Chapter 51
Even if it was fine for Seyoung, Ikwon had always been like a hero to me…
“Oppa, you can’t drive a cultivator?”
I asked, even though I knew he probably never had.
“What’s that smell… Huh? A cultivator? I… I can’t really drive a cultivator…”
“So you can’t drive it?”
“I—I could learn and drive it quickly if I tried!”
Yeonwoo looked fondly at Sajun’s broad back from within the pile of bean sprouts.
I felt like I’d fall for him all over again.
The rain pounded loudly on the roof of the village hall.
Villagers, who had gathered under evacuation orders due to the swollen river, all seemed unfazed, as if this weren’t the first time they’d experienced this.
The police had done a round of patrols, and the community center staff had left water and bread.
Though everyone was damp, the air conditioner quickly dried the air.
The floor was warm, probably from electricity running underneath.
“Have our doctor guests been surprised a lot?”
Grandma Kim Boksun approached the three of them huddled in a corner, showing concern.
Sajun had gone back to help the other elders, leaving Ikwon, Yeonwoo, and Seyoung inside the hall.
“Are the elders alright?”
“They’re fine. This kind of rain is nothing. Here, take this blanket. If the doctor guests catch a cold, it’s our loss.”
“Thank you.”
Seyoung hesitated but stood to grab a blanket.
As she spread it over herself, a few elders exchanged glances and soon, a game of hwatu (Korean card game) began.
That wasn’t all.
The alcohol and snacks stored in the village hall’s fridge were brought out, and a drinking party started.
“Come on, doctor guests, have a drink too.”
“No, we’re fine.”
Ikwon smiled awkwardly to decline, but curious Seyoung nudged forward and joined the elders, her eyes fixed on the delicious side dishes.
“But why is Master Beom so late? I hope he wasn’t swept away by the water.”
“I’ll go out. You rest. You’re not strong enough to be out there. Here, lie down. It’s warm. Don’t let the air conditioning chill you too much. Wrap yourself in the blanket.”
“No, I’ll go check. Don’t come out, oppa.”
Thinking of Sajun wandering somewhere with the cultivator, she knew this wasn’t the time to stay inside.
Ikwon silently observed Yeonwoo and nodded.
“Don’t go too far, just wait nearby. He should be back soon.”
“Okay.”
Yeonwoo glanced at Seyoung, who had already merged with the elders, then stepped out of the room.
Swoosh—
It really felt like the sky had been torn open.
Spotting the long-handled umbrella by the entrance, Yeonwoo grabbed it and stepped outside.
In Sutan, flooding was an everyday occurrence.
When she participated in missions, it was the height of the rainy season.
Back then, Sajun had once mistakenly gone to the wrong two-cool (a type of lodging) where Yeonwoo stayed and had helped bail out the rising water.
Though it was long ago, these were precious memories for Yeonwoo.
Swoosh—
A smile appeared on her lips as she recalled that day.
Looking back, all the time spent with him had felt like that.
Her chest fluttered, and her mouth softened into a smile.
But where could he really be?
Step, step, step.
As she glanced around, she heard footsteps.
“Yeonwoo.”
Sajun approached the entrance, taking off his raincoat.
“Master, why are you so late?”
With a worried expression, she hurried up, and Sajun smiled as he stroked her head.
“Have you waited long?”
“Do you even call that waiting?”
He seemed to have left the cultivator below and walked up.
“I checked the village around, everyone seems fine. There shouldn’t be any major damage.”
The faint light from inside the village hall cast a soft glow on their faces.
Sajun quietly observed Yeonwoo’s delicate, pretty face.
From the first moment he saw her, he had been struck by her beauty, unable to close his mouth. Even now, her face made him speechless.
So beautiful in her soaked T-shirt and shabby shorts—it was severe.
But it wasn’t just that she was pretty.
He had grown fond enough to want to keep her by his side forever.
Though he had initially thought of keeping her tucked away in Cheongbong, he now felt apologetic.
The environment here was harsher than Seoul, and he couldn’t help worrying.
“Are you uncomfortable?”
Sajun asked with concern, and Yeonwoo shook her head.
“In Sutan, this was just everyday life.”
Her heart was deep too.
She could understand and empathize, even guess the other person’s feelings.
Contrary to her father’s concern about her being the youngest, Yeonwoo was more mature and understanding than anyone.
Sajun held her hand and led her to a bench under the eaves.
“Even if you can’t eat, it’s fine! I will eat!”
“Sure, sure, even if you can’t eat. Our doctor guest will end up eating it all anyway.”
Voices of Seyoung and the elders drifted faintly from outside.
“They’re playing go-stop, I guess.”
“Yes. The drinking party’s happening too.”
“Hahaha.”
Sajun laughed at Yeonwoo’s words.
He didn’t need to go inside to imagine what was happening.
“Not joining?”
“I don’t know how. And I shouldn’t drink on days like this, even though I can handle alcohol.”
“Aren’t you a bit hungry?”
“I’m fine. It also reminds me of the past, which is nice.”
“Ah, Sutan?”
“Yes. You don’t want to think about it, right?”
“Because of being shot?”
“Yes. Sorry.”
“Why would that be something to apologize for? I have good memories too. After all, that’s where I met you.”
“….”
“What better memories could there be? When I first saw the princess, she was really pretty…”
“Really? How pretty?”
Seeing Yeonwoo’s eyes sparkle, his heart fluttered.
He reached out to brush her wet hair aside.
“Pretty enough to make your eyes spin.”
“Liar.”
He stroked her flushed cheeks, making her face turn even redder.
“I was like a fool smiling every time I saw you. Don’t you remember?”
“Did I? I’m not sure. Memories always get glorified, they say.”
“You’re still pretty. Can’t take my eyes off you.”
Sajun dropped his smile and stared straight into Yeonwoo’s eyes.
It might have felt wrong to act like this amid the flood, but right now, he only saw her.
Yeonwoo hugged her knees as if she were cold.
Sajun suddenly stood.
He wanted to take her somewhere private with the cultivator, but the rain hadn’t stopped.
“Wait a second.”
Heading toward the entrance to grab a blanket, Ikwon stood there like a grim reaper.
Startled, Sajun stopped.
The thought that Ikwon had been hiding in the shadows all this time sent shivers down his spine.
Shh!
He brought a finger to his lips, then handed the blanket to Sajun.
Ikwon’s eyes glinted fiercely in the dark.
“You touch my sister, I won’t forgive you. I’m watching. Be careful, you crazy fool, how dare you touch my sister.”
The warning shot from his eyes was unmistakable.
Sajun smirked and took the blanket from Ikwon’s hands.
If there had been a kiss, a murder might have broken out today.
Sajun forced a wry smile and approached Yeonwoo.
“Cover yourself with this. Just for a moment.”
He wanted to have a drink, but this wasn’t the time.
Since it was a day when an emergency call from the hospital could come at any moment, he decided to give her warm tea instead.
Mansu was already on standby at the hospital, ready to receive patients.
As Sajun left Yeonwoo briefly to go toward the door, Ikwon narrowed his eyes and handed him something.
Warmly brewed Job’s tears tea.
Though it was only one cup, it was enough to share.
Taking the mug, Sajun turned back calmly.
His love for his younger sister was truly unmatched.
