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Chapter 07
Who Is She? Is She Pretty?
Seungjun stopped by Taehyuk’s office to ask him to have dinner together, but he was shocked to see Choi Taehyuk standing in front of the mirror, fixing his hair.
The great Choi Taehyuk grooming himself in front of a mirror?
There was no doubt about it.
Seungjun threw the door open and shouted loudly.
“You’re going to meet a woman, right? Who is she? Is she pretty?”
Taehyuk glared at him and coldly told him to mind his own business. Then he grabbed the jacket hanging on the rack.
As he tried to leave quickly, Seungjun blocked the door with his hand and made a pitiful face.
“Since we’re getting older together, don’t be the only one meeting a good woman. Introduce me too.”
Taehyuk was about to curse at him.
His own situation was already a mess—what introduction?
“Move. I don’t have time for you.”
He brushed Seungjun’s arm aside and walked down the hallway.
Seungjun watched him leave alone, then took out his phone and made a call.
“Hey, it’s me. I think Taehyuk has another appointment.”
[What appointment?]
“You think he’d tell me honestly?”
From the mood, it was obviously to meet a woman, but Seungjun did not tell Yoon Ina the truth.
He knew she still had feelings for Taehyuk.
There was no need to hurt her.
After hanging up, Seungjun stared down the empty hallway.
Suddenly, he remembered what Taehyuk had asked while drinking.
‘Do you know Moon Nayeong? First-year resident in our department?’
No way.
Even if he was a professor, he wouldn’t start having improper thoughts about a resident who had just begun training.
Still feeling uneasy, Seungjun called his younger sister Seunghee.
“I’ll buy you dinner. Bring Moon Nayeong with you.”
It wouldn’t be bad to subtly warn her.
But Seunghee said she was on duty and couldn’t come.
“Then at least send Moon Nayeong.”
[Are you crazy?]
He only tried to look out for her, and got called crazy instead.
<Our brother suddenly said he’d buy dinner for me and you. I told him I’m on duty, and he said send you alone. He’s crazy.>
After reading Seunghee’s message, Nayeong didn’t think Oh Seungjun was crazy.
Actually, it seemed like a good idea.
Seungjun was her friend’s older brother and also Professor Choi’s classmate.
She had been worried about the atmosphere if she and Taehyuk ate alone. But if Seungjun was there, it wouldn’t become strange.
So she called Seungjun first.
[You’re the one having dinner with Taehyuk?]
He sounded very surprised.
Not about dinner with her—
But about her eating with Taehyuk.
She wondered if she shouldn’t have called.
Still, she couldn’t lie now.
“I made many mistakes with Professor Choi. I’m buying dinner to ask for his understanding. Please come and support me.”
[So you’re treating him because he’s your supervising professor?]
“Yes, of course. If a resident gets on bad terms with their professor, how can they learn?”
She explained too much, feeling guilty for no reason.
[Alright. I’ll take responsibility and settle things between you and Professor Choi.]
Settle?
His words sounded too grand.
Maybe she should have asked Taehyuk first before calling Seungjun.
It should be fine.
She was paying anyway.
Taehyuk arrived early at the hospital’s main gate and checked his watch.
He had hurried because of Seungjun, but he didn’t mind waiting.
Strangely, he didn’t hate waiting now.
Normally, he disliked waiting for anyone.
Though tonight’s dinner was clearly between professor and resident, different from when they met at the club—
He still looked forward to seeing her.
But he had to be careful.
He must not let personal feelings show.
For now, he had to act like a dignified professor.
Tap.
Someone tapped his shoulder.
He smiled, thinking it was Nayeong—
But it was Seungjun.
His face darkened immediately.
“Are you a stalker? Why are you here?”
Seungjun looked speechless.
Taehyuk’s expression just now had clearly been that of a man on a date.
“Moon Nayeong? Are you insane? She’s a first-year resident. She’s already overwhelmed with hospital work. What are you doing?”
“Get lost.”
“Get lost? She invited me! She feels burdened eating alone with you. Understand the situation, Professor Choi.”
