Emergency Instinct - Chapter 24

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

Without realizing it, Ji-an’s worried heart surged and she became anxious as she thought of what she had to do as his attending physician.

“Ji-an? What’s wrong?”

“Oh, it’s nothing.”

Ji-an hurriedly hid her phone and gave an awkward smile.

“What should we eat? There’s a new brunch cafe nearby…”

“I’m sorry, senior. I have some work left to do.”

“Work? What work?”

“Well, there’s something I was personally asked to handle.”

“Oh, really? I understand. Can’t be helped. Then, tomorrow? You start work in the afternoon. Should we have lunch?”

“Ah, yes. Okay. Then, I’ll go first.”

After making lunch plans with Kyung-seok, Ji-an hurriedly turned around and ran.

It would be terrible if that impatient man happened to come out of the hospital room and catch her eye.

***

The VIP ward with restricted access.

Tae-jun, who had slept deeply and opened his eyes, lightly got up from his spot.

He called Kim Manager and pulled out his IV.

“Good work. Let’s go now. Handle the discharge procedures.”

“That won’t do.”

Kim Manager, who had been running around since dawn, was so surprised that words of opposition came out first.

He knew his boss’s stubbornness, but this time he had no choice but to stand firm.

“I’m sorry. The Vice Director said you need a few more days of rest.”

Tae-jun had successfully ended a strike situation that seemed impossible to negotiate. But he had overexerted himself for several days in extremely harsh conditions and injured his head on a pile of materials stacked in the factory while staggering.

It was a stroke of luck.

It could have led to a major accident.

Kim Manager, who had watched from beside him in real time, had no choice but to be more careful.

“Kim Manager. Don’t waste time, I’ll go down in an hour so have the car ready and schedule appointments.”

Tae-jun commanded in a cold voice.

He had clearly given a warning, but Kim Manager seemed to be getting more talkative.

There were many projects being pushed forward from the new year.

Being caught up in handling an unexpected strike had completely messed up all the planned schedules.

He didn’t have the luxury to lie around leisurely. There was nothing good about people knowing he was in the hospital either.

“No! Chairman Seo Tae-jun cannot be discharged, so don’t schedule anything.”

As Tae-jun was getting up from his seat, the hospital room door opened and a firm voice interrupted.

It was Ji-an, who looked incredibly good in her white coat.

She came quickly. Hong Ji-an.

It seemed she had rushed over immediately after seeing his text.

“Kim Manager, please leave now.”

When Tae-jun gave the hint, Kim Manager immediately disappeared.

Once they were alone, he curled his lips and spoke with eyes that had become much softer.

“I’m in a good mood. You came running right away when I contacted you.”

Gentle voice, pleasant expression, affectionate gaze.

Tae-jun looked at Ji-an with an enchanting smile.

Ji-an felt that all her resolutions to treat him coldly while coming up were rendered meaningless.

As soon as she saw Tae-jun, who had somewhat recovered his condition, the moment they had kissed came to mind without her realizing it, making her mouth dry.

She swallowed dry saliva and recalled her position.

Don’t waver. That man is a VIP patient, and she is just the resident in charge.

She clenched her fists tightly. Then she raised her calm gaze and spoke.

“I didn’t come because I received the Chairman’s contact, but because of the Vice Director’s orders. Discharge is absolutely not allowed.”

He stared intently at Ji-an with a more subdued gaze than before.

Ji-an avoided his gaze and continued speaking.

“I’m just following orders. If you have complaints, speak directly to the Vice Director. For now, lie down. I need to insert the IV again.”

Ji-an deliberately spoke more businesslike, removing emotion. While resolving in her mind that she would absolutely not be swept away.

But.

“Fine.”

Making her wariness seem pointless, he chuckled and easily nodded his head.

“Instead, eat with me.”

Of course. She was shaking her head at the ridiculous condition when.

He pointed to the table with his eyes.

On it were two sets of elegant Korean lunch boxes neatly placed.

“I don’t eat with patients.”

“I’m not just any patient to Dr. Hong Ji-an, am I?”

“You’re a VIP patient.”

“You’re being too cold. Why did the temperature drop so suddenly again?”

Even while asking that, he chuckled as if finding it amusing.

“Between the Chairman and me, this temperature is just right.”

