CHAPTER 08
Chohee immediately recognized the book she was holding as a familiar classic novel. She lightly opened it with both hands and began reading the first sentence.
“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.”
She glanced at the man beyond the book and continued.
“In other words, ‘It is a universally accepted truth that a wealthy single man is in need of a wife.’”
The man’s gaze slowly moved from the book in her hands to her face.
He was staring so intensely that her face felt hot.
For now, it was best to ignore him. Chohee continued reading.
As she began the second paragraph, the man raised his hand to stop her.
“You can even translate it. That will do for now.”
“Is that really enough? Then… about hiring me—”
“I am well aware of your English skills. But that alone isn’t sufficient.”
“You mean you want a trial lesson?”
She hadn’t realized it on the train, but this man was subtly demanding.
Chohee muttered to herself in frustration.
He seemed so indulgent with the geishas, yet he was so picky with her. Not fair.
Men, really.
“…Well, various reasons. I have a policy of not letting just anyone into my house.”
Ah, so he doesn’t let people in at home, but outside he meets anyone he likes.
Chohee forced herself to smile, suppressing the urge to snap back.
Just say you’ll hire me, and I’ll demand a high salary. I’m only holding back for the money.
She spoke as politely as possible through her clenched teeth.
“Then what is it that you want to know?”
“Your name.”
The man answered without hesitation. His gaze, behind glasses, fixed steadily on her eyes.
Was he planning to interrogate her?
It was a reasonable question from an employer, but Chohee had no intention of giving him easy answers.
“When asking for someone else’s name, isn’t it polite to give your own first? Just as you know nothing about me, I know nothing about you.”
The man’s expression shifted subtly at her words. One eyebrow lifted and twitched—an expression that seemed both intrigued and slightly irritated.
“I am Do-un Lee.”
That’s it?
Chohee waited for more, but the man—Lee Do-un—didn’t offer any additional explanation.
He gestured toward her, as if to ask, “And your name?”
Reluctantly, Chohee spoke.
“I am Chohee Sung.”
When she gave her name, Do-un murmured quietly, probably repeating it to himself. He rested his hand thoughtfully on his chin.
“Let’s have the trial lesson three days from now.”
“Very well. I’ll prepare until then. Have you studied English before?”
“I know the basics.”
“Then what do you want to learn?”
“I wish to speak freely about business with foreigners.”
Right, he was a businessman.
Chohee nodded and headed toward the bookshelf to see if there were suitable materials. Only novels in English were there.
“It seems there are no proper textbooks here.”
“There are books everywhere, aren’t there?”
His voice carried doubt. Chohee felt slightly annoyed—he didn’t trust her at all, without knowing her.
“You said you know only the basics? Here I see Pride and Prejudice, A Tale of Two Cities… My goodness, all these novels are far above what a shameless—or rather, young master—would need.”
Do-un’s one eyebrow lifted again.
Now that she noticed, he seemed to raise an eyebrow every time he heard something he didn’t like.
“So now you call me ‘young master’?”
When did she even hear that? His hearing must be sharp. She sensed he noticed her subtle sarcasm, and she let it slide.
“Novels aren’t suitable for business English.”
“You speak as if you’ve taught many people before.”
“Of course. I have taught at a school for over three years. I will provide the textbooks.”
Chohee finished and extended her right hand, palm up.
Do-un looked at her hand with a puzzled expression.
“…What is this for?”
Now it was Chohee’s turn to raise an eyebrow.
“Money. You need to pay for the textbooks.”
“Ha… haha!”
After a beat, Do-un let out a sigh-laugh—a sound somewhere between a chuckle and an exhale.
“You’re not stingy about the textbook fee, are you?”
Chohee deliberately provoked him—a little revenge for earlier. Do-un shook his head as if defeated.
He then pulled out his wallet from inside his coat. A glossy dark green leather wallet. From it, he took several bills and placed them slowly in Chohee’s hand.
“…Here you go.”
It was more money than she expected. Though not coins, the bills felt heavy in her hand. She maintained a composed expression and slipped the money into her pocket.
Her previously flat pocket now bulged.
“See you in three days, Mr. Lee Do-un.”
“…See you in three days, Miss Chohee Sung.”
With a victorious smile, Chohee turned and left the study without looking back.
“Ha!”
Dowoon recalled meeting Chohee two days ago and let out a brief, involuntary laugh.
But soon, he erased the smile and returned to a neutral expression.
