Illusion Blind Date - Chapter 39

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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 39

“Did Bom buy this?”
That was Tae Moon’s question.
“Yes. I bought it with the Bonus Money I received from the Director. The truth is, I wasn’t the only one who saw that patient back then, but I felt uncomfortable receiving the bonus alone.”
What was a little bonus anyway.
Watching Bom speak shyly, her cheeks flushed pink, Tae Moon found himself wanting to match her rhythm, to play along with her.
“Is that so?”
As Tae Moon smiled and spoke, Bom nodded lightly and continued.
“Yes. I was wondering how I could have a meal with you, Professor, and Soo Ho suggested we all eat together in your Research Room, so I brought it like this.”
He would have preferred she’d come alone.
Tae Moon swallowed the words threatening to spill from his mouth and turned to look at Bang Soo Ho.
The younger man shrugged his shoulders as if seeking praise, then spoke in a wheedling tone.
“You wouldn’t know, Professor, but there’s this new lunch box place in front of the Hospital, and the food is absolutely incredible. Please, dig in.”
These kids really did know how to be charming.
Whether all four of them genuinely lacked perceptiveness or were just pretending, their shamelessness was remarkable.
Each with their own strong personality, yet somehow they blended together beautifully—it was a sight to behold.
“Professor?”
They all looked at him with expressions asking why he wasn’t eating already.
“You’re right. I was getting hungry anyway. Let’s eat together.”
The moment the words left his mouth, the younger ones began spreading out the Lunch Boxes across the table.
They’d really outdone themselves.
The Lunch Boxes, containing Tteokkalbi and Grilled Abalone among other items, looked appetizing and clearly weren’t cheap.
They pulled over chairs and gathered around the table, each placing a Lunch Box in front of themselves and waiting expectantly for him to pick up his chopsticks.
“I’m grateful for this meal.”
The moment Tae Moon picked up his chopsticks and brought a piece of Salad with shrimp to his mouth, Bom swallowed hard, watching him intently.
The Salad carried a refreshing citrus fragrance that awakened the palate.
“…How is it, Professor? Does it suit your taste?”
Bom asked carefully.
“It’s delicious. You eat too.”
“Yes.”
He had secretly been hopeful that she’d come alone, and watching her beam with a shy smile, he could only smile in return.
“Wow, this Tteokkalbi is amazing! It’s so good!”
Bang Soo Ho’s eyes widened as he exclaimed.
“Is that so? Which one?”
When Ji Moon reached over to grab the Tteokkalbi from Soo Ho’s Lunch Box, Soo Ho clutched his box protectively and shouted.
“Eat your own! Or hand over one of your Grilled Eels!”
Tae Moon’s eyebrow twitched.
Watching the noisy ones, Bom let out a long sigh and handed something from her own Lunch Box to Ji Moon.
“Here, Ji Moon, eat mine.”
“Oh, thank you!”
Ji Moon had always been picky since childhood, often complaining about food.
But now all that had vanished—he was eating like a man who’d starved for three days.
Tae Moon found himself wondering if perhaps these boys were eating all of Bom’s share, and that’s why she was so slender, as he watched her eat carefully.
The way her small lips moved as she ate was endearing.
After staring like a man with a screw loose, he hurried to start eating as well.
But why had his cheek felt warm ever since a moment ago?
He turned his head slightly to glance beside him, only to find Choi Yun Geon watching him eat intently, chopsticks held between his lips.
Unlike Bang Soo Ho and Ji Moon, who were eating ravenously, Choi Yun Geon’s Lunch Box remained untouched.
What was he doing now?
If Choi Yun Geon’s physique was thanks to eating little, that made sense. Maintaining a well-proportioned body required dietary restraint.
And of course, he’d been exercising with Bom every dawn.
As that scene—one he’d tried to forget—came rushing back, his eyes narrowed involuntarily, his gaze turning sharp.
His voice emerged cold as ice.
“Choi Yun Geon.”
Tae Moon called out to him.
“Yes?”
“Why aren’t you eating? What’s the problem with watching me eat?”
“Oh, no. I was just wondering what kind of food you prefer, Professor.”
“Then why?”
When Tae Moon pressed the question again, Choi Yun Geon raked his eyes over Tae Moon’s body with burning intensity.
