A Gentle Intruder (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 2

Then, a few fans who clung to his fan cafe like lingering spirits quickly left comments.

[OMG… Dajae, what’s wrong?? Hang in there.] [There there.] [Everything will be okay! We’re rooting for you!]

They were strangers whose names and ages she didn’t know, united only by their shared affection for Lee Jae Ho. Da Jung liked this sense of connection. Some familiar usernames felt like real close friends, which made her heart ache softly for no reason.

[Thank you! I’ll stay strong….]

What nonsense. A few words typed with her fingers somehow comforted her deeply inside.

Kyung Mi, Kyung Jun’s older sister and Da Jung’s direct supervisor, firmly declared it was simply because Da Jung was lonely. She scolded her, saying that without anyone real to lean on, she kept seeking comfort online, and urged her to stop obsessing over Lee Jae Ho and go on a blind date to meet a real man. She had even once tried arranging an actual introduction.

Each time, Kyung Jun would frown and raise his voice.

“Someone as naive as Yoon Da Jung shouldn’t meet men carelessly, noona. Blind dates? Forget it. I absolutely can’t stand seeing her end up like that.”

Da Jung found Kyung Jun’s habit of treating her like a child utterly absurd—especially since he was her same age, equally inexperienced in romance, yet acted as if he alone were seasoned and worldly.

That was when it happened.

[OMG! Lee Jae Ho just posted on SNS!] [This is the timeline separator]

Deep worry furrowed his brow.

“Byung Hoon.”

“Yes?”

The man holding his phone couldn’t relax his expression. Just moments ago, Da Jung had posted on his fan cafe—a message brimming with sorrow and distress. Jae Ho stared intently at the word “depressed,” as if those letters formed her very face. His eyes carried unmistakable concern.

“Wanna take a photo with me?”

“A photo?”

Jae Ho placed his hand on his SNS account—normally used only for official promotional updates from work—and repeated himself.

“Yeah. A photo. To celebrate wrapping the shoot.”

“I’m driving right now. Why so suddenly?”

“…Just thought I’d post something on SNS.”

Recalling the fan comment, “I just want to see even my actor’s shadow,” Jae Ho replied awkwardly. He knew full well this wasn’t something he’d normally do—posting selfies or sharing personal updates. Fans were well aware he avoided revealing anything about his private life.

Yet today, he couldn’t ignore Da Jung’s unusually heavy sadness.

Had something difficult happened at the hospital?

Truthfully, he’d reached his limit.

Two years ago—he’d never forget the day Da Jung, whom he’d searched for so long, finally appeared before him as his fan. He’d nearly cried from sheer relief, a feeling words couldn’t express.

We’ve finally met.

“I’m Yoon Da Jung! Oppa! I’m your fan. I really, really like you.”

But Da Jung didn’t remember their past; she saw only the celebrity Lee Jae Ho. Though secretly relieved she didn’t recognize him, Jae Ho was frustrated by his lack of any real reason to approach her.

He’d tried rushing in a few times, but all attempts failed. Creating a genuine connection with Yoon Da Jung—who seemed just another among countless fans—proved far harder than he expected.

“Hyung, it’s because of Da Jung noona, isn’t it? That selfie.”

By now, Byung Hoon had arrived at Jae Ho’s house and finished parking. After checking Lee Jae Ho’s fan community updates on his phone, he added knowingly, “I knew it.” His tone made it sound perfectly obvious that every one of Lee Jae Ho’s whims stemmed directly from Yoon Da Jung.

“I’ll take one that shows your godlike visuals. Check it out.”

Byung Hoon climbed out of the driver’s seat, moved to the back, and sat beside Jae Ho with a playful grin. Jae Ho chuckled along. The two lightly put their arms around each other and snapped a few photos.

“What the heck. Only you look like a god. I look like an octopus. Let’s retake it!”

“Why?”

Jae Ho replied with unnecessary bluntness.

“It’ll probably turn out the same no matter how many times we try.”

Byung Hoon got flustered but couldn’t find a proper comeback, so he just scowled and lightly punched Jae Ho’s shoulder. Then he began carefully selecting the photos, determined to find the ones where he looked best.

“To think even the dinner event with fans failed.”

Byung Hoon muttered under his breath.

“It was such a great idea! A date with one lucky fan via lottery! And switching that one fan to Da Jung noona wouldn’t have been that hard.”

Byung Hoon already knew Da Jung was Jae Ho’s first love—the one he’d spent years searching for—and he was doing everything he could to be their go-between.

“To think Da Jung noona didn’t even apply… How could Dajae, the ultimate Lee Jae Ho stan, miss such an opportunity?”

Jae Ho chose the second photo and replied indifferently.

“She works three shifts at the hospital. She must be busy.”

Still, he’d secretly hoped she’d join the event, so he felt a little disappointed. He was growing increasingly anxious. He couldn’t send her a direct message on SNS, couldn’t leave her notes on the fan cafe, and without Da Jung’s participation, even small events felt pointless.

Would another chance come?

Hiding his bitterness, Jae Ho typed out a few hashtags.

[This is the timeline separator]

Lee Jae Ho’s SNS rarely posted—maybe two or three times a year—and even then, it was usually just official content like photo shoots or posters. So when a selfie suddenly appeared, fans went wild. Especially since it came right after Da Jung posted, “I miss you,” the fan cafe erupted with excitement.

[OMG! Dajae’s timing is insane!] [LOL LOL ARE YOU A PSYCHIC??] [Wow seriously unbelievable LOL feels like a direct reply to Dajae’s post LOL]

Ignoring the rapidly multiplying, chatty comments on her personal post, Da Jung reached for her phone. She’d tossed it onto the couch earlier alongside Kyung Jun’s message, and now it was halfway under the sofa. Closing her laptop, her hands trembled slightly as she opened her phone.

