Chapter 124: Bloom
Chapter 124: Bloom
A luxury officetel in Seoul.
Delivery drivers kept coming and going from one particular unit.
A mountain of food was piled in front of the door.
Mala tteokbokki, fried chicken, pizza, yogurt bingsu, and more.
The menu was diverse and the quantity substantial, as if a large family had ordered it.
After a moment—
Creak—
The door opened cautiously.
Slim women stepped out and hurriedly carried the waiting food inside.
“It’s here!”
“The only drug permitted by the nation!”
“Tsk, watch your mouth. That word’s sensitive these days.”
“Yeees…”
They were members of South Korea’s top girl group LuckyLee.
They had ordered a huge amount of food to eat together while watching Episode 3 of Doctor Princess.
Normally, such high-calorie food would be unthinkable.
But today, their agency had lifted the restrictions.
After all, a LuckyLee member—especially Lee Yuna—was appearing in the episode as a cameo.
While the members busily set the table—
the familiar opening music flowed from the TV.
“It’s starting!”
The members quickly gathered in front of the television.
The broadcast began.
An aerial shot revealed a massive indoor concert hall.
As the camera swept across the audience—
thousands of glowing light sticks waved like waves.
[LuckyLee! LuckyLee! LuckyLee!]
The chant gradually grew louder until it became the dominant sound.
At the center of it, LuckyLee’s center Lee Yuna lifted her head and raised the microphone.
[I love LuckyLee!]
[Yuna!! What’s with that beauty today!!]
A flawless live vocal, pounding beats, dazzling lights, explosive cheers.
Everything surged toward its peak.
Then—
[…!]
A close-up captured Lee Yuna’s face.
Her breathing grew rough.
As if something was wrong, she thumped her chest.
Her body tilted slightly—
and she suddenly collapsed onto the stage floor.
Beep!
A sharp sound burst from the speakers.
What followed were screams from fans and members.
[Yuna!!!]
[Yuna unni!!]
[Unni, are you okay?!]
LuckyLee members rushed toward her.
The camera quickly captured the shocked faces of the members.
“Hehe, our faces are on screen too!”
“Hayoung’s acting is actually pretty good.”
“It’s not acting…! I thought unni really collapsed back then and I was terrified…!”
“But Yuna’s acting is definitely on another level. When it cuts from Yuna to us, it suddenly feels embarrassing.”
“Unni doesn’t really have that hypertrophic cardiomyopathy thing, right?”
“You always have to say things like that!”
“No, it’s just that her acting is too realistic…”
“Hehe.”
For once, Lee Yuna herself freely reacted and enjoyed the scene with them.
Beep—beep—beep—
With the sound of an ECG monitor, the scene shifted to the emergency room.
“It’s Seo Yoonha unni!”
“You know her?”
“No, I’m just a fan.”
“…I thought you were close.”
Seo Yoonha’s character, Alicia Yoon, examined the medical chart.
Lee Yuna, barely regaining consciousness, asked weakly,
[Am I… not going to die, right?]
Alicia shook her head firmly.
[You’re stable for now. But… there’s a risk of recurrence.]
Tears slowly gathered at the corner of Lee Yuna’s eyes.
The camera slowly tracked inward, capturing her emotion.
[Do I need surgery?]
[Yes. Surgery is necessary.]
[…Then I won’t be able to stand on stage anymore, right?]
[…Why are you worrying about the stage in your current condition?]
[If I can’t stand on stage anymore… then living wouldn’t feel like living. Just let me die now…]
The youngest member watching the screen began tearing up as well.
“Noooo!”
She shouted and ran to hug Lee Yuna tightly.
“It’s just a drama…”
“But still noooo!”
While the youngest made a fuss—
Alicia’s flashback passed.
Then—
in the cardiothoracic surgery conference room, when department chief Park Doyoung scolded Alicia Yoon,
[Septal myectomy, huh… Not a bad idea. Nice, Princess Syndrome.]
At that moment, Han Jushin appeared and pulled her out of self-blame.
[Professor Han, this isn’t the time for jokes.]
[I’m not joking.]
The camera rapidly cross-cut between scenes, heightening the tension.
[Looks like everyone’s been going in circles because no one in this hospital has performed a septal myectomy before…]
Han Jushin pushed past Park Doyoung and studied the heart images carefully.
[Then I guess we’ll just have one starting now.]
He said with a grin.
[If God created the heart, then I’m the one who revises the design.]
“Aaaah!”
“That line is so cringe but so cool!!”
“Unni can live! She can go back on stage!”
“Hayoung, please stop getting so immersed…”
The cold lighting of the operating room filled the screen.
