Illusion Blind Date - Chapter 23

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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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#23

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Tae Moon returned to the Research Office after finishing the appendectomy, settling into his chair and picking up his phone.
A cascade of messages from the residents had accumulated, and they kept pouring in.
Spring, who’d gone into surgery with him, was too swamped to even check messages, yet the three of them were texting away with impressive dedication.
Tae Moon’s lips tilted into a crooked smile.

Cha Ji Moon
Tae Moon you gotta eat with your brother and all of us
When are you free? Should we grill meat tonight??
Bang Su Ho
I’m in
Choi Yun Geon
I’m in too
Cha Ji Moon
Then let’s do it in the Garden
How about a BBQ party?
Bang Su Ho
I’m in
Choi Yun Geon
I’m in too
Cha Ji Moon
But why are there 2 numbers showing up? What’s that?
Bang Su Ho
A glitch maybe?

Apparently these guys hadn’t entered his number.

Not a glitch. Didn’t you guys think to invite me?

The three of them responded instantly to Tae Moon’s message.

Bang Su Ho
Wait, who is this???
Choi Yun Geon
???????!!!
Cha Ji Moon
A ghost????

Talking nonsense.

Your landlord.

The moment Tae Moon hit send, messages flooded in at dizzying speed.

Cha Ji Moon
Brother? Who invited you?
Spring?
When? Why???
Choi Yun Geon
!!!!
Bang Su Ho
Are you serious?!
If you’re free today, we can grill some meat. Let’s talk it over and get in touch.

Tae Moon set down his phone on the desk after that last message.
The Research Office, still not fully organized, felt vaguely unsettled.
He would have welcomed a strong cup of coffee, but it seemed he’d have to head to the café for that.
In his current mood, he thought he could even sweetly savor a tasteless cup of coffee if it came from the cafeteria.
Tae Moon rubbed his lower lip with his thumb, recalling Spring in the Operating Room, her eyes wide and unblinking with concentration.
She’d said it was her first time as First Assistant, but the moment surgery began, she followed along as if she’d been doing it for years.
A surgeon above all else needs excellent technique. Refined Medical Art demands it as a prerequisite.
She would certainly become an excellent surgeon.
While he was out, Tae Moon decided to do rounds with the director of the Administrative Office before heading back to the Research Office.
Though his mother was still in good health, this was a hospital he would eventually have to lead.
The finest hospital in the nation. Still a long road ahead.

