A Paper That Is Bound to Become a Hot Topic

"What are you talking about?"

"Are you perhaps not fond of Somyung Oriental Clinic?"

Kyungwoo turned his head to look at Shin Nakhyun.

'He's got sharp instincts.'

Well, money doesn't just stick to anyone, does it? Kyungwoo didn't bother to deny it. He didn't intend to ramble on, but it was ridiculous to pretend he liked an obvious competitor standing right in front of him.

"I am not fond of them."

"Any particular reason?"

"Have you ever been to Somyung Oriental Clinic for treatment?"

"Not there, but I've been to their main branch a few times."

"Why did you stop going?"

"Hmm... it smelled too much like money?"

"It's a similar reason for me."

A concise explanation was returned, and Nakhyun didn't ask any further.

'I doubt that's the whole story.'

He was curious, but asking more would be overstepping. As the conversation ended, a brief silence settled in until a phone call came through. Upon hearing from the real estate agent that the contract was ready, the two headed back down to the first floor.

Once the contract was finalized...

"How do you plan to handle the interior?"

"I've received the floor plans, so I need to look into it now. I'm worried about finding someone who can fit me into their schedule right away."

"Ah, how much longer will you be working in Goesan?"

"I think things will wrap up there in about two months. I'll likely move in once the interior work here is finished."

At those words, Shin Nakhyun’s eyes sparkled.

'In the end, the faster the interior is finished, the sooner he opens, and the sooner my treatment begins!'

He turned on his phone and scribbled a number on a memo pad.

"You'll probably look into it yourself, but try contacting this place too."

"Is it an interior design firm?"

"Yes. It's run by a friend of mine, and they specialize in hospital interiors. I often recommend them when a clinic moves into my building, and I’ve never heard a single complaint. I’ll make sure to tell them to prioritize your schedule, no matter what."

"Ah, thank you."

And just like that, Shin Nakhyun went from a 'Rent Fairy' to an 'Introduction Fairy.' With a smiling face, he saw Kyungwoo off and then spoke to the real estate agent.

"Boss."

"Yes?"

"Don't take a brokerage fee from him."

The agent jumped at that.

"No, I already give you a discount on the brokerage fee, Mr. Shin. But if I don't take it from him either, am I supposed to just suck my thumb? Even if we're just tenants here, that's too much."

"When did I say I wouldn't pay? Bill it to my account."

"Hah. Mr. Shin, you're paying for him?"

The real estate agent found it hard to understand. Despite his laid-back attitude and constant smiling, this building owner was by no means a pushover. Even when dealing with tenants, he spoke with a pleasant face, but the agent had never seen anyone manage to bend his will.

'That doctor is good with acupuncture, sure...'

From the perspective of the agent, who didn't know much about Ankylosing Spondylitis, Shin Nakhyun’s behavior—refusing to take rent or secretly paying brokerage fees just because someone was good at acupuncture—was simply bizarre. But, it was his money to spend.

"I'll be going then. If the director calls, make sure you cooperate with everything!"

Having become a 'Brokerage Fee Fairy,' Shin Nakhyun walked out of the real estate office with a light step.

'Ah, I hope he opens soon!'

While his primary reason was wanting to get treated quickly, he had a tingling premonition. He had a good gut for these things.

'Looking at it, it seems like they're going to clash head-on.'

Watching ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠other people's fights is always a blast. It’s even more fun when there’s a fighter you’re rooting for, and even better if you think your side is going to win. The sick, time-rich unemployed man (the building owner) was having a rare moment of joy.

'I wonder how this will unfold...'

Upon returning to Yongdeok-ri, Kyungwoo reached out to all the firms recommended by his peers and the ones on the 'Oriental Agora' forum, along with the contact Shin Nakhyun had given him. To cut to the chase, Shin Nakhyun hadn't given him that number for no reason.

'The material quality is this high, and the estimate is only this much? And they can start construction immediately?'

