Emergency Instinct - Chapter 16

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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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-Ah, the blind date.

“I heard rumors that you’re getting married.”

-So you’re saying there are rumors going around Hanyeong Hospital that I’m getting married? To a resident?

“…Yes.”

Ji-an felt uneasy at Tae-jun’s tone, which sounded like he was hearing this for the first time, and answered.

-That’s an interesting rumor.

He replied cynically and then let out a light laugh as if deflated.

-Could this be, by any chance?

Be what?

-Jealousy.

After hearing such shameless responses continuously, it felt like all her bodily functions had stopped simultaneously.

As expected, she shouldn’t have engaged with him.

“I’m busy, so I’ll hang up now.”

Ji-an ended the call, concluding that ignoring him was the answer.

Are all chaebols this self-centered?

He’s really a strange person.

She was taking deep breaths to calm her mind and roughly running her hands through her hair when.

Screech. Click.

Behind her, she heard the sound of a car stopping and a door opening.

“Dr. Hong Ji-an. Why do you keep talking only about yourself and not listening to what I say?”

Tae-jun’s voice was heard.

Startled, she turned around to find Seo Tae-jun standing there like an apparition. Perfectly dressed in a sophisticated suit, with a subtle smile hanging at the corners of his mouth.

“Why, no, how, are you here?”

A pleasant cologne scent wafted from him as he approached closer.

Surprised by the man’s heat that came with it, Ji-an unconsciously stepped back.

He chuckled as if finding her reaction amusing, then bent his upper body to come even closer. He gently pulled her stiff shoulders and whispered in her ear, breathing against it. Low and sticky, like intimate sweet talk.

“Listen to the end. Dr. Hong Ji-an. I’m not marrying the resident I met on a blind date.”

Deep heat that seemed to devour as it penetrated her ears.

“It’s all just rumors.”

It was the devil’s temptation, perfect for bewitching. She seemed to be momentarily enchanted too.

But Ji-an soon covered her burning ears, shook off his hand on her shoulder, and stepped back. With her inevitably reddened face, filled with distrust.

“You don’t believe me. That’s a bit unfair.”

He sighed low and straightened his back. Then, as if to confirm once more, he continued slowly.

“Do I need to speak more directly for you to understand?”

At his somehow tension-inducing tone, Ji-an was swallowing dry saliva when.

“It’s true that I went on a blind date on the 21st floor of H Hotel a week ago. I was late because of someone, and it ended quickly because of someone.”

“…!”

“Don’t you know my movements that day better than anyone?”

Through Ji-an’s mind, her first meeting with him flashed by.

‘Let’s help each other.’

Was the reason he looked troubled at the hotel because he was trying to escape from a blind date, just like her?

But she couldn’t readily believe it.

“Believe me. The one who ate and slept with me was Dr. Hong Ji-an.”

“…”

“From the moment you came out of that elevator that day, my interest was only in you.”

Ji-an’s face burned hot and turned red as if it would burst, so she hung her head low.

“If you still don’t remember…”

“Ah, no. That’s enough.”

Ji-an couldn’t listen anymore and turned around.

That was the moment. He pulled her wrist. Surprised by the tightening heat, she tried to shake it off.

“I’ll stop here for today. For now.”

His burning gaze poured down on her. One that couldn’t possibly be refused.

“I’m not trash who would turn my eyes to another woman when I have a woman to marry.”

“…!”

“I’m not joking around right now.”

Thump. Thump. Thump.

A loud resonance like a declaration of war struck her heart.

As she froze in surprise, he hung a heavy paper bag on her trembling hand and went to his car.

“Eat breakfast.”

“Yes…?”

“Throw it away if you don’t want it.”

“Ah, no. Chairman! Please take this back!”

She called out belatedly, but it was useless. As soon as he got in his car, he drove away.

Ji-an stood there dazed like someone struck by lightning, looking down at the heavy bag in her hand.

