Living Dangerously with a 999-Year-Old Gumiho – Chapter 103

A few seconds passed, and Hyun’s eyelids began to twitch slowly.

His fingers trembled slightly as he seemed to be regaining consciousness.

Yoonhwa let out a sigh of relief and approached Hyun, gently holding his hand.

Hyun’s eyes fluttered open, and at first, he appeared bewildered, unsure of his surroundings.

He squinted as he looked at Yoonhwa’s face.

“Where am I…?”

Suddenly, Hyun’s expression changed drastically. He shouted, his voice a mix of fear and despair.

“Mother!! Father..?!”

His voice was almost a wail, and tears brimmed in his eyes.

Hyun pushed Yoonhwa’s arm aside and moved toward the doctor.

His gaze was desperate yet pleading.

Grasping the doctor’s coat with trembling hands, he spoke in a shaky voice.

“Please… let me see my parents again..!!”

The doctor paused momentarily at Hyun’s desperate plea, then couldn’t help but smirk as he glanced at Yoonhwa.

“Oh, so you met them briefly in that dream, huh?~..”

Yoonhwa shook her head at Hyun’s pleas and tightened her grip on his hand.

“Hyun, no…!”

“That dream isn’t real.”

“If you get lost in a dream, it might be hard to come back to reality…”

The doctor chuckled sarcastically at Yoonhwa’s warning.

Hyun fell into a momentary silence, glancing back and forth between Yoonhwa and the doctor.

Inside him, a fierce conflict waged between the desperate longing to reunite with his parents, even if only in dreams, and the cold, hard reality he must face.

Determined to ignore Yoonhwa’s warning, he pleaded with the doctor once more, his voice shaking.

“P- Please, just once more…!”

“Let me see my parents..!!”

Yet the doctor rejected his request with a mocking laugh.

“No, I don’t think so. I’ve already given you a chance.”

“You lost your mom and dad because of that fox.”

The doctor’s words filled the space between Hyun and Yoonhwa with a chilling air.

There was malice in his voice, and he had a clear aim.

It was to drive a wedge between them.

Hyun looked at Yoonhwa in shock at the doctor’s remark.

His gaze reflected the turmoil between confusion and trust.

Yoonhwa, catching Hyun’s bewildered glance, responded firmly to the doctor’s manipulation.

“Hyun, don’t listen to him…!”

“You were in danger when you collapsed.”

“I asked someone to wake you because I was worried about you..!”

Ignoring Yoonhwa’s explanation, the doctor continued to sow doubt between them.

“Thanks to her, you two won’t see your mommy and daddy anymore~?”

Yoonhwa’s rage erupted from the doctor’s ongoing provocation.

“Shut your filthy mouth!”

Hyun, sensing the tense atmosphere between them, tried to reassure Yoonhwa.

“Yoonhwa, it’s not your fault..”

“N- No.. you just wanted to help me, right?”

The doctor watched the unfolding scene with a grin, clearly entertained.

“Oh ho, what a fascinating spectacle..!”

“Keep going!”

As Yoonhwa’s fury peaked, she charged at the doctor fiercely.

In that moment, the doctor reacted swiftly and dashed out of the consultation room, with Yoonhwa hot on his heels.

As they entered the hospital lobby, it was filled with people lying unconscious.

Yoonhwa’s tail and ears were still on display, and her anger made her oblivious to her surroundings.

The doctor halted in the center of the hospital lobby, waiting for Yoonhwa to charge at him.

As she approached, the doctor waved his hand with a wicked smile.

At that moment, one or two of the people lying in the lobby began to stir awake.

Their eyes were confused, and their bodies seemed sluggish, still under the influence of the drug.

“Thirty minutes have passed!”

The doctor stated gleefully, relishing the revelation of his plan, as he looked at Yoonhwa and Hyun.

“Now, let’s see… was it the fox Yoonhwa? You might want to run away soon, huh?”

As more people in the lobby began to wake, all their gazes turned toward Yoonhwa.

Seeing her tail and ears revealed, the onlookers screamed in fear and surprise.

“She’s a— a monster..!!”

Yoonhwa was momentarily taken aback by the humans’ reactions surrounding her but quickly grasped the situation and moved toward Hyun.

Hyun still wore a confused expression, but as Yoonhwa approached, he recognized her and reached out his hand.