He removed his glasses and pressed between his eyebrows. As if washing his face dry, he wiped his expression clean, only to see Chohee’s face again in his mind.
She threw a punch without injury—delicate like a greenhouse flower—but spoke sharp words that left him speechless. Not an easy opponent.
Dowoon sat on the study sofa, carefully reading a document with Chohee’s personal details.
When she had revealed her name and status two days ago, he hadn’t shown it, but inside he was quietly rejoicing.
No need to painstakingly investigate her identity.
The trial lesson was only a ruse to buy time to confirm the identity of this mysterious woman.
Since she would play an important role in his upcoming plans, he needed to be extra cautious. Any misstep could jeopardize not only himself but also the provisional government. He had to gather as much information as possible.
Dowoon intended to use her once he confirmed she could assist with his work.
A woman who could attend the wives’ English club.
He needed to determine if Chohee Sung fit the criteria. Three days would be enough to learn all about her. He now held the document with her personal information.
She was one of the few daughters of a Korean interpreter. Skimming through, he understood how she could be so fluent in a foreigner’s language.
Dowoon read details about her father. By the last paragraph, his brow furrowed in displeasure.
He glanced at the next paragraph with a fleeting look of regret.
“Her mother passed away, and her older brother is missing.”
This older brother was Chohee’s only close relative. Dowoon quickly scanned the brother’s details. Finding the name made his frown deepen.
“Seong… Chi-hoon?”
“He wasn’t with the provisional government. A member of the Uiyoldan, perhaps?”
“Michael, you really are like a ghost. His counterpart, the Uiyoldan member Seong Chi-hoon, was behind this.”
Could it be someone with the same name? Possible.
But in the same city, what were the odds that both namesakes would be missing?
The one who planted a bomb at Jongno Police Station was still at large.
And Chohee seemed to be searching for someone.
“The day is fading. It might be dangerous, so I’ll take her to her destination.”
“No!”
“I’m fine. I was supposed to meet someone at the station.”
“The Uiyoldan member who bombed the police sent his sister ahead to Sinuiju. That sister must have planned to meet him at the station.”
Everything fell into place like puzzle pieces.
His mind quickly connected the next, and the next, steps.
“Seong Chi-hoon, a Uiyoldan member, was this woman’s older brother.”
He was certain this information was a perfect opportunity to draw her in.
On a sunny afternoon, Chohee and Bok-i stood together in a busy second-hand bookstore in the middle of the old city.
“Miss from Gyeongseong, are you really going to do this work?”
Bok-i asked with concern. Seeing Chohee smile at her insistence on coming along, she couldn’t help but chuckle.
“Of course I have to.”
“But miss, didn’t you hear? That man in Gwangandong seems quite dangerous.”
“He’s a businessman. Businessmen are always risky. What matters is how much money he can give me.”
Chohee carefully sifted through the books. The grammar in the ones she checked had some errors. She slid them back into the shelves, continuing her search.
“I don’t plan to do this for long. Once my older brother comes, I’ll quit.”
“Geurti—”
“Until then, I need to survive. This is the only work I can do. Let’s see… aha!”
Chohee’s fingers found the book she wanted. She flicked it, making a small sound. The bookstore owner, who had been watching the two women, looked up in surprise.
{Owner, I’ll take this one.}
{This doesn’t seem very useful.}
{No, this is exactly what I was looking for.}
Chohee smiled brightly and handed over the money.
Three days later, standing in front of the man’s house, Chohee took a deep breath.
It was her second visit, so she should have felt familiar, but the tall walls seemed to warn her away.
Clenching her fists, she resolved herself and stepped through the gate.
Entering the study, Chohee again faced the man standing with his back to her.
He must have sensed her presence, yet he did not turn.
“Humph.”
Chohee cleared her throat, and only then did the man slowly turn.
Today, unlike three days ago, he wore a three-piece suit.
With his buttoned-up shirt and properly tailored jacket, Chohee felt her breath catch.
And because of his glasses, she could not clearly see his eyes, adding to her unease.
Despite his picture-perfect smile and handsome features, there was something about him that made her uneasy.
As he looked down at her with a nearly flawless smile, Chohee clutched her textbooks tighter.
“Three days have passed. Today is the trial lesson, correct?”
“Yes.”
Do-un gestured for her to sit on the sofa. Across the ivory-colored table, they faced each other.
Once seated, Chohee felt his eyes on her.
“Did you find the right textbooks?”
“Of course. Oh, here.”
She took money from her pocket and placed it on the side table. The clatter of coins rang loudly.
