~Chapter 08~
Concealment
After finishing his class, Woo-geon returned to the lab, picking up his coat and bag.
Se-ho, standing nearby, asked with curiosity:
“Why are you packing your coat already? Are you going somewhere?”
“To Pyeongchun-gwan.”
“Oh! Today’s the day, isn’t it? The day you meet Yohwa.”
Twice a month, Woo-geon taught Yohwa Esperanto. Whenever a letter came from her, this was the usual routine.
Although he was recognized as one of the best Esperanto experts in Gyeongseong and often received requests, Woo-geon only ever taught Yohwa.
Since their meetings were at a restaurant called Pyeongchun-gwan, rumors naturally spread.
‘No matter how much you deny it, it seems like the scandal grows more because of me.’
Se-ho watched Woo-geon with a curious expression as he left.
“Will you be late?”
“Won’t take long. I’ll be back before seven.”
“Well, have dinner while you’re there then. I’ll finish the manuscript for the science journal.”
He muttered to himself, smiling suspiciously.
Woo-geon looked at him with an exasperated expression. He could easily guess what Se-ho was thinking, but he didn’t bother explaining or arguing. Whether the rumor was left unchecked or stopped, it wasn’t his concern.
“Don’t touch the manuscript. I’ll finish it myself.”
Actually, it was also a way to conceal ‘another truth.’
Woo-geon quickly left the school.
An rickshaw was waiting outside, as requested.
The driver, belonging to Pyeongchun-gwan, greeted him.
“Hello, sir.”
“Take care of me today as well.”
“Yes, don’t worry.”
The rickshaw sped off.
“Ugh, why is this so… heavy!”
So-hye struggled up the stairs of a modern café, carrying a box almost as big as herself.
She had offered to help because the waiters were busy cleaning, but the box was heavier than expected.
“You bad brothers! You knew it was heavy and still made me do it. And I’m all dressed up!”
She grumbled, determined to scold the waiters later.
The café being in the basement was suddenly a source of regret. One wrong move and she might tumble down with the box. She braced herself and continued climbing.
But near the top, her view blocked by the box, she misstepped.
Her already wobbly stance tilted dangerously.
“O-oh!”
She closed her eyes tightly, expecting to crash into something.
Crash!
The items in the box fell with a loud clatter.
And her forehead… well, not her forehead, the top of her head…
“Hm?”
So-hye tilted her head, surprised that she felt no pain, not even a tingling sensation.
Was she still falling?
Curious, she opened one eye.
And saw Hak-jae’s face, framed by fine fabric, holding her steadily.
“Meeting again, So-hye.”
Blinking in surprise, she stared at him.
His hands on her shoulders and arms around her waist held her firmly.
“Are you alright, So-hye?”
“Boss…?”
Her mind cleared as she realized she had been caught by him. She quickly stepped back.
“If it weren’t for me, you could have been seriously hurt.”
Hak-jae shivered, looking at the stairs, realizing how dangerous it was.
So-hye bowed her head.
“Thank you. You saved me.”
“I’m useful in many ways. Now, to be thorough, we should put your things back.”
Rolling up his sleeves, Hak-jae started packing the fallen items back into the box, even moving it to the side.
So-hye felt guilty.
“You’re only helping me.”
“Consider it assistance. That way I can be your hero properly.”
It was nothing for him. Seeing her again made him glad, and his teasing made her laugh lightly.
“Yes… thanks to your help, I’m alive again.”
Her bright smile caught Hak-jae’s attention.
He thought, Such a pretty smile.
And he smiled along with her.
“So I became the savior of So-hye.”
“Yes. You are my savior.”
She spoke sincerely.
“You’re a good person today too. Really, not pretending.”
Hak-jae’s eyes showed a strange gleam.
Her words, calling him a ‘good person’ twice, struck him differently. He often helped those in need, especially pretty women, so it wasn’t unusual.
But this time, it felt special.
“Promise me. You’ll always be a good person.”
The fleeting image of someone over her face made him smirk again.
“Then I have somewhere to go. Goodbye.”
“Be careful.”
“See you next time, So-hye.”
Winking, Hak-jae walked away. Soon, he stopped, but when he looked back, she was already gone.
“I’ll definitely be a good person, our Hak-jae.”
A faint memory from his childhood flickered in his mind, a beautiful memory now fading.
