Chapter 15
“You think I don’t know you almost died from a gunshot?! I heard your leg’s messed up!”
“Dad, come on. Where did you hear that nonsense? S-Sajun is perfectly fine.”
“Call him. Bring him here right now.”
“I don’t even know where he is right now.”
“Oh, playing hard to get, are we?”
His sharp glare made my knees tremble.
“I’ll call him.”
Left with no choice, Hyeoncheol decided to call Sajun.
At this time, he was probably at the hospital doing rehab.
He’d strictly forbidden Sajun from coming anywhere near the main house for fear his father might find out, but it had all been pointless.
In a small countryside town like this, it wouldn’t be surprising if someone had seen him coming or going.
Luckily, Sajun had recovered enough not to need crutches anymore, so maybe this would pass without incident.
Hyeoncheol picked up his phone and dialed Sajun.
As soon as the call connected, his son’s gruff voice came through.
—”Yes.”
“Grandpa wants to see you. Are you free right now?”
—”So he found out. That must be awkward for you.”
Wiping sweat from his forehead, Hyeoncheol started putting on an act.
“Ahem, what? You’re busy at the hospital?”
—”I’ll be there soon.”
Cold-blooded brat.
Even when he first introduced Yang Nurse, Sajun had just stared silently at the two of them.
He must’ve been around ten back then.
Ever since, it was like he was perpetually in adolescence. Even as his father, he couldn’t make heads or tails of the kid.
Shot and still didn’t show up?
If anyone out there had experienced a more rebellious son, they should step forward.
What made it worse was that the rebellion still wasn’t over.
Instead of living in the remodeled house that Mrs. Yang had painstakingly renovated, he chose to stay in a rundown shack like he was making a statement.
“He’s with a patient? Well then, nothing we can do. Dad, he’s working. Maybe next time.”
He tried to make excuses, but his father’s furious expression made it clear that wasn’t going to work.
“Tell him to come. Now!”
The command thundered out.
—”It’s fine. I’ll be right there.”
“Ah, alright. We’ll be waiting.”
—”Okay.”
Hyeoncheol ended the call and wiped his forehead again.
“Come on, Dad. He said he’s with a patient. But he’s coming anyway.”
Beom Unbong sat silently, trying to suppress his fury.
This man had lived his whole life getting his way—except when it came to his grandson Sajun.
As the only grandson in a family with few children, Sajun ignored his grandfather’s pleas and kept wandering off to dangerous places.
He often said he could never sleep peacefully because of that boy.
He even opted for alternative service in Africa through KOICA instead of serving in the military—pure madness.
Now he worked as an international relief volunteer, roaming the globe. How could the worry ever end?
And now he’d even been shot. No way would he be allowed to go overseas again while his grandfather was still breathing.
And hopefully, his endless adolescence would finally come to a close.
“Why don’t you have some tea while you wait?”
“No. Get him on a blind date.”
Ah, there he goes again. After that disaster last time…
Sure, he wanted to see his son married too, but it’s not like that could be forced.
“But last year’s blind date didn’t go well either. He doesn’t want to get married, so what’s the point of more dates?”
“So you’re saying it’s fine if the family line ends here?”
“Of course not! I want him to get married too. But he has to be willing to listen first.”
He spoke in a defeated tone, shoulders slumped, but his father’s expression didn’t budge.
Clearly, he intended to use Sajun’s injury to trap him.
“Whatever it takes, get him married this year.”
“And what, a bride’s just going to fall from the sky?”
“I’ve got someone in mind.”
“Who… oh, Madam Song’s granddaughter? I’ve heard she’s not exactly easygoing either. Think they’d match?”
“Doesn’t matter. We push it through.”
“Fine, I’ll talk to him.”
“Don’t let the family line die out. Handle it properly.”
“Okay, okay. But honestly, I’m not so sure—”
Thud!
