Chapter 244
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 244
Chapter Title: Our Little Secret
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"It's a secret just between you and me, Director. You can keep it, right?"
"Ah, yes, yes. Of course."
Even amid my shock, I nodded reflexively.
Maintaining patient confidentiality during treatment is non-negotiable.
I never breathed a word about why Kim Jinsang looked so downcast, or who the Heavenly Demon's husband was.
Though I did force a three-way meeting for the former.
Patients confiding secrets like this in me wasn't anything new.
"Shall we head to the treatment room, then?"
I tried not to show my surprise as I led Sasha to the treatment room.
But had she seen right through my fluster anyway?
Whatever it was, she kept grinning from ear to ear, clearly amused.
I instructed the assistant to prepare the steam therapy, then took a moment to steady my breathing.
Thanks to that, ten minutes later, I was back to my usual pace, observing Sasha's expression calmly.
She didn't seem to regret spilling the beans...
Fortunately, she wasn't showing any signs of anxiety either.
I proceeded straight into acupuncture.
From her head down to her hands, feet, and abdomen. I placed the needles to replenish her qi and blood and promote circulation.
"Do you feel a heavy, tingling sensation?"
"Yes!"
"That's called de qi."
"Ooh! So this is qi flowing in."
Some patients dislike the de qi sensation, so I can place needles more gently.
But feeling it properly tends to yield better results.
If enough qi reaches the precise acupoint, even sensitive people can sense it.
Sasha marveled each time a needle went in.
We chatted a bit more as the treatment continued.
"So how did you end up in Korea? Is there a performance or something?"
"Oh, once I found out I was pregnant, we postponed everything. There were talks of a world tour soon, but luckily no official announcement, so it worked out. Aside from a few broadcasts we couldn't cancel, we postponed everything."
Ah, makes sense.
She'd originally planned to have the baby, so she probably cleared her schedule for the next seven or eight months.
"But now that things are like this, I should get back to normal life soon~. It'd be great if the meds fix me up quick!"
"They will. You'll see major improvement in a month or two. Rest well and take care of your mental health in the meantime."
Not quite seven or eight months of rest, but plenty of downtime was still advisable.
Perceptions of early miscarriage and post-miscarriage recovery vary widely from person to person.
Some agonize for months or even years, blaming themselves for losing the child they'd waited for.
Others shrug it off without a second thought.
Physically, some liken it to a heavy period, while others, like Sasha, show severe qi and blood depletion.
It's ideal when someone feels nonchalant if they truly are, or grieves if they must—no judgment.
Even without outside commentary, the disconnect from one's usual mindset can still breed discomfort.
"My heart? Oh, I'm fine."
Sasha said as much, but honestly, she didn't seem 100% okay.
She'd admitted to mood swings from hormones herself.
And impulsively spilling her baby's father's identity to me... wasn't that from tangled emotions she couldn't share with anyone else?
"Well, if you say so. Since you've already shared your secret, feel free to email me anytime with worries or things on your mind. Or aches and questions, obviously."
Worried despite myself, I made the careful offer.
From the second batch of meds onward, I'd prescribe via email or phone anyway, so hearing her out a few more times was no big deal.
If she never reached out, that'd be fine too.
"...Thank you."
I half-expected a joke like, "Hehe, secret buddies?"
Instead, Sasha gazed at me with deeply touched eyes.
Her bright smile with that simple "Thanks" stirred an inexplicable bitterness in me.
"Oh, heading back to the US right away? Should I ship it overseas?"
Before wrapping up acupuncture and heading out, I asked Sasha.
We usually confirmed addresses at the desk, but overseas shipping needed advance notice.
"It needs to be decocted with the herbs, right? When will it be ready?"
"We'll prepare it tonight and ship tomorrow. Domestic delivery arrives the day after, but overseas... expedited should take under a week?"
"Could I pick it up in person tomorrow?"
"Sure. Staying in Korea a few more days?"
"Yes! I'm traveling, so I'll stick around the hotel longer."
Ah, right.
Even without a tour, she wouldn't fly all the way to distant Asia just to turn right back.
First class or not—with that insane wealth—time wasted on planes made it worth doing something extra.
Especially with her schedule cleared.
"Here for travel, or...?"
"Traveling on top of visiting the clinic!"
...Naturally, I'd brew it perfectly, but now I felt a twinge of pressure to make it extra perfect.
She'd truly come across the ocean for this.
Different from casual drop-ins like that Saudi prince with zero expectations.
"Hope you enjoy your trip and refresh yourself."
"Thanks. I already feel so much better after just the acupuncture!"
I drew the curtain and moved to the next bed.
