CHAPTER 09………………………………………………
When Do-un stared at her as if to ask what this was, Chohee, as if it were obvious, pushed the money toward him.
“This is the leftover money after buying the textbooks.”
“…Unexpected.”
“Unexpected in what sense?”
“I thought you might have spent it all.”
“I’m not shameless like some people who recklessly spend other people’s money.”
Chohee bristled at the remark. But the man let out a small chuckle—a rare expression that didn’t feel like a mask.
Ah, it was a joke.
“Anyway, let’s begin the trial lesson.”
“Very well. But what is that?”
Do-un gestured with his chin toward the book in Chohee’s arms.
Clearing her throat, Chohee carefully placed the book on the side table.
“This will be the textbook for the lesson.”
Do-un’s gaze fell on the book, and almost immediately, his finely shaped brows crumpled in displeasure.
With no time to worry about appearances, he wore a look of utter incredulity.
“…This is the textbook?”
“Of course. There’s no better book for learning the basics of business English.”
Chohee pointed to the book with pride.
“Shall we begin the lesson with Elementary Manners for Children?”
“Are you implying I lack manners?”
“Pardon? I don’t understand what you mean.”
“Elementary Manners for Children.”
Do-un read the English title on the cover. Chohee was surprised by how fluent his pronunciation was.
“You’re asking me to learn children’s manners?”
“It’s a misunderstanding. I’m only using it to teach you the fundamentals of business English. Manners are the very foundation.”
“…Ha!”
Chohee responded clearly and assertively. If someone unaware of their relationship had overheard, they would have easily understood the back-and-forth.
Do-un’s irritation was understandable—she had deliberately chosen this book.
Chohee hadn’t forgotten what he had done on the train. She had wanted to shout at his shamelessness—he hadn’t even apologized. Moreover, he was a lecher who frequently visited Giru.
Yet at this moment, Do-un was the superior, and she was the subordinate. Unable to directly scold him, she resorted to this childish little trick with the book.
Beyond the prank, Chohee truly believed that children’s books were ideal for learning English.
Such books allowed her to learn foreign cultures more easily than adult texts. This made mastering English simpler and more effective.
The man, unaware of her true intent, was only getting angry. No wonder she found him so exasperating.
…Of course, her motives weren’t entirely pure.
The two of them glared at each other across the book in silence for a while.
Chohee broke the silence first.
“If you don’t like my method—”
“Enough. Let’s start.”
“Very well.”
With that, Chohee opened the book.
Do-un did not want to admit it, but Chohee’s approach wasn’t wrong.
At first, he had wondered why she had brought a ridiculous children’s manners book, but it contained unexpected content.
From which fork and knife to use at a formal meal, to how to greet elders politely, it was full of practical lessons for first encounters with foreigners.
Moreover, Chohee explained everything in English with ease.
She clearly seemed to want to trick him—but seeing her focus so intently now, he began to doubt it.
Do-un studied her face as she explained diligently, lips slightly pursed in concentration.
Her pale cheeks had flushed a soft red from the intensity, and a few beads of sweat dotted her forehead.
It was clear she was determined to succeed.
‘Well, that’s not a bad thing from my perspective.’
He wondered how she would react if he told her that the job wasn’t actually tutoring, but pretending to be a wife. She would probably protest the unreasonable employment.
He hadn’t anticipated her reaction to that part yet.
Do-un considered himself fairly perceptive.
Usually, he could predict the flow of conversation and anticipate what would come next. Eight times out of ten, it was predictable and often boring.
But this woman’s words were completely unpredictable.
‘Perhaps it’s because I still don’t know enough about her.’
After only a few minutes on the train, and a brief meeting three days ago, there wasn’t much to go on. It was natural that he couldn’t figure her out yet.
Do-un recalled the three-page dossier with her personal information. He had thought it sufficient to understand a person, but perhaps this time it would take a bit longer.
“Then, let’s wrap up the first lesson here.”
Do-un, lost in thought for a moment, unclasped his hands and refocused.
“How does this timing feel?”
Chohee asked, and Do-un took a pocket watch from his left pocket.
‘Two o’clock. Has it really been two hours?’
She had been there for over three hours. He closed the watch with a click, and Chohee stared blankly at him.
“So, have you decided? About hiring me—you said you’d decide after the trial lesson.”
“Ah… yes, that’s right.”
Do-un hesitated. The trial lesson had been merely an excuse to gather intelligence on her.
