Childhood Friend of the Zenith Novel MTL - Chapter 1119

Chapter 1119

I was utterly speechless, trying to process the scene in front of me.

“Ahem…”

Noticing me, Mi Horan tried to clear her throat, but with her mouth full, it came out as a stifled gurgle.

“Oh. You’re here?”

Namgung Hyung greeted me with total indifference, not even pausing as he held his chopsticks.

Hyun Soyeon, who had been carrying a dish, also stopped to look at me.

“You’re here?”

She welcomed me with the utmost casualness.

“…Ah, yes.”

What in the world is going on? I gave a reply, but I was completely bewildered. Why were all these people gathered here?

And of all places, in Namgung Hyung’s residence.

“Would you like to sit? We ended up making too much.”

“……”

At Hyun Soyeon’s offer, I cautiously took a seat. It was then I got a clear view of Mi Horan sitting across from me. Her eyes were puffy, and she was chewing her food in a hurried manner.

The look in her eyes made it obvious she had been crying.

“So, what brings you here?”

Namgung Hyung asked.

“…I had some business.”

“With me?”

“Something like that.”

I decided to just go along with it.

“You didn’t come all the way to this shabby place just for a free meal… So, what did you need from me?”

“I came to say something… but it slipped my mind.”

“What?”

Namgung Hyung stared at me as if he couldn’t believe what he’d just heard. I ignored his look.

*Thunk.*

A plate of food was placed in front of me. Hyun Soyeon had brought it over. Seeing it, I immediately turned to her.

“…What are you doing here, exactly?”

“Hm?”

At my question, Hyun Soyeon tilted her head slightly.

“Isn’t it obvious? I’m cooking.”

“……”

That’s not what I meant.

I meant, why are *you* cooking *here*?

She seemed to grasp the real intent of my question because she let out a light laugh and added,

“What else? It’s for our young master.”

Young master…? She meant Namgung Hyung?

“Sigh… If only I hadn’t lost that bet.”

Hyun Soyeon released a deep sigh. A bet? It sounded like she had made some kind of wager with Namgung Hyung.

So that was why she was here cooking in his residence at this hour.

‘…Did this place even have a kitchen?’

I couldn’t remember if Namgung Hyung’s quarters had one. Well, they must have managed something for her to be able to cook.

As that thought crossed my mind, I glanced at Mi Horan. She was deliberately ignoring my gaze, focusing entirely on her meal.

“……”

As I was watching, Hyun Soyeon spoke to me.

“She was sobbing outside, so I brought her in. She was clearly upset about something, so I thought getting some food into her would help.”

“Who—*khm*.”

Mi Horan, who had been about to say something, suddenly cut herself off. She swallowed what she was chewing and turned to Hyun Soyeon with an angry expression.

“Who said I was crying?”

“Miss Mi, do you really think anyone would believe that with your eyes looking like that?”

“……”

At those words, Mi Horan hastily rubbed her eyes.

“This is… I just got something in my eye.”

“Just how large would that ‘something’ have to be to make your eyes swell up like that?”

Hyun Soyeon said with a chuckle. Mi Horan, realizing how ridiculous her own excuse sounded, clamped her mouth shut again.

‘This is a new sight.’

I thought to myself.

Mi Horan, crying. The Mi Horan I knew from the future was someone completely detached from tears.

Ah, though I had seen her on the verge of crying once before.

‘Was it in my past life?’

It was right after the war with Kunlun. After the mass slaughter of the righteous sect members. Just as we were preparing to integrate the demonic forces for our next move.

That’s when I encountered her again.

‘Back then.’

I could still recall her expression.

The way she scowled at me. The shimmer of tears in her eyes.

‘What was it she said?’

She had spoken to me when we met.

But I hadn’t had the time to listen.

Or perhaps, I simply didn’t want to remember.

Regardless.

The expression on Mi Horan’s face now was identical to the one she wore back then.

“……”

Remembering that, I found myself silently staring at her.

*Clatter.*

Mi Horan suddenly stood up, having finished her meal.

“…Thank you. I’ll repay you later.”

“Oh, come on. That’s not necess—”

“Then, I’ll be going now.”

“Ah… Oh. Alright.”

Before Namgung Hyung could even finish, Mi Horan was already moving. She opened the door and left, leaving a brief silence behind.

Now, what should I do? Just as I was wondering.

“What are you doing?”

Hyun Soyeon spoke up.

“…Huh?”

What am I doing? I looked at her with a puzzled expression, and she gestured toward the door with her chin.

“You came to get her, didn’t you? Go on, catch up to her.”

“……”

“Or am I mistaken?”

She saw right through me. I let out an awkward chuckle. How did she know?

Instead of answering, I stood up. Then, I glanced at the food in front of me.

“What about the meal? I didn’t get to eat any.”

It looked like it had been prepared with care, and now I’d have to leave it.

Hyun Soyeon shook her head.