Without hesitation, Yoonhwa cradled Hyun and dashed across the hospital lobby, skillfully weaving through the people as she bolted outside.

Her steps were quick and light, making it feel to passersby like a mere breeze had rushed by, not catching a glimpse of Yoonhwa and Hyun.

With her demonic abilities kicking in, she arrived almost instantly in front of Hyun’s house.

Yoonhwa stopped panting and checked her surroundings to ensure they were truly safe.

Confirming that the humans’ gazes no longer followed them, she set Hyun down and looked at him.

As Yoonhwa and Hyun entered the house, they were greeted by a quiet living room.

Hyun paused to take in the calmness of the home, but Yoonhwa’s attention was drawn to the sofa.

There lay Nomi, peacefully napping.

Nomi was breathing softly, small and serene as she slept.

Hyun’s face broke into surprise as he looked at Nomi.

“Oh, I completely forgot about Nomi…!”

Yoonhwa’s face was filled with guilt.

“Oh… Nomi, I’m so sorry..”

“We took too long.”

Yoonhwa carefully lifted Nomi off the sofa.

Nomi felt light and warm in her arms.

Yoonhwa gently moved Nomi to her little bed.

Her movements were soft and careful, making every effort not to wake her.

After laying Nomi down, Yoonhwa softly kissed her forehead.

“Sweet dreams, Nomi..”

She covered Nomi with a blanket.

The blanket wrapped around Nomi’s body, and Yoonhwa gently smoothed out the corners.

Watching this, Hyun felt warmth in his heart at Yoonhwa’s tenderness.

He sensed the genuine affection and care she was offering.

Yoonhwa took one last look at Nomi and, hoping for her to have peaceful dreams, exited the room.

After helping Yoonhwa in moving Nomi, Hyun decided to prepare a simple snack, reflecting on all that they had gone through together.

He thought Yoonhwa must be exhausted from today, and he wanted to offer her some comfort, even if just a little.

“Yoonhwa, just wait a moment..”

“I’ll bring something.”

Hyun headed toward the kitchen.

Upon entering, he scanned the ingredients, pondering what to make.

His eyes settled on an apple, a few oranges, and some cherries.

He lightly washed and sliced the apple into pieces and placed them in a bowl.

He similarly cleaned the oranges, peeling them and cutting them into slices.

Finally, he rinsed the cherries under running water and placed them in a small bowl.

He created a refreshing fruit plate and brought it into the living room.

“Here, you’re going to love it. Apples, oranges, and…“

As Hyun trailed off, Yoonhwa’s curious gaze shifted to the small bowl containing the cherries.

“What’s this? I’ve never seen such pretty colored fruit before. It’s fascinating..”

Hyun smiled and picked a cherry out of the bowl, offering it to Yoonhwa.

“This is a cherry. It’s delicious.”

Yoonhwa gingerly placed the cherry in her mouth. Her eyes sparkled with delight as she marveled.

“Wow, it’s really sweet and tasty!”

Hyun felt pleased as he watched Yoonhwa relish the new flavor, and they shared the fruit together.

They spent a comfortable time in the quiet living room with their simple fruit plate.

She expressed her gratitude to Hyun.

“Hyun too… must be struggling a lot… thank you…”

Hyun nodded with a warm smile at Yoonhwa’s thankful words.

Yoonhwa picked a few more cherries and scooted closer to Hyun.

Silence fell between them for a moment as they enjoyed the fruit, and Yoonhwa gazed at Hyun, feeling the awkwardness of the atmosphere.

Seeing Hyun’s eyes occasionally staring into the distance as if lost in thought, she cautiously asked.

“Hyun, do you miss your parents a lot?”

Hyun paused at Yoonhwa’s question, then slowly nodded.

A hint of sadness shadowed his eyes, but soon, he responded with a smile.

Taking a deep breath, he confessed his honest feelings.

“Yeah… I, I miss them a lot…”

Yoonhwa’s heart ached at Hyun’s admission.

Gingerly, she began to share her own story.

“Hyun… um, when I said my parents passed away…”

“That was… actually a lie. I’m so sorry…”

“But to me, it’s almost like I don’t have parents either..!”

Her voice trembled, and her eyes were filled with sorrow.

“Our parents are… kind of strict…”

“They hate me and only like my brother…”

“Because of that guy…”

Yoonhwa continued to unravel her feelings, her voice shaking.

