Chapter 26
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: Double Faint at the Wedding
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"Waaah! It's been forever!"
As I poked around the wedding hall entrance, Hwang Seoyeong suddenly pulled me into a tight hug.
"Haha, it's only been a few months~."
"Yeah, right? Not that long if you think about it, but why does the vibe feel so different?"
It felt like just yesterday we were enjoying that last supper together... So much had happened since then.
"Is this the aura of a clinic owner?"
"Ooh~ The 26-year-old director!"
The other classmates who'd come to the wedding gathered around us.
Aside from Hwang Seoyeong and me, they were all friends from the orchestra club with today's bride, Lee Yujin sunbae.
'They were all talk about showing me up, but not a single one of Jo Haneul's crew showed?'
The classmates, who had been pretty distant back in school, now showered me with compliments and questions.
"How's the clinic doing? Do the staff or patients look down on you because you're young?"
"Haven't really felt that."
"Oh, so it was just an urban legend?"
"Sigh, Yeowon just has that charisma. We'd get wrecked if we opened one."
"Yeah. You just stand there, and professionalism radiates off you."
Most fresh-out-of-college Korean medicine doctors did their residency or worked as assistant directors at other clinics to save money and gain experience before opening their own. Since I'd beaten everyone to the punch, they were all super interested.
"As expected of the top graduate. You've set the standard for our class."
"Seoyeong, you were the one who tried hardest to talk me out of it."
"Ahaha, lucky me for being wrong. How on earth did you make it work there?"
"It's just the beginning; success is a stretch. But once you start, things just fall into place."
"Ooh, words of wisdom from Director Han Yeowon: 'Just do it.' You've achieved enlightenment."
Ah, so embarrassing.
But even if they asked for my secret, I had nothing special to share. I'd been right that the place was a dump, and vague advice like "move patients with your heart" would just get eye-rolls.
"Mm, meditating in an empty clinic lets you grasp the Dao naturally. Feels like aging ten years a day."
"Ahahahaha!"
They thought it was a joke? Things were a bit more stable now, but the vertigo of seeing just one patient a day back then... You can't describe it without living it.
"Let's go see Yujin unnie."
Blushing, I covered my face with my hands and headed to the bride's waiting room.
"Sunbae, long time no see!"
"Oh my god, Yeowon. You came all the way here~ Thank you so much~!"
We exchanged congratulations on her wedding, my clinic opening, and everyday chit-chat.
I didn't remember the details, but it happened often in this line of work. Patients treated me like a lifesaver, but to me, every trip felt like brushing past countless fleeting connections.
Let's see. Paid the congratulatory money, got my meal ticket.
Now I'd nailed all the pre-ceremony K-wedding essentials. I'd prepped by reading all those crazy wedding stories online. Even bought a new dark green dress—nothing bright.
The main ceremony would start soon; I'd sit quietly, take photos, eat, mingle a bit, and it'd be over.
"The front seats are filling up. Shall we head in and grab spots?"
One classmate spoke up. That's why we'd been milling around outside. Not like students anymore—didn't want the front-row pressure?
"Sure."
"Look, that spot we eyed is open!"
I started following her when Hwang Seoyeong glanced toward the elevators.
"Someone still coming?"
"Ah, Sanghun oppa drove us. But he went to park and is taking forever."
Sanghun oppa? Hwang Sanghun? Right, he was the orchestra club president.
Lee Yujin sunbae was finishing her residency, so they were coworkers—her as resident, him as intern.
I'd forgotten, but of course he'd be here. Didn't expect to see him again.
"Call him."
Hwang Seoyeong was already pulling out her phone.
She tried a few times, but no answer.
"Not picking up. Something wrong?"
"Maybe he stepped out for a smoke and lost his phone?"
"Sanghun oppa doesn't smoke..."
"Let's go check. Ceremony hasn't started yet."
"Ah, you'll come with?"
Hwang Seoyeong lit up at my offer.
"I was dreading going alone. Jihun, sorry, hold our spots!"
I naturally tagged along. We left our bags with a classmate and took the elevator.
"Heard the parking goes to B6?"
"It was creepy coming up earlier. Feels safer with you."
Hwang Seoyeong protested it wasn't boredom—she'd looked scared. She'd gotten off at B1 with him since spots were full up top. The garage was dimmer than most modern buildings.
Not knowing where he'd parked, we started from B2, checking floors one by one.
Brightness seemed similar, but the deeper we went, the heavier the yin energy felt.
Unlike the luxurious ground-level venue, this gloomy basement screamed "something's about to happen."
"What if something happened..."
Hwang Seoyeong grew quiet, tension building. She clutched my arm, shoulders tense. No need to say "something bad?" out loud, right?
B5 had empty spots, but no sign of his car.
Something felt off.
Assassin from Hwangje Hospital grudge? Or robber targeting hotel guests?
Imagining the worst, we reached the last floor.
B6 was pitch black. Unlike above, lights were completely off.
The automatic door slid open in the darkness.
Lights flared on, and there was Hwang Sanghun.
"Kyaaaaah!"
