AC! – Chapter 4

“Pardon?”

Sowon doubted her ears.

If it were true, then she had just learned a secret she was never meant to hear—but the village elders nodded along as if it were nothing.

“He’s a eunuch. A eunuch.”

At that, Grandma Eulnyeon, the oldest resident of the village, who had been quietly sipping tea throughout the meeting, lifted her head.

“Aigoo… how did a young man end up like that? A man who farms chili peppers with no chili pepper of his own—what’s he supposed to do….”

“Hyungnim¹, how many times have I told you? You’ve forgotten again. It’s not that he doesn’t have one—he’s a eunuch!”

“Mm…?”

“He’s got the pepper attached! He just can’t do a man’s part. It won’t stand up!”

“Is that so? A man’s useless except for that one thing between his legs….”

Clicking her tongue, Grandma Eulnyeon popped the chestnut she’d been fiddling with into her mouth. As the crisp crunch echoed, Sowon squeezed her eyes shut.

Ridiculous rumors were common in the city too. That so-and-so had slept with someone. That she was having an affair with a married man. That you had to step over corpses to get a promotion.

Why were people so obsessed with other people’s lives? Pressing her fingertips to her temple, Sowon tried to steady her spiraling thoughts.

“You shouldn’t talk so carelessly about someone when you’re not even sure it’s true.”

She had meant to say she would pretend she hadn’t heard any of it—but her voice came out sharper than intended, and silence fell.

Guess we slipped up.

As murmurs rippled among the elders, the village head, who had been gauging the mood, chimed in.

“It’s certain. Jongcheol saw it himself. Says it doesn’t stand at all. Completely a eunuch! Heard he doesn’t even chase women. Says he doesn’t have any libido to begin with.”

“…….”

“And we only told you ’cause we thought you might feel uncomfortable, Sowon. We didn’t go around acting like we knew anything in front of Kangju.”

“That’s right. D’you know how tight we’ve kept our lips? Only the folks gathered here know.”

“Yeah, so you shouldn’t let on to Kangju that you know either!”

“I—”

As long as that man didn’t find out she knew. The thought left her speechless. In the time she’d been away, she had forgotten too much.

Even for the countryside, could privacy really be this nonexistent? And why, among those sharing the secret, had she been included at all?

Just as she swallowed down her resolution to be more careful from now on, the headman’s booming voice rang out as he hurriedly wrapped up the meeting.

“Well then, let’s consider it decided!”

“Decided—what exactly…?”

Still visibly flustered, Sowon watched him wrinkle his nose.

“If the grandmas sit too long, their backs start hurting.”

“N—”

“Kangju’s house is just over there. Leave the community hall, head left, and you’ll see a tiled roof. You’ll recognize it right away.”

Clap, clap. Following the village head as he stood and applauded, Sowon awkwardly rose to her feet as well.

“By myself?”

“Sure, sure. Everyone’s got work to get back to. It’s the busiest time of year, ain’t it? Alright, alright—meeting adjourned!”

Saying he’d give Kangjun a call, he practically shoved her out of the hall.

Did that man even know his house had just become public property?

She hadn’t even been given the chance to refuse; before she knew it, she had accepted staying at Kangjun’s house. Adjusting her handbag on her shoulder, she tried to gather herself.

She desperately needed somewhere to stay, after all. It was a separate building, they said—and any… unfortunate incident would be impossible anyway….

“Why’s Sowon’s face lookin’ so pouty?”

The faintly heard remark was the last thing she caught before letting out a long sigh and stepping forward.

***

Drreuk, drreuk.

The wheels of her suitcase scraped across the cement, echoing at the edge of the village.

The midday sun was so fierce she could barely keep her eyes open, and the damp wind made it feel as though she’d stepped into a water tank.

Raising her hand to shade her brows, Sowon scanned her surroundings. Among houses patched together with orange and blue slate roofs, here and there stood traditional tiled roofs.

She was supposed to find Kangjun’s house among these?