What’s this bastard staring at?
A curse nearly leapt from his lips.
“Ah, Choi Yun Geon’s just curious about your secret, Professor — how you stay so fit. He’s really serious about building muscle, you see.”
Bom spoke as if she were Choi Yun Geon’s spokesperson, and he nodded vigorously in agreement.
Even so, his persistent gaze never wavered from Tae Moon.
“I was born with it.”
He tilted his chin up and spoke with an arrogant expression, and Choi Yun Geon’s face fell at once.
“No matter how strictly someone controls their diet or trains hard, muscle mass varies from person to person.”
Tae Moon emphasized the last part.
Bom blushed slightly, though Tae Moon couldn’t fathom what she was imagining, and nodded faintly.
“Does that mean… no matter how hard I try, it won’t work for me?”
Choi Yun Geon asked with a note of wounded pride in his voice.
Physical condition is largely inherited. Tae Moon, blessed with good genes, had never worried about his appearance.
But he believed that effort could overcome almost anything—there were simply limits to what it could achieve.
“No matter how impressive your muscles are, that doesn’t mean you’re healthy. Just eat well and stay regular. Come on, let’s eat.”
Before Tae Moon had finished speaking, Bang Soo Ho scolded Choi Yun Geon.
“See? I told you so. I said just eat whatever and you’ll be fine. Stop stuffing your face with nothing but chicken breast—eat a balanced diet.”
Choi Yun Geon glared at Bang Soo Ho. The look in his eyes clearly said shut your mouth.
“Look, even if your body isn’t impressive, you just have to love it like I do. So stop those tears, our student. Come on, eat up!”
Ji Moon poked fun at Choi Yun Geon while touching his own protruding belly.
“You used to brag about lifting heavy weights. Did you quit training altogether?”
Ji Moon, who had been hemming and hawing at Tae Moon’s words, launched into excuses.
“Well, where would I find the time to exercise? I’m just going to live as I am. You did the same, didn’t you? Said it was all about what you’re born with.”
Can’t even talk sense into him.
Watching his cousin—annoying though he could be—Tae Moon shifted his gaze to Bom.
Seeing how downhearted Choi Yun Geon looked, Bom gently tried to lift his spirits.
“Choi Yun Geon, you know you have the best body among your cohort, right? So don’t feel so discouraged. Besides, the Professor is a bit special.”
Tae Moon’s mouth curved up slightly.
Watching Bom’s eyes dart away nervously without meeting his gaze, his heart began to race.
Unable to have her all to himself, a strange fire kindled in his chest.
“Well, I know that much.”
“Right, then that settles it. The Professor said to eat a balanced meal, so don’t leave anything. Let’s eat.”
“Okay.”
“Look at those pigs already wolfing everything down. Eat before they steal your share.”
“I will.”
How could anyone be so adorable, so lovely, so beautiful?
Bom, who understood how to read others’ moods, possessed excellent character as well.
“Bom! You’re not going to finish that grilled eel, are you? If you’re leaving it, let me have it!”
Bang Soo Ho eyed Bom’s lunch box with shameless hunger.
What am I going to do with these pigs?
In his day, they used to call interns “Sam Shin”—idiots when working, ghosts when sleeping, and demons when eating.
First-year Resident Physicians weren’t any different.
Tae Moon tore his gaze from Bang Soo Ho and turned his eyes back to Bom.
Their eyes met. Her beautiful chestnut eyes were rippling like waves.
Gulp.
Watching Bom swallow her food and widen her eyes, Tae Moon finally voiced what he’d been wanting to say all along.
Burning with jealousy yet feigning calm, as if harboring no ulterior motives whatsoever.
“You seem to work out pretty hard too, Bom. Have you ever had a Personal Training session?”
“No. I just exercise on my own.”
“…Is that so? Then how about I teach you whenever I have time?”
In other words: from now on, exercise with me.
Bom gazed at Tae Moon quietly. Pure, clear delight shone unguarded in her eyes.
“Please teach me too!”
Before Bom could even finish answering, Choi Yun Geon cut in abruptly.
He was staring at Tae Moon with eager, hopeful eyes.

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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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