Golden Time

Chapter 84

A black car was driving on the road smoothly.

Suhyuk, sitting quietly in the passenger seat, opened his mouth,

“Where are we heading for, sir?”

He was already sat in the car for about 20 minutes, and all the way up to now, Lee had not told him about the destination they were going to.

He just asked Suhyuk about his hospital life on and off whilst driving.

“You’ll see once we get there.”

Lee stroked the wheel with his fingers, smiling mysteriously.

The car drove a little longer and soon reached the entrance to a mountain road, and then they drove up to the middle point after a few more minutes.

At last, the engine was turned off and Suhyuk and Lee got out of the car.

Suhyuk looked around. In his surroundings there was a large antique house. At a glance, it made him think that it was an expensive traditional Korean restaurant.

“Food served at this korean house is absolutely delicious. Let’s go in.”

Suhyuk, who could not take in the whole view of the house in one glance, followed Lee into the restaurant. The inside was gorgeous. The scented lanterns were shaking quietly, and a calm chirping sound from the piano tickled his ears.

“How many customers, sir?”

A well-dressed employee in a white shirt with a black skirt approached.

“I made a reservation.”

“What is your name?”

“Lee Mansuk.”

“Yes, on the third floor, follow me this way.”

Suhyuk looked around here and there, while he was walking through the hallway. The ceramics, paintings and wallcoverings that were displayed for ornamental purposes even seemed expensive.

The sight made Suhyuk think of his parents and what he wanted to achieve in the future.

“This way, sir.”

The employee opened a large door which was decorated with a drawing of a large stork. At the same time, Suhyuk’s eyes became slightly bigger.

A gorgeous folding screen filled one side of the wall, showing the panoramic view of the overlooking mountains. ‘How much do they charge for a meal in this place?’

When Suhyuk thought about such things, Lee Mansuk opened his mouth, “Why don’t you take a seat?”

Suhyuk sat down, and looked out at the scenic beauty outside the big window.

Was it because of the fine weather? The water running between the wooded trees could not be more fresher and cooler.

“Let’s order a little later.”

At Lee’s words, Suhyuk looked at the time. He had less than 20 minutes of lunch time left.

Looking at Suhyuk, Lee made a leisurely laugh, saying, “I told them already about having lunch with me, so do not worry.”

“What do you want to say to me…”

When Suhyuk slurred, Lee smiled pleasantly, saying, “Hey, don’t be impatient like that. We just got here. So let’s catch our breath first.”

Suhyuk nodded, and then the employee’s voice was heard.

“This is the place.”

The door opened and a long brown-haired woman came in.

She was Lee Soyon, the niece of Prof. Lee Mansuk.

Looking at her, Suhyuk’s eyes became larger.

“Hello.”

‘What kind of situation is this?’ When Suhyuk was thinking to himself like that, the answer came from Lee’s mouth.

“I heard that you took care of my niece the other day. I hear you treated her so kindly.”

Suhyuk scratched his head. He did not have much to talk about, and he did not do any special tests. All he did was just blood collection.

“Thank you for that, and so I wanted to treat you to a meal as thanks. She is like my daughter.”

“I didn’t do anything in particular for her, sir. I just feel uncomfortable about this.”

At his words, Lee shook his head, “No no, do not feel uncomfortable. Soyon says she has never seen such a doctor like you before, so she wants to see you again.”

“Uncle…”

She poked his side with her elbow. Actually she was curious to know what type of person he was.

Was it really just that?

Anyway, she never had that kind of feeling like that before, to be curious about someone in such a way.

Her cheeks were blushing, and she glanced at Suhyuk.

That calm expression of his, and his eyes that did not blink at all even if he saw an entertainer like her.

She met such a guy for the first time in a long time.

Though, was there any such guy like him that she could think of?

“So don’t be uncomfortable.”

Suhyuk nodded at Lee Mansuk’s words.

Seeing as he agreed to come here, and seeing as Lee wanted to treat him, it was his duty to eat the food heartily.

“Thank you”

At his words, Lee made a satisfactory look, and he placed an order.

“Let me go to the bathroom for a moment.”

Rising from the seat, Lee Mansuk glanced at Soyon.

Her cheeks became all the more reddish.

When Lee went out, the room became silent, but that was only for just a moment.

Soyon opened her mouth first, “Thank you very much for back then.”

“It was just a basic examination. So, never mind it.”

“I wasn’t able to go back to the hospital because I had a very busy schedule. May I get the test outcome even if I don’t visit the hospital?”

“If you don’t mind, I will contact you after checking it.”

Soyon’s eyes shone brightly. She wanted to get his phone number that way.

“Thank you, my number i …”

“I’ll inform Professor Lee about it after lunch. I think that would be better.”

‘What the hell is this guy thinking right now?’

When Lee Soyon blinked her eyes at his words, his cell phone rang.

“Yes, this is Lee Suhyuk.”

It was a call from Oh Byungchul.

“Where are you?”

