ICGE 02

Chapter 02

Eat

Four months ago.

The doctor displayed So-eun and Mal-hee’s abdominal CT scans and explained.

“Your liver has no fatty deposits, and its size and shape are perfect. You’re an excellent match for the recipient.”

At the doctor’s assessment, both Hee-wook and Kim Mal-hee exclaimed simultaneously.

“Thank you, thank you, doctor.”

Mal-hee bowed repeatedly to the doctor, as if the surgery were already complete.

“You should be thanking the donor,” the doctor replied, pointing at So-eun. Mal-hee immediately turned to her side and held So-eun’s hand tightly. So-eun responded with a slight lift of her lips to match Mal-hee’s emotional expression, but she did not feel the same level of exhilaration.

“The prospective daughter-in-law has made a huge decision. Cases like this aren’t unheard of, but it’s still not an easy choice. You’re fortunate, mother-in-law,” the doctor said.

“That’s right. Our So-eun is our family’s lucky charm,” Mal-hee agreed.

Hee-wook interjected between them.

“Actually, it’s not just my mother. Since So-eun’s parents aren’t around, Mom has really treated her like her own daughter.”

“Of course. She’s practically my daughter,” Mal-hee said.

Mal-hee shook So-eun’s hand in agreement with Hee-wook’s words. Every time her hand shook, So-eun’s body wavered slightly.

The doctor, smiling at this beautiful mother-in-law and daughter-in-law moment, pointed to the CT scans again. A distinct line appeared on So-eun’s liver in the image. As she looked at the photo, So-eun’s left hand moved up to the lower right side of her chest. It was just an image, yet she already felt the spot that would undergo surgery throb slightly.

“From here to here, about 50–60% will be removed through a right hepatectomy. Since the donor liver weighs approximately 1kg, about 500g will be resected.”

“Isn’t up to 70% possible? That’s what I thought.”

Hee-wook asked the doctor. At his voice, So-eun’s left hand tensed slightly.

“I think up to 65% is feasible, of course with the donor’s consent.”

At the words “donor’s consent,” both Hee-wook and Mal-hee’s gazes turned to So-eun.

So-eun timidly did calculations in her mind. “Liver donors recover quickly,” “After a few months, I might forget I ever had surgery…” She had gained courage from online research, but she was still scared.

In a small voice, So-eun asked,

“…How many months after surgery until fully recovered?”

“Typically, liver function normalizes in about a month.”

“And the liver size—when will it be 100%?”

“Since a new organ grows, it’s hard to be exact, but after three months, it’s almost back to pre-surgery size.”

Hearing this from one of the top five liver transplant surgeons in the country was reassuring. So-eun quietly nodded, and Hee-wook continued asking questions.

“So it might not just be 100%, it could even exceed 100%, right? Because you’re removing the old part and growing fresh tissue. Isn’t that right, doctor?”

Hee-wook sought the doctor’s agreement as if it were good news for everyone. He seemed excited at the thought of extending his mother’s life.

The doctor glanced at So-eun’s expression briefly, then gave a reluctant smile.

• At work? You said you’d come to the hospital yesterday, why didn’t you?

So fast to ask.

During work hours, So-eun glanced at Hee-wook’s text and then flipped her phone face down.

Yesterday, So-eun had overheard a conversation between Hee-wook and Mal-hee outside the hospital room and had turned back without approaching them. She didn’t know what expression to wear when facing them.

She had never heard such words to her face. Kim Mal-hee always greeted her with a smiling face and cried, worried about a young woman undergoing such surgery. Of course, she never criticized So-eun’s family background or education—at least not in front of her.

Still, the affection built up over time made her heart slowly compromise.

“Well, even kings get scolded when not around.”

Do my outward behavior and inner thoughts always match? No.

I’ve smiled naively in front of superiors while grumbling to my brother.

It was my fault for eavesdropping on their conversation.

A top law school graduate from a prestigious university, a lawyer at a renowned firm—how many temptations must he have faced? How much must people have talked around him? And then he dates an engineer who barely finished a four-year university—how wasteful must they have thought?

Even if I try to understand…

“Manager, shall I buy you a salad? I know you like them.”

While lost in thought, a junior colleague, Park Bo-bae, spoke. It was already past noon. Though lunch officially started at 12, So-eun was still handling morning orders, and Bo-bae kindly checked in on her.

Before surgery, she mostly ate salads. Nearby restaurants were too heavy or spicy, so she brought lunch from home.

Kim Mal-hee had long been attentive to So-eun’s meals. She ordered organic vegetables, packed side dishes, and ensured So-eun ate healthily.

Hee-wook, too, had been unusually attentive about food from early in their relationship. He often wanted greasy food or to drink to excess, but there was none of that on dates with him.

Even on the night she anticipated with excitement, he said:

“I want to save your first for me. Until we get married.”

Though there was some disappointment, she felt loved and cherished. So-eun respected Hee-wook’s guarded approach. They were going to marry anyway. They loved each other.

Yet. Even that heart of his—was it false?

The care for my meals, the concern for my health—was that all about getting a healthy liver from me?

Was that why he delayed the relationship, worried I might become pregnant?

Reflecting with a twisted heart, everything felt suspicious.

“Manager?”

Bo-bae asked again.

“Ah, sorry. Yes, I’d appreciate it.”

So-eun awkwardly smiled and handed over money.

Bo-bae, excited, got up.

“I’m going to the cafeteria. A new director has arrived.”

Ah… So-eun nodded at Bo-bae.

The new director and head of the division had quietly joined without a ceremony, and on his first day, he was incredibly popular. Supposedly very handsome.

