“Is something wrong?”
I had finished my preparations early in the morning and asked Ha-yeon, who had been waiting.
“What?”
“You look a bit off. I heard you met with the leaders yesterday. Is something bothering you?”
She said she was going to discuss the aftermath of the Do-mun incident, yet Ha-yeon’s complexion is super pale since morning.
“Nothing much.”
I stared at her face closely for a moment. No, there definitely was something.
“Did the leaders refuse to listen to you or something? Or did they suddenly say they can’t recognize the leader?”
“Not at all.”
Her tone was confident, so that’s not it. Then what is it?
“Then why…?”
“I-I’m just a bit hungover. There’s no time to waste with the Do-mun incident cleanup. Let’s go quickly!”
Hungover? She doesn’t seem like she overdrank.
Seeing me hesitating, Ha-yeon grabbed my sleeve and pulled me outside.
—–
“Are you saying we should run a gambling house?”
We called the Sam-gu brothers, who worked at the wharf, to the Yungi Inn.
“It’s a gambling house that straddles the line between legal and illegal, but currently, no one’s running it.”
The Do-mun itself hadn’t completely disappeared, but the affiliates of the Do-mun leader had been thoroughly expelled without a single weed left behind. Naturally, the Do-mun leader’s assets were confiscated, which we needed to deal with.
“Really?”
The eldest brother of the Sam-gu brothers, Choi Il-gu, looked at me in surprise.
“When have you seen me talking nonsense to you brothers?”
“What should we say?”
“My subordinates.”
“…!”
“They’re trustworthy guys. They’ve followed my orders well until now. So just give it a try.”
No leader would deny my contributions to the Do-mun incident. I could easily offer a spot for my subordinates.
As soon as the words left my mouth, the Sam-gu brothers kneeled in front of me like the floor might crack.
“Club Leader! We will be eternally loyal!”
“You, Club Leader, are truly a blessing for the Joseon Person Association!”
“I will serve you like a father!”
It’s great that they’re so moved, but…
“The one you should be thanking is not me.”
“What?”
As I turned to meet the bewildered gaze of the Sam-gu brothers, I looked to the side.
“The gambling house is your sister-in-law’s.”
In fact, since the leader is being appointed, I needed assets for the leader. I originally asked for one spot to be managed by the Hao-mun followers.
“Sister-in-law?”
“She received it due to various circumstances. You guys can manage it well, right?”
Ha-yeon said to the Sam-gu brothers, looking like an adult who generously hands out pocket money to her nephews during holidays.
“I will serve her like a mother!”
“No…”
Ha-yeon seemed slightly overwhelmed by the rough men calling her that, despite being older.
“You guys will manage it, but remember to separate the share for your sister-in-law and the club fees. If you try anything funny, you’ll lose your hands.”
“I won’t be greedy! I’ll run it faithfully!”
Lower your voice. You’ll wake the whole guest room.
“Right. Handle the wharf work separately and find someone else to take over. Let’s gradually increase the spots for Joseon Persons in Wuhan.”
“Of course!”
“Is it really for us…?”
“Club Leader…”
The Sam-gu brothers were on the brink of tears.
“Don’t cry with that face, you idiots.”
“Loyalty! Absolute loyalty!”
The Sam-gu brothers promised to find someone to replace them at the wharf and got up from their seats.
——-
“I never thought Joseon Person Association members would take the place of the Do-mun.”
I said while looking at the documents in the Yungi Inn office.
“The Do-mun needs a complete overhaul. It’s better to fill it with trustworthy people.”
“I hope Joseon Persons don’t go too deep into the underground.”
Usually, immigrants tend to flow into the underworld due to discrimination. Just look at the foreign mafias in America or the Joseon Persons who got involved in gambling businesses in Japan.
I felt a bit worried.
“With the money from the gambling house, later on, I’ll establish facilities like martial arts schools and traditional academies for Joseon Persons.”
“Isn’t that a bit excessive?”
Every leader, regardless of the group, inevitably needs a lot of money. I appreciate Ha-yeon’s goodwill, but is it really necessary?
“I may be the leader of the Hao-mun now, but I’m still your sister-in-law in the Joseon Person Association.”
Ha-yeon said, placing her hands on her waist, sounding disappointed with my words.
“Haha! If Ha-yeon gets too busy with the leader duties, I’m worried it’ll be hard to get help.”