“So, I ran away from home…”

“It felt too suffocating, hard to breathe. I hated what family was…”

She looked into Hyun’s eyes, expressing her deep regret and sorrow.

“Hyun, I’m so sorry for lying about my parents..!”

“I too… I don’t know why I told that lie…”

Hyun felt a profound understanding and empathy toward Yoonhwa’s confession. He took her hand and gently offered some comforting words.

“It’s okay, Yoonhwa.”

“Such small lies don’t matter.”

“I didn’t know you were carrying such a secret… that must have been tough…”

With his words, tears welled in Yoonhwa’s eyes.

Thanks to Hyun’s understanding and warm comfort, she felt a bit freer from the weight she had carried for so long.

“Thank you, Hyun… I’m so glad you’re here.”

Feeling lighter from Hyun’s comforting words, Yoonhwa wanted to shift the mood a little.

In the slightly lighter moment, she decided to express her gratitude toward Hyun in a more special manner.

She cautiously leaned toward Hyun and lightly pressed her lips against his cheek.

In that moment, Yoonhwa’s face slowly turned red.

She didn’t want her feelings to be discovered, but embarrassment flushed across her face.

Hyun was momentarily taken aback by Yoonhwa’s sudden action.

His face turned beet red in an instant, unsure of how to respond to this unexpected situation.

‘…??!!!’

To hide his embarrassment, Hyun abruptly stood up and exclaimed.

“Ahahaha..!! Speaking of which, I really should do the laundry now..!”

He quickly grabbed his dirty clothes and hurried towards the bathroom.

Once he closed the bathroom door, he took a deep breath and stared at his flushed face in the mirror.

Even after Yoonhwa had disappeared inside, the thought of his reaction lingered in her mind.

She sat quietly, taking a moment for herself, but each time she recalled the previous moment, her heart raced.

Her face remained heated, as if the warmth was trapped in the quiet room.

In that fleeting moment of kissing Hyun, Yoonhwa was filled with an unexpected thrill.

This emotion led her to keep replaying the moment in her mind.

Unintentionally, Yoonhwa vividly remembered Hyun’s face, his surprised expression, and how he dashed off to the bathroom, blushing.

She tried to calm her pounding heart, but the memory of that moment continued to make her spirits soar.

Yoonhwa wrapped a hand around her heated face, contemplating what this feeling meant to her.

‘It’s fluttering…’

Inside the bathroom, Hyun turned on the cold water and dunked his clothes into the laundry basket.

His mind still lingered on the moment with Yoonhwa just now.

Hyun’s hands automatically began scrubbing the clothes, but his thoughts were filled with the warm and sudden connection he shared with Yoonhwa.

As the sound of water slowly soaked the clothes, Hyun struggled to sort out his thoughts.

Yoonhwa’s actions brought about a sudden change that sent waves of new emotions through him.

Even while doing the laundry, he couldn’t shake off the memory of her gentle touch, her flushed face, and the clumsiness that made her so charming.

Despite rinsing his clothes in the water, he found it hard to focus, thoughts of Yoonhwa’s sudden action and his response kept resurfacing.

He cautiously thought while rinsing the clothes.

“I wonder what Yoonhwa is thinking right now..?”

His mind was filled with surprise over Yoonhwa’s unexpected gesture and, despite that, warmth toward her.

After meticulously rinsing the clothes, Hyun squeezed out as much water as he could and lifted the laundry basket.

He paused for a moment to take a deep breath before opening the bathroom door.

As soon as the door creaked open, he quickly turned his gaze, fearing what he might see.

His heart was still racing, and the unexpected moment with Yoonhwa kept flashing through his mind.

Meanwhile, in the living room, Yoonhwa watched for the moment Hyun would emerge.

When Hyun’s face peeked through the crack of the bathroom door, her cheeks flushed once more, and her heart was filled with excitement.

The instant Yoonhwa saw Hyun’s face, she could tell just how flustered he was, and how adorable that fluster made him.

Hyun gripped the laundry basket tightly with both hands, quickly averting his gaze to avoid eye contact with Yoonhwa.

His heart continued to pound, and that moment of surprise kept circling his thoughts.

With hurried steps, he made his way to the yard.

His quick steps felt like a way to distract from his chaotic feelings stemming from his recent interaction with Yoonhwa.