He didn’t actually need English tutoring. He had already studied at Japan’s top university.
Chohee, unaware of his inner thoughts, pressed him anxiously.
“Mr. Do-un, you need to tell me whether you’re hiring me so I can seek other work if needed.”
“Can I think about it a little longer?”
“Is this… because of ‘salary negotiable’?”
“Ha!”
As expected, she said something he hadn’t predicted.
Do-un let out a short deflating sound—one of those noises people make when they want to laugh but can’t show enjoyment.
“You don’t think I’d demand an outrageous amount, do you?”
“Not that—”
“I’ll pay a little more than what you would earn at the academy. Since this is private tutoring, that seems reasonable. But I won’t give too much.”
How much did he plan to offer that he was speaking so persuasively?
“Well, I can’t accept too little either… How much will you pay? 100 won?”
“Hmm…”
Her boldness in stating a number made Do-un feign contemplation, covering his rising smile with his hand.
Chohee continued, though her confidence had wavered slightly.
“95? 90? Below 85, it’s too hard for me! I have to eat, too. Don’t be so stingy when your house is grand.”
Seeing her lower her asking salary, Do-un raised his hand in surrender.
He studied her eager and tense face before speaking slowly.
“I’ll give you 500 won per month.”
“F-Five hundred—”
It was more than she expected. Chohee covered her mouth in shock.
“In return, you’ll do one more thing for me.”
Do-un finally revealed his intentions and proposed a deal.
Chohee’s heart pounded furiously. It was so loud, she thought he might hear it.
No matter—500 won!
Five times what she had imagined—she nearly shouted.
But she couldn’t immediately grab the money. With such a high amount, he was clearly asking for something else.
“What is the other task? I can at least do laundry.”
“Not laundry. There’s an English club.”
“An English club? What kind of club?”
“You know I’m a businessman, right?”
“Of course. You said so on the train—you’re in business.”
“You remember. Correct, I am involved in railway business in Sinuiju. But due to the recent explosions at Jongno Police Station and Sinuiju Station, Japanese businessmen have been strictly excluding Korean businessmen.”
Chohee had no idea why he was telling her this. Why was he taking so long to explain?
“Korean businessmen weren’t involved in the explosions, right?”
“Correct. For them, it was merely a convenient excuse.”
“Then what does this have to do with the English club?”
“Next year, the wives of Japanese businessmen will travel to London together. To prepare, they are currently holding English lessons. If you join, you can gather information on the Manchurian railway project.”
“Wait… what?”
“You would attend the club for me.”
“…Excuse me?”
So he was asking her to infiltrate a club for businessmen’s wives to collect information for his business.
He had advertised a fake English teacher position and found a suitable candidate for the job.
“Miss from Gyeongseong, doesn’t this seem suspicious? To specify a Korean woman in her mid-twenties is strange.”
Bok-i had been right.
Specifying a woman in her mid-twenties meant finding someone who could blend in with the wives.
As Chohee pieced together his intentions, she felt bewildered.
She had not come here for this purpose at all.
“So, you’re saying you want me to infiltrate the wives’ club as a spy for your business?”
“Yes, it sounds shameless, but that’s correct.”
“The premise is wrong. I am not your wife.”
“A title can be arranged. Just introduce yourself as my wife from Gyeongseong.”
Chohee’s polite refusal faltered at his audacity.
It seemed he had planned this from the moment she entered the house.
She realized she could be drawn into trouble if she wasn’t firm.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t do that. I am here to teach English, not act. If you need someone to act, why not look in Giru?”
She refused firmly, but Do-un seemed unconcerned. Leaning forward from the sofa, he closed the distance between them.
Instinctively, Chohee leaned back, but his face drew even closer.
“Regrettably, this is not a proposal.”
“Not a proposal? But isn’t this essentially refusing to hire me?”
“I’ve already discovered something.”
“What have you discovered?”
“The mastermind behind the Jongno Police Station bombing.”
Chohee tilted her head at the sudden remark.
“What do you mean?”
But the next words left her speechless.
“The person who bombed the police station was none other than your older brother, Seong Chi-hoon.”
“Th-That’s… impossible!”
A chill surged through Chohee’s entire body.
A few days ago, a group of Joseon people bombed Jongno Police Station. Everyone kept it quiet, but that morning Sinuiju Station was also blown up. Damn those little Joseon pests!
The memory of the morning her brother dragged her to the station—and the unmistakable smell of gunpowder—struck her mind with vivid clarity.
