“Ha So-so? How did you get here?”
Im Ha-yeon wondered for a moment if she was seeing things with Ha So-so’s sudden appearance.
“I came to visit my sister! And to take a look around Wuhan!”
“So guests are coming…”
It would indeed be a delightful surprise to meet them. Im Ha-yeon sighed softly, recalling Kang Yoon-ho’s mischievous smile.
“Si-sterrrrr.”
Ha So-so approached Im Ha-yeon with her signature cutesy voice, linking arms and looking up at her.
“Why, why are you clinging to me?”
“So, how far have you two progressed with the manager?”
“P-progressed? Why are you asking about that?”
“Yay! A man and a woman with nowhere to turn in a foreign land, coming to Wuhan together to overcome crises! Just exchanging a glance makes the emotions heat up! It’s totally a novel storyline!”
“N-no, nothing happened.”
Im Ha-yeon thought of various things that flickered through her mind, but she awkwardly denied it.
“C’mon! Don’t leave me out of it. It’s just us, so what’s the harm? Is this the manager’s room? No way, are you sharing a room?”
Ha So-so wasn’t one to miss Im Ha-yeon’s awkward denial.
She pointed at the bed hidden behind a partition in the corner of the office, questioning with an expression unbefitting her age.
“My room’s next door.”
“Ha! I really was a fool to expect something like that from my sister.”
A sigh full of disappointment escaped Ha So-so.
“What did you say?”
“Nothing, I just thought that two unmarried people sharing a room wouldn’t think that way. So it seems you’re not sharing a room, and when the two of you are together… Did you at least whisper sweet nothings while gazing at the moon?”
Ha So-so playfully covered Im Ha-yeon’s ear with one hand and babbled into it, as if she were Kang Yoon-ho himself.
“U-um, maybe?”
They had seen the moon together while working and had deep conversations. Was that what they called sweet nothings between lovers?
Im Ha-yeon awkwardly nodded, overcome with sudden embarrassment.
“Eeeek! Then sister, are you gonna set the mood, gaze at the moon, and share a kiss?”
“T-that didn’t happen.”
Haaah…..
A chillier sigh than the one before slipped from Ha So-so’s lips.
“Why are you sighing like that?”
“Nothing. So, have you at least held hands?”
Sharing a room was for married couples. A kiss was for engaged couples. Well, no matter how inflexible the two were, holding hands should be…
If they were in tune with each other, they would’ve secretly held hands while wandering around. Ha So-so asked Im Ha-yeon with anticipation.
“……”
Im Ha-yeon subtly averted her gaze.
“U-uh, you didn’t, did you?”
Ha So-so gasped, covering her mouth with both hands and staring wide-eyed at Im Ha-yeon.
“I-I held her sleeve!”
“Are you a child?!”
Ha So-so’s cry echoed throughout the room.
“Ha So-so, that’s not it.”
“What’s not?! If two people with nowhere to turn in a foreign land came together! They should be holding hands! Faces close together! Lips going smooch-smooch-chu-chu! And then lying on the bed together! It should have happened!”
“Ha So-so, why are you getting so intense?”
“I’m not being intense; it’s you making me intense! Ugh! Seriously!”
Ha So-so pressed her hot forehead, exasperated.
“……”
Im Ha-yeon felt a twinge of guilt at the sight and couldn’t say a word.
“If I had known it would be like this, I would have gone with you.”
Ha So-so silently screamed at the stagnant couple. A love Taoist. Who would have known things would stall so badly without her around?
She had to speed up the training. Ha So-so looked at Im Ha-yeon with fire in her eyes.
Of course, she was the type to be overly interested in others’ love lives, especially meddling in the affairs of a promising couple, but this was clearly a reason to meddle.
“Uh…? Sister, do you have any worries?”
Deciding to seriously lecture, Ha So-so’s gaze fell on Im Ha-yeon’s worried face.
“Well… it’s nothing serious.”
Im Ha-yeon hesitated, as if she had something to say, then sealed her lips.
