The Changing Streets of Hefei

“The weather is beautiful.”

“It’s quite refreshing, isn’t it, Young Master?”

“Yes, thanks to you.”

Technically, the weather was mild enough that a fan wasn’t even necessary, but having a cool breeze constantly directed my way certainly felt nice.

As I looked at the boy gently waving a feathered fan beside me and smiled, Yeo-ui’s cheeks flushed a bright crimson.

“Should I fan you a bit harder?”

“No, this is plenty.”

To think he would get this incredibly happy over a tiny bit of praise.

I let out a soft chuckle and gave a casual wave of my hand, prompting Yeo-ui’s eyebrows to instantly droop in disappointment. Wanting to quickly distract him before he could lose his spirits entirely, I smoothly brought up a different topic.

“Yeo-ui, what do you think about us going out for a light stroll today? It’s been quite a while.”

“Do you mean a travel excursion, Young Master?”

A travel excursion? The scale of his outings was entirely too grand. I immediately corrected his words.

“Sitting idly inside the banking estate has made me incredibly restless. I was simply thinking about wandering around Hefei for a bit.”

Initially, doing absolutely nothing but resting had been wonderful. However, spending nearly an entire month confined to the detached pavilion had left me completely stir-crazy. Once I became aware of the boredom, my body felt even more stiff and heavy than before.

As I stretched my arms over my head, Yeo-ui’s voice drifted over, thoroughly saturated with deep worry.

“Will you be alright?”

“And why wouldn’t I be?”

“Well… because of what happened right in front of the estate on the day we returned from our travels.”

Ah, I remembered that incident perfectly well.

As I gave a firm nod of my head, Yeo-ui’s eyes darted around nervously before he spoke in a cautious whisper.

“Ever since that day, all sorts of strange rumors have been circulating across Hefei.”

I had already anticipated as much, so it wasn’t anything surprising. Snatching the feathered fan from Yeo-ui’s grip to fan myself, I spoke casually.

“At most, the gossip is probably just about who fought whom over a lover’s quarrel. Though, I suppose they’ve also sprinkled in a few details from those ridiculous pregnancy and miscarriage rumors.”

The moment Mangeum Bank officially confirmed that my feelings for Namgung Hwi had completely evaporated, they immediately began suppressing the gossip spreading through Hefei. Even so, the fact that Yeo-ui was reacting this severely meant that despite the bank’s intense pressure, rumors regarding myself, Namgung Hwi, and Yeon Ji-oh were still actively spreading in the shadows.

“Hmm.”

Just what kind of rumor was brewing out there this time to make Yeo-ui look so incredibly awkward? Truthfully, having already survived a rumor about getting pregnant and miscarrying, I highly doubted there was anything worse left to encounter. Yes, at most, it was probably some nonsense about Yeon Ji-oh being pregnant instead.

Once I sorted through my thoughts, I realized there was absolutely no reason to lock myself indoors over a few silly rumors. Strike while the iron is hot—since we were already on the topic, I needed to put my words into immediate action.

I brushed myself off as I rose fully from my seat, making my intentions completely clear to Yeo-ui.

“Let’s get ready to head out.”

“Right now, Young Master?”

“Yes.”

If I lingered in hesitation here, this outing would undoubtedly go down the drain. Setting aside the fact that my mind might waver from everyone trying to talk me out of it, I knew I would simply grow lazy and give up entirely.

However, entirely distinct from my firm resolve, Yeo-ui appeared completely displeased with the choice. Looking up at me with a face that seemed to harbor a mountain of unsaid words, deep anxiety once again settled into his features. Then, he uttered something completely unexpected.

“The fatigue from your long journey hasn’t even fully cleared yet. Your constitution is already so incredibly fragile, Young Master. If you overexert yourself and fall ill, everyone will be absolutely heartbroken.”

“What?”

Look at this little fellow. He was actually bringing up the family just to block me from stepping foot outside the doors. It was an incredibly clever piece of manipulation, but I didn’t find it entirely distasteful.

I let out a hollow laugh.

“Are you genuinely that worried I’ll fall ill?”

“Yes! Whenever you get sick, you end up confined to your bed for ages, Young Master. It breaks my heart to see you suffering.”

