A Tale Of A Scribe Who Retires To The Countryside [EN]: Chapter 72

72. Warmth Melts the Cold (2014.05.10.)

“This way, Miss.”

The young master of the Zhuge Family, walking ahead, smiled and guided Sa Su-yeon.

This handsome young man, dressed like a nobleman, was said to be a promising figure in the Zhuge Family.

With his outstanding looks, skills, and family background, one could easily feel the envious gazes of other young ladies when standing next to him.

However, Sa Su-yeon felt nothing. No, it wasn’t just him. Beautiful music and lovely clothes also failed to stir any emotion in her.

It was as if everything had lost its color and faded away, leaving her feeling indifferent.

“It is said that all the promising young talents from the Five Great Families will be attending the Tengwang Pavilion banquet today. I am already looking forward to their surprised faces.”

The young master of the Zhuge Family spoke with a smile, but Sa Su-yeon paid no attention. She had no interest, as if she were listening to someone else’s irrelevant affairs.

Rustle.

Sa Su-yeon quietly moved her feet and entered the Tengwang Pavilion. Inside the splendid banquet hall, soft music and the light laughter of young people flowed.

However, Sa Su-yeon did not even bother to look around the banquet hall. She simply stood there quietly, like a doll.

‘Why are those people laughing?’

The young man and woman in front of her were smiling and talking with bright expressions. What could be so enjoyable for them?

‘When was the last time I laughed?’

She tried to remember, but she couldn’t. Sa Su-yeon slowly recalled her memories.

She had laughed while heading to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. But what was the point of recalling that memory now?

‘Useless thoughts.’

Even she thought they were meaningless *japnyom* [雜念, idle thoughts]. However, all that came to her mind throughout the day were such useless thoughts.

Sa Su-yeon shook off her thoughts and stood quietly with a blank face.

Meanwhile, Sa Su-yeon’s appearance was attracting the attention of the young people filling the banquet hall.

“Who is that young lady?”

“Oh, she’s quite a beauty.”

“Judging from the fact that she is with the young master of the Zhuge Family, is she a member of the Zhuge Family?”

The beauty with an icy expression, as if sculpted from ice, was enough to captivate the young people’s attention. The young people whom Sa Su-yeon had been looking at were now glancing at her with curious eyes.

Sa Su-yeon, aware of their gazes, turned her head. It wasn’t that she particularly wanted to see anything. She simply shifted her gaze.

As she passed meaningless people with indifferent eyes, someone’s figure stood out sharply in Sa Su-yeon’s vision, like an engraving.

‘Ah!’

A young man dressed in a neat scholar’s attire. He wasn’t particularly flamboyant or uniquely dressed, but his appearance was more striking to Sa Su-yeon than anyone else.

Like the only one retaining color in a world of gray, he revealed his existence as the only person with meaning among all the meaningless people.

‘Son… Bin.’

The moment she recalled his name, something *tteugeopda* [뜨겁다, hot] surged from deep within her heart. An uncontrollable *gyeokdong* [격동, agitation] erupted from her heart, which had been as *mujeonghada* [무정하다, heartless] as if it were dead.

She thought she was no longer sad, that she was over it, but just seeing him shattered everything.

It felt as if hot tears would flow at any moment.

“Son…!”

Sa Su-yeon’s steps, which were about to head towards him without her even realizing it, stopped abruptly at the sight of another woman.

“By the way, who were you looking at? Over there?”

The voice of a cute young lady pierced Sa Su-yeon’s ears like a dagger.

“The young ladies of the Gongsun and Murong Families. Well, they are both pretty.”

The woman sitting affectionately next to Son Bin was smiling gently.

Her expression towards Son Bin was full of intimacy, just like the two people who had been laughing and talking a moment ago.

Son Bin, in response to her, was also smiling with a gentle expression.

‘Ah.’

The moment she saw that, another emotion swept through Sa Su-yeon’s heart.

Her heart ached as if stabbed by a sharp sword, and a feeling of emptiness, as if everything was over, ran through her entire body.

