Emergency Blind Date - Chapter 23

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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#Episode 23

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AM 5:30

Kang Hyeok woke up out of habit, lightly brushed his teeth and washed his face, then changed into workout clothes.

The reason he chose this officetel among so many others was precisely because the building rooftop had a green outdoor garden and gym.

Although the gym didn’t have separate shower facilities and only had basic exercise equipment, it was perfectly adequate for physical training.

Plus, he only needed to go up one flight of stairs without taking the elevator.

Kang Hyeok draped a long towel around his neck and left through the entrance.

He opened the emergency exit door and climbed the stairs, pondering for a moment.

What if he went down to the 7th floor to bring Jeong Da-som along for a workout?

To survive in the Emergency Medicine Department where even men collapsed from exhaustion, one needed to be strong not just mentally but physically too.

Besides, he wondered if her current stamina would be enough to handle him from now on.

Just yesterday, hadn’t she looked completely drained after merely eating and drinking wine?

Since they had decided to get closer, Kang Hyeok felt responsible for Da-som’s health.

As if grown adults would just drink tea and eat meals before parting ways.

To handle his robust self that stirred and surged just thinking about Da-som, physical training was essential.

With light steps, Kang Hyeok climbed the stairs, passed through the outdoor garden, and headed toward the gym.

But the gym, which was always dark, had its lights on.

Who could it be?

Until now, Kang Hyeok had been the only one using the gym at this hour.

Questions clouded Kang Hyeok’s dark eyes.

***

“Hoo… hoo. This is crazy. Why is it so cold?”

Da-som rubbed her hands together and blew out visible breath.

They said any resident could use the gym, but there wasn’t even an ant in sight.

If the door hadn’t been open, she probably would have just turned around and gone back down.

Click.

She turned on the lights and looked around inside the gym.

On the wall near the entrance hung a whiteboard with usage instructions written on it.

[Open Year-Round

5 AM to 11 PM

개인 PT 문의 010―1234―****

Monthly Fee 10,000 won. Bank Account Number

(※When depositing, include room number in depositor name)]

They said it was free, but they were charging ten thousand won.

Da-som took a photo of the account number for now, planning to transfer the money later, and slowly looked around inside.

At the far end of the gym, she could see an air conditioning unit, so she approached it and found another notice posted there too.

[Do not tamper with air conditioning unit.]

Da-som had tried to turn on a heater but gave up in frustration and turned around, hunching her body as she approached the row of exercise bikes.

Even though the weather had warmed up considerably, it was still cold at dawn.

“Should I just go back down?”

Even if she couldn’t be like the slender female protagonists in dramas who run along the Han River riverside before sunrise, she had wanted to work up a sweat running on a treadmill, but her back wouldn’t straighten at all.

Da-som, who had never exercised except for breathing, quietly climbed onto an exercise bike.

“Ah, it’s cold.”

She had left her thick gray training pants behind and worn ankle-length leggings she’d recently bought online, and the cold air came right through.

They claimed to be high-performance fitness leggings made with materials that help boost energy, but apparently even those were helpless against the cold.

With hunched shoulders, she placed her legs on the bike pedals and began pedaling slowly.

Her ankle that had been twisted yesterday showed no problems when she rotated it this morning.

It was all thanks to the professor who had personally wrapped the compression bandage for her.

Squeak, squeak.

Only the sound of the bike pedals turning echoed eerily through the large, desolate gym.

“Right, they say starting is half the battle, so let’s call it quits for today.”

She had ridden for maybe two minutes, but it was so scary and cold that she couldn’t continue.

Da-som got off the bike and walked quickly toward the gym entrance.

Today she’d be satisfied with just setting foot in the gym.

Click.

She turned off the lights first and quickly opened the door. Although there were streetlights in the outdoor garden, perhaps due to the dawn fog, their light didn’t reach the gym entrance.

As she tried to escape the pitch-black area, something dark suddenly approached from ahead.

Startled, Da-som froze completely, even forgetting to scream.

“…Jeong Da-som?”

Only when the dark figure came within a few steps of Da-som could she recognize who it was.

“Pro…fessor?”

Hah, what a shock.

Da-som leaned against the wall with one hand, breathing heavily.

