Rain Doesn't Ask Permission

Seoul never truly slept.

Even close to midnight, the city glowed beneath a curtain of rain. Neon signs reflected across soaked streets, taxis rushed through intersections, and people hurried beneath umbrellas as if the storm were merely another inconvenience.

On the thirty-seventh floor of Hanseong Biotech's headquarters, the atmosphere was nothing like the bustling city below.

Silence filled the boardroom.

Every executive remained standing while one man calmly organized the documents in front of him.

"Congratulations, Vice Chairman Seo," the chairman announced. "The acquisition has been approved unanimously."

Applause echoed through the room.

Seo Kang-jun inclined his head politely.

"Thank you."

Just two words.

No smile.

No excitement.

His expression remained composed, almost indifferent, as if closing a deal worth hundreds of billions of won was no more interesting than checking tomorrow's weather.

One by one, the executives approached to congratulate him.

"Brilliant presentation."

"You've secured the company's future."

"It's an honor working under you."

Kang-jun answered every compliment with the same courteous nod.

Nothing more.

By the time everyone had left, only one person remained.

Han Ji-soo.

His assistant for the last six years.

She handed him a leather folder.

"Tomorrow's schedule."

He accepted it without looking.

"Seven-thirty. Breakfast meeting with the research division. Nine o'clock interview with the Financial Herald. Eleven o'clock meeting with Chairman Seo."

"No interview."

Ji-soo sighed quietly.

"I expected that answer."

"The chairman won't."

"I'll handle him."

She smiled faintly.

"There is one more matter."

"What is it?"

"The security team noticed someone has been following your vehicle for the past three days."

Kang-jun stopped walking.

"For business?"

"They're not sure."

"And?"

"They lost him."

He continued toward the elevator.

"Find him."

"Yes, sir."

The elevator doors slid shut.

For several seconds, neither of them spoke.

Rain trickled down the glass walls surrounding the building.

Ji-soo finally broke the silence.

"You should go home early tonight."

He looked at his reflection in the polished elevator doors.

"I don't remember asking for life advice."

"I wasn't giving advice."

She smiled again.

"I was hoping."

The elevator reached the underground parking garage.

Outside, the rain had become heavier.

A black sedan waited beside the entrance.

The driver opened the rear door.

"Good evening, Vice Chairman."

Kang-jun got inside without a word.

The city lights drifted past the window as the car pulled onto the expressway.

His phone buzzed.

Chairman Seo

He stared at the screen until it stopped ringing.

No callback.

No message.

He slipped the phone back into his pocket.

Outside, the rain continued to fall.

...

Across the city, the emergency department was drowning in chaos.

"Trauma incoming!"

"Nurse, prepare Operating Room Three!"

"We're losing blood pressure!"

Yoon Min-jae barely had time to breathe.

His shift had officially ended forty minutes ago.

He was still there.

Another ambulance.

Another emergency.

Another family waiting outside with desperate eyes.

He washed his hands for what felt like the hundredth time that night.

"Doctor Yoon!"

"I'm coming."

The patient was a construction worker who had fallen several floors.

Everyone moved quickly.

Commands filled the room.

Minutes blurred into hours.

When it was finally over...

The monitors fell silent.

The attending physician lowered his head.

"Time of death."

Nobody spoke.

One nurse quietly removed the oxygen mask.

Another pulled the white sheet over the patient's face.

Min-jae stood motionless.

His gloves were stained red.

He stared at them longer than he should have.

"You did well."

He turned.

Professor Lee placed a hand on his shoulder.

"You can't save everyone."

Min-jae forced a small smile.

"I know."

But the words refused to convince even himself.

...

11:42 PM.

The hospital entrance was nearly empty.

Min-jae stretched his sore shoulders before checking his wallet.

Three thousand won.

He laughed to himself.

"Convenience-store dinner again."

As he stepped into the rain, cold water instantly soaked his hair.

He didn't bother opening his umbrella.

It was already broken.

The streets smelled of wet asphalt and coffee drifting from a nearby café that had just closed.

For the first time all day...

Everything was quiet.

Then—

A deafening screech shattered the silence.

Headlights swung violently across the intersection.

