RB - 51

Chapter 51: The Rancid Smell of a Monster

“Hurry up and answer me, Ji-min. Pay back the debt you owe me—now!”

Ji-min, her eyes brimming with tears, finally snapped back to reality at Seo-yeon’s loud voice. She nodded unconsciously and replied,

“Tell me what to do. I’ll help you with anything, Seo-yeon.”

For several minutes, Seo-yeon explained her plan in detail, and Ji-min listened intently, nodding along.

After nearly half an hour of intense discussion, Ji-min stood up with a resolute expression.

“I understand what you’re saying. I’ll go now. Take care of yourself for now.”

As Ji-min rose, she pressed her hand against her stomach, feeling a wave of nausea. Quickly getting up, Seo-yeon handed her a shopping bag.

“Take this and eat it.”

“What is it?” Ji-min rummaged through the bag curiously.

“It’s health supplements. I’m a patient, remember? Someone brought them when they visited.”

In an instant, Ji-min shot a sharp glance at Seo-yeon, but a sly smile tugged at the corners of her lips.

“So, this is your way of saying, ‘Eat this and do what Han Seo-yeon tells you’? Feeding me like a loyal errand dog?”

Ji-min deliberately made her words sound harsh. But Seo-yeon knew her friend’s true intentions. Placing a hand on Ji-min’s shoulder, she spoke calmly.

“That’s right. I don’t have many people I can trust right now, so you’re really precious to me. Take care of yourself, and please help me. You’re my friend.”

Ji-min felt her heart soften, pity welling up for Seo-yeon. They had once been so close—could their faded friendship be restored? She wanted to pull her friend into a tight hug but held back, fearing it might feel awkward.

“I won’t refuse since it’s free. I’m leaving.”

With a casual farewell, Ji-min disappeared out the door, the shopping bag swinging in her hand.

The soft click of the closing door echoed in the room, and a sharp crack seemed to reverberate through Seo-yeon’s chest. She felt as though she were facing a monstrous figure hiding behind a veil of fog. While she resolved to uncover its secrets, fear of the monster slowly revealing itself crept over her.

A burning lump rose in her chest, threatening to bring tears to her eyes. But Seo-yeon told herself this wasn’t the time to cry. She would save her tears for after she had caught the monster.

With the cautious steps of someone walking on thin ice, Seo-yeon closed her eyes. How could she have stirred up trouble with the “Roots Foundation” without knowing her birth mother was rejecting her? And how could the orphanage director already know who her birth mother was? Could that mother truly be Park Yeo-wan, the benefactor? With these thoughts swirling, Seo-yeon surrendered her consciousness to the dimming field of vision.

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From the moment Seo-yeon was admitted, the medical staff in the VIP ward realized she was no ordinary patient. Of course, all patients in the VIP ward were wealthy and socially prominent, but what set Seo-yeon apart was the devoted care she received from “Shin Jung-hyuk” and “Shin Jin-hyuk.” Another notable trait was Seo-yeon’s exceptional politeness toward the medical staff.

“Hello, Patient Han Seo-yeon.”

“Patient Han Seo-yeon, is there anything uncomfortable?”

Every staff member greeted her warmly, repeatedly asking after her well-being. Though part of their job, such lavish attention was unfamiliar to Seo-yeon and made her somewhat uncomfortable. It was akin to entering a clothing store just to browse, only to have a salesperson follow you around offering unwanted assistance.

Seo-yeon glanced down at her hospital gown and muttered under her breath,

“I’m not critically ill… This is overwhelming. I don’t know what to do with myself.”

She didn’t understand why rehabilitation was necessary for overwork, but she followed the schedule prescribed by her doctor. In truth, what they called rehabilitation felt more like one-on-one personal training.

“Yes, please bend forward a little more slowly. Patient Han Seo-yeon, you’re doing very well.”

Seo-yeon sweated profusely during what amounted to a yoga class disguised as rehab. Bending deeply until her forehead nearly touched her shins elicited involuntary groans of effort. She regretted the years spent diligently studying at her desk and the relentless cycle of work and overtime since starting her job, forcing herself to push through the stiffness in her body.

“You’ve worked hard. Rest now, Patient.”