Normally, So-eun might have been curious, but today, she just smiled quietly.

“I heard he’s from the royal family. And he eats in the cafeteria—so down-to-earth.”

Bo-bae, excited to confirm the new director’s appearance, tilted her head and asked kindly.

“I’ll get the ricotta cheese salad. Is that okay?”

“Yes, that’s fine. Thank you, Bo-bae.”

Though she wanted something richer, So-eun couldn’t impose. She disliked requests and demands.

Her smile faded as soon as her colleague left.

She picked up her phone again. Perhaps unread texts would torment her more.

So-eun took a deep breath and replied to Hee-wook, “I’ve been a bit busy.”

• You could’ve said you were busy. Mom waited a long time.

Another quick reply came. So-eun, relieved by the fast response, thought:

They won’t abandon me. I won’t abandon them either. I can’t. I’ve already given a part of myself.

Too deep now. There’s no thinking about another life.

• Sorry. I’ll come this weekend.

So-eun typed the reply carefully.

Soon, two more messages arrived.

• Okay. Both your father and I have work this weekend, can you watch over the hospital room?
• Also, could you make a few side dishes? Mom is tired of hospital food. I’ll send you the recipes—just follow them.

Seeing the back-to-back messages, So-eun hesitated. Before deciding whether to reply, her team leader, Lim Ji-hyung, called her.

“Manager Han, aren’t you eating lunch?”

“I’m a bit behind on work. What about you?”

“I’m going now. You should eat too.”

“Bo-bae said she’d bring a salad. Enjoy your meal.”

Lim’s expression stiffened slightly at the mention of salad.

“Manager Han, I know you work well, but the company doesn’t. Nothing.”

“….”

“Work carefully. Blind devotion isn’t a virtue.”

He left after quietly advising her.

So-eun muttered his last words in her mind: Devotion isn’t a virtue…

She picked up her phone again.

• How about you try making it? Wouldn’t Mom be thrilled?

Another quick reply—again two messages.

• Of course, I tried. But you know—she says my food tastes bad. But yours is always delicious.
• If making several dishes is too much, just make porridge. Give it to Mom, then we can have a nice dinner together. You like Namsan eel rice bowl, right? Let’s go get that. If time allows, we can even go for a drive.

So-eun hesitated. With such earnestness, she couldn’t refuse. After doing something incredible—donating a liver—and then failing the aftercare, she didn’t want to risk tarnishing her integrity.

She exhaled deeply and replied:

• Okay.
• Thank you, So-eun. It’s only you. Love you.

Even hearing “love you,” she didn’t feel happy.

Knock knock.

While staring at a few words from Hee-wook with glazed eyes, she heard a desk being tapped right next to her.

Huh.

Startled, So-eun turned her head and froze. A strange man’s face was too close.

She hadn’t noticed him approach while texting Hee-wook.

Though an engineer in a mostly male company, she wasn’t close with the men. She mostly handled clients alone, so she rarely exchanged personal words.

This stranger was an intense stimulus.

“Aren’t you eating lunch?”

“….”

“Han So-eun.”

He glanced at her name tag.

Standing so close, So-eun had to tilt her head back far to see him.

Not in a uniform but a suit. Broad chest, large shoulders, sharp jawline, high nose bridge, slightly upturned lips, long eyes with faint double eyelids… her gaze kept catching him.

He was beautiful.

Too beautiful—it felt strangely familiar, like meeting a movie star.

Seeing her flustered, the HR manager next to him introduced casually:

“This is the new Director, Kim Tae-jun.”

“Ahhh, yes, yes, yes!”

It was him. The royal family.

The new director who was supposed to be in the cafeteria—here!

Blushing, So-eun hurriedly stood and bowed.

“No need to stand up.”

He chuckled softly at her reaction, then spoke again.

“I asked if you weren’t eating.”

“Yes, my colleague said she’d bring a salad.”

“Salad?”

“….”

“Do you get work done on that?”

“Ah, I… I’m… on a diet…”

“Where is there anything to lose?”

He murmured barely audibly. So-eun couldn’t hear clearly.

Unsure how to respond, she quietly stayed still.

Please go, please go, she whispered internally. Her head slowly lowered, and Tae-jun moved his foot. Was he finally leaving?

“Come with me for a moment, Han So-eun?”

He called her name again.

Her flushed face turned pale. Her precious liver felt exhausted, as if it had completed the day’s work, and she felt dizzy and weary.

Was he about to tell some secret? Had she done something wrong? Was taking unpaid leave a mistake? Was he trying to take her place? All kinds of fearful thoughts weighed her down, but she carefully followed him.

Parting from the HR manager, So-eun followed Tae-jun into the elevator. He pressed the 7th floor—a place she, a regular employee, had never been.

When the doors closed, he asked:

“How long have you worked here?”

“This year is my fourth year.”

“Why did you join K Group?”

Ah, the famous elevator pitch. Fail to answer well, and you’re fired?

So-eun tried recalling the model answer she memorized for the interview four years ago. But another question came instead.

“Where’s your home?”

Fortunately, an easy question this time.

“Gwonseon-dong.”

“Not far. Is that your family home?”

“No, I live alone.”

“Alone?”

“Yes.”

The elevator doors opened as they exchanged terse questions and answers, and they reached the 7th floor.

Tae-jun’s long stride forced So-eun to hurriedly follow behind. They reached a distant, solemn-looking door, and he spoke again.

“Wait here a moment.”

Soon, Tae-jun returned holding a heavy paper bag. So-eun didn’t even look up as she took it.

“Eat.”

Inside the bag was a heavy box labeled ‘Eel Rice Bowl.’