A black luxury sedan spun across the rain-slick road before crashing into the curb with a sickening impact.

The engine died.

Steam rose from beneath the hood.

People screamed.

Several pedestrians froze.

Others reached for their phones.

Min-jae didn't hesitate.

He ran.

His shoes splashed through puddles as he reached the driver's side.

The door slowly opened.

A tall man stepped out.

His black suit was soaked by the rain.

Blood traced a thin line from his temple.

Despite the accident...

His breathing remained steady.

His expression unreadable.

Instead of checking the damaged car...

He looked up at the sky.

As though the rain interested him more than surviving the crash.

Min-jae frowned.

"Hey!"

No response.

"Can you hear me?"

The stranger slowly turned his head.

Their eyes met.

Dark.

Calm.

Almost unsettling.

Min-jae stepped closer and gently examined the cut near the man's forehead.

"You've hit your head."

Silence.

"Are you dizzy?"

Still nothing.

Min-jae sighed.

"You're one of those stubborn patients, aren't you?"

Without waiting for permission, he caught the man's wrist to check his pulse.

Warm.

Steady.

The stranger looked down at the hand wrapped around his wrist.

For a brief second...

Something unreadable crossed his face.

Not irritation.

Not surprise.

Something softer.

Something he hadn't felt in a very long time.

Min-jae released him.

"You're lucky. It doesn't seem serious."

"You should still come with me."

The stranger spoke for the first time.

"...Why?"

Min-jae blinked.

"What kind of question is that?"

"You don't know who I am."

"I don't need to."

"You could be anyone."

Min-jae shrugged.

"Right now, you're just my patient."

For the first time that evening...

Seo Kang-jun smiled.

A small smile.

Almost invisible beneath the rain.

Yet somehow...

It changed everything.

Just a Patient

The rain continued to pour, washing away the scattered shards of glass around the damaged sedan.

"Sir, are you hurt anywhere else?" Yoon Min-jae asked, keeping one hand ready in case the stranger lost his balance.

The man looked at him with unreadable eyes.

"I don't think so."

"You don't think so?" Min-jae frowned. "That's not exactly reassuring."

The stranger remained silent.

Min-jae let out a quiet sigh.

"Can you walk?"

"Yes."

"Good. Then stop standing in the rain and come with me."

Without waiting for an answer, Min-jae turned toward the hospital entrance.

After a brief pause...

Footsteps followed.

Inside the emergency department, the warmth of the building replaced the cold rain almost instantly.

Several nurses looked up as the soaked pair entered.

One nurse hurried over.

"Doctor Yoon?"

"Minor traffic accident," Min-jae replied while grabbing a towel. "Possible head injury. Let's get him checked."

The nurse nodded.

"Right this way, sir."

The stranger ignored her.

His eyes remained fixed on Min-jae.

"Doctor..."

Min-jae looked over his shoulder.

"Hm?"

"You'll examine me?"

Min-jae blinked.

"Unless you'd rather wait three hours for someone else."

"...No."

"Then sit."

The man obeyed.

Min-jae slipped on fresh gloves.

"Name?"

Silence.

He looked up.

"I asked your name."

"...Seo."

"Just Seo?"

"Kang-jun."

Min-jae typed it into the chart.

"Age?"

"Thirty-one."

"Any allergies?"

"No."

"Medication?"

"No."

"Medical history?"

The slightest pause.

"...Nothing important."

Min-jae stopped typing.

"There is no such thing as 'nothing important.'"

Another pause.

"Healthy."

"That's better."

He gently moved closer and examined the cut above Kang-jun's eyebrow.

"It'll need a few stitches."

"It isn't necessary."

"It is."

"It will heal."

Min-jae clicked his tongue.

"Do rich people all hate hospitals?"

For the first time...

Kang-jun looked genuinely curious.

"What makes you think I'm rich?"

Min-jae pointed toward the watch on his wrist.

"The watch."

"My watch?"

"It costs more than my yearly tuition."

Kang-jun glanced at it as though he'd forgotten he was wearing one.

"I see."

"And your suit."

"Hm."

"And the car."

"..."

"So unless you stole all three..." Min-jae smiled. "...you're probably rich."

