Illusion Blind Date - Chapter 69

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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 69

“…Aunt…”
Bom wrapped her arms around Ae Jeong from behind, nuzzling her face against her shoulder and pouting like a child.
“You’re awake?”
Ae Jeong turned her head and glanced at Bom out of the corner of her eye.
“I must’ve dozed off. Did you really get all this done while I was sleeping?”
The dinner table was laden with dishes Ae Jeong had prepared—all of Bom’s favorites.
“Rest a bit longer. You must be tired.”
“I’m awake now. And you actually made japchae?”
“You said you were coming, so I went shopping for it. Want to taste it?”
“Yeah.”
Ae Jeong, who was tossing the sweet potato noodles with vegetables, popped a full bite into Bom’s mouth. Bom chewed thoughtfully, then gave her a thumbs up.
“It’s delicious. The noodles are chewy and the seasoning is perfect. Aunt’s japchae really is the best.”
Ae Jeong gazed at Bom with warm, affectionate eyes and smiled back.
“Everything’s ready. Let’s eat.”
“Mm-hmm.”
Bom set down her spoon and scooped rice into her bowl. The freshly cooked rice glistened, releasing a faint, sweet aroma.
She could have easily finished a whole bowlful of rice alone, without any side dishes.
“I’ll just have half. I’m on a diet these days, Aunt.”
“Oh, so our Aunt is finally dating that doctor next door, isn’t she?”
Bom probed playfully, and Ae Jeong’s earlobes flushed crimson. There it was—that pink haze flickering in the air around her.
Aunt, I know that feeling. My whole world’s been that shade of pink lately too.
Bom hummed along to herself as she set the table.
“Eat plenty. Your face looks thinner.”
Ae Jeong, seated across from Bom, placed a piece of bulgogi atop her rice as she spoke.
“I should watch what I eat too. Never mind about me—you eat, Aunt.”
“Diet? Don’t even think about that. Just make sure you stay healthy!”
“Okay.”
“Will you sleep over tonight?”
“Sleep with you, Aunt? Like old times?”
“Yes. That sounds nice.”
Ever since becoming a middle schooler, Bom had preferred sleeping with her aunt to having separate rooms.
It was warm and cozy, like resting in her mother’s arms. Perhaps that was why she’d always clung so tightly to her aunt’s embrace.
“Oh, that’s right. I went to see Dad last time, remember?”
“Don’t worry about the money—I’ll get it out of him. And don’t you dare meet that man again. I heard he spent a lot renovating the OB-GYN clinic, and whether that’s why or some other reason, the hospital isn’t doing well.”
Ae Jeong spoke with a satisfied expression.
“If that’s the case, won’t it be harder to get the money?”
“I told you Aunt will find a way to get it. You don’t need to worry about that.”
“Right. But that woman—Lee Mi Su, or whatever—turned out to be even worse than I expected.”
Bom had thought she’d be someone special and charming enough to make a man abandon his family, but she’d turned out to be quite ordinary.
“Exactly. That bastard clearly has terrible taste in women. God knows whether money’s got him bewitched or what.”
“You’re much prettier than her, Aunt.”
“Of course I am. And you look so beautiful because you take after your pretty aunt.”
Thanks to her aunt’s constant reassurance that she was the best, Bom had grown up without any rough edges.
“I suppose I do.”
They continued sharing stories they’d missed, trading compliments all the while.
Laughter bloomed throughout the meal.
These days it felt as though all the world’s happiness was rolling toward her.

