Chapter 7 (Part 6)

Seo-hye pondered for a moment and then her eyes lit up as if she had a great idea.

“I’ll look it up and let you know.”

Do-jin’s brows furrowed quickly.

“Post-injury relations. If I search like that, something should come up….”

Seo-hye patted near her pocket, then let out an “Ah” in realization.

She suddenly remembered that the kidnapper had taken her phone.

“Oh right, I lost my phone.”

Watching Seo-hye as if she were some kind of eccentric, Do-jin eventually burst into laughter.

“Forget it, what are you going to search for?”

“You told me to answer quickly, didn’t you?”

“I already got the answer I wanted. Doesn’t it mean you eally want to roll around with me right now?”

“……Wh…what? I never said such a thing…!”

She trailed off. The conversation she had just had with Do-jin flashed quickly through her mind.

When he had asked that embarrassing question, instead of refusing, she had even suggested looking it up.

Embarrassment started to flood over her.

She covered her eyes and hung her head low.

Is there no mouse hole in this car….

A strange mix of fear and excitement at seeing a side of herself she hadn’t known kept surfacing.

She decided not to ignore those feelings.

While Seo-hye paused the conversation, Do-jin started the car.

Seo-hye, clearly taking in his profile, murmured softly.

“Hey, Do-jin.”

“Speak.”

“I don’t know if I should ask this now. Maybe I’ve become brave because I’ve just experienced something unbelievable.”

Do-jin nodded as if to encourage her to continue.

“Did you see the article too, Do-jin?”

“I did. But the photo was so edited that I didn’t even recognize it was your sister.”

“……What?”

When Seo-hye looked at him in surprise, he elaborated in a dry tone.

“They said the woman I’m supposed to marry was shown, so I checked it out, but she looked so unfamiliar. Next time you meet your sister, tell her to go easy on the photo edits. Guys don’t like that kind of thing.”

Seo-hye was at a loss for words, creating a moment of silence before she burst into a light laugh.

“Really… sometimes you seem like a weirdo….”

She was worried it might sound like an insult, but fortunately, Do-jin took it in stride.

“Seo-hye, do you even use words like that?”

“Do you think I’m an angel from heaven? Only using pretty and gentle words?”

“If not, that’s a shame. Your face is so pretty, I thought you were someone who came down from the heavens.”

Seo-hye turned her head toward the window, biting her lips inwardly.

If Do-jin had said something like this on another day, she might have retorted that it was cringey. But now, her heart was beating so fast it was overwhelming.

Besides, what was with him criticizing Hae-mi when she only asked if he saw the article?

Maybe he met a hundred women in the United States. How could he immediately grasp a woman’s feelings and intentions and say just the right things?

As she was getting swept up in her emotions for him, Do-jin wrapped his hand around the back of Seo-hye’s hand resting on his thigh.

“Why the article?”

Unlike his playful tone earlier, Do-jin recalled Seo-hye’s question with a rather serious voice.

“Ah….”

When he asked in a serious tone, Seo-hye found herself at a loss for words and hesitated.

As Seo-hye remained silent for too long, Do-jin spoke again.

“Anyway, once we have our wedding, it will turn out to be a false report, so there’s nothing to worry about.”

He even answered as if he could see right through her thoughts.

“If you don’t want to wait until then, just send me a good photo of yourself. I’ll get the article reissued.”

“When did I ever say I was marrying you?! I won’t—”

“Yeah, right.”

His heavy sarcasm left Seo-hye with no choice but to press her lips together tightly.

Indeed, Do-jin wasn’t the type to speak sweetly.

Sometimes he could speak so bluntly it was surprising….

Really, what had gotten into me?

That candid transparency felt endearing.

***

Seonghan Hospital.

Director Jo, who had received prior notice from Do-jin, welcomed the two of them.

Seo-hye followed Director Jo’s guidance and underwent several examinations separately.

