Chapter 2-5

At Bai Shixuan’s words, Xuelan’s expression visibly darkened. Looking at her, Bai Shixuan let out a sigh.

‘If I tell her here that I don’t like her that way yet, she’ll probably cry, won’t she?’

Part of it was because they were still young, but the feelings he had toward Xuelan were not yet what he would call love. Of course, wasn’t it probably the same for her? They were only a ten-year-old boy and a fourteen-year-old girl. They were far too young to already understand love. No, in truth, when he saw how much more beautiful Xuelan had become, his heart had raced. But he still could not tell whether that meant he liked her that way.

“When we’re older and we’ve become free, if you still say then that you want to marry me, we’ll think about it.”

“Why?”

“Because we’re still young. Who knows? Later, you might meet a man who’s more impressive and better than me. So don’t make such a hasty decision.”

At Bai Shixuan’s words, Xuelan nodded with a gloomy expression. In any case, that settled the matter for now. Xuelan seemed about to say something more, but Bai Shixuan raised a hand to stop her. Then he turned his head toward the door.

-Slide

“Hoho, since when did you know?”

“For a while now.”

When Bai Shixuan said nothing and merely glanced toward the slightly open door, it soon slid open and Choryeong entered. It was not that he had sensed her presence or anything like that. He had simply heard her footsteps and the sound of the door opening, so he knew she had arrived. He had thought about speaking up to call her in, but Xuelan had been so serious that Bai Shixuan had answered her just as seriously, and he had missed the chance.

“Shixuan, you’re so cold. You don’t even know that our Xuelan waited for you every single day…….”

“That has nothing to do with this.”

“They say you’ll be punished if you hurt a woman’s heart.”

Choryeong walked over to Xuelan and pulled her against her chest as she spoke. She looked at Bai Shixuan with a teasing expression, but when she realized that his face remained serious, she cleared her throat and sat down.

“The Madam gave permission.”

“She did?”

“Aren’t you happy?”

At Bai Shixuan’s lukewarm reaction, Choryeong frowned and asked. Bai Shixuan picked up his teacup and nodded. After taking a sip, he set it down again and looked at Choryeong.

“I am happy. But the Madam really agreed?”

“The Madam is a good person. She can never just ignore pitiful children. A lot of the people here came because they had nowhere else to go, just like you. Of course, that includes me too…….”

When Choryeong said that with a smile, Bai Shixuan nodded. In truth, he had expected the Madam either to refuse, or at least to summon him and look him over personally before agreeing. He had never expected her to accept him without even seeing his face.

‘So there was a reason Xuelan liked the Madam so much.’

There was a reason for everything. After all, no matter how much someone fed you, housed you, and even paid you, if that person was unpleasant, they would still be hated. There was a reason Choryeong and Xuelan liked the Madam.

“I need to show you to your quarters.”

“All right.”

Now that he was no longer a guest but someone who worked here, he would have his own quarters. There was no need to impose on Choryeong and Xuelan’s room anymore. Bai Shixuan stood up after Choryeong and headed toward the door.

“What is it?”

Just as Bai Shixuan was about to leave the room, Xuelan grabbed his sleeve. Bai Shixuan glanced at Choryeong, who was slowly walking farther away, then looked back at Xuelan and asked. Xuelan lowered her head, her face on the verge of tears.

“I won’t change.”

“…All right.”

Would she really not change? If she dealt with many men while living here, she would surely meet plenty of handsome and capable men. Even then, would Xuelan truly remain unchanged? Bai Shixuan could not be certain. Still, he smiled and stroked her hair.

“If that’s how it turns out, then let’s get married.”

“Okay!”

At Bai Shixuan’s words, Xuelan nodded happily. Bai Shixuan looked at her brightly smiling face, then turned again and walked toward Choryeong, who was waiting for him.

‘Maybe I was too hasty…….’

That thought crossed his mind, but after seeing Xuelan on the verge of tears, he had not been able to bring himself to refuse her.

“What did you talk about?”

“Nothing much.”

When Choryeong asked with a playful expression, Bai Shixuan shook his head and answered. Looking at him, Choryeong muttered, “You’re no fun,” then began leading him toward the men’s quarters. Even a pleasure house still needed men. Many of the cooks were men, and there were also plenty of men who handled miscellaneous chores.

“Oh! Isn’t that Choryeong? You’re even prettier today.”

“Shut up, idiot.”

“But who’s that kid?”

As they entered the lodging building, a man who looked to be in his early thirties spoke to Choryeong. When the man pointed at Bai Shixuan and asked, Choryeong looked at him, smiled, and pulled Bai Shixuan’s face against her chest.

“My kept man.”

“Ghk!”

“What did you say?”

The man who had spoken was not the only one to react. The men who had been chopping firewood or doing various other chores all shouted and came rushing over. Then they stared at Bai Shixuan with dumbfounded expressions.

“He’s still a kid!”

“That’s a crime, a crime.”

“I’m going to raise him.”

As the men each tossed out a comment, Choryeong replied, still smiling.

“By the time that kid grows up, Choryeong will probably have wrinkles all over her face…….”

“She’ll be an old hag by then…….”

The men who had been mocking Choryeong instantly shut their mouths. They had seen her expression turn ice-cold.

“All right, all right, back to work.”

“Ah, right. Mister’s in his room.”

The men cleared their throats and began scattering in every direction. Only then was Bai Shixuan finally able to free his face from Choryeong’s chest. His breathing had been a little obstructed, but thinking that it had still felt rather pleasant, Bai Shixuan entered the building with Choryeong. The building was structured much like an inn. There was a dining hall on the first floor and stairs leading to the second. It seemed the rooms began from the second floor. Choryeong headed toward the stairs with practiced ease, and Shixuan followed behind her and began climbing.