CHAPTER 52………………………………………………..
Rian openly scrutinized Chohee. She wore a smile, but her eyes were laced with caution.
Chohee responded calmly.
“I’m looking for medicine to treat the wound. Painkillers as well.”
“If you need painkillers too, the wound must be quite deep. Tell me exactly what kind of wound it is.”
“Well…”
It seemed unlikely that Rian would relay her words to the police, but it didn’t hurt to be cautious.
“I accidentally cut my side with a knife. It happened while I was cooking and made a mistake…”
Chohee revealed part of the truth.
If she said it was just a fall, the pharmacist might give her inappropriate medicine, so she mentioned the knife—but added “while cooking” to emphasize it wasn’t intentional.
Rian’s eyes narrowed slightly at Chohee’s words.
“Bokhee got hurt?”
“No, not me. My husband.”
Technically, calling him her husband wasn’t entirely false.
Rian frowned in displeasure at Chohee’s answer.
Had she been caught lying?
Chohee pressed her lips together in anxiety.
But what came from Rian was unexpected.
“Bokhee, don’t misunderstand me. Are you experiencing domestic violence?”
“Huh? Ah, no!”
Chohee raised both hands to deny it. Domestic violence? Ridiculous!
Fortunately, Rian seemed to believe Chohee’s firm denial, and she exhaled in relief.
“Good. If it had been domestic violence, I would have told you to grab your husband immediately.”
“It’s nothing like that.”
“Was it an accident while cooking with a knife?”
“More than brushing—it went in a little.”
Rian’s frown deepened further.
It’s one thing to brush against a knife while cooking, but a stab to the side isn’t common. Her suspicion was natural.
But Chohee stood upright, composed and confident. Seeing this, Rian’s doubtful gaze soon softened.
“William, come here.”
Rian beckoned the pharmacist over. When he approached, she drew a knife from her side.
Her movements were so fast there was no time to be startled.
Rian immediately gestured as if stabbing her own side with the knife.
“Like this—you were stabbed, right, William? Okay?”
[Ugh, Rita. Please, don’t start wielding knives in my pharmacy.]
“Understood? If you understand, go quickly. We have medicine to sell, right?”
[Whatever she’s saying… okay, got it.]
The pharmacist, startled by Rian’s demonstration, nodded in understanding. Chohee was also surprised by Rian’s unexpected action, but she maintained a calm exterior.
The way Rian handled the weapon wasn’t ordinary. If she panicked here, it felt like the blade might suddenly turn toward her.
After hearing Rian, the pharmacist moved behind the counter to prepare the proper medicine.
Left alone, an awkward silence fell between Chohee and Rian. Chohee quickly tried to break it.
“Rian, I heard your English name is ‘Rita’?”
“Something like that. How about you, Bokhee? Do you have an English name?”
“I… don’t.”
Chohee skirted the truth; she couldn’t casually give her real name, ‘Lucia.’
“That’s a pity. It can be useful to have one, especially in a place with many foreigners these days.”
“Thank you for the advice. Oh, by the way, Rian, you also work for a British company like Mr. Moonkyu, right?”
Rian nodded at Chohee’s remark.
“Our company also supplies pharmaceuticals, so I occasionally stop by. Today, I was lucky to find the medicine I needed.”
Rian unconsciously twirled the knife before sheathed it, exuding charisma. Chohee unconsciously swallowed hard.
“Being stabbed must hurt. The sutures should be done properly. Pain will flare up at night, so taking painkillers right before bed would be best.”
Rian rambled on, oblivious to Chohee’s fear.
“You know your stuff well,” Chohee commented.
“As if I’ve been stabbed myself…”
“I haven’t, but I know people around me who’ve been stabbed or shot,” Rian said casually, as if reading Chohee’s thoughts.
Chohee swallowed hard. Did she just hear “shot”?
Rian hadn’t mentioned a gun before—he brought it up first. Chohee quickly seized the chance to ask the questions she had wanted to.
“Would it hurt a lot if someone got shot?”
“Of course. Skin is torn the same way. But a gunshot delivers a quick, concentrated strike, so the pain is sudden. A knife hurts more slowly, gradually heating through the body. Your organs feel like they’re being seared—”
Chohee’s face turned pale at the vivid description.
She had only imagined pain vaguely, but hearing it so directly made her feel Doun’s pain herself.