Meanwhile, Do-jin went to meet Seok-young, who would be watching over Hyo-young’s hospital room.

Seok-young, who was dozing off in a chair in front of the VIP room, was startled awake by the sound of heels echoing in the hallway.

“Oh, Executive Director.”

He quickly stood up and bowed towards Do-jin.

Having been caught dozing despite being repeatedly reminded to watch over Seo-hye’s mother, he appeared restless with embarrassment.

“There were a lot of demanding requests today, but thanks to you, Secretary Yoo, handling everything promptly, it all went well.”

Seok-young stood there with a bewildered expression at Do-jin’s compliment.

“Oh no, not at all. I just made a few calls here and there as you requested, Executive Director. Oh, and I sent Park Dong-cheol back after Director Jo confirmed the condition of Ms. Seo-hye’s mother.”

Do-jin nodded slowly.

Seok-young took the opportunity to ask about something that had been bothering him.

“I sent Park Dong-cheol back as you instructed once Ms. Seo-hye’s mother safety was secured… was that the right thing to do?”

“Yes. After all, he was someone who helped bring Ms. Seo-hye’s mother here.”

Seok-young acknowledged this and continued explaining Hyo-young’s condition.

Director Jo mentioned that she had been ill for so long that her body couldn’t endure much more.

He added that administering the new drug would require some physical strength, so he would need to discuss that aspect with the guardian.

Listening to this, Do-jin stared into the air and asked,

“It sounds like someone has prevented Lee Seo-hye’s mother from passing peacefully for their own benefit.”

“I also thought that perhaps Artist Lee ordered the previous doctor to keep Ms. Seo-hye’s mother alive by any means. But if this is true, how despicable a person must Artist Lee be?”

“Perhaps he was never even human to begin with.”

Do-jin’s calm denouncement of Hwa-woong made the surrounding atmosphere extremely cold.

“Oh, Executive Director, I received a call from Attorney Seok. When I asked about the situation, he said the kidnapper mentioned Artist Lee’s name.”

“That case should be prolonged as much as possible rather than punished immediately. Inform the lawyer accordingly.”

Revealing that he orchestrated Seo-hye’s kidnapping is less important than exposing to the world that he stole Seo-hye’s talent.

“Understood. Lastly—”

Afterward, Yoo Seok-young informed him of important company updates.

After a few minutes of conversation, the bodyguards that Do-jin had contacted arrived.

He stationed the bodyguards in front of the hospital room, dismissed Yoo Seok-young, and moved to meet Seo-hye, who had completed some examinations.

***

Fortunately, as Seo-hye had answered in Hwaseong, there were no ruptured organs or fractures in her body.

However, she had bruises all over her body and torn wounds in various places, which took quite some time to dress.

While Seo-hye was being treated, Do-jin, who stayed by her side the entire time, took her back to the VIP ward after the treatment was completed.

“I’ve stationed bodyguards in front. I was worried you might be startled.”

Because he spoke so casually, Seo-hye couldn’t immediately express her gratitude.

Taking advantage of the moment, Do-jin relayed the situation he had heard from Yoo Seok-young to Seo-hye.

“And the hospital director and the cardiothoracic surgeon want to meet with the guardian.”

Seo-hye softly halted her steps.

“…Surely, moving mom from place to place didn’t worsen her condition… did it?”

The worry on Seo-hye’s face was so intense it was almost pitifully pale.

Do-jin slowly shook his head from side to side.

He briefly explained that it seemed more like her body was too weak to endure the strong new medication.

Seo-hye swallowed her anger, recalling Lee Hwa-woong, who had told her to just focus on painting, assuring her that her mother was being well treated.

“For now, since your mother is asleep, let’s come back here tomorrow and head home.”

Seo-hye slowly lifted her focus from the air.

“Home, not the hotel? Are you talking about… your house?”

He tilted his head slightly, drawing her gaze, and whispered softly.

“Why do you ask as if you’re surprised? Isn’t it about time we go?”