Side Story 1.3

“Pharmacist, are you preparing to leave work?”  

“Oh, yes. You’re leaving late today.”  

Dr. Lee approached the counter without minding Leeseo’s awkward response.  

“I had some things to finish up. As I was rushing out, I saw you here and thought I’d stop by to say hello. At first glance, it seemed like no one was inside, but then I noticed your face.”  

Since Suji had turned off the external lights when she left, it would have appeared as though the pharmacy had already closed. The closing time had long passed as well. Though Dr. Lee’s sudden appearance felt slightly perplexing, Leeseo didn’t let it show.  

“I was just about to leave too. You must be tired—go home and rest.”  

“Where do you live, Pharmacist? Do you drive yourself?”  

“My house is far from here. My husband will come to pick me up.” 

She replied, checking her watch.  

Usually, Kwon Taegyeom would pick her up after work, or if he couldn’t, he would send a car through a driver. Mentioning her husband deliberately, she noticed Dr. Lee’s smooth cheek twitch slightly. He seemed momentarily flustered, but soon enough, he smiled brightly again. His lips, likely coated with lip balm, glistened, and his teeth beneath them appeared exceptionally white.  

“Your husband must be a romantic. I hope to meet someone as beautiful and capable as you someday and build a strong, loving family. But it’s not easy to find such a connection, unfortunately. I wonder when I’ll meet someone like you…”  

“Ah…”  

It seemed better to leave before the conversation dragged on any longer. As she tucked her phone into her handbag, Leeseo responded indifferently.  

“I heard you went on a blind date last weekend. It didn’t go well, I assume?”  

That had been a hot topic at the pharmacy for a while. It wasn’t as though Dr. Lee had broadcasted his plans to go on a blind date, but somehow, the news had spread. The source of the rumor turned out to be a colleague at Delbit Pediatrics, who had casually mentioned in the hallway that they had set Dr. Lee up on a date and wished him luck. That single remark had spread like wildfire, reaching the pharmacy within half a day.  

“A blind date? What are you talking about…? That must have been a baseless rumor. It seems people in this small town are very interested in each other’s lives… And strange rumors spread even faster, don’t they? Haha.”  

Dr. Lee laughed awkwardly, visibly flustered.  

“People around me used to suggest blind dates all the time, and I did try them in the past. But I prefer natural encounters. Those arranged settings feel too artificial, and I end up focusing more on the person’s profession or appearance rather than forming a genuine connection.”  

“Ah, I see.”  

Leeseo slung her handbag over her shoulder and stepped out from behind the counter. As she passed by Dr. Lee to leave, he suddenly seemed to remember something and let out a short gasp while rummaging through his bag.  

“Oh, right. I attended a conference in Hong Kong over the weekend, just for two days.”  

He emphasized the word “conference” as he pulled out a small box from his bag. His sparkling eyes seemed to silently insist that he hadn’t gone on any blind dates.  

“I bought this at the duty-free shop—it’s hand cream. You must use your hands a lot working at the pharmacy, right?”  

When she showed no intention of taking the box and simply stared at it, Dr. Lee added more words.  

“I bought several and gave them to my colleagues at the hospital as well, so please don’t feel burdened. Our nurses’ hands are always in bad shape from constant sanitizing and handling patients. Whenever I see hand cream while traveling, I can’t help but grab a bunch. I guess it’s a kind of occupational hazard, haha.”  

With a sly laugh, Dr. Lee placed the box in Leeseo’s hand and then pulled out another one from his bag.  

“This one is for Suji. I was planning to give it to her tomorrow, but since you seem suspicious of me, I thought I’d better hand it over now.”  

“Oh no, I wasn’t suspicious… I was just being cautious.”  

As the wariness on Leeseo’s face softened, Dr. Lee smirked slightly and handed over Suji’s hand cream.  

“I consider both of you at Delbit Pharmacy to be part of our team. Aren’t we all in this together?”  

As he placed the box in her empty hand, his fingertips brushed hers ever so slightly. Leeseo curled her fingers to avoid his subtle touch. His gaze, which had followed the movement, returned to meet hers.  

