Chapter 106: An Unexpected Visitor

“Hahaha, no. The emergency room? It was just getting a nutrient IV at a small hospital near the set, that’s all.”

Hyungkyu was flustered. 

That morning, he had woken up to a message from Hayoon saying Hyunjae looked exhausted, so he had him get an IV and sent him home, and Hyungkyu had replied that it was a good idea.

That was all.

But suddenly, articles bloated with headlines about poor condition and emergency room visits were popping up everywhere.

“I’m flustered too with these articles suddenly appearing. I’ll ask for correction articles right away. Yes~ Yes.”

After ending the call with a close reporter friend, Hyungkyu called Hayoon.

“Yeah, I don’t know what’s going on either.”

I’m sorry. Because of me……

“No, it’s not your fault; it’s the weird articles that are wrong. What did you do wrong, Hyunjae?”

Hyunjae is baffled seeing the articles too.

“Haa~ Hold on, put him on.”

-Yes.

A moment later, Hyunjae’s voice came through.

-Hello?

“Yeah, you’re really okay health-wise, right?”

I was just a bit tired from the underwater shoot yesterday; I’m fine.

Hyungkyu’s worry eased at Hyunjae’s words, but he got angry wondering who on earth wrote such articles.

“Who the hell wrote those articles?”

I know, right? It was early morning, so not many people would have seen it.

“For now, fans are in an uproar, and public opinion is bad, so I’ll talk to the drama side and get you at least 2-3 days off, even if short.”

-I’m okay……

“We’re not okay. The drama production team is getting bashed too right now.”

Naturally, not just the agency but the drama production company was getting heavily criticized for overworking him—what era is this, making someone shoot all day, and so on.

“You realized anew how loved you are, huh? Variety shows are definitely good.”

Being polite to elders, bright, and full of aegyo, Hyunjae was naturally a likable character, and even non-fans were saying things like “That guy seems nice” or “He’s kinda cute?” leading to a sharp rise in favorability.

Ah…… But shooting is originally busiest at the end.

“You were tired shooting the music video and drama too. Think of it as an opportunity.”

As Hyungkyu kept persuading, an “okay” came back.

“I did post a notice, but fans are still worried, so post something saying you’re okay too.”

Got it.

After ending the call with Hyunjae, Hyungkyu scanned the articles once more.

“Hmm~ Usually these things are at most one or two…… But all popping up simultaneously like this?”

Even if a reporter happened to find out and wrote it, it would be one or two—not this many articles going up at the same time. 

That was definitely strange.

“Something’s fishy.”

Hyungkyu’s radar detected suspiciousness, and he started making calls here and there to look into it.

***

I suddenly got an unexpected break.

“I told you to go in and rest; why are you doing this here?”

“I slept as much as I could.”

“If you can’t sleep, go upstairs and review the script or something.”

“I’m already perfect. There’s no customers anyway.”

I was lying on the hospital sofa, throwing Jaden’s toy with one hand to play with him.

“Woof! Woof!”

“No. It’s cold outside.”

Jaden was whining to play outside, but it was too cold for that.

“Take him out to play a bit.”

“Jiwon is coming soon anyway.”

“You can play together. It’s not like it’s the first time.”

“Once this guy goes out, he doesn’t want to come back in. And when Jiwon comes, he won’t even look at me!”

It was because he was raised wrong—thoroughly wrong. 

Not recognizing the person who saved him and being swayed by material things.

“How…… Your fans should see this bratty little traitor side of you.”

“Huh? What does that mean?”

Ban, banding? So-gal…… what?

“It’s a compliment.”

“Even if my vocabulary is weak, I’m not an idiot?”

“You’ve grown up a bit? I’m going to the green-roof grandma’s house for a bit, so behave.”

“Huh? Why there?”

“The puppy isn’t eating.”

“Then I’ll go too!”

If it’s something like that, I should go! I got up from the sofa, intending to go together.

“No need. Why would you come too?”

“I can at least explain the reason.”

“It’s obviously picky eating because grandma gives too many treats. No, stay and guard the hospital quietly. Jaden! You’re coming with me. I’ll take you for a walk while I’m out.”

Kyungho took Jaden and left the hospital, leaving me alone.

“Ah~ I want to shoot soon.”

The unexpected vacation wasn’t bad, but with a lot of filming left, resting didn’t feel comfortable.

Who on earth wrote such ridiculous articles……

I’d heard celebrities getting IVs is routine. 

It made me feel bad that Hyungkyu, the agency family, and the drama team got bashed for no reason, and fans were worried.

“I should post a photo.”

To show I’m resting well, I uploaded a photo taken earlier with Jaden on SNS.

😍😍😍 So cute.

└There are two puppies!

Ugh~ Why is this photo making my hair stand on end? Ptoo ptoo.

└Look at his face glowing since resting at home~ How much did they overwork the kids tsk tsk

└In Country Three Meals, he was caught blankly blinking; it was because he was tiredㅠㅠ I liked it calling it stunning without knowing, sorryㅠㅠ

└└That was pure beauty overload though.

Comments attached quickly as soon as the photo uploaded.