“It’s fine. It wasn’t meant for you in the first place.”

“…Huh?”

“There’s a glutton right over there, so it’s no issue.”

“……”

At her words, I followed her gaze.

Namgung Hyung was devouring his food like a man possessed.

Ah, I see.

Yeah, I guess it’s fine then.

After giving a slight nod and a brief bow, I stepped outside without delay.

Night had already fallen. Where could Mi Horan have gone?

Finding her wouldn’t be too hard.

‘There she is.’

Mi Horan had no real martial arts training. Even if she had hurried, she couldn’t have gone far. Keeping that in mind, I spotted her quickly.

A small pond within the Namgung estate.

There, Mi Horan was crouched down.

I could see her small, hunched back.

Noticing that, I stopped.

About twenty steps away. I suppressed my presence and simply watched.

“……”

I’d come all this way, but what was my plan now?

‘Good question.’

What did I even want? Did I intend to comfort Mi Horan? I wasn’t sure anymore.

As I stood there, lost in thought.

*Crunch.*

‘Hm?’

A faint presence came from a short distance away. Narrowing my eyes, I spotted a familiar face.

‘Huh?’

A young man with silver hair and blue eyes.

Namgung Jin.

His expression was full of hesitation as he slowly approached Mi Horan.

Then—

“……What is it?”

Mi Horan spoke without turning around. Only then did Namgung Jin halt.

Surprisingly, she had sensed his approach.

“Ah…….”

Namgung Jin stammered, looking flustered.

“Well, that is… I was just taking a walk and saw you here. I was concerned… wondering if you were alright.”

“……”

Mi Horan turned slightly to glance at him. And in that moment—

“…Were you crying? Miss Mi, were you crying?”

Seeing her swollen eyes, Namgung Jin’s brow furrowed deeply.

“I wasn’t crying.”

“Who was it? Who made you cry? Was it that wretched Gu Cheolwoon?”

Calling someone’s father a ‘wretched bastard’? Hearing that, as his son, I felt a spike of irritation.

“Who are you calling a ‘wretched bastard’? Mind your language.”

Mi Horan’s voice was sharp as she glared at Namgung Jin. He flinched under her cold gaze.

“Ah… that is.”

“Young Master Gu is your senior, isn’t he? Show some respect. Don’t be so impudent.”

Mi Horan wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and suddenly stood up, showing no intention of continuing the conversation.

She turned to leave.

“Miss Mi, wait a moment—!”

Namgung Jin reached out and grabbed her wrist.

That bastard?

At that moment, I felt a vein throb at my temple. I was ready to tear his arm off.

*Smack—!*

Mi Horan immediately shook off his hand. Her expression was icy.

“What do you think you’re doing? How dare you touch me so carelessly?”

“…Ah, I apologize. I was just in a hurry.”

“What do you want?”

“……”

Mi Horan brushed her wrist slightly as she asked. Namgung Jin parted his lips, but no words came out.

Just as Mi Horan was about to turn away again—

“…Why am I not good enough?”

Namgung Jin spoke.

“Gu Cheolwoon—that man is acceptable. But why not me?”

His voice was thick with resentment.

‘Of course.’

Seeing this, I frowned. As expected, Namgung Jin had feelings for Mi Horan.

“Sigh.”

Hearing that, Mi Horan let out a sigh.

“Young Master Namgung. I appreciate your feelings, but searching for reasons where there are none is one of the most foolish things a person can do.”

“……”

She already knew. Of course, she did. It was obvious, given how blatant he had been.

“Rather than thinking about someone like me, wouldn’t it be better to focus on the person right next to you?”

“……”

The person next to him. She must have been referring to his fiancée, Hyun Soyeon.

“The person next to me? Haha…….”

Namgung Jin let out a hollow laugh.

“Who exactly do you think is next to me?”

“That would be Miss Hyun—”

“Even she knows it well. She is not by my side.”

“……”

Mi Horan fell silent at Namgung Jin’s firm words.

“She only chose me because it gave her a reason to stay here….”

His voice was tinged with bitterness. Holding back a sigh, Namgung Jin continued.

“The moment Namgung Hyung disappears, she will leave this place without a second thought.”

“…What?”

My eyes widened at that.

Why is Namgung Hyung being brought into this…?

‘Wait.’

—»I’m doing this because I have to. This isn’t love.”

Hyun Soyeon’s words flashed through my mind.

—»Take it from someone with experience. If you have a chance to hold on, hold on.”

“……”

She had said she didn’t love Namgung Jin.

She had said their engagement was just an obligation.

I recalled the bitter look she had worn when she said those things.

‘…And Namgung Hyung?’

I remembered her cooking in his residence. Staying by his side.

‘Oh?’

Could it be…?

Was I thinking what I thought I was thinking?

If so, then this…

‘This family is an absolute disaster.’

This was a catastrophe on a whole other level.