Chapter 25
“Whoa, seriously? Are you really doing this?”
Yeonwoo asked Jiwoong, her face full of confusion.
“What did I even do?”
“Why are you the only one allowed in the OR?! Why am I being left out?!”
Was this really something to say to someone who just came out of the OR after working herself to death?
“Left out?”
“I want to do surgeries too! I want to go into the operating room!”
Watching Jiwoong throw a tantrum like a child, Yeonwoo couldn’t help but shake her head.
“Wow. I didn’t think Master Beom was like that—total favoritism, huh?”
Since when was he Master Beom?
Jiwoong was shameless, his boldness rivaling that of her third brother, Segwon.
What was she supposed to do with this guy?
“I heard you two worked perfectly in sync—like magic?”
Yeonwoo asked, trying to suppress a smile.
It hadn’t just been magical—it had been fantastic.
Her eyes softened as she remembered.
“But who told you that?”
“That’s none of your business. Anyway, I’m going in next time.”
Apparently, it was either the PA nurse or the anesthesiologist who’d said it during the operation.
“But you’re not even in general surgery.”
“I don’t care! I’m going in!”
“Do what you want.”
“If I ask Master Beom, I’m sure he’ll let me in. I can perform minor procedures with my eyes closed.”
“……”
Yeonwoo gave Jiwoong a pitying look, watching him practically volunteer himself into slavery.
“I’ve never had a complex before, but this crosses the line.”
If he wanted to be a slave, she wasn’t going to stop him.
Though she doubted Sajun would actually let Jiwoong into the OR.
Why would he, when he had such a competent protégé?
No way.
Yeonwoo hummed a happy tune, confident that wouldn’t happen.
“I’m going to tell the surgery department head that I want to get double-board certified.”
Jiwoong didn’t seem like he was just talking out of his ass—he looked dead serious.
“Ugh… Do whatever you want.”
“The son of Cheongbong Hospital, Seo Jiwoong, is still kicking!”
“So, have you eaten?”
“Uh, yeah? I did. What about you?”
“Then can I go eat now?”
“Oh, sure, go ahead! You must be starving. Today’s army stew has a ton of ramyeon in it.”
…Ramyeon.
That word stabbed Yeonwoo right in the heart, but she let it go in one ear and out the other and glanced around the ER.
Sajun, who had just finished changing, was walking toward the nurse station.
If only he hadn’t gone on that ramyeon rant last night, the day would’ve been perfect.
But what could she do? What’s done is done.
Putting on a bright smile, Yeonwoo ran toward Sajun.
As she trotted over, Sajun looked at her with a puzzled expression.
Ryu Yeonwoo, with dark circles under her eyes and disheveled hair, sparkling with excitement.
Sajun’s thick eyebrows twitched slightly.
“Doctor, let’s go eat. Today’s army stew is loaded with ramyeon.”
“…Shall we?”
“Yep!”
Watching Yeonwoo obsessed with ramyeon again today, Sajun suspected she was doing it on purpose—but he didn’t let it show.
She really wasn’t ordinary.
As they entered the cafeteria on B2, all eyes immediately turned to Sajun.
He returned the glances of familiar faces with a nod and stepped up to the food counter.
Yeonwoo followed him, humming some incomprehensible tune.
Such a simple person.
All it took was one compliment in the OR, and she’d be so happy she’d practically live there, forgetting sleep.
Step, step.
Jang Chanwoo bumped shoulders with Sajun and alternated glances between him and Yeonwoo.
His lips twitched like he was dying to spill some gossip—probably about Lee Kwon.
“Stop being clingy and buzz off.”
Sajun muttered quietly, and Chanwoo exclaimed, as if offended.
“Me? Come on, I’m not like that. You’re gonna give Dr. Ryu the wrong idea.”
Yeonwoo blinked in surprise and bowed politely.
“Hello, sir.”
“I’m classmates with Dr. Beom here. Also friends with Kwon.”
Chanwoo watched Yeonwoo’s expression closely with curiosity.
“…Ah, I didn’t know that.”
