After dropping Haon off at the store, Inho headed not to his home but to the hospital. It was the place where his primary physician was based and also a hospital established by the Hansung Group. Additionally, it was where Hyo-jeong’s father, whom Inho knew, served as the hospital director.
“I’m coming in,” Hyo-jeong announced, lightly waving her hand as she opened the door to the hospital room. She had come as soon as she heard that Inho was at the hospital and her examination was finished.
Inho was not lying on the hospital bed but on a long sofa. A long IV drip was inserted into one of his pale arms.
He neither showed surprise nor welcomed Hyo-jeong’s entrance. He had already anticipated her arrival, having heard the click-clack of her heels echoing down the hallway.
“Still not sleeping well, I see,” Hyo-jeong remarked, casually taking a seat on the sofa opposite Inho. The VIP hospital room’s interior resembled that of a high-end hotel lounge, making them appear as if they were in an upscale lounge rather than a hospital.
“I was sleeping until just now,” Inho replied.
“Oh, I woke you up. I’m so sorry,” Hyo-jeong said with a shrug, half-heartedly apologizing as she kicked off her heels.
“My feet are killing me,” she complained, making herself comfortable on the sofa. She seemed to have stopped by to see Inho’s face and take a short break. Having known each other since they were very young, she had no qualms about showing her bare feet.
“Why wear uncomfortable shoes to work?” Inho asked.
“It’s the first time I’ve worn them. They were a gift, so I thought I’d give them a try,” she explained, grumbling about how uncomfortable they were as she tied up her wavy hair.
Hyo-jeong, in her mid-thirties, exuded the aura of a charismatic career woman. Her striking features made her appear confident and strong, even without heavy makeup.
“I heard you came to get a stronger suppressant prescribed,” Hyo-jeong said, inquiring about Inho’s health. Despite being on an IV drip, Inho’s complexion looked good.
However, his health condition wasn’t always apparent from his outward appearance, making it difficult to gauge his true state.
“You usually avoid taking suppressants. So why do you need a stronger one now?” she asked, continuing her questioning when Inho didn’t respond. She had heard that Inho requested a suppressant twice as strong as what he usually took, even though his pheromone levels were stable. There seemed to be no need for him to switch to a stronger suppressant that could be harmful to his body.
“I saw that the one you’re currently prescribed is already quite strong,” Hyo-jeong commented.
“Take it out,” Inho said, extending his arm with the IV drip. He seemed intent on removing it.
“Just finish it. I’ll keep quiet,” Hyo-jeong offered, mimicking zipping her lips, but Inho ignored her and kept shaking his arm. Knowing he would likely remove it himself and cause bleeding, Hyo-jeong reluctantly took out the IV for him.
After straightening his sleeves, Inho got up from the sofa and opened the refrigerator. He took out two bottles of drinks, neatly arranged with the logos facing forward, and returned to the sofa.
“Thanks,” Hyo-jeong said with a smirk, appreciating that Inho had brought a drink for her without being asked. She took a refreshing sip of the cool juice. Despite his often aloof demeanor, Inho had good manners when it mattered.
“Have you lost weight? Your face looks a bit gaunt,” Hyo-jeong observed, scrutinizing Inho’s face as he sat back down. He still had striking features, but his jawline seemed sharper than before. She wondered if something was bothering him.
“You’ve gained some weight, though,” Inho remarked casually. Hyo-jeong glared at him, surprised he had noticed her recent weight gain, which had been stressing her out.
“I know. I plan to lose it,” she replied.
“You look good as you are. Don’t lose it,” Inho said lazily, yet his words carried a sincerity that made Hyo-jeong feel better. He wasn’t one to say things he didn’t mean, which made his compliments more meaningful.
“You seem to be in a good mood,” Hyo-jeong commented, watching Inho as he lay on his side, gazing out the distant window. Usually, he would have grown tired of her presence by now, but today their conversation was flowing smoothly.
“Not bad,” Inho admitted.
“Oh, no denial. Interesting,” Hyo-jeong noted, raising an eyebrow before letting out a big yawn.
Although she was the hospital director’s daughter, Hyo-jeong was an ordinary doctor who struggled with overwork like anyone else. While her home and car were notably nicer than those of her colleagues with similar salaries, she lived relatively modestly.
Perhaps because of her down-to-earth nature compared to other wealthy individuals, Inho seemed to be more comfortable around Hyo-jeong. Though they didn’t engage in long conversations, she was one of the few people Inho was close to.
“Hyo-jeong,” Inho called out.
“What is it?” she responded.