“Of course, I heard you’ll only be working here for two months. But while you’re here, I hope we can get along as colleagues and friends. That’s the spirit in which I’m giving you this gift, so please don’t feel burdened…”  

*Bzzz.*  

A faint noise interrupted his words, entering through one ear and exiting through the other. The automatic door slid open smoothly, and a gust of cold wind from outside swept in.  

The chill brushing against his collar made Dr. Lee pause and turn his head. Standing at the entrance, silhouetted against the streetlight, was a broad-shouldered man.  

The pharmacy’s sign had long been turned off, and only dim indirect lighting illuminated the interior, clearly signaling it was closed. Yet the man entered without hesitation, his steps echoing in the quiet space. The cold winter air he brought in seemed to lower the temperature around them.  

“Ah, I’m sorry, but the pharmacy is closed.” 

Dr. Lee said, trying to hide his annoyance as he addressed the oblivious visitor. He expected the man to apologize and leave, but the response he received was unexpected.  

“I know.”  

Dr. Lee let out a short, incredulous laugh at the brazen reply. 

What kind of troublemaker is this?

He thought, glancing at the man’s face. But as he got a closer look, his expression began to stiffen.  

The dim lighting and the backlight had made it hard to recognize him at first, but the more he looked, the more familiar the man seemed. It was impossible not to recognize someone whose face was constantly in the news and online communities.  

Dr. Lee blinked several times, wondering if his eyes were deceiving him. The man, who had been staring at him, approached with unhurried steps. Dr. Lee, now visibly dumbfounded, stammered,  

“Wait… Are you… the one from GK…?”  

The question came out clumsily, even to his own ears. But there was no mistaking it—this was Kwon Taegyeom of GK Group.  

Why on earth would someone as prominent as the heir to a major conglomerate show up at a small-town pharmacy, alone and without an entourage? 

The situation was so baffling that Dr. Lee couldn’t begin to piece it together.  

Kwon Taegyeom didn’t bother answering the question. His cold gaze bore down on Dr. Lee, radiating an intimidating presence that made words unnecessary.  

Snow was falling outside, and the flakes that landed on his broad shoulders melted into tiny droplets. Even his neatly combed hair glistened with traces of melted snow.  

He was an exceptionally striking man. Dr. Lee felt embarrassed for ever assuming the photos of him online had been edited. The man’s height, easily a head taller than his own, only added to the sense of intimidation.  

Forcing a businesslike smile, Dr. Lee asked,  

“Do you need emergency medication? Are you feeling unwell?”  

“No.”  

The deep, resonant voice was pleasant to the ear, but what followed left Dr. Lee utterly speechless.  

“I’m here to pick up my wife.”  

“Your wife…? Oh, your wife… Wait, what?”  

Dr. Lee’s eyes widened, and his jaw dropped.  

Finally, everything fell into place—the unexpected appearance of a chaebol heir, the earlier mention of her husband coming to pick her up, and the enormous diamond ring glittering on her finger.  

Stammering like a broken robot, Dr. Lee muttered,  

“So… the pharmacist’s husband… That’s… I didn’t realize… I envy you…”  

“…”  

“But why would someone like her work here…? I don’t understand.”  

After mumbling to himself for a while, Dr. Lee finally composed himself and said,  

“Anyway, I hope we can formally meet another time. It’s late, so I’ll be going now. You two take care on your way home. See you tomorrow, Pharmacist.”  

“Yes, goodbye, Dr. Lee.”  

Dr. Lee hurriedly left the pharmacy. Once his dazed figure disappeared beyond the glass door, Leeseo let out a long, tension-filled sigh.  

She had hoped to keep her relationship with Taegyeom a secret while working at the pharmacy. Jieun could be trusted to keep quiet, but Suji’s occasional questions about her husband had made her cautious. She thought she could keep it under wraps if she was careful, but…  

Taegyeom’s unexpected appearance had ruined everything.  

Slumping onto the long bench in the middle of the pharmacy, Leeseo muttered with a troubled expression,  

“This is bad… What if he spreads rumors?”