FSLSRE C5

Chapter 5. Walking Within the Same Moment

“Oh dear—ah, no, that won’t do.”

The fabric shop owner, Mr. Hwang, waved his hands in flustered refusal.

“Fi—five nyang! No, five nyang and five pun! I must have lost my mind, trying to haggle down the price of something made with such care.”

Only then did Dan-o, who had looked on the verge of tears, manage a faint smile. Yet there was something sorrowful about it—her eyes still seemed steeped in quiet grief.

The shopkeeper hurriedly fumbled inside his money pouch.

“Thank you, sir. I won’t forget this kindness.”

“Oh, think nothing of it. Kindness, you say—here you are. Five nyang…”

“And five pun.”

“R-right, of course. Five nyang and five pun.”

“Thank you, Uncle Hwang.”

Dan-o tucked the money into her small pouch and bowed deeply.

From a distance, watching her, Si-yeol began to chuckle.

“As expected of Yoon Dan-o. What a sly fox. Today she’s got the fabric shop owner wrapped around her finger. Did you see the old man’s face? He looked ready to hand over his liver and gallbladder if she asked. If Dan-o demanded it, he’d probably give her the whole shop without hesitation.”

“She struts about so fearlessly—what if something happens? She should count herself lucky that old man is gentle. What would she do if she crossed paths with the wrong sort?”

Unlike the amused Si-yeol, San’s expression was far from pleased.

“At this rate, she’ll end up attracting trouble—like flies.”

He frowned, clearly dissatisfied.

“San, don’t say that.”

“What?”

Yu-ha’s expression, unlike usual, wasn’t bright.

“Do you think Dan-o acts like that because she wants to? Her father has passed away, her mother is simply kind-hearted, and Lady Hong-ju hardly leaves her room. Dan-o is shouldering everything—even the responsibilities of a man—all on her own.”

“What are you getting at?”

“I’m saying her situation is unfortunate. Isn’t it pitiful? Carrying the burden of livelihood alone…”

Yu-ha trailed off, closing his mouth.

“If you feel so sorry for her, Yu-ha, why don’t you marry her yourself?”

At Si-yeol’s teasing remark, delivered with a grin, Yu-ha’s eyes shot up.

“What?”

“You like Dan-o, don’t you? If you pity her for bearing all that responsibility, then marry her and provide for her. And at the wedding feast, we’re having beef soup—understood?”

“What nonsense! Like her? I think of her as a younger sister.”

“Oh, Yu-ha. You’re such a bookish scholar—you know nothing of love. You look like the type who’d try to learn love from books. That’s how it always starts. A sister becomes a lover, a lover becomes a wife, and then the wife becomes your greatest enemy…”

“Enough, you ridiculous fool.”

As always, San muttered in exasperation at Si-yeol’s absurd ramblings.

“Si-yeol and San must have been arguing again.”

On the way back to Ihwawon, only Yu-ha walked beside Dan-o.

Si-yeol strode ahead, fanning himself, while San followed some distance behind in silence.

“They had another go at it while you were inside the shop.”

“Si-yeol started it again, didn’t he? Why does he always pick on San? He always gives a little and gets ten times back.”

Dan-o tilted her head.

“Who knows? Maybe it’s because he feels comfortable with him. Si-yeol only acts that way with San.”

“San… well…”

“San, what about him?”

“I’ve been seeing him every day for three years now, but he still feels difficult. No matter what I say, it feels like he might get angry… Sometimes I’m even afraid to speak to him. I think he doesn’t like me.”

“Who could possibly dislike you? There’s no way anyone would dislike someone as kind as you, Dan-o.”

Yu-ha looked down at her thoughtful expression and smiled gently.

“He rarely speaks about himself, so even I don’t know what lies inside him. But I sometimes think this—those who show their thorns to others are often the ones who’ve been pricked the most.”

“Thorns?”

“Yes. So even if San upsets you sometimes, don’t take it too much to heart. I’m sure he doesn’t truly mean it. Earlier, when you stumbled, didn’t he rush over to catch you?”

“I suppose…”

Dan-o recalled the arm that had supported her. Trained in martial arts, San’s arm had been as solid as iron.

“I’ll try to think that way. Talking with you really does ease my heart, Yu-ha.”

A bright smile spread across her face as she looked up at him.

“Come to think of it, it was spring just like this when I first met you.”

“Yes, it was. Time truly flies.”

When Yu-ha had first met her, Dan-o had been a fifteen-year-old girl with soft, downy features. And now, in just three years, she had blossomed into such a beautiful young woman.