***

The day Bom returned from her time at the Busan Branch to the House, the residents had prepared a barbecue party to welcome her back.
Yun Geon hauled the equipment out onto the terrace, while Soo Ho arranged the pieces into place.
“Hey, Yun Geon, leave the bench where it was originally. Just set the chairs down.”
Yun Geon, with his considerable strength, was attempting to move the bench down toward the garden.
“Geez, that brute just makes work twice as hard. I already set everything up perfectly. Bring it back here.”
Yun Geon carried the bench back to its original spot.
“Did you get the meat? You did grab the meat, right?”
Soo Ho’s shout erupted from somewhere in the back—the thought of grilling had just struck him.
“What kind of barbecue party would we throw without meat? I picked everything up ahead of time. But that bastard over there is just running his mouth and not lifting a finger.”
Ji Moon had stopped by the supermarket yesterday to shop in advance.
Though he’d kept it quiet that he’d borrowed Cha Tae Moon’s car without permission to do it.
“But you told him about it, didn’t you?”
“Yeah, I told him. He didn’t say anything against it.”
“So we can drink freely today, right?”
Everyone had gone through the tedious business of trading shifts and navigating office hierarchies just to welcome Spring’s return—it hadn’t been easy.
“Of course we drink. Yun Geon, grab the beer from the cooler—it’s in there with ice. Bring it out, will you?”
“On it.”
“But where’d he go? He’s really gone, right? Like, actually gone?”
Ji Moon understood Soo Ho’s hope that Cha Tae Moon had left, but truth be told, he didn’t know the man’s schedule for today either.
“He headed out a little while ago all dressed up, though.”
As Yun Geon emerged with the cooler and mentioned Cha Tae Moon’s departure, Soo Ho began bouncing on his heels like a child.
“Oh yeah! Today it’s just us—we feast and die happy!”
“Think it’ll work out that neat? Spring knows he’s coming home. I doubt he’ll abandon his sense of loyalty.”
When Ji Moon cocked his head with that remark, Soo Ho bellowed at him to stop inviting bad luck.
The kid was always a riot.
Yun Geon plugged his ears and retreated to a safe distance, while Ji Moon headed to the kitchen to rinse the lettuce, sesame leaves, and other vegetables.
If Cha Tae Moon would only stay away, it’d be perfect—but Ji Moon had his doubts it would happen.
Still, where exactly was the man headed?
That was what he wanted to know.

***

Dressed in charcoal chinos and a white shirt, Cha Tae Moon exited the third floor.
It was the day Spring had promised to return.
Normally he would have picked her up at Seoul Station last night, but when she mentioned stopping by her family home in Gyeonggi Province for one night first, he’d decided to drive out there himself.
When he learned they’d be throwing a barbecue welcome party at the House, he agreed without hesitation.
Though part of him wanted to whisk Spring away to a hotel right then and there, he’d resolved not to rush—they had time now.
In the basement garage, Cha Tae Moon climbed into his favorite car.
But the driver’s seat was pushed all the way forward—someone had been using it.
It was obvious without a second thought.
Ji Moon must have borrowed the car yesterday when he went shopping.
Cha Tae Moon entered the address Spring had given him into the navigation system and pulled out of the garage.
Even at four in the afternoon, the sun still blazed.
Cha Tae Moon slipped on his sunglasses against the glare, rolled down the windows, and pressed ahead.
Traffic flowed smoothly, and the shade trees lining the road rushed past, their foliage thick and green—a herald that summer was near.
A soft smile bloomed at the corner of Cha Tae Moon’s mouth as he drove toward Spring.
He recalled her voice when she’d demurred at him picking her up, even as pleasure colored her tone.
After more than an hour behind the wheel, Cha Tae Moon arrived at his destination and parked across the street, a little ways down from Neul Bom Internal Medicine Clinic.

The hospital sign bore Spring’s name.
Part of him wanted to pay his formal respects to her aunt while he was here, but he knew that was getting ahead of himself.
There would be other chances. For now, he decided to wait quietly in the car for Spring.
At last, he would see her again.
Cha Tae Moon leaned back against the seat, pressing down on his racing heart.
Moments later, the door to opened and Spring appeared. Her aunt, who’d stepped outside to see her off, was visible too.
When a patient entered the hospital, her aunt exchanged a quick farewell with Spring and stepped back inside to resume her consultations.
Left alone, Spring pulled her suitcase behind her, glancing around the street.
She was looking for him.
Bang!
At the sound of the car door closing, Spring looked his way. Cha Tae Moon stepped out and removed his sunglasses, his gaze finding hers.
Their eyes met across the crosswalk that separated them.
Spring’s eyes, brimming with joy, curved softly, and a radiant smile bloomed across her face.
The world seemed to revolve slowly around her, and a gentle vertigo washed over him.
As the traffic light turned green, Spring pulled her suitcase forward and rushed quickly toward him.
“Professor!”
Ae Jeong rushed toward him, breathless and radiant with a smile.
Her smile was so luminous and lovely that he found himself thinking he’d spend his whole life making her smile like that as he drew her into his arms.
“You’ve worked hard.”
He buried his face in the crown of her head, breathing in the scent he’d been missing.
At that, Ae Jeong’s cheeks flushed and she stepped back from his chest.
“I’m still seeing your aunt’s patient, so I’m not sure when I’ll be free.”

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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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