Han Jushin put on his gloves and slowly flexed his fingers.
[Right hand, release the seal of the Black Flame Dragon.]
His gaze completely changed.
The camera followed the movements of his hands in extreme close-up.
Tension crackled like sparks.
Rip—
The incision began.
A low, heavy background score played.
Then chaos struck.
Beep beep beep beep!
[BP dropping! 55/40!]
[Should we administer epinephrine?]
[Wait.]
Blood surged, heightening the crisis.
From behind the glass, Chief Park Doyoung shouted.
[Wait? If the patient dies, will you take responsibility?!]
[Responsibility? Didn’t someone already try to avoid that?]
The camera cut rapidly between their faces.
Then the focus returned.
The scalpel moved again.
Following Han Jushin’s hands, myocardial tissue was removed piece by piece.
The obstructed left ventricular outflow tract gradually widened.
Beep. Beep. Beep beep.
[Heart rhythm restored! BP rising, 90/60!]
[Oxygen saturation normalizing!]
[It worked…! The heart is beating again!]
The camera captured tears in Alicia’s eyes.
Han Jushin set down the scalpel.
[God’s blueprint—revision complete.]
“Gaaah! I was holding my breath the whole time!”
“No, that was insanely tense!”
“Han Jushin is so cool!!”
“Lee Yuna resurrected like a boss!!”
The LuckyLee members didn’t even try to calm the excited youngest anymore.
They were simply absorbed in the drama.
“Ah… this is so good.”
“To think we left even a small mark in a drama like this…”
“Shh, it’s not over yet.”
The screen slowly brightened.
Warm spring sunlight fluttered through the hospital curtains.
Lee Yuna on the screen slowly opened her eyes.
The heart monitor still beeped softly.
Beep—beep—beep—
Her fingers trembled slightly.
She was still weak.
But the will to live was unmistakable.
Then the hospital room door opened.
Alicia entered.
On the tray were warm porridge and a single small flower.
“You’re awake?”
“…Yes.”
Lee Yuna’s voice was faint.
But warmth had returned to her eyes.
Alicia smiled.
“Your heart is completely stable now. Professor Han Jushin personally confirmed it.”
“Really… he’s amazing… I still can’t believe it. He’s like a wizard.”
“Well… he calls himself the Black Flame Dragon.”
“Haha… really?”
Their laughter briefly warmed the hospital room.
But soon Lee Yuna lowered her gaze.
“But… I can’t stand on stage anymore, right…?”
Alicia shook her head.
“No. Once you fully recover, you’ll be able to.”
“…What? Really?”
Alicia quoted Han Jushin.
“The heart is more stubborn than you think. If it wants to live, it beats again. And if there’s something it wants to do, it beats toward that.”
She looked directly at Lee Yuna.
“So you can sing.”
Lee Yuna slowly placed a hand over her chest.
A warm heartbeat pulsed beneath it.
Now that sound was no longer frightening.
Outside the window, someone’s singing could be heard.
A spring busking performance.
At that moment—
Lee Yuna’s lips moved faintly.
A voice as light as breath flowed out.
—Your name quietly spreads
My heart sways in the breeze…
The song was almost a whisper.
But it warmed the hospital room air.
Alicia stared in surprise.
“That doesn’t mean you should sing now…! You still need rest…”
“I just… wanted to try.”
Lee Yuna smiled softly.
“Being able to sing again makes me feel like I’m alive.”
Alicia’s eyes trembled slightly.
Warmth welled up deep in her chest.
Just then—
The door slid open.
Han Jushin had entered.
“Ha… first time I’ve seen someone make a patient sing.”
“No, no! I didn’t make her! Right?”
Alicia quickly protested and looked at Lee Yuna.
But Lee Yuna lay quietly with her eyes closed.
“……”
A perfect act of innocence.
Han Jushin glared at Alicia.
“Patient management attitude: minus ten points.”
“No…! Really…! It wasn’t me…!”
“Arguing with a professor. Minus twenty points.”
“…Haa…”
While the two bickered—
spring sunlight filtered through the window.
The light slowly settled over Lee Yuna’s face.
Perhaps the warmth felt pleasant.
Her closed lips curved upward slightly.
It was the expression of someone alive.
The expression of someone who wanted to live.
The camera captured her warm smile one last time before fading out.
At the same time, the song she had whispered flowed properly.
—Your name quietly spreads
My heart sways in the breeze
Each step I take closer
The world shines in unfamiliar light
That was the ending of Episode 3.
“……”
“……”
“……”
The preview had already passed and commercials were playing.
