Fifth Vital [EN]: Chapter 397

398. ……!

“Yes, ma’am.”

“So, what you’re saying is that Jin’s dad and I fell into some cult and made our Jin like this, and you heard that from my mother-in-law? Is that right?”

“That’s right. You understand perfectly.”

“Auntie, did my mother really say that? You’re not lying, are you?”

Lee Jae-san, as surprised as Kim Yeon-ju, also asked the housekeeper for the truth.

“Lying? Heavens, no. I was born in a remote village and may not have much education, but I’ve never lived by deceiving others. The condition for serving the madam and coming to this house was to believe everything I said and listen to me, so I’ve only followed that.”

“Auntie, my husband and I haven’t fallen into any strange groups, nor do we believe in any cults.”

“Is that really true?”

“Yes, what my wife says is true.”

“Then, that word ‘hospital’ wasn’t a code but really meant a hospital?”

“Of course. I can’t tell you everything about what happened to our family right now, but we had a heartbreaking experience in the past, and that’s why we couldn’t take our daughter to the hospital even when she was sick.”

“No, not being able to take your child to the hospital when they’re sick, what in the world does that mean…….”

The housekeeper couldn’t understand Kim Yeon-ju’s words about not being able to take her sick child to the hospital.

“Later……. I’ll tell you later if I get the chance.”

“If it’s something that troubles you, don’t bother telling me. I’m fine. More than that, does the madam also dislike taking her to the hospital?”

“My mother hates hospitals even more than we do. Frankly, my wife and I are still worried about going to the hospital and seeing a doctor. But as you can see from Jin, there’s nowhere else to turn, and we thought we should see a doctor.”

“I’ll ask you this favor.”

As her husband finished speaking, Kim Yeon-ju, who was sitting next to the housekeeper, knelt on the floor with desperate eyes.

“Oh my! Heavens! Ma’am, please get up. You’ll hurt your knees.”

Seeing this, the housekeeper also knelt down and tried to lift Kim Yeon-ju, but she didn’t budge.

“Please, Auntie, help us. You told me earlier that you don’t lie. I’m the same. I don’t know about other things, but how could I lie when it comes to my child?”

Kim Yeon-ju, speaking each word, felt more than desperate; she felt despair.

“If Mother knows, Jin will have to stay like this, and something really bad might happen. So, please pretend you don’t know and help us.”

The housekeeper, seeing Kim Yeon-ju with tears in her eyes, also looked like she was about to cry.

“Don’t cry. I’ll help you. I didn’t even know you two had such a story.”

The housekeeper, realizing that she had misunderstood, decided to help them.

Above all, as a mother herself, she knew how heartbreaking and painful it was to have a sick child.

“From now on, I won’t tell the madam any of the stories you two tell me, and I’ll pretend I didn’t hear anything. So, please rest assured. I’m sorry for hurting your feelings because of me.”

“No, Auntie, don’t say that. Thank you for understanding my heart.”

The couple, having had a good conversation with the housekeeper, checked on their daughter and returned to their room.

“Are you okay?”

“Haa!”

A deep sigh, as if the ground was sinking, testified that his wife was not okay.

“No, I’m not okay. How could Mother do this, no matter what? I know she’s having a hard time because of San, but I think this is too much.”

“That’s right. This is too much from Mother. First of all, Jin’s problem is the priority, so I’ll talk to her firmly about the problem later. And I’m going to go to the hospital on my way home from work.”

“You’re going to take Jin to the hospital after work today? But honey, how are we going to take Jin to the hospital? How are we going to deceive Mother?”

She wanted to take her daughter to the hospital to see a doctor, but she couldn’t think of a good way to get over the big mountain called her mother-in-law.

Her mother-in-law and husband worked at the same company and ran a small business. Therefore, going to the hospital without her mother-in-law knowing was quite difficult.

“I’ll…….”

Lee Jae-san opened his mouth to Kim Yeon-ju, who was worried.

“I’ll bring them.”

“What! Bring who?”

“Who else? The doctor.”

“The doctor?”

“If we can’t go, we have to bring the doctor.”

“You’re going to bring the doctor home? Is that possible?”

“We have to make it possible for Jin. I’ll make some excuse so that Mother doesn’t notice. Don’t worry; just take good care of Jin.”

Lee Jae-san said, holding his wife’s hand with a determined expression.

* * *

Our Hospital-

“Did it hurt?”

Doctor Euijin asked the young female patient who had finished her cervical cancer screening and was sitting in the examination chair.

“No. As you said, Doctor, it’s just a little uncomfortable, but it doesn’t hurt at all. When will the results be available?”

“Usually, you can find out in about a week. And the reduced menstrual flow may be due to stress, so don’t worry and see how it is during this month’s period.”

“Yes, Doctor. I’ve been under a lot of mental stress these days because I’m studying for exams and getting certifications. I think it’s because of stress, as you said.”

“It’s best for our bodies not to be stressed, but we can’t live without stress. It’s good to think positively and live comfortably.”

“That’s right. I think it’s because I have a sensitive personality. Actually, this is the first time I’ve had a gynecological exam.”

“Really? Is this your first time at a gynecologist?”

“Yes, so I was very nervous.”

