Chapter 31

At the outpatient ear clinic of Seoul National University Hospital, the 50-something ear doctor recognized Yoon-a and Hyun as soon as they entered the room.

"Hehe... You're here?" the old doctor said.

"Hello, I came to see you..." Yoon-a bowed and said.

"Hehe... You only think of me now?" the old doctor said, seemingly dissatisfied.

...Yeah, it's not right to only think of someone when you need them!

But, I really didn't dare to think about it before...

Yoon-a was at a loss for words and didn't know how to respond.

The last time she came for her ear problem, the old doctor suggested she clean the affected area with saline solution. But she was afraid of the pain and didn't agree, only taking some oral medication. Now that her condition had worsened, she had finally decided to come to the hospital to clean the affected area.

I should have listened to the doctor's advice back then!

Yoon-a was very regretful now.

After the old doctor's joke, he didn't waste any more words and said directly, "Have you thought it through this time?"

"Yes, I have. I'll trouble you in a moment," Yoon-a bowed and said.

"Good, it's good that you've thought it through. But there's no need to thank me. The nurse over there will clean your ears," the old doctor pointed to the nurse at the door and continued, "Alright, you can go and prepare over there."

"Okay... Alright," Yoon-a replied straightforwardly.

Sitting down, Yoon-a let out a sigh of relief. The situation was somewhat unexpected; the doctor had spoken to her right away, which had startled her. But fortunately, their conversation didn't reveal any private information that Jin Yun-ho could hear.

Inside, Yoon-a sat on the chair, waiting for the nurse to clean her ears.

Outside, Jin Yun-ho also sat down and began his consultation.

"What's your condition?" the old doctor asked.

"Hello, my ear is uncomfortable. A few days ago, someone spoke loudly in my ear, and it was shocked. Since then, it has been uncomfortable, and sometimes it buzzes," Jin Yun-ho summarized his condition in detail.

After examining Jin Yun-ho's ears, the old doctor said, "There's nothing serious. Your condition is quite common, it's physiological tinnitus. After you go home..."

Before the old doctor could finish, Jin Yun-ho heard Yoon-a's pig-like screams from inside.

"Ah! It hurts... Ugh..." Yoon-a cried in pain.

The nurse stood there at a loss, looking at the doctor with a questioning gaze, and shrugged helplessly.

"Does it hurt? Why are you crying?" the old doctor interrupted his conversation with Jin Yun-ho and asked Yoon-a.

"It hurts... Doctor, can you give me an anesthetic..." Yoon-a sobbed in response.

"Hmph, do you need an anesthetic for such a minor issue? And you're crying! Hmph, you have the qualities of a traitor!" the old doctor said coldly.

...A traitor?

Hearing this, Yoon-a immediately stopped crying: "I... I'm not a traitor!"

But after just three seconds, Yoon-a's cries resumed.

The old doctor interrupted his conversation with Jin Yun-ho again, pointed at him, and said impatiently, "You, go set an example for her! Show her what it means to be strong."

Jin Yun-ho was stunned when the old doctor called him out.

What's going on? I just came to see a doctor, why do I have to do this?

Even if I agreed, how do I set an example? I can't just run up to her and stick a needle into myself, can I?

Seeing that Jin Yun-ho didn't move, the old doctor coldly said, "Hmph, how can a big man like you be so weak? You have the qualities of a traitor too!"

Jin Yun-ho was shocked. What's this all about? Why am I being dragged into this?

I just came to see a doctor, not to set an example, and certainly not to discuss whether someone is a traitor.

But seeing the old doctor's gray hair, he decided not to argue.

He's so old, I won't stoop to his level. Since I know my ear isn't seriously problematic, my consultation is over. If I can't deal with you, old man, I can at least avoid you.

With this thought, Jin Yun-ho stood up to leave, but the sound of Yoon-a's screams made him stop.

She helped me once, and if I just leave, it would be too inconsiderate.

Jin Yun-ho thought for a moment, then changed direction and walked to Yoon-a, intending to help her.

The scarf on Yoon-a's face had fallen off due to her struggling, revealing her true appearance.

I didn't expect her to be such a beauty.

After a brief moment of surprise, Jin Yun-ho said, "Miss, hello. I work in the legal field. I once handled a case where the victim's condition was very similar to yours.

She also had an ear infection that required cleaning at the hospital, but she was afraid of the pain and refused, only taking oral medication. Later, her condition worsened, and her entire ear rotted away..."

Jin Yun-ho had once watched a horror movie called "Dead Snow" which had a scene of a rotted ear, which was very disgusting and scary.

He referenced that scene and made up a description of what a rotted ear would look like for Yoon-a.

Perhaps scared by Jin Yun-ho's description, or by the story itself, Yoon-a stopped struggling and focused on Jin Yun-ho's words, sitting obediently in the chair as the nurse worked.

