Chapter 164:

“This is outrageous!”

Joo Dong-mi slammed the table in annoyance.

It was one random night when she showed up with couple bottles of soju. She already seemed like she’s been drinking.

Truthfully, Lee-yeon was trying to avoid her as she kept on visiting but she couldn’t deny that Joo Dong-mi’s antics was one of the things that saved her from time to time.

But the reason she ignored her because of the person that she was reminded of when she saw Dong-mi’s uniform. Kwon Chae-woo used to wear one before.

She thought today would be another one of those days, but then Joo Dong-mi sat in front of her house and started drinking so Lee-yeon had no choice but to let her in.

The silent house soon became loud, and Lee-yeon was surprisingly alright with this.

Joo Dong-mi looked wrecked today, not for Lee-yeon, but for herself.

“How can a man just completely disappear without saying anything? Huh? Is he for real? Even animals know how important their mate is. How could he just fuck me when he likes it and just run? I should be the one running so how dare! I’m pissed!”

It sounded like it didn’t go well with the man she was seeing, Jang Beom-hee. Her point of anger seemed a little off.

“How do you think I should beat him?”

“Uh…”

Lee-yeon hesitated. Joo Dong-mi always seemed to be asking Lee-yeon about problems that she never thought of, and today wasn’t an exception.

“I know I shouldn’t be saying this, but I have quite a talent so I’m good at changing people’s taste. But how can someone just eat me up like that and run away? It should be me spitting him out if anything!”

Joo Dong-mi kept on hiccupping while being drunk.

“This can’t happen. This can’t…”

She sniffled and took a shot of soju.

“You watch. I’ll make him come and beg. No, I won’t let him come even if kneel and beg!”

Lee-yeon’s ears became red at such innuendo. Her face became quite something listening to this.

She didn’t know what to do but scratching her red cheeks. Was it because she was swayed by Joo Dong-mi’s fresh anger? She spat out as well.

“…. I also. We also broke up.”

“….!”

Joo Dong-mi froze. Her face showed astonishment.

“That worker, no, with Kwon Chae-woo?”

That Kwon Chae-woo? Joo Dong-mi looked around the empty house.

“Then he’s not here? Did he leave?”

“Yes.”

Joo Dong-mi looked like she was in shock. She wasn’t someone to quiet down so easily.

“To tell you the truth… The tree nurse warned me to never talk about Kwon Chae-woo in front of you.”

Joo Dong-mi slapped her face. Then her eyes became clearer.

“Then are you… Divorced?”

“….”

As Lee-yeon just smiled and didn’t say anything. Joo Dong-mi nodded and opened another bottle.

“You should have a drink.”

The glass filled up and was given to Lee-yeon.

In response, Lee-yeon took the shot and the smell of alcohol turned her stomach.

She frowned at the feeling of nausea. As she put down the glass, Joo Dong-mi looked at her in wonder. Lee-yeon smiled.

“I haven’t eaten much in the past few days so…”

“Ah, you were on an empty stomach? Then don’t drink it!”

Joo Dong-mi quickly took the glass and drank it herself.

“And from now on, we leave any man with strange eyes!”

Lee-yeon laughed.

There were strong people around her like this. The similarity between Choo-ja, who lived through many tragedies, and Joo Dong-mi, who would never put Lee-yeon down, was that they never fear.

It wasn’t any different from the green leaves losing colour and fall one away time, the tree will undoubtedly spring new leaves. The hole in her heart also felt natural for some reason.

“…. But can I ask why you guys broke up?” Joo Dong-mi asked. “Did you also notice? He was something else—“

“I don’t think it was a divorce.”

“Pardon?”

How could she describe fake and illusion that didn’t exist?

She mumbled to herself. “I really think it was separation by death.”

Because he no longer existed.

‘That Kwon Chae-woo’ was basically dead.”

***

“Oh my, ma’am–! Please help this poor old lady! She’s been sick since her husband passed!”

The ‘old lady tree’ that was located at the field was well known amongst the evergreen group in the entire country. They call it that because of its shape reminded them of old lady with skirt.

Ever since meeting Joo Dong-mi, Lee-yeon slowly started to take work.

She gave trees shot of vitamin and accepted a special lecture.

She opened the curtains in her home, opened the windows for circulation, and vacuumed for the first time in a while. Whatever the reason was, she started to sleep better and was able to eat too. Her ruined garden was still the same, but her legs started to have some strength.

“The branches are broken.”

A few weeks ago, the old lady tree lost its husband due to the bugs eating the leaves. Like its famous name, the evergreen tree stood strong and straight even at its death, and people planted a chestnut tree for its memory.

During all of this, the old lady tree was becoming worse so they quickly called Lee-yeon.

“It’s bark is also weak.”

Lee-yeon looked around the tree with focus.

The leaves that covered the sky were almost gone and only the weak branches were attached. It seemed like this tree was also attacked by bugs.

One of the townspeople kicked his tongue.

“I heard that the tree that lost its partner wouldn’t live—“

“That’s not true!”

Lee-yeon quickly turned her head. Even though her face was thin, there was still intelligence in her.

“I’m going to do everything I can do save it.” Her voice was surprisingly strong.

“Can you see these trees? These guys are supporting this tree. And whatever the reason, its children also hasn’t flown far away. Even though they’re only 70 years old they still have…!”

Lee-yeon suddenly stopped herself. She wasn’t even blinking nor breathing. She basically became a statue then her face started to turn pale.

“Director So?”

Choo-ja called her worryingly but Lee-yeon was still frozen.

“What’s gotten into you?”

“… Cough, cough!”

She suddenly coughed then stared at somewhere in the sky. She was coughing so hard that her neck was red.

Lee-yeon blinked fast and pressed her lips. She looked flustered while looking down at the ground.

“Lee-yeon?”

Choo-ja came to her but Lee-yeon was just puffing and didn’t say anything.

She was getting goosebumps from odd feeling she couldn’t explain.

***

Hi there! Advanced chapters are available on Patreon if you want to support the team behind these projects. Also, please consider supporting this novel by leaving a review on Novelupdates! Thank you so much.

Patreon is not compulsory. Patrons are able to read ahead, but chapters will still be released to the public at a later date. This is only one way to financially support the team and keep the site running. Thank you very much!