As True as a Dream

Hae-Joo has 12 years to pay off her debt.

 

In a world where it’s hard to predict the immediate future, there’s no telling what might happen in those 12 years.

 

Maybe she’ll be lucky enough to make a fortune and pay off her debt once and for all!

 

Once she let go of her impatience, she felt much better.

 

Later, when she saw the scar on Yi Ho’s neck, she was immediately interested.

 

But when she looked closer, she was surprised to see that the wound was much worse than she thought.

 

A gash. It wasn’t a cut, it looked like something had stabbed him.

 

The thought that it could be a serious injury sent a shiver down her spine.

 

She didn’t know what kind of calamity this could be to this unusually beautiful body.

 

The capricious and mean side of this man is really not to be liked, but this leather is so beautiful that there are no two like it in the world, and she can’t bear to look at it once and then look at it twice.

 “Finish your story about Guishan Dao.” 

Hae-Joo, who had been sighing inwardly while organizing the medicine chest with her head down, looked up.

 

Yi Ho fiddled with the bandage around his neck and his expression was subtle.

 “Are you uncomfortable… is it too tight?” “No. When was the last time you saw Guishan Dao?” 

Hae-Joo swallowed her doubts and obediently answered Yi Ho’s question.

 

She told him everything she could remember from the day her father brought her home.

 “What are you going to do now?” 

Yi Ho asked when she had finished.

 

Hae-Joo paused for a moment.

 

She took back the question she had asked before Yi Ho left.

 

Hae-Joo thought she should just do as she was told, but she was wrong.

 

Soon Hae-Joo’s mind was made up.

 

There were two options at this point.

 

One is to find the person who gave the paintings to Yangbu and start over.

 

The other is to investigate what happened to Yangbu during the three days he was sick with a high fever.

 

This is because Yangbu said that he got rid of the painting then.

 

Regardless of why Yangbu painted the Guishan Dao masterpiece, it was during that time that the real painting disappeared.

 

But to find out what happened, she had to go back to the village.

 

She was young and had little memory due to a high fever, so she could only rely on the memories of her neighbors.

 

She thought for a moment and then looked at Yi Ho.

 “I think I’ll start by finding out how my father got his hands on the Guishan Dao.” “Why?” 

Yi Ho asked her, his expression deepening.

 “I don’t want to know who stole the Guishan Dao, I want to find them. If the smoking house disposed of the painting during the three days my father was sick with a high fever, isn’t it right to go to the village to find out?” 

Hae-Joo was furious. Her little trick to buy time was immediately exposed.

 “I’ve just been to Gongju, so it’s hard for me to say that I’m going to take a few more days off work. It’s not even close to Gongju, and I’ll need five days to see it properly… No, I need to take a look.” 

Hae-Joo explained her position with a contrite face.

 “If I get caught and fired, how will I be able to repay my debt to Song Yue, please understand?” 

It’s good to repay favors and take responsibility.

 

But I can’t neglect my livelihood.

 

At that moment, Yi Ho opened his mouth with a gentle smile.

 “With a monthly salary of 30 yuan from Iori Motor Company and the service fee from customers, your monthly income should be around 100 yuan, right?” 

Hae-Joo had a hint of foreboding and raised her eyebrows.

 “How about I pay you this salary until you find Guishan Dao, and you just focus on this job.” “You’re serious?” “Did I look like I was joking?” 

When he laughed mockingly, she tilted her head and considered his offer.

 “…I need time to think about it. A taxi driver’s income depends on his service fee, so there are quite a few months when he earns more than 100 won. It’s hard to have a steady income.” 

Yi Ho raised his eyebrow as if to say more.

 “Besides, isn’t what you’re saying that I should quit my job as a taxi driver? I need a lot of money to find Guishan Dao, and if I stop driving, I won’t be able to use my car, so I’ll be less mobile.” “Yes. So?” “If I want to go to the village, the train fare alone is 20 yuan, plus buses, carts, and lodging… It’s going to cost a lot of money. There will also be various other expenses. I have to be grateful to the person who gives me information, so I’ll have to buy them a meal or something…” 

Hae-Joo took a look at Yi Ho.