Seeing Chohee’s face, Rian quickly changed the subject.
“Oops, I spoke too harshly. Your husband should be fine.”
“Then… what can I do by his side?”
“Other than staying with him, nothing. You can’t absorb the pain for him either.”
Being by his side, Chohee could do. That was her plan until Doun fully recovered.
[Prescription completed.]
The pharmacist returned with the medicines. Chohee took them with trembling hands and thanked him.
As she was about to leave, Rian stopped her.
“Bokhee. If your husband ever has trouble, come to our company.”
“Your company?”
“We also handle strong painkillers not available in pharmacies. If needed.”
“Thank you. If I ever need it… I’ll come.”
“Even if you don’t need it, come by. I saw your English is quite good. We happen to need an interpreter.”
Same as what Moonkyu said. Why do they keep looking for interpreters?
Previously she politely declined, but now her interest was piqued.
With Rian and Moonkyu’s help, and once things with Doun were resolved, working there might not be a bad idea.
If the information from Mrs. Minamoto was useful, further intelligence gathering wasn’t necessary.
Then the contract as a “married couple” would expire…
Of course, she would stay by Doun’s side until he healed, but afterward?
She would have no reason to remain with him. She wished he would ask her to stay, but would he?
Chohee couldn’t leave Sinuiju yet—she was supposed to meet her brother here.
Yet Doun might prefer she leave after the contract.
Everyone had their own circumstances; opinions could differ.
The safest course was to stay at Doun’s house unnoticed, even after the contract ended.
But if he wants me to leave…
Then finding a new job wouldn’t be a bad idea.
Leaving would at least help me move on from this unrequited love.
Loving someone who already has a beloved is the most miserable thing.
With these thoughts, Chohee nodded lightly.
“Understood. I’ll stop by next time.”
She hurried off toward Gwang-an Beach.
Back home, Chohee went to the main bedroom.
Fortunately, Doun was asleep when she returned.
As she entered, he slowly opened his eyes, sensing her presence.
“…Where did you go?”
“I went to the pharmacy. I thought the medicine we had here wouldn’t be enough.”
“You went out unnecessarily—dangerous alone?”
Doun sat up with strength that didn’t betray his injury.
Startled, Chohee pushed his shoulder to lay him back down.
“Don’t get up! What if it hurts more suddenly?”
“There must have been police outside. Why did you go alone? Aren’t you afraid of them?”
“Then should I drag you out, Doun? No matter how much I dislike the police, I’m not that reckless.”
Chohee replied firmly. Doun sighed, running his hand across his face.
“…Next time, we go together.”
“After you recover.”
She hesitated briefly, needing to roll up his clothes to apply the new medicine.
Suddenly, she became conscious of Doun’s body sitting close to her.
But she couldn’t coldly leave him to apply it himself. He was fine physically, yet she couldn’t ignore him because of her emotions.
“Could you lift your clothes a bit?”
She spoke calmly, as if suggesting a casual task.
Doun raised an eyebrow.
“Not like yesterday, you’ll do it yourself?”
“That was yesterday, I was distracted—your arm is fine!”
“Hm… understood.”
He looked puzzled, almost wistful, then reluctantly lifted his shirt, revealing the wound on his side.
“We’ll see how well the new medicine works.”
“Since I got it directly from the pharmacist, it should help. I also got stronger painkillers.”
Chohee took a deep breath and slowly applied the new medicine to Doun’s wound.
When her fingers touched his skin, goosebumps ran along his arm.
Chohee then asked about the information she’d been curious about from her previous conversation with Mrs. Minamoto.
“So, what happened to the info from Mrs. Minamoto? About the Yuha-hyeon area?”
“…Still confirming.”
“I see. If that area checks out, what happens then?”
“Then work will get busy. More with the railway department, maybe travel—”
“I mean our work.”
“Our… work?”
Doun repeated her words, confused.
“The contract. No need for further information sharing; it expires.”
“Oh, right. The contract.”
“So, when it ends, it’s better to stay out of the public eye, right? People here know me as ‘Lucia.’”
Chohee stopped speaking. At this point, Doun would normally respond, but he was strangely silent.
He seemed lost in thought, staring into the distance.
Slowly, he spoke.
“So, you’re thinking of leaving here?”
A heavy silence fell between them.
