“I told you we needed to work together!”
The task was simple: treat as many trees as possible within the time limit. Entering the cordoned-off town for the second test, Ji-woo glared at Seo Tae-joon, her lips pursed in an irritated pout.
The town’s disheveled state mirrored her own feelings. It was nearly summer, and the heat was already pressing in. Dressed in a practical jumpsuit, Ji-woo stomped ahead.
“And who was it that forgot to mention this was a twenty-four-hour ordeal, Ji-woo?”
“I told you it was just for one night!”
“One night of camping in the mountains. Of sleeping on a wooden plank at the bottom of a slide—” His complaint was cut short by the amplified voice of a judge echoing from a distant loudspeaker.
Seo Tae-joon’s expression shifted instantly, the personal grievance replaced by a focused calm as he listened to the instructions. It seemed he was far more comfortable beating thugs to a pulp than he was with the idea of Ji-woo sleeping outdoors for a single night.
She was annoyed by his mother-hen routine, but a part of her also wanted to laugh. It was a disorienting mix of emotions; she had never been the subject of such blatant, protective care.
Their opponent was Me Tree Hospital.
Leaving Mi-sook behind had been difficult, but she had no regrets. Not after the drug farm incident. She had been by Seo Tae-joon’s side throughout his recovery, personally preparing him for this day. He would have no trouble assisting her.
Ji-woo stopped dead in her tracks. A familiar face among the Me Tree Hospital team made her bite the inside of her cheek.
Director Jo Kyung-cheon…
He was her former boss.
More troubling was the fact that his name had been on the phone of the thug managing the drug farm. The subsequent investigation had devolved into a farce, and every time she visited the D hospital to question him, she was told the director wasn't there.
She had almost given up on ever finding him.
He approached her now, a placid smile on his face. “Ji-woo.”
The first to react was Seo Tae-joon. His arm snaked around her waist in a possessive, protective gesture, his eyes narrowing into a glare. Jo Kyung-cheon’s gaze flickered over him before settling back on Ji-woo.
“I heard you’ve been looking for me.”
“What are you doing in Cheongdo?” Ji-woo asked, her voice low and cold. “This had better not be what I think it is.”
“Ji-woo, I was the one who first brought you here.”
She frowned, confused by the non-sequitur. She knew what he was referring to: a business trip to Cheongdo not long after she’d been hired at his tree hospital.
Jo Kyung-cheon stared at her impassively as she remained silent. His mind drifted back to a conversation with Executive Seo.
“How is the plan coming along?”
“It’s going smoothly.”
“You should make sure no one finds out about that rare plant.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
If only she hadn’t found that plant, everything would have been so much simpler. Jo Kyung-cheon’s expression darkened. Seven years ago, something extraordinary had been discovered in a Cheongdo swamp. During a training exercise, Ji-woo had taken a wrong turn, wandering right into it, and he had been the one to benefit from her mistake.
It was a species of plant entirely unknown to the world. It didn't even have a name. But rumors of a rare discovery began to spread, followed by an incident where the plant was uprooted and vanished. It was the Seo family’s doing.
A few years after that, the researchers who had studied the plant disappeared. He had used Hwang Jo-yoon’s behavior as a convenient excuse to engineer Han Ji-woo’s dismissal from the hospital. He’d never imagined she would end up settling in Cheongdo of all places.
Tangled in his thoughts, Jo Kyung-cheon took another step toward her. “Ji-woo.”
“Stop there,” Seo Tae-joon commanded, blocking his path.
As the two men locked eyes, a knot of tension tightened in Ji-woo’s stomach.
“This is my husband,” she announced, breaking the standoff.
“What?!” Jo Kyung-cheon’s professional mask slipped, revealing genuine shock. He’d always felt there were many flaws in Ji-woo’s character during her time at his hospital; the idea that she was married was astounding.
“Ji-woo, can’t you just stop here?” Jo Kyung-cheon asked, his tone suddenly urgent.
“Stop what?”
“Cheongdome.”
“Are you asking me to forfeit?” she demanded. “Why would I do that?”
He saw it then—she truly didn't know anything. As he walked past her, he leaned in and whispered, his voice a venomous hiss meant only for her. “Keep your mouth shut if you don’t want to die.”
“…”
Though the whisper was faint, there was no way Seo Tae-joon, with his sharp hearing, could have missed it.
He was about to lunge for the director when Ji-woo’s hand shot out, tugging hard on his sleeve. She shook her head, a silent plea. Seo Tae-joon’s jaw clenched, but after a tense moment, he stood down.
Ji-woo stared blankly at the spot where Jo Kyung-cheon had been standing. She couldn’t tell if his words had been a threat or a warning.