 

He didn’t seem particularly offended or angry, but the stillness of the man’s face made her feel uneasy.

 

Lest he misunderstand, she quickly added.

 “…I’m not complaining to you, of course. I’m not asking for an advance either, but I really need the taxi job to pay for this errand.” 

Hae-Joo said pleadingly.

 

She really had a clear mind. She doesn’t want to be a jerk!

 “Didn’t you also sell jewelry? I’m sure your income isn’t just from taxis.” “I don’t make much money from jewelry.” “I heard from Mr. Hongo that your jewelry is very popular with the entertainers… jingles, earrings, rings, hairpins, dangles, brooches, pacifiers… I heard that you never make the same thing, that you can’t sell them because of their rarity and exquisiteness”. “Actually, there’s not much left after the cost of the materials.” 

The materials that entertainers want to use in their jewelry are usually high-quality jade, crystal, agate, pearls, amber, and mother-of-pearl, so the cost is high.

 “Now that you mention it, I’m curious.” 

Suddenly, Yi Ho smiled wryly and tilted his head.

 “Where is the person who said she would actively help me with my work to the best of her ability?” “Reality and fantasy collide, don’t they? My heart is full, but the reality is like this, boss, and it hurts me too.” 

Yi Ho laughed softly, almost afraid to shake his head in amusement.

 

Then he said just one word.

 “My heart is broken, Princess, and I have to go.” 

The smug grin on Hae-Joo’s face vanished in an instant.

 

She knew it wouldn’t work.

 “I really can’t afford it.” “What can I do, I can’t either and you’re the only one I can hold on to.” 

He looked at Hae-Joo with a puzzled expression as he answered one after another.

 “Boss… can I ask you a question?” 

For 5,000 yuan, she could buy five tile houses.

 

With such a large amount of money, she is seriously looking for Guishan Dao.

 

Why? What’s so beautiful about this painting?

 

Hae-Joo remembers the horror and shock she felt when she saw the painting eight years ago.

 “Why are you looking for Guishan Dao?” “Because my neck is at stake.” 

She was stunned by Yi Ho’s unexpected words and couldn’t find the words for a moment.

 “You’re joking, right?” “Unfortunately, I’m serious.” 

The slightly raised corners of his eyes held a hint of sarcasm.

 

That was it.

 

A loud sound came from outside the building.

 

Inexplicably, Hae-Joo, who had been staring at Yi Ho in fascination, snapped out of it and looked out the open door of the guest room.

 “What’s that…?” 

Not far away, the sounds of gongs, quakers, and janggu rang out in an exciting cadence.

 “Tsk, tsk, tsk. Go home for now. I’ll call you back.” 

When Hae-Joo turned around, Yi Ho had already put on his fox mask and gotten up from his seat.

 

Hae-Joo followed suit and stood in the hallway, craning her neck to look around.

 

Behind some low walls, there was a commotion on the other side of the hall, where the performance hall of the Song Yue Pavilion was located.

 

A quick question on the way out of Song Yue revealed that the curse had recently caused Song Yue’s sales to drop, and Mr. Hongo had brought in a troupe of clowns for the occasion.

 

People from the neighborhood began to flock to Song Yue when they heard that they could watch the performance while drinking soda for an admission fee of 30 won.

 

***

 

She wondered what he meant when he said that his neck was on the line in the painting.

 

It seems to mean that if she finds Guishan Dao, he will live, but why?

 

Has someone threatened to kill him because of Guishan Dao?

 

Or is it the family’s desire to find the painting?

 

Hae-Joo thought about this for the fourth day in a row.

 

Mr. Ban had called her back, but she hadn’t heard anything.

 

Is something wrong? Has the wound on his neck healed?

 

She looked at herself as if she were looking at a stone.

 “Sister, are you sleeping with your eyes open? You’ll get into trouble!” 

Hae-Joo snapped out of her thoughts and turned her face away when she saw Eun-sil waving her hand in front of her eyes.

 

Then she grabbed a mugwort rice cake from the paper bag Eun-sil’s mother had wrapped for her and popped it into her mouth.

 “Mom said you used to write poems or something evil in your nightmares, didn’t you?”Visit my Ko-fi for discounted advance chapters!!