[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-childhood-friend-of-the-zenith":3,"chapter-childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-790":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Childhood Friend of the Zenith",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1240590,1667,"Chapter 789","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-790",790,"\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their eyes met, and for a moment, silence filled the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Heebi stared blankly at the scene before her, unable to utter a single word.Mi Horan, meanwhile, exhaled softly as she looked at her eldest daughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time passed like that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hm?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mi Horan gently lifted the child she had been holding and seated them beside her. She then carefully pushed the tea and refreshments on the table out of sight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sit down.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She spoke as though nothing had happened, her demeanor completely ordinary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Heebi momentarily wondered if she had imagined everything she just saw.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mother.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What… is this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no way that question would simply be brushed aside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mi Horan’s brows furrowed slightly in response to Gu Heebi’s frown and trembling voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She must have realized it wouldn’t work.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This… what is this…? No, who is that child…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Heebi stammered, unable to form proper sentences. Her eyes shook violently, clearly in a state of shock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She looked as if she had seen something she shouldn’t have.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That child…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her gaze shifted toward the child, and her body froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her eyes widened even further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was only natural.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could anyone not be startled after seeing that face?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The child tilted their head as they looked at Gu Heebi, their expression full of innocence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just looking at the child’s face pulled her deep into her memories.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Look! It’s a flower! I’ll give it to you, big sis.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Big sis! Play with me!-!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The days when laughter was still plentiful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The image of a little boy running toward her with a flower in hand, ready to give it to her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A younger brother who would hold her hand tightly and follow her everywhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Uh… uhh….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked exactly the same.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If anything, he might have been even cuter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But without a doubt, this child bore an uncanny resemblance to her younger brother.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Heebi’s body began moving on its own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mi Horan’s earlier actions, the sudden summons—none of it mattered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right now, she had only one thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Go closer. Touch the child’s head. Think later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Heebi began stepping toward the child.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yangcheon….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh—!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…!?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A gust of wind tore through the room beside her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something shot forward with explosive force, so fast that no one in the room could react.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Heebi’s gaze immediately snapped to the source of the motion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And there—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeon-ah…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The black-haired woman she had always regarded as a sister was clutching the child tightly in her arms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Heebi’s mind reeled from the sudden situation and the sheer speed at which it had unfolded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Mi Horan, who rarely showed surprise, appeared momentarily shaken.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While everyone was still paralyzed by shock—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clang—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sound of weapons being drawn echoed around them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Heebi immediately sprang into action, shouting—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait—!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clang! Clang! Clang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blades poured in from every direction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>******************\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dragged along by Elder Il for quite some time, I finally realized where I had been taken.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A neatly maintained pathway stretched before me, leading to an elegant and luxurious residence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t exactly a place that suited me, but it was a familiar sight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Of course, I was just here yesterday. No way I wouldn’t recognize it.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yesterday.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And it wasn’t just during the day—I had come here late at night, sneaking glances over my shoulder the whole way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the residence where Lady Mi stayed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And now, Elder Il had brought me back here again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To meet someone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Naturally, given that this was Lady Mi’s residence, one might think I was here to see her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But that wasn’t it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Hmm.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feeling the tension settle in my expression, I scanned the residence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No, I wasn’t here to see Lady Mi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to Elder Il, I was here to meet my grandfather.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Grandfather, huh….’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, more accurately—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My maternal grandfather.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I guess that’s the proper way to phrase it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Not that we’re actually related by blood.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When it came to grandfathers, the old man I’d met last time felt more like the real one. But technically, there was one more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The founder of the Baekhwa Trading Company, which Lady Mi now ran.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was Lady Mi’s father.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…Hmm.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even as I thought about it, doubts kept surfacing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could I really call him my grandfather?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘He’s not even a real grandfather.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was born to a concubine, so Lady Mi and I didn’t share any blood ties. It only made sense that he wasn’t my grandfather either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To top it off—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I’ve never even seen him before.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not once in my entire life had I met Lady Mi’s father—the founder of the Baekhwa Trading Company.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I just found out he’s still alive.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’d never seen him or even heard about him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But apparently, he was alive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Did my sisters know about this?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Heebi or Gu Yeonseo might have known.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike me, they were his actual granddaughters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet, that only made the situation more confusing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Why, though?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not only had this founder suddenly shown up, but he’d also traveled all the way to Hanam with Elder Il as his escort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And now—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Why me?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of all people, why did he want to meet me?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was something that hadn’t happened in my previous life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As usual, I figured it had something to do with the messes I kept causing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘No matter how much I think about it, I have no idea.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wracked my brain, but nothing came to mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, I looked up at the broad back of the man walking ahead of me and asked—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey, Elder Il.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The towering old man turned to look at me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why does he want to meet me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why would the founder of Baekhwa Trading Company want to see me?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Maybe he just wants to see his grandson?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not exactly a helpful answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I suppose it was my fault for expecting anything useful from this old man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I’m not even his grandson. If he really wanted to see me, he’d have done it sooner.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm… You think so?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And why did you have to take on the role of escort? Aren’t you a bit too old for that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A respected elder of a prestigious family serving as a bodyguard and following me to Hanam—it didn’t make any sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elder Il scratched his cheek as if the question made him uncomfortable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…It just kind of turned out that way. Think of it as an excuse to visit you and go for a walk.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A walk? People usually call that a trip, not a walk—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before I could finish, I jerked my head aside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elder Il had suddenly swung his fist at my head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As his punch sliced through the air, he let out a dry laugh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, well. Dodging now, are we?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Can we stick to words, please? Violence is bad.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmph. Your tongue’s getting sharper by the day.