Just a moment ago, she felt like she could go to him in an instant, but now she couldn’t move even a single step. Only her gaze towards him remained fixed, as if nailed in place.

“No, it’s nothing. I….”

Son Bin’s voice reached her ears. It was still the same gentle and warm voice from back then.

The only person in this world who understood her sadness, and the only voice that had comforted her when she was crying.

That voice was now directed at another woman.

The splendid banquet hall faded into gray in an instant, and a murky emotion began to constrict her heart.

But she couldn’t move a single finger. She was just staring at the scene before her.

“So, which one were you looking at?”

At the chirping voice of the woman, Son Bin smiled wryly, as if embarrassed. And his gaze, as if by fate, turned towards Sa Su-yeon.

‘Ah.’

The moment their eyes met, Sa Su-yeon turned her head without even realizing it. Her face was as stiff as a stone.

∴

Clatter.

Tea spilled from the fallen teacup. The tea splashed not only on the splendid table but also on Son Bin’s newly bought clothes, but Son Bin didn’t care.

“Young Master Son?”

Jeok Se-hwa looked at him with a surprised face. But Son Bin did not answer.

Meanwhile, Sa Su-yeon turned her head with a stiff expression. Her profile, vivid in his memory. It was definitely Sa Su-yeon. Son Bin was absolutely sure he wasn’t mistaken.

Thump.

Son Bin *beoljjeok ireoseotda* [벌떡 일어섰다, jumped up]. And he strode towards Sa Su-yeon.

Step, step.

‘Miss Su-yeon!’

His heart was pounding. The figures of people in fancy clothes disappeared, and the beautiful music no longer reached his ears.

He could see nothing but her.

Thud.

Son Bin stood before her. She was right in front of him.

“Miss Su-yeon!”

Son Bin’s voice trembled as he called out.

Sa Su-yeon bit her lip. And she barely managed to turn her head to look at Son Bin. He was right before her eyes.

“It’s been… a while.”

Her voice, as she answered, also trembled slightly. Her large eyes, looking at Son Bin, were *honranseureopda* [혼란스럽다, confused] with emotions that could not be expressed.

“Miss….”

Sa Su-yeon’s eyes fluttered. Her appearance seemed so fragile and so pitiful to Son Bin.

Just like that day, so much that he couldn’t leave her alone.

The next moment, Son Bin reached out his arms towards Sa Su-yeon without hesitation. Just like that day.

Embrace.

“Gasp!”

“Oh my!”

The people watching widened their eyes in surprise. At the scene that suddenly unfolded before them, the young ladies covered their mouths with their hands, and the young men widened their eyes.

Sa Su-yeon was also surprised. The moment Son Bin’s arms reached for her, Sa Su-yeon gasped and widened her eyes.

But she didn’t avoid it. No, she couldn’t avoid it.

‘Ah.’

Whoosh.

His arms were tightly wrapped around her. The emotions that had been *honranseureopda* [혼란스럽다, confused] calmed down as if by magic, and the pain that had been constricting her heart disappeared.

She could feel the pounding of Son Bin’s heart and his body temperature slowly permeating deep into her heart.

It was a truly *ttatteuthada* [따뜻하다, warm] warmth that she had felt in a long time.

Sa Su-yeon quietly closed her eyes. She wished time would stop like this. Forgotten tears quietly *baeeo nawatda* [배어 나왔다, welled up] from between her closed eyes.

“Ahem.”

At the voice of someone who was clearly feeling unpleasant, Son Bin suddenly came to his senses. And he finally realized what he had done.

“Ah!”

Son Bin was startled and released her, stepping back.

“I, I’m sorry. I was so happy to see you that I….”

Sa Su-yeon opened her eyes. And she saw Son Bin, looking at her with a flustered expression and bowing his head.

“You’re apologizing again.”

Sa Su-yeon said with tearful eyes. A gentle smile spread across her lips.

