As True as a Dream Chapter 68

There was a small chance that the inn might no longer exist.

 

It had been eight years, and she had been traveling in and out of the city since she was seventeen or eighteen, but she had never heard of it.

 

Now she walks the hardwood floors of her own home, but when she lived in Gongju, she didn’t wander around unless she had to.

 

Or rather, she refrained from walking for fear of wasting money.

 

Anyway, even though she lived in a small village for the first half of her life, she didn’t know much about the city of Gongju except for the market.

 

So Hae-joo took Yi Ho to a building two streets away from the market with a sign that read “Bo Kyung Ilbo.

 

“I know this reporter from Bo Kyung Ilbo, and as far as I know, there is no one in Gongju who is as fast and as agile as this reporter. Let’s try this first, and if it doesn’t work, then…”

 

While she was talking, Hae-Joo grabbed one of the people coming in and out of the reporter’s office and asked him to call out “Reporter Lee Kyung-moon”.

 

She then stood at the entrance of the building and explained to Yi Ho why she was here.

 

“Really? Yangbu’s daughter, Hae-Joo!”

 

Hae-Joo swallowed hard at the familiar voice behind her.

 

Yi Ho had told her that this reporter knew her father, but the truth was that they didn’t have a very pleasant relationship.

 

They often argued about what wasn’t working and parted unpleasantly.

 

It would be enough to stop looking, but it didn’t happen again.

 

The journalist had worked for a few years at the Bo Kyung Ilbo in Gyeonggi Province when he was younger, and Hae-Joo can only speculate that this is where he met her father, who was rumored to be a forgery expert.

 

Since one of them is in the business of deceiving people and the other one is in the business of tracking them down and digging them up, it is not surprising that they don’t get along.

 

“How are you, Mr. Reporter?”

 

“I’m fine. How are you?” Lee Kyung-moon replied.

 

Hae-Joo, who had just turned to say hello, looked up at the tall man standing next to the reporter with an unfamiliar voice.

 

Her eyes widened.

 

“Are you Brother Yongzhou?”

 

“Yes, it’s me. I’m glad to see that you’re doing well.”

 

The young man with the glasses smiled kindly at her, a well-groomed, soft-spoken man, unlike the sharp-eyed reporter.

 

He was Lee Kyung-moon’s son, Yongzhou, who had often played with her as a child.

 

“How come Brother Yongzhou is also a reporter?”

 

Meanwhile, Yi Ho, who was standing next to her, frowned slightly when she saw Hae-Joo blushing at the sight of Yongzhou.

 

‘Brother? What brother?’

 

Yi Ho felt his stomach turn at the constant stream of friendly titles coming out of Hae-Joo’s mouth.

 

It was strange.

 

He had never eaten sour food before.

 

“How are you doing in Gyeongseong? I was thinking of going to Sogok Village soon to find out where you are in Gyeongseong.”

 

“Why?”

 

“Because I’m going to work at the Bo Gyeong Ilbo headquarters in Gyeongseong next month. I don’t know anyone there, so I thought it would be easier if I could get in touch with you.”

 

Yi Ho narrowed his eyes and stared at the man named Yongzhou.

 

Ever since Hae-Joo had recognized him, the man’s earlobes had turned a faint shade of pink.

 

There was a warmth and interest in his eyes that he couldn’t hide.

 

Seeing this, Yi Ho’s mood became more and more depressed.

 

In his long life, he had seen many men look at a woman like that.

 

Usually, it was the look and gesture of courtship, the look of fascination when they saw a woman they “liked”.

 

“Brother, will you come to Gyeongseong? If it’s the headquarters of the Bo Gyeong Ilbo, it’s on Namdaemun Tong Bank Street…”

 

“Hae-Joo, shouldn’t you introduce me to this person?”

 

In response to the irritation that suddenly rose from below, Yi Ho stepped forward and lightly hugged Hae-Joo’s shoulders.

 

Yongzhou, who had been staring at Hae-Joo the whole time, looked at him.

 

It was only when he saw the subtle hardening of Yongzhou’s face that Yi Ho’s irritation seemed to subside slightly.

 

“Before I ask you to introduce yourself, I should probably introduce myself first. I’m Ban Yi Ho, Hae-Joo’s fiance.”

 

Yi Ho smiled and spoke slowly but clearly.

 

A flicker of embarrassment crossed Yongzhou’s face.

 

“Hey, engaged? Hae-Joo, are you engaged?”

 

“Yes, I’m… engaged, haha.”

 

He doesn’t know why the woman who is usually, so damn sharp is so dumb right now.

 

‘Does she really not know, is she pretending not to know, or is she not thinking at all?’

