TPUC 3

CHAPTER 3
“Four hundred thousand won in rent and 78,000 won in heating bills. It’s not even the middle of winter yet. Why is it so expensive?”

Ha-rin grumbled as she calculated her fixed expenses before heading to work. At least she had been lucky enough to find a job relatively quickly.

The cost of living was soaring, and she still had student loans to pay off, but all things considered, today was a hopeful day.

Or it had been, at least, until she received Ji-hoon’s phone call.

— Paramedic Kang, you’re on the night shift today, right?

“Yes, Senior.”

— The station chief has called an emergency meeting. It’s about Daehan University Hospital. Come in without being late.

Daehan University Hospital again?

She had been told that, aside from handing patients over to the emergency room, there shouldn’t be much reason for her to deal with the hospital directly. The fact that she kept getting tangled up with them was beginning to feel ominous.

She tossed the unfortunate utility bill aside, hastily applied some toner and moisturizer, and pulled on her padded jacket. She would be changing into her uniform anyway, and besides, makeup was nothing but a nuisance when she was working the night shift.

A blast of cold wind hit her as she hurried along, trying to outrun the chill. Congratulating herself on having found a place just five minutes from the station, she finally opened the fire station’s front door.

The moment Ji-hoon saw her, he clicked his tongue in amazement.

“Wow. Did you fly here?”

“My place is right around the corner. But what’s going on?”

“Beats me. I don’t know the details, but the chief asked for the crew who went out on yesterday’s call, so I guess we’d better go see what he wants.”

She was just opening the station chief’s office door alongside Senior Ji-hoon when Ha-rin’s mouth fell slightly open as she prepared to bow in greeting.

Why was Professor Choi Je-hyeok coming out of there?

At this hour, no less?

Je-hyeok was sitting in the middle of the sofa in the station chief’s office. With his long legs crossed and his back resting casually against the cushions, he looked at her.

Just like that cold winter night during her senior year of high school, when he had rejected her confession.

Senior Ji-hoon nudged Ha-rin, who was standing there in a daze, and greeted the room.

“Good evening. I’m Kim Ji-hoon. This is our new recruit, Paramedic Kang Ha-rin.”

“I know. We’ve met before, haven’t we?”

Unable to meet Je-hyeok’s unwavering gaze, Ha-rin lowered her head in greeting.

“I’m Kang Ha-rin.”

As she moved her dry, chapped lips, she regretted not applying even a little lip balm.

He was someone she had once liked, after all. She didn’t want him to see her bare face, devoid of makeup. She didn’t want to look shabby in front of him.

It was ridiculous to be thinking about such things now, but she couldn’t help it.

Oblivious to her inner turmoil, the station chief began heaping praise on them.

“Professor Choi here had some very nice things to say about the two of you regarding yesterday’s emergency call. That’s why he even came all the way here in person.”

“I stopped by on my way home. I also have a request for your cooperation.”

Of course.

Knowing Je-hyeok’s fiery, impatient temperament, he must have had some urgent business to take care of. Once something caught his interest, Moon Je-hyeok was never the type to sit still.

Ha-rin tried her best to think negatively about him, but she still couldn’t believe what was happening. The moment she saw his face, her heart had dropped straight into her stomach.

What were you expecting? Surely you didn’t think he’d come here to see you.

Several years had passed, yet whether it was yesterday or today, every time she saw Je-hyeok, her heart still lurched.

The fact that she was still reacting this way made her so angry that irritation surged up inside her.

Je-hyeok gazed steadily at Ha-rin. His dark eyes, which were still so difficult for her to meet, slowly swept over her.

“I heard about Paramedic Kang Ha-rin’s first aid. Thanks to her, the patient regained consciousness, and I was able to perform the surgery without any complications.”

“That’s wonderful. She may be a new recruit, but she’s a very sharp young woman.”

“And that brings me to the reason I’m here. I’d like to borrow her for a while.”

“Pardon?”

At his unexpected words, everyone turned to look at Je-hyeok.

He casually stroked his chin and continued in an even tone.

“As you may have heard, Daehan University Hospital is putting together an emergency trauma task force as part of a government-funded project. I’d like to bring Paramedic Kang onto our team as the dedicated member who will work with us.”

“Ah… But we’re already short-staffed…”

“Of course, she won’t be stationed at our hospital all the time. She’ll remain assigned to Yongseong Fire Station, but she’ll attend meetings and training sessions about twice a week. She’ll also focus more closely on rescuing emergency trauma patients and collaborate with our team. That’s how I’d like you to think of it.”

“Oh, if that’s all, then of course we should cooperate. By all means, take her and put her to work as much as you need.”

The station chief practically handed him a blank check.

Well, considering the day they had desperately struggled to find an available hospital bed, it was hardly surprising that he wouldn’t refuse a proposal from Daehan University Hospital.

But the person who would be working under Je-hyeok wasn’t anyone else.

It was Ha-rin herself.

The moment she imagined it, goose bumps rose all over her body.

As her older brother’s friend, he had been Ha-rin’s private tutor during her senior year of high school. She had already experienced the brutal training of being on the subordinate end of his authority, and now she felt as though she was developing PTSD over something she hadn’t even experienced yet.

Je-hyeok looked at Ha-rin and smiled faintly.

The innocent, radiant smile somehow sent an even greater chill down her spine.

She had been completely captivated by that smile before, only to end up getting thoroughly chewed out more times than she could count.

Ha-rin swallowed hard and barely managed to part her lips.

“I’m still a new recruit, and I have a lot to learn. I think it would be better to recommend one of the senior paramedics instead. Right, how about Senior Kim Ji-hoon here?”

Me?