It was a beautiful and natural smile that would make anyone who saw her fall in love.

“Have you been well?”

Sa Su-yeon said to Son Bin with a smile.

“Have you been well, Miss?”

Son Bin answered with a polite bow.

Sa Su-yeon laughed. Now that he was being so formal, it felt new, but she couldn’t help but smile, thinking that it was just like Son Bin.

“Young Master….”

“Miss.”

Someone’s voice interrupted.

Sa Su-yeon frowned slightly and turned her head. The young master of the Zhuge Family, who had guided her here, said with a smile.

“I’m very sorry to interrupt your conversation, but the Divine Physician has sent an urgent message.”

“The Divine Physician?”

“Yes, that’s right. Someone is waiting at the *sukso* [숙소, lodgings] now.”

He spoke with a polite attitude. Sa Su-yeon sighed softly.

A message from the Divine Physician could never be taken lightly. It might be a matter concerning her life.

Sa Su-yeon turned her head towards Son Bin.

“Did you also come to this Dragon-Phoenix Gathering, Young Master?”

“Yes, I did.”

Son Bin replied.

“I am temporarily staying with the Zhuge Family.”

Sa Su-yeon said with a gentle expression.

“I’ll see you again, soon.”

“Let’s go, Miss.”

The young master of the Zhuge Family urged her.

Sa Su-yeon bowed lightly towards Son Bin and headed out of the banquet hall with the young master of the Zhuge Family. Son Bin followed them out of the banquet hall.

Outside the banquet hall, a carriage was already waiting. Sa Su-yeon glanced at Son Bin and smiled before getting into the carriage.

The young master of the Zhuge Family also glanced at Son Bin, frowned, and got into the carriage.

Thud.

“Giddy up!”

Clatter, clatter.

The carriage weaved through the crowd and quickly disappeared. Son Bin couldn’t take his eyes off the carriage until it was out of sight.

“Who is she?”

Suddenly, Jeok Se-hwa’s voice was heard from behind. Son Bin turned his head.

“That was quite *tteugeopda* [뜨겁다, heated], wasn’t it?”

Jeok Se-hwa, covering her mouth and looking at Son Bin, had a playful look in her eyes. She had followed Son Bin out of the banquet hall without him noticing.

“Ah, well, that’s….”

“I saw it again. It was a very *geurim gateun* [그림 같은, picture-like] scene. No, really, it was *meotjida* [멋지다, wonderful].”

Her admiration was genuine.

The sight of an ice-cold beauty being embraced by her lover and smiling shyly was reminiscent of a scene from a story.

It was a scene that any woman would dream of, if the person doing it was someone she liked.

“But, it seems like the young master of the Zhuge Family was quite *bul쾌hada* [불쾌하다, displeased]. Young Master Zhuge *hwi* [諱, personal name]… the opponent is not very good, is he?”

Jeok Se-hwa shrugged her shoulders.

“You should be careful for a while. More than that, the banquet is still in full swing, what should we do? Would you like to go back to the banquet hall?”

She said with a smile.

“After showing such a *meotjida* [멋지다, wonderful] scene, I’m sure people will be lining up to talk to you, Young Master.”

“That… I’ll have to decline.”

Son Bin smiled wryly and shook his head. And he looked at the place where Sa Su-yeon’s carriage had disappeared.

‘Miss Sa.’

There were so many things he wanted to ask. He was worried about how she had been doing and whether her body had recovered safely.

But the carriage she was in had already disappeared, and only the splendid lights of the great city of Namchang were *banjjagida* [반짝이다, twinkling] under Son Bin’s eyes.

*

*

*

Son Bin headed to the *sukso* [숙소, lodgings] with Jeok Se-hwa. Passing through the *hwaryeohada* [화려하다, splendid] downtown of Namchang, Jeok Se-hwa spoke to Son Bin about this and that with a delighted expression.

“Oh my, they have things like this too? Look at this. Isn’t it pretty?”

“Ah, yes.”