“Lee Jae Ho posted on SNS?”

It had been nearly half a year since his last post—a behind-the-scenes shot from the drama , which had wrapped earlier this year. With a racing heart, Da Jung checked his update. The selfie, taken in his car with his manager, captured Lee Jae Ho’s signature bright smile perfectly, without filter or restraint.

[The autumn weather’s great. Good morning, everyone. #SurvivalUpdate #LeeJaeHo #sweetJaeHo #ThankYou #StayStrong #IWantToSeeYouToo]

Her heart hammered as if breaking down.

Da Jung shoved her half-finished beer aside and flopped onto the couch, phone in hand, kicking her legs excitedly. My goodness—a selfie! And of all times, right at this exact moment! What was this sudden tenderness?

It felt as if all the exhaustion weighing on her chest had washed completely away. Right. Worrying and feeling down wouldn’t fix anything. Haet Sal Yi would surely pull through and eventually be discharged healthy, returning safely to her mother’s arms.

Hope suddenly burst forth inside her.

“So this is what Lee Jae Ho’s Benz looks like. First time seeing the interior—super luxurious. Black seats. Oh, it suits him. Where’s that T-shirt from? So simple, yet it matches him perfectly. He’s not wearing a ring—does he have a girlfriend? He’s drinking that drink—I should start buying that too.”

Da Jung scrutinized the photo as if trying to devour every detail. Since Lee Jae Ho rarely revealed anything personal, every element in the picture fascinated her. And she wasn’t the only one—the comments exploded with similar curiosity.

[Oppa… WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN DOING ALL THIS TIME??] [Byung Hoon LOL LOL manager is so cute LOL] [OPPA!!! NOW THAT YOU’RE AT IT, SHOW US YOUR HOUSE TOO!! WHERE’S THAT T-SHIRT FROM?!?!] [I love you!!]

She felt she could stare at Lee Jae Ho’s face all day if asked. Da Jung absentmindedly tapped the phone screen. Goodness—how could someone possibly look like this? How did he get that nose without surgery? And those eyes—his face perfectly blended sexiness and gentleness, making her heart flutter again.

Lee Jae Ho was… just a little special.

She still remembered the first time she’d seen him, about three years ago. Just thinking about that day made her heart act strange again. Back then, she’d been so swamped with hospital duties she barely watched TV—but for some reason, that day, she suddenly turned it on. And there he was on screen.

The moment she saw him, her heart dropped heavily into her chest, and tears welled in her eyes. A strange mix of joy and relief bloomed within her—odd, since this was a stranger. It was a feeling she couldn’t explain.

One second was all it took for a man with such mysteriously captivating charm to steal her heart.

Was this what people meant by “love at first sight”? Her heart pounded like it might burst, and tears streamed down nonstop. How lucky that no one saw her acting so foolishly.

A few days later, she’d told Kyung Mi about Lee Jae Ho, rambling that if past lives existed, they must’ve shared a deep bond—only to be mocked. Kyung Mi was exactly the type who never believed in fate or destined love.

“Stop talking nonsense, Yoon Da Jung. So you fell just because he’s hot, right?”

Well… she couldn’t deny that. He was the kind of man who radiated both sex appeal and intelligence—an overwhelming presence.

For days afterward, Da Jung searched endlessly for information about him. Film debut last year. Mysterious past. Wharton School graduate. Rumored third-generation chaebol heir.

Soon after, as if pulled by some invisible force, she joined his fan club, became an active member, then joined the admin team, and eventually began following his schedule everywhere.

Though Kyung Mi disapproved of all this, she didn’t strongly object—after all, it was the first time Da Jung had thrown genuine passion into a hobby.

That’s how Lee Jae Ho captured Da Jung’s whole heart.

So then…

[#ThankYou #StayStrong #IWantToSeeYouToo]

Would it be okay to believe those words were meant just for her? A smile spread unconsciously across her lips.

She reopened the fan cafe app to find new comments still piling onto her personal post. Fans were calling it a pilgrimage site, claiming she was psychic—their over-the-top reactions thrilled her. With fans constantly fueling her like this, she wanted even more to believe.

Even though she knew it couldn’t be true.

[#ThankYou #StayStrong #IWantToSeeYouToo]

Her heart kept fluttering wildly at just a few hashtag characters.

[This is the timeline separator]

Several days passed.

Since that day, she hadn’t seen Kim Hye Jin—the expectant mother—on the 7th floor. After delivery, mothers were moved to the 8th-floor ward, where the neonatal unit was located.

Ordinary mothers could visit the neonatal unit anytime they wished to see their babies. “Ordinary mothers” referred to those who delivered healthy infants at full term.

Kim Hye Jin’s baby wasn’t there.

Kim Hye Jin would now look at the neonatal unit filled with healthy newborns and think of her tiny child, hanging from a NICU incubator like a delicate ornament. She was allowed to see her baby only once a day—and even that could be canceled if the baby’s condition worsened.

She would keep squeezing her unyielding breasts, struggling to collect even 10ml of colostrum, endlessly blaming herself for not being able to hold her baby longer. Da Jung’s heart ached.

Haet Sal Yi had to live. That was precisely why Da Jung had applied to work in the high-risk obstetrics department.

She remembered her older brother’s life, turned to dust. Her father’s final face, ending his life with a flimsy coat hanger, flashed through her mind. Too much death had marked Da Jung’s life. She wanted to live.

She’d come to this hospital to understand just how magnificent and dignified life truly was. Sangmyeong University Hospital—home to Korea’s leading high-risk pregnancy and neonatal intensive care unit—was her reason for living.