RB - 52

Chapter 52: The Moment the Ugly Truth Walks In

The more the male nurse cried and begged, the stronger Seo-yeon’s ominous premonition grew.

“Huuuk, I’m sorry! I haven’t been working here long. I still have student loans to pay off… so, um…”

“Stop crying. If you tell me the truth honestly, I won’t escalate this. Think about it—why am I trying to persuade you? I could just call 112 and make things easier.”

Seo-yeon’s reasoning made sense. After extracting several promises from her that she would keep his secret, the male nurse finally revealed the mastermind behind the surveillance.

“It was… Professor Sung. He’s in Boston right now… but he receives daily reports every evening about your condition and routine, Patient Han Seo-yeon.”

This revelation introduced a new monster—one other than Park Yeo-wan—and sent chills down Seo-yeon’s spine.

She felt like the protagonist of a horror movie, not facing an obvious threat but one lurking in the shadows, waiting to strike. But as the saying goes, even if dragged into a tiger’s den, staying calm is key. And let’s not forget—Seo-yeon had already weathered countless storms and possessed a bold heart.

Feigning composure, she changed her tone and asked the male nurse,

“Why would they assign such an underhanded task to someone like you? Why trust a young employee like you? If it were me, I’d use a senior nurse I could rely on for surveillance.”

Watching the man’s eyes dart around like aftershocks of an earthquake, Seo-yeon suddenly grabbed him by the collar.

“Wait… Don’t tell me… Are all the VIP ward nurses in on this? Were you just unlucky enough to get caught?”

“I’m sorry! There’s a quota, and I’ve been struggling to meet it for days… So, in desperation, I took pictures of empty rooms.”

The male nurse visibly shrank under Seo-yeon’s piercing gaze. After some quick mental calculations, he realized confessing everything to her and groveling might be his best chance. Being labeled a voyeuristic criminal could mean the end of his career—an effective death sentence.

He spilled every detail of Professor Sung’s orders, and Seo-yeon sat silently for a while. As he wiped the sweat trickling down his forehead, she stood up, deciding it was time to borrow some of Shin Jung-hyuk’s influence.

“I’ll keep your secret, but in return, you need to do something for me. Understand? While Professor Sung is just a doctor, I’m someone who will become the eldest daughter-in-law of the Taesung Group.”

She tapped her temple with her finger and added,

“The choice you make now can change your life forever. I rather like you, so choose wisely. Wouldn’t being my right-hand person be better than running errands for Professor Sung?”

The man nodded hypnotically, straightening his disheveled nurse’s uniform. He promised to become Seo-yeon’s loyal eyes and ears moving forward.

---

That night, Seo-yeon frantically searched for information about Professor Sung Ho-yeon.

Taesung Hospital, Professor Sung Ho-yeon.

A psychiatrist renowned for his deep expertise in psychology and hypnosis, and a director at Taesung Hospital.

As soon as Seo-yeon typed “Sung Ho-yeon,” the search bar auto-completed with “Sung Ho-yeon Hypnosis Psychology.” Professor Sung was indeed an authority on hypnosis in Korea. However, his career path was peculiar compared to his reputation. Though celebrated as a master of child psychology and hypnosis, his fame stemmed primarily from word-of-mouth. He avoided media exposure at all costs and repeatedly declined publishing offers.

Parenting forums overflowed with testimonies. Stories of ADHD children transformed 180 degrees or autistic kids successfully socialized through his treatment were legion.

Most dramatic of all was Professor Sung’s enigmatic, almost hermit-like demeanor. Refusing to appear in the media, citing patient recovery as his top priority, he was revered like a saint in white. This was especially striking in an era where doctors flaunted personal YouTube channels and chased fame.

In short, he was a towering figure.

Countless anecdotes described violent children tamed through persistent treatment, cementing Professor Sung’s reputation as an impenetrable fortress. Parents worshipped him as their savior, treating him like a god.

---

The next day, two nurses entered Seo-yeon’s room. She adopted a prickly attitude, deliberately setting a sharp tone, and naturally, the nurses approached cautiously.

“Patient Han Seo-yeon, are you busy?”

“Speak.”

Seo-yeon scowled intentionally, then reflected on whether she appeared sufficiently difficult as a VIP patient after her cutting remark.

“A psychological counseling session with Professor Sung Ho-yeon has been scheduled. It’s a privilege exclusive to our VIP patients.”

Good, just what she had been waiting for. Suppressing a smile, Seo-yeon replied coldly,

“Fine. Now leave.”

It was late spring. That night, a welcome drizzle fell, washing away the yellow dust and fine particles.