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elder Il flexed his wrist as if disappointed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I stared at him and said—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Be honest with me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did you lose another bet?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Twitch—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His shoulders flinched at my words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What… what are you talking about? What would I have lost?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Isn’t that it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course not! Do I look like some kind of gambling addict to you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, you do have quite the track record.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elder Il clamped his mouth shut, clearly out of excuses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And how could I not be suspicious?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I mean, who else brings back a sacred artifact from the Mount Hua Sect just because they won a drinking game?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’d gone through hell in Shaanxi because of that incident.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Almost every mess this old man caused was tied to drinking or gambling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘And judging by his reaction, this is no different.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No surprises there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Trying to change the subject, Elder Il started whistling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Badly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was more like a series of breathy “whoo, whoo” sounds than an actual whistle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Elder Il.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ahem. I told you it’s not what you think.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeah, sure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His expression said it all. This old man had definitely done something again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just be honest with me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“About what?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What did you mess up this time?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I kept pressing him, not willing to let it drop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When it came to Elder Il, his mistakes weren’t just his problem—they always ended up affecting me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘No exceptions.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Given my experiences so far, I could already tell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Whatever trouble he caused, I’m the one who’ll have to clean it up.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how hard I tried to avoid it, I always got dragged in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I needed to make him confess and figure out what I was dealing with.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I told you, it’s nothing! Why don’t you trust me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why would I? If it were anyone else, maybe—but you? No way—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vwooooom—!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I stopped mid-sentence and turned my head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A surge of energy had erupted from inside the residence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hm? What’s wrong?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elder Il looked puzzled by my reaction, as though he hadn’t sensed anything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was it because my senses had grown sharper?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had deliberately sealed most of my Qi perception, leaving it significantly dulled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then what was this energy?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…This….’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It struck straight at my heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Immediately after, my pulse thudded in response, as if resonating with the disturbance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thump—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vwoooom—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another wave of energy rippled out from the residence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yangcheon?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elder Il called out to me with a concerned look, but—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fwoosh—!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My feet ignited with flames, propelling me forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I accelerated instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In just a few steps, the scenery around me blurred as it was left behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reckless speed risked an accident, but I didn’t care.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was urgent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fwoosh—!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I surged forward, becoming a streak of flame that shot into the residence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I brushed past the entrance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before the guards at the door could even register my presence, I was already inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t slow down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My destination was the source of the energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If my senses weren’t mistaken—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘This energy… it’s definitely….’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grinding my teeth, I controlled my breathing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The distance wasn’t far. I reached the room within seconds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The energy seemed to be coming from Lady Mi’s chambers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I rushed straight toward it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I burst inside and saw what was happening—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I narrowed my eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘What the hell is this?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The room was packed with people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite the size of the residence, the number of occupants made the space feel cramped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And among them—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Gu Heebi.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Heebi gripped a sword tightly, glaring at something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lady Mi stood nearby, her eyes wide with shock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Cheonma?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A familiar figure stood at the center.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheonma was clutching the child—Dol-dol—in her arms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Around her, warriors dressed in black encircled them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Judging by their stances, they were the covert guards assigned to protect Lady Mi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And all of them were pointing killing intent and drawn blades at Cheonma.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…What is this mess?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What the hell was going on?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why was Cheonma in this room, holding Dol-dol, and why was she radiating such an ominous aura?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I scanned the scene, trying to grasp the situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let go of the child immediately.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One of the guards addressed Cheonma.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you don’t, I’ll cut you down.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What the hell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were threatening Cheonma.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I swallowed hard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I quickly looked at Gu Heebi and Lady Mi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The distance between them and Cheonma was dangerously close.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Cheonma lost her temper and went berserk, it would be nearly impossible to get those two out safely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Assessing the risks, I moved immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fwoosh—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wha—!?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What the—?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I dove between the blades, pushing past the guards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The covert guards reacted to my sudden intrusion but froze the moment they saw my face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Y-Young Master…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Put the swords down.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pardon?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lower your weapons and focus on Lady Mi.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll handle this. Now move.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite their reluctance, my sharp tone forced them into action.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They retreated to protect Lady Mi, giving me just enough space.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I turned toward Cheonma, who was still holding Dol-dol.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What are you doing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No response.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheonma kept holding the child, her breathing heavy and erratic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I pressed further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What the hell are you doing here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My voice carried more aggression than usual.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I needed to provoke a reaction—to figure out what was happening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But inside, I was trembling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why was she acting like this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was there some reason?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had something changed in this life?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or was she still the same Cheonma I feared?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unease spread through me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I asked you—what the hell are you doing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I tensed my body, ready to activate Tam at a moment’s notice if things turned hostile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I reached out slowly and placed my hand on her shoulder, applying slight pressure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rustle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheonma raised her head and locked eyes with me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her black hair parted to reveal her face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t help it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What the hell?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheonma—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still holding Dol-dol—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was crying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not just crying—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sobbing.\u003C\u002Fp>",2167,"2026-06-05T15:10:17.629Z",1,"novelbin.me","7d682dded77c079d617597e1d95e3311f09c04af9e868b27a0a7fa6cebed5dc8","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-791","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-789",974,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fchildhood-friend-of-the-zenith-cover.jpg"]