The scent of flowers carried on the spring breeze brushed past them. A faint smile lingered on Yu-ha’s lips as he reminisced.

In the late afternoon, as the sun began to dip behind the mountains, the silhouettes of Dan-o and Yu-ha walking side by side melted into the crimson glow of sunset.

And San walked quietly behind them.

“They look happy.”

San muttered under his breath. Dan-o’s face was filled with endless smiles, as though nothing in the world could trouble her. The setting sun cast a warm red glow over her cheeks as she laughed up at Yu-ha.

Then suddenly, Dan-o and Yu-ha stopped walking.

“Brother San!”

Dan-o turned around and looked at him. San only flicked his brow in response.

“Why are you walking all alone back there? Come here—walk with us.”

“….”

Should he?

Step between them, walk together, become one within that glowing sunset…

Would that be all right?

“I’m fine.”

But the words that left San’s mouth were blunt and curt.

“Oh, come on—don’t be like that. Hurry!”

“San, stop sulking and come over. It’s such a beautiful spring day. Let’s walk together.”

Both Dan-o and Yu-ha beckoned him.

“Now you too, talking about spring? It comes every year anyway.”

“It comes every year—but this moment will never come again!”

At her words, San’s expression softened slightly.

Yes. Spring would pass, flowing away into the past. Then why not share a fragment of this day together?

After a brief hesitation, San stepped toward them. On the road back to Ihwawon, they walked together into the sunset-lit scenery.

Dinner was underway on the courtyard platform of Ihwawon.

Having spent the entire day out in the market, the young scholars were ravenous. For a while, only the clatter of spoons and chopsticks filled the air.

“Uncle Yuk-ho, brothers—please have some of this after your meal.”

“Oh? Hwangjeong-yeot.”

“Yes, Uncle. My mother made it. She says it’s good for restoring strength.”

“Tell her I’m grateful.”

As Dan-o set down the dish and turned toward the kitchen, her eyes caught sight of plum blossoms blooming gently over the wall.

Without thinking, she reached out toward them. But the branch was too high, and her fingers grasped only empty air.

“Dan-o, shall I pick that flower for you?”

Yu-ha asked.

“No, it’s alright. Please continue eating.”

After she hurried off, slightly embarrassed, Yuk-ho spoke as he bit into the taffy.

“She’s been obsessed with flowers since she was little. Still the same even now. Let’s see… I first met her twelve years ago, when she was six. Even then, she spent all day running around picking flowers from everywhere.”

Yu-ha smiled softly.

“What was she like as a child?”

“What was she like? A total rascal. Worse than the boys. She was the leader of the neighborhood kids—fearless, too. She’d even smack the boys around. And in the middle of all that, she’d still make time to pick flowers.”

“So she’s been extraordinary since childhood.”

“Extraordinary indeed. That spirit is why she can run a guesthouse all by herself. If she wished, she could marry into a good family and live comfortably…”

Yuk-ho trailed off. He had long regarded Dan-o with the affection of a daughter.

“I heard she has no intention of marrying.”

“Do you think she truly has none? If she marries, there’d be no one to look after Ihwawon—that’s why she refuses. Instead…”

Yuk-ho looked Yu-ha over carefully.

“Once you pass the state exam, you should marry Dan-o. The two of you could run Ihwawon together. What do you think?”

“Pardon?”

Yuk-ho burst into laughter.

“I’m joking, just joking.”

Laughing heartily, he rose from his seat.

“Yu-ha.”

“Mm?”

“Your face is red—like an eighteen-year-old maiden’s cheeks.”

“What are you talking about!”

As Yu-ha sprang up and left, Si-yeol snickered with amusement and picked up a piece of taffy.

“San, here. Have some.”

But as Si-yeol held it out, his gaze lingered on San’s face.

“Why do you look so sour again? At least have a big piece of taffy.”

Yet San said nothing. Without even responding, he turned and went into his room.

After a long day, night fell.

Seated before her cabinet, Dan-o now truly looked like the mistress of Ihwawon. Before her lay a thick ledger, meticulously recording the inn’s finances.

“There’s not enough money.”

She muttered, chewing lightly on the end of her brush.

The scholars’ monthly payments for lodging and meals, the income from selling the ornaments Hong-ju made, and the small earnings Dan-o occasionally received from helping at the market—those were all their sources of income.

On top of that, Ihwawon carried debt. Dan-o had to repay the money borrowed for her late father’s medical care. Naturally, their finances were always tight.

“I can’t exactly ask the brothers to pay more…”

She sighed, staring at the stubborn ledger that offered no solution.

Just then, a soft thud sounded at the door.

“Who is it?”

Dan-o opened the door.