***

“Spring, why are you in such a good mood today?”
A nurse in the Ward regarded her with curiosity.
Spring, who had been taking a page call from the Ward and writing additional orders, belatedly realized she’d been humming without knowing it.
“Sorry about that.”
“Well, you have reason to be. An article about you went up on the hospital homepage. Congratulations. You’re practically a celebrity now.”
“Really? An article about me on the homepage?”
“That’s what they’re saying.”
“How embarrassing…….”
“What’s there to be embarrassed about?”
“Since my face is already out there, I might as well hold my head high and walk around proudly.”
“Of course. But you’re really not in a relationship with Professor Tae Moon, right?”
At the carefully probing question, Spring laughed and waved her hand dismissively.
“Goodness, that reporter got it wrong. A relationship? Really, it’s nothing like that.”
“Well…… I guess I’ll take your word for it.”
Her expression somehow suggested she didn’t quite believe it.
“You’ll have to believe me. I’m buying snacks for everyone this afternoon. Look forward to it.”
“Oh, you mean before we leave work, right?”
“Of course. Naturally.”
In truth, Spring found praise from Tae Moon in the Operating Room a hundred, a thousand times more rewarding than a bonus or an article.
The patient emerging from the Recovery Room was immediately transferred to the Patient Room and was now conscious.
The surgery had gone cleanly, so recovery would be swift, and she’d taken special care with the finishing touches.
Later on, there would be no visible trace of the surgical scar at all.
With the charts filled in and surgery notes completed, Spring rose from her seat.
The intern assigned to the Ward returned to the Nurse Station after finishing lunch.
“Did you eat well?”
“Yes, doctor. You should eat something too.”
“I’m about to go. Just taking a coffee break first.”
“Thank you.”
Spring decided to use a brief window to grab a meal at the Main Building Cafeteria.
Truth be told, on a day as good as this she felt she could live without eating, but since she didn’t know what might happen in the afternoon, she decided to fill her stomach first.
Rrrrrr, Rrrrrr.
Spring stopped in her tracks at the sound of her phone ringing as she headed toward the cafeteria.
She thought it must be a call from the Ward, but it turned out to be from Cho Eun.
“Hey, Cho Eun.”
—Spring, where are you?
“I’m heading to the cafeteria right now.
—The Main Building Cafeteria?
“Yeah. Have you eaten lunch yet?”
It was still a bit early for lunch.
-No, I’m heading to the cafeteria now. Let’s eat together.
“All right. Hurry down.”
After ending the call, she made her way to the cafeteria.
Bom checked the day’s menu and moved to the service line, where she stood waiting in queue.
A senior resident standing ahead of her caught her eye and nodded in acknowledgment.
Bom bowed her head politely in return.
She understood the meaning behind that knowing smile, but chose not to show it.
With the article posted on the hospital homepage, people’s interest seemed bound to continue for a while.
“Bom! I’m here.”
Cho Eun arrived without delay, and together they collected their trays and claimed a quiet corner table.
Bom began her meal, spooning up the steaming bone broth soup.
Cho Eun seemed ravenous, eating hurriedly with abandon.
Poor thing.
Unlike the General Surgery Department, which had four first-year residents, the Thoracic Surgery Department had only Cho Eun.
That meant she had to be several times busier than the others.
“Here, eat this too.”
Bom transferred a meaty bone to Cho Eun’s bowl.
“Why aren’t you eating?”
“I promised to buy snacks this afternoon.”
“You? What brought that on?”
Bom told Cho Eun about what had happened before morning rounds that day.
In doing so, she found herself explaining everything that had occurred at the blind date as well.
“Wow, how can something like that even happen?”
“Right?”
“So Cha Ji Moon went on a blind date with his cousin, and that’s where you met the CPR patient? That’s insane.”
“Pretty crazy, right?”
Having received a single word of praise in the operating room, Tae Moon had become an exceptionally good person in Bom’s eyes.
“And a General Surgery professor on top of that. It feels like fate. So what’s the professor’s name again?”
“Cha, Tae, Moon.”
“That’s strange. Why do I feel like I’ve heard that name before? I think someone among my brother’s friends had that name. Don’t tell me it’s the same person?”
“Really? It’s not exactly a common name.”
“My memory’s a bit hazy though…….”
“Cho Eun, have you seen the video?”
Bom showed her the recording on a chance.
Poor Cho Eun probably hadn’t had time to watch it, so busy was she.
Cho Eun’s eyes widened as she studied the video intently.
“That’s it! My brother’s friend!”
“So he and Professor Lee Hae Il are classmates.”
“The world really is small.”
“I went into surgery today, and I think I might be able to lift my head next time.”
In General Surgery, when a resident performs their first independent surgery, it’s called lifting one’s head.
“Really?”
“Yeah. He might even let me lead a surgery soon. He praised my work.”
“Wow, congratulations! I’m so happy for you. You really are having incredible luck this year. Are you finally going to get to wear that Chick Cap?”
“Actually, I already wore it. Today, maybe that’s why I did so well.”
It was the surgical cap she’d bought to wear during her first independent surgery with Cho Eun. She had carefully sterilized and stored it away, only opening it today.
“So you broke it in first. Well, I’m just glad it went well.”
“I was so nervous going in, but he taught me so kindly. Honestly, when you’re standing as third assistant, you can’t see anything anyway.”
“You can’t see a thing. Consider it a win if you don’t fall asleep.”
“Standing as first assistant was amazing. I think choosing General Surgery was the right call.”
“You’re thrilled.”
“Yeah. Oh, that’s right. Everyone’s talking about doing a barbecue party tonight. Want to come?”

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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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