Impossible Romance - Chapter 64

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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64.

“Why us? Why don’t you give up that pathetic business of yours and go do manual labor somewhere!”
Lee Sook-hyun, infuriated by Kwon Seok-ha’s attitude, lashed out in exasperation.
“Mom took more than half of the Executive Director’s money, and yet you say that? What did you do with all that money?”
Ahn Jun-young shot back with a resentful expression.
“That’s none of your business. But seriously, do you have any news about Jun-hee? We’re family—isn’t there some way to find out? You could just go to the Community Service Center and ask using her resident registration number.”
Lee Sook-hyun, having squandered her own share of the money, deflected the conversation instead of answering.
“It seems Jun-hee filed something at the court claiming she suffered damages from our family. That girl—who knows when she gathered all that evidence. She’s ruthless, I tell you.”
Ahn Jun-young shook his head in disbelief.
“A verdict shouldn’t come down easily, right? Are you sure you got the facts straight?”
“That’s exactly why I’m frustrated. I have no idea what kind of lawyer she hired, but we’ve ended up looking like a completely disreputable family to her. Apparently, they won’t even provide a family register inquiry without her explicit permission.”
Ahn Jun-young clicked his tongue. He’d tried to look it up the moment he received her message, but found nothing.
“Jun-hee’s really something else. How could she even think of cutting ties with Mom?”
Lee Sook-hyun, oblivious to what she’d done to Jun-hee, simply seethed with anger.
“Exactly. She even cancelled her phone number right after sending that text, so there’s no way to contact her now.”
Ahn Jun-young’s expression darkened—money troubles weighed heavily on his mind.
“Ruthless girl.”
“Where could she have gone? Should we ask around through friends?”
“Forget it. The Executive Director’s completely cut us off now too—I could see it. The coldness just dripped from him. That’s probably why Jun-hee ran away.”
Lee Sook-hyun continued the conversation with Ahn Jun-young, blaming everyone but herself.
“Still, it’s infuriating. I’ll ask around through friends. I know some people who work at the Errand Center. Once Jun-hee comes back and we sit her down in front of the Executive Director, he’ll change his mind.”
Lee Sook-hyun’s face brightened at Ahn Jun-young’s words.
“Right. That makes sense. Ask your friends to look into it. But tell them not to be rough with Jun-hee. The Executive Director needs to see her in good condition. Your friends can be pretty brutal.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll persuade them properly and bring her back. Once those friends get moving, finding Jun-hee is just a matter of time.”
Most of Ahn Jun-young’s friends were petty criminals, gangsters, or people who worked with them. He was particularly well-acquainted with the Errand Center, which specialized in finding people. For once, confidence gleamed across Ahn Jun-young’s face.