He looked at the café expressionlessly, then continued walking.
The rickshaw clattered into Pyeongchun-gwan’s gate.
Even though it was still early evening, the smells of food and chatter filled the courtyard.
“You’ve arrived, sir.”
“Thank you.”
The driver bowed and left.
Woo-geon stood for a moment, gazing at the building.
A modern three-story Western-style house with brick walls, glass windows, and a traditional roof.
It had 25 rooms and over a hundred staff, unusually large.
The restaurant offered royal palace dishes, Japanese, Chinese, and Western cuisine. Truly Gyeongseong’s finest.
“Ah, sir! Welcome!”
The manager, Seok-gu, greeted him warmly.
“Will you go to ‘that room’ again today?”
Woo-geon nodded, and Seok-gu led him to a side entrance.
Besides the 25 official dining rooms, there were three secret rooms.
They were reserved for powerful figures or leaders of the anti-Japanese secret group, Hanyeoldan.
Through a long underground corridor, their conversation seemed normal.
“How have you been? You haven’t come in a while.”
“I’ve been busy.”
“I understand. Research isn’t easy.”
“Just sitting, observing, and writing.”
Seok-gu chuckled, admitting his own skills were more with numbers than research.
Then he hesitated, glancing at Woo-geon.
“Ah… also, the boss is here today.”
Woo-geon’s calm expression immediately turned cold.
The ‘boss’ was the one person he disliked most here.
“After you finish, should I take you there?”
“No.”
There was no reason to meet him. All necessary information would come through Yohwa.
Seok-gu understood and didn’t press further.
They reached the secret room.
Inside, a pleasant scent filled the air. A woman stood to greet him.
Yohwa, a top geisha from Gyeongseong.
“You’re here, oppa.”
Her fitted suit and curly hair swayed with her movements. She was breathtakingly beautiful, with long lashes, a proud nose, and elegant lips.
Even facing her, Woo-geon remained detached.
“Sorry I’m late.”
“It’s alright. I know you’ve been busy.”
His gaze shifted to the food set beside her, meant for both meal and drinks.
Looking back at Yohwa, he said to Seok-gu:
“Leave the table as it is when you go.”
Yohwa’s smile faltered slightly.
“Now? It’s almost dinner…”
“Leave it.”
Seok-gu hesitated but nodded.
“Anything else you need?”
“Just tea.”
Soon, a server brought a small tea set. They sat across from each other in silence.
No greetings, no small talk. Yohwa knew he wasn’t interested.
The only thing she needed to deliver was a message from the Hanyeoldan leader.
“There’s an operation in two months.”
She handed him a sealed letter.
Woo-geon’s eyes darkened as he read it.
“An operation…”
“To assassinate Army Colonel Saito Nobuyoshi.”
Her voice was low but sharp.
The letter detailed explosives, smuggling methods, and even the names of operatives.
His eyes paused at one unfamiliar name.
“Someone from the provisional government, an expert in explosives. Not a member, only participating on the day itself to minimize risk.”
Woo-geon memorized the name and folded the letter.
Yohwa also relayed other intelligence she had gathered, overheard from high-ranking pro-Japanese officials, unaware of her true allegiance.
He listened quietly, asking only detailed questions. He didn’t touch the tea.
“Good work again.”
Woo-geon checked his watch: 30 minutes had passed.
Enough time to maintain appearances.
He put away his watch and stood.
“I must go.”
Always the same: only 30 minutes. Yohwa looked disappointed but didn’t argue.
“Won’t you rest a little more?”
“I have work to do.”
“You haven’t eaten either…”
Woo-geon gave her a look that seemed to say, Enough. That’s all.
Yohwa fell silent.
“Take care.”
“Be careful, don’t skip meals.”
Woo-geon left first.
Alone, Yohwa picked up his untouched teacup. It had long gone cold.
Its emptiness reminded her of his detached gaze.
“You didn’t see me as a geisha…”
And yet…
She looked at the teacup, her reflection trembling but quickly smoothing into a polite smile.
A tear might have formed, but her eyes remained clear.
A servant appeared, bringing her back from her thoughts.
“It’s time for guests again.”
Yohwa sipped the tea, smiled gently, and left the restaurant, careful not to show the parts of herself she didn’t want anyone to see.
The same way she had on the day they first met, when she was seventeen.
