Illusion Blind Date - Chapter 20

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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#Episode 20

“What are you doing? Come on out.”
Jimun pushed at Bom’s back.
The moment Bom stepped forward, her eyes met those of Cha Tae-moon, who was standing at the back of the group.
He simply gazed at her with a composed expression, a faint smile playing at his lips.
“And we’d also like our newly appointed Professor Cha Tae-moon to step forward.”
At the Hospital Director’s words, Cha Tae-moon stretched out his long legs and took his place beside Bom.
“Professor Cha, why don’t we start with a self-introduction?”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Cha Tae-moon. My specialty is hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery. I completed my fellowship in trauma surgery and pediatric surgery at UCLA Medical Center. I look forward to working with you all.”
Bom’s ears perked up at this.
Wow, the professor is quite accomplished.
Most people struggle with one specialty, and here he has three.
As Cha Tae-moon finished his introduction, everyone applauded enthusiastically.
“I should mention that Professor Cha Tae-moon trained through his internship, residency, and fellowship right here at our hospital. On top of that, he’s now returned after training at a world-renowned institution, so his expertise will be invaluable to advancing our surgical department. Let’s all work together to make our surgical program surpass SJ University Hospital’s.”
At the Hospital Director’s addendum, everyone repeated his words in unison with loud voices.
“We’ll do our very best!”
Even Bom, standing somewhat awkwardly off to the side, joined in with applause.
But why am I here? Why did he call me out?
Surely he didn’t call me just because I performed CPR with this man?
Bom gazed at the Hospital Director with an uncomfortable smile.
The Hospital Director, whose hairline had receded noticeably at the crown, looked at Bom with genuinely warm eyes.
“And the reason we’ve called Han Bom here today is that you and Professor Cha Tae-moon have both brought honor to our hospital.”
My hunch was right.
It looked like he’d seen an article that appeared on a portal site.
“We received a report that Han Bom performed CPR after witnessing a patient in cardiac arrest, saving a citizen’s life. Through video footage, we were able to confirm that Han Bom and Professor Cha Tae-moon worked together to save that citizen’s life.”
It was fortunate she’d seen the article yesterday; otherwise, hearing this now would have been quite shocking.
“You’ve all likely seen the article. If you haven’t, search for ‘The YJ University Hospital Surgeon Who Saved a Citizen’s Life.'”
While you’re at it, why not be precise?
More accurately, it was “The Beautiful YJ University Hospital Surgeon.”
Lost in her mortified thoughts, heat crept into her face, and she unconsciously tugged at her earlobe—only to feel a gaze boring into her from the side like a needle.
When she turned her head slightly, he was looking down at her intently.
That man—she could never figure out what he was thinking.
Bom quickly averted her gaze back to the Hospital Director.
“To honor Han Bom for elevating our hospital’s reputation, the Board Chair has prepared a bonus envelope. Han Bom, please come forward and receive it.”
Her ears perked up. An unexpected bonus envelope?
But am I the only one receiving this?
Bom stepped forward to Shim Eun-kyung.
“Han Bom, I look forward to your continued hard work.”
Shim Eun-kyung handed the envelope to Bom and offered a handshake.
“Thank you. I’ll do my best.”
Embarrassed though she was, she accepted the money being offered. After shaking hands, everyone applauded as Bom turned to head back.
Bom flashed a bright smile and made a small V-sign with her fingers.
“Well then, let’s make the rest of today a good one. Shall we be on our way?”
“Everyone, thank you for your hard work.”
The Board Chair left with the Hospital Director and the Associate Director.
“Now, let’s begin rounds. Professor Cha, you’ll join us, yes?”
“Of course.”
The moment Chief Resident Kang Sang-hyung finished speaking, an intern bolted toward the patient ward.
The chief, the staff, and the residents followed close behind.
Standing at the very back, Bom gazed at Cha Tae-moon’s imposing silhouette looming ahead and tilted her head in wonder.
Surely the professor didn’t say anything to the Board Chair, did he?
Tap.
Jimun nudged Bom and spoke in a low voice.
“What do we do now?”
“We do our best. What else can we do?”
“Sigh—I was already going crazy, and now I think we’re doomed.”
“……Yeah.”
Bom’s voice came out slightly weakened.

