A Night With You: Episode 3

Yeo Woon asks Dong Soo if he already wrote a poem. Dong Soo says yes with confidence. He’s confident Hwang Jin Yi will finally open her heart for him. Yeo Woon just tells him to keep calm just in case he’s rejected again by Hwang Jin Yi. Dong Soo is upset and has Yeo Woon to accompany him. Yeo Woon slightly smiles.

Flashback. Dong Soo looks blank while holding a pen and book looking for inspirations. He never even read poetry books, how he would write a poem. He didn’t think the challenge will be this difficult for him. 

While Yun Bok is busy looking for inspiration for the new painting. Even if he’s royal painter now he can’t lose the guard. Today he walks around with his teacher Danwon Kim Hong Do. They keep looking for interesting things in the market and figure how they should paint them.

The two ride horses through field and forest to reach Songdo, Jin Yi’s hometown. Suddenly a gang of bandits gets in their way. 

“Look here, no one would escape from this safely. You’ll be dead meat today!” says the leader with smirks.

But of course Dong Soo and Yeo Woon don’t afraid of them. They don’t waste time and fight off the bandits. Just a few slashes and the bandits are defeated. They run away to the hill. Dong Soo wants to go after them but Yeo Woon holds him.

“Hey, Baek Dong Soo are you forgetting your mission today?”

“Ah... ah... Okay, I understand.”

They ride their horse again and head to Songdo. It’s almost midnight when they finally reach the town. The city is unsurprisingly quiet, but the gisaeng house are still busy. The men keep entering the gate of the gisaeng house. Dong Soo looks from afar, still uneasy. But Yeo Woon pats him on the back and gives him cheers.

“Dong Soo, fighting!!” Yeo Woon cheers him before leaving to the capital.

Finally Dong Soo enters the gisaeng house. He’s uneasy and unfamiliar in this place because the men are mostly from noble class, not just commoner like him. The music from instruments ring around the house to keep the guests entertained. He asks the head mistress if Hwang Jin Yi is available tonight, but at that time Jin Yi is entertaining other customer. She asks him to wait.

Jin Yi gives a sign to let Dong Soo enter. He smiles in joy. He can’t wait to show off his poetry skill. Jin Yi lets him to write down the poem. But Dong Soo wants to say it aloud himself.

“Let me say it aloud rather than write it down, if you please. Ehmm... I’ll start my poem,” Dong Soo says in nervous.

A white-headed crow flies at night

Perches at the door

Caw-caw....

“Aa.. the crow.. ah..., “Dong Soo loses words and only mutters.

“What does it even mean?” Hwang Jin Yi asks in skeptical.

“Ohho. How can you not understand the poem?”

“Anyway you are failed. Your poem is not impressive at all,” Jin Yi says confidently.

“But..but I just started... Give me another chance!” 

Dong Soo begs him but Jin Yi won’t budge. She asks him to leave. The witty Dong Soo refuses to leave. Rather than leaving the room, he will stay in it until Jin Yi at least give him a second chance.

“I’ll give you chance, but as the deal before you have to write a poem for me first. So you stay here and write whatever in your head.”

Dong Soo asks for a pen, ink and paper and starts to write. He writes and rewrites again and again until he is frustrated by himself. Jin Yi just smiles as if she knows the outcome.

“If you can’t write the poem by tonight. Then you should just go home, Young Master. It’s almost dawn,” Jin Yi once again reminds him.

“Aa, okay. Let me finish this one!”

Dong Soo confidently writes and few minutes later he reveals his last-minute poem.

‘Ode to Old Me’

Time shouldn’t fly faster

Before dawn comes to look after

I came to you, a woman

Smiles through her dance

I kiss goodbye my old me

No longer I’m lonely

Jin Yi is impressed but tries to hide it. Dong Soo asks if it’s good enough. She’s hesitant to answer, she thinks a bit more about the poem. Still look for flaws, but the more she looks at it, the more she drawn to that ordinary poem. “For a beginner, it’s not too bad,” she thinks to herself.

While Dong Soo is already fast asleep on the floor. He even snores loudly that Jin Yi only pities him. She gives him a blanket to cover him and then leaves the room.

In Hanyang, Yun Bok also has all-nighter shift to draw a royal painting. That royal painting will be presented to Chinese Ambassador and high-ranking officers. His teacher, Kim Hong Do sleeps before him and she puts cover on him. The grand painting is almost done by now. 

Morning comes and Dong Soo wakes up because the ray of sunshine goes through the window. He reluctanly gets up and finds Jin Yi is already waiting outside the door. Dong Soo is nervous looking for her answer, but then she opens her mouth.

“Alright, you can come to me anytime.”

“Really? Oh really? Woohoo!!” Dong Soo jumps in joy like a little kid.

 “But.. then.. um, I still need to pay you?” he asks curiously.

“Of course. There’s nothing free in this world.” Jin Yi answers to the silly question.

“Alright then, I’ll make a lot of money so I can come here everyday. For now, good bye.”

Dong Soo bids farewell then leaves the gisaeng house. His footsteps are lighter than usual, he rides his horse with no rush and sings along the way. Meanwhile, the guards will start training soon at the training camp. Dong Soo’s teacher, Sa Mo, asks Yeo Woon where’s Dong Soo. Unfortunately Yeo Woon can’t lie and says he’s at gisaeng house yesterday and maybe is in his way now. Sa Mo is furious. He wants to meet Dong Soo as soon as possible. He waits at the capital gate, looking for Dong Soo. When Dong Soo comes, Sa Mo pulls his ear until he cries in pain.

“Hey, you crazy jerk! How dare you spend the night at gisaeng house?”

“Ah, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I was wrong.”

“You’re just entering the palace but act like high-ranking official. How can you even pay for a night there?”

Dong Soo then smiles widely because he remembers Jin Yi talks to him, but Sa Mo hits his head. He gives Dong Soo punishment by making him goes through extra training. Yeo Woon looks sorry for him, but can’t help anything.

A nobleman comes by to the gisaeng house. He looks for Hwang Jin Yi. She comes and greets him. He’s Kim Jung Han, Minister of Arts who usually comes to Jin Yi. He asks him if she wishes to marry him. He has already brought so many beautiful things for her and now he really wants to make her his wife. She looks troubled.

***

To be continued...

Writer: kanz

Pictures credit: as tagged, to owner