Taehyuk froze.
“What?”
“She asked me to come because she felt uncomfortable eating with you alone.”
Taehyuk closed his mouth.
Seungjun clasped his hands politely.
“Professor, please don’t give in to desire. Teach the Madonna well and make her a great doctor.”
Madonna, my foot.
He hated that nickname.
From afar, he saw Nayeong coming down the escalator.
She didn’t look surprised seeing both of them.
So Seungjun was right.
He told himself he had no reason to feel disappointed—
But his mood had already grown heavy.
“It’s an honor to treat both professors.”
Seeing her polite attitude, Seungjun spoke loudly on purpose.
“Wow, Dr. Moon really respects her professor.”
Taehyuk’s gaze darkened.
He walked ahead first.
So Seungjun and Nayeong followed behind.
“I wish Seunghee could’ve come too.”
Since Seunghee was their only common connection, they naturally talked about her.
“Still immature. She should work twice as hard, but she’s busy reading romance novels.”
“No, she’s working hard these days.”
Nayeong glanced at Taehyuk’s broad back.
He hadn’t spoken at all.
Was he upset she invited Seungjun without asking?
But apologizing now would only make things awkward.
“Are Professor Choi and Professor Oh close?”
She tried to draw him into the conversation.
“Of course. I’m the only one who can handle this damn personality of his.”
“Damn?”
Taehyuk turned sharply.
“What? Trying to act cool in front of a young resident? You’re already known as the viper professor.”
He looked at her.
She smiled politely.
“Scolding helps us avoid repeating mistakes. I think Professor Choi’s strict guidance is necessary.”
“He used to openly curse at professors during residency.”
“What?”
She covered her mouth in shock.
Taehyuk gestured sharply.
“You. Walk next to me.”
“I prefer standing next to Dr. Moon.”
That irritated him enough to move toward Seungjun.
Seungjun dodged behind Nayeong.
The two professors suddenly started chasing each other like children, with her in the middle.
She covered her mouth and laughed at the absurd sight.
Rrrrrrr—
Seungjun’s phone rang.
His relaxed expression disappeared instantly.
“Alright. I’m heading to the ER now.”
Emergency surgery.
“I have an emergency case. I’m going.”
Before they could respond, he ran off.
After all that noise—
Only the two of them remained.
“……”
“……”
They looked at where Seungjun had left, then turned—
And their eyes met.
One second was enough.
Enough for the line between professor and resident to shift.
Meeting his gaze felt completely different from talking comfortably with Seungjun.
Calling Seungjun might have been her mistake.
If he hadn’t come, she wouldn’t feel so aware now.
She looked away first.
“Then I guess the two of us should eat.”
He nodded.
They went to a restaurant near the hospital known for barley corvina set meals.
“I chose somewhere affordable, tasty, and healthy so you wouldn’t feel burdened.”
He had eaten here before going to the U.S.
It was a long-standing favorite near the hospital.
The menu had only one set, so there was no need to choose.
After sitting, silence fell.
He didn’t seem bothered.
She was.
Silence kept dragging her back to that night.
So she asked something randomly.
“How was life in America?”
“I stayed in the hospital. Same as here.”
“Someday I want to work at Cleveland Clinic too.”
He frowned immediately.
“There’s nothing special.”
She felt annoyed.
He had gained recognition there, yet told her not to go?
“I still want to try.”
Residency wasn’t enough—now she wanted to cross the Pacific too.
Everything flowed perfectly the first night they met.
Why was everything so difficult now?
He stared at the fish silently.
“Try it. It’s really good.”
When he looked up, she smiled neatly.
Not like that night—
But still beautiful.
He picked up his spoon.
Once he started eating, she relaxed.
“Thankfully, no emergency calls for us tonight. I guess we’re lucky.”
He suddenly stopped eating and stared at her.
“Oh! Did I just jinx it?”
It wasn’t that.
It was the word “us.”
That single word felt close.
He was about to say something—
“Professor Choi. Fancy seeing you here.”
It was Yoon Ina.
Instead of an emergency call—
A woman with history had appeared.