“Tell me. Who else will listen?”
Can I really say it?
Her only opportunity to confide in someone about a man was her younger sister. After a while of consideration, Im Ha-yeon began to vent her deepest worries.
“……Actually.”
——————————————
“Are you saying that the youngest daughter of the Jeongal family is meeting with Manager Kang? Sister, you’re joking, right?”
Ha So-so couldn’t close her eyes or mouth at the unbelievable news.
“……It’s true.”
“You just left that matter in the store? Should you be crying, getting angry, or at least putting Manager Kang in bed?!”
“Why do you keep saying to put him in bed?!”
“Sister, think about it! Do you really see Manager Kang as the irresponsible type who would just abandon his woman?”
“No. If he sees someone as his own, he’d take it all on with a smile, no matter how hard it is.”
“Oh please! If you know that, you should have put your seal on it in bed! They’re going to get married anyway! Manager Kang’s overflowing sense of responsibility was so strong that he even rejected matchmaking with the Jeongal family!”
“I can’t do that.”
Im Ha-yeon drooped her shoulders and gave a bitter smile.
“Even if I were to use all means possible… Sister?”
“There’s a very compelling reason I can’t.”
She was a runaway courtesan. Im Ha-yeon knew her own worth better than anyone else.
Being taken in by a courtesan was something that could only happen once in a lifetime. If someone did that without paying…?
While the runaway courtesan might suffer a terrible fate, they could at least save their life. However, men could never escape such consequences.
Im Ha-yeon had seen and heard how men who kept runaway courtesans ended up.
“That’s right. Now that I think about it, a physical approach is an admission of defeat! A man should conquer with love, not with his body!”
Ha So-so didn’t fully grasp the situation but quickly changed her tone to comfort Im Ha-yeon.
“……”
Im Ha-yeon felt grateful for the young Ha So-so’s concern and smiled warmly.
“Since we’re here in Wuhan, I’ll use my strength for you, Ha-yeon!”
Ha So-so clenched her fists and declared as she contemplated.
“What are you going to do?”
“I’ll go investigate the lady named Jeongal Hyang.”
“Whaat?”
“I’ll head to the branch of the Tea Bookstore right now for a spy mission!”
“Master Kang has arrived.”
At the entrance of the bustling district, I found people from Man Geum Battlefield waiting for me at the meeting place.
“Greetings. I apologize for making you wait, people of Man Geum Battlefield. You seem oddly familiar, even though this is our first meeting.”
I greeted the first young man who recognized me. He appeared to be the representative of the group. A strangely familiar face…
“Haha. You must have met my father, the head of the guards at Man Geum Battlefield. I am Jeon Woon-yeop, his son.”
Maybe it’s because he’s the son of the head of guards.
He had that kooky spark in his eyes, like a friend who had once come home after working a crazy coding shift until 4 AM. If he just wore a checkered T-shirt, he’d be a perfect match!
He had mentioned something about a job change after finishing a project. I hoped he was doing well.
“Nice to meet you. But may I ask where Lady Jeongal Hyang is?”
I looked around for the most important person who should be here today.
What, is she hiding in a box?
“Well….”
Hugh-hm!
The people from Man Geum Battlefield surrounding us showed awkward coughs and expressions in response to my question.
“Hmm?”
Did something happen? I looked at Jeon Woon-yeop with confusion, and he began to speak with a troubled expression.
“She was waiting with us, but when suddenly everyone’s attention turned to her, she said she felt dizzy…”
“Ah…”
I could immediately imagine it.
If someone as beautiful as Lady Jeongal Hyang stood in the middle of a bustling street, what kind of chaos would unfold?
It would be an absolute storm of attention! And given her lack of social skills, she’d melt away like a snail sprinkled with salt.
“I tried to suggest that she stay inside, but she insisted on entering with Master Kang, so her symptoms worsened…”
“Haha.”
“She hurried to see a physician, so it might take a little time.”
“Shall we wait for Lady Jeongal Hyang somewhere else?”