Pitter-patter, pitter-patter. The raindrops tapping against the hospital window sounded crisp. Unable to sleep, Seo-yeon gazed outside. Faint moonlight enveloped her like a thin blanket.

“The weather forecast didn’t mention rain tonight…”

The unexpected nighttime rain was perfectly timed to stir Seo-yeon’s restless thoughts. The eerie atmosphere of the VIP ward and the sudden reappearance of Professor Sung coincided with a moment of clarity breaking through her hazy mind.

The trees, blooming extravagantly, swayed in the wind and rain, enduring their trials.

“Swaying back and forth… Just like me.”

Identifying her fate with the pitiful flower tree, Seo-yeon rose from her bed. Leaving her room, she glanced toward the nurses’ station but found it empty. She muttered to herself, turning around.

“What’s going on today? This lack of consistency is strange.”

Until now, the VIP ward had always been bustling with nurses, even at night. Seo-yeon thought it was perhaps for the best and surveyed the deserted hallway.

Amused by the thought of mimicking a spy movie, she chuckled softly but didn’t want to be stopped by a nurse if she said, “I’m going out to watch the rain,” only to hear, “You might catch a cold, so that’s not allowed.” She certainly didn’t want that reported back to Professor Sung.

Hunched over, Seo-yeon moved swiftly toward the elevator.

“Going to great lengths just to watch the rain, impressive, Han Seo-yeon.”

Muttering under her breath, she slipped into the arriving elevator. Instead of pressing the button for the first-floor lobby, she pressed PH—for the rooftop. It was the perfect spot to enjoy the rain.

Suddenly, she recalled a trivial conversation from a few months ago with Manager Kim. That day, too, it had poured heavily. When Seo-yeon smiled brightly, Kim asked gruffly,

“Why are you smiling? Did something good happen, Miss Han?”

Unfolding her umbrella, Seo-yeon replied cheerfully,

“I love rainy days.”

Kim’s response was rude. Smirking, he said in a high-pitched tone,

“Oh? Miss Han must have some psychological defect. Hmm, I’ve been studying Adlerian psychology lately. What’s your MBTI type?”

It was nonsense, insulting the esteemed Adler. Kim was obsessed with MBTI. Reflecting on how she had tried not to dwell on such meaningless conversations, Seo-yeon pitied her past self. She resolved never again to offer herself as a sacrifice to people who hurt her with words. Just then, ding—the elevator doors opened slowly.

A cool night breeze rushed in, carrying the distinct smell of rain. Choosing the rooftop had been the right decision. Savoring the refreshing air, Seo-yeon murmured to the open sky,

“No psychological defects here, and I still love rainy days!”

The pavilion on the rooftop was the perfect spot to watch the rain. After confirming its location about three meters away, Seo-yeon prepared to run—but froze.

What? Is that person… trying to jump?

A man leaning halfway over the rooftop railing came into view. Only his back was visible, but he was a sturdy figure in hospital attire.

Taking a deep breath, Seo-yeon shook her head vigorously. His body swayed precariously, like a swing teetering on the edge of the railing.

Stay calm. Startling him might make him fall.

Step by step, Seo-yeon approached cautiously. Cold raindrops trickled down her scalp, raising goosebumps, but she couldn’t hesitate.

At the right moment, without hesitation, she grabbed his waist and pulled him toward her. His large frame collided with hers, and they both tumbled onto the grass. Once she confirmed he was safe, Seo-yeon shouted,

“What are you doing? Do you want to die?”

A searing pain shot up from her bruised bottom. Grimacing, she rubbed her sore hip. She hadn’t expected her attempt to enjoy the rain would lead to such an act of humanity.

As the man lying sprawled on the ground turned to face her, Seo-yeon was so shocked she momentarily forgot her physical pain.

It was Shin Jung-hyuk. Damn ex-boyfriend Shin Jung-hyuk!

“Shin Jung-hyuk? Why are you… why are you here? And why are you wearing those clothes…?”

Time seemed to stretch infinitely in that fleeting moment. Amid the dizziness, a faint voice reached her ears. His tone was delicate, like that of a sick person, yet strangely childlike.

“…Your Majesty, hehe, Your Majesty is here. She came to see me.”

Seo-yeon was so stunned she couldn’t tell if the moisture streaming down her face was rain or tears. Focusing all her attention, she studied the man’s features.

At first glance, he bore a striking resemblance to Shin Jung-hyuk, but subtle differences in appearance and an entirely different aura set him apart. The warmth lingering on Seo-yeon’s body was swept away by the cold rain, leaving only icy chills.