“I went out for lunch. I was told that Professor Lee Mansuk told you about this. ”

“I know, so where are you right now?”

Suhyuk asked, looking at Soyon.

“What is the name of this place?”

“Gyeongbuk…” Then the door opened and a voice popped out.

“Don’t say it!”

It was Lee Mansuk.

Suddenly, he approached Suhyuk and opened his mouth,

“Who is it?”

A little surprised, Suhyuk looked at him blankly.

“It’s Mr. Oh Byungchul.”

“Oh, I forgot that I had something to say to him. Can I talk to him?”

Suhyuk nodded his head and handed his cell phone.

“It’s me, Lee Mansuk.”

Then he went out.

“I think I told you already I have something to say to Lee Suhyuk. I might send him back over a bit later.”

“Well…”

Lee, who narrowly knitted his brows, remembered something suddenly, saying, “Do you know Noblesse?”

“Are you referring to the restaurant? I know it.”

“Yeah, I’m eating here right now. So do not worry, I’ll send him back in good time.”

“It’s alright. Please have a good time.”

Lee hung up the phone, and turned off Suhyuk’s cell phone.

Then he went inside and handed back the phone.

“Do not worry about the hospital. He said you could come later.”

Suhyuk nodded his head. Who could take issue with him eating with a professor?

“Is it okay for you to be vacant for so long?”

Suhyuk asked Lee with a surprise.

Patients requiring emergency surgery could come to the emergency room at any time.

“If I had a patient to care for, I would not have come to this place. How can there be only one doctor like me at the hospital? And if there is a call, I can move then.”

Then Lee said, looking at the employee bringing the food,

“Can doctors who are so busy have a chance to eat like this? On call, on duty, and night duty. We have to enjoy food like this every once in a while when we can, right?”

Suhyuk nodded his head. That’s right. Of course, he could not agree with some parts of his opinion.

“Food served here really tastes good. I come to this place with Soyon sometimes.”

The table was filled with all kinds of delicacies, and the delicacies on the table were enough to stimulate the appetite.

“Okay, enjoy!”

The meal started, and Lee looked at Suhyuk and Soyon alternately, gesturing toward her repeatedly. On such occasions, she opened her mouth,

“Dried yellow corvina tastes really good here.”

“I see.”

“What kind of food do you like, Suhyuk?”

“Well, I like any food.”

“Yes, a man who eats well looks good to me.”

Suhyuk nodded his head and moved his chopsticks slowly.

‘What kind of guy is he?’  

Lee Soyon peeked at him.

He was the type of a man who did not show any gap that she could get into.

He just answered any question she asked in a way that she could not talk back. It looked as if he was putting out a protective shield. That made her more curious about him.

Did he act like that on purpose? And on that day when she visited the emergency room, the smile he showed her could not be found anywhere today.

“Do you love doing exercise?”

“Let me go out to the bathroom.”

When Suhyuk rose, she just shut her mouth with an embarrassed look.

“So, how do you feel about him?”

When Suhyuk went out, Lee asked her.

“I do not know.”

“Though he looks brusque, he is a warm-hearted person.”

Lee Mansuk, who watched Suhyuk on his usual days, thought about him that way.

The genuine attitude of his towards patients, facing directly with them…

He would not have introduced his niece to Suhyuk if he had not found such a sincere character in him.

“Uncle, I’m supposed to have CF shooting in an hour…”

“Yeah, we are almost done eating anyway. Let’s get up and get ready to leave. You should ask him for his contact number.”

At his words, she felt her face burn up into a blush. Though she was a talent, she could not reveal the ups and downs of her own emotion.

“By the way, why hasn’t he come back?”

It’s been 10 minutes already since Suhyuk left.

And now, soon after, 20 minutes have passed since he left.

“Does he have constipation?”

Lee Mansuk rose up to see if there was something wrong.

When he was about to go out, he turned his head at her calling, “Uncle!”

She was looking out the window.

Approaching the window, Lee shook his head.

He was with a woman who looked like a climber.

Suhyuk silently looked at her who was limping, and touched her ankle.

Then he tied her ankle with the handkerchief she gave him.

Lee and Soyon could see him.

With one of his knees bent down, he was looking up the climber with a smile.

“Doctor…” She was unconsciously recalling the word, and Lee smiled bitterly, saying,

“Just think of it as an occupational illness…”

—–

Kim Jinwook, who opened the door of the emergency room, approached Oh Byungchul.

“Did you not hear it wrong?”

“I heard that it was Noblesse.”

“Are you sure?”

At the suspicious eyes of Kim Jinwook, Oh Byungchul scratched his head.

“I think it’s true.. Can I call again?”

Kim Jinwook shook his head.

Suhyuk’s phone was turned off.

“But why are you looking for intern Lee Suhyuk?”

“No reason.”

Kim Jinwook turned back.

Oh made a suspicious look when he saw Kim going out.

He was just following his instructions that he should check Suhyuk’s whereabouts as a rule and report on him.