Illusion Blind Date - Chapter 53

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

#53

“Oh! I’ve got it. Could it be because of that newspaper article? Are you thinking of making our Bom a hospital model?”
“Ah, that must be it. I always say the chief thinks differently.”
Ju Min Ki chimed in with flattery from beside him.
‘No, that’s not it. With this face, who’d want me as a model.’
Bom rose from her seat, leaving them to their wildly off-base speculation.
Her eyes met Ji Moon’s. He shook his head, equally clueless.
Sigh… life.
“Go on, then.”
“Yes, I’ll be back soon.”
Bom straightened her clothes and left the medical office.
All she could do was hope it wasn’t what she feared.

***

Ae Jung, who had come to YJ University Hospital for a checkup due to her chronically weak digestion, finished her consultation and headed for the elevator.
Her visit today served a dual purpose—partly the examination itself, but mainly to see her friend Eun Kyung.
More precisely, it had everything to do with Park Jin Won.
She harbored a genuine hope that he would return to his former position after leaving SJ University Hospital, where he’d been doing well, to open a private practice.
It seemed a waste for Jin Won, a cardiologist, to spend his days prescribing cold medicine at a clinic.
She planned to ask Eun Kyung, the hospital director, if there might be an opening, and incidentally catch up with Bom as well.
Since she’d arranged the meeting in advance, she would be able to see them if she went right now.
The hospital looked completely different from when she used to work here.
Watching doctors in white coats hurrying about, she found herself smiling.
‘Our Bom must be dashing around like that too.’
Her heart swelled at the thought of her niece, somewhere in the hospital, working hard.
‘I raised her well.’
Patting herself on the back this way, she stepped into the elevator.

Shortly after arriving at the Director’s Office, Ae Jung greeted Eun Kyung. With how long it had been since they last saw each other, their joy was doubled.
They released each other from a light embrace and settled into their seats.
“I had tea prepared for you. I think you’ll like it.”
Eun Kyung poured finely steeped green tea into a cup. Ae Jung lifted it to her lips and took a sip.
The subtle tea was pleasant on her palate.
Eun Kyung, with her short-cut hair and refined suit, possessed a beauty that seemed to grow younger with time.
‘I’m glad I made the effort to come.’
“When did we last see each other? Has it been about five years?”
Eun Kyung spoke first.
“I think so.”
“But what made you decide to stop by today? Did you come for a hospital visit?”
“Yes.”
“Time must have skipped right past you. You haven’t aged a day. You’re exactly the same as before.”
Eun Kyung studied Ae Jung carefully, offering the compliment.
“How could I compete with someone living on her husband’s love?”
Though they’d been rivals back in school, Eun Kyung, the hospital director’s daughter, remained at the university hospital and eventually became its director, while Ae Jung had to start a private practice to raise Bom.
“Are you still single? I heard you raised your nephew.”
“Still alone. My nephew’s all grown up now and moved out.”
“Things really do fly by. Don’t they? Do you still keep in touch with Jin Won?”
Eun Kyung casually brought up Jin Won. She still remembered him despite Ae Jung’s brief romance with him during university.
This made it easier to broach the subject.
“He was working as a Department Head at SJ University Hospital, but recently opened a private clinic.”
“He opened a clinic? When? I was hoping to bring him over to our Internal Medicine department if the opportunity arose. What a shame.”
She could have guessed this about Jin Won’s caliber.
“The clinic will close soon. If you’re interested in bringing him to YJ, you should reach out. Here’s his business card.”
Ae Jung withdrew a business card from her wallet and placed it on the table.
“What’s this? Why do you have Jin Won’s business card? Don’t tell me you two are in touch?”
“We’re not in touch. I have no intention of anything serious.”
She came by often enough to be a nuisance, but at her age, romance felt deliciously scandalous.
“Thank you for the business card. I’ll reach out.”
“Good. And don’t mention that I gave you one.”
“I’m perceptive enough for that much.”
Ae Jung watched as Eun Kyung carefully tucked the card away, then brought up something she hadn’t mentioned before.
“My niece is doing her residency here at the hospital.”
A flush of pride rose to Ae Jung’s lips. Han Bom was her treasure.
“Really? Why didn’t you say anything? What’s her specialty?”
Eun Kyung’s eyebrows lifted with genuine surprise. Having her friend’s niece at the same hospital was remarkable enough.
“General Surgery. She’s in her first year now.”
“The same as my son?”
“Really? Then please tell my Han Bom to look after him. I’m asking you as a favor. You have no idea how precious and lovely she is. Not just because she’s my niece, but because she’s so sharp and clever.”
“Han Bom—that’s her name?”
“Yes.”