“How do you keep loving someone for a long time?” Inho asked abruptly.
Hyo-jeong choked on her juice, coughing in surprise. She quickly composed herself and asked Inho to repeat what he had said.
“How do you keep loving someone for a long time?” Inho asked again, his expression calm and composed, as if he hadn’t just asked a monumental question.
Hyo-jeong, initially shocked, soon regained her composure and crossed her arms. She found the question amusing, considering her own divorce, but she knew Inho well enough to understand that he had few others to discuss such matters with.
“You’re asking me, the divorced one?” she replied, raising an eyebrow.
“Just give me any answer. I’m not expecting much,” Inho said, his nonchalant attitude almost frustrating.
Hyo-jeong clicked her tongue but couldn’t hide her intrigue. “Do you have someone you like?” she asked, her curiosity piqued.
“Yeah.”
“…Really?
Hyo-jeong was even more shocked by how casually Inho confirmed her suspicion. The idea that Inho had someone he liked was almost unbelievable, even hearing it directly from him.
Hyo-jeong clapped her hands, eager to know more. She asked about the person’s job, family background, age, and most importantly, their traits. She wondered just how special this person must be.
“Just answer the question,” Inho replied, clearly unwilling to share any details. Hyo-jeong looked disappointed but decided not to pry further.
“Well, you should try to focus on their good qualities. Overlook the rough edges,” Hyo-jeong advised.
“And?” Inho prompted, surprisingly attentive. His unusual interest made Hyo-jeong realize something she had to say, even if Inho might not like it.
“You really do like this person, don’t you?” Hyo-jeong said, her voice rising with excitement.
Inho remained silent, his sharp gaze hinting at his discomfort with her enthusiasm.
“Never thought I’d be having this conversation with you,” Hyo-jeong continued, undeterred. “I always figured you’d just casually date around until you died of old age. What’s gotten into you?”
She leaned in, eager for more details, careful not to push too hard and risk Inho leaving.
“Is it so bad to keep things casual?” Inho murmured, turning his gaze back to the window. It wasn’t a question meant for an answer, but Hyo-jeong couldn’t let it go.
“There’s nothing wrong with it,” she replied, swirling the juice in her glass before setting it down. “But avoiding depth out of fear might make you miss out on someone great.”
Inho turned back to face Hyo-jeong, his expression thoughtful. He tapped the cap of his juice bottle, seemingly lost in thought.
Hyo-jeong watched him, feeling a sense of pride. The fact that Inho was even considering these things felt like a significant step forward for him.
“You know, I think I know who it is,” Hyo-jeong said, remembering a conversation with Inho. “Is it that person who can’t eat after their heat cycle?”
Inho didn’t deny it, which Hyo-jeong took as confirmation. Her eyes widened with intrigue. That meant the person was a recessive omega.
“Bring them to the hospital. I’ll take a look at them,” Hyo-jeong offered.
“Maybe later,” Inho replied, noncommittal.
“Why, do they not want to go to the hospital?”
Inho shrugged and lay back down on the sofa. Surprisingly, he answered honestly instead of brushing off the question.
“I think they might not like it,” he admitted softly.
Hyo-jeong’s eyes widened at his confession. She was genuinely surprised by his candid response.
“You really become cautious when you like someone,” she teased, humming a playful tune. She began to prepare to leave, having only stopped by to check on Inho’s condition.
“Inho,” she said, adjusting her heels before wrapping up the conversation. Despite appearing a bit gaunt, Inho’s face still held a certain radiance, though a familiar shadow lingered over it.
As a doctor, Hyo-jeong could easily read the signs of illness in people, and Inho was no exception. She had known him since they were young, which made it even easier for her to notice these things.
“Not everyone finds hospitals as uncomfortable as you do,” she said seriously, standing up from the sofa to look down at him. Inho gazed up at her with a bored expression.
“Your makeup is smudged,” he commented.
“You’re impossible,” Hyo-jeong muttered, vowing never to worry about him again as she headed for the door. The click-clack of her heels echoed as she walked away.
“If you ever meet them, don’t say anything weird,” Inho called out just as she was about to leave.
Hyo-jeong paused and turned back. “I thought you weren’t bringing them to the hospital.”
“We might see each other sometime. Not necessarily at the hospital,” Inho replied.
The thought of Inho introducing her to his partner was both chilling and amusing to Hyo-jeong.
“Well, good luck with that,” she said with a lighthearted farewell, taking one last look around the hospital room. She glanced briefly at Inho, who was still lying on the sofa instead of the comfortable bed, before quietly closing the door behind her.
