323 - The Outcast Writer of a Martial Arts Visual Novel

Chapter 8: Open Door "Is there something you're hiding from me?" In Kang Yoon Ho's study which also serves as his room within the mansion. Maybe she'd get an answer if she asked. Lim Ha Yeon casually searched through the drawer on the wall while attempting to subtly gauge him. "So, I've been discovered after all." Kang Yoon Ho replied with an apologetic expression, without even a hint of hesitation. "..." Is he really admitting it that easily? Lim Ha Yeon turned, astonished, to face Kang Yoon Ho with a stiff expression. "I'm sorry. Those cookies gifted to me in the drawer—I ended up eating everything inside the box except for the outer layer. I just couldn't stop once I started snacking." Lim Ha Yeon glanced at the drawer, finding a shockingly light cookie box inside. "Not that." "You seem upset judging from your expression... Could it be?! Goo Goo, that traitor! He ratted me out! Just wait, we'll have pigeon skewers for dinner tonight." "What did you do?" "Goo Goo didn't tell you? Well, I've been having him practice scattering sand and body slamming with the pigeons." Kang Yoon Ho scratched his head with an awkward smile. "..." "I did have him practice a few other things too, but it was more fun than I anticipated... Sorry." He stammered before an increasingly stern-looking Lim Ha Yeon. "Ha. Really." Sometimes he's endlessly mature and other times like an absolute child. While someone else is deep in serious thought. She found herself letting out a helpless chuckle. "I guess I'll have to do it with this, then." Kang Yoon Ho assumed he was forgiven by her laughter and murmured as he looked over a piece of paper. "What are you looking at?" "A sketch of 'Sichuan's Most Beautiful' Gu Seuk Jeong by Miss Je Gal. It'd be great to hang a large version of this at the places selling the first volume of 'Dang Ga Pung Un'." Lim Ha Yeon, also an avid reader of 'Dang Ga Pung Un,' stepped closer at the mention of 'Sichuan's Most Beautiful.' A beauty like a solitary blossom that no one can upstage. A visage so breathtaking it felt suffocating, a drawing even Du Eung Hyang fan Lim Ha Yeon had to admit was captivating. "..." The problem was, however, that the sketch was by Je Gal Hyang. "I agree. Do you have some time later?" "Why?" "I was thinking we could go for a little outing." "You know I can’t go out." "A new carriage is arriving. Even with those sneaky Do Mun folks, they wouldn't be able to tell who's inside. Let's take a test ride around Infinite City." "Do you think that's wise?" "I bought a reinforced carriage for Miss Ha Yeon. You've been working non-stop lately, and I've felt sorry for it. Let's go together." Kang Yoon Ho had already noticed Lim Ha Yeon hadn't been in the best mood these past few days. He wasn't aware that it was because she'd realized his identity, but he wanted to cheer her up in his own way. "I'll get ready." Maybe he was planning to reveal an important secret on this trip. Lim Ha Yeon nodded with a smile at his suggestion. "Great. I should invite Miss Je Gal, too." "We're not going just the two of us?" The smile began to fade from her lips. "Haha. We can't omit Miss Je Gal, who gave us the carriage, from its test run. Plus, with her, the guards will likely keep a closer watch on us." "..." Lim Ha Yeon stared at Kang Yoon Ho, pursing her lips. Given that there were forces targeting their lives, Man Geum Jeon Ju assured them that moving together would ensure her safety. Safety, after all. "Miss Je Gal is using Infinite City for the setting in the second volume of 'Dang Ga Pung Un', so she can gather reference material, and Miss Ha Yeon can enjoy a change of scenery." He didn't know she'd realized his identity. Surely, his proposal came from a place of goodwill to uplift her spirits. Yet... Lim Ha Yeon recalled Je Gal Hyang's subtle, self-satisfied smile of late. "You two go ahead. I'll head to work." She couldn't bear to see Kang Yoon Ho giddy over the carriage gifted by Je Gal Hyang, nor Je Gal Hyang's delight in watching him. Especially if they were sharing an important