***

After rounds ended, everyone scattered to attend to their own tasks.
Bom asked the Chief Resident for a moment and headed to the Doctors’ Office.
Once inside with the door closed, Bom handed the Bonus Envelope he’d received from the Hospital Director to the Chief Resident.
“Here, Chief Resident, please use this for the office fund.”
“Why would you put this toward the office fund? The Director gave it to you. Keep it for yourself.”
“But still…….”
“But still nothing. By the way, how much did he give you? That’s what I’m really curious about.”
“Um, let me check for a moment.”
Bom quickly checked the amount inside the envelope.
“Wow, twenty fifty-thousand-won bills?”
A wave of burden crashed down on him at the thought that he shouldn’t be receiving this much.
“He’s quite generous, our Director.”
“Really, isn’t he? Should we do chicken and pizza? We should make the rounds through the whole Surgical Ward, right?”
“Don’t overdo it. Be reasonable about it.”
“Understood!”
“You’re too kind for your own good. Anyway, you did well during rounds. My heart nearly stopped.”
“Thank you.”
Bom was simply relieved that rounds had passed without incident.
Especially with Cha Tae-moon, the house chief, watching over everything—if he’d made a mistake…….
Just the thought of it was horrifying.
He’d returned to the hospital yesterday and spent the night reviewing handover notes, then completed dressing changes on all the admitted patients by dawn.
But as rounds were winding down, a patient’s guardian suddenly brought up the dressing, and the atmosphere froze.

“You didn’t sterilize my mother’s wound?”
A chilling silence descended in an instant.
“You didn’t do the dressing?”
Chief Kang Sang-hyung turned to the Chief Resident with a question—his gaze carried the implicit reproach of asking how the residents were being managed.
It was the guardian of the patient Bom had been assigned as primary physician.
Bom had done the dressing at dawn while the guardian had briefly stepped away, but apparently they hadn’t known it was done.
“I performed the sterilization for the patient at dawn.”
When Bom spoke, the patient’s guardian looked at him with an expression asking when he’d done it.
“Let me take a look at the wound. I’m Professor Cha Tae-moon.”
Tae-moon stepped forward and introduced himself to the patient’s guardian.
“Ah, yes.”
At that, the guardian visibly relaxed and stepped back.
Looking at him, anyone would see a capable senior surgeon, and their confidence index would soar.
Tae-moon’s sharp eyes turned toward Bom.
It was a signal to give a briefing on the patient.
“Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy, postoperative day three. Vital signs are stable with no significant findings.”
After the briefing, he approached the patient and opened their shirt to show the surgical site with gauze applied.
After receiving gloves from the dressing cart, Tae-moon performed direct palpation of the patient’s surgical site.
Bom watched in silence as he worked.
Though there was a trace of indignation, the patient was sleeping—what else could be done?
“There’s no oozing on the gauze and it’s clean. The wound is healing well too.”
Tae-moon removed his gloves and explained to the patient’s guardian in an even voice.
In truth, the purpose of dressing was less about preventing infection and more about examining the surgical wound.
It was to determine whether the wound had opened, how well the fascia was healing, and when to remove the sutures or staples.
After two or three days, a skin barrier forms that blocks bacterial invasion.
But even if that held true statistically, dressing was observed almost as iron law in the Surgical Ward.
“What about the drain output?”
Cha Tae-moon asked, looking at Bom.
Bom recalled the patient’s chart, which he’d memorized so thoroughly the night before.
“Currently showing a thin, serous output of 100 to 90 cc.”
Bom answered without trembling.
Then Cha Tae-moon turned back to the patient’s guardian and spoke.
“At this rate, we should be able to remove the drain tomorrow. The dressing is progressing well, so you don’t need to worry.”
“Ah, thank you. I apologize—I didn’t realize that.”
It occurred to her that what the guardian had really wanted was a detailed explanation from the doctor.
Shim Eun-kyung answered the guardian’s apology with a quiet smile.
There wasn’t much she could do standing between these renowned professors and their staff.

With a new professor on board, the Chief Resident would be just as tense as she was.
Shim Eun-kyung looked at the Chief and offered a gentle smile.
“In any case, you did well. If you’d stammered or failed to answer, the department head’s reputation would’ve taken a hit too. And we’re taking Emergency Room calls today, right? Report directly to Professor Cha Tae-moon.”
“You mean I should do it myself?”

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