Whether it’s the association’s affairs, the inn, or the Tea Bookstore, Ha-yeon had been there to help. Once she takes on leader duties, I feel I might constantly miss her presence.
“…”
“Ha-yeon?”
Why does her expression suddenly look so serious?
“Well, it’s already this time. I need to stop by a business I haven’t visited in a while. I’ve already told them beforehand, so you’ll be going to the drinking party alone today.”
“Ha-yeon, is that… fine… Why is she acting like this?”
Ha-yeon left the office just like that.
She definitely has something on her mind since morning. What could it be?
—-
When evening came, I headed alone to the designated meeting place with the leaders.
“Thank you for your hard work. The successful resolution of this matter is all on you. Here, take a drink.”
The Gi-mun leader smiled at me, presenting a bottle of alcohol.
“The moment I said I came as Gwak-ga’s substitute! Ah! This guy! What a treasure! My good luck charm! Drink up!”
“Brother Kang! Don’t forget my drink!”
As soon as I received the drink from the Gi-mun leader, Si-mun and Brother Wang raised their bottles.
“Tu-mun leader! Brother Kang is something else! Brother Kang! Now he’s family!”
“Ugh…”
Brother Wang, isn’t it about time to acknowledge that?
“Don’t forget my drink.”
“Sure, I’ll drink everything.”
The happy faces of the leaders kept pouring drinks for me, which I downed in succession.
As the Gi-mun leader skillfully fed me side dishes with his chopsticks, Si-mun looked surprised but didn’t say much—she’s a grandma, after all.
It feels like I’m in a meeting with five managers and a single intern! Let’s show them a workplace drinking show!
I never refused any drink and made sure to sit next to anyone whose glass was empty.
“Great! Whenever you can, come visit my inn. Now that things are going well, you can bring in Joseon Persons or just the leader, as long as you come, I’ll make sure you eat until you burst!”
“I’ll definitely drop by sometime.”
“Hmm. If you want, I’ll make sure to set up a meeting with the two girls who are eagerly waiting for you.”
The Gi-mun leader said with a smile.
“Pardon?”
What are they saying?
“They’re still not of age, but if it’s you, I’m sure they’d jump at the chance to grow up.”
I remembered the courtesan who suddenly threw her underwear and left, and it all clicked.
“Hahaha…”
Chung-ki are women who receive idol treatment among courtesans.
Of course, they might not be as breathtaking as Ha-yeon or Miss Zhuge, but tempting indeed for a man’s fantasies of sleeping with beautiful women.
But the problem is…
“Do you often visit the gisaeng house?”
A chilling voice suddenly came from behind me.
“Ah, Brother Wang.”
Great, I shouldn’t have smiled.
“You even have a daughter?”
Brother Wang, it’s a bit overwhelming when you lean in closer. No, it’s actually quite scary.
“Ah, um…”
“Hmm hmm.”
The Gi-mun leader was watching us with interest. I had a feeling an attempted assassination was on the way.
“Father-in-law! It’s a misunderstanding!”
I waved my hands defensively.
“Father-in-law? I have no son-in-law who leaves his daughter all alone at home while flitting about gisaeng houses.”
“Haha.”
The Gi-mun leader! It seems like you’ve got quite a sense of vengeance! Beyond Father-in-law, I desperately glanced at the Gi-mun leader.
Will you save me?
Please, I swear I won’t call you grandma from now on!
The Gi-mun leader chuckled and nodded knowingly.
“Stop tormenting him. I’ve been to the gisaeng house several times to resolve the leader’s problems. Those girls just fell for him on their own.”
“Is that true?”
Father-in-law looked at me with fiery eyes.
“It’s true.”
“Tu-mun leader! I’ve just landed a decent son-in-law! What? Is it wrong for him to have outside interests? What matters is that he doesn’t betray the family!”
“Well, that’s true. I misjudged you, Brother Kang.”
Father-in-law swallowed and calmed down. Ah, he’s a doting father, but there’s a subtle aftertaste.
“Haha.”
Gi-mun leader! That look you’re giving, it’s not just one girl, is it? Please, stop!
“Ah! Si-mun leader. By any chance…”
Now that the misunderstanding had cleared, I asked Si-mun leader.
“Hmm?”
“Did you say anything to the leader yesterday? She’s been looking off all day today, and no one is bringing it up, so I’m getting anxious.”
“……”
Why does everyone suddenly look so serious? There must be something going on.
“I don’t know. Let’s just keep drinking!”
I pressed for answers a few more times but ultimately couldn’t get a reply.
