Illusion Blind Date - Chapter 37

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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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#37

I didn’t mention meeting that police officer this morning. There was no point—it would only feed false hope.
And now, remarriage, of all things.
Apparently, pooling their household finances wasn’t enough for them.
Or perhaps there was another appetite at work.
Imsoo, Ubin’s mother, was the director of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital she’d inherited from her parents.
Hansanggu had been working as an obstetrician at that hospital when their eyes met, and their relationship had continued ever since.
Whether driven by money or by women, Hansanggu had abandoned his family long ago—and there was a debt to collect from him.
They were living now in the Apartment my mother had left behind, and I intended to claim my rightful inheritance from the sale of that property.
If he reached out to me, it would only be to notify me. And he’d probably suggest sharing a meal.
I didn’t particularly want to avoid it. Truth be told, I was curious what his new wife looked like.
“Bom! What are you doing here? Who’s been bothering our Bom!”
Park Jaehong, who’d just stepped out of the elevator, spotted Bom and hurried over.
The Chief’s hands were overflowing with Strawberry Milk bottles.
“What is all that?”
“Strawberry Milk. Here, have one too.”
“How many bottles of Strawberry Milk did you buy?”
“Cleaned out the Convenience Store in front of the hospital.”
According to legend, drinking Fanta makes you a better surgeon, and drinking Strawberry Milk builds Internal Energy.
Did he really need to build that much?
“You know there’s a Liver Transplant Surgery this afternoon, right? Pray I make it through in one piece.”
A Liver Transplant Surgery was scheduled for this afternoon. The recipient team receiving the new liver and the donor team harvesting it would operate simultaneously.
I’d heard Park Jaehong was joining the team performing the transplant on the recipient.
“You’ll do well. I’ll hold down the Ward.”
“Goodness, such a good heart. All right, work hard.”
As he turned to leave, his expression had grown solemn.
It was a surgery where, save for the scalpel itself, a roar might erupt at any moment—that was how Kang attended his cases.
Cha Taemun’s team would include the Fellow and Oh Seungtae, third-year resident, and Yun Geon as well.
Not just me, but all of them—surgery addicts—would take another leap forward today.
I made a silent vow to push myself harder and headed for the Resident’s Office, Strawberry Milk in hand.

***

After coaxing an elderly patient and finally getting the L-tube back in place, I returned to the Resident’s Office and opened the refrigerator.
It was packed with nothing but the Strawberry Milk the Chief had left behind.
Unable to find anything else to eat, I decided to just drink the Strawberry Milk and build my Internal Energy.
But where had everyone gone?
I pulled out my phone and sent a message to the Resident Group Chat.

