Impossible Romance - Chapter 65

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

65.

The Grandmother nodded as though she understood something. The coldness that had lingered in her gaze moments before softened imperceptibly.
“No, I’ll write later. I want to open the bookstore first.”
“A bookstore? But I’m not sure there are many children on our island who read books. They strip down and jump into the water at every opportunity, or run off into the mountains.”
This time, the Grandmother tilted her head with a skeptical expression.
“Still, with the Elementary School Branch here, I think there will be children and adults interested in books. I’ll sell beverages too, so please come visit, Grandmother.”
Jun-hee’s lips curved upward quietly.
“All right. I shouldn’t curse a venture before it even starts. Just make sure you don’t fall behind on rent. Tell me if you need anything else. You know our family runs a supermarket, don’t you?”
“Yes.”
“We have everything except what we don’t have. You can source your supplies from there. I’ll give you a good price, so there’s no need to go to the mainland. Understood?”
“Yes.”
Having finished her informal background check, the Grandmother turned to leave, then turned back to Jun-hee once more.
“News travels fast in our neighborhood. Remember that. Keep your conduct upright.”
“Yes. I understand.”
Jun-hee saw the Grandmother off quietly, her final warning lingering. The yard filled once again with nothing but the sound of the sea. This quietude soothed my heart.
The yard held unpacked belongings. And now, the small bookstore I would build from here on.
Seeing the bookstore, Jun-hee’s spirits lifted, and I began organizing my things with a light heart.

***

When Seok-ha opened his eyes, the room was filled with a biting chill. For the past week, he had drifted through each day in a haze, barely aware of how time was passing.
There were days when he slept less than an hour. Eventually, today something gave way—when he opened his eyes, darkness pressed against the windows. He must have collapsed the moment he returned home after meeting people outside, falling asleep where he stood.
‘Did I turn off the boiler before sleeping?’
He ran a hand through his hair, thinking, but the truth was he had never turned it on. The Housekeeper came two or three times a week to maintain the apartment, yet it no longer felt like a place where anyone actually lived.
Since Jun-hee left, this apartment had become nothing more than a desolate place of exile.
Where on earth had she hidden herself?
He had exhausted every legal and indirect method available, yet Jun-hee had vanished without a trace. The fact that he hadn’t heard from Lee Sook-hyun or Ahn Jun-young either suggested her escape had been successful.
He went to the Kitchen for water, and his eyes fell on the empty space at the Dining Table—the seat where Jun-hee used to sit. The ache in his chest flared again as he missed her: the Jun-hee who laughed, who cried, who grew frustrated.
“Damn it.”
Harsh curses had become routine now. Every morning, he despised the cold atmosphere of this place so much he wanted to move. Yet he clung to survival on the mere possibility that one day Jun-hee might change her mind and return.
Work was no different. There were moments when the urge to abandon everything surged up violently. But he refused to show her the face of a defeated man whenever she appeared.
He would meet her in his most perfect form. Seok-ha had never once given up on her.
He opened the Refrigerator, and an ice cream container caught his eye. He remembered the nights they had eaten ice cream together while watching variety shows on television. And the kisses they had shared.
Her lips, holding ice cream, had tasted sweet.
Seok-ha pulled out the ice cream container and scraped a spoonful into his mouth. Unable to taste anything, he threw it directly into the trash.
He suddenly looked up and gazed out the window. The night streets of the city were beautiful. Especially the massive Christmas tree standing across the street, glittering with brilliant radiance.
Now that he thought about it, it was Christmas.
“Ha.”
A hollow laugh escaped Seok-ha’s lips.
It was because of the ring sitting forlornly on the Dining Table. The ring without an owner kept its lonely vigil.