Only three cars on the lowest level.
Hwang Sanghun lay collapsed beside one.
"Wh-what do we do?"
He looked ambushed. Hwang Seoyeong clapped hands over her mouth in shock.
Not me. How many times had I seen bloodied bodies in the murim? Too many to count. I rushed over to check him.
No visible trauma, heartbeat and breathing steady. Hands a bit cool, but within normal body temp.
"Calm down. Pulse is strong."
I guided the panicking Hwang Seoyeong to his carotid.
"R-right? Then..."
"He fainted."
No threat to life. I acted calm, but was hugely relieved.
"Pulse like he's sleeping, but don't know when he passed out... Hey!"
"Uwak!"
"Oppa! Hwang Sanghun-ssi! Wake up!"
I shook his shoulder and yelled right in his ear.
"Is that how you wake him?"
Why not?
Life not in danger, so next: check for brain injury or just temporary blackout.
As I yelled, I grabbed his hand and sent a surge of qi.
"...Huh?"
Luckily, his cheek twitched, eyes opening quick.
"...Yeowon...?"
"Yep, Han Yeowon here. See my fingers? How many?"
"Two. What... Why am I here?"
Amnesia vibes, but finger count spot-on.
He dazedly looked around, trying to sit up.
"Ah, right, wedding hall. Did I fall asleep in the car?"
"Just in case, stay down. No lifting your head!"
I softly asked Hwang Seoyeong, but before her reply, I pinned his forehead back down.
Dazed but compliant.
"No one hit you from behind?"
"No way. Seoyeong dropped me off... I remember parking. Must've dozed off from exhaustion. You came looking?"
"You were on the floor, not the car? Thought you were dead!"
Accepting he was fine, Hwang Seoyeong smacked her cousin's arm. He winced, still confused.
"You didn't lay me down?"
"Like we could!"
"No pain anywhere? Even fainting, you could've hit your head falling."
Lying there, he patted his head and body.
"Feels okay."
"Any claustrophobia or panic attacks?"
"None."
"Maybe hypoglycemic shock or vasovagal syncope."
Hwang Seoyeong gasped at "panic," but he denied flat-out.
"Just fell asleep. Work's been tiring. ...Sorry for the fuss. Scared you both."
Visibly sorry, he turned from my squat. Flushed cheeks—he seemed okay now.
"What the hell does the school hospital make you do?"
"Haha, intern life."
"I'm an intern too!"
About five minutes since waking. I checked my watch and said,
"Time to head up. Oppa, rest in the car? We'll explain."
"Nah, feel fine now. Gotta properly congratulate sunbae."
No serious signs, so okay.
I nodded, and he sprang up.
"Whoa."
Stumbled on the way, foot slipping.
I grabbed his arm instantly.
"Thanks."
After that crime-victim look, now embarrassed again, he turned away.
Guilty face... Like the guy whose gut wound I barely saved, then sneaked booze.
But he wasn't stabbed.
I'd just yelled to wake him—not his doctor.
No duty to knock him out and stabilize.
He said fine; trust that.
He walked steadily back to the hall.
Having the guy who'd just collapsed next to me was distracting. I spent the whole ceremony watching Hwang Sanghun, barely paying attention to the wedding.
Before I knew it, it was over, and I was at the buffet.
Tables big enough for all classmates, so I took the seat beside him.
"Oppa, insomnia, right?"
"Huh?"
I cut straight to my burning question.
Staring hollow-eyed at his plate, he lifted heavy lids like hoisting a weight, mumbling incoherently.
"They said I aged opening the clinic, but yours is way worse."
"Hey, they said I had presence. Who looks old!"
Hwang Seoyeong defended, but I waited.
"...Yeah, schedule means no real sleep."
"Seoyeong and the bride interned same hospital—no dark circles like yours."
"Ah?"
Too late to cover. I lowered my voice, serious.
"Pathological level?"
"Honestly... yeah."
The near-corpse scratched his head.
Can't ignore this in good conscience. The qi I gave waking him would burn out fast; zombie mode soon.
'Want to prescribe, but fellow doctor... awkward?'
We weren't mentor-disciple. Touchy prying into another clinic's pride.
But fainting from insomnia? Prevent drowsy-driving accidents—gotta treat. How to broach?
Screw it, his loss if he refuses!
"How can a doctor neglect himself like this? We do this to eat and live—eat right, sleep right!"
I overacted, flicking his forehead. Planned to ride the nag into med advice.
"Haha."
Thinking it normal scolding, he smiled softly.
Then lightning flashed before his eyes.
"...?"
Like in the garage rising.
Sitting, he swayed.
Toppled sideways.
Eh?
"...Sanghun oppa?"
I caught his head urgently.
Hwang Seoyeong shook his shoulder.
Hello? Hwang Sanghun-ssi?
Come on, get it together. I barely put any force in.
No intent to knock out again?
"I-I didn't hit that hard?! Quit joking and wake up."
What the hell.
Hwang Sanghun practicing physical comedy? Unlikely.
Not faking faint from my flick in front of everyone?
N-no way, right?