As soon as she finished speaking, he suddenly grabbed her wrist and pulled her toward him.

“No. Between us it’s a bit hotter. Like this.”

At the sudden contact, Ji-an felt heat spreading from her wrist throughout her entire body. He whispered with a triumphant smile.

“See. You get feverish just from touching. At least Dr. Hong Ji-an’s body is honest.”

“It’s just a physical reaction from being startled.”

Ji-an spoke while denying the burning heat.

But he didn’t back down easily.

“Isn’t it too late to draw lines now?”

“…”

As Ji-an pursed her dry lips and held out to the end, Tae-jun shook his head as if admitting defeat.

“Dr. Hong Ji-an seems to find it fun to toy with me.”

“…I’ve never done that.”

Ji-an didn’t think there wasn’t even a fragment of sincerity in Tae-jun’s actions and words so far.

But if the foundation was only the desire to spend the night together.

If his feelings could cool down quickly like this…

After all, you’re the one toying with me.

Ji-an looked at him with displeased eyes.

But suddenly he staggered and sat down heavily on the sofa as if dizzy.

“Are you okay? Are you dizzy?”

Startled, Ji-an immediately checked his pulse.

“That’s why, why did you pull out the IV? I’ll insert it again…”

She was speaking roughly without realizing it, when he instantly pulled her down to sit beside him.

Their shoulders touched unexpectedly and the hospital room air heated up.

“I need food more than an injection right now.”

“Ch-Chairman.”

“I was forced to fast. I’m so hungry I could die, so let’s eat first and fight later. Dr. Hong Ji-an. Okay?”

The moment she saw his face where fatigue still hadn’t faded, Ji-an felt as if something heavy was stuck in her throat and couldn’t say anything.

“I promise. If you eat with me, I’ll stay still no matter what you stick in me.”

His deep eyes met Ji-an’s.

“Or I’ll just discharge myself like this.”

“…Chairman Seo Tae-jun. Why have you been so obsessed with meals from before?”

Looking at Ji-an who asked as if she couldn’t understand at all, Tae-jun soon showed a gentle smile on his face.

“It’s not just any meal, it’s a meal I’m eating with Dr. Hong Ji-an.”

“So, why….”

“Is it a problem that I want to eat with a woman I’m interested in?”

He spoke those face-burning words with brutal directness.

Ji-an gritted her teeth, trying to act nonchalant.

“Then why are you so reluctant to eat with me?”

“Because I might get indigestion.”

“From the food, or from me?”

He looked at her with an intense gaze as if seeing right through Ji-an’s heart.

A terrible trembling she wanted to avoid pierced into her heart. The tense air began to suffocate her, and Ji-an opened her trembling lips.

“Chairman. Don’t misunderstand. Just because your heart races doesn’t mean you like someone. We’re not children, and if you confuse desire with feelings….”

“Teacher Hong Ji-an.”

Suddenly he gripped her chin and captured her gaze.

His eyes were so intense that Ji-an couldn’t move, as if her entire body was bound tight with rope.

A tingling sensation reached her ears, and her heart pounded as if it would burst without any sense.

He opened his lips as if he had expected this.

“I’m not dull enough to mistake something like that.”

His confident voice melted sweetly like honey into her reddened ears.

“L-let go of this.”

Her heart churned.

She felt like she absolutely couldn’t listen to any more.

Belatedly, Ji-an tried to shake him off. But he wouldn’t let her go.

“The heat flowing between us isn’t just simple impulse or curiosity.”

“….”

“Teacher Hong Ji-an knows this too, which is why you keep avoiding it, isn’t it?”

Trembling poured down like a torrential rain.

His persistent heat seeped into her entire body.

He who had bewitched her finally wrapped his hand around hers and pressed the chopsticks firmly into her grip.

Large hands that seemed to constrict her entire body.

Deep eyes that breathlessly traced her skin.

Sticky breath that heated even her blood vessels.

It couldn’t be anything but a frightening confession.

She wanted to insist until the end that it was simple desire, but she was increasingly losing confidence.

Her heart endlessly plummeted from the unbearable throbbing, piercing through the floor and spilling out.

Meanwhile, a fearless greed suddenly arose as well.

Wasn’t he a desirable man?

When such an incredible man was pouring out his sincerity toward her, it would be a lie to say she didn’t want to hold onto him.

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