The moment I played along with his tune, he turned up the dial on his worried act even further. No, scratch that—looking at his drooping eyes, it seemed he actually was genuinely terrified for my health.

Watching his distressed expression, I instantly offered a solution to alleviate his fears.

“I intend to tour the city from the comfort of a carriage, so you don’t have to worry yourself to this extreme extent.”

“…Are you absolutely promising me? You won’t suddenly jump out of the carriage to run around like you did before, will you?”

“I promise.”

The incident Yeo-ui was referring to had occurred right at the start of our travels, not long after I had successfully completed the main quest. Overjoyed by the realization that I was finally a free man, I had moved around entirely too wildly and ended up completely passing out from exhaustion.

Despite my explicit assurance that I had absolutely no intention of repeating that disaster, Yeo-ui merely maintained a highly skeptical expression.

Wasting any more breath felt entirely useless; he clearly wasn’t going to believe me. I cut off the conversation and delivered a direct command.

“Go get the carriage ready immediately. And on your way back, make sure to inform Jin-cheong that I’m heading out.”

“…Yes, Young Master.”

The moment I gestured for him to move along, Yeo-ui reluctantly shuffled out of the pavilion. Watching his unusually sluggish movements for a brief moment, I immediately turned to call for a servant.

“I am going out, so prepare the most modest garments available.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

“And bring along three veiled hats as well.”

Although I intended to tour Hefei inside the carriage, one could never be too certain about how the day would unfold. If I grew thirsty, we might stop by a tavern, or if we chanced upon a secluded, scenic spot, we might pause to enjoy the elegant view.

“First and foremost, I need to ensure my movements are completely unrestricted.”

Yes, at the very least, if I wore a veiled hat, anyone who spotted us might guess my identity, but they would never be able to confirm it with absolute certainty. Sorting through the blueprints of my plan, I stepped decisively into the reception hall.

“Young Master, look over there!”

“…….”

“Young Master, look at that side too!”

I found myself wondering exactly where that boy went—the one who had just been aggressively dragging my family into the conversation to stop me from leaving.

Observing Yeo-ui, who was now infinitely more excited than anyone else, I shifted a deeply sympathetic gaze toward Jin-cheong, who had taken up a spot right beside him.

“Lord Cheong, did you see that?”

“…Ah, yes.”

“Wow, I really think coming out today was the absolute best decision ever!”

“I understand that there are many fascinating sights, but do not let yourself get overly distracted. Our absolute top priority is always the Young Master.”

“Of course it is! Young Master, what do you think of that object over there?”

“…Haha.”

Under normal circumstances, Yeo-ui would have instantly cowed under Jin-cheong’s stern warnings, but it seemed he was completely intoxicated by the lively streets. Because I had opened both carriage windows to let them look out, he was keeping himself incredibly busy, frantically pointing out the left window one second and the right window the next.

Brushing my fingers against the edge of my veil, I let out a soft chuckle.

“Well, it’s not bad.”

“Right? See, Lord Cheong! Even the Young Master says it’s perfectly fine.”

“…….”

Though the thick fabric of the veil completely blocked my view of Yeo-ui’s face, I didn’t need to see it to know exactly what expression he was wearing. His face was undoubtedly flushed with excitement, his eyes sparkling like bright stars.

Seeing him like that instantly lifted my own spirits. Furthermore, watching the bustling crowds outside ignited a growing desire within my own chest to step out, explore, and mingle with the people. Since Yeo-ui was already completely enchanted by the streets, I figured as long as I could smoothly coax Jin-cheong into agreeing, it would be perfectly fine.

I subtly turned to address Jin-cheong.

“Yeo-ui seems to desperately want to take a closer look at the streets, so perhaps we could explore the surrounding area for a brief moment…”

“Absolutely not!”

I had fully expected Jin-cheong to object. But when the voice of dissent actually came from Yeo-ui—the very person I thought was completely captivated by the market—I stared at him in utter astonishment.

“There are far too many people out there! It’s far too dangerous.”

“Yeo-ui’s assessment is correct. Once we arrive at a more secluded location, we shall ensure you can step outside to enjoy the fresh air for a brief moment.”

“Alright, I understand.”