“Of course. Most people who come for the first time are nervous and trembling.”

“That’s right. It’s close to my house, and the doctor kindly explained my questions, so I think I did well to come. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

The woman, who said it was her first time visiting a gynecologist, politely greeted and left, and soon a knock was heard.

Knock knock-

“Yes, come in.”

“Reserved patient?”

Taekyung asked as he entered the examination room.

“No. The reserved patient left earlier.”

“Did you come an hour early today because of the reserved patient?”

“Yes. The mother-to-be had something urgent to see before going on a prenatal trip, so I said I would come early.”

“Good doctor.”

“I’m just trying to be like you, senior. No emergencies in the emergency room?”

“Not yet.”

“Do you have any outpatient appointments now?”

“No, I don’t.”

“Then…….”

Euijin said, checking her phone.

“There are about 40 minutes left until the outpatient clinic starts, so do you want to go eat tteokbokki [spicy rice cakes]?”

“Euijin, I’m sorry, but I think we’ll have to eat tteokbokki later.”

“It’s okay. Do you have something to do, senior?”

“No, it’s not work, but my mother is coming.”

“……!?”

Euijin was speechless for a moment at the mention of her mother coming.

Taekyung’s mother coming meant that her future mother-in-law was coming. But she didn’t expect to see her again so suddenly in a situation where she hadn’t even formally greeted her.

That’s because Euijin only wears sunscreen and lightly applies lipstick when working at the hospital.

She didn’t like wearing makeup because she might have to receive emergency childbirth patients.

“Wait a minute. So, you’re saying that your mother is coming to the hospital now.”

“Yeah. That’s right.”

“No! Why are you telling me now?”

“She’s not coming to see you; she came to Seoul for business and is just stopping by to see my face.”

“Still, she knows we work together, so how can I not say hello? That’s not polite.”

“I’m sorry.”

“What’s there to be sorry about? Is my condition okay right now? Don’t I look like a beggar?”

“What? A beggar?”

“No, I’m just wondering if I’m too casual.”

“Is there such a pretty beggar?”

In Taekyung’s eyes, Euijin’s nervous appearance looked cute.

“Don’t laugh. I’m serious right now? If I had known this would happen, I would have curled my hair and put some effort into it.”

Euijin took out a cushion [compact foundation] from her bag and applied it to her face, and reapplied lipstick in a bright color.

“I didn’t want to tell you because I thought you’d be like this. You’ve seen her once before. Are you still worried?”

Euijin had previously met Lee Yeosa when she went to Taekyung’s rooftop room.

“Of course, I’m worried. I just said hello lightly because I saw her suddenly at that time, and I didn’t talk much. And anyway, I’m meeting her, so it’s natural to want to greet her in a good way. Am I okay?”

“What’s wrong with now? It’s more than enough.”

“Tsk! Whatever.”

As the two were having a cute conversation, Lee Yeosa arrived at the hospital.

“Hello. Mother. How have you been?”

“Oh my, nice to see you. We meet again.”

Euijin, who had been very nervous, exchanged pleasant greetings with Lee Yeosa.

“Doctor Lim, I’ll be out for 30 minutes and come back in time for the appointment. If an emergency patient comes, call me right away.”

“Yes, don’t worry and have a comfortable time.”

Taekyung was going to have a short conversation with his mother at the coffee shop next to the hospital.

“The hospital is bigger than I thought. It’s clean and nice.”

Lee Yeosa, seeing the hospital where her son was the director, was happy and felt good.

“I should have shown it to you sooner; I’m sorry.”

“What are you sorry for? You’re busy seeing patients. Why? Are you going out?”

Lee Yeosa stopped and asked as Taekyung was about to go out the main gate.

“I want to buy you a meal, but I don’t have time, so I’m going to the coffee shop next door.”

“I don’t have anything to do. If you drink coffee at this time, you won’t be able to sleep at night.”

“They have tea there too.”

“Don’t do that; you have to see a doctor too, so talk here.”

“Here?”

“Yes. There’s a bench over there too.”

Lee Yeosa pointed to the bench in the hospital yard.

“Are you sure it’s okay?”

“The hospital looks good, and it’s nice and cozy. Let’s sit there. Come on.”

So, the two sat on the bench and exchanged stories.

“Our Lee Yeosa, you don’t have any pain, do you?”

“Yes, Mother is still healthy, so don’t worry, but Taekyung?”

“Yes.”

“The more I see her, the more I like her.”

“Euijin?”

“Yes.”

Lee Yeosa continued, smiling brightly.

“No, how can a person be so sociable, polite, and even pretty? And I looked closely at her face while greeting her earlier, and she looks much younger than you said? I think she’s gotten prettier than before.”

“Euijin is originally young-looking. Still, I’m glad our Lee Yeosa likes her.”

“What’s there not to like about the woman my son likes?”

“Wait a minute.”

Taekyung suddenly got up from his seat while talking.

“Why? Because of the patient?”

“No. I’m going to get a drink.”

“Oh my! It’s okay.”

“I’m not okay. I’ll be right back.”

Taekyung left Lee Yeosa on the bench and walked towards the entrance.

“……!”

However, his steps toward the entrance stopped like a car with sudden brakes.

‘What is it?’