The Visit She Shouldn’t Be Excited About

That morning, Ailine’s apartment was already busy even before the sun had fully risen.

She stood in front of her vanity mirror, her hair softly blown out so it fell in that “perfectly effortless” way she’d practiced only a million times. A light blush warmed her cheeks just enough to make her look naturally healthy, and her lips were tinted with a muted rosewood shade—subtle, but luminous. Even the highlighter on her cheekbones was applied so delicately it looked less like makeup and more like a gentle blessing from heaven’s light.

Emma emerged from the kitchen carrying a glass of warm lemon water, stopped in her tracks, and froze.

“…Miss Ailine.”

“Hm?” Ailine was busy adjusting her bangs, ensuring every strand fell in that artful chaos that absolutely wasn’t random.

Emma narrowed her eyes. “This… is quite an effort for someone who’s just going in for a simple check-up at the hospital.”

Ailine paused. “…I only want to look healthy.”

Emma slowly dragged her gaze from Ailine’s head to her toes.

Perfectly styled hair.

Flawless makeup.

A faint white-tea perfume.

A pastel tunic that looked soft enough to star in its own commercial.

Neat low heels.

“Healthy, you say?” Emma lifted an eyebrow. “Unbelievable… This is a disguised date, isn’t it?”

Ailine choked on her own breath.

“H—HAH!? A DATE!? NO!! This is just a check-up! A routine check-up! Nothing special! Who even dresses like this for a date!?”

Emma placed a hand on her waist. “Miss Ailine Su… What I’m witnessing right now isn’t a check-up. This is First Love Reunion: Limited Edition.”

“There’s no such thing!!” Ailine sputtered. “I’m just… maintaining my image! I’m an actress! Actresses have to be prepared to look good! It has absolutely nothing to do with—”

“Doctor Owen?”

Ailine immediately broke into a coughing fit.

“KH—KH—KH—!!”

Emma reflexively patted her back. “See? I only said his name and you almost died. What was that again about ‘nothing to do with him’?”

“I—” Ailine swallowed hard. “I’m not dressing up for him!”

Emma stared at her.

And stared.

And stared some more.

The silence stretched long enough for Ailine to grow visibly uncomfortable. This assistant truly had Olympic-level nosiness.

“…Then who is that soft blush for?”

“No one!”

“And that rosewood lip tint you claim makes your lips look ‘naturally healthy’?”

“That’s… to keep a fresh impression!”

“And the perfume? The one you only use when the event is important?”

“That’s just… to smell clean!”

Emma let out a dramatic sigh, the kind befitting a main character in a tragic film. Ailine Su was always like this.

“Fine. If you insist it’s not a disguised date, then… I believe you. I deeply, wholeheartedly believe you.”

Ailine grumbled, cheeks warming. “I just want to look like a recovered patient. Stop exaggerating!”

“Of course, Miss Ailine. I already said I believe you.”

“Hey!”

---

The Trip to the Hospital

The moment the apartment door opened, a soft morning breeze greeted her. Ailine inhaled deeply, fixing her mask and sunglasses—the classic “I’m not a celebrity” disguise that somehow made her even more conspicuous.

Emma walked beside her, carrying the control documents and her bag, fulfilling her loyal-duty-as-assistant role to perfection.

“Ready, Miss Ailine?”

“Yes,” Ailine answered quietly.

Inside, she whispered to herself:

It’s just a check-up… just a check-up… nothing else…

The elevator doors opened, and they stepped into the luxurious lobby of her building.

But after only a few steps—

“Oh no…” Emma whispered.

Outside, about a dozen fans were gathered. Not many, but enough to create a colorful cluster holding signs like:

“GET WELL SOON, QUEEN!”

“WE LOVE YOU, AILINE SU!”

Ailine froze.

Where did they even find out she was going to the hospital today!? She had moved the schedule just yesterday!

Fans’ information networks should be classified as a supernatural ability.

“There are so many…”

Emma leaned in. “I told you—you’re too famous to ‘blend in.’”

The moment one fan saw the silhouette of her slim figure—

“IT’S AILINE!!! QUEEN SU!!!”

Ailine flinched.

Mask and sunglasses apparently meant absolutely nothing.

Fans approached but kept respectful distance, already familiar with etiquette for beloved celebrities.

“Ailine! We heard you were discharged!”

“Queen, get well soon!”

“We missed you!”

Some brought flowers, others held letters.

Ailine couldn’t ignore them.

She lowered her sunglasses just enough to show her warm eyes and gave a gentle wave.

“Thank you… I’m feeling much better now,” she said softly.

Her fans squealed with excitement.

Emma smiled. “Now this feels like a real celebrity aura.”

Ailine blushed behind the mask. “I thought this morning would be quiet…”

“Quiet? With your top-tier aura? You walk five meters and people start recreating drama scenes.”

“Emma…”

Emma continued quickly, “Come on. The car’s waiting before more people gather.”

As they walked, a small middle-school-aged fan shyly held out a letter.

“Queen… I made this. I hope you get well soon.”

Ailine melted immediately.

She crouched down, accepting it with both hands.