Hey guys, have you eaten lunch? All we’ve got in the office is Strawberry Milk

Only after sending the message did I think about Cha Taemun in the chat group.
I probably should have created a separate room.
Everyone seemed aware of his presence—the notification numbers beside my message all disappeared, but no one replied.
I inserted the straw into my Strawberry Milk and started on my work.
A call could come in anytime, so I had to make the most of every free moment.
I’d been at it for a while when—
Click.
The door to the Resident’s Office swung open.
Convinced it was one of the people who’d received my message, I turned around. The smile already forming on my lips froze in surprise.
“Oh, Professor.”
Startled, I shot up from my seat.
The surgery would be starting soon—why had he come to the office?
My surprise gave way to something warmer.
“Alone?”
Her gaze swept across the Resident’s Office with a sharpness that betrayed unfamiliarity with the space.
“Yes. I’m alone right now.”
Cha Taemun approached where Imsoo sat and set something down on the table.
“Didn’t have time to eat?”
“No. Two surgeries this morning, and I just finished rounds on the ward.”
“So you’re making do with Strawberry Milk?”
“…Yes.”
He’d definitely come after reading her text.
“That should be enough for one person.”
“What’s this?”
Imsoo opened the small shopping bag that sat on the table.
Inside was a sandwich.
“Professor…”
Do you really care for me that much?
She asked, suppressing the smile that threatened to break through her lips.
“Would you like some Strawberry Milk? I didn’t buy it myself, but there’s plenty in the refrigerator.”
Before Cha Taemun could answer, Imsoo dashed toward the refrigerator.
Since he’d shown her such consideration, she wanted to do something for him in return.
As she retrieved the Strawberry Milk and approached him, his gaze followed her movements.
His steady, unwavering eyes tracked only her.
“I heard that drinking Strawberry Milk builds Internal Energy. You have surgery today, Professor, so I thought it would be good for you.”
She knew such superstitions meant nothing to someone already perfected, but she wanted to give it to him anyway.
“Here, please.”
Cha Taemun accepted the Strawberry Milk without making her feel self-conscious about the gesture.
The area around Imsoo’s cheeks and earlobes had flushed a deep crimson. The way she couldn’t quite meet his eyes was endearing.
The man who’d rushed over like a madman upon hearing she was going hungry now tensed the hand that had begun to reach toward her.
“But where did this come from?”
It was a snack he’d received from the Director’s Secretary Office.
For him it was merely a snack, but for Imsoo it could serve as a light meal.
“My mother gave it to me. It may not be a proper meal, but it’s better than just milk.”
“Professor, you should eat it… but I’ll gratefully enjoy it.”
Imsoo clasped her hands together, her eyes sparkling.
Though still somewhat reserved, the walls around her heart seemed to have crumbled—her expression was now vivid and lovely.
Cha Taemun, who had sensed this subtle shift since he’d applied the ointment, swallowed the words rising to his throat.
Since Imsoo was gracefully opening her heart to him, there was no need to rush.
Flowers seemed to bloom across Imsoo’s face as she smiled shyly, her bright eyes luminous.
Yes, just a little more. Come closer like this.
Cha Taemun set aside his impatience and smiled back at her.
“Don’t get too moved by this.”
“How could I not be? Thank you, I’ll eat well!”
Getting this emotional over a mere sandwich—what would she be like later.
Watching Imsoo sparkle like transparent afternoon sunlight in the Resident’s Office, he found himself smiling without effort.
“Go on, eat.”
“Yes, thank you. Professor, you’re heading into the Liver Transplant Surgery soon, aren’t you?”
“I am.”
“Someday I’d like to join your team and work alongside you.”
“I hope for that too.”
Cha Taemun reached out and gently brushed aside a strand of Imsoo’s disheveled hair.
Her eyes widened in surprise.
His patience was wearing thin as he watched her, close enough to feel his breath mingle with hers, emanating that sweet strawberry scent.
His heart wanted to cup her cheeks and kiss her, but the setting demanded restraint.
“Why so startled? You let me touch you.”
“Oh!”
Imsoo’s face flushed crimson in an instant.
“I’ll see you later.”
“Yes, Professor. Good luck with surgery!”
“All right.”
Cha Taemun glanced at his watch, then slowly left the Resident’s Office. His heart was pounding wildly.

“Hey, I told you to ask Imsoo if she’d eaten.”
“So what I’m saying is.”
“Spring’s probably cursing us out right now. Run faster.”
I recognized them by voice alone before we collided at the corner—two figures gasping as they sprinted toward me.
“Whoa!”
The pair slammed on the brakes, skidding to a stop mere inches from my face.
“What are you doing here, Professor…?”
“Good afternoon, Professor.”
Rather than return their greeting, Cha Taemun’s gaze fell to what Yun Geon was carrying.
Both his hands were full—a drink and bread. Clearly meant as a gift for Spring.
“You two get a proper meal, but your classmate makes do with scraps of bread?”
“Ah… no, that’s not…”
“For the next month, the courtyard cleaning falls to both of you. Understood?”
Cha Taemun fixed them with a quiet, steady gaze before continuing on his way.
He’d taken only a few more steps when he stopped abruptly.
“Yun Geon.”
Cha Taemun turned back, his eyes settling on him. The lanky fellow flinched, his whole body tensing as he looked up.
“Yes, Professor.”

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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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