Son Bin’s answers, filled with thoughts of Sa Su-yeon, were almost *geonseong* [건성, perfunctory]. He didn’t even look at Jeok Se-hwa.

At that *hyeongsigjeogin* [형식적인, formalistic] reaction, Jeok Se-hwa said with a slightly sulky expression.

“I know that she is pretty, but it seems like you have been *musihada* [무시하다, ignoring] me too much since earlier.”

“Yes? No, I….”

Son Bin looked at Jeok Se-hwa with a flustered expression. Jeok Se-hwa was frowning and making a *ppyoro tonghan* [뾰로통한, pouting] face.

“You’re finally looking at me now.”

“I’m sorry.”

Son Bin apologized to Jeok Se-hwa. Even if it wasn’t intentional, it was true that he had *musihada* [무시하다, ignored] her.

Jeok Se-hwa, standing neatly, smiled.

“I accept your apology. But what is your relationship with her? Lover? Fiancée? Or….”

“N, no, it’s nothing like that.”

Son Bin was startled and waved his hands. Jeok Se-hwa tilted her head.

“Then, what kind of relationship do you have?”

Son Bin’s face, which had been *nangamhada* [난감하다, embarrassed], was briefly tinged with *hoehan* [회한, regret]. As if tracing back to a long time ago, Son Bin’s gaze turned towards the distant night sky.

“We were just… companions.”

“Companions?”

Jeok Se-hwa’s eyes twinkled. It seemed that the relationship between the two was a bit unique. That only stimulated Jeok Se-hwa’s interest even more.

‘This person is quite *jaemiitda* [재미있다, interesting], isn’t he?’

What had initially sparked her interest was Eun Cho-bin’s unusual reaction.

So, she had asked him about this and that while coming to Namchang, but there was nothing that stood out. All she could tell was that he seemed *seongsilhada* [성실하다, sincere] and *ttoktteokhada* [똑똑하다, clever].

But just now, he had created a *geurim gateun* [그림 같은, picture-like] scene with such an amazing beauty, and he says that they were just companions.

He doesn’t seem like a particularly *daedanhada* [대단하다, great] man, nor does he seem like a *noryeonhada pungnyu gongja* [노련하다 풍류 공자, seasoned playboy] who plays with women’s hearts, so what’s going on?

‘Is it a family matter? Or a hidden identity or a secret of birth? Or perhaps, an impossible forbidden love?’

Jeok Se-hwa, *pyeolchimyeo* [펼치며, unfolding] her *sangsangui narae* [상상의 나래, wings of imagination], was *singgeulbeonggeul* [싱글벙글, beaming] inside. She, Jeok Se-hwa, originally liked *isanghada* [이상하다, strange] and *eongttunghada* [엉뚱하다, eccentric] things.

“I see. Then, would you mind lending me your arm for a moment?”

Rustle.

Jeok Se-hwa grabbed Son Bin’s arm.

“M, Miss.”

Son Bin was startled and stepped back. But Jeok Se-hwa did not let go of Son Bin’s arm.

“It’s too *beonjapada* [번잡하다, crowded] here. People passing by are bumping shoulders, so it’s not *gunja’s* [군자, a gentleman’s] *yeui* [예의, etiquette] to make a young lady walk alone.”

“No, such *yeui* [예의, etiquette] is….”

It was the first time he had ever heard of such *yeui* [예의, etiquette], which was not in any *gyeongjeon* [경전, classics] or *seochek* [서책, books].

But Jeok Se-hwa didn’t seem to have any intention of letting go of his arm, and her words that it was *beonjapada* [번잡하다, crowded] were not wrong. Even now, Son Bin, who had been stepping back, had almost bumped into a passing pedestrian.

“Just for a moment, just for a moment.”

At least she didn’t completely link arms with him. She was just lightly wrapping Son Bin’s arm with one hand, as she said.

‘Hoo.’

In the end, Son Bin had to give up on pulling his arm away. Jeok Se-hwa was looking at him with a playful face and smiling.