A Tale Of A Scribe Who Retires To The Countryside [EN]: Chapter 228

228. Hwasa’s Sunlight

Hwasa opened her eyes and saw the familiar sight of her own chambers.

‘Ah.’

Realizing where she was, Hwasa finally relaxed, a faint smile touching her lips.

‘That ice block [referring to Geomhui’s stoic demeanor] must have succeeded.’

Seeing that she was awake and well, it was clear that Geomhui had stopped her.

‘Hoo.’

Hwasa took a light breath and closed her eyes. Now that the danger was over, she felt at peace.

After a moment of relief, Hwasa opened her eyes again.

‘So, is it… the third one now?’

First, there was No Gun, and then Talhondo. They had protected Hwasa, and even after seeing her terrible form, they didn’t shun or try to kill her.

They were among the few people in the world Hwasa could open her heart to. That meaningful number had now increased to three.

‘Let’s see.’

Rustle.

Hwasa turned onto her side, lost in thought. She unconsciously pulled the blanket that had slipped down, covering herself up to her neck.

‘They say that having three beneficial friends is a sign of good character, so I must be a person of great virtue now.’

*Ikja Samu* [益者三友, literally “three beneficial friends”] refers to the three qualities of helpful friends, not the number of friends one has.

However, Hwasa felt proud of herself for even remembering such difficult characters [referring to the Chinese characters used to write the phrase].

“Hehe.”

Hwasa giggled without realizing it and tossed about again.

For some reason, she didn’t want to get out of bed. She felt relaxed and comfortable and wanted to stay like this, lazing around.

‘Come to think of it, I feel unusually good this time?’

The splitting headache and the unpleasant lethargy that made it impossible to move even a finger were gone.

It was such a rare occurrence for her that she almost regretted getting up.

Hwasa closed her eyes again, pulling the blanket back up to her shoulders as it slipped down once more.

Rustle.

‘Warm.’

A pleasant warmth enveloped her shoulders again. It was a world of difference from the bone-chilling cold she always felt, no matter how thick the blanket.

‘It’s like, I’m…’

Hwasa, who was about to drift back into a hazy sleep, suddenly opened her eyes at a thought that flashed through her mind. She immediately sat up.

Rustle.

The blanket covering Hwasa slipped down, revealing her upper body clad only in undergarments.

But that wasn’t important to Hwasa right now.

“Could it be.”

With startled eyes, Hwasa tried to stir up her inner energy. Her pupils trembled wildly, as if in disbelief.

Click.

The door opened. Hwasa looked up. It was Geomhui who entered.

“You, what on earth…”

Hwasa asked Geomhui with a trembling voice but couldn’t finish her sentence.

“As promised, I stopped you,” Geomhui said with an expressionless face.

“But the one who healed you is someone else.”

“Someone… else?”

Geomhui nodded very slightly. Then, she turned her head and nudged the door open.

As if it were a signal, someone entered the room. The young man in scholar’s attire was none other than Son Bin.

“You’re awake… Ugh.”

Son Bin, who had entered the room with a smile, was startled and quickly turned his head. Jeok Sehwa, who followed behind, said with a surprised expression.

“Young Lady Hwasa! Your clothes…”

“Clothes?”

Hwasa inadvertently looked down at herself, and her face flushed. She was exposing her upper body, clad only in undergarments.

Her voluptuous and seductive figure was briefly revealed to Son Bin’s eyes.

Thump.

Hwasa quickly covered herself with the blanket, and Jeok Sehwa quickly pushed Son Bin out and closed the door.

“I, I’m sorry…”

Thud.

Son Bin’s unfinished apology was cut off as the door closed. Hwasa shouted at Geomhui with a reddened face.

“Hey, you! How can you let just anyone in here!”

“It’s not just anyone. It’s Young Master Son.”

Geomhui replied with an expressionless face. But to Hwasa, it was just a play on words.

“You stupid ice block…”

Hwasa was about to shout in embarrassment and bewilderment, but Geomhui’s calm voice continued.

