Emergency Instinct - Chapter 18

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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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The option of refusing was never there to begin with.

Ji-an had no choice but to nod at Professor Cha’s intense gaze.

Uncomfortable questions continued, and Ji-an only muttered model answers. She sat upright and even forced a fake smile according to the professor’s godlike will.

Not a single day goes smoothly.

“Dr. Hong. The photos need to come out well. Please smile a bit more.”

Smiling as if having convulsions, the time passed painfully slowly, more torturous than examining patients.

***

The city’s night streets passed quickly outside the car window.

Tae-jun, having finished his external meeting, opened his tablet while heading to headquarters.

Though it was late, he had documents to review since he was also handling foundation work.

While quickly checking emails, he glanced at his phone.

Despite kindly sending even a photo of the bag, there was still no contact from Ji-an.

He knew she was busy, and he knew she was trying to push him away.

Still, it was a bit disappointing.

The Ji-an he encountered in the morning had slightly swollen eyes like marshmallows on top and wore a sulky expression.

She must look tired at night.

He wanted to see even that side of her.

As he pictured Ji-an in her gown, he suddenly felt thirsty.

I’ll know when I go see her.

Impulsive plan changes originally went against his principles.

But when Ji-an was involved, this disruption became natural and even turned into excitement.

His chest tickled inside and laughter leaked from his breath. Then.

“There’s something you need to check.”

Breaking Tae-jun’s reverie, Manager Kim’s voice was heard.

He handed over his tablet.

“Kang Chi-han’s office used his daughter to upload CCTV footage of Dr. Hong Ji-an. A hospital information reporter saw it and wrote an article. The main point is to prepare and respond to safety issues in advance, and they say they’re preparing legislation related to factory safety issues.”

Tae-jun’s expression hardened slightly.

That cunning bastard. To think he’d use this footage right away.

He didn’t expect him to connect emergency treatment footage with factory safety issues.

Unlike his large build, Kang Chi-han’s actions were as swift as a fox.

Well, in the political arena, they turn everything into an issue. There’s no way he’d miss this opportunity.

“How did the article get published?”

“It’s a reporter that Professor Cha from Emergency Medicine knows. They did the interview together. It doesn’t seem to have become a big issue yet.”p>

As Tae-jun remembered, Ji-an’s face wasn’t clearly visible in the CCTV footage.

If that was fortunate, it was fortunate, but she must have been surprised by such an article.

“So the PR team also wants to move up the hospital channel opening to Christmas to not miss the timing.”

Tae-jun slowly nodded.

“And the hospital PR team just sent an email, which seems like it could be a good issue in connection with this incident. If you look at the next screen, there’s a proposal.”

Tae-jun casually flipped the screen.

And his brow gradually furrowed as he read through the content.

The email from the PR team contained materials about Ji-an and her mother who was lying in a coma at Han-young Nursing Home.

He stared at the unbelievable content as if to bore through it.

Her father died when she was young, and her only family, her mother, was unconscious.

Emergency Medicine resident Hong Ji-an who entered medical school as valedictorian despite her impoverished family environment.

A righteous doctor who saved Kang Chi-han’s daughter despite difficult circumstances.

Seeing Ji-an packaged with various sensational words, Tae-jun gritted his teeth.

“Is this all confirmed fact?”

“Yes. The PR team seems to have discovered it while updating personal information. Looking at it, she’s been maintaining expensive treatment since her mother collapsed. The economic situation isn’t good. Her loans are maxed out, and it would have been hard to manage on a resident’s salary.”

Tae-jun quickly skimmed through and sighed silently.

It was written that her mother had collapsed from a brain hemorrhage and had surgery a year ago.

She was transferred to the nursing home the day after they slept together.

It was because of her mother.

The reason she went on that blind date with that rude bastard who mentioned money at the hotel that day.

She had grabbed his hand and boldly left the hotel, then sat down and cried her heart out.

Vague speculations connected into one, and he finally seemed to understand.

The reason for those tears mixed with countless emotions.

Tae-jun felt a heavy sensation settling around his chest like a weight.

“If we expose the mother too, there would be a synergy effect.”

“No. Let’s go with the original plan.”

“What? But…”

“We don’t use family.”

To think she held on trying to get treatment somehow and only recently moved her to a nursing home. How heartbreaking that must be.

“Having a backstory would definitely create a bigger impact.”

“Manager Kim, how would you feel if someone suggested using your unconscious mother of one year for hospital promotion?”

Tae-jun asked coldly toward Manager Kim who was being persistent.

“Ah. B-but, wouldn’t this be a good opportunity for Dr. Hong Ji-an too? If the hospital sponsors her mother’s medical expenses…”

“Isn’t the article already released by the congressman’s side sufficient conditions?”

His voice finally came out roughly.

Manager Kim flinched and closed his mouth, and Tae-jun’s gaze became even colder.

“Hanyeong Hospital’s promotion will focus on skilled medical staff with the latest facilities and equipment.”

“Y-yes.”

“We don’t need to use patients’ or families’ sorrows to be sufficient.”

“…I’m sorry. I crossed the line.”

“Keep Dr. Hong Ji-an’s personal matters strictly confidential. If even one line gets out, Manager Kim will have to take responsibility.”

“…Yes. I’ll be careful.”

Tae-jun, who had momentarily lost his composure, breathed roughly.

His emotions seemed to be overflowing uncontrollably.

There had never been a time when someone else’s emotions came before his own.

Even his own family wasn’t a priority for him.

But at this moment, Ji-an’s tears kept coming to mind and his insides boiled.

He kept remembering her dejected figure sitting down and crying like an abandoned child in the corner of the hotel lobby.

Wondering if she was somewhere crying sadly from despair even now.

Pathetically and childishly, the text about throwing away that he had sent along with the bag photo to see her reaction flashed through his mind.

Damn it.

“Stop the car.”

The words that had been circling in Tae-jun’s mind finally burst from his mouth.

***

After leaving the hospital, Ji-an headed straight to the nursing home to see her mother.

Her body felt like it weighed a thousand pounds.

The unexpected interview seemed to have drained all her energy.

Even while seeing patients, the back of her head felt numb from the burdensome attention.

When will this commotion end?

At this rate, I might develop social anxiety disorder.

Ji-an hurried her steps, unnecessarily conscious of her surroundings.

She wanted to quickly hold her mother’s hand tightly and replenish her lacking energy.

Ji-an quietly opened the door to the four-person room where her mother was hospitalized. When she went to her mother’s side by the window, the caregiver Mi-soon was sitting on an auxiliary chair looking at her phone.

“Ma’am. I’m here.”

Ji-an deliberately greeted her more brightly.

Mi-soon was startled and stood up.

“You came early today?”

“Yes. I missed Mother so much.”

“How can you be so happy seeing her every day. Ji-an’s mother is truly blessed.”

“I’m the one who’s blessed.”

“Such a filial daughter anyway.”

Mi-soon smiled and patted Ji-an’s shoulder.

“Ma’am, I’m always grateful. It must be uncomfortable in a shared room, yet you came all the way here with us. I’ll add a little more starting next month.”

Finding a good caregiver like Mi-soon wasn’t easy. Even though the hospital had changed, thanks to her continuing to care for Mother, Ji-an could feel much more at ease.

“No. I’m fine here too. You don’t need to give me more.”

“It’s how I feel.”

“Ah, haha. Well then. Um… I’ll go get some fresh air for a moment.”

Mi-soon smiled awkwardly with an apologetic expression and went outside.

Ji-an smiled faintly and approached Mother’s side. She already felt like she was gaining strength.

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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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