Treasure ◇ | Seongjoong ✓

Episode 9: Fever ◇ Part 2

The next day, Yeosang sits at a desk in his bedroom preparing a letter. He has a small pouch of gold he intends to send to his parents along with the letter. However, he considers The Wonderland's circumstances.

With the way things stand, it may be risky to send something to his family. Plus, he needs a messenger to deliver the money, and he can only rent messenger birds on land. Human messengers aren't trustworthy, so he always rents a bird from the post office whenever they reach an island city.

They're on the run, so he can't do that now. Namhae didn't have any messengers available either. Additionally, the lack of response concerns the black-haired beauty. His parents normally return his letters, sending birds after The Wonderland with notes in their pouches. It's been a long time since he's heard from them.

He exhales and tosses the letter across the desk exasperatedly. A knock on the door steals his attention. "Yes?"

Seonghwa and Wooyoung poke their heads in, the younger waving cutely. Yeosang smiles and beckons them over. The eldest says, "I think this is the first time I've seen you in your room, and it's been a few months."

"He practically lives in the archive. It's no wonder Jongho always watches over him. He's afraid he may drop dead in there," Wooyoung tsks.

"Don't say things like that," Seonghwa lightly scolds.

Wooyoung jests, "Yes, Mother."

"What's up, you guys?" Yeosang wonders.

"You missed breakfast, and we shockingly couldn't find you in the archive. Jongho said you might still be sleeping, but we wanted to check," the chef says. His eyes land on the money pouch and the letter.

Seonghwa sees them, too. "Were you writing to your parents again?"

The recordkeeper nibbles on his bottom lip and hums. His friends exchange a look before quickly standing by his side. Yeosang is hardly the worrisome type—unless his OCD is triggered.

Wooyoung inclines his head, imploring the cause of the bookworm's stormy weather. "Yeosangie, what's the matter?"

"It's nothing special, I just haven't been able to get in touch with my parents," Yeosang confesses. Until now, Jongho was the only person he had confided in about this.

"I told you to give them one of the communication devices." The chef puts his inventor hat on. However, the device cannot transfer money, and Yeosang points out as such.

"Your devices are getting more and more advanced, Wooyoung, but they can't transfer a bag of gold to my parents' doorstep."

The inventor deflates upon hearing this information, and it kind of strikes his innovative pride. "I'm... still working on that function."

Seonghwa waves away that idea and focuses on the main point—Yeosang's parents. The younger told him how his family played the biggest role in him joining The Wonderland. He wants to provide for them and make sure they have access to the best doctors.

He hasn't heard from them, has no clue if they're okay, and that's distressing. The eldest completely understands because he's experiencing the same thing with not just Jisoo, but with the whole Jinju community. Perhaps he should start writing letters as well.

"I know it's hard not knowing whether they're okay or not, whether something bad has happened or if it's just a fluke. It's really difficult, but you need to stay strong. Your parents wouldn't want you to stress on their behalf, Yeosang. Give it some time, I'm sure the answer will arrive soon," Seonghwa encourages.

Wooyoung nods along. "That's right! Don't lose hope! Your parents are super strong. Maybe something just went wrong with their letters, or they could be throwing secret parties without you around underneath the government's noses."