YCHW Ch 21

“……What?”

“Would you like to check what’s inside this sachet?”

The woman untied the sachet from her waist and spoke in a suggestive tone. Just as Yoonso was about to nod, thinking it would be nice to take a look, Hwi wrapped an arm around Yoonso’s neck, pulling him back as if to restrain him.

“This boy’s curiosity surpasses that of a newborn puppy, so I worry he might cause unnecessary trouble.”

A newborn puppy for a young man about to come of age? Glaring at Hwi for the inappropriate analogy, Yoonso noticed the woman smiling meaningfully.

“To raise a lovable puppy in your arms, you’d have to endure a bit of trouble, wouldn’t you?”

“Touching something that already has an owner doesn’t usually come with ordinary effort.”

A strange silence fell between Hwi and the woman. As Yoonso instinctively glanced at Hwi, the woman clapped her hands sharply, shifting the atmosphere.

“Alright. Since I’ve had the rare chance to meet two fine gentlemen, I’ll share the intriguing story tied to this swing.”

What kind of fragrance was it, then? Recalling the scent lingering at the tip of his nose, Yoonso rubbed the bridge of his nose and locked eyes with Hwi.

“Why are you… looking at me like that?”

“You know how to play coy, don’t you? No different from a cat climbing onto the hearth.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Ignorance is the greater sin.”

As they bickered, the women near the swing gestured for them to come over quickly. Though curious about the story related to the swing, Yoonso didn’t want to linger. Still, he couldn’t coldly ignore the women, so he decided to listen briefly before moving on.

“There’s a romantic tale tied to this swing. A young girl who longed for a devoted gentleman used to ride this swing while praying. She wished for a gentleman who would look only at her for a lifetime, hoping that when she jumped off the swing and opened her eyes, she’d be in his arms. …How do you think it ended?”

Yoonso, immersed in the story, furrowed his brow at the sudden question directed at him.

“Did it really come true?”

“Yes. When she closed her eyes and jumped from the swing, she landed in a man’s arms, and the two were bound for life.”

“Oh, then this swing must have become quite a famous spot.”

Whether the story was true or not, the swing was surrounded by beautiful plum blossom trees, making it a likely romantic destination. The woman added that they were lucky to come when it wasn’t crowded, and Yoonso nodded in agreement.

“Now, give it a try.”

“What? No, I’m fine.”

“Why should being a man stop you from meeting the love of your life? Word of this swing has spread among men, and it’s popular even at midnight.”

Three women rushed forward and forced Yoonso onto the swing, leaving him no chance to resist. Sitting on the swing, Yoonso looked to Hwi for help, but Hwi merely tilted his chin as if to say, Let it happen.

“Go get caught in the arms of the one you want.”

“What, are we candidates? That’d be fun too.”

Yoonso shot a glare at Hwi for fanning the flames instead of stopping them, but it was promptly ignored. Then, two of the women pushed the swing’s ropes with force, and the seat carrying Yoonso soared through the air.

Feeling uneasy at first, Yoonso clung awkwardly to the ropes but gradually grew excited, stomping his feet to add momentum to the swing’s motion.

It was the first time he’d ridden a swing since he was very young. As he soared higher, the scenery below the hill came into view, drawing an involuntary gasp of awe. The floral scent carried by the breeze brushed pleasantly against his nose. His heart swelled, and he didn’t want to miss a single moment of the scene before him. Eyes sparkling, Yoonso savored the moment.

“Now, jump!”

At the woman’s shout, Yoonso glanced down and burst into laughter. The three women stood side by side, with Hwi at the end, and it was clear he hadn’t chosen to stand there willingly.

But Yoonso had no interest in a lifelong bond with anyone, let alone leaping into the arms of a woman much smaller than him. Feeling bad for dampening the mood but thinking it best to stop, Yoonso slowed his feet.

Strangely, though, even when he stopped moving, the swing showed no signs of slowing. Moreover, he felt something pushing at his back. Turning to look, he found—predictably—nothing. There was a breeze, but this felt stronger than that…

As the swing arced forward, his body suddenly lurched. His grip on the ropes slipped, and his body shot forward in an instant. Panicked, Yoonso shouted toward the women.

