Illusion Blind Date - Chapter 18

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

#Chapter 18

“Don’t panic ahead of time, though. I’m not the difficult sort.”
Somehow that made it sound even more frightening.
“Are there any rules we should follow?”
We’d managed to establish a few guidelines among ourselves so far, but it seemed clear they wouldn’t be nearly enough.
“You have a group chat, right?”
“Yes, we do.”
“Here’s my business card. Add me to it. I’ll send over the etiquette guidelines you should follow in the chat.”
“All right, I understand.”
Bom accepted the business card he held out. She then retrieved her phone, entered his number, and invited him to the group chat.
The others would figure it out without me saying anything beforehand, wouldn’t they?
“Done.”
“Thanks.”
After checking his phone, he fixed an unwavering gaze on her. His dark eyes rippled with something unreadable.
Her shoulders shrank inward of their own accord.
What was he about to say?
The way he looked at her without moving—as if the real conversation were about to begin—made her heart lurch.
“You got quite a shock from the kiss earlier, didn’t you?”
Bom looked at the man who had taken her precious first kiss and answered quietly.
“……Yes.”
She gazed at Tae Moon while worrying her lip gently between her teeth.
The warmth draining from her face seemed to gather momentum again.
She’d been too flustered to think about whether she liked it or not, but truthfully, the feeling hadn’t been unpleasant.
“It was just an accident, so don’t read anything into it.”
“……Understood.”
When her answer came a beat too late, Tae Moon’s eyes narrowed.
He studied her as if trying to divine her true thoughts.
“Why? Want to read something into it?”
“No, I don’t.”
Bom answered immediately.
She’d wanted to ask what would happen if she did, but she didn’t yet have the nerve.
He was her landlord, and he was also her professor.
“Good, then. I’m relieved.”
His skill at manipulating people was remarkable.
Bom recalled the article that had set the hospital abuzz before she came here, and decided to come clean, broaching the subject with careful hesitation.
“Um, Professor. Did you happen to see the article circulating online today?”
“An article?”
“Yes. That video from the Hotel where you performed CPR was uploaded. There’s some content in it that you might find… unfavorable.”
Bom touched her phone screen and turned it toward Tae Moon.

[Beautiful Surgeon from YJ University Hospital Saves Citizen’s Life]

