Chapter 296 - The Outcast Writer of a Martial Arts Visual Novel

Gift – Chapter 7 "Sis, just try holding his hand first." This was the first bit of romantic advice from the self-proclaimed dating expert, Ha So So. In her view, this was advice to quickly get through a stage in dating that should've been crossed ages ago. "What?" The recipient of her advice was aghast at the suggestion to suddenly accelerate the relationship. "Now is not the time to be shocked by a 'what'. There's a sly fox of a woman ready to snatch away the number one most eligible bachelor among the female staff of our office!" "When was this decided?" "Following a rather in-depth discussion. Anyway, the thought that this sly fox is wagging her tail in front of you, and you haven’t even managed to grab his hand, is ridiculous!" It was a fair point. Lim Ha Yeon couldn't lift her head in response to Ha So So's criticism. "...But." She spoke bashfully, head lowered. "But?" "It's... such things should start with the man..." Zero dating experience. For Lim Ha Yeon, who had spent her whole life in a garden among women, the idea of a woman taking the initiative to hold a man's hand was too embarrassing and improper. Her face flushed red as she helplessly opened and closed her mouth like a crimson fish, unsure of how to handle her uncontrollable embarrassment. "Ugh! Sis, you're driving me crazy with frustration! Uughh!" Ha So So was about to faint from exasperation, pounding her chest at the sight. "Please, don't die!" "If you really don’t want to see me die of exasperation, try creating some alone time with him!" "I'm already doing that whenever I can..." "I'm talking about making special memories! Not work-related! Like holding hands naturally while walking! Or holding his hand in a bustling market! Or when admiring beautiful sceneries, hold hands intimately!" Given that the mere act of gazing into each other's eyes can heat up a relationship, how is it possible they haven't even held hands yet? "We're both too busy working; there's no time for that." "Even at night then! There's a saying that history is made at night!" Ha So So insisted while encouraging the bashful Lim Ha Yeon. "At night?" Grasping onto Lim Ha Yeon's arm, surprised by the unexpected suggestion, Ha So So spoke with a determined voice once more. "Sis, the opponent is formidable. That woman is making memories you never could to get closer to Manager Kang." At this rate, she'll be watching that fox marry Manager Kang and regret not holding his hand sooner. She couldn't stand the thought of witnessing such a moment. Ha So So, with a fiery determination, continued to pour out her advice. ——————— "How do you even hold a hand?" Lim Ha Yeon murmured quietly to herself in the office, staring at her palm. How is it possible for a man and a woman to naturally hold hands? And now she was being told to go out to make the right atmosphere to do so. Ha So So said it was a natural thing, but for someone who had never been in a relationship, it was a realm beyond her understanding. Naturally. As if it's the most obvious thing in the world. Lim Ha Yeon tried imagining Kang Yun Ho grabbing her hand. 'What if he suddenly seizes my hand gallantly... How should I react...' "I'm back." She was so startled she nearly stopped breathing. Kang Yun Ho's unexpected greeting left her momentarily unable to respond as she tried to calm her pounding heart. Barely maintaining her composure, she unintentionally glanced at his hand as he returned from his schedule. In his hand was a small box that hadn’t been there this morning. "It's nothing." A sly fox was wagging her tail! What had he received from the sly fox this time? Her lingering doubts about how to hold hands, and what to do about going out at night, which had troubled her throughout the evening, suddenly dissipated, and something bubbled up inside her. "Night training? At this hour? Miss Ha Yeon?" Lim Ha Yeon nodded, pushing open the window to leap to the ground. Sis, the opponent is formidable. That woman is making memories you never could to get closer to Manager Kang. Startled, Kang Yun Ho looked down at her from the window with a baffled expression. She wasn't particularly bothered by that woman, but surely, they could create a memory or two themselves. Lim Ha Yeon, eager to create an unforgettable memory, shouted to Kang Yun Ho. "Jump down!" *************************** Is this woman crazy? "I'll take the stairs down." Trying to conceal his bewilderment, Kang Yun Ho replied to Lim Ha Yeon, who had jumped out the window. "Jump down." Why is she so stubborn? This is the third floor. Even from two meters high, a person can die; how could anyone leap from a third-floor window where carrier pigeons fly about? "No..." "Coo coo! Coo coo!" Why's Googo turning up now, landing on my shoulder contemptuously, and then leisurely flying over to Lim Ha Yeon? "Even a simple pigeon can do it, so why can't you?" Because I'm not one of them. "Coo!" With one wing outstretched, Googo seemed to be mocking me, as if to say, with only one wing, it's a piece of cake. That creature, it can't be just any ordinary spirit. "I'm not a mechanical pigeon." It’s no wonder workers staged the Luddite revolt. If mechanical pigeons could strip one of their rights and transform people into flying beings. "Have some faith in yourself. I wouldn’t teach you recklessly." Lim Ha Yeon looked up at him with a hint of disappointment. Of course, he knew Miss Ha Yeon had put in effort teaching him light footwork. "I did learn the Shadowless Steps diligently, but..." It's too high. It's like going from fighting slimes to being told to face a fearsome boss, or mastering fighting game combos only to face seasoned veterans. As he hesitated, Lim