Illusion Blind Date - Chapter 3

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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 3

A moment later, the device emitted a voice instructing the patient to stand clear, followed by a message that it was analyzing the cardiac rhythm.
The man stepped back from the patient, breathing heavily.
Fortunately, the voice prompt indicated that Defibrillation was needed, and the device began charging automatically.
While it charged, Bom rushed back to the patient and continued Chest Compression.
Once charging was complete, she pressed the button as instructed and delivered the shock.
Since the Automated External Defibrillator recharges every two minutes, Bom resumed CPR.
Shortly after, the patient’s chest heaved and he drew a long breath.
“Exhale…….”
The patient’s Spontaneous Respiration had returned.
“Can you hear me?”
Bom stopped the Chest Compression and spoke to the patient.
The patient blinked, struggling to respond, and conveyed understanding through his eyes.
“Do you remember where you are? You’re at the Hotel Lounge entrance.”
Bom asked again, and the older man answered in a weak voice.
“……Yes. I remember.”
“Thank goodness.”
Bom lifted her head and met the gaze of the man across from her. With beads of sweat dotting his brow, he smiled slightly—a warm expression that reached his eyes.
His clear, piercing eyes creased at the corners, forming an effortlessly handsome smile.
……This man could probably conquer the world with that face alone.
While entertaining such a ridiculous thought, the 119 emergency responders arrived right on cue.
“119 dispatch. Move aside! Where’s the patient?”
Snapping back to attention, Bom explained the patient’s condition to the paramedics.
“He suddenly clutched his chest and collapsed. I confirmed there was no consciousness, no breathing, no pulse, so I started CPR immediately. Fortunately, there was a Shockable Rhythm, and Spontaneous Respiration returned after a single Defibrillation.”
“Ah, that’s fortunate. But… who are you?”
Suspicion gleamed in the paramedic’s eyes as they looked her up and down.
Bom realized she’d forgotten to introduce herself and did so now.
“I’m a Fellow at YJ University Hospital Department of Surgery. I contacted the emergency room while waiting. I’ll go with you as well.”
“Ah, I see. Thank you so much for your effort. You’ve saved this patient’s life. The nearest hospital from here is YJ University Hospital. We’ll take him there.”
“……Understood.”
The patient replied in a noticeably calmer voice.
The paramedic removed the patches from the patient’s chest, loaded him onto a Stretcher, and rushed out of the lounge.
Bom hurried after them.
Then it occurred to her—should she really leave without so much as a goodbye? She stopped and turned back to look at the man.
The tall blind date was standing with one hand thrust into his trouser pocket, smiling faintly.
His slightly tousled hair only accentuated his rugged charm.
He’s handsome, I’ll give him that. And strong too.
Did I seriously just strike the lottery?
“What are you doing standing there? Go.”
At his sharp-eyed smile, heat flooded her face.
Flustered, Bom bowed quickly and broke into a run.
Damn it, why is my face burning?
Behind her, the man’s pleasant laugh echoed softly.
Wobble.
The cursed heels made running nearly impossible.
Since she was already in this mess, she kicked off her shoes, held them in one hand, and ran barefoot.
I’ve lost my mind.
She bit her lip hard, deliberately ignoring the large tears in her stockings.
Later, when she remembered how the paramedics had eyed her with suspicion—this half-crazed version of herself—laughter burst out unbidden.
And that wasn’t even the worst of it.

“What are you doing standing there? Go.”

The blind date’s voice—sharp as a dismissal—lingered like an echo.
She’d made quite an exit too.
Sigh…….
At any rate, having achieved the objective, Taemun took that as consolation and climbed into the ambulance.