There was a small part of her that wanted to take a little credit too.
True, the comments were mostly praising his appearance, but still—the headline itself spoke for itself, didn’t it?
“Comments keep coming in.”
After skimming the article, he handed the phone back to her.
“Oh, you already knew?”
“Hae Il sent it to me.”
“Ah, so you’ve seen it.”
“There’s even an article saying we’re in a relationship…….”
“That’s actually why I was thinking of suing them.”
Bom moved quickly to get ahead of him.
Of course, she had no intention of actually suing anyone. It was the kind of article that would fade away in a few days anyway.
But since she couldn’t read this man’s mind, she threw up a defensive play first.
“Sounds like the article upset you enough to consider suing the journalist.”
“Oh, no. I was worried it might upset you, Professor…….”
“That so?”
“It doesn’t matter at all, Professor, as long as you’re comfortable with it. In fact, it’s rather an honor to the family.”
Babbling, contradicting himself.
His mind had drifted so far away that he wasn’t thinking of bringing it back down to earth.
But perhaps the flattery had worked.
A smile played at the corners of Tae Moon’s mouth.
Thank goodness, that was a relief.
“In any case, Bom certainly brought honor to the hospital’s name.”
……Bom?
He’d grown up surrounded by seniors who’d always called her that, but the way he said her name sounded somehow different. Special, even.
More embarrassing, if anything.
What was that—ticklish somehow.
Bom pressed her lips together, facing this man who was impossible to pin down.
“I’m not sure if the Director saw the article.”
“The Director?”
“Yes.”
Though she worked at the hospital, she’d seen him only a handful of times from a distance—a figure far too exalted for her station.
The way he mentioned him so casually confirmed that this professor was indeed someone the Director had brought in.
“Are you staying here tonight?”
“No. I need to get to the hospital.”
“Is that so? Wait here a moment, then.”
What was he planning to do?
He rose from his seat and headed toward the elevator.
Bom watched him disappear into the elevator car, then gulped down the coffee that had long gone cold.
Her energy was sapped and her mind hazy—the toll of consecutive full night shifts speaking for itself.
She leaned forward and peered into the mug he’d been drinking from; more than half the coffee remained.
His compliment about the taste seemed like mere politeness.
The elevator that had gone up to the third floor descended to the first floor a moment later.
Watching him emerge in a light casual jumper, Bom rose from her seat as well.
“You’re heading straight to the hospital now, aren’t you?”
Did he have something he wanted her to do?
Having no way to know his intent, Bom answered slowly.
“……Yes.”
“Let’s go together.”
“Are you going to the hospital too, Professor?”
“No. Just taking a walk.”
A walk at this hour?
Thinking that it was possible enough, Bom gathered her jacket and bag and headed toward the entrance.
“Aren’t you wearing your jacket?”
He gestured to the jacket in her hand, his brow slightly furrowed.
Just as she was debating whether to put it on despite the fever burning through her, he made a soft tsk of disapproval and took the jacket from her hands.
“The night air is still cold. You know that catching a cold means trouble for your patients?”
He held the jumper open for her to slip into.
“Your arms.”
“……I can put it on myself.”
“Your arms.”
Bom reluctantly threaded her arms through the sleeves.
“Let’s go.”
He even took her bag from her and slung it over his shoulder before striding out with long, purposeful steps.
Bom hurried along on shorter legs to keep pace with him.
Just as they were about to pass the garden, something caught Bom’s eye.
My cherry tomatoes!
Bom came to an abrupt halt and rushed toward where the cherry tomato pot sat, Tae Moon following leisurely behind.
The cherry tomatoes she’d carefully tended for months indoors had finally begun bearing fruit, so she’d placed them in the garden where the sunlight was best.
There was another reason too—avoiding the hands of people who passed by and couldn’t resist plucking the unripe fruit—though she’d momentarily forgotten.
I must be crazy, letting my mind wander like this.
They must all have withered by now.
Bom studied the pot carefully, her heart sinking.
……Wait?
Against all expectation, the cherry tomatoes were thriving beautifully. Placing them where there was wind circulation must have helped with pollination, then.
Fruits were growing on each successive flower stalk she’d tended.
“What is it? Is something wrong?”
He approached from the side and knelt down beside Bom, who was crouching, gazing at her intently.
“No, not at all. It’s growing so beautifully.”
The vitality of nature!
Just as she was marveling at this, Bom heard it.
Snap.
The sound of a branch breaking.
She turned her head to look up at Tae Moon. In his hand hung a ripe cherry tomato, deep red.
“…Uh, why did you…”
She hadn’t even gotten to photograph it yet.
“Want some?”
“…!”
“If you don’t, I’ll eat it.”
Watching him bring the cherry tomato to his mouth without a trace of hesitation, Bom found herself speechless.
“Get up. How long are we going to stay like this?”
With that, he rose to his feet without ceremony.
In any case, it’s growing well. Eating one wouldn’t hurt.
Bom consoled herself this way as she followed after him.
Then her eyes caught sight of her own bag draped across his broad shoulders.
Bom quickly reached for it.
“Professor, give me the bag. I’ll carry it.”
“Just go.”
She’d seen men carry their girlfriends’ bags before, but that was only in the context of romantic relationships.
So why was this man doing that now?
Even if her shoulders shattered, Bom had always carried her own bag herself—yet she simply gazed at him in bewilderment.
“This place has always been a bit removed from the residential area, and after dark, there aren’t many people around.”
He slowed his pace and looked down at Bom as he spoke.
“Ah, yes. I did notice it felt that way.”

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