I wanted to comfort her more, but several patients were finishing physical therapy soon.
I checked them in sequence, placing needles.
'Huh?'
About twenty minutes later.
Heading back to the consultation room, I spotted Sasha in the waiting area.
'Minjeong... English stage fright?'
Wondering if she needed billing help, I glanced over again.
But now she was peering at the growing wall of celebrity signatures and photos.
Maybe Melon Soda Horizon folks she'd recognize? She'd even posted about them on SNS. Wow, world star status.
Unlike her anxious check-in vibe, she looked quite relaxed now.
"Don't worry, I won't ask for a signature. These are just from people who wanted to leave one."
Surprisingly few had asked me first?
Half-joking, half-reassuring.
Sasha grinned and replied.
"Someday, when the time comes, hang mine up too."
Huh? Sasha rolled her eyes playfully with a cute smile.
Someday... maybe soon she'd go public? They seemed pretty serious.
"By then, meeting you might be my brag-worthy story, Director!"
No, that part...
"I feel all better already. Mind taking a photo with the world's top healer? For memories?"
"No problem on my end...?"
Nothing to lose if she went public, so I gave the okay.
She whipped out her phone and snapped a selfie with the clinic name visible.
Hmm. Taking the selfie home solo? A celeb?
When that 'time' came, would she send it for display?
Well, sure. No eternal secrets. Planning marriage eventually?
"I'll pay now. Thanks for today—so amazing!"
Sasha settled up briskly and left the clinic.
"Director, thank you..."
Jin Minjeong, who'd anxiously watched without knowing our chat, sighed in relief.
"You worked hard too, Doc. Foreign patients are tough, right?"
"Sorry. You handled everything even with me stepping in."
Jin Minjeong wiped sweat from her brow in huge relief.
That intense?
No one except Seol Yuhee with decent listening skills spoke English well, but they didn't seem overly stressed.
Seo In-ae used a translator app slowly; Gong Nari rocked body language effortlessly.
"I need to study English."
Jin Minjeong clenched her fist.
"No need to push that far? Call me like today if needed."
I planned to brush up myself, but no intent to force staff.
"No way. Can't rely on that every time. Seeing Seo In-ae hustle inspires me to try too."
Ooh... growth mindset. Great.
Nothing wrong with it, so we downloaded an app and resolved to study together.
Ha, I'll master it soon enough.
The next day.
Sasha arrived incognito in a hat and quietly picked up her meds.
We kept it secret from staff; no insurance meant fake name was fine.
I told her to contact if dosing or instructions puzzled her, but no follow-up.
I'd detailed the Gonggui Jianxue Decoction with translation—hopefully clear.
A week later.
"Whoa! Sasha Lian's in Busan!"
I heard about her from the unlikeliest source.
How'd Gong Nari know?
"Yeah?"
"Is that so."
Our staff minus Gong Nari couldn't care less about celebs, so casual replies.
"How'd you find out?"
I alone startled, asking her.
"She posted Busan pizza on Insta! I went there yesterday too! Missed her by hours?"
Duh, SNS—of course.
Fan of Melon Soda Horizon, and following Sasha too, apparently.
Sasha's Insta: selfie at a famous pizza joint captioned 'Hello Busan~'.
'That... close call recognizing her?'
Jin Minjeong, who'd seen her face, might've clocked her up close.
Good thing zero interest—she never glanced at the screen.
'At least she's enjoying the trip.'
Sasha posted more from Busan and Gyeongju sights.
Soon, an email arrived.
Curious if SNS blasts were deliberate or genuine chill vibes, the mail eased my mind.
[Hi Director! Toured Busan and Gyeongju, now up in Seoul. Haven't sung much yet, but lost naegong feels like it's refilling. Meds great, Korean food delicious—eating well...]
Thankfully, she sounded upbeat traveling.
No nightmares, good sleep.
Lochia flowed heavily first three days like purging, then stopped. No abdominal pain.
After full month, energy boost expected. Thanks for brewing well.
'Korean pizza counts as Korean food?'
Insta: all pizza, pasta, steak.
US vs. Korean pizza different enough? Whatever.
Progress report solid.
I replied with well-wishes and Seoul eats recs.
[Thrilled your health's improving...]
Composing in Korean then English? Tricky.
Spoken English: grammar be damned, just talk.
Writing? Whole other beast.
Post-work at PC, agonizing over each sentence.
'From? No, since? Feels like from, but yesterday's lesson...'
Tap tap tap tap!
Fully immersed, blocking out world.
"Huh?"
Tap tap tap tap!
Before I knew, Cheongsol was pounding my knee.
...Window open?
What's up?