Chapter 22
Yeonwoo looked away from Sajun and stared at the distant sky.
The way she brushed back her wind-blown hair felt subtly bitter.
Sajun gazed at Yeonwoo for a long time, capturing her in his eyes.
She seemed even cuter and more lovable than before.
More feminine, perhaps.
She had always been pretty, but now there was a more mature aura that captivated Sajun.
His heart was beating unusually fast.
Even earlier at the barbecue restaurant, he couldn’t take his eyes off her. It was strange.
Even while people offered him drinks or serious discussions about the hospital’s future were happening, his thoughts remained solely on Yeonwoo.
Watching Choi Mansoo act like a dark knight and drink on Yeonwoo’s behalf, or Seo Jiwoong busily placing meat on her plate — both drove him nearly mad.
If he could, he might have pulled Yeonwoo in front of him so only he could see her.
Wasn’t that too much to just be a teacher’s possessiveness toward a student?
Sajun was wrapped in a strange emotion he couldn’t quite explain.
Yeonwoo’s small hand flinched slightly.
Still holding his, not letting go.
Worried that her sweaty hand might be uncomfortable, he loosened his grip — but Yeonwoo instead held his hand more tightly.
She was probably just trying to support him while he was in pain, offering her hand out of kindness. But even that simple gesture made Sajun’s heart flutter.
He let out a hollow laugh.
If he approached her not as a friend of her brother but as a man — would she still hold his hand like this?
He didn’t know.
Wasn’t he also using this as an excuse to hold her hand?
How pathetic, acting like this at his age.
It definitely didn’t feel like it was just a teacher’s concern…
With his other hand, Sajun rubbed his face as if washing it, letting out a deep sigh.
He really didn’t know. Not at all.
He didn’t even know if what he was feeling was right or wrong.
Yet even so, he didn’t want to let go of Yeonwoo’s hand.
Yeonwoo turned to look at him and asked,
“But, teacher… where do you live? Is it really okay to keep walking like this?”
Oh, right. I never told her.
She’s going to scold me, isn’t she?
Looking quite sheepish, Sajun glanced at Yeonwoo and replied in an apologetic tone,
“It’s fine. I’ve been walking around with crutches day and night. You’ve seen me often, haven’t you?”
“…Wait, next door?”
Yeonwoo’s soft lips parted in disbelief.
“You… didn’t know?”
“That’s too much! I had no idea!”
“I pretended not to know so you wouldn’t worry, but still… you didn’t recognize me at all.”
Sajun grinned as he spoke, and Yeonwoo burst out indignantly.
This side of her was new and refreshing.
“You were always in dark clothes with a mask and hat pulled down — how was I supposed to recognize you? And I never imagined my teacher would be walking around with crutches!”
“Still, I was a little hurt.”
“Whatever!”
Yeonwoo stomped ahead in a huff.
Sajun, having let go of her hand, followed behind her with a sheepish smile.
Then Yeonwoo started to slow down.
She must have been worried he’d strain himself walking.
So sweet-hearted.
No wonder Ikwon boasted about her so much — she really was kind and upright.
Ryu Ikwon, what are you going to do? Your sister is seriously adorable. I might be falling hard here.
“Yeonwoo, your arm.”
Maybe because of what he’d said earlier, Yeonwoo hesitated, then came closer.
“Is it hard to walk? Should I call a taxi?”
“It’s not that bad. Just your arm is enough.”
Yeonwoo awkwardly extended an arm. Her movements were clumsy and unsure, which made Sajun chuckle.
If Sajun had been any other patient in the hospital, Yeonwoo would’ve rushed over to support them wholeheartedly.
She actually had done that before.
Was she being self-conscious?
Maybe I’m not just a patient to her?
Does she think I’m being creepy?
Sajun found it fascinating how Yeonwoo acted like someone who had never linked arms with a man before.
“Ryu Yeonwoo… have you ever dated?”
“Of course I have!”
“Then why are you so awkward?”
Sajun leaned into Yeonwoo’s arm as if to lock arms.
