Chapter 9
“I was thinking about it again, and at first I just thought he was using you like a slave and then tossing you aside, but maybe that’s not the only reason.”
“Then what is it?”
“Maybe… he actually wants to be with you. Because he likes you.”
“What are you talking about?”
Yeonwoo let Se-young’s words go in one ear and out the other.
Once she had some alcohol in her, she started talking nonsense.
Honestly, Master Beom (Beom sabu) was someone Yeonwoo admired.
Separate from any romantic interest, he was more like a role model—someone she looked up to and wanted to follow.
And now Se-young was saying that kind of role model liked her?
She was getting ahead of herself.
There was no way Master Beom saw her that way.
If anything, it made more sense that he was just using her like a servant.
“Just drink your beer. Don’t say ridiculous things.”
“Anyway, Master Beom is like a fox in a tiger’s skin. Not normal at all.”
“Honestly, he’s perfection itself.”
“Japchae? When I go back to Korea, I’m going to order gamjatang and jokbal and eat until I explode.”
Yeonwoo stared blankly at Se-young.
Her eyes were dreamy, clearly already thinking about food.
Time to get up.
They’d had some beer, and it was time to rest for tomorrow.
“Thanks for the meal. See you tomorrow.”
“Okay, I’m not going out. If you get bored on the way, stop by Master Beom’s place.”
“What are you even saying? Get some rest.”
Yeonwoo chuckled at the silly comment and left the 2Cool (common room area).
On her way to her lodging, she passed by the living 2Cool. The savory scent of something cooking—maybe firewood-baked pizza—wafted over; a few coworkers had gathered there.
“Princess, if you’re not busy, come eat with us! Doc’s making pizza!”
A colleague spotted her and waved her over.
Yeonwoo peeked in, looking for Master Beom, but didn’t see him there.
“I’m good. I had a big dinner already. Eat extra for me!”
She politely declined and walked away.
After passing her own lodging, Yeonwoo decided to walk a little further.
Before she realized it, she was standing in front of Sajun’s new place.
She stood there, staring at the lighted 2Cool for a long moment before mustering up her courage and approaching.
Alright. Just ask him directly.
Hesitating and wavering wasn’t like her.
If she was curious, she should just ask.
She couldn’t just waste time feeling helpless like this.
But—don’t you dare bring up anything about “liking” him.
Yeonwoo lightly clenched her fist and knocked on the door.
Knock, knock.
“Teacher, it’s me. Ryu Yeonwoo.”
A moment later, the door opened, and he appeared.
“This late? What’s going on?”
His low voice rang clearly in her ears.
His firm, black eyes scanned her face quickly.
Yes, this was the kind of man he was.
Not someone to joke around about, like she had with Se-young.
A strong, masculine scent wafted over her gently.
Maybe he had just taken a shower—his jet-black hair was still damp.
She might’ve interrupted his well-earned rest after a long day.
But since she was already here—go big or go home.
Yeonwoo swallowed dryly, staring at him still standing firmly at the door.
“What’s the matter?”
“Could I come in?”
“……”
Instead of answering, he narrowed his eyes and stared at her.
Like in a standoff, he stood there unmoving, not looking like he planned to let her in.
Wait… could it be?
Feeling awkward, Yeonwoo peeked behind him, trying to look inside.
She couldn’t see much past his broad chest, but a thought struck her—what if someone was in there?
Yeonwoo took a half-step back and whispered sheepishly,
“Uh, am I interrupting… a good time?”
“A good time?”
“Yeah!”
He placed a hand on his waist and let out a disbelieving laugh.
His dark eyes sparkled with amusement, like he was genuinely curious what on earth was going through her head.
“Then I’ll just go—”
“Wait a second.”
Just as Yeonwoo was bowing and turning to leave, he stopped her.
“Yes?”
“Have you been drinking?”
“Is it that obvious? I can handle a lot, so you probably couldn’t tell.”
“With who? Doc?”
Why bring up Doc all of a sudden?
“No. Just a quick beer with Se-young.”
Sajun tilted his head slightly.
His crooked gaze looked full of dissatisfaction.
So… there wasn’t anyone else inside?
Then he wouldn’t be standing here talking to her like this.
Feeling like she had jumped to the wrong conclusion, Yeonwoo’s cheeks flushed.
Yeah…
If anything had really been going on, Se-young—Miss Knows Everything—would have picked up on it.
She’d worried for no reason.
“You and Se-young had a good time without me?”
Yeonwoo had been staring down at her feet when she suddenly looked up in surprise.
He was smiling slightly.
“Ah, sorry.”
“Come in. There’s no one inside. No one to have a good time with either.”
He stepped aside with a smooth smile curling his lips.
Ugh. She’d jumped to the worst conclusions.
She wanted to smack herself in the head.
Embarrassed, Yeonwoo bit her lip and carefully stepped inside.
But maybe because it was a man’s room… her heart started thumping loudly.
Thump, thump.
They’d spent almost two months together. They’d bonded in the operating room so much—yet suddenly all that familiarity had vanished, leaving only awkward tension.
Maybe it was because of that earlier conversation with Se-young.
Why’d she even bring that up?
Thud.
The door closed behind her, and her heart skipped a beat.
This place wasn’t much different from her own quarters—so why did it feel so tense?
Yeonwoo slowly turned around and looked at him.
Wearing a thin shirt that revealed the solid curves of his abs, Sajun tilted his head slightly, running a hand along his firmly set jaw.
They were standing too close.
Feeling self-conscious, Yeonwoo rubbed her arm.
He motioned with his head toward a spot.
“Sit.”
Yeonwoo hesitantly walked over and sat by the table.
“Want something to drink?”
“Yes, if it’s not too much trouble.”
Her throat felt strangely dry.
He took a soda out of the fridge and walked it over to her.
“Here. Drink.”
He popped the can open and handed it to her directly. Yeonwoo took it carefully.
Instead of sitting across from her, Sajun perched on the bed, stretching his long legs out as he stared at her.
With just the two of them in the small room, his presence felt overwhelming.
After taking a sip of the cool drink, Yeonwoo remembered why she’d come here and spoke.
“Um, Teacher.”
“Go ahead.”
His soft smile looked like the same Master Beom she knew, and that reassured her.
But she didn’t let her guard down completely.
“You said before that we could work together.”
“I did.”
“But I’m going back to Korea next week.”
So… why haven’t you said anything yet?
She looked at him with wide, earnest eyes.
At this point, he should’ve said something—but he just kept his silence, as if testing her.
Yeonwoo tried to hide her disappointment behind a forced smile and studied his expression.
Even if it was just as a lackey, she hoped he’d take her in—but maybe he had no intention of doing so.
To Yeonwoo, Sajun was the ideal doctor she had dreamed of working with.
Watching him make quick treatment decisions and perform surgeries in poor conditions—she had learned so much.
She had gotten so absorbed in it that she felt time was slipping away.
If only they’d met a bit earlier, regardless of him being her brother’s friend… how amazing would that have been?
The thought made her heart ache.
“Are you sad to leave?”
Yeonwoo nodded.
“Yes.”
“There’s not no way for you to stay.”
Then… what is that way?
Yeonwoo smiled nervously, trying to hide her impatience.
“You’re sure you want to work with me?”
“Yes.”
Yeonwoo answered without hesitation.
Then he looked at her with a smile that could charm ghosts.