Ten minutes later, the affected area in Yoon-a's ear was cleaned.

Afterward, the three of them walked out together.

During this time, Hyun asked Jin Yun-ho, "Is the story you told true?"

Jin Yun-ho thought for a moment and replied, "Just consider it true." He added to himself: With this story as a warning, they won't be so timid when they see a doctor in the future.

Although Jin Yun-ho had good intentions, Hyun looked at him with wide eyes and said suspiciously, "But your story doesn't make sense! As you said..."

Hyun began to analyze the flaws in Jin Yun-ho's story.

Jin Yun-ho tilted his head back and sighed.

What the heck! When girls hear scary stories, they usually shiver. But with this girl, it turns into a mystery, and she even discusses whether the plot is reasonable!

How brave is this girl, and how coarse is her thinking?

Jin Yun-ho was really frustrated and thought to himself: The world is truly full of surprises!

...

Before seeing the doctor, Jin Yun-ho had promised to buy them ice cream. After leaving the hospital, he kept his promise and went to the nearby supermarket to buy ice cream.

Standing at the hospital entrance, Yoon-a complained, "Really, you have to eat ice cream? Making us wait here, it's like we can't afford it, hmpf.

And didn't you see how Sica treated him yesterday? Now you're meeting him behind Sica's back, be careful when you get back, Sica might punish you." She was still upset about what happened last night.

Hyun raised her white, tender hand to shield herself from the sun and said, "Eating ice cream that someone else buys is different from buying it yourself.

Besides, he offered to buy us ice cream as a way to show his gratitude, which is a matter of politeness. Since we agreed to his offer, we should keep our promise and wait for him, which is also a matter of politeness."

Yoon-a immediately surrendered when she heard Hyun's lecture, "Alright... Alright, I know. But waiting here makes me feel unsafe, I'm worried about being recognized."

Hyun thought for a moment and pointed to a shaded path beside the entrance, suggesting, "Hmm... Let's wait for him there. He should be able to see us when he comes back."

"Alright," Yoon-a had no choice but to follow Hyun to the shaded path to wait for Jin Yun-ho.

---

"Hey, boss, where are you?" Shin Dong-hae called.

"....How much? 20,000 won? Okay, I'll give it to you. ....You're a pain, I just finished my consultation and am currently in the hospital's supermarket, waiting in line to pay," Jin Yun-ho said while holding the phone between his ear and shoulder.

"Oh, then boss, hurry back. Our team suddenly got a case, and it's urgent. We need you to handle it personally," Shin Dong-hae urged anxiously.

"...Alright, I'll be there in half an hour." Hearing about the task, Jin Yun-ho didn't waste any more words, immediately hung up, grabbed two ice creams, and rushed out.

After coming out, Jin Yun-ho looked around the hospital entrance but didn't see the two girls.

They must have gotten impatient and left early.

He didn't think much about it, just made a reasonable assumption.

With the team urging him, Jin Yun-ho didn't delay, opened, and bit into an ice cream, and immediately headed back.

---

On the shaded path at the hospital entrance, Yoon-a complained impatiently, "Hyun, we've been waiting for more than half an hour, right? Even if he went to Gangnam to buy ice cream, he should be back by now."

Hyun wasn't in a good mood either. She had trusted Jin Yun-ho but didn't get the expected response, which made her very unhappy.

"Maybe something else came up. I didn't see him when I stood at the hospital entrance. Let's wait for ten more minutes. If he doesn't show up after ten minutes, we'll go back."

"Ah, I really... I give up on you. Someone says they'll buy you ice cream, and you wait for 40, 50 minutes. Do you have to be so persistent?" Yoon-a was sweltering, waving her hand to fan herself, and was very annoyed that Jin Yun-ho hadn't shown up.

"But we promised him..." Hyun said.

A few minutes later...

"Hyun, has it been ten minutes?"

"No, it's only 9 and a half."

"Is it ten minutes now?"

"...Sister Yoon-a, should we wait a little longer?"

"Hyun! Please don't be so childish. It's obvious that guy stood us up. Why are you still so persistent?"

"Alright... Let's go back."

"..."

After waiting for more than 40 minutes, Yoon-a and Hyun finally didn't get the ice cream Jin Yun-ho promised.

Yoon-a was angry, and the good girl Hyun was also very unhappy.

The misunderstanding grew larger!

---

Thank you to the five readers 'Mie Tian Jue Di Wan Dao Sen Luo', 'Bing Feng Di Ai', 'Xi Shu Feng', 'An He Qi Shi ZYF', and 'Qing Di Fu Sheng' for their support.

Also, a notice: I have to go out tomorrow morning, and if I can't update in the morning, I'll move it to the evening and release two updates together.

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