“Get out of the way!”

Unable to steady himself or plant his feet, he was doomed to crash. Curling up as tightly as he could, Yoonso squeezed his eyes shut, bracing for impact.

But his airborne body soon landed with a soft thud against something warm and solid.

His heart felt like it dropped to his stomach. He should’ve been hit with a massive jolt, but aside from his racing pulse, he was unharmed, leaving him stunned. Cautiously opening his eyes, Yoonso met Hwi’s gaze looking down at him and gasped.

“You were determined to fall into my arms, weren’t you?”

Determined? His tone was so crude, like a street ruffian, that Yoonso glared and tried to push Hwi away, but Hwi held him firmly, refusing to let go.

“Well, looks like you two will have to be bound for life.”

“That story must be true. I’ve never seen someone actually land in a gentleman’s arms before.”

“So romantic!”

The women chattered excitedly, their words perfectly in sync, and Yoonso’s face burned with embarrassment. He hadn’t seen exactly what happened when he fell, having closed his eyes, but the result was clear: he’d ended up in Hwi’s arms.

“It’s time to go.”

Hwi glanced at the women, turned, and strode away. As their farewells faded, Yoonso stayed quiet as a mouse before hesitantly speaking.

“Please put me down now.”

“Why? You went to such lengths to fall into my arms—should you leave so easily?”

“It wasn’t on purpose! Something pushed me…”

“Pushed you? Did a bird step on your back or something?”

Hwi’s dismissive reaction left Yoonso speechless. He was certain something had pushed him, but even he knew it sounded absurd, so he couldn’t argue back.

Maybe a sudden gust of wind? Regardless, he was relieved no one was hurt. Glancing at Hwi, Yoonso quietly asked, “Are you hurt or in pain anywhere?”

“A beggar pitying the heavens.”

His way of saying Don’t worry was awfully harsh. Yoonso grumbled inwardly, then took a deep breath. The plum blossom scent, perhaps because of Hwi, felt richer and cooler as it lingered at his nose, better than before.

Focused on the fragrance, Yoonso suddenly noticed his heart still pounding and clutched his chest. As he breathed deeply to calm himself, the woman’s story came to mind. A devoted, lifelong bond…

Yoonso stole a glance at Hwi, who walked steadily forward, staring ahead. It was remarkable how he carried a grown man without seeming the least bit strained. Wanting to thank him for catching him, Yoonso opened his mouth, but oddly, the words wouldn’t come.

Fiddling with his collar, Yoonso kept sneaking glances at Hwi. The pounding in his chest didn’t stop, lingering long after the moment had passed.

𓇢𓆸

A faint fishy smell wafted in, and soon a river bathed in the late afternoon sun appeared, followed by a row of houses stretching along its banks.

The houses’ exteriors were plainer and less colorful than in other regions, blending with the river’s dark hues to create an elegant atmosphere. *Suhyang.

Seeing the scenery, Yoonso felt he knew this place. He’d seen a painting capturing this village’s landscape, and it was exactly as depicted, leaving him in awe.

“It’s like a village from a painting.”

“Do you like the northern style?”

“Yes. It’s simple but deeply evocative, leaving a lasting impression.”

While the southern style was vibrant, colorful, and meticulous, the northern style was understated, with more empty space and intricate details. The southern style caught the eye at first glance, but the northern style lingered in memory.

“I like those things. Small but strong, faint but leaving a lasting mark.”

A ferry boat glided leisurely down the river’s center. Smiling, Yoonso took in the serene view before following Hwi’s steps.

“We’ll stay at the guild hall here.”

“The guild hall?”

“Yes. It’s a lodging and relay station arranged by the merchant group.”

“Oh… Is the guild hall only here? You didn’t stop at one in the larger Seonjuseong.”

“The place where you and I stayed was owned by the merchant group.”

Yoonso’s eyes widened at this new information. That the splendid inn, with its fine exterior, interior, and furnishings, belonged to Hwi’s merchant group was astonishing, leaving him speechless.

“You, sir, are truly… a man of wealth!”