“Auntie, I’m famous now. I’m dying of embarrassment. I was even on the news.”

Ae Jung recalled the recent phone call with Han Bom and pulled out her phone.
She swiped to the bookmarked video, and Eun Kyung burst out laughing.
“Stop laughing and watch the video. Can’t you see how my niece brought honor to your hospital’s name?”
“I saw it. The video. I even met her directly and gave her a gift of money—why didn’t you mention it?”
“Oh my, you did? That’s my niece! Isn’t our Han Bom pretty?”
“She is. Pretty, lovely, and capable-looking.”
“Exactly.”
Ae Jung laughed along as she watched Eun Kyung’s delighted face.
People said there was no greater folly than bragging about one’s children, but what could you do? No amount of praise was ever enough.
“Ha—people say human connections are mysterious, don’t they? Do you know where your niece lives now?”
Eun Kyung asked casually.
“I do. She lives in a sharehaus with her fellow residents. It’s her cousin’s place—his name is Ji Moon, I think. Anyway, it’s clean and spacious and lovely.”
“You’ve been there?”
“Of course I have.”
No matter how busy life got, she had to see where Han Bom lived. She’d even met Ji Moon.
“That’s my son’s place.”
Ae Jung’s eyes widened as the teacup froze in her hands.
“What? Ji Moon is your son’s cousin?”
Eun Kyung nodded with a smile.
“When you think about it, we’re not just casual connections. How is it that your niece and my son are living in the same house?”
So that man who’d come back from America was Eun Kyung’s son, and he was studying the same specialty as Han Bom. And they were living together now.
Why did it feel like something more than mere coincidence, as Eun Kyung said?
Ae Jung swallowed hard, struck by an odd, fluttering sensation.
“Should I have Han Bom come up? If she’s not busy, you two should see each other.”
As hospital director, she could easily summon her.
Ae Jung’s heart began to race.
The thought crossed her mind that Han Bom’s match might not be found far away—perhaps it was closer than she imagined.
Of course, she might be getting ahead of herself, but one never knows how things might unfold.
“That would be wonderful.”
Ae Jung smiled meaningfully and finished her tea. Eun Kyung refilled her cup, returning the smile with one equally cryptic.
It was a smile whose secrets neither woman would reveal.
As Eun Kyung rose from her seat and gave orders through the intercom, Ae Jung straightened her hair and pulled out her lipstick to touch up.
Her heart fluttered at the thought of seeing her niece.
Han Bom was her most precious treasure, more valuable than gold or jade.
“She’ll be right up.”
“Thank you.”
Eun Kyung studied Ae Jung quietly.
So Han Bom was Ae Jung’s niece. Which meant Han Bom’s mother was…
She knew Han Bom’s mother well—the surgeon who had specialized in General Surgery. They’d been in the same class.
Seo Bo Yeon.
Everyone had grieved her death; she’d been a surgeon with boundless promise.
So Han Bom was Bo Yeon’s daughter.
She remembered that small, precious child clinging to Ae Jung at the funeral, refusing to let go.
She’d been too young when he last saw her, and he hadn’t recognized her then, but now, watching this present-day Bom, he could see she’d retained all the beauty of her childhood intact.
And on top of that, Bom’s house was his son’s house. He’d heard that surgeons from General Surgery lived there together. Could fate weave connections in such a way?

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