Chapter 4
“Our Yeonwoo, I hope she gets along with Doctor Beom.”
Seyoung looked at Yeonwoo with a half-playful, half-concerned expression.
“What’s there not to get along about?”
“Yeah, think positive.”
Yeonwoo knew better than anyone that now was the time to put aside personal feelings and focus on work.
Moreover, given the recent increase in patients with gunshot wounds, she needed to stay alert.
[Gongju, good morning!]
Just then, an activist entering the Living Tukul greeted her cheerfully.
Was “Gongju” (princess) some kind of cursed word that everyone copies as soon as they hear it?
Yeonwoo forced a smile and waved.
[Gonju, good morning!]
Someone else chimed in. The pronunciation varied from person to person.
From that day forward, Yeonwoo’s nickname became “Gonju.”
Sigh…
Despite the lively morning greetings, Yeonwoo could only smile awkwardly.
After a full day of wrestling in the operating room, Sajun rolled his stiff neck and headed toward Living Tukul.
Today, he had operated on a patient whose leg was blown off by a bomb, and another with peritonitis who was on the brink of sepsis.
After two surgeries, it was already 7 PM.
Step, step.
Rubbing his hungry stomach, Sajun stepped inside—and halted.
Yeonwoo, who had recently returned from supporting the refugee camp, was having dinner with her friend, Jung Seyoung.
…Idiots. Or should I say, a perfect duo?
Yeonwoo might not remember, but Sajun clearly remembered what happened months ago at the hotel.
Jung Seyoung was definitely the woman who had joined in a messy love spat, belly out and all, at that hotel.
He had heard the two were both surgery majors from Yeonguk University, had paused their fellowship programs, and come here for volunteer work.
They had only exchanged greetings so far—no real conversation.
Step, step.
As he made his way in, Yeonwoo spotted him and froze, blinking her wide eyes.
With a bread crumb stuck to the corner of her mouth and her mouth agape, she looked ridiculously cute.
Are all little sisters this adorable?
Suppressing an involuntary smile, he wiped the corners of his twitching mouth with his hand and approached.
“You’re eating late. I wonder if there’s anything left for me?”
“Uh, welcome! There’s plenty of food.”
Despite appearances, Seyoung quickly got up and went to serve him a plate.
“I’ll do it myself.”
Passing by Yeonwoo, who still wore a dumbfounded expression, Sajun walked over to Seyoung.
He gently took the overly loaded plate from her hands and served himself a reasonable portion.
Tonight’s dinner was pasta and chicken.
That mysterious bread crumb from Yeonwoo’s mouth was now gone.
Sajun sat down at the table.
Sitting across from the two women, he noticed Yeonwoo visibly stiffening again.
It was amusing to see someone who had the guts to come to a war zone looking so timid.
“Doctor Ryu.”
When Sajun dropped his smile and called her, strength returned to Yeonwoo’s gaze.
Now that’s better.
Her lightly tanned face bore the resoluteness common to all veteran volunteers, like a badge of honor.
“Yes, doctor.”
“Aren’t you curious how I know about you?”
“…Not really?”
Despite her words, she shifted in her seat, scooting closer as if intrigued.
Sajun let out a chuckle.
She might be guessing that since he’s from Korea University, he might know Ryu Igwon somehow.
Slurp, chomp.
Next to Yeonwoo, Seyoung began eating loudly, pretending not to notice the awkwardness.
A clear sign to give them space to talk freely.
After glancing briefly at Seyoung, Sajun turned back to the conversation he had meant to bring up for a while.
“Igwon and I were college classmates. You know I graduated from Korea University, right?”
“Yes…”
Yeonwoo chewed quietly, then answered with her mouth slightly moving.
Sajun rested his chin on his hand.
So cute. Really cute.
“You had a hunch?”
“Ki-kinda.”
Yeonwoo nodded, her eyes arching playfully.
“Then I guess you also know how much Igwon bragged about you.”