It was probably from the cold, but her legs were trembling so much she felt like she might collapse at any moment.

“What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

Seeing Da-som’s pale face, Kang Hyeok approached with large steps and scanned Da-som’s face and body with sharp eyes.

Then he glanced toward the gym entrance, sensing for any presence.

“It’s not that, the gym was just too cold so I was coming out. This was my first time here, and it was so desolate and scary too.”

“So you were just heading back?”

A slight relief could be felt on his face as he asked seriously in a low voice.

“Yes.”

“And you were startled when you saw me?”

“A dark man suddenly appeared…”

Kang Hyeok reached out and gently stroked Da-som’s head, showing her a soft smile.

“That’s why you shouldn’t go around alone. You make people worry.”

It had been a long time since she’d heard such concerned words, or perhaps it was the first time hearing them from a man, so it sounded nice.

Da-som wanted to lean her head in further but held back, biting her lip to hide her embarrassment.

Whether it was a baboon or a proboscis monkey didn’t seem to matter as laughter leaked out.

“Hehe, actually my face is a weapon, but I’m quite timid.”

Da-som scratched her head and smiled.

“Is there such a pretty weapon?”

Kang Hyeok smiled as he carefully examined Da-som’s face.

When before he had called her ugly.

Anyway, his gentle smile was wonderful. It was like a ray of light in the darkness.

Come to think of it, the professor himself wouldn’t need any special lighting. He glows wherever he goes.

Wearing black jersey training clothes top and bottom, he looked much more relaxed and at ease than usual.

And what about those bangs naturally covering his forehead?

He looked young enough to be believed if someone said he was the same age as Da-som.

“So you’re going back down?”

“Yes, it’s cold and I should come when there are more people around.”

Zip.

Kang Hyeok unzipped his top and without hesitation took it off and draped it over Da-som’s shoulders.

“Here, put this on and come inside with me. Let’s do a little workout before you go.”

When she said she’d leave because it was cold, seeing Kang Hyeok even take off his clothes for her, Da-som asked back feeling sorry.

“Aren’t you cold, Professor?”

…He must be cold.

“I’m fine.”

Under Kang Hyeok’s top, he wore a fitted white short-sleeved t-shirt. It gave a different feeling from the surgical scrubs she’d seen at the hospital.

His thick upper arms and tightly built muscles hit her without any filter. It was enough to make her head spin.

“Come on, give me your hand.”

Kang Hyeok took Da-som’s hand and headed toward the gym entrance.

“Uh, …uh.”

Foolish sounds leaked from her mouth.

Da-som, whose hand had been caught unexpectedly, was dragged back into the dim gym.

Click.

Kang Hyeok turned on the lights to brighten the interior, and still holding Da-som’s hand, walked toward the air conditioning unit placed against the far wall.

“You can turn it on if you’re cold.”

“It says not to touch it….”

When Kang Hyeok simply operated the buttons, the sound of machinery running could be heard, and soon warm air began flowing out.

But how long are you going to keep holding this hand?

Da-som, caught in Kang Hyeok’s large hand, looked up at him with flushed cheeks.

Then Kang Hyeok gently cupped Da-som’s cheek with his other hand and met her eyes.

Wait, wait. I did wash my face before coming out, right?

I remember brushing my teeth. …There’s no way I have eye boogers, right?

The distance between them was too close.

As soon as she realized her situation, she lowered her head and tried to pull her body back, but behind her was the large air conditioning unit with “Do Not Touch” written on it.

She managed to create just one step of distance.

Then Kang Hyeok closed the gap again by the same amount, moving his hand from stroking her cheek to rest against the machine as he tilted his head.

“I was curious what kind of face you’d have right after waking up.”

There aren’t any drool marks left, are there?

No, there wouldn’t be.

His dark eyes gleamed mysteriously as they traced Da-som’s forehead, eyebrows, eyelids, bridge of her nose, lips, and chin in order.

“…How, how is it?”

The truth was, it wasn’t just Eun Hyeok who suffered from the disease of being unable to resist curiosity—I was the same way.

When Da-som asked in a voice that was barely audible, he smiled deeply and asked back.

“Curious?”

Da-som nodded her head.

“If you come out to exercise tomorrow too, I’ll tell you.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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