 

Yi Ho looked at Hae-Joo, who was smiling.

 

And after that, to his great satisfaction, the man called Yongzhou spoke very little.

 

“So, you came all the way from Jingsheng to say hello to me just because you’re getting married? Is that a burden?” Lee Kyung-moon asked.

 

“Oh no, it’s nothing like that.”

 

Despite the reporter’s somewhat sarcastic and pointed tone, Hae-Joo just smiled.

 

She didn’t seem too bothered by it, as if she was used to this kind of behavior from the man she was investigating.

 

But Yi Ho saw Lee Kyung-moon’s frustrated look at Hae-Joo.

 

“What is it then?”

 

“I came to ask you a few questions about the Jiao’am Inn. It’s hard to find another person as broad-footed as you in a city.”

 

“That’s true.”

 

Kyung-moon’s face, which had been fatally turned in the other direction, slowly turned back to Hae-Joo.

 

“What do you want to know, Jiao’am Inn… it was all burned down six years ago, and you want to know why?”

 

When Kyung-moon asked if she was going to ignore it, Hae-joo smiled more warmly.

 

“No, that’s not what I’m asking, I’m trying to find someone who worked at the Jiao’am Inn around October eight years ago, and I was wondering if you could look into it for me.”

 

“Someone who worked there? Why?”

 

“My father’s friend stayed at the Jiao’am Inn at that time, and I’d like to know who he was.”

 

“Why did the acquaintance owe your father a debt and you want to take over?” Kyung-moon asked jokingly, but Hae-joo nodded seriously and smiled wryly.

 

“Yes. I’ll collect the debt.”

 

“Let’s see. I’m a little busy with work, so maybe Yongzhou can help you.”

 

While muttering, Kyung-moon suddenly slapped Yongzhou’s shoulder while standing next to him.

 

“Is that okay, brother?” Hae-joo asked and Yongzhou nodded hesitantly.

 

“Yes. I’ll help you. Can you wait a minute while I finish what I was doing inside?”

 

“Sure. Sure.”

 

Kyung-moon turned to go back into the building with Yongzhou.

 

And as Yi Ho watched this sequence of events, he vaguely understood the reason for the reporter’s contradictory attitude.

 

Lee Yongzhou clearly has unwanted feelings for Hae-Joo, and Kyung-moon knows it.

 

He’s angry at Hae-Joo for going to Gyeongseong and suddenly having a fiancé, but he’s also frustrated that it’s his son who hasn’t been able to express his feelings until now, and that he’s the one who lost out on someone he likes.

 

And when he saw his son going crazy when he realized that Hae-Joo was engaged, he might have wanted to support him, even if she had a fiancé.

 

And then, like a nail in the coffin, his father’s distant conversation rang in his ears.

 

“She’s only engaged. She’s not married yet, so what’s the big deal, man? I’ve known her since she was a child, even though your face says you run a lot. Don’t regret it later, try it now. You stuffy bastard!”

 

‘Try? Try for what?’

 

The corners of Yi Ho’s lips turned sour.

 

He couldn’t remember the last time he felt so bad for a mere mortal.

 

It was time to figure out how to make this bad feeling go away.

 

“Boss, are you feeling unwell? Would you like to go to an inn to rest first?”

 

When Yi Ho heard Hae-Joo’s voice next to him, he was stunned.

 

‘Was his discomfort just a sign of weakness in her eyes? Has he been sick in front of her too often lately?’

 

“Hae-Joo, you don’t know…”

 

Yi Ho furrowed his brow, then closed his mouth and looked back at the entrance of the building.

 

Yongzhou came out with a bag slung over his shoulder.

 

“There is a man who cleaned the inn for a long time. He worked there for seven years before it burned down, so he must have worked there during the time you mentioned. Now he works as a rickshaw puller near the market. Let’s go.”

 

Yongzhou and Hae-Joo clasped hands and laughed heartily.

 

“You figured it out already? Brother, you are amazing, aren’t you?”

 

Blushing at Hae-Joo’s flattering praise, Yongzhou excused himself with a wave of his hand.

 

“It’s not me, it’s my father, he has big feet. He looked through my old notebook and found it right away. Fortunately, I recognized his face.”

 

“So thank you, brother must be busy.”

 

“Don’t say that between us.”

 

Yongzhou looked at Hae-Joo with warm eyes and smiled affectionately.

 

‘What’s between you and her?’

 

Yi Ho swallowed his laughter and looked at Yongzhou sharply, and when Yongzhou’s eyes locked with his, he awkwardly looked away and took a leading step.

 

“Let’s go.”