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This light novel is inspired by the beautiful landscapes and cultures of Bolivia and South Korea. However, the characters, events, and situations portrayed are entirely fictional. Any resemblance to real persons, places, or events is purely coincidental. This content does not intend to represent or reflect the historical, social, or cultural reality of either country. The author disclaims any legal liability arising from the interpretation of these elements.
Chapter 61 – Where the Land Adopts You .
61.1 Today for you, tomorrow for me.
The sun filtered through the leaves of the Toborochi tree.
From the cabin, Zayra caressed the ring, afraid of breaking the previous night's dream.
"Thank you, Ñande Yara for sending me a good man."
She whispered.
The light entered softly, and in silence she thought.
"He doesn't usually do it… but he did it for me.
It's time to reciprocate."
Before leaving, she got dressed and left a message.
"Had to run some errands, I'll be back later ❤️ ".
***
She took a taxi to the city.
The restaurant, simple yet cozy, smelled of broth and sesame.
A plump, friendly woman greeted her with a smile.
"Welcome, miss! Table for one?"
"Actually… I would like to learn how to cook your food."
Zayra replied with a shy smile.
The woman looked at her curiously and asked.
"Why are you interested in learning?"
She looked at her and saw the ring on her left hand.
The woman's eyes sparkled.
"Are you going to marry?
Oh, you're so lucky!"
She let out a warm chuckle.
"My husband is the restaurant's chef."
She glanced toward the kitchen, and commented in a low voice.
"But, fair warning, he is very protective of his recipes."
"Could you call him, please? I would like to try."
The woman nodded and went to fetch the chef.
Minutes later, a man with dark, graying hair, serious and impeccably poised, appeared.
He wore a white apron with the restaurant's logo.
"You want me to teach you how to cook?"
He asked, arms crossed.
"Yes, please."
The chef looked at her in silence, then shook his head.
"I don't teach.
It's not as easy as you think."
She looked at him pleadingly, her voice barely trembling when she spoke.
"I respect you greatly, I just want to surprise the man I love, please."
The man said.
"I'm sorry, I don't have time."
And without another word, he walked back into the kitchen.
She felt a sting of frustration.
"Now what do I do?" she thought.
Zayra remembered her failed attempts with tutorials…
she almost set her parents' house on fire.
She sighed, standing still, not knowing what to do.
***
Suddenly, the restaurant door burst open.
A tax official with an inquisitive expression approached the counter directly.
"Good morning. I'm from the tax department, and I've come to review your documents."
The chef came out annoyed; it wasn't the first time he had been harassed that week with the same issue.
"Yes, they are right there."
The chef said, pointing to a wall where the papers were visible.
"Perfect, but I also need to see your ledgers."
The official said in an inquisitorial tone.
Zayra stepped forward.
"Do you have a warrant justifying the review?"
"And who are you?"
"His lawyer."
She extended her hand to introduce herself, but the official barely took it.
She remembered cases of fake officials extorting small businesses.
"You can review that information from your office."
She told him in a firm voice.
The man hesitated and eventually left without looking back.
The chef stared at her, still confused.
"Are you really a lawyer?"
She smiled and handed him her card, adding in a more pleasant tone.
"Yes.
But beyond that… I just wanted to help."
"Alright, I'll teach you…
but don't blame me if it doesn't turn out well."
The chef conceded.
Zayra smiled, her eyes shining.
"Thank you, truly."
As he returned to the kitchen, he murmured without looking at her.
"A woman who protects also knows how to cook with the heart."
She chuckled softly, ready to learn, knowing that it would all be worth it.
The aroma of the broth still lingered when Zayra left the restaurant.
On the other end of the story, someone else was also preparing for a decisive encounter.
54.1 A pass with the father-in-law.
A slate-colored truck parked in front of the hotel.
The engine quietly turned off, and from the driver's seat, a man with a steady bearing,
cinnamon skin, and a calm gaze descended it was Zayra's father.
Ryu was already waiting for him.
He was dressed casually in a light blue shirt and jeans.
Upon seeing him, he bowed his head respectfully.
"Young Ryu."
The man greeted with a half-smile.
"I want to invite you to see our family's lands since you will soon be a part of it."
Ryu nodded, somewhat surprised by the invitation, but grateful.
"It will be an honor, sir."
He adjusted his watch unconsciously, unsure if it was out of respect or nervousness.
They got into the truck.
Ryu didn't know how to talk to Zayra's father since it was the first time they were alone.
