“It seems the patient has taken more tranquilizers than the recommended dose. It doesn’t seem to be a critical condition; she seems to have fallen asleep.”
“Yes.”
After asking if there would be other family members arriving, the doctor said a few more things and left.
Hajun contacted Jiyoon’s parents through Attorney Park. However, a while later, he learned that Jiyoon’s parents were unable to come to the hospital due to night work at their workplace.
Meanwhile, Jiyoon regained consciousness.
“Mister.”
“Um… Yeah.”
Hajun sighed briefly and asked Jiyoon.
“How did you come all the way here?”
It was a question already asked in front of the office building, but the desired answer was different. It was about the real reason Jiyoon came to Happy Officetel and how much tranquilizer she took to ride the subway.
“I visited places near my mom little by little. So, I thought it would be okay.”
Hajun asked again at Jiyoon’s vague answer.
“Okay? What about after that?”
“Still, just in case, I took two tranquilizers. And while waiting for you at the lawyer’s office, I took some, and when I briefly went to the restroom in the hotel lobby, I took more.”
“…”
“I just wanted to get away from the places I go every day. And since you’ve been away from the office for a few days, I found an excuse.”
Even with Jiyoon’s sincere self-justification, Hajun felt weighed down, blaming himself for everything.
He nodded in understanding and asked again.
“Can you walk? Seems like your parents are busy. I’ll take you.”
“Yes.”
Instead of explaining about her parents, Jiyoon found a walker and followed Hajun out of the hospital.
The car ride back home was filled with silence. Jiyoon felt heavy-hearted for bothering Hajun for no reason.
Not being able to talk about her parents also bothered her.
While looking at the passing streetlight, she eventually brought up the topic of her parents.
“I used to be a short track athlete. When I went to the ice rink with my dad in elementary school and saw short track athletes, I got completely into it.”
At the sudden revelation, Hajun glanced briefly at Jiyoon. He nodded as if asking if that was the case.
“You said that before? You wanted to commend my courage. But… I had no choice. I was my parents’ hope. If I didn’t muster the courage, my parents would lose hope.”
“Jiyoon.”
He wanted to say that if it was a difficult thing to do, she shouldn’t have done it, but Jiyoon continued speaking without caring.
“That’s why I took two more tranquilizers just in case. And I took them while waiting for you, and when I went to the restroom in the hotel lobby earlier.”
“…”
“I just wanted to get away from the places I go every day. Since you’ve been away from the office for a few days, I found an excuse.”
Hajun, trying to respond, was taken aback by Jiyoon’s last words.
“Both my parents work in a factory. It’s not that they didn’t come to the hospital; they couldn’t.”
While Jiyoon shared her story, Hajun’s car entered Jiyoon’s neighborhood.
“Please park in front of that utility pole.”
The place Hajun parked the car was in front of a narrow road with stairs at the end of a steep hill.
The traces of time were evident as shabby houses lined both sides of the road.
The paths that residents walked daily seemed steep and challenging to Hajun.
“Thank you. Oh, right. What about the steak? It was so expensive; you should have at least taken it to go.”
Jiyoon belatedly thought that her words were as fussy as the neighborhood scenery.
After all, she hadn’t even paid for it, and it could be ignored.
She felt resentful of the words that had popped out without going through her brain.
“I didn’t pay. Before even eating, you collapsed. Maybe next time.”
Hajun casually lied, hoping Jiyoon would feel at ease.
Then he helped her get out of the car.
However, no matter how you looked at it, Jiyoon seemed unable to walk the steep path, so he cautiously asked.
“Can you go alone?”
“Yes.”
Although Jiyoon insisted she could walk, she collapsed after a short distance.
Hajun, who had walked briskly, blocked her path, turned his back to her, and lowered his body.
“I’d rather carry you. It would be better.”
“No. I don’t want to.”
Avoiding Hajun, Jiyoon shifted her steps to the side and stumbled again.
Then, bending down with his back turned, Hajun said,
“I’ll either carry you right now, or you’ll see me leaving the office.”
“Lawyer!”
“You have two choices. I don’t know, but my law firm is overflowing with cars.”
“Ah, darn it.”
“Use good words only.”
After turning his back, Hajun finally felt Jiyoon’s arm on his shoulder.
With only her arm raised, she awkwardly pulled her thigh away while leaning against him.
Then he hoisted her up and began to move.
“It might be heavy.”
“That’s why I’m regretting whether to let you down now or not.”
“Really?”
“If I want to save the lawyer’s dignity, don’t ask me to speak. My breathing is messed up, and my legs are wobbly.”
“You’re quite honest. Usually, you’d say you’re okay.”
“I’m not okay.”
As Hajun’s words drastically decreased, Jiyoon, who firmly wrapped her arms around his neck, remained silent.
She could feel her heart beating as if it wasn’t hers, like someone was playing a drum in her ear.
An Indifferent Woman is the One Men Desire the Most
One-line summary: The female lead is actually cold-hearted and extremely rational. She has stage-by-stage relationships and won’t two-time, but there will always be someone who secretly likes her.
This novel has the following triggers, so if you’re sensitive to these, please don’t read:
1. The female lead has had many relationships, but she treated each one seriously and broke up properly.
It’s just that the men unilaterally pestered her incessantly. For the female lead, when she doesn’t like someone anymore, she simply doesn’t like them.
(This applies to her relationships with Male Lead 1, 2, 3, and 4 as well, but she’s loyal in each 1-on-1 relationship!)
2. In this novel, Male Lead 2 and the female lead kiss in a car, and Male Lead 1 sees it and beats up Male Lead 2.
The female lead calls the police and sends both Male Lead 1 and 2 to the police station! Male Lead 1 begs the female lead not to break up with him.
3. Male Lead 1 has a gentle appearance but an obsessive personality.
Male Lead 2 has a delicate and soft appearance, slightly green tea-like (two-faced).
Male Lead 3 is a youthful college student and a smart person who has secretly liked the female lead for a long time.
Male Lead 4 is the female lead’s father’s special assistant, a business elite with deep, hidden thoughts.
4. At the beginning of this novel, the female lead has already broken up with Male Lead 1 (Chapter 4) and gotten back together with Male Lead 2 (ex-boyfriend).
5. Enter with caution if you have triggers!!!