Ryu Igwon was infamous among classmates for being a doting older brother.
Some even joked Yeonwoo was his secret daughter.
“What is there to brag about… By the way, were you close with my brother?”
“Close? We were practically family.”
They had spent two years in pre-med, four years in medical school, and then worked together as interns and residents.
So they had spent more time together than most families.
In fact, not just Igwon—everyone in their class had that bond.
“Ah… yeah, I guess so.”
Yeonwoo nodded with a resigned smile, poking at her food with a spaced-out expression.
Seeing that, Sajun decided to change the topic.
He figured it wouldn’t feel great knowing someone had known so much about you in advance.
“How’s work been?”
“…It’s okay.”
Yeonwoo replied weakly.
“Good. Keep it up. The pasta’s getting cold. Eat up.”
“…Um, Doctor.”
A moment later, Yeonwoo called out.
Sajun put down his fork and looked at her.
Her eyes, now clear and steady, carried a firm resolve—as though she had sorted through her thoughts.
“Whatever my brother told you… I’m not that kind of person. So please forget everything he said.”
“Hm? Wasn’t today our first time meeting? You said your name was Ryu Yeonwoo, right?”
Feigning ignorance with a straight face, Sajun saw Yeonwoo twitch the corners of her mouth.
She looked like a mischievous teenage girl, grinning as if she liked that kind of joke.
“Isn’t my little princess cute? Look at this photo. It’s her high school graduation. She even won an award!”
Ryu Igwon had claimed he survived med school just by looking at his sister’s photos.
He had shown them to Sajun countless times.
Thinking back, that guy was definitely nuts.
If he had a sister as pretty as Yeonwoo, he’d keep her hidden and never show her to anyone.
“Yeonwoo, if you’re not going to eat the chicken, can I have it?”
Seyoung asked, eyeing Yeonwoo, who was barely touching her food.
Yeonwoo promptly pulled her plate close and began gnawing on the chicken with determination.
“How do you two know each other?”
Sajun asked, sensing their unusually close bond.
“Ha ha, Yeonwoo and I were high school friends. We entered university together. One thing led to another, and now we’re here together.”
Seyoung answered brightly.
“So basically, like needle and thread.”
“Exactly!”
With a knowing smile, Sajun took the chicken from his plate and placed it onto Seyoung’s.
To win over your main target, you first win over the people around them.
What he would do after winning the target over was something to consider later. For now, he was just following instinct.
“Eat a lot.”
“Oh, thank you!”
Yeonwoo glanced at him with a soft gaze before resuming her meal.
Working in a field so closely tied to life and death meant overwhelming pressure and stress.
Yet Yeonwoo was said to be someone who held her own with composure.
Her hands were skillful, and she had a bold streak. He was becoming more curious about her by the minute.
It was unfortunate she had to be Ryu Igwon’s little sister, but what could he do?
Sajun smiled meaningfully and looked at Yeonwoo.
Swaa—
Rain began to fall before anyone noticed.
The soft pattering against Tukul’s roof tickled the ears.
As Yeonwoo gazed outside, her eyes met Sajun’s for a brief moment.
“Ah, it’s raining again.”
Seyoung grumbled, clearly annoyed.
“Y-yeah, it is,” Yeonwoo replied absentmindedly.
Am I really that uncomfortable to be around?
Sajun tilted his head slightly.
After showering in the communal bathroom, Sajun returned to his quarters and lay down.
This cursed rainy season.
The light drizzle turned into a torrential downpour.
Every year, the monsoon brought floods that submerged villages and spread disease.
Drip. Drip.
Rain began leaking through the bamboo and reed-thatched roof of his Tukul.
Houses were usually repaired during the dry season, but his must’ve been skipped.
He wondered if the others were okay in their lodgings.
Just as he was thinking that, a knock came.
Thump, thump.
“Doctor Beom!”
The urgent voice calling out to him made Sajun rise from his bed.