Instantly, Yeonwoo’s slender body tensed up.
“I-I’m not awkward!”
Even though she said that, with her older brothers around, she probably never had the chance to date, let alone meet any guys properly.
Sajun couldn’t imagine any man standing next to Ryu Yeonwoo — all thanks to that bastard Ikwon.
Then what was that incident back then?
He suddenly recalled what he had seen at the hotel a long time ago.
Was it around this time last year?
Honestly, he had been a little curious.
Why was even Jung Seyoung involved in that scuffle at the lounge?
“I’ve been wondering about something.”
It might be a bit rude, but Sajun decided to ask.
He wanted to know if that was why Yeonwoo had left for Africa.
“What is it?”
Yeonwoo looked at him brightly, as if to say “Ask me anything.”
“Last year at the L Hotel lounge… did you meet someone? I think Seyoung was with you too.”
He tried to phrase it in the least awkward way possible.
“Oh, um, how do you know about that?”
“…I saw it.”
“Ahhh! You saw all of that?”
Sajun nodded.
“Oh no, then even the hair-pulling part?”
“Yeah.”
“Ugh… damn it, Ryu Segwon.”
Yeonwoo covered her face with both hands in embarrassment.
Sajun gently pulled her hands down to meet her eyes.
“What happened? Was that because of Segwon?”
“Yes. Here’s what happened…”
Yeonwoo began explaining in vivid detail, as if she had gone back to that very day.
Sajun couldn’t stop smiling as he listened.
What a ridiculous guy.
No matter how clueless, who asks their little sister to do something like that?
He definitely had to have a word with Segwon when they met.
“And that wasn’t even the first time! He did it again just before I came to Cheongbong!”
“Again?”
Sajun asked, and Yeonwoo nodded firmly.
This guy’s really insane.
He wasn’t someone words could fix.
“But still, thanks to my brother, I got to go to Africa and meet Master Beom. So it all worked out, didn’t it?”
“Do you really think so?”
“Yes, of course.”
Yeonwoo’s bright, sincere eyes sparkled.
Would anyone believe him if he said he remembered those very eyes in the moment he was shot?
He didn’t even know why himself, but it had happened.
A soft breeze carried Yeonwoo’s scent to him.
A sweet, familiar fragrance tingled his nose and stirred something in his chest.
“Your arm.”
Feigning a limp, Sajun asked again for her arm, clinging to the excuse of needing support.
Startled, Yeonwoo quickly offered her arm, letting him link with it.
“Hold on tight. You might fall.”
“Okay.”
There was no trace of the usual Sajun who could walk 10 km/h without breaking a sweat.
The two of them began walking slowly again.
“Not tired?”
“You don’t know how strong I am?”
Yeonwoo answered cheerfully, and even in the darkness, her plump earlobes were tinged red.
It must’ve been from the alcohol.
As her soft skin brushed against Sajun’s firm arm, he instinctively tensed up.
Whether she knew his state or not, Yeonwoo kept chattering away.
“I can really hold my liquor, you know! You saw earlier, right?”
Sajun laughed at her innocent smile.
“Is that something to brag about?”
“There’s plenty more I could brag about. You know that.”
“Of course I do.”
“…Oh.”
Perhaps realizing how close their bodies were, Yeonwoo seemed to tense up again.
Sajun shifted his weight to ease the tension and gently took her hand.
“This might be more comfortable.”
Truthfully, it was killing him.
Yeonwoo looked up at him, curious.
“Teacher, should I give you a piggyback ride?”
Considering how he’d been staggering around like a fool, it was understandable.
“No, it’s okay.”
“Should I call a taxi then?”
“Should we… if it’s too uncomfortable?”
“I’m fine. I just didn’t want you to be tired.”
“I’ll let you know if it gets too hard.”
“Okay.”
Yeonwoo turned her blushing face forward and resumed walking.
Sajun, recalling how well Yeonwoo had gotten along with everyone at the dinner, asked,
“Yeonwoo, is life at the hospital okay?”