***

A Resident at YJ University Hospital Department of Surgery.
Her name was Han-bom, if he remembered correctly.
Spring.
Taemun watched the figure of a woman who looked nothing like spring until she vanished from sight, then slowly turned to head back to his seat.
“Doctor, thank you so much.”
A staff member who appeared to be the manager approached and bowed politely.
“You’ve worked hard. Please accept this complimentary beverage as a token of our gratitude.”
Taemun smiled and studied the manager.
How relieved they must be that the incident had passed without loss of life.
But the staff’s response capabilities had been nearly nonexistent.
“In that critical moment, all your employees just stood there like scarecrows. If it hadn’t been for that guest, I don’t know what would have happened.”
“I apologize. We’ll make sure to provide proper training.”
“Good. I’ll enjoy what you’ve given me.”
Seated now, Taemun buttoned the shirt sleeves he’d rolled up and tightened the necktie he’d loosened.
Then he found himself smiling faintly as he recalled that absurd woman from moments before.
When she’d approached with unsteady legs, dressed as if she could devour every man in the world, he’d tensed without meaning to.
Women had made their feelings obvious and approached him more than once or twice over the years, so this time he’d put up a stone wall, treating her as a member of some cult on a proselytizing mission—but the woman had been undeterred.
But listening to her, it turned out she’d mistaken him for her blind date partner.
He couldn’t say what grounds she had for such a mistake, but it was clear from the start that she’d had no real intention of proceeding with the meeting.
Her excuse was that she was a busy doctor.
At that point, Taemun couldn’t help but ask which hospital she worked at. When he heard the answer, it was too peculiar a coincidence to even laugh.
YJ University Hospital—where his mother served as director, and where he himself would be working soon.
As a surgeon.
The woman who had casually strolled through the lounge in heavy makeup and bewildering attire looked nothing like a doctor, no matter how he looked at her.
Appearances might not matter, but surviving in the conservative world of medicine dressed like that suggested one of two things.
Either the woman was unhinged.
Or she possessed abilities that exceeded her appearance.
Taemun put on his jacket.
Through the window, he watched an ambulance with sirens wailing and lights flashing pull away from the hotel.
Whether her short skirt had ridden up to reveal slender thighs, whether her sheer stockings had torn against the ground—judging by how she’d clung to that patient, devoted entirely to his care, perhaps she was both.
He was curious what reaction she’d show when they ran into each other at the hospital, this woman who believed so firmly that he was her blind date.
Her face was striking enough that he wouldn’t have minded never seeing it again even in dreams, yet somehow he found himself looking forward to their next meeting.
But where had her actual blind date gone?
Had he fled early, startled by her appearance?
Someone approached him as he sat sipping his drink with a slight grin.
“Taemun, sorry I’m late. It’s been a while.”
It was Lee Hae-il, a classmate he’d arranged to meet today.
Hae-il dropped into the seat across from Taemun with a heavy breath.
“Did you run here? I told you to take your time.”
“How many hours do I have left? Besides, you’re going to be the next director—I need to make a good impression.”
Thoughtless.
Lee Hae-il, known among his juniors as a picky boss, seemed to have mellowed considerably over the years.
The two men, high school classmates, had been in constant competition since childhood, walking the same path as they leapfrogged each other.
Early high school graduation, medical school, military service—and now they walked nearly parallel paths as surgical Fellows.
Taemun gestured to the waiting staff.
“A glass of cold water for me, and we’re ready to order.”
“I’ll have a kiwi juice, please.”
He’d always complained that coffee bored him and refused to touch it outside the hospital; apparently that habit hadn’t changed.
“By the way, what happened at the hotel? I thought I saw an ambulance leave a moment ago.”
Hae-il must have noticed as well.
“There was a cardiac arrest patient in the lounge.”
“You did CPR and all that?”
“Yeah. Fortunately he achieved Return of Spontaneous Circulation, and we transported him to our hospital.”
“Ha, you’re something else. Back in Korea for five minutes and you’re already carrying patients around. You’re quite the character.”
He did tend to come across patients wherever he went.
Taemun leaned back comfortably in his chair.
“How’s the Department of Surgery? Still the same?”

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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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