“Ji-woo.”
Seo Tae-joon’s hand lifted Ji-woo’s face. His warm palm gently seemed to thaw her frozen cheeks.
“The tournament has begun.”
“…Ah.”
His voice pulled Ji-woo from the depths of her thoughts. She caught her breath at the sudden warmth. Just then, an official shouted.
“We will start with the Verdant Tree Hospital!”
Ji-woo clasped her hands together and stretched out her arms, trying to shake off her unease.
Dwelling on unanswerable questions wasn’t going to help her now.
Soon, the camera started recording.
The director of Verdant Hospital and a staff member tied a rope around their waists. After finishing their preparations, they grabbed pruning saws and began to scale the tree.
Seeing the director climb without hesitation, Ji-woo clenched her fists.
Just then, she heard a sharp sigh behind her.
“I don’t understand this situation. Don’t tell me you’re planning to do that?” Seo Tae-joon was standing there, his face a tight mask of anger and disbelief.
Since she had never explained the details of the tournament to him, it must have taken him a moment to grasp what was happening. Ji-woo shrugged, shielding her eyes with a hand as she gazed up at the tree.
“I’m not afraid of heights.”
Seo Tae-joon looked up at the crooked trunk, his expression unimpressed. “That’s not the problem. It’s dangerous.”
“I still have to do it. Besides, I’m good at climbing trees. Like a monkey.”
Seo Tae-joon’s frown deepened, and he swallowed the sharp retort that rose in his throat. Good at climbing trees? But your face is growing paler by the second.
Though she was clearly tense, Ji-woo was putting on a brave face.
“…!”
A few minutes later, a commotion erupted from above. The director of Verdant Hospital was already descending, not having even reached the first major branch. As soon as his feet touched the ground, he shook his head and let out a short, incredulous laugh.
“Are they trying to get us killed?”
He muttered to himself before turning to Ji-woo.
“You should think twice before doing this, Director Han. The branches are more warped than they look. I was afraid they’d snap the moment I put my weight on them.”
Ji-woo held her breath. Mi-sook, standing beside her, took the opportunity to try and dissuade her. “Ji-woo, wouldn’t it be better to withdraw from this challenge?”
“…”
“What if something happens? It’s better to be safe than to win some prize money. Let’s just withdraw—”
“Then our hospital will be eliminated immediately.”
Ji-woo’s eyes were filled with a steely resolve. Mi-sook snorted. “Didn’t you say you hated being in front of cameras?”
“…But this is something I know I can do well,” Ji-woo muttered, turning her head away.
“Is it really worth a risk like this? If you were just a little friendlier to the clients, they’d be lining up to come to our hospital!” Mi-sook’s accusing voice was loud enough to draw glances from bystanders.
“That seems very unlikely…”
To Ji-woo’s surprise, Mi-sook shot her a sneaky wink and glanced pointedly at Seo Tae-joon.
Ji-woo understood instantly and dropped her head in embarrassment. Mi-sook was trying to appease Seo Tae-joon, implying that Ji-woo wasn't ‘friendly’ with any other men.
You can do this, Ji-woo. You fought Seo Tae-joon on a mountain with a saw and won. This is nothing.
“Are you ready, Pine Tree Clinic?” the event manager called out, tapping on a tablet.
As Ji-woo moved forward, Seo Tae-joon stepped in her path, snatching the rope from her hands.
“Ji-woo, it’s not too late.”
“Give it back!” She stood on her toes, reaching for it.
“I’ll give it to you if you agree to go home with me.”
“Are you kidding me right now?”
“I wish I were. Why are you being so reckless?”
Looking at him, Ji-woo was suddenly lost for words. She had never seen Seo Tae-joon look so genuinely worried.
“…Yes, I’m scared. But my responsibility comes first. This is a competitive bid, and I’m going to compete. So, give me the rope.”
Silence.
“You said you’d do whatever I tell you to do.”
When Seo Tae-joon remained silent, Ji-woo planted a hand on her hip without thinking.
“Seo Tae-joon, are you trying to argue with me?”
Ah, I didn’t mean to say something so childish. Ji-woo wanted to snatch the words back, but it was too late. Seo Tae-joon’s eyes narrowed, and her heart began to pound, her palms growing slick with sweat.
He stared at her for a long moment before his gaze softened. “No, Ji-woo. How could I ever do that?” It was hard to read his expression, but his eyes seemed darker than usual.
He relented, beginning to tie the rope around her waist. To her surprise, he worked with an expert’s precision, hooking and knotting the harness with quick, skillful movements.
A raspy voice pulled her from her reverie. “You don’t give a single thought to your husband, do you?”
Her body swayed like a leaf each time he pulled a strap tight to check the knot. Seo Tae-joon’s jaw was clenched so hard she could practically hear it. Ji-woo held her breath.
“I’m not trying to get in your way. I want to protect you. And I wasn’t joking before. I wanted you to comfort me.”
“…”
“Because I’m anxious.”
Ji-woo could only blink at the raw honesty in his voice.
“I don’t want you to go anywhere far from me.”
His cool eyes seemed to burn with a hidden fire. “I made it clear that I can’t stand being apart from you, not even for a moment.” His gaze held no malice, no simmering rage, none of the irrational anger she had seen in her family. It was something fundamentally different.
All she could see was pure, undiluted affection for her. A strange, fluttering warmth bloomed in her chest.