Ha Yeon sighed slightly and said she'll generously offer assistance, extending her arms. "If it doesn’t seem possible, I'll catch you." Catch me? Momentarily, his gaze fell upon the very dependable cushion she possessed. Well, even if I fall wrong, I’d still land with a nice reward. No matter how wrong the fall, with Lim Ha Yeon being an expert in light footwork, there was little chance she'd let him slip. Thus, he would naturally land on the finest human-made cushion. Of course, I didn't plan on deliberately falling. However, the gap between the level of skill assumed by a master of light footwork and my actual performance could be significant. If I had to make an unexpected landing and ended up twisting my leg, it wouldn't be so bad to land face-first onto a cushion. Suddenly, I felt a surge of courage. "I'll give it a try." As long as I don't faceplant, it's a challenge worth taking. I placed my foot on the window ledge. A breeze suddenly swept inside, strongly emphasizing that this was a realm best left to the wind and birds. If I didn't want to become well-acquainted with the hard ground rather than the soft cushion, I needed to focus. I concentrated, navigating my inner energy according to the principles of the Shadowless Steps. I gathered energy into my feet and pushed off from the window. Balancing my body according to the principles of the Shadowless Steps, I landed precisely in front of Lim Ha Yeon. It was a perfect landing to anyone watching, but it wasn't over yet. As I relaxed the tension in my toes and leaned forward, aiming for my target... "Don't let your guard down even with the landing." Lim Ha Yeon turned and caught me by the scruff. "What’s this all about?" "What do you mean?" "You said you'd catch me." "And I did. Except for losing a bit of balance at the end, it was perfect." "..." That was the perfect part I had in mind. "All martial arts require control over your body’s every move, but especially with light footwork, a single mistake can lead to catastrophe, so stay careful." Lim Ha Yeon offered both praise and advice for my attempt. Suddenly, I felt a twinge of unfairness. It felt like experiencing firsthand what it’s like to be a baby bird coaxed out of the nest with food by its mother, ready to fly solo. "It truly doesn't faze you to jump from the third floor." I gazed up at the window wistfully. To think I fell from such a height without harm. Normally, I’d have expected a few broken bones here and there. "Who do you think taught you?" Lim Ha Yeon brought her hand to her side, looking at me with a satisfied smile. "It's an irrefutable point." There might be martial artists more skilled in light footwork than her, but none more talented in teaching it. "We're going for a run as a night stroll now. Keep up." It's not over yet? I began an unexpected nighttime stroll with Lim Ha Yeon. ——————————— This is quite entertaining. Despite regular practice, I had never gone full throttle over a long distance with my light footwork. Running through the deserted streets, slicing through the cool night air, it felt as though my body had transformed into a motorcycle of sorts. "This is more fun than expected." As the streets suddenly filled with people, we paused our sprint in a deserted alley. "Right? You've improved a lot. From someone who couldn't manage a single step of light footwork a few months ago." "When one's teacher is such a master, it's wise to learn diligently." To be trained by someone who may be known as the Shadowless Expert—you'd be remiss not to bow down daily in gratitude. "Well, I..." As Lim Ha Yeon began to speak, she turned her attention across the alley as if she'd noticed something. The other side was bustling with lights and people. Why such a crowd here? "Aha. No wonder it was busy, we've reached the night market." No wonder there were so many people. "……." Without answering me, Lim Ha Yeon gazed beyond the alley. What's the matter? Following her gaze, I spotted a couple holding hands, feeding each other skewer snacks at a stand. A midnight date. How enviable. Just as I turned to ask Ha Yeon what she wanted to do, I found her already looking up at me. Does she have something to say? Our eyes met, and her eyes trembled with surprise. Oh, could it be. "Jealous?" "W-What?!" "Why stare so vacantly at something so trivial. You just need to say it." "Do I really have to say it out...?" "Oh. I must lack awareness. I should take the initiative, then." "Well, that's true, but there's also the matter of you simply making up your mind…" Why turn away mid-sentence? Lim Ha Yeon lowered her head, timidly extending her hand like she was asking for a favor. In such a hurry, too. I get it. "Wait a moment." "Huh?" I'll be right back. "Here. Chicken skewers. Sorry for my lack of awareness." After working late into the night and then running under the moonlight, a snack was necessary. "……." As I presented the tempting skewers before her, Lim Ha Yeon looked at me, speechless, with eyes wide open. "Got the teriyaki sauce, salted, and seasoned varieties. Let's have them together." Pick whichever you fancy. "Ha…" What's with the sigh? —————- "…It’s delicious." "They must use good meat. For salt-grilled to taste this good." A hidden gem, it seems. "……." Lim Ha Yeon didn't respond, looking a bit regretful as she alternated her gaze between the skewer and the bustling night market beyond the alley. Could she want to stroll around the market? "Wouldn't the night market be dangerous at this late hour?" We could roam with a hat and veil on, but it’d be inconvenient if someone recognized Lim Ha Yeon. "If not here, then another... " "Hm?" Lost in thought, Lim Ha Yeon nodded and then spoke to me. "Let’s go. I have something to show you."