Chapter 23
“Well, as you can see. Everyone here is really nice.”
“They seem like it.”
“…But still, I felt lonely without Master Beom.”
At the unexpected answer, Sajun paused.
Yeonwoo’s small lips jutted out in a pout.
“Did you?”
“I don’t know. I’m not telling you.”
Her voice, pretending to be sulky, carried a faint trace of emotion—it wasn’t just his imagination.
How upset must she have been…
“You’ve been through a lot in an unfamiliar place.”
Though it was just the two of them now, Sajun imagined how Yeonwoo must’ve ridden her bike through this strange place alone.
“You held out well.”
“…Yeah, I guess I did manage somehow.”
“I’ll make sure to work you properly from now on.”
He said playfully.
“Working hard is fine, just… don’t disappear again.”
“You brat.”
Sajun gently stroked Yeonwoo’s soft cheek with the back of his hand.
“Oh, and—don’t call me ‘princess’ at the hospital anymore.”
“What else would I call a princess but princess?”
“I’m sick of people teasing me about it.”
“Alright, I’ll try.”
“You have to!”
“We’ll see.”
Sajun’s low chuckle echoed along the quiet country road.
From somewhere, birds responded with chirping.
It finally felt like time, once frozen, was flowing again.
***
With the soft morning sunlight slipping through the curtains, Yeonwoo opened her eyes and rubbed at her dry, tired lids to check the time.
Ah…
If she didn’t get up now, she’d be late.
If she washed up quickly and pedaled fast, she’d make it just in time.
But her body didn’t want to cooperate.
All thanks to drinking too much last night.
She’d gotten overly excited about Master Beom’s return and drank past her limit.
On top of that, she’d stayed up late on the phone with Seyoung…
Just thinking about how tired Seyoung must be today because of her made Yeonwoo sigh.
Especially since that crazy professor kept harassing Seyoung—she was worried.
Did she even get up?
Yeonwoo was about to call Seyoung but decided to check the duration of their call from the night before.
She was shocked.
What the heck did I talk about for that long?
Yeonwoo tried to recall the phone conversation from last night.
—Yeah, Yeonwoo.
Her best friend Seyoung had answered the phone after barely a few rings.
“My Yeongie picked up right away?”
Slightly drunk and feeling good, Yeonwoo sprawled on her bed and continued the call.
—What, are you drinking?
“Yup, just a little.”
**—Ah, right. You said you had a work dinner today. How’s Master Beom? You know how shocked I was when I heard he got hurt?”
“Exactly! But he’s totally fine now.”
—Phew, thank goodness. Other than getting injured, he’s still the same, right?
“Totally. Still handsome and still cool. He looked amazing in that suit.”
—You’re handing out compliments like candy now that you’re tipsy.
“Hehe, but it’s true.”
—So, the dinner went well?
“Yeah, but Yeongie, want to hear something really cool?”
—What is it?
“Master Beom lives right next door! Remember the weird guy I told you about? The one with the crutches?”
—No way. That was him?!
“Yup. Crazy, right?”
—Holy crap. That’s not cool—it’s insane! Were you hiding it from me?!
“I didn’t want you to worry, that’s all.”
—You’re hopeless. Bet you’re just happy he’s back.
“Of course I am. I feel like I can breathe again. Hoo-ah… hoo-ah…”
—Quit breathing into the phone like that.
“Hehe. Wheee~”
—You’re seriously wasted.
“I even performed surgery today! Isn’t that awesome? As soon as Master Beom entered the OR, he said, ‘Dr. Ryu Yeonwoo will take the lead.’ Isn’t that amazing?”
—Of course that slave-driver would put you to work the moment he saw you.
“Nooo, it wasn’t like that.”
—Pull yourself together.
What was there to pull together? Master Beom was back.
She’d been too pulled together for too long—it was exhausting. Now, she just wanted to focus on work without any extra worries.
“Don’t I sound totally fine?”
—Drunk-calling is already a red flag. You’ve never done this before.
“Master Beom is back, I said!”
—Where are you?
“In my room.”
—Did you wash up?
“Not yet.”
—Then just go to bed without it today. Got it?
“Don’t hang up. Let’s talk more. I feel so amazing right now.”
—You’re crazy. Do you know how I feel right now?!
“Oh, did something happen?”
—I want to go to Cheongbong too.
“You wanted to see Master Beom too?”
—I’m not even going to respond to that. I do want to listen to your drunken rambling all night, but I’m being paged. I have to go.
“Don’t hang up, please. I held hands with Master Beom today!”
—What? Why did you hold hands?!
“Why else? His leg hurt, so I helped him.”
—Wait, he asked you to help him?!
“Yup.”
—That sly fox! I knew he wasn’t a bear—he’s a damn fox.
“Fox? But I’m the fox. Yeon-woo~”
—I’m hanging up before my professor loses it. I’ll call you later. Go to sleep if you can.
“Mmkay. Bye~”
After hanging up, Yeonwoo had somehow managed to wash up before collapsing into bed.
At least I did wash up before sleeping.
Shaking off her thoughts, Yeonwoo sat up in bed.
Now it was really time to wash up and get to work.
She’d probably need to send an apology text to Seyoung later.
She’d totally made a fool of herself.
Feeling guilty, Yeonwoo got up and headed for the bathroom—only to stop in her tracks.
Last night, in front of the gate…
Wait a minute…
The memory hit her like a hammer to the forehead.
No, seriously, had she gone crazy?
“Kyaah! I’m insane, I’m insane!”
How could she face Master Beom today?
Should she flee to Africa?
Yeonwoo seriously considered disappearing without a trace.
***
Mansoo rubbed his aching stomach as he made his way to the station.
He really shouldn’t have gone for round two last night.
“Woong-ah, get me something to eat, man. My stomach’s killing me.”
“There’s nothing left.”
“What do you mean? You’ve got hangover drinks stashed away. Don’t hog them—share.”
“Aren’t you working the evening shift? Just sleep in the on-call room. That’s better than any hangover cure.”
“You stingy punk. You think I don’t know you’ve got a stash?”
“I’m saving the last one for Yeonwoo.”
“She’s not the only one with a mouth. What about me?”
“Didn’t you see her last night? She was drinking like a woman possessed. Honestly, it was scary. Her eyes were glazed over… She might not even come in today.”
“You’re just making stuff up so you don’t have to share. Yeonwoo’s already here and doing rounds.”
“Huh? Really?”
“Can’t you see her?”
“Oh yeah. Dr. Ryu!”
When Jiwoong waved at Yeonwoo, her small shoulders flinched.
Strangely, she pretended not to see them and rushed past—definitely not like her usual self.
“What’s with her?”
“Who knows… Oh—good morning, Doctor!”
Mansoo instinctively stood straight like a soldier at attention and greeted Sajun politely.
“Oh, g-good morning!”
“Yes, good morning, everyone.”
Sajun strolled into the ER with a relaxed smile, heading toward the station.
Even though he wore the same white coat as everyone else, he looked like an actor from a medical drama.
Mansoo glanced at Sajun’s full, thick hair, then brushed his own bangs forward self-consciously.
They were about the same age, yet Sajun looked way younger—what an irony.
“None of you have had hangover soup yet, huh?”
“Haha, yeah, pretty much.”
“Here, let’s share this.”
Sajun placed a whole box of hangover drinks on the station desk.
“Wow, perfect timing. Thanks, Doctor.”
As he nodded in thanks, Sajun’s eyes drifted somewhere.
“Are you looking for the princess?”
Jiwoong asked him with a grin.