She looked startled, probably because he said he was her brother’s classmate. She gave Sajun a glance, clearly hoping he’d make this guy go away.
Sajun stepped in front of Chanwoo to block him.
Chanwoo stretched his neck and called over to Yeonwoo.
“It’s okay if you didn’t know. Eat up.”
“Get lost.”
At Sajun’s command, Chanwoo clicked his tongue and left the cafeteria.
As he walked off, Sajun glared at his back—and maybe because he felt the stare, Chanwoo looked back.
He stuck out his tongue in a childish tease—completely unfitting for his age.
“Don’t mind him.”
Embarrassing. How could someone his age act so immature?
“…Okay.”
They say you shouldn’t even mess with a dog when it’s eating.
His anger toward Chanwoo began to rise in a slow gradient.
Oblivious to Sajun’s building fury, other department heads waved him over.
“Dr. Beom, come join us!”
“You’re pushing yourself too hard, aren’t you? Word’s gotten around, and patients are starting to flood in.”
That might be true.
They were probably just being polite to the hospital director’s son, now that he’d officially started working.
“I’ll be eating with Dr. Ryu.”
“Oh? Sure, sure. Gotta take care of your own team. So sweet of you, Dr. Beom.”
Yeonwoo’s slightly sulky expression brightened, her cheeks lifting.
And just like that, the anger that had been simmering vanished like it was never there.
***
On her day off, Yeonwoo stretched and yawned as she woke up.
“Yaaawn, that was a good sleep.”
Now that Master Beom had returned and things were falling back into place, Yeonwoo’s life was nearly perfect.
Feeling more content than ever, she checked her phone, which was buzzing with messages as usual.
Dad: [Did my princess wake up? Have a great day, and think about your dad at least a little.]
Mom: [Sweetie, are you eating well? Don’t just survive on ramyeon.]
Ilkwon oppa: [I sent you some allowance. Let me know if it’s not enough—I’ll send more.]
Ikwon oppa: [I told the hospital today. I’m submitting my resignation and transferring to Cheongbong. Just wait a little longer. And that bastard… never mind. Just take care of yourself.]
Wait, is he insane?! Why is he coming to Cheongbong?!
As she read through the messages, Yeonwoo noticed one from last night that she hadn’t seen.
It was from Segwon.
Segwon: [Have you been in touch with Seyoung lately? She’s not doing well. Keep an eye on her.]
The night Master Beom returned, she’d drunk-called Seyoung late and hadn’t contacted her since.
“I want to come to Cheongbong too.”
She had brushed it off as a joke back then, but maybe something really was going on.
Feeling guilty, Yeonwoo sent Seyoung a message.
[Seyoung, you okay? Guess what? Segwon oppa asked me how you were doing!]
She quickly sent the text, but there was no reply.
Maybe she was asleep?
[You’re not mad about my drunken rant the other day, right? Call me if you’re free. I’m off today.]
They were close enough that even worse behavior wouldn’t faze Seyoung, but Yeonwoo still felt uneasy and sent another message.
Rrrrr, Rrrrr.
Just then, a call came in from Seyoung.
Yeonwoo quickly answered.
“Seyoung!”
–“Why are you texting so early in the morning? I’m fine, really.”
Seyoung’s voice was still heavy with sleep.
“Did I wake you?”
–“Yeah. So what did Segwon oppa say?”
“Oh, he said you weren’t doing well and asked me to check on you.”
–“He really said that?”
Seyoung’s voice was full of disbelief.
“Yeah. He’s kind of weird, right?”
–“…Maybe he’s just being nice because I’m your friend. Anyway, how are you? Everything good with Master Beom?”
“Yeah, just working hard.”
It wasn’t a lie.
Ever since Sajun arrived, Yeonwoo had been going into the OR more frequently.
She used to just cover the ER, but now she was even handling serious trauma cases directly at Cheongbong.
–“Don’t just work—go date someone.”
“Dating? Come on.”
At the mention of dating, Yeonwoo’s cheeks flushed pink.