“He healed you.”

Hwasa, who was about to say something, stopped.

“What, what did you say just now?”

Hwasa’s expression was stiff as she asked again.

“It’s true,” Jeok Sehwa said with a gentle smile.

“Young Master Son healed Young Lady Hwasa. And Geomhui took on the most difficult part of the treatment.”

Jeok Sehwa turned her head and looked at Geomhui with warm eyes. But Geomhui didn’t move, as if she didn’t know anything about it.

“Healed… me?”

Hwasa muttered, as if in a daze.

It was an unbelievable word. A story that didn’t feel real at all, even as she repeated it to herself.

But her whole body was telling her. The pain that seemed like it would never end, the terrible coldness, were no longer there for her.

“Yes,” Geomhui said in a calm voice.

“Now you don’t have to become a crazy woman. You don’t need men anymore either.”

A tear ran down Hwasa’s cheek.

“You idiot,” Hwasa said, sobbing. Her face, as she looked at Geomhui, seemed to be crying and laughing at the same time. But one thing was clear.

“But I still need a good man…”

Hwasa’s eyes, as she spoke through tears, were clearer and more beautiful than ever.

Click.

Suddenly, the door opened. Hwasa was startled, thinking that Son Bin had come in again. But the person who entered was someone completely different.

“Sister!”

A small girl’s voice. It was Aeng-aeng and Soso who had entered.

“Sister!”

Aeng-aeng, who had a surprised look on her face, soon became tearful and ran to Hwasa.

Thump.

Aeng-aeng almost threw herself at Hwasa. Then, she immediately burst into tears.

“Hic, sister.”

Hwasa patted the small Aeng-aeng in her arms. Meanwhile, Soso walked up to the bed with small steps and looked up at Hwasa.

“Sister, are you very sick? Did you cry?”

“No.”

Hwasa shook her head. But the tears flowing down her cheeks didn’t stop.

“I’m okay now.”

Hwasa said to Soso, shedding tears.

“Now… I’m really okay.”

At that sight, Jeok Sehwa felt her nose tingle without realizing it. At that moment, even Geomhui stood still without saying anything.

∴

Son Bin was chased out of Dang Wora’s mansion, where Hwasa’s residence was located, all the way to the Seowon [a private academy in Korea during the Joseon Dynasty].

To be precise, he had half-escaped. It was because he couldn’t bear the gazes of Sa Su-yeon and Dang Wora, who were standing outside.

“That’s your fault,” No Gun said in a serious tone, holding a teacup.

“Even if it was a mistake, to see a maiden’s naked body, it’s truly envi… no, it’s a shameless act.”

No Gun quickly changed his words at Dang Un-yeong’s glare. But Son Bin had a lot to say.

“That’s… no, it’s not.”

He wanted to say that it was just a mistake, that he didn’t see much, and that she was wearing underwear.

But he knew that saying such things would only bring more criticism. Besides, it was true that he had seen it, so Son Bin had to swallow his words.

“Wahahahaha.”

“Kyaak.”

In the yard, the five children and the Seowon kids were running around playing.

Contrary to his worries, the Seowon kids quickly became friends with the five children.

Perhaps it was because Jang-ah, who had woken up from a nap, muttered ‘pretty’ when she saw the five children’s hair color.

Thanks to that, the five children, wearing ordinary clothes, were running around the Seowon with the kids. Of course, Seo-rin was always at the center of it.

“Is your arm okay?”

Old Madam Dang Un-yeong asked Son Bin, who was watching the children with a pleased smile.

Old Madam Dang Un-yeong handed Son Bin a warm cup of tea. Son Bin bowed his head to express his gratitude and accepted the tea.

“Yes, it’s fine. The Divine Physician took care of me.”

Son Bin’s left arm was wrapped in a clean cloth.

“That’s a relief. But I heard that you went through even worse in the Northern Sea, so why did you get hurt so badly this time? Is it because you’re not feeling well?”