A corner of Kang-jun's lips lifted.

"You notice details."

"It's my job."

"No."

Kang-jun's gaze lingered on him.

"I think it's just who you are."

For reasons he couldn't explain...

Those words made Min-jae unexpectedly uncomfortable.

A nurse returned carrying the suture kit.

"Doctor."

"Thanks."

Min-jae pulled a stool closer.

"This might sting."

"It doesn't matter."

"So brave."

"I'm not."

The answer came so quietly that Min-jae almost missed it.

He looked up.

For a brief second...

The man's calm expression seemed almost lonely.

Before he could think about it further—

The emergency room doors burst open.

"Emergency!"

"Multiple vehicle collision!"

Three stretchers rushed inside.

Everyone sprang into motion.

Min-jae immediately stood.

"I'm sorry."

He handed the suture needle to another doctor.

"Can you finish this?"

"Of course."

Turning back to Kang-jun, he offered an apologetic smile.

"Duty calls."

Then he was gone.

For the next hour...

Kang-jun remained seated.

He should have left.

The hospital director had already arrived after receiving an anonymous phone call from the company's security team.

So had two bodyguards.

Even Ji-soo had rushed over.

"Vice Chairman!"

She stopped the moment she saw him calmly sitting in the emergency department.

"Are you injured?"

"No."

"The driver?"

"Only minor injuries."

She visibly relaxed.

"We've informed the chairman."

"I didn't ask you to."

"...He found out."

Her eyes shifted toward the busy emergency room.

"...Shall we leave?"

Kang-jun didn't answer.

Instead...

He watched Min-jae.

The young doctor moved from patient to patient without stopping.

Blood stained his sleeves.

His hair was a mess.

He hadn't eaten.

He hadn't sat down once.

Yet every patient received the same gentle smile.

Even after losing one.

Even after saving another.

Ji-soo quietly followed his gaze.

"The doctor?"

"What about him?"

"He's interesting."

She almost laughed.

"In what way?"

"He doesn't look at people differently."

She frowned.

"I don't understand."

"When he looked at me..."

Kang-jun spoke softly.

"...there was no calculation."

No fear.

No admiration.

No greed.

Just concern.

It had been years since anyone had looked at him like that.

Two hours later...

Min-jae finally stepped out of Trauma Room Three.

Completely exhausted.

He froze.

"...You're still here?"

Kang-jun stood.

"You were busy."

"So?"

"I waited."

Min-jae stared at him.

"You waited two hours... for stitches?"

"...Yes."

Min-jae rubbed his forehead.

"No."

"No?"

"You're impossible."

Despite himself...

He laughed.

"Come on."

"I'll finish them before you decide hospitals are optional."

As Kang-jun followed him down the quiet hallway...

Neither of them noticed Han Ji-soo watching from a distance.

She had worked beside Seo Kang-jun for six years.

She had seen ministers bow to him.

Business tycoons beg him.

Executives tremble before him.

But tonight...

For the first time...

She had seen him willingly follow someone else's lead.

And that frightened her far more than the accident ever could.

A Name Worth Remembering

The treatment room was unusually quiet.

Outside, the emergency department buzzed with the familiar sounds of hurried footsteps, ringing phones, and distant announcements.

Inside...

Only silence remained.

Yoon Min-jae pulled the rolling stool closer.

"You know," he said while opening the sterile suture kit, "most patients try very hard to avoid stitches."

Seo Kang-jun sat perfectly still.

"You seem disappointed."

"I am."

Min-jae laughed.

"I've had a sixteen-hour shift. You're the only patient who's voluntarily waited two hours just to let me sew his forehead."

"I said I would wait."

"You really did."

Min-jae shook his head.

"Strange."

Kang-jun watched him prepare the needle.

"Is that what you think of me?"

"I don't know you well enough to think anything."

A brief silence settled between them.

"Look at me."

Kang-jun lifted his eyes.

"The cut isn't deep," Min-jae murmured. "Three stitches should do it."

He leaned closer.

The scent of antiseptic mixed with the faint smell of rain lingering on Kang-jun's suit.

"Don't move."

"I won't."

