Chapter 23: Permeating Warmth

Although the news was prepared on a tight schedule, the test wrapped up without any particular accident.

Mid-broadcast, it seemed as if Jae-Ha answered a phone call, and he left without returning.

Hoping, I occasionally glanced behind the camera, but his seat remained empty until the end.

[“This concludes the news.”]

As soon as the camera lights went off, I exhaled the breath I had been holding.

It felt like the intense tension surrounding the studio snapped.

Only after the tension eased could I feel the multitude of stares clinging to me.

“Announcer Yoon really did well.”

A staff member standing off in the distance muttered to themself.

At the sound of that voice, Seo-Rin jerked her head around.

“Yes, indeed. She used to do news, so it’s different, right?”

“I’m looking forward to who becomes the anchor.”

“Exactly.”

Admiration burst out from here and there.

I caught Seo-Rin, who had shot me a fierce glance, and smiled sweetly. She, annoyed by my smile, left the newsroom.

“Thank you for your hard work.” I stood up and greeted the staff on my way back.

My phone screen showed a missed call.

****

– “Hello, this is Daejin Hospital. Your patient’s condition has suddenly worsened.”

The missed call was from the hospital. The nurse’s words still ringing in my head.

It was news that my parents’ condition had taken a serious turn overnight.

My steps back toward the programming office grew urgent.

The moment I placed my hand on the office door, I froze at the voices coming from inside.

“She’s really ruthless. She wants to return as anchor that badly?”

“She already benefits from her parents anyway—so is this really okay?”

This was what workplace ostracism is like.

Though I’d heard similar before, my eyelids trembled at the continued words.

“You’re just standing around; what are you doing?”

Turning my head, I saw Senior Yeong-Joon looking at me with puzzled eyes.

“No, I was just about to go in,” I said.

He, with sharp-cornered eyes, opened the door and entered.

At first, gazes were on Yeong-Joon, but as I followed him inside, I felt the cold stares shift onto me.

I swallowed a sigh that rose in my throat.

“By the way—I heard about the camera test. What happened?”

“Where’d you hear that?”

I asked him in return, thinking—had word already spread that I’d been trapped?

Yeong-Joon shrugged as if nothing surprised him.

“It’s probably already all over—saying that CEO Seo Jae-Ha himself observed the audition.”

“Ah. Oh… that’s what that’s about. That must’ve been a coincidence, right?”

Turns out he meant the audition Jae-Ha had attended—not the time I was trapped in the underground set.

“What, was there more than that?”

“Yes. There was. A shocking incident.”

Seeing his curious look, I answered.

‘Even after pulling that stunt, she’s shameless.’

As I answered, I shot a glance at Seo-Rin seated at her desk; she jerked her head away.

I checked the news assignment board on the side wall of the office, confirming today’s schedule was done.

“Where are you off to?”

Yeong-Joon, already seated, asked while gathering his things.

“I have an urgent matter today, so I’ll head home early.”

With his puzzled expression at my reply, I turned away.

****

The moment I stepped out of the car, I sprinted back into Daejin Hospital.

Even though a text from Dr. Kim reported my parents had entered a stable phase, my heart still pounded harshly.

Memories of losing my parents so suddenly in my previous life overlapped in my mind, stirring countless thoughts.

When I pressed the button for the VIP ward elevator, I heard, “Announcer Yoon Yeo-Jin?”

Someone behind me called my name.

Turning around, I saw a familiar face approach with a pleased expression.

“It is indeed Announcer Yoon!”

“Ah… long time no see.”

“I’d seen you vaguely before, but never had the chance to talk.”

It was a staff member from the news team with whom I used to work before resigning.

Seeing his hospital gown, I asked, “Why didn’t you say hello? By the way, are you hospitalized?”

“Ah, yes, I underwent surgery. But it was a simple operation—I’ll be discharged tomorrow.”

The elevator doors opened just then.

He was heading up as well, so he naturally stepped in and pressed “10.”

“I heard your radio broadcast. You’ve returned, right?”

“Yes. It hasn’t been long.”

I gave a faint smile to his cheerful voice and pressed the close button.

When he saw that I’d selected the 8th floor, he looked puzzled.

That floor was part of the VIP ward and usually reserved for patients in serious condition.

“So, what brings you to the hospital? You seem to come often.”

“Ah… Well.”

I hesitated, unsure whether to tell the truth. But then I remembered what he said about being discharged soon.

With misunderstandings already swirling at the station, I figured I had no choice but to add,

“My parents were in an accident… Their condition isn’t good.”

“Oh… I’m sorry to hear that.”

He looked at me with sympathetic eyes. I offered a soft smile in return.

