IMTS 04

Chapter 04

As always today, Cheong-ah was vigorously pushing the mop when her gaze landed on a large shoe stopping right in front of her.

“Huh?”

She slowly tilted her head upward, following the tip of the shoe.

Above the black shoes were neatly pressed suit pants, continuing into a white lab coat from mid-thigh. It took her a long moment to reach the fierce eyes of the man standing before her, arms crossed tightly.

Even Cheong-ah wasn’t exactly short.

But Min Yu-shin, standing before her, was tall enough that she had to crane her neck just to meet his gaze.

“Oh my, hello, Professor. Yesterday, you suddenly… collapsed, and I was so shocked. Hohoho. Your body… are you alright?”

Cheong-ah’s awkward laugh caused the furrow above Min Yu-shin’s mask to tighten even more.

“Ah, thanks to you, I almost… well, you know.”

“Hmm… that’s unfortunate….”

Cheong-ah clenched the mop tightly with both hands.

She felt guilty for poking him in such a sensitive spot.

But it hadn’t been on purpose.

Besides, she couldn’t apologize and get dragged along by someone who might be connected to the Cheonghwa faction.

After a brief hesitation, Cheong-ah decided to take the initiative.

“By the way, Professor, do you… remember?”

“What do I have to remember, being attacked out of nowhere?”

“No, it’s just… yesterday, when you suddenly called my name, I was really startled. I thought maybe you knew me… hohoho.”

Cheong-ah deliberately made light conversation, tucking her hair behind her ear.

She wanted to subtly probe whether Yu-shin had actually said her name, or if he was indeed connected to the Cheonghwa faction.

Then Min Yu-shin put both hands deep into his coat pockets.

His gaze slowly fell on Cheong-ah’s name tag. Then came a laugh, as if he couldn’t believe it.

“My name? You’re saying I called Mrs. Park Bok-sun’s name when I collapsed? I didn’t get shot in the head or anything.”

Park, Bok, Sun.

With each syllable he spat out, Cheong-ah’s eyes drifted downward.

To Yu-shin’s chest, then to his navel, and finally all the way down to his feet and the floor.

Ah, right.

I’m Park Bok-sun.

Seeing Cheong-ah’s flustered expression, the amusement faded from Yu-shin’s eyes. A tense atmosphere settled over them instantly.

“All I remember is that our lady seems surprisingly good at first aid.”

A moment of awkward silence passed.

“You checked my pulse immediately. Did you learn that somewhere?”

“Oh, um… that was during basic safety training when I joined…”

“Your pupil check was fast too.”

“Th-That’s… YouTube…?”

“Ha, YouTube.”

Cheong-ah’s voice grew smaller under Yu-shin’s questioning. She had no confidence in lying. From above, she heard Yu-shin’s snort of disbelief.

Cheong-ah wanted to act nonchalant, but she knew it was impossible.

‘What! What! He thought I was pretending to faint?’

Internally, she was already screaming.

“Then—”

Yu-shin’s shoe, which had been resting on the floor, stepped forward. His outstretched hand grabbed Cheong-ah’s chin.

“……?”

Yu-shin twisted his wrist upward, forcing her head up. Their eyes met directly.

“Was rubbing my crotch also a first aid technique you learned from YouTube?”

“…….”

“Why can’t you answer this?”

Cheong-ah’s lips moved slightly, but there was nothing she could say, not even with a hundred mouths.

She couldn’t even think about removing his hand; she only averted her gaze.

Through the corner of her eyes, she saw Yu-shin’s brows furrow sharply.

“Tch.”

Yu-shin clicked his tongue and released her chin.

He said nothing further and walked past her.

“……?”

Cheong-ah turned her head in bewilderment, staring after his back.

What just happened?

It was strange, really. She remembered him grabbing her lower body, so why didn’t he ask about checking his wallet?

Wasn’t that the most important thing to check?

‘Suspicious. Totally suspicious.’

Cheong-ah quietly followed Yu-shin as he disappeared down the hall.

Tall and long-legged, he took wide strides. Before she knew it, he had already entered his lab far ahead.

Cheong-ah glanced around.

The hallway was quiet today, too, with no one passing by.

There was a CCTV at the end, but if she stayed with her back to the door, her face wouldn’t be caught.

‘Alright. Let’s see what he’s up to for a moment.’

She approached Yu-shin’s lab quickly, holding her breath.

Just as she tried to press her face against the door quietly—

Bang!

The door suddenly swung open into her line of sight. Reflexively, Cheong-ah stepped back, but she was too late.

Crash! The metal door hit her forehead.

Her vision flashed brightly as her balance tipped backward.

“Ugh!”

Before she knew it, her view flipped to the ceiling.

She regained consciousness just as her head was about to hit the floor.

But her body reacted faster than her mind.

Instinctively, Cheong-ah spread her arms wide and relaxed her body, assuming a breakfall stance.

Thud—!

Her palms and forearms hit the floor, sending shockwaves up her arms.

Blinking, she opened her eyes to see Yu-shin’s face filling her vision.

“Huh, why…!”

She had no idea when he had moved so fast. She blinked, looking up at him.

Yu-shin quickly grabbed her mask roughly, moving his lips as if to speak. His eyes scanned her anxiously.

“Why are you standing here… and got hurt, what the hell?”

Cheong-ah scrambled upright.

“Oh my, I—”

She tried to say “I’m okay,” but stopped, staring at Yu-shin directly.

“…Now. Excuse me? What did you just say?”

Her forehead burned.

Her thoughts scattered; she couldn’t even think to say she was fine or hurt.

‘Right now, with that tone and expression, is he really asking why I got hurt here?’

This guy… is he a sociopath?

Blinking dumbfoundedly, she felt something warm trickle down her brow.

A familiar metallic scent of blood hit her nose.

Yu-shin’s expression darkened further.

Had she fainted for a moment?

Or was she just so enraged that she lost control?

She wasn’t sure, but when Cheong-ah came to, she was inside Yu-shin’s lab.

She was seated on the sofa, with the sharp smell of antiseptic near her forehead.

On the table were gauze wipes and several first aid tools.

“What are you doing now?”

“……Shh.”

Yu-shin’s hands moved busily before her.

The sleeves of his coat were slightly rolled up, revealing his firm wrists. The tendons flexed subtly as he applied antiseptic.

Only then did Cheong-ah realize she was being treated.

Her gaze slowly rose to Yu-shin’s face.

‘Wow, he’s so handsome. Can a doctor be this good-looking? He looks like he has a thousand stories. Ouch. But why does he seem like a sociopath? …Well, if he’s connected to the Cheonghwa faction, I guess not normal. …Such a waste. His face… if only his nose was prettier, he could be a celebrity. No, I should’ve fixed the braces first? Hmm. Still… impressive….’

Cheong-ah couldn’t take her eyes off Yu-shin’s face even with the mask removed. She noticed the wrinkles forming on his brow.

“…….”

His sharp, knife-like eyes slowly met hers.

“Anything to say?”

Only then did Cheong-ah realize she had been staring at Yu-shin, mouth half-open.

“Uh…….”

Flustered, she darted her eyes around the room and offered a very awkward excuse.