***

The seasons shifted, and spring arrived in full bloom. The cherry blossoms, at their peak, looked fragile, as though they would scatter completely with the next spring rain.
Such blossoms could never enter Kwon Seok-ha’s field of vision. These days, he threw himself into work with even greater intensity. As though that alone could make me forget Jun-hee, even if only for a moment, I pushed my body to its limits instead of heeding my heart.
Han Seon-young had grown so concerned that she visited with medicinal tonics, but since Kwon Seok-ha refused to see her properly, she had no choice but to leave them with the Secretary’s Office and depart.
Every time Han Seon-young saw her son like this, she resented her past self for not holding onto Jun-hee.
“We’ve received word that Kwon Seok-jun, the division director who joined the Offshore Wind Power Project, has had meetings with government ministries.”
In the Executive Office, Hwang Manager delivered the business report, mentioning his cousin Kwon Seok-jun’s name.
“Now, of all times?”
One of Kwon Seok-ha’s eyebrows twisted with displeasure.
“Yes. It appears he’s trying to use the losses from the H Invest matter to implicate the Executive Director and gain the Chairman’s trust.”
Hwang Manager conveyed his thoughts with a composed expression.
Kwon Seok-ha shared the same assessment. Just as he had warned, the H Invest investment had ultimately become worthless. For that failure, Kwon Seok-jun had received a severe rebuke from Chairman Kwon.
Fortunately, Chairman Kwon had heeded Kwon Seok-ha’s warning and moved preemptively, so the company’s losses were minimal. As a result, Kwon Seok-ha’s standing within the company had grown even more solid.
Meanwhile, Kwon Seok-jun and his father had become increasingly uncomfortable. Sung-won Corporation, which had been providing full investment support and exchanging marriage talks related to the investment, had completely severed ties with them.
After trading accusations back and forth, the marriage talks naturally fell through. At least they hadn’t held the wedding ceremony—if they had, rumors about both families would have circulated through the securities market.
Han Seon-young had also grown quiet. She had been pressuring Kwon Seok-ha to accept blind dates, citing the wealth and influence of the in-laws as Kwon Seok-jun rose in prominence, but now that things had fallen apart, her momentum had faded.
Han Seon-young was frustrated by this golden opportunity slipping away with Jun-hee gone, but she never abandoned her habit of maintaining a steady list of potential matches, ready to present them to Kwon Seok-ha at any moment.
Just when the succession order within Seonjin Group seemed to be settling into place, Kwon Seok-jun began making moves again. He, who had been lying low at Seonjin Distribution, now set his sights on the Offshore Wind Power Project.
Offshore wind power generation—building power plants on the sea—was an eco-friendly energy business and a national strategic project. Kwon Seok-ha had understood its importance years ago and had been preparing methodically.
Soon, the government would select private sector operators, and with his advance preparations, Seonjin held a favorable position. If he secured that project rights alone, tens of trillions in profits could be realized.
Kwon Seok-jun had stepped forward to seize that prize. Despite knowing this full well, Chairman Kwon was actually encouraging competition between them, believing that mutual rivalry would produce better results.
“Let that lunatic play around doing what he does best.”
Kwon Seok-ha let out a scoff. No matter how hard Kwon Seok-jun threw himself into the fight, he was no match for me. Still, having to pay attention to Kwon Seok-jun was irritating and bothersome.
“Report everything to me, from start to finish, without missing a single detail.”
Kwon Seok-ha issued his instructions to Hwang Manager.

***

It was a beautiful day. Just days before, rain had poured relentlessly, but since yesterday the weather had turned gloriously clear, with sunlight streaming down brilliantly.
Sitting in the bookstore, I could see the sea through the large windows. On days as clear as this, the Blue Sea where it met the horizon sparkled more brilliantly than any jewel.
The bookstore was operating modestly. I had never expected to make a fortune from it anyway, so this was as anticipated. Still, it wasn’t as though I was struggling to get by.
When a small bookstore first appeared in the neighborhood, the residents’ curiosity served as excellent publicity. Teachers and children from the nearby Elementary School Branch visited frequently, and adults came as well.
I had decided to start a Reading Club with the school teachers, so the children gathered here once a week to share their thoughts on the books they had read.
The Reading Club turned out to be more popular with the children than I had anticipated. It was endearing to watch them sitting around the round dining table, each one expressing their own thoughts.
“Teacher, are there really treasure ships?”
Yun-ah, who had just started first grade, raised her hand eagerly and asked.
“Don’t be silly, where would something like that exist? It’s all made up. Teacher, I have a question too!”
Jun-seo, a fourth grader sitting beside her, chided her and looked at me.
“What is it?”
“Teacher, do you have a boyfriend?”
At the child’s bold question, all the children sitting around the table looked at me with eyes full of curiosity.

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