“Now it’s time to settle down. I’m thinking of really marrying Hyunji. I plan to propose soon.”

“That’s a great idea!”

“So, Mom, you need to recover quickly and get discharged. You have to see me preparing for my wedding.”

“Of course! I need to get better soon! I’ll get discharged right away!”

Malhee seemed instantly energized, as if she could be discharged at any moment.

“I raised my son well, so I could overcome cancer, and now I can enjoy my life. Oh, my brave son.”

It was a joyous day for Malhee. Heeuk too felt relieved and content.

Friday evening at 6 PM.

For the past two days, Taejun had been busy with external matters and spent a long time outside. Now that his external schedule was almost settled, he could be in his office.

Having assigned work to Soeun and unable to check on her for two days, today he thought he might be able to stick around her.

He wanted to see Hansoeun struggling with the work. Perhaps on Sunday evening, when she would tearfully admit she couldn’t finish on time, he might graciously agree to help her out.

After finishing his work, Taejun sauntered to Soeun’s office.

He was puzzled to see Soeun looking unexpectedly cheerful. Maybe she had become detached due to the overwhelming workload.

“Did you get a lot of work done?”

“Yes! I finished!”

Surprised by Soeun’s assertive report, Taejun’s eyes flickered.

He quickly went over to check the files Soeun showed him.

He couldn’t believe it. It was a workload that would have taken him two days even if he did it himself.

How did she do it?

Was it done by a fairy overnight? Or a bull? A toad? Does she have a magic helper?

“……Who helped you?”

“No, I did it myself.”
“By yourself?”

“Yes!”

“How?”

“If there’s a will to do something, nothing is impossible.”

Soeun answered spiritedly.

Taejun looked at her with unfocused eyes.

So, she wanted to go on that blind date that badly.

Your determination to go on the blind date is admirable, but…

“Well done. You did well.”

He couldn’t possibly let her go.

There’s no one without flaws. Hoping Soeun had made some mistake, Taejun meticulously scrutinized the documents. But even after 30 minutes, he found no errors. Not only had she correctly marked the revisions, but she also prepared a final report, which made verification easier. The work was flawless.

Hansoeun, squinting her eyes and smirking beside him, was extremely irritating.

Unable to find any mistakes in her work, Taejun had no choice but to slightly advance the schedule for a new project.

“Well done. I can trust Chief Hansoeun with work from now on. …Well, let me tell you about the main mission of the Future Services Team. I was planning to start on Monday, but since Chief Han is showing such enthusiasm, we should start immediately this weekend.”

Shocked by Taejun’s announcement, Soeun blinked. Each blink made her vision blurrier.

What is he saying?

Is this man so desperate to catch me?

I did everything you asked. Please, just let me go home now…

She had sleeplessly spent the last two nights, fretting over Yang Heeuk and then working. And now, more work?

You shouldn’t be loyal to a company.

If you give them your liver, next they’ll ask for your gallbladder.

“Hey, Chief Hansoeun.”

Taejun called her name. His voice sounded unreal, as if it didn’t belong in reality.

Director, I’m sorry.

Even if it’s not the director but the director’s grandfather, I can’t do it anymore…

Like a dancer spinning a sangmo, Soeun nodded off and collapsed onto the desk.

“Chief Hansoeun.”

Taejun’s face hardened as he witnessed her collapse.

“Hansoeun!”

His call was so loud that even Chief Song Munkyung, who was preparing to leave, hurried over.

Chief Song Munkyung, trained in first aid, checked Soeun’s condition and called her doctor husband for advice.

After confirming that Soeun’s breathing and pulse were normal, Taejun immediately carried her down to his car and drove off. Munkyung accompanied them to the emergency room and called Soeun’s colleague, Park Bobae, to inquire about Soeun’s condition today.

“Chief Hansoeun pulled all-nighters at the office yesterday and today, Director.”

After talking to Bobae, Munkyung reported to Taejun.

“Two days?”

“Yes. Yesterday she went home briefly in the early morning and came back, and today she stayed up all night at the office.”

Taejun’s grip on the steering wheel tightened.

Crazy.

This woman is crazy.

How can she be so sincere about everything?

“While you’re fuming inside, Director…”

As Taejun was internally seething, Munkyung, who was checking on Soeun in the back seat, cautiously called out to him.

Rumbling, rumbling, rumbling, rumbling…

Munkyung didn’t need to say anything else. The silent car was filled with the sound of a woman snoring. Just listening to the sound, it was hard to tell if the person making it was a woman, a man, a human, or an animal. It was so loud that the two listening became embarrassed.
Upon arriving at the emergency room, Taejun laid Soeun on a bed, but she did not wake up from her sleep. The doctor who came to examine her conveyed that it seemed like simple exhaustion.

Still, it appeared necessary to watch over Soeun until she woke up, so Taejun ended up spending the night in the emergency room.

Taejun spoke to Munkyung, who had accompanied him to the hospital.

“You’ve worked hard. Please go home now.”

“I’ll stay here. You go ahead, Director.”

“No, Chief. You need to take care of yourself too.”

Taejun was concerned about startling Munkyung, who was in the early stages of pregnancy. Moreover, it was Friday night. Munkyung needed her own time to rest and relax.

After politely persuading her a few times, Munkyung finally agreed to leave.

“Then, I’ll go ahead. Please call me if anything happens.”

“Yes. Thank you for your help.”

After seeing Munkyung off, Taejun, left alone, finally became aware of the space he was in.

Was it 20 years since he last visited an emergency room?

It was his first time in an emergency room since the day he lost both his parents.