Son Bin smiled at Dang Un-yeong’s worried words.

“It’s because the opponent was mediocre.”

No Gun answered. Dang Un-yeong looked at No Gun as if asking what he meant. But No Gun didn’t seem to want to explain further.

“But the Seowon has really improved.”

Son Bin said, holding his teacup and looking around the Seowon.

The building and layout itself hadn’t changed much. But planting a lot of trees made the atmosphere much cozier and more comfortable.

The detached house in the back was almost invisible behind the trees, and the barren yard where the children used to run around now looked like a decent garden.

“Is it okay? I feel like I’ve touched things without the owner’s permission…”

“Not at all,” Son Bin shook his head at Dang Un-yeong’s cautious words.

“No Gun is like family to me, so you don’t need to ask for permission separately.”

Son Bin’s voice contained his sincerity. No Gun, who was next to him, coughed for no reason and hid his expression.

Old Madam Dang Un-yeong smiled.

“Then I’m also part of your family now. Please take care of me in the future.”

The elegant old woman with white hair bowed her head. Son Bin also smiled and bowed his head.

“I’m the one who should be saying that.”

Step, step.

Son Bin turned his head at the sound of footsteps. Just in time, Jeok Sehwa was entering the Seowon.

Sa Su-yeon, Dang Wora, and Geomhui followed behind her, and Hwasa entered the Seowon, holding Soso and Aeng-aeng’s hands and smiling.

Soso and Aeng-aeng immediately ran to the kids, and Son Bin offered them seats.

“Are you feeling better now?”

Son Bin asked, offering Hwasa a seat as well. Hwasa’s face turned slightly red, but she pretended to be nonchalant.

“I’m fine. That much exposure is something I do all the time…”

Hwasa realized she had made a mistake. He was asking if she was feeling better, but she had answered wrong.

She glanced at Son Bin and saw that he was also embarrassed and couldn’t make eye contact with her.

“Woah, what do you want?”

Hwasa suddenly said in a strong tone. She didn’t sit in the seat Son Bin had offered and raised her head, staring straight at Son Bin.

“Tell me. Whatever it is, this older sister will do it for you.”

She stuck out her chest as if she was going to be confident, but thanks to that, Son Bin’s gaze inadvertently went to Hwasa’s chest.

“N, nothing weird!”

Hwasa, who couldn’t miss Son Bin’s gaze, covered her chest with a reddened face.

The confident expression was gone, and it was like seeing a different person from the old her.

“Silly seductress,” Geomhui muttered in a low voice, sitting in her seat. Son Bin quickly waved his hand.

“Ah, no. This is…”

“It’s a misunderstanding,” Sa Su-yeon’s cold voice came from next to him. Son Bin turned his head and saw Sa Su-yeon’s smiling face, like a flower, staring straight at Son Bin.

“Young Lady Hwasa’s misunderstanding. Isn’t that right?”

But her eyes weren’t smiling. Son Bin was startled.

“That’s right. Please, take a seat first.”

Hwasa, who had a red face, finally looked around and coughed before sitting down.

Hwasa took the tea that Old Madam Dang Un-yeong gave her and took a few sips. A warmth she had never felt before spread through her heart.

“So this is… what it feels like.”

Hwasa muttered quietly, caressing the teacup. Then, she glanced at Son Bin’s arm, his left arm wrapped tightly in cloth.

“That, I did that, right?”

Son Bin shook his head.

“No. If you want to be precise, I brought it on myself.”

“But in the end, I did it, right?”

Hwasa turned her head towards Geomhui.

“Right?”

Geomhui nodded slightly. Hwasa looked at Son Bin again.

“So tell me. What would you like me to do for you?”

Hwasa’s eyes were more serious than ever as she asked.

The injured arm was just an excuse. Son Bin, realizing her intentions, instead asked Hwasa.

“What are you planning to do in the future?”

“In the future?”

Hwasa asked back. Son Bin nodded.