In the end, I might have to ask Ha-yeon.
*
“Are you still here?”
Late at night, Im Ha-yeon arrived at the meeting place for the leaders, searching for her lover. She saw four men rolling around drunk at the table.
“Thought you wouldn’t come. But here you are.”
The Gi-mun leader said with a cigarette in hand to the arriving leader.
Though they must have drunk the same amount, it looked like Ha-yeon hadn’t drunk at all. She admired the Gi-mun leader’s composure as she stood before her lover.
“I thought it was getting too late. You should wake up and come home.”
“Ugh…”
“Ugh… The smell of alcohol. How much did you drink? Get a grip.”
Ha-yeon shook her lover with concern, but Kang Yoon-ho remained unfazed.
“Haha. He’s just like a newlywed.”
“He’s not someone who drinks this much…”
“It’s a good day, isn’t it? It’s a day when it’s okay to get drunk as much as you want.”
Ha-yeon looked at her lover, who was completely lost in drink, with a mix of irritation and a small smile. She couldn’t help but feel pleased that he saved her.
“Better to speak soon. The longer you wait, the more resentment you’ll face.”
The Gi-mun leader quietly advised her while observing the scene.
“I know… I’ll take him away.”
Ha-yeon hoisted Yoon-ho up.
“Take care.”
“Ha-yeon. Dad too…”
“Just go in by yourself.”
That was a cold rejection.
“Ugh.”
This is why raising daughters, no—maybe it’s more accurate to say I haven’t properly raised her, is even more sorrowful for Wang Jong-ho.
————
The pink starlight crossed the night sky of Wuhan.
Im Ha-yeon was already soaring above the walls, utilizing her Light Body Movement. Even though her lover was slumped on her back, no matter how fast she ran, Kang Yoon-ho didn’t wake up from his deep slumber.
I have to tell him.
No matter how fast she ran, her body was unharmed, but her heart was rattling uncontrollably.
She had to speak. She needed to tell him. Yet, she didn’t want to. With every step, her heart raced faster.
Tomorrow, or maybe the day after.
Could she really bring herself to say it? All day she had waited for the chance to talk while by his side but couldn’t muster the courage to speak. Even when he probed, the words wouldn’t come out.
Before she knew it, she arrived at the mansion’s inner courtyard.
She just needed to lay him down on the bed and return to normalcy. But was it really normal? Ha-yeon’s feet suddenly felt heavy.
“Are you feeling ready to talk now?”
A voice softly knocked on her ear, stirring her heart.
“You?”
“Now let me down.”
When Ha-yeon turned around, Kang Yoon-ho had already regained his senses.
“You weren’t drunk?”
“I have a few tricks for dealing with drunkenness.”
Kang Yoon-ho had learned those methods from his fiancée, the Master of Arcane Fragrance.
“Ugh…”
Ha-yeon frowned, realizing she had been played.
“Ha-yeon.”
Kang Yoon-ho had climbed down from her back, sitting on a rock in the courtyard.
“Yes…”
“There’s a saying in Joseon, ‘If you share your pain, it’s halved, and if you share your joy, it’s doubled.’”
“……”
“Even with complete strangers, there shouldn’t be barriers between us. If you’re troubled, know that I’m always here to share that burden.”
Kang Yoon-ho spoke with readiness to hear anything she had to share.
“…I don’t think it can be halved.”
Ha-yeon lowered her head weakly. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust her lover. How could she not trust him?
It was just that this worry couldn’t simply be halved by speaking it out loud.
Seeing Ha-yeon drop her head in despair, Kang Yoon-ho smiled softly, continuing to speak.
“Even if the pain doubles, as long as I can feel the same pain as you, I’m ready to listen anytime.”
This man really…
How does he only choose to say such comforting words? Ha-yeon bit her lip as emotions rose from her chest.
“Sometimes… I think I should just shut you up.”
“Hahaha.”
Ha-yeon cautiously raised her head, looking at her lover’s awkward smile.
Right. She had to speak up.
When has he ever turned a blind eye to her sorrow or acted oblivious to her troubles? In joy or sadness, during hardships, they had always held each other’s hands.
Just like two birds with only one wing each would lean on each other, they had flown this far together.
Even if it was a painful story, she couldn’t irresponsibly hide it anymore.
Mustering the courage, Ha-yeon finally decided to reveal her secret to him.
“I have to go meet the leader of the Hao-mun.”
