Chapter 47
“You’re giving up that easily?”
“Yeah. Well, I’ll be going now.”
“Oh… okay, then.”
Jiwoong replied with an awkward expression, as if embarrassed for overreacting on his own.
Yeonwoo left her seat to attend to the wave of incoming patients.
This place was no longer just a small rural emergency room.
✦
They’d decorated the lab with confidence, saying a neurosurgery department head would eventually join—and now, Ryu Ikwon had become its master.
Sajun stepped into a room that hadn’t even had its first occupant yet.
Ikwon would be arriving here soon, probably after touring the hospital.
Thinking back to what his father said earlier, Sajun chuckled dryly.
“I was worried since you already had three older brothers, but to think you have such a fine, handsome one? And Ryu Yeonwoo, no less. Our Sajun is lucky to have such a match—don’t you think?”
Ikwon, unable to hide even a hint of distaste, had been practically dragged out of the director’s office by Hyeoncheol. That face was something worth seeing.
How could fate be this coincidental?
To think Yeonwoo was the woman in the arranged meeting.
It felt like the world itself had gone mad trying to pair them up.
Sajun let out a soft laugh.
This was the kind of moment that called for a cigarette.
But because Yeonwoo disliked smoking, Sajun had been abstaining for days now—and the craving was killing him.
He walked over to the window and looked outside.
Green surrounded him in every direction.
This was his hometown, the place he’d have to put down roots—but how long would Yeonwoo stay?
Part of him wanted to ask her to stay here forever, but he knew he couldn’t force her.
It was a shame, but for now, things seemed stable enough.
Sajun smiled and looked out at the distant hills.
People were gathering in Cheongbong.
Which meant the chance of Yeonwoo leaving had gotten even smaller.
He’d have to try harder now—to make her feel at home. To keep her by his side, always.
Bang, bang!
A knock so loud it sounded like someone was trying to break the door down echoed through the room.
He didn’t need to check to know who it was.
Sure enough, the door burst open and Ikwon stormed in, fuming.
“Hey, brother-in-law. So this is my room now, right?”
Brother-in-law.
At that word, Sajun’s thick brows twitched.
“Yeah, this is the room my future brother-in-law will use.”
Sajun replied smoothly.
Ikwon’s handsome face twisted in frustration.
Too bad—he was no match for Sajun.
✦
The living room had once been more than enough for Yeonwoo alone. Now, with four people gathered, it felt unbearably cramped.
“I didn’t think you’d come, Oppa.”
Seyoung, who had arrived a day before Ikwon, stood tall and confident.
She and Ikwon were now face-to-face, both wanting to claim the same room.
Sajun and Yeonwoo stayed quiet, simply observing.
“Well, this is awkward. I never imagined Seyoung would already be here.”
“Exactly. Why’d you leave a successful hospital to come out here, Oppa?”
Seyoung fired shots disguised in innocence, her tone light but sharp.
“Wait, did you come to spy on Yeonwoo?”
“Wh-What do you mean, spy? I just wanted to enjoy the clean air and peaceful countryside.”
Ikwon looked nervously at Yeonwoo when she glared at him at the word “spy.”
His panicked expression was priceless.
Sajun leaned back on the sofa, drinking from a water bottle, debating what to do.
Neither of the siblings had bothered to find a place to stay—they were relying entirely on Yeonwoo.
Sajun had already asked his mother to find a place while visiting the family home yesterday, just in case something like this happened.
Madam Yang, his mother, had a tight grip on all the real estate in Cheongbong.
You could say every decent country house in the area passed through her hands.
“Until you find a place, just stay with me.”
It wasn’t ideal, but he couldn’t exactly offer his house to Seyoung instead.
Besides, he needed to keep Ikwon happy to date Yeonwoo in peace.
Seyoung lit up.
“Oh, that’s perfect! As expected from my master!”
She clapped her hands in delight, while Ikwon shut his mouth in defeat.
“The house is old, but the lights work, and there’s running water, so you’ll be fine. I won’t charge rent either.”
“……”
“If you really don’t like it, you can stay in the hospital’s on-call room.”
“…Fine. I’ll stay until I find something.”
Ikwon muttered grudgingly.
Yeonwoo, watching him silently, turned her gaze to Sajun.
At least she wouldn’t have to live with her brother—that was a relief. But she now had to worry about Master Beom.
Sajun smiled reassuringly.
What was even going on?
Yeonwoo suppressed the urge to scream at Ikwon to go back to Seoul and quickly got up, heading to the refrigerator.
She opened the door to get a bottle of water—only to find none.
“Oh. We’re out of water.”
Sajun, having heard her mutter, walked over.
“No more water?”
“Yeah. I meant to order some, but I’ve been all over the place…”
“Want to go get some with me?”
He held her gaze, his eyes saying he had something to talk about.
“Just a sec.”
Yeonwoo grabbed her phone and hurried toward the front door.
“Yeonwoo! Are you going to the store? Don’t forget sausages!”
“Yeonwoo, want me to come with you?”
Ikwon stood up, ready to follow.
“No! Stay inside!”
“You punk! Where do you think you’re going?”
Ignoring Yeonwoo completely, Ikwon shouted at Sajun.
Seyoung gave a signal—she’d take care of Ikwon.
Yeonwoo nodded at her and gave Sajun a push.
He looked at them both, then gave a small smile as he stepped outside.
It was chaos.
“Hey, Master Be—Sajun, why are you going too?! Seyoung, let me go! What’s with your strength?!”
“Come on, Oppa. Hold still, will you?”
Yeonwoo let the noise fall away and sighed once she’d stepped out into the yard and past the gate.
“Haah… What is even happening? I’m sorry.”
“There’s nothing to apologize for. That’s life.”
“Still…”
“No ‘still.’ Think about how it was in Sutan.”
Sajun smiled, bringing up a shared memory.
Compared to those days, this really was heaven.
“You’re right. Hehe.”
“You’re cute.”
Her mind went blank at his gaze. The only thing she could see was him.
The lamplight reflected in his deep, multicolored eyes, like they could pierce right through her.
Blushing, Yeonwoo looked away, scratching the back of her neck.
She suddenly remembered all those trips to the pharmacy and convenience store.
Her grandma once said she got pregnant with her dad out of wedlock—and now Yeonwoo was wondering if she hadn’t inherited the same fate.
“Yeonwoo, look at this.”
Sajun smirked and pointed.
A light blue scooter stood in front of his house gate.
“A scooter?”
“Cute, right?”
“Oh… yeah.”
He walked over and took out a helmet from the trunk.
“Come here.”
“Did you buy this?”
“Yup.”
He placed a yellow helmet gently on her head.
It looked like a Pororo toy helmet—adorably small.
Click.
He fastened the buckle securely, then studied her face with a pleased expression.
“Cute. It really suits you.”
Yeonwoo’s cheeks were on fire again.
“It fits well.”
“This is my first time wearing a helmet.”
“Have you ridden a motorcycle before?”
“Well… I have, but it was a long time ago.”
“Yeah?”
Sajun’s thick brows lifted with interest.