Inside were small packages of porridge, perfect for breakfast, packed tightly.

Whether he had just bought it, the paper bag itself was still warm, and that warmth slowly spread through her palm.

Was it because of that heat?

Or was it because the words he had just left filled her mind completely?

Ji-an’s face heated up for reasons unknown.

She stood there for a long time, clutching the bag tightly, unable to move.

***

Head Office Executive Director’s Office of Hanyeong Group.

Tae-jun, who had come to work as usual, started his tasks.

“What’s the schedule for tomorrow morning?”

“There’s a breakfast meeting with foundation directors at 7 AM. You need to attend the head office meeting, and lunch is scheduled with the head office executives.”

“Is attending the breakfast mandatory?”

“It’s arranged as a substitute for the chairman inauguration ceremony, so you should probably go. Just canceling the entire inauguration ceremony and demanding immediate work reports has already caused talk everywhere.”

“8 o’clock. Let’s push it back an hour.”

Though reluctant, Tae-jun nodded.

“Yes. I’ll adjust it right away.”

“Ah, is the editing of the CCTV footage from H Hotel finished?”

“Yes. The editing is complete, and related emergency treatment videos are also being produced. As you instructed, they’ll be uploaded sequentially when the hospital promotion channel opens on January 1st.”

“What about the hospital internal business plan?”

“It will take a bit longer.”

“Hurry up. There aren’t many days left this year. And report on Hanyeong Automotive matters weekly. Regarding HC, check everything from export volumes to current status, even the smallest details.”

Hanyeong Automotive was the subsidiary he was most attached to.

Especially the new car HC’s entry into the US market was like the future of Hanyeong Group.

Hadn’t he personally struggled in the US for two years to pave the way? He had no choice but to monitor it to the end.

“And from tomorrow onward, remove all breakfast schedules for the time being.”

“Yes? Until when?”

Manager Kim, who had been nodding throughout, asked back in surprise for the first time.

“For now, let’s make it a week.”

Manager Kim hesitated with a troubled expression. But Tae-jun continued signing reports without any change in expression.

To meet a busy emergency room doctor, what choice is there?

He’d have to carve out morning time at least.

When he had a goal, his drive was unleashed like crazy. Once he was certain, hesitation was a luxury.

***

“Haah.”

A long sigh escaped from Ji-an’s lips from the morning.

Tae-jun had canceled his inauguration ceremony and hadn’t come to work at the hospital.

But he had already appeared before her eyes for the third day in a row.

In a dazzling suit that clearly showed he had stopped by on his way to work.

‘Let’s have breakfast together.’

‘…I don’t want to.’

He didn’t ask twice. Instead, he handed her a heavy paper bag each time.

‘Take it. Otherwise, I’ll have it delivered to the Emergency Room with my name written in big letters.’

Considering how he had casually called her name and greeted her in front of other people, Seo Tae-jun was definitely the type of man who would do such a thing.

She was trying hard to push away his actions.

Yet she couldn’t deny that a corner of her heart was stirring.

Get a grip. It’s just temporary interest anyway.

Tae-jun was probably fixated on something about their one night together. Or maybe his precious pride was hurt by her rejection.

Whatever the reason, it didn’t matter.

Ji-an didn’t have even the slightest intention of playing around with him, even casually.

One transgression was enough.

Ji-an knew her place well.

Even if he didn’t have someone to marry, he was essentially from a different world to begin with.

So now she shouldn’t waver and needed to focus more on her own reality.

Since childhood, there had often been boys who lingered around Ji-an.

At first they would treat her well, but when she said no, they would eventually end up tormenting her before falling away.

Tae-jun wouldn’t be any different.

She was confident in her persistence and patience.

If she kept enduring steadily, he would get tired and give up.

Anyway, her work schedule would change starting tomorrow.

She wouldn’t have to come out in the morning, and she could just not answer phone calls.

After changing clothes in the changing room, Ji-an headed toward the Emergency Medicine Department.

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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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