, she better break their wrist.

Of course, that was her way of saying don’t just sit and take it if someone insults you.

But Gyeon Pohee took that to heart.

She found herself amazed.

“Man, my sister, she always thinks ahead. How could she have known this?”

Was she predicting the future?

“Grrr…”

At her feet lay a man, face down, drooling all over the place.

His arm, contorted and awkwardly shaped, looked quite impressive.

Gyeon Pohee glanced down at him.

Totally uninterested, she looked at him as if observing a pebble on the road.

“Oh, I’ll wait for my sister.”

Gyeon Pohee turned around, taking her time along the stretch hallway of the two sliding doors. Suddenly, she paused.

And then she turned back, clearing her throat dramatically, saying:

“What have I gained by being dumb? I’m charming even if I’m silly and insignificant, a bimbo, don’t you understand?”

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