“I’m going to catch a man.”

Hwasa answered without hesitation. It was a ridiculous thing to say, but Hwasa’s eyes were shining with determination.

“There’s no reason to hesitate anymore. No matter how he comes out, I’m never going to let him go this time.”

Son Bin felt like he knew who ‘he’ was that Hwasa was talking about.

“Then please come and visit together.”

Hwasa looked at Son Bin as if wondering what he was talking about. Son Bin said in a gentle voice.

“That’s what I want.”

Hwasa’s eyes wavered.

“C, can I really come? I hurt you, and there are kids here, and I’m a very dangerous woman…”

Son Bin gave her a gentle smile as Hwasa stammered.

“The children will want to see Young Lady Hwasa.”

Hwasa was speechless for a moment. She swallowed the hot something that was rising from her heart and said.

“O, okay. If it’s just that.”

Hwasa hesitated for a moment and continued, stammering.

“Th, thank you.”

Son Bin smiled brightly at Hwasa’s sincere words. Hwasa added without realizing it at that smile.

“Oppa…”

“Yes? Oppa?”

Son Bin asked back at the unexpected title. But Hwasa was even more surprised.

“Ah, no. This is really a mi, mistake, a mistake!”

Hwasa waved her hands with all her might, her face completely red.

“Ah, yes.”

Surprisingly, Son Bin accepted the words willingly. Hwasa inwardly breathed a sigh of relief and glanced at the reactions around her.

Strangely, no one was surprised or laughing. Only Old Madam Dang Un-yeong had a puzzled expression, not knowing what was going on.

‘Hoo.’

Hwasa secretly sighed in relief. And she muttered in her heart.

‘Ugh, why did the word ‘oppa’ come out all of a sudden?’

No matter how she thought about it, she couldn’t understand it. Doesn’t this look like she’s openly flirting?

Anyway, thinking that it was a relief that no one was misunderstanding, Hwasa turned her head and looked at the children playing.

“Kyahaha.”

“Heeheehee.”

The children’s laughter never stopped, as if they were having so much fun. A natural smile bloomed on Hwasa’s face as she watched.

Click.

The Divine Physician came out of the room with the sound of the door opening. He saw Hwasa and asked abruptly.

“You’ve come. Are you feeling well?”

Hwasa stood up from her seat. And she bowed politely.

“I heard you took care of me. I’ll never forget this grace. Hohoho.”

Hwasa’s face was proud, as if she was boasting. Just looking at her expression, it was hard to tell whether she was grateful or showing off.

The Divine Physician frowned slightly, wondering what this meant, but Geomhui, who was sitting down, asked.

“Do you know how to write the character *nan* (難) in *baekgolnanmang* (百骨難忘) [an idiom meaning ‘I will never forget your kindness, even if my bones turn to dust’]?”

Hwasa’s proud expression faltered slightly. Hwasa pouted her lips and grumbled softly.

“You bad girl, why pick the hardest one instead of the easy ones…”

There was no one who couldn’t hear that sound.

Son Bin and Sa Su-yeon laughed awkwardly, and even Jeok Sehwa was now wearing a bitter smile. Geomhui herself was still indifferent, but Hwasa could tell. That she was openly mocking her.

“Th, this!”

Hwasa’s temper seemed like it would explode at any moment.

But no one was afraid of her. They just avoided her gaze with awkward smiles.

The same was true for the children running around in the yard. No one was looking at Hwasa’s face, and no one was hiding or evacuating the children.

“You, I’ll get you later.”

Geomhui didn’t even pretend to hear, and Hwasa was still not in a good mood.

But one thing was clear.

No one here was looking at Hwasa’s face. Here, she was just ordinary, and everyone accepted Hwasa as a matter of course.

“Tch.”

Hwasa turned her head, grumbling as if on purpose. It was because she had to hide her red eyes, which were welling up with tears.

The warm morning sunlight was gently caressing Hwasa’s shoulders.