“Thank you… you’re so sweet. I’ll read it later, okay?”

The fan nearly cried.

Inside the car, Emma closed the door and burst out laughing.

“Let me repeat: This is a check-up, not a mini fan-meet.”

“It’s not my fault!” Ailine covered her face with her small bag. “I was just… passing by!”

“Yes, passing by while glowing like a stage spotlight.”

“Emmmmaaaa!”

The car pulled away, fans still waving.

Ailine looked out the window, smiling subtly behind her mask.

She couldn’t deny it—her fans’ support always warmed her heart.

And today felt a bit more special.

Whether because of them…

or because of someone she refused to admit she was excited about.

---

At the Hospital

The moment she stepped into the lobby, whispers burst into the air.

“Isn’t that Ailine?”

“She’s here!”

“Queen, get well soon!”

Ailine lowered her head, adjusting her mask and sunglasses again. “How do they always know…” she muttered.

A teenage fan waved excitedly. “Get well soon, Queen!”

Others followed with smiles, waves, even sneaky recordings.

A security guard quickly guided the crowd to maintain order—thankfully.

At the reception desk, the two nurses nearly combusted on the spot.

Nurse 1 covered her mouth. “Oh my gosh… it really is Ailine…”

Nurse 2 practically sparkled. “Queen! Are you here for your check-up? We already prepared everything!”

Ailine blinked. “Y-Yes… thank you. Sorry for causing a fuss.”

One nurse immediately stood straighter.

“We’ll escort you to the VIP waiting room! Doctor Lisa will be so happy you came. You usually, um… postpone things.”

The last part was spoken gently but unmistakably.

Ailine gave an embarrassed laugh. “Hehe… I’m being diligent today.”

---

Doctor Lisa’s Room

After the small chaos, Ailine and Emma arrived at Doctor Lisa’s examination room.

Ailine entered first, walking as formally as a visiting diplomat.

“Good morning, Doctor Lisa,” she greeted with a polite bow.

Doctor Lisa smiled kindly. “Miss Su, you’re early. I expected you to delay like usual. I was surprised when they said you were coming today.”

Ailine froze for a moment.

Emma nearly laughed out loud.

“O-of course I’m here, Doctor,” Ailine said quickly. “Tomorrow I have work, so I moved the schedule up.”

“I see. Your profession rarely allows long rest, hm?” Doctor Lisa checked her chart. “But good news—your recovery is on track.”

Ailine relaxed.

Barely.

In truth, she did have work tomorrow… at night.

So her being here earlier or later didn’t matter at all.

Doctor Lisa continued, “How’s your sleep? Any dizziness?”

“No, Doctor. Everything’s fine.”

“Too fast,” Emma whispered.

Ailine subtly kicked her foot.

This assistant was begging for trouble.

Doctor Lisa chuckled.

“Good. But you still need a follow-up with Doctor Owen.”

Both women tensed.

“As he handled the early stages of your recovery, it’s best he evaluates the final condition as well.”

Ailine nodded too quickly.

“Absolutely! Yes. I totally agree. I even… planned for that, actually. So he can, uh, complete the exam.”

The sentence sounded wrong even to her own ears.

Emma had to fake a cough to hide her laughter.

Doctor Lisa was oblivious, simply nodding along.

“Good. You can go straight to his office.”

“Thank you, Doctor.”

Once outside, Emma whispered sharply,

“So the schedule was moved because of work, huh?”

Ailine stared straight ahead, feigning innocence at a godly level.

“You helped rearrange it too. So let’s cooperate until the end, okay?”

“Alright, alright…”

---

Doctor Owen’s Room

They soon arrived at Owen’s office.

This time, Ailine asked Emma to wait outside.

She wanted to meet him alone.

She knocked after taking three deep breaths. Maybe five. She was too nervous to count.

Owen’s voice came from inside—calm, deep, professional.

“Come in.”

The door opened.

And time simply… paused.

Owen stood by his desk, adjusting his medical gloves. The moment he saw who entered, his hands stalled. For a split second, emotion flashed—surprise, confusion—before he masked it with that perfect composure she both admired and hated.

Ailine gave an awkward smile.

“H-hi, Doctor…”

“Hm.” His tone dropped slightly. “You’re early.”

She wanted to respond casually, but that voice—calm, cool, close—pulled all words from her tongue. She simply clutched her bag, standing there like a student caught visiting her favorite teacher too eagerly.

Their eyes met.

And held.

Way too long.

Owen looked away first, which had never happened before.

He cleared his throat. “Sit.”

His voice was neutral, expert-like… but she could sense the thin layer of tension underneath.

Ailine stepped toward the examination chair.

As she passed him, their shoulders nearly touched.

Nearly.

She held her breath.

Owen closed his eyes for a microsecond, as if steadying himself.

She sat down.

He stood before her, arms crossed, visibly trying not to look unsettled.

“We’ll begin shortly,” he said quietly.

“O-okay.”

Silence wrapped around them.

Stretched.

Suspended.

Neither knew where to begin.

And in that fragile quiet, Ailine’s thoughts screamed:

Good Lord… How am I supposed to forget a man this handsome?