An hour later, after enduring the grueling yoga session, Seo-yeon collapsed into a massage chair. When a young nurse brought her an ionized sports drink, Seo-yeon felt overwhelmed by the luxury surrounding her and quickly sat up.

“Oh my, thank you. I should have fetched it myself.”

After repeatedly feeling humbled by the excessive attention, Seo-yeon headed back to her room. As she walked down the hallway, she spotted a male nurse pacing near her door.

He was peering through the small window on the door, his forehead pressed against the glass, completely absorbed. So focused was he that he didn’t notice Seo-yeon approaching.

What? The male nurse was taking pictures with his phone. Seo-yeon sidled up next to him and peeked through the window as well. Still oblivious, the nurse flinched when Seo-yeon spoke in a relaxed tone.

“What are you looking for?”

Instead of answering, the male nurse let out a loud scream.

“Aaah!”

Startled, Seo-yeon jumped back, her heart racing.

“S-sorry! I was bringing food.”

Confused, Seo-yeon pulled out her phone. It was barely past 3 p.m.—food? This was suspicious, and Seo-yeon was no fool. This peeping Tom had been caught red-handed. Her eyes gleamed sharply.

“Oh? It’s 3 p.m., and you’re bringing lunch? Or dinner?”

Seo-yeon crossed her arms and leaned casually, adopting an almost defiant posture. Perhaps Ji-min’s unsettling revelations had sharpened her mood.

Intimidated by Seo-yeon’s demeanor, the male nurse stammered, sweat pouring down his face. But no words came out. Seo-yeon glared coldly at his flushed cheeks, pressing him further.

“I expected better from the VIP ward. Sneaking around and lying? Should we check the CCTV?”

“A-absolutely not. I wasn’t—”

“Then hand over your phone. You took pictures of my room, didn’t you?”

The man’s face turned even redder, confirming Seo-yeon’s suspicions. Reflexively, he placed a finger over his lips and glanced around. Seo-yeon opened the door and beckoned him inside with a flick of her finger.

“Come in quietly if you don’t want this to escalate.”

Once inside, Seo-yeon stared him down.

“Unlock your phone and hand it over. I need to check it myself. I think I might have been secretly filmed.”

Though visibly reluctant, the male nurse complied, unlocking his phone. Seo-yeon watched him like a hawk, ready to call the police if he tried anything sneaky.

“Why are you hesitating? Hurry up and give it to me.”

Before he could react, Seo-yeon snatched the phone from him. She quickly reviewed the photos and sighed deeply, glaring at him with murderous intent.

“Wow… Impressive. Should I call you a nurse or a peeping Tom?”

Every move Seo-yeon had made was meticulously captured. Most were innocuous shots of her back, far from sexual objectification, but the intent was clear—it was surveillance.

Fortunately, Seo-yeon was no ordinary person; she had weathered countless storms in her young life and possessed a strong heart.

“I didn’t want to make a big deal of this, but it seems things are about to get messy. Do you know Attorney Jung Seung-min? He’s infamous for being ruthless.”

Seo-yeon used the name of her lawyer to pressure the nurse. Who else would send someone to spy on her? There was only one suspect.

Someone who claimed to protect her but had previously assigned private security to her apartment—Shin Jung-hyuk.

Recalling a scene from a gangster movie she’d recently watched, Seo-yeon lowered her voice menacingly, channeling a villainous actor as she scowled.

“Who sent you? I already have a good idea. Confess now, and I’ll pretend nothing happened. Otherwise, you’ll take the fall alone and face jail time.”

Oops, maybe that was a bit exaggerated—she wouldn’t actually get jail time for this. But the effect was immediate. The male nurse looked on the verge of tears, his youthful face shadowed with dread. Seo-yeon showed no mercy, pressing harder.

“Choose wisely, Nurse. A single decision can change your life forever. If word gets out that you’re a peeping Tom, you’ll never find another job. I already have a good idea who sent you.”

The nurse collapsed to his knees, and Seo-yeon crouched down to meet his gaze. Suddenly, a chilling thought crossed her mind. What if the person behind this wasn’t Shin Jung-hyuk?

The rancid stench of an unknown monster began to fill the air, piercing her lungs like a needle. Instinctively, Seo-yeon clenched her fists. Cold sweat trickled down her back.