Mr. Dae-Hyun noticed his discomfort, reminded himself of his younger self,
unable to help but laugh, decided to remain silent during the trip.
***
They arrived at the town, and Dae-Hyun asked Ryu to wait for him for a moment.
He nodded and stood by the butcher shop's door.
He looked curiously at a group of men sitting on low stools, sharing Chicha Camba
in plastic cups while chatting.
He crossed his arms by reflex, as if still in a business meeting.
But upon hearing those sincere laughs, he slowly uncrossed them, unconsciously letting go of control.
"That bull sold for Eighty Thousand American Dollars."
One said.
"And it's well paid for!"
Another replied.
"It was a purebred Nelore line."
Ryu blinked.
"An Eighty Thousand Dollar bull?"
In his country, you could buy a small apartment for that price.
And here they were, making deals in sandals, under the shade of a makeshift awning.
"I have a fifteen-hundred-dollar cow that's just as good."
One said in a teasing tone.
"Will you buy it?"
"Depends."
His friend replied.
Another looked at them and said.
"If you're interested, I do land clearing. I charge fifty dollars per square meter."
"Deals without Excel… just a man's word."
He was surprised to find that he admired what he would have previously dismissed.
Mr. Dae-Hyun came out of the shop and observed him with a slight smile.
"Surprised?"
He asked, getting back into the truck.
"A little."
Ryu admitted.
"I thought big deals were made in offices.
But… it seems here, the word is worth more than the paper."
Dae-Hyun started the engine.
"That is also wealth, Ryu. Here, respect is built, not signed."
Ryu looked at the horizon; the phrase vibrated in his chest long after the silence.
The corner of his lips barely curved, as if that phrase remained vibrating in his chest.
"Wealth without figures… without shareholders.
Just respect."
He thought in silence.
***
The road meandered through trees, plantations, and birds that flew across the sky under the morning's golden light.
After nearly an hour's drive, they crossed a sturdy wooden gate.
On it, hung with carved letters, the name of the ranch was read.
Haon.
Ryu blinked twice; his jaw barely tensed.
"Haon… a Korean name?"
He was thinking and a warm feeling ran through him, though he couldn't explain it.
"Does it mean something?"
He asked in a low voice.
Zayra's father replied.
"'Greatness within calm.'
I chose that name so I wouldn't forget where I come from.
Do you like it?"
He swallowed before answering.
He found it curious how Mr. Dae-Hyun, despite the distance, had not forgotten his roots.
Ryu smiled slightly.
"Very much. It seems… appropriate for this place."
Beyond the gate, a vast green landscape showed rows of trees, laborers working, and corrals with livestock.
Even cages with peacocks and a small fishing area were visible.
"These are our animals and responsibilities; the land responds when you care for it."
Zayra's father explained with a serene voice.
He watched carefully, processing in silence.
His shoulders, usually tense, dropped a few millimeters.
For the first time, his breathing matched the rhythm of the countryside.
It was a different kind of wealth from his family's, not of display cases or gems, but of mud, sweat, and roots.
"And will this place be a part of Zayra?"
He asked, almost without thinking.
His father-in-law raised an eyebrow, chuckled, and corrected him.
"This place is part of Zayra and our family.
And since she has chosen you… it is also a part of yours."
The silence was serene.
In the distance, cabins with wooden signs displayed the family surnames:
Müller-Choi, Choi-Smith, Choi-Montenegro, and next to a Toborochi tree, Kang-Choi.
His eyes shone as he discovered the surnames together.
It was more than a sign; it was an invitation to a new home.
The movement of his hands stopped, and he thought in silence.
"Over there, everything was earned.
Here… everything is shared."
During the drive to the main house, Zayra's father glanced at the young man.
He commented casually.
"My daughter is strong and fragile; she never breaks and has decided to trust you."
Ryu felt something tighten in his chest.
"I know and I value it."
Mr. Dae-Hyun kept looking at the road, took a deep breath and added.
"Please, take care of her, listen to her in silence,
and accompany her, not out of duty, but out of a promise."
Ryu nodded in silence.
"He's not asking me as a duty… but as a trust."
He analyzed. And that word weighed more than any contract.
"I will."
Ryu replied firmly.
As he stopped the truck, Mr. Dae-Hyun looked soberly and patted his shoulder, adding.
"You are welcome into this family."
Ryu bowed his head.
For the first time, he understood that the land also adopts you…
When you promise with your heart.