secret, just the two of them. ----- "What are you doing right now?" With Kang Yoon Ho and Je Gal Hyang gone in the carriage, Lim Ha Yeon slumped her shoulders and murmured while observing the pigeons. "Goo Goo? Goo Goo Goo!" Alarmed by her somber tone, Goo Goo gazed at the idling pigeons and urged them into action. What are you doing? The lady of the house just called us a disorganized mess, not a pigeon flock. Spurred by Goo Goo's words, the flock flapped their wings all at once. "Goo Goo!" "Why are they scattering sand all together? Honestly, he teaches them the strangest things." "Goo Goo..." Realizing it wasn't what she'd meant, Goo Goo landed on her shoulder, grooming her with affection as if trying to shake off the sand. "Goo Goo must have explored the city during the day, right?" "Goo Goo?" "I've never been on a leisurely outing with him..." She muttered as she softly caressed Goo Goo, perched on her shoulder. Life in Infinite City where one could never let down their guard. Though she had shared memories with him, she couldn't stroll by his side like the woman who had just departed. "It's too stark a comparison." A woman who could enjoy a meal at a nice eatery during the day, then a casual outing. In contrast, she could only move under the cover of night, a fugitive courtesan. Even in small details, the disparity was evident. Lim Ha Yeon quietly bowed her head. Usually, she wouldn’t take such a downturn. She was a woman who would face adversities bravely alongside Kang Yoon Ho. But knowing that Kang Yoon Ho shared his secret only with the other woman was too great a blow. "Being the youngest daughter of the Je Gal family, it's such an unfair difference." She had thought they were about evenly matched. No, if it was just about artistry or shyness, she figured she could win. His affections were directed towards her. Despite whatever gifts Je Gal Hyang bestowed, his gaze remained upon her. But if, perhaps... 'If his affection is shifting towards Je Gal Hyang.' All that remained was the runaway courtesan and the youngest daughter of the Je Gal family. "Surely it hasn't gotten to that point yet, has it?" "Goo Goo?" Lim Ha Yeon shook her head vigorously. He had definitely thought of her today. He initially offered the outing to her and only later invited Je Gal Hyang. "Then why does he hide it from me and tell her?" Surely his affection hasn't fully shifted to Je Gal Hyang yet. But the unresolved questions and suspicions continued to weigh heavily on her. She didn't want to slowly grow anxious alone, like when he received an exquisite brush as a gift. "I suppose I need to ask him directly." Lim Ha Yeon decided to wait for Kang Yoon Ho's return. ************ "Thank you for your hard work." Must say, the expensive carriage was worth it. Nice suspension and all. Just a shame Lim Ha Yeon couldn't join us today. I carried Je Gal Hyang's sketches with me as I returned to my room with her. "Phew... managed to get through it." Even Je Gal Hyang looked completely drained. I had made sure to avoid crowded places for her sake, but just being outside seemed to have gradually sapped her mental strength. "It seems I caused you quite an ordeal." "Well, it's for drawing the official art of 'Dang Ga Pung Un'. I can't be careless even slightly." "Thanks to Miss Je Gal, I was able to thoroughly enjoy the outing as well. Ah, and speaking of..." "Is there something else you wish to discuss?" "It's about what Man Geum Jeon Ju mentioned. He suggested if our relationship doesn't progress, I might end up seeing other women for marriage prospects. It's quite a predicament." I brought up what Je Gal Hyang had delicately mentioned during our outing. "Oh... yes." "Inviting Miss Ha Yeon to the estate was to prevent unsavory rumors. But it might backfire." "I’m at a loss as to what to do..." Je Gal Hyang looked down, clearly troubled. "I've given it some thought, and I have a clever idea." "A clever idea? What do you have in mind?" What did Man Geum Jeon Ju mean when he spoke of progressing our relationship? Je Gal Hyang and I were in a contract relationship. No physical affection, and maintain status quo in the relationship. So is there no solution? No, there was one. "Miss Je Gal, what I'm about to suggest is not sincere but merely a strategy, so please don't be alarmed." "Huh?" I took a step closer with a serious expression. Please don't be startled. "Could you call me 'Ga Ga'?" "Wh-what?!" Naturally, it'd be odd not to be startled. 