Chapter 223 - Putting Her Little Plan in Action

"Oh, everything was great! Yes, I will take all these seedlings, they will be beautiful at home! I will have time to plant them the day after tomorrow, do you think they can wait until then?" Ye Rim placed the crate of plant seedlings in the trunk of the car, with a smile. Ji Hyeon was so kind and caring!

The day had been very pleasant at Ji Hyeon's ranch. It was a calm and beautiful place, where she could have enough outdoors, and a beautiful horizon to look at the mountains. Jun Hyeon's twin sister enjoyed long walks and hiking, plants and the sounds of nature, after so many years of living locked in a bas.e.m.e.nt.

Dr. Kim said goodbye to his mother and sister, somewhat reluctantly. He had made it clear that he preferred to stay for dinner, but Ye Rim could let nothing go out of plan this time.

When they got in the car, Jun Hyeon looked at the phone, and commented as if talking to himself. But in fact, Ye Rim knew he wanted her to hear.

"Na Ra sent a message ..."

That lit a warning signal. Na Ra was still friends with Ji Hyeon, after all, nothing had shaken their friendship. But… was she getting closer to Jun Hyeon too?

GRR! The Heavens were being too unfair to Ye Rim!

"Oppa… Is your passenger seat belt still defective after so many years?" She pretended to have trouble fastening her belt.

Jun Hyeon automatically reclined to help her ... and like the first time, he couldn't resist ogling at her legs. She realized that he was uneasy, but Dr. Kim didn't overextend his help and sat rigidly on his bench, starting the car.

Ye Rim looked at the clock on the panel, it was 5:32 pm.

"Haha, do you remember, Jun Hyeon? How did my dress got stuck in the belt back then? I was left half-n.a.k.e.d… but you protected me," she recollected, with gleaming eyes. Back then, she was ashamed and furious.

Now, it seemed like Fate wanted to push them together.

"Ah, you know I don't remember anything about it. I just know what happened through my grandfather. He still thinks it was very hilarious, of course." Ji Hyeon dismissed the subject. But Ye Rim started the countdown as soon as the car left Ji Hyeon's ranch, and they waved goodbye to Dr. Kim's sister and Ji Jae Wook.

"Yes, I understand it's a phase. But when I'm in a car with you, I remember that... And our first date. It was a mess!"

He was a little thoughtful, and Ye Rim looked at the sky. She could already see the moon in the still clear sky. Maybe it was making effect!

"Do you remember that manhole lid flying right in front of us? Wow, it's impossible that something like that doesn't come to your mind!" She checked the GPS, and took the eye drops from her bag. "...Uhn, can you close the window on your side, oppa? I think a speck got in my eye… OH! OHHHHHHH!"

Ye Rim thanked her acting teachers. She did something risky, but it was an act of desperation. Hitting her left eye with the dropper bottle, she screamed and put her hand over her face. Unfortunately, it had really hurt, but it was necessary to convince a doctor that she needed his help!

"Easy, Ye Rim, hold on! I'm stopping the car…" Jun Hyeon looked at her several times as he pulled over on the side of the highway.

Tears of pain streamed from the singer's eyes. She felt pathetic about having to resort to such a ridiculous ploy, but she had to go through with it ... To save Jun Hyeon, more than herself.

"BWAH! It hurts!"

"Shhh, Shhh… Calm down! Uhn? Pull your hand away, let me see what it was," the sweet, protective tone returned to his voice.

She hoped it was more than his medical instincts. He always wanted to help, and he wouldn't refuse it even to the most hateful person. Even on their first date, Dr. Kim had completely changed his arrogant attitude when he realized she needed help. Even if minimal help. 

But, if that was the door to re-enter his heart…

"Oh Oh Oh!"

"It was not very smart to try to apply eye drops while the car was moving," he chided softly. Jun Hyeon had to fight a little to get Ye Rim's hands away from her face, and pouted worriedly when he saw her very red eye.

"Let's go out here a little bit, let's wash it with water and we can continue our trip. Keep your eyes closed for the rest of the trip, that everything will work itself out..."

"There is no water," she informed. "Just juice. I threw the water away to bring the juice your sister made… "

"AH. Of course. There is no water." He snided, averting the eyes, but he looked this way and that for a solution. Ye Rim put her hand over her eye again.

"Oppa, it's burning!"

"Calm down, it was just a minor blow, nothing will happen. You won't be blind or anything. But if it remains swollen after a few minutes, I'll take you straight to an ophthalmologist."

"I need to wash my eyes!"

He pushed her hands away from her face again. "Listen, I'm going to take you to a place to wash your eyes and face. Let's stop at the first place for you to clean this up, okay? Just stay calm and don't rub your eye. Ha, why does this always happen?"

He started the car again.

'He's remembering ...' she was amazed at the fact.

After a few kilometers, he spotted a billboard showing the directions to a traveler's little inn.

"Well, there is a small hotel there. Let's ask at reception if you can use their restroom." Jun Hyeon maneuvered off the road and into the inn's parking lot.

Just like in Ye Rim's plans.