The first stitch went in.

Most patients flinched.

Kang-jun didn't.

"Doesn't it hurt?"

"It does."

"You hide pain well."

"So do you."

Min-jae paused.

"What makes you say that?"

"You smiled after losing a patient."

"..."

"It wasn't a real smile."

The room became still.

Min-jae looked at him carefully.

"You noticed?"

"I notice many things."

He said it so casually that Min-jae simply shrugged and continued working.

"You shouldn't."

"Why?"

"You'll make yourself miserable."

Kang-jun didn't answer.

Instead, he asked quietly,

"Why did you become a doctor?"

Min-jae tied another stitch before replying.

"My mother was sick when I was little."

"Were the doctors able to help her?"

"They tried."

A small smile crossed his face.

"She's still alive. She just works too much."

"So you wanted to repay them."

"I wanted to become someone people could rely on."

His voice remained light, but there was a sincerity in it that caught Kang-jun's attention.

"What about you?" Min-jae asked. "What do you do?"

For the first time that night...

Seo Kang-jun hesitated.

"I work in pharmaceuticals."

"Oh."

Min-jae nodded.

"So that's why the expensive watch."

"You noticed that too."

"I notice many things."

The corners of Kang-jun's lips curved upward.

"You've stolen my line."

"I improved it."

Ten minutes later...

"Done."

Min-jae stepped back to admire his work.

"Try not to get into another accident for at least a week."

"I'll try."

"And don't get the wound wet."

Kang-jun looked toward the rain-covered window.

"That may be difficult."

"It stopped."

He glanced outside.

The rain had indeed ended.

For some reason...

Neither of them had noticed.

At the reception desk, Min-jae handed over the medical form.

"The cashier will explain everything."

Kang-jun accepted it.

"How much?"

Min-jae looked at the total.

"Forty-three thousand won."

Without thinking, Kang-jun reached into his wallet and placed a black card on the counter.

The cashier stared.

"So... um..."

She swallowed nervously.

"Sir..."

Min-jae looked between them.

"What's wrong?"

The cashier whispered,

"This card..."

Min-jae frowned.

"It's just a credit card."

The cashier shook her head almost imperceptibly.

"No..."

She recognized it.

Only a handful of people in Korea carried that invitation-only card.

Before she could say another word, Kang-jun quietly took it back and handed over another card instead.

"This one."

The payment went through.

He thanked the cashier politely and turned to leave.

Min-jae watched him disappear through the sliding doors.

"Strange guy..."

Outside...

A black sedan waited by the curb.

Han Ji-soo opened the rear door.

"The chairman has called six times."

"I know."

"He wants to know why you ignored him."

"I was busy."

She glanced toward the hospital entrance.

"...With the doctor?"

Kang-jun didn't deny it.

Instead, he looked back at the brightly lit building.

"What did you learn?"

Ji-soo blinked.

"About Doctor Yoon?"

"You already investigated."

"...Only the basics."

"Tell me."

She opened her tablet.

"Yoon Min-jae. Twenty-four years old. Final-year medical student at Seoul National University Hospital."

She scrolled.

"Works night shifts three times a week."

"Scholarship student."

"Father disappeared years ago."

"Lives with his mother."

"No criminal record."

"No scandals."

"No romantic relationships that we could find."

She lowered the tablet.

"Would you like a full background report?"

Kang-jun remained silent for several seconds.

The hospital lights reflected in his eyes.

Finally...

"Yes."

Ji-soo's expression changed.

"Everything?"

"Everything."

"The report may include personal matters."

"I know."

"And photographs."

"I know."

She hesitated.

"Vice Chairman..."

He looked at her.

"What exactly are you looking for?"

A faint smile appeared on his face.

"The answer to a simple question."

"And what is that?"

"Why did he look at me like I was... ordinary?"

The sedan slowly pulled away from the hospital.

Neither of them noticed that inside the emergency department...

Yoon Min-jae was standing by the second-floor window, absentmindedly watching the black car disappear into the sleeping city.

He had no idea that a single rainy night had just made him the center of the most powerful man's attention.

And once Seo Kang-jun decided something belonged in his world...

He rarely let it leave.