“Hmm…… So this is why Jibin hyung is active on SNS?”

Seeing fans like the photo I posted in real-time was more fun and satisfying than I thought.

While engrossed in comments, the door bell rang.

“Welcome.”

I instinctively greeted and looked toward the door, where a middle-aged man stood. His face was unfamiliar; he wasn’t from this neighborhood.

“Um…… How can I help you?”

Despite my question, he was busy looking around the hospital as if searching for someone.

“Excuse me? Are you here for treatment?”

I blocked his path and asked again, and only then did he look at me.

“Ah, where’s the director here?”

“He stepped out for a house call…… What brings you here?”

He didn’t seem here for treatment, and I knew Kyungho’s connections well—this wasn’t a familiar face.

“Then I’ll wait a bit. That’s okay, right?”

He asked for permission but sat on the sofa before hearing my answer.

Who is this person?

Seoul accent, neat attire that didn’t match this rundown animal hospital at all.

“Wow…… When is that machine from? Part-timer?”

“M-me?”

“A place like this wouldn’t need staff, so part-timer, right?”

“I’m…… family.”

At the word family, he scanned me up and down as if he couldn’t believe it.

“Family? He doesn’t have family……”

He did know Kyungho, and knew some about his personal details.

“I’m his nephew’s family?”

“What, really family?”

“Yes.”

Not all family has to share blood—I was clearly Kyungho’s family.

“Hmm hmm, when will he be back?”

“Not sure. I don’t know.”

“Call him at least.”

He demanded I call without even saying his business.

He doesn’t even have the contact and suspects others.

“What’s your name?”

“Huh?”

“Your name. I need to know who you are to contact him.”

When I asked his name, he showed slight fluster.

“That’s……”

As I waited for him to speak, the door bell rang again.

“Jeong Hyunjae~ The articles are well…… Huh? What’s this, someone’s here?”

The person entering was none other than Jiwon.

“Yeah, a customer’s here. Sit over there. Who are you?”

When I asked warily, he seemed to notice my suspicion and explained himself.

“Not a strange person; someone I worked with before.”

Before? 

No one knew what Kyungho did before coming to this village. 

Yet he claims to be a past colleague?

“Ah…… Okay for now. I’ll try contacting. Wait a sec.”

I moved inside the house for a moment, and Jiwon followed.

“What’s up? That guy? Says he worked with uncle?”

“I don’t know either. Asked who, but he wouldn’t say his name.”

“Should I check? Just snap a photo and send; it’ll be quick.”

Jiwon glanced at the man outside while talking.

“Contact uncle first; he might really know him.”

“Hmm…… He doesn’t match uncle at all.”

“Why?”

“Shoes are GuX, watch is Xlex. And look at that straight posture. Screams someone used to being served.”

Listening to the description and looking again, it was true.

“Worked with uncle? Then is he a vet too?”

“Doesn’t look like one……”

Vets smell like dogs no matter what clothes they change into, but he had no such smell.

“Call uncle first anyway.”

I felt I should inform Kyungho about this person, so I called.

“Hello?”

Yeah, why?

“Woof! Woof woof!”

Jaden must have heard my voice; barking came through the receiver.

Shh— Quiet! What’s up?

“A visitor came to the hospital.”

Visitor? Who?

“Don’t know. He won’t say his name……”

Weird salesman? If so, chase him out!

“But…… He says he’s a colleague who worked with you before?”

I glanced at the man outside while speaking; he was wandering around looking at things in the hospital.

What? Who?

“Um…… Accent sounds like from Seoul, and Jiwon says he seems wealthy. Doesn’t look like a vet…… Is he really someone you worked with before?”

I relayed the info I’d gathered to Kyungho.

“Hello? Uncle?”

Jaden’s sounds were there, so he hadn’t hung up, but Kyungho’s voice wasn’t coming.

“Should I send him away?”

-No, wait. I’ll be right there.

“Got it.”

Don’t talk to that bastard, just leave him be.

“That bastard”

The rather harsh term made me think it wasn’t just a simple colleague.

“What did uncle say?”

“Don’t talk unnecessarily, just leave him.”

“Huh?”

As Kyungho said, I just watched him from afar.

“How much does a place like this make in a day? Do you even get customers?”

After finishing looking around, bored, he spoke to me.

“Just enough to live.”

“Enough to live…… Yeah, it looks like it.”

What’s wrong with this place! It’s different from Seoul’s sleek, modern ones, but there was no better animal hospital in the countryside.

“But what do you really do?”

Jiwon crossed his arms, subtly showing his watch while speaking.

“Ahem.”

And perhaps recognizing Jiwon’s watch, he hurriedly hid his own inside his clothes.

“I……”

“Hey!”

Just as he opened his mouth, the door opened and Kyungho’s shout—something never heard before—rang out. 

Not only me but Jiwon and the man jumped in surprise, staring at Kyungho.

“Hey~ I you……”

“Come out.”

Kyungho grabbed his clothes in an instant and dragged him outside almost forcefully.

“Just now……

What was that?”

“Wow~ First time seeing uncle like that. He seems seriously pissed?”

Both Jiwon and I had never seen that side before.