A loud slam on the armrest of the sofa cut him off. Hyeoncheol shut his mouth.
Word was the girl had three older brothers. Could Sajun really survive marrying into that kind of family?
Wouldn’t he be brawling with them every other day?
“Is he going to limp for life? Is that it?”
“I told you, it’s nothing like that. The bullet just grazed his calf, that’s all…”
“Enough. If anything more happens, you’re stepping down immediately. Got it?”
Just imagining it twisted his father’s face in pain.
“Come on, I’m the only one who can run the hospital. We barely escaped the red this year…”
“Then what more do you want! I donate a fortune every year.”
“Y-Yes, I know.”
Hyeoncheol lowered his head quickly.
All he could do now was pray this ordeal would pass without incident.
Knock, knock.
A short time later, a knock sounded and the door opened.
Sajun walked in, wearing a doctor’s coat and a bright smile.
Did he borrow that from somewhere?
He looked perfectly fine—no sign of a limp.
“Grandpa, I’m here.”
He bowed politely. Nothing to criticize.
Even for his own son, Sajun was practically a masterpiece. No deity could’ve sculpted better.
Tall enough to look down on most men, Sajun walked over with graceful steps.
Beom Unbong, who had been scrutinizing him with hawk-like eyes, visibly relaxed.
Seeing this, Hyeoncheol cautiously let out a sigh of relief.
But when he remembered what still lay ahead, his head started throbbing again.
*
After hanging up with his father, Sajun glanced awkwardly around his friend Chanwoo’s office.
“You’re the clinic director now?”
Jang Chanwoo, an orthopedic specialist, was Sajun’s college classmate.
Tired of life in Seoul, Chanwoo had moved down to Cheongbong and helped a lot with Sajun’s rehab.
Sajun had dropped by the office for a quick coffee before physical therapy—but now he had to leave right away.
Still, if he didn’t go, his grandfather would worry.
“Got a spare coat?”
“Why?”
“Grandpa wants to see me. I need to look perfectly fine.”
His dad had already lied about him seeing patients, so it was better to match the story.
“Hold on.”
There was no helping it. Grandpa wouldn’t rest easy until he saw for himself that Sajun was healthy.
“Here, take this.”
Chanwoo handed over a spare doctor’s coat.
“Thanks.”
Without even heading to the changing room, Sajun locked the door and changed clothes on the spot.
Chanwoo watched him with an envious look.
“Quit staring.”
“Damn… what is with that body… Ugh, why do I feel so inferior right now?”
“You’re being dramatic.”
“Seriously, is that bigger too? Looks like it. What’s your secret?”
They’d known each other since college, so nothing was really off-limits.
“Secret, my ass. I’ll return the clothes later.”
“Lucky bastard.”
The pants were a little short, but once he put the coat on, it looked decent enough.
“Oh right, I almost forgot to tell you something.”
As Sajun checked himself in the mirror, he met Chanwoo’s eyes through the reflection.
“Forgot what?”
“About Dr. Ryu in the ER.”
“Yeonwoo? What about her?”
Sajun turned around to face him squarely.
They were all college friends, so Chanwoo must’ve at least heard about Yeonwoo—Ryu Ikwon had talked her ears off back then.
Still, since he’d never mentioned it until now, Sajun had assumed he didn’t know.
But judging by his expression, he’d figured it out.
“I was in Seoul and ran into Ikwon. When I told him I was in Cheongbong, he started talking about his sister.”
“And?”
“What do you mean, and? Just saying, it’s a small world. Who’d have guessed Dr. Ryu Yeonwoo was his little sister?”
“Then keep pretending you don’t know. Don’t say a word.”
“That’s not the weird part. Ikwon said something strange. He said his sister got charmed by some guy and ran off to Cheongbong. Said that guy was you. Thoughts?”
“……”
So Ryu Ikwon finally figured it out. About time, that bastard.
Sajun smirked.
“He said he’s coming to get you soon.”