***

Sitting on the wooden bench, gazing out at the sea opened my chest like a fresh breeze. Though the salty wind brushed against my cheeks, I had never felt more at peace—except when it came to Kwon Seok-ha.
Even as I yearned for him, I had deployed every means at my disposal to escape his reach. Because if I moved carelessly, he would certainly catch me.
He seemed like a spoiled heir from a wealthy family, yet he was meticulous and flawless in everything he undertook. Nothing he set his mind to ever went wrong. That’s why this business trip was a gift from heaven.
Two months ago, I’d heard from Ahn Jun-young that Kwon Seok-ha was receiving money from him. From that moment, I prepared methodically. Four days before his return from the trip, I took a vacation. I exchanged only texts with Kwon Seok-ha, using work as an excuse. I’d even scheduled that phone number for cancellation.
Just to be safe, I booked a flight and made a same-day trip to a nearby country. The goal was to obscure my movements as much as possible. If it were Kwon Seok-ha, he’d find me through CCTV or any other means.
Or perhaps he wouldn’t even bother looking for me. From any angle, ours was a one-sided relationship.
That thought stung a little, but it was still bearable.
Kwon Seok-ha had given me an unforgettable love, and that was enough.
“Dear, you’re not uncomfortable, are you?”
The landlady suddenly appeared at the open gate, her permed hair frizzed and her colorful patterned housedress bright in the sunlight. It was Grandmother Kim, who ran the supermarket next door.
“No, hello.”
I rose from the bench where I’d been sitting.
“Have you settled in?”
The grandmother examined my belongings as if the place were her own, peering openly. My luggage seemed lighter than expected, but she craned her neck to see what might be in the shop attached to my room and what lay beyond in the yard.
“I’m working on it.”
“We’re all like family here, so make yourself comfortable. Take this.”
The grandmother, having barely turned her gaze from the shop, thrust forward a basket filled with sweet potatoes dried in the sun. It seemed like a flimsy excuse to visit.
“Thank you.”
I reached out and accepted the basket, bowing my head slightly. Since this was an unfamiliar neighborhood, I remained cautious about everything.
Before coming here, I’d harbored both fantasies and prejudices about island villages. Beautiful scenery and warm-hearted people existed alongside the rejection of outsiders and various incidents.
The grandmother’s eyes were searching, assessing me.
“What’s your name, dear?”
She asked plainly, as if she’d forgotten despite having signed the rental contract with me.
“I’m Ahn Na-yeon.”
I quietly spoke the name I’d taken. Thanks to practicing this unfamiliar name, it flowed out naturally enough that I felt relieved.
“Are your parents still living?”
“Yes.”
I nodded, my eyes widening with confusion.
“Do you have siblings? Are you an only child?”
“No. I have an older brother and a younger sibling.”
“Are you married?”
“Pardon?”
I tilted my head, trying to discern the grandmother’s intent. Then it struck me—this was what people called a background check.
“Ah, is that something you can’t discuss? Anyway, you see, ahem, you didn’t come from the mainland after causing trouble, did you? I’m not good at beating around the bush. You have a good impression and the house was vacant, so I rented it to you, but ahem, you can never really know a person’s true nature, can you? Do you understand what I’m saying?”
The grandmother sniffled before finally asking outright why I’d come here. It seemed she’d been sent as a representative of the village to investigate.
“Of course, I understand. I’m not married. And I didn’t cause any trouble.”
If this were the city, I would have snapped back angrily and walked away, but I didn’t have the courage to do that in this cramped island village.
I wanted to live quietly here, as if I barely existed.
“Well, even if you had caused trouble, no one would say I knew about it. I don’t mean anything by it, but it’s rare for a young woman like you to come alone to such a remote place.”
“Well, I….”
Jun-hee was about to respond when Grandmother cut her off and continued her own story.
“There was a bachelor who came here once before, and wouldn’t you know it—he turned out to be a murderer. He lived on this island for several years, and he was so well-behaved that everyone was fooled. But somehow he got caught, arrested by the police, and taken to the Mainland.”
“….”
“He left with handcuffs on both wrists, and it was terrifying. The whole neighborhood went absolutely mad back then! So nowadays, everyone gets caught eventually. No matter how much you try to hide it, everything comes to light.”
Grandmother, her face etched with deep wrinkles, kept her back perfectly straight as she finished what she had to say. It sounded like a warning—a caution in case Jun-hee herself harbored any hidden crimes.
“Ah, no, I’m not like that. I’m planning to write here and also run a small bookstore.”
Jun-hee answered calmly, her lips moving carefully. Running a neighborhood bookstore was true enough, but the part about writing had simply tumbled out of her mouth.
If she wasn’t careful, not just Grandmother but the entire village might mistake her for a murderer or some other criminal. She couldn’t suddenly start diving for shellfish either, and lacking any other particular skills, she’d unconsciously blurted out the dream she’d harbored as a child.

“I’m sorry. My memory is quite sharp, you see. That diary you kept is so vivid in my mind—I can still see it clearly. You were going to become a fairy tale author and win the Nobel Prize. But do they even give the Nobel Prize for fairy tales?”

And at that very moment, words she’d exchanged with Kwon Seok-ha surfaced in her mind.
It was always like this. Even though she told herself she’d left for his sake, whenever there was a gap in her thoughts, it was filled with him.
“Ah, so you’re a writer? Well, the scenery here is quite beautiful, isn’t it? It’s perfect for writing. I did wonder why such a lovely young woman came to a place like this all alone.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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