But silence lingered in the dorm for a long time.
The reactions of the LuckyLee members varied.
Some covered their mouths and sniffled at the heartwarming ending.
“Ah… this is so good…”
Others smiled contentedly, enjoying the gentle world inside the drama.
“Wow… Yuna unni’s OST is amazing…”
Others replayed the ending song in their minds.
But all the reactions shared one thing in common.
“This was sooo good!!!”
Episode 3 had been an enormous success.
It wasn’t just their biased opinion.
After the long wait caused by the Winter Olympics broadcast break—
Episode 3 exploded onto screens, more than satisfying viewers’ anticipation.
[Doctor Princess Episode 3 dominates buzz with Lee Yuna cameo… ratings soaring]
[Lee Yuna’s fainting scene on stage gives chills… breaks ‘idol’ prejudice]
[Han Jushin × Alicia × Lee Yuna—perfect synergy of visuals and acting]
[‘Black Flame Dragon’ Ryu Sunho saves idol fans’ hearts this time… “God’s blueprint revised”]
Drama forums and social media were flooded with Doctor Princess discussions.
—Wow… today’s episode was insaneㅠㅠ
—Han Jushin surgery scenes are always thrilling lol Black Flame Dragon is on fire
—The Han Jushin and Alicia banter at the end lol minus 20 points
└ Their flirting is both heart-fluttering and annoying lol
—Seo Yoonha and Lee Yuna had great chemistry… I almost cried during the hospital scene
—There wasn’t a single scene worth skipping… long live the writer
Not only the drama—
but also the ending OST sung by Lee Yuna exploded in popularity.
—What’s that ending song? It’s so good
—Since when could Lee Yuna sing this well?
└ Didn’t you watch Mystery Singer? She made it to Round 3 in that hell-tier lineup
└ Honestly that was bracket luck lol she met Na Yohan late
└ Even with bracket luck, she wouldn’t have passed Round 1 if she couldn’t sing
—What’s the OST title? I’m dying, tell me quickly
└ It’s called “Bloom.” It’s already released on music sites
—It suits Lee Yuna’s tone so well… the lyrics are soft and easy to listen to
—It’s already #10 on the charts
└ Drama buff + good song + fandom power
└ At this rate it might hit #1
└ Probably going to camp inside the Top 3 for a while
└ The song really is good lol
The next morning.
Studio Plus office.
“Did it come out?”
“Just a second…!”
The youngest employee refreshed the page.
Then shouted.
“Team Leader! It’s up!”
His voice cracked with excitement.
A bold number appeared on the screen.
[National Ratings: 32.1%]
Silence filled the office.
Everyone rubbed their eyes and checked the number again.
“…32 percent?”
“Wooooooo!”
Someone’s cheer became the signal.
The office erupted.
“This is crazy! It broke 30%?!”
“This isn’t a dream, right?!”
“Jackpot! This is insane!”
Employees hugged each other and jumped around.
Among them, the PR Team Leader clenched his fist.
Every episode had set a new personal ratings record.
And the so-called “30% wall” had been shattered in just three episodes.
Lee Yuna’s contribution was significant.
Her cameo appearance had drawn the massive idol fandom to television screens.
“Team Leader! Shouldn’t we pop champagne?!”
“Let’s have a company lunch celebration today!”
Excited voices filled the office.
But instead of enjoying the moment—
the PR Team Leader cooled his mind and narrowed his eyes.
No. We can’t be satisfied here.
Amateurs row when the tide comes in.
Masters install a motor.
“Alright everyone, attention!”
He clapped to gather attention.
“How was the reaction to Yuna’s OST in the ending yesterday?”
“It’s unprecedented! It entered real-time charts across music platforms immediately after the broadcast ended. It climbed the rankings like clearing stages and is now firmly in the Top 10! It might even reach #1!”
“Good. That’s exactly it.”
The PR Team Leader grinned.
“We need to use this properly. After all, we have another singer too.”
The team members tilted their heads.
“Who?”
“Haven’t all the OST lineup names already been revealed?”
“Come on, why are you acting like amateurs?”
The PR Team Leader pointed at a photo of Han Jushin—no, Ryu Sunho—attached to an online article.
Only then did the team members’ eyes widen.
“Ah…!”
“Golden Retriever!”
“Right! Sunho sings incredibly well!”
“Exactly. A former King of Singers, after all.”
The PR Team Leader declared confidently.
“Record another version of Yuna’s OST ‘Bloom.’ A Sunho version. A ballad carrying Han Jushin’s emotions.”
His eyes sparkled.
“When this comes out… the reaction will explode.”