Since both of them were opposing the idea to this extreme extent, I possessed absolutely no desire to stubbornly force my way out of the carriage. The moment I leaned my weight heavily back against the carriage seat, a wave of visible relief washed over both of their faces. Turning my head away from them, I cast my eyes back out the window.

“…….”

The atmosphere within Hefei had undeniably shifted from before. It wasn’t that the crowds had thinned out; rather, the merchandise displayed on the roadside stalls and the performance repertoires of the street entertainers drawing the eyes of the onlookers had definitely changed. Most notably, colorful lanterns were hanging from every single corner of the streets.

“Do they normally hang lanterns like that during this season?”

“Ah, it’s highly probable that this is your first time witnessing it, Young Master.”

“The Lantern Festival is scheduled to begin very soon. This is around the time the streets naturally begin to bustle with tourists.”

“Is that so?”

Come to think of it, I historically possessed absolutely no interest in my surrounding environment.

While I was quietly registering another firm reminder that my quest was permanently over, the striking faces of the main top and the main bottom suddenly flashed through my mind, causing my brows to furrow tightly.

“…….”

Now that I thought about it, there had been a mention of a Lantern Festival within the pages of the original novel. It was a massive event engineered specifically to deepen the romantic bond between the two main leads. When I had been an ordinary reader, watching the two of them grow infinitely closer during the festival had left my heart fluttering, but now? Whether they chose to passionately love or tear each other apart had absolutely zero relevance to my life.

Recalling Yeon Ji-oh and the Namgung Clan fools who had marched up to our estate to blatantly disregard our banking business left a thoroughly bitter taste in my mouth. Sucking in my cheeks a few times, I shifted my gaze back to the two men sitting across from me.

“Let’s head to a tavern. I need to have a cup of tea.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

Unlike before, their instantaneous response was incredibly satisfying. The exact moment I offered a nod of approval, Jin-cheong pulled firmly on the signaling rope connected to the driver. Simultaneously, the carriage began to slow its pace, before grinding to a complete halt right in the center of the road.

“I shall guide the way.”

“Good.”

After securing my permission, Jin-cheong stepped out of the carriage, and a brief moment later, the vehicle set into motion once more. After traveling a short distance, the carriage finally stopped directly in front of a grand building.

“Young Master, please disembark.”

Opening the door, Jin-cheong extended a hand toward me. Accepting his perfect escort, I stepped past the threshold of the highly luxurious establishment.

“Welcome, esteemed guests.”

“Guide us to the upper floor.”

“Right away, sir.”

At Jin-cheong’s command, the tavern master—who had briefly cast an analytical glance toward my form—bowed his waist in a deeply polite gesture. Following his guidance up to the third floor, I selected a prime seat that offered a magnificent view of the scenery outside.

“Bring us some cold tea.”

“Yes, guest.”

Having secured our order, the attendant rapidly retreated. The moment the tavern master vanished from sight, I let out a soft sigh and quietly scanned the interior of the tavern.

“There is absolutely no one here.”

If a massive festival was truly right around the corner, it was only logical that tourists flocking to Hefei would completely pack an establishment like this. Was it simply because we had arrived during an incredibly awkward hour? Or was it because the prices of this tavern were so unforgivably steep that ordinary people didn’t dare to venture up to the third floor?

Whatever the case, encountering an entirely empty floor during this specific season was nothing short of thoroughly bizarre.

Extricating my mind from the empty tables surrounding us, I naturally cast my gaze over the railing to look down at the street.

“Ah, I have instructed the driver to park the carriage a short distance away to await our return.”

“You did well.”

I hadn’t explicitly been searching for the vehicle, but hearing Jin-cheong’s explanation instantly put my mind at ease. Although I had requested the most modest carriage available to ensure a thoroughly normal outing, the sheer nature of Mangeum Bank made it impossible to entirely strip away the luxury of our vehicles. Leaving it parked directly in front of the building for an extended period would have been equivalent to loudly advertising to the entire world that someone from Mangeum Bank was currently inside.

I spent a brief moment quietly observing the ordinary citizens walking to and fro on the main road, but as I took in the unusually desolate state of the streets, a sharp note of strangeness suddenly pricked at my senses.