'Ga Ga'—it's a term of affection used by fiancées for their intended. For Je Gal Hyang, who always addressed me as Kang Gong Ja, it was akin to asking her to start calling me 'darling' from today forward. "Since we are living together, reducing formalities any further isn't possible. But we can make changes in the way we address each other." Since we're cohabiting, the only further progression relationship-wise would be engagement. Except in terms of addressing each other. "B-but still..." Je Gal Hyang blushed furiously and lowered her head. "If you are uncomfortable, we can disregard this." "It's not exactly that..." "You can continue to call me Kang Gong Ja usually. However, occasionally call me Ga Ga when guards or servants are nearby to let the elders hear. Gather your courage and try saying it now." I've got to prompt her now. With her personality, if I leave it for later, she might never say it. Je Gal Hyang fidgeted but eventually managed to open her mouth. "Ga... Ga-ga-ga-ga." It sounded less like a term of endearment said courageously and more like she had found the rhythm for a potential song. "Miss Je Gal, there's no need to be so tense. I'm the one asking. Why don't you take a deep breath and try again?" "To relax, I might need some qi breathing exercises..." Is it that bad? "I'll wait until you're relaxed. If you feel uncomfortable at any point, you can stop." I've got to create as comfortable an atmosphere as possible. I have to act like someone who would laugh and forgive any mistake she might make. As I sheepishly looked away, she quietly observed me for a moment. Would she give up or go ahead? Eventually, Je Gal Hyang took a deep breath and called out to me, hands clutched close to her chest. "...Ga Ga." A voice filled with shyness, affection, and courage. A single note in a song. A snapshot in a photograph. A memory wrapped in a word. Sometimes people unexpectedly recall slumbering memories from unexpected places. Memories I hadn't expected to resurface, memories from two years ago, overwhelmed me. The first time a woman called me Ga Ga... 一 Ga Ga. 一 Miss, what did you just call me? 一 We'll be wed soon, so I thought it better to call you Ga Ga instead of Gong Ja. Is it strange? The most beautiful in all of martial arts. The voice of the brown-haired woman, brimming with shyness and love. An unforgettable memory. A woman of destiny I must meet again someday. "Kang Gong Ja? Ahh!" Her scream startled me back to reality. In front of me was Je Gal Hyang approaching me with a worried look, only to trip over her own skirt. Quickly activating my shadow-step technique: I caught her by the waist, naturally moving her to the bed nearby. However, with my shadow-step being only of the first level, I couldn't handle unexpected situations well. Her leg tangled with mine. We lost balance and both tumbled onto the bed. "Ahh?!" Not a shounen manga but a real-life falling scene. There lay Je Gal Hyang, with me draped over her on the bed. "I apologize." "It's o-okay..." Why are your eyes closed? "Could you lift your waist a bit?" Let’s remove my arm trapped between the bed and her waist first. "L-lifting from the waist first?" Why start there? What's the end goal? Troubled now. If someone enters the room like this, they'd misunderstand greatly. Or maybe not. I'm asking for such misunderstandings by the way we address each other. 一 Crreek. In the moment of pondering, the door behind me opened. Could it be a maid coming in to clean? Not bad. Should I thank her for entering? Wait a minute. Doesn't a maid usually announce before entering? I quickly turned my head, expecting to see a maid, but what I met was not a maid. “You... I need to ask you something...” “...Ha Yeon So.” I'm doomed.