Ji-hoon pointed at his own chest with a finger and shook his head slightly, as if to decline.

Apparently, his instincts for sensing danger were as excellent as one would expect from an emergency medical technician.

Je-hyeok watched the exchange in silence before narrowing his eyes.

“This project needs the enthusiasm of a new recruit. Besides, I know how busy your paramedics are. I can’t very well take an experienced member away from you.”

His irresistible dark gaze shifted from Ha-rin to the station chief.

Pointing his chin toward the motto posted on the office wall, he continued in a low voice.

[ Yongseong Fire Station: Safeguarding the Lives of the People ]

“This is part of a government-funded project. I suppose Yongseong Fire Station has no interest in contributing to the advancement of emergency medical care in South Korea.”

“Oh, come now. How could you say such a thing?”

“All you have to do is lend a hand to Daehan University Hospital’s initiative. What a shame. It would have been a waste to miss out on such an opportunity because a new recruit refused.”

Je-hyeok tapped the certificates of commendation lined up on the table with his fingertips.

“If you cooperate, it’ll be much easier to receive awards like these. You’d have the justification and the practical benefits.”

“Absolutely. You’re quite right.”

The station chief nodded enthusiastically before giving Ha-rin a meaningful look.

“Paramedic Kang, this is an incredible opportunity. Daehan University Hospital is personally sending a professor here to push forward a major project like this!”

“That’s true, but…”

Somehow, the atmosphere was gradually shifting toward a decision that Ha-rin would join the team.

“Then… how about having Senior Ji-hoon join me?”

Senior, I’m really sorry. I’m so sorry. I can’t be the only one to go down. Please be on my side.

She looked at Ji-hoon with desperate eyes.

Since things had already come to this, she needed to at least suggest the next-best option.

There was no way Choi Je-hyeok, the arrogant genius, would ever back down once he had made up his mind.

“I still have a lot to learn, and I’m worried I’ll cause trouble if I go alone.”

That part was sincere.

Ji-hoon looked a little troubled, but he soon nodded in agreement.

“It would be a good learning experience. In that case, I’ll volunteer to join Paramedic Kang Ha-rin.”

“Are you sure? It won’t be easy. I can be rather difficult to work with.”

At those words, Ha-rin’s face gradually turned pale.

When Choi Je-hyeok was teaching someone, he was not only ill-tempered but also incredibly impatient.

Perhaps because he had lived his entire life as a genius, he simply couldn’t understand the slower comprehension of ordinary people.

She had sensed as much when he was her private tutor, and he was precisely the kind of person she would never want as her boss.

And now he was even declaring outright that he would be difficult to work with.

“Even so, I’m Paramedic Kang’s mentor, so I should take responsibility.”

“Responsibility, you say.”

Je-hyeok murmured the word under his breath and leaned forward, lifting his back away from the chair.

His gaze tilted at a slant as he stared intently at Ji-hoon.

“Paramedic Kang Ha-rin is my team member now, so I’ll take responsibility for her. Please feel free to participate. As a team. Mem. Ber.”

“Wow, you’re already looking after our new recruit so well. We’re honored. Ha ha.”

Only the oblivious station chief laughed.

No one else could manage even a smile.

The air, thick with tension, turned cold and still.

Ha-rin pressed her lips together, already imagining what daily life on the task force would be like. Fortunately, Ji-hoon didn’t back down and returned Je-hyeok’s words with a firm response.

“We’ll do our best to work together and ensure that Paramedic Kang Ha-rin and I don’t make any mistakes.”

“Well, fine.”

Je-hyeok gave a short, amused chuckle and rose to his feet.

Because he was so tall, his large shadow fell over Ha-rin, nearly swallowing her whole.

“If you’re that eager to work together, I suppose I have no choice but to accept.”

“Thank you for understanding.”

Keeping his arrogant gaze fixed on Ha-rin, he moved his lips.

“I’ll see you at the task force meeting tomorrow morning at ten.”

“Yes…”

She couldn’t bring herself to ask how she was supposed to make it by ten when she was working the night shift.

He was hardly the kind of person who would take such circumstances into consideration.

Only after Je-hyeok turned and walked away could she finally breathe again.

She was rubbing her chest in relief when Je-hyeok’s hand, which had been gripping the doorknob, suddenly stopped.

“Oh, right. Ms. Kang Ha-rin.”

Ha-rin’s head shot up.

Before her eyes was Je-hyeok’s annoyingly handsome face, gleaming under the office lights.

His beautifully sculpted eyes curved as he smiled softly.

“Come to my office before the meeting starts tomorrow.”

“Y-yes? Why?”

Je-hyeok drove the final nail into the coffin of her protesting voice.

“There’s something I need to check. It’s important, so make sure you come on time. Don’t be late.”

With that, Je-hyeok left the station chief’s office, leaving behind the faint, miserable whimper of his little prey, who had once again become his subordinate.

The station chief and Ji-hoon offered her words of encouragement, looking at her with sympathy.

“Professor Choi has some serious charisma. Was he always like that?”

“I didn’t really talk to him much, so I’m not sure.”

“Still, chin up, kid. You’ve got this senior here.”

“Yes…”

Even as she answered, Ha-rin felt sorry for her senior.

All she could do was pray for the poor lamb who still had no idea what Choi Je-hyeok was really like.

Senior, Choi Je-hyeok isn’t human.

A surgical AI devoid of emotion. A sociopath in the medical field. A lunatic surgeon addicted to operating.

Those were just some of the words that had followed Je-hyeok around even before he left for the United States.

Every one of them was chilling.

But the most chilling thing of all was that Kang Ha-rin’s heart was still foolishly beating away, completely oblivious to the danger.