“So I come every day after work.”

“They’ll get better soon. Stay strong!”

“Thank you. I should get going now.”

The elevator arrived on the 8th floor, and as the doors opened, I stepped out.

Leaving him behind, still looking at me with concern, I walked toward the hospital room.

Inside, Dr. Kim was already waiting, apparently having been notified of my arrival.

“You’re here?”

“How are they? You said it was cardiac arrest…?”

I rushed over to him, standing by the bed.

He looked troubled; clearly the condition wasn’t improving.

“Madam’s condition is a little more serious. There are signs of cerebral hemorrhage as well.”

“Ha…”

Hearing they’d gone in and out of the ICU last night due to acute cardiac arrest made my heart sink.

“Miss Yoon… I’m afraid…”

“It’s okay. You don’t have to say it.”

I nodded, already understanding what he meant to say.

Then I suddenly remembered something that had happened earlier and called out to him before he could leave.

“Doctor.”

He turned back at the sound of my voice.

“These days… I haven’t been able to sleep well. And there are lingering effects from the accident…”

“Aftereffects?”

Ever since returning to the past, I’d struggled with sleep.

I hadn’t even realized how bad the aftereffects were until I began hyperventilating when exposed to bright light.

I was about to explain this to Dr. Kim, who looked at me curiously, but then I shut my mouth.

I couldn’t possibly explain the trauma caused by an accident that technically hadn’t happened.

“It’s nothing.”

“If you need a consultation, don’t hesitate to reach out.”

He turned back toward my parents lying on the bed, and the weight in my chest grew heavier.

First, a brain hemorrhage… and then not long after…

The terrible events I had lived through in my previous life played vividly before my eyes.

“Don’t do this… Why are you trying to leave so soon…?”

Seeing my parents relying on oxygen masks, emotion swelled painfully within me.

I hadn’t intended to cry… But tears welled up in my eyes regardless.

Afraid my composure might collapse, I hastily wiped the tears away with the back of my hand.

“I had my anchor audition today.”

I began to speak calmly, recounting the events of the day.

Looking at my parents, who looked no different from yesterday, I murmured, “Right before the recording, someone locked me in the underground studio set. Can you believe it?”

The terrifying moment came rushing back vividly. If it hadn’t been for Jae-Ha, I wouldn’t have been able to attend the audition—maybe I wouldn’t even have been able to come see my parents.

“If it weren’t for Jae-Ha, I’d probably still be locked down there.”

Thanks to him following me, I got out. And I was able to attend the audition safely too.

“He’s a strange person. I don’t know why he keeps trying to help me.”

Following me into that basement studio, helping with the audition—none of it had anything to do with his revenge.

He could’ve ignored it all, but he didn’t.

Thinking about him again sent an ache through my chest.

“He’s so strange… really.”

As the tension faded, my heavy eyelids started to close.

****

“Miss Yoon?”

I woke to the feeling of someone gently shaking my shoulder. A nurse’s face came into view.

“Visiting hours are over now.”

“Oh… I must’ve fallen asleep again.”

In a soft voice, I slowly lifted myself from where I’d been lying over the bed.

“It’s okay. You must be tired.”

She was changing out the empty IV bag and gave me a small smile before continuing.

But instead of tending to my parents, she approached me with a small medical tray.

“Could you show me your hands?”

“My hands?”

I tilted my head in confusion at her unexpected request.

She began removing sterilized gauze from the container with tweezers.

“I was told you were injured.”

“Oh…? Here.”

“You’ve scraped them up pretty badly. This’ll sting a bit.”

After inspecting my palms, she disinfected the wounds and applied healing tape.

But how did she know I was hurt?

“How did you know about this?”

I casually asked as she began cleaning up the supplies on the tray.

“A man called. Said you were in an accident and probably hadn’t been treated yet.”

“……”

“With scrapes this bad, they must’ve been burning all day. Be sure to keep them clean so they don’t scar.”

I sat there in a daze even after she left the room. I knew instinctively the man she mentioned was Seo Jae-Ha.

But how had he known I was at Daejin Hospital? And to even request treatment for a wound I’d forgotten about myself…

My head spun.

I’d brushed off what happened earlier as just an accident—something that could happen. I tried to rationalize his actions: maybe this version of Jae-Ha, unlike the cold man from my previous life, simply had more warmth in him.

But that explanation was starting to crumble.

“…This isn’t right.”

A strange feeling came over me.

I thought we were just helping each other for the sake of our own revenge. But the kindness he showed me didn’t feel like something that belonged in a relationship based on revenge alone.

“Why is he so… kind?”

Kind enough to make my heart ache.

An indescribable, soft feeling blossomed deep in my chest.