“No, she mentioned that she’d come back to the Tea Bookstore branch, so let’s head in first.”
I nodded and followed the people from Man Geum Battlefield as they guided me to the long-awaited Tea Bookstore branch.
—————
“This is the Tian Bookstore branch in Wuhan.”
“Whoa…”
Stepping into a larger building than the one in Yichang, I found a high-end bookstore adorned with luxurious decor.
I had thought the exterior might not differ much from the Tea Bookstore, but the interior was on another level entirely.
The Yichang Tea Bookstore was a place that had barely managed to function as both a bookstore and café with limited funds, barely passing the renovation test.
In contrast, the Wuhan branch made you wonder if it was even okay to invest this much in a bookstore, with each bookshelf exuding an air of sophistication.
“We’ve used sturdy high-quality wood for the bookshelves and tables to withstand various customers’ use. We’re also planning to stock popular books that are in high demand.”
Jeon Woon-yeop noticed my admiration and subtly began explaining about the first floor.
“The spaces between tables are too wide. It’s better to have a layout where customers can see book titles easily when turning.”
After struggling to close my gaping mouth, I managed to point out a flaw.
“It’s not fully complete yet. When Lady Jeongal Hyang arrives, we’ll check it out together and if she has any suggestions, we can make changes.”
Ah, so it’s an inaugural inspection period for the new branch. I wish I had brought a checklist.
I momentarily stared around the first floor, amazed.
In the heart of Wuhan, a large bookstore. Just how much would it cost to buy such a building and decorate it like this?
“If the revenue rolls in…”
“Master Kang.”
As I was lost in admiration, Jeon Woon-yeop approached me quietly.
“What’s the matter?”
“May I offer a small piece of advice, though I hope I’m not overstepping?”
He spoke cautiously, bowing slightly as he began.
“There’s nothing presumptuous about it. Please go ahead.”
When I permitted him, he wore an expression as serious as if his head were at stake and said—
“Please remember that the Wuhan branch was a gift from Lord Man Geum-Jeon to Lady Jeongal Hyang.”
That means he’s implying I shouldn’t overstep my bounds!
“Regarding the distribution of profits, Lord Man Geum-Jeon stated that it should be decided with the lady.”
No way! I’m gonna get my cut!
“I shouldn’t say this, but I don’t intend to meddle in that!”
“But you should consider what you are investing.”
Wait, are you saying I could get on Lord Man Geum-Jeon’s bad side? Why bring that up now?
“Did Lord Man Geum-Jeon give you a separate hint?”
“No.”
“Then what’s the reason for your comments?”
“It’s only natural for a sailor to worry about the ship.”
Jeon Woon-yeop looked at me with a hopeful expression.
“What?”
Did he just compare me to a sailor?
“Haha. Lord Man Geum-Jeon has high expectations for Master Kang, and as someone from Lord Man Geum-Jeon’s household, I’m merely advising you out of goodwill.”
Jeon Woon-yeop treated it casually, waving his hands.
As a new passenger, I shouldn’t get on the captain’s bad side?
At least, his words and expression didn’t seem malicious. In fact, he seemed genuinely worried.
“Don’t get greedy over money you haven’t seen yet.”
I shouldn’t let greed cloud my judgment, given that I’m already suffering from Lord Man Geum-Jeon’s whims.
He’s been serving for a lifetime; who knows how tough it might be for him? I’ll happily take that advice.
“Yes. As long as it’s reasonable, there shouldn’t be any major problems. Don’t let small amounts of money distract you from greater opportunities.”
So, if I didn’t threaten Lady Jeongal Hyang to pocket the profits, I might just pass the test unscathed.
Yeah, that seems okay.
Reasonable…
As long as I don’t get on Lord Man Geum-Jeon’s bad side.
I guess snagging the profits from the Tea Bookstore branch won’t be too much of a dilemma.
“I wouldn’t worry too much. I was planning to take it reasonably, to begin with.”
“Hmm?”
That’s all already set up, you see!