Struggling along with two suitcases larger than her own body, her irritation spiked.

“What do you mean I’ll ‘recognize it right away’? Seriously.”

She peeled the sweat-damp hair off her forehead with an irritated swipe.

Even if she found it, that was another problem. How was she supposed to explain anything? The village head had said he would call, but she didn’t trust him in the slightest.

Was it really okay to just go like this? This was an inconvenience on a whole new level—but the truly awkward issue lay elsewhere.

Kangjun’s private shame, which she had learned against her will.

How was she supposed to treat him now?

Lost in that dilemma as she walked, something particularly eye-catching caught her gaze: a gleaming blue-tiled roof. Across from a house without a gate stretched a water-filled rice paddy, and beyond it, deep greenery spread as though chlorophyll were spilling into the air.

Could that be it?

She tightened her grip on the suitcase handle and quickened her pace.

The closer she got, the more certain she felt. Unlike the other houses that hadn’t changed much in ten years, this one alone felt unfamiliar.

He’s done it up incredibly well.

It was the kind of house that drew the eye again and again.

A neatly trimmed lawn stretched from the entrance to the wooden porch. Beside it, rows of earthenware jars and flowerpots stood in orderly lines, reminding her of the bottled water stacked in boxes earlier.

For some reason, even the muggy breeze felt a little cooler in front of this house.

She stepped into the yard.

“Excuse me… huh?”

Leaving her suitcase by the entrance, she cautiously looked around—then spotted a familiar car and hurried over.

The red roadster that had been gleaming at dawn now sat shoved into a corner of the yard, smeared with murky water.

“No….”

Sowon grimaced as she stroked the car’s body.

Is it broken?

She climbed in and turned the key.

Vrrr—

The roadster gave a short shuddering vibration before falling silent with a drowned, sputtering sound.

Letting out a heavy sigh, she stepped out of the car.

That was when the front door opened.

Creak—

Through the door, Kangjun emerged, leisurely shaking out his wet hair.

“What is it?”

At his blank, unknowing expression, Sowon forced an awkward smile and tucked her loose hair behind her ear.

“Ah, didn’t the head contact you?”

Frowning slightly, he slung the towel in his hand around his neck.

Her gaze dropped unconsciously, following the motion of his hand—just as Kangjun shoved his hand into the pocket of his loose sweatpants.

Something dangled inside the slack fabric.

Crazy.

Failing to hide her stunned expression, Sowon hurriedly averted her eyes. Her ears burned red.

After checking his phone, he slipped it back into his pocket.

“Ah, it’s here.”

Composing herself, she carefully opened her mouth.

“If you’re uncomfortable with it…”

“You can use it.”

“…Pardon?”

As if it were nothing, Kangjun jerked his chin toward the side of the main house. Flustered, her gaze followed.

From the front it looked like one house, but up close there was a separate, single-story tiled building.

“The password is 41209325*. Change it yourself while you’re staying.”

“Excuse me?”

“Want me to repeat it?”

“Ah—! No, I memorized it. Four-one-two… zero-nine-three-two-five. Right?”

Still dazed, Sowon switched on her phone and typed in the number.

She hadn’t expected him to agree so readily. At the very least, she had thought he would hesitate—or show some sign of discomfort.

“Thank you…?”

Leaving her ambiguous gratitude hanging in the air, he slipped his phone back into his pocket.

“The tow truck will come the day after tomorrow.”

“Ah, yes. Thank you for that too.”

She dipped her head, barely managing to stop her gaze from drifting downward again.

“Go in and rest.”

Seemingly unconcerned with her awkward smile, Kangjun tilted his chin slightly, shook out his wet hair, and walked back into the main house.

…What am I supposed to do now?

No matter how hard she tried not to be conscious of it, her eyes kept straying there.

With a size like that, and he’s a eunuch?

She hated herself for appraising a man like this—but…

Watching Kangjun’s retreating figure, Sowon came to a firm conclusion.

If that man truly was sexually impotent, it was a national-level loss.