This World is too Cruel to Men – Chapter 399

While Chae-rim was busy with the meeting to clean up the aftermath, Yoonseo was still keeping her watch by Dogun’s side.

However, just like most hospitals do, there were visiting hours at the hospital where Dogun was admitted, so as time got late, she had no choice but to leave eventually.

“Well then… I’ll come again tomorrow.”

Before leaving the hospital room where Dogun lay on the bed, she spoke to him one last time.

Of course, there was no response.

She hated that.

It had only been a week since the incident, yet she had come to accept this situation as if it were completely normal.

If only he had gotten up in response to her words… that would have been all she wanted.

Thinking about how she had to go back home all alone again made her feel as if someone had secretly glued her feet to the ground like a prank.

Still… she had to go.

If she forced herself to stay like last time, it would cause trouble for many people.

Standing inside the room, gazing at Dogun’s sleeping face, she finally turned her body with difficulty.

She headed toward the elevator but changed her mind and decided to head toward the bathroom instead.

With her current mental state, she doubted she could make it home safely.

So, what could she do but splash her face with cold water to snap back to reality?

Luckily, the bathroom was nearby, so she didn’t have to walk far.

As soon as she stepped into the bathroom and positioned herself in front of the nearest sink…

At that moment, the place had been quiet, but apparently, there was someone else already using it.

The sound of a toilet flushing echoed in the silent bathroom, followed by the creak of a door opening.

Perhaps that noise piqued her curiosity about the person who had made it… after all, the sound had been quite loud.

Before that sound resonated, the bathroom had been eerily silent, or so it seemed to her ears.

Who knew what they were thinking on the other side, though.

Anyway… given the time and circumstances, she felt curious about the person approaching from behind… but she held her breath and decided to focus on what she originally came to do.

The click-clack of high heels started echoing just after that.

Was it because they were so close?

The sound of heels echoed off the bathroom walls, and she couldn’t ignore it.

So, she raised her head slightly and threw her gaze toward the source of the sound using the mirror in front of her… and at that moment, she was taken aback by the sight that entered her view.

Of course… a face she hadn’t expected to see was there.

“Well, look who it is? Us again?”

What could she even say?

Almost immediately, as their eyes met, the woman, who seemed like she had been waiting for this moment, greeted her.

It was the doctor from before, the one who had played with her feelings with ambiguous words during their last encounter.

‘No…’

Why was she here again?

Could it be… that she was secretly tracking her movements?

Honestly, the first thought that crossed her mind was that.

Given the circumstances, she couldn’t dismiss it as mere coincidence.

It wasn’t like they bumped into each other on the street, nor was it within the confines of the association—they just happened to run into each other in the bathroom of the hospital where Dogun was?

There were nearly twenty bathrooms in this hospital alone!

This looked like it was definitely intentional.

Unlike her thoughts, the woman seemed to want to chalk up this meeting as a coincidence.

Her facial expression and demeanor indicated that clearly.

Should she be saying this was surprising or brazen…?

“Indeed, it’s fascinating, isn’t it?”

No matter how thick-skinned she was, it seemed unlikely that her impression of the situation would change.

“Is this already the third time?”

“Well, who can say?”

“Come to think of it, I believe our first meeting was also in a bathroom…”

“Was it?”

She didn’t particularly want to agree, but when she thought carefully about it, she realized it was indeed true.

Was there some kind of curse tied to bathrooms or something?

If not, this couldn’t be happening…

As she muttered those thoughts inwardly, the doctor’s voice followed.

“You should remember… about that special exam…”

“Anyway, could you tell me what brings you here today? Because I really need to head home soon.”

Honestly, her true desire was to just leave the bathroom while this person went on talking by herself.

However, she decided to listen out of a sense of possibility.

After all, hadn’t Chae-rim mentioned that the doctor was someone remarkable?

Despite her flaws, she was said to possess healing abilities that would place her among the world’s top five.

So, maybe… she might know the reason why Dogun hadn’t regained consciousness even after a week.

Considering that, it might be better to be kind rather than maintain her cold attitude; however, she really didn’t want to.

It wasn’t about pride.

It was more about being a result of weighing all kinds of possibilities.

‘People like her…’

When the other person shows any weakness, they tend to take advantage of that rather than offer comfort.

Rather than allowing herself to be dragged along by her rhythm, it might be better to seize control on her end instead.

For Dogun’s sake too.

“Hmm, I can guess what you’re thinking. I understand, but I’m really sorry; it’s all a misunderstanding.”

A misunderstanding.

Could she truly believe this meeting was born out of coincidence?

Putting them in such an awkward situation?

“What do you mean misunderstanding?”

She already knew that the person had a strong my-pace personality, but really, could someone be this shameless?

So she clarified just to make sure.

But when she asked…

“From the look on your face, it seems you think I did some digging into your background… Am I wrong?”

Surprisingly, it turned out to be true.

She momentarily lost her words.

They say when you’re so flabbergasted, you can’t even find the words to speak—that was exactly what she was experiencing.

It took some time for her to gather her thoughts after the overwhelming surprise wore off.

“…So, it’s not true?”

“I acknowledge that the situation is enough to breed that kind of misunderstanding, but that’s not it.”

“Then why are you here? At this time?”

“Um…”

Did she run out of things to say?

Rather than answering the question, she fiddled, and that seemed to indicate something.

“It’s related to a patient, so I can’t get into the details, but… to put it simply, it’s somewhat like an on-site consultation.”

An on-site consultation.

Looking at the reputation of this place, she knew it ranked among the top three in Korea.

If she was coming for an on-site consultation here, it probably meant she was indeed a doctor favored by the influential due to her recognized talents.

As she was thinking this, the doctor shrugged her shoulders, as if telling her she was more capable than she looked.

It seemed like the real main point was going to come next.

“Anyway… meeting like this could be considered fate, so let me share a tip with you…”

What more did she plan to say?

What kind of words would she use to toy with someone’s feelings again?

Last time, the circumstances had been what they were, so she couldn’t avoid it, but this time would be different.

Now that she’d reconciled with Dogun, she thought there was no way she’d be shaken by whatever the other side said…

“There will probably be news soon.”

“…”

“Given the circumstances, it will likely proceed differently from the existing plans due to the headquarters’ direction, focusing on a select few… but that’s all I can say for now.”

Why am I feeling unsettled by those words again?