RHD Chapter 4

As I entered, the conversation in the room fell silent. Among those looking at me was her.

My gaze naturally turned towards her. It felt as if some invisible force was pulling my eyes in that direction. The moment I saw her, I could understand the nature of that force.

The power of beauty.

Not just beauty, but absolute beauty.

Clear, deep eyes, perfectly proportioned features, flawless skin, a bosom both modest and full, a slender waist, and long, straight legs.

If this were all, I wouldn’t have used the modifier ‘absolute’.

She was elegant yet sensual, pure yet exuding intelligence. Various forms of beauty that shouldn’t go together were flowing from one person.

And ultimately, there was something dominating all these forms of beauty.

It was a dignity that couldn’t be carelessly approached.

A gasp escaped me without realizing it.

Gwang-du was wrong. She wasn’t just the most beautiful in Shandong; she was beautiful enough to be called the most beautiful in the Central Plains.

I can say this with certainty. After all, I’ve seen women called the most beautiful in the Central Plains in person.

None of the beauties I had seen were this violently beautiful. Song Hwa-rin had turned everything around her into a background for herself.

My gaze, captivated by her, shifted to Song Woo-gyeong standing beside her. Considering his daughter’s beauty, he should have been very handsome, but instead, his expression was fierce and frightening.

I greeted him politely.

“It’s been a long time. Have you been well?”

“Yes, I’ve been well.”

Despite his fierce appearance, he returned a friendly greeting.

After greeting him, I looked at Song Hwa-rin again.

Unfortunately, her beautiful eyes were filled with contempt for me.

Although Byeok Ri-dan might be a trash-like fellow, I could at least understand this mistake of his.

With such a beautiful woman, it would be understandable to go crazy wanting to see her. He probably wanted to proudly show her off in front of his lined-up competitors.

This woman is my fiancée! So all of you, get lost!

He was at the vigorous age of twenty, after all.

“I’m sorry about what happened that day.”

Song Hwa-rin nodded once at my apology. But a sneer remained at the corners of her mouth.

I understood her attitude as well.

After returning from five years of training, she must have heard rumors about me.

She must have been greatly disappointed to learn that all the incidents I had caused were true. Moreover, I had gotten drunk and made all sorts of scenes, so she must have lost all affection for me. Although we were close as children, that was literally just when we were children.

I didn’t make any more excuses and turned around.

Then I heard a clear voice from behind, it was her.

“Wait a moment.”

After stopping me briefly, she addressed everyone.

“Since we’re all gathered here, there’s something I’d like to say.”

“What is it?”

After pondering for a moment, she spoke calmly. Unlike her composed tone, the content of her words was truly a bombshell declaration.

“Please cancel our betrothal engagement.”

For a moment, silence fell over the room as if lightning had struck.

The one who broke the silence was her father, Song Woo-gyeong.

“What are you saying?”

“I know it’s rude, but I believe I have the right to choose my own husband.”

At those words, my father and mother wore troubled expressions. They probably never expected Song Hwa-rin to directly demand the cancellation of the engagement like this.

But they couldn’t say anything either. Considering their son’s behavior, Song Hwa-rin had every right to make such a request.

Song Woo-gyeong scolded his daughter with an angry expression.

“Apologize to them right now!”

But her resolve was firm.

“I’m truly sorry to both of you. I know you’ve cherished me like your own daughter since I was young. But I have no desire to marry Young Master Byeok. I’m really sorry.”

She bowed her head again. My father and mother could only wear troubled expressions, unable to do anything.

Song Woo-gyeong’s face reddened as he shouted.

“You! What insolence is this!”

That’s when I stepped in.

“I’d like to say something too.”

Now everyone’s attention was focused on me.

“I also want to cancel the engagement.”

Everyone was shocked by my words. While they could understand to some extent Song Hwa-rin’s request to cancel the engagement, my request was completely unexpected.

My mother, who had been silent until now, spoke up.

“What do you mean by that?”

I could feel my mother’s bewilderment. She might have been unable to lift her head out of apology to Song Hwa-rin, but she still wanted to marry her to me.

“I will marry the woman I want.”

For a moment, Song Hwa-rin’s expression hardened. It must have sounded like I meant the woman I wanted wasn’t her.

If Song Hwa-rin and her father weren’t here, my mother would have probably immediately started cursing, “You stupid fool! Are you in your right mind?” along with throwing a punch, but now she could only wear a dumbfounded and incredulous expression. She must think I’m displaying the most pathetic pride in the world.

Finally, my father, who had been watching, spoke up.

“If that’s what you both want, then let’s do that.”

Then Song Woo-gyeong raised his voice, waving his hands.

“No. Canceling the engagement is absolutely out of the question!”

“Hwa-rin is right. We can’t decide Rin’s future.”

“I’m telling you we can’t! We’ll be leaving for today. Come on, let’s go!”

Song Woo-gyeong walked out with big strides, not hiding his anger towards his daughter.

“What are you doing? Aren’t you coming?”

After bidding farewell to my parents, Song Hwa-rin followed her father out.

As she passed by me, she stopped and asked quietly.

“Why did you change your mind?”

Up close, her face was truly dazzlingly beautiful. Moreover, she had a pleasant scent I had never smelled before.

“Let’s just say your fist hurt too much.”

After staring at me for a moment, she moved towards the door again.

“Anyway, thank you.”

Her slender figure disappeared through the doorway.

My mother spoke to me quietly.

“We need to talk too.”

***

My mother tried her best to persuade me.

“I want you to marry Hwa-rin. Your father agreed to cancel the engagement, but I don’t think he said it sincerely.”

As if to confirm this, my father nodded.

“She’s too good to let go.”

“I’m sorry to say this, but I have no intention of marrying. I also have things I need to do for the time being.”

“If you had no intention of marrying, why did you go to Hwa-rin and cause trouble?”

“I’m sorry.”

I had nothing to say about that. Instead, I had something to say now.

“I’ve heard it said that before marriage, one should keep their eyes wide open, and after marriage, one should close them.”

Actually, this was advice I had given to Baek Pyo when he was about to get married during my time as Alliance Leader.

“Right now, my eyes are open wider than ever before.”

Seeing that my resolve was firm, both of them could only wear troubled expressions. My mother sighed lightly and asked.

“Then what is it you plan to do for the time being?”

“I plan to train in martial arts.”

“Was that sincere?”

“Yes, it was.”

My mother, who had been staring at me blankly for a moment, strode over and cupped my face with both hands.

“You’re not planning to do anything strange, are you?”

I could feel her concern for me through her warm palms.

“No.”

At that moment, my father, who had been quietly listening to the conversation, said to my mother.

“Let’s go.”

“Where?”

“Let’s have a quiet drink together after a long time.”

Realizing that he meant that was enough, my mother let go of my face.

“I still can’t approve. Let’s talk about this again later.”

“Alright.”

The two of them left the room.

Looking out the window, I could see the two of them walking side by side in the distance.

In a corner of my heart, there was a fear that family makes a martial artist weak.

Afraid that family might become hostages? That’s not what I mean.

I’m worried that if I come to know the emotion of love, my heart might become weak. That when I really need to be ruthless, I might not be able to be.

All the true loves I had seen were like that, after all.

Anyway, the sight of the two of them walking side by side looked so affectionate and happy. Even if their steps were heavy with worry for their child.