It was the result of the 'Introduction Fairy' working hard behind the scenes, but Kyungwoo, unaware of those circumstances, thought to himself:

'He really introduced me to a conscientious firm.'

The firm received the building plans and sent back three interior designs that considered the space and flow of a typical Oriental clinic. It took only a week to choose one and reflect a few modifications based on Kyungwoo’s experience. Kyungwoo signed the contract.

'Interior costs have really gone up.'

The cost for a 50-pyeong interior was 160 million won. Even that was a significantly reduced amount, thanks to Shin Nakhyun’s influence.

'There will definitely be additional costs here...'

He also had to pay a 100 million won deposit. It was a huge sum, totaling over 300 million won. Of course, he could take out a business loan, but Kyungwoo had money he absolutely had to use right now.

Clink—

Kyungwoo pulled out a bankbook from deep inside his drawer that he hadn't opened in a long time. He had covered his tuition during college with full scholarships and used part-time tutoring money and overdrafts, but he had never touched this account.

It was his father’s death benefit. The clinic his father had run until just before he passed away had been liquidated to pay off debts, leaving nothing else behind; this was the only money left to Kyungwoo. 295 million won, after the 5 million won inheritance tax was deducted from the 300 million.

Kyungwoo had already decided where to use that money.

'When I start hitting Somyung.'

He believed that money would only fulfill its purpose when he used it to target the place that had driven his father to his death.

'With this, the location is settled...'

The personnel issue remained. Kyungwoo hesitated for a moment before opening his messenger.

"Did you call for me, Director?"

Miyoung, who had been cleaning something again, poked her head in, holding a wet wipe in one hand. A little while later, after hearing what Kyungwoo had ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to say, she dropped the wipe.

"You're going to Seoul?"

"That's how it turned out. There's about two months left now."

"Then... will this clinic disappear?"

"No. Teacher Gong Chayoung will come as the director."

"Ah..."

"Miyoung, you have two choices. One is to keep working here just as you are. Teacher Gong would be very happy to have you stay, and the work will still be rewarding. She is someone who is good at treatment and constantly studies."

Kyungwoo, who knew of Miyoung's pride, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠hit the nail on the head.

"Yes..."

'But the new director isn't the current director.'

It wasn't a very appealing offer to Park Miyoung, who had served her 'lord' with loyalty. Seeing her gloomy expression, Kyungwoo smiled and said,

"The second option is for you to follow me to Suwon..."

"You're taking me with you?"

"The cost of living in the Seoul-Gyeonggi area is higher, and while I'll support the rent, life will be tight with utilities and everything else."

"Will it be helpful to you, Director, if I go?"

"I’d be grateful if you came, Miyoung. It’s so hard to find good staff."

Upon hearing that, Park Miyoung didn't even hesitate.

"Then I'll go."

"Really?"

"Yes. I've always wanted to try living in a city. I couldn't bring myself to do it alone, though."

"I didn't know that."

"It's also rewarding to see sick people get better. I like this job."

She was a simple and clear-cut friend. Kyungwoo felt lighter, too.

"Alright. Then I'll hire just one more staff member."

"Will there be two staff members there?"

"Likely. Isn't it hard for you alone on days when we hit fifteen patients?"

"I'm fine, though?"

"Still, we need to separate the desk and the treatment room now. I'd like you to go to the treatment room, Miyoung."

"I prefer that, too. Oh, but if I follow you, what happens to Kyung Oriental Clinic?"

Come to think of it, he hadn't considered that. He hadn't expected Miyoung to agree so readily.

"Seyeong unni is free these days."

"Jin Seyeong?"

"Yes. She quit Myeongho Oriental Clinic and should still be receiving unemployment benefits. Shall I ask her?"

"Sure. I'll confirm with Director Gong."

Just like that, everything began to fall into place.

Professor In ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Gyeonghak drank a pouch of herbal medicine today as well. It was medicine his student had sent him.

'This kid, when did he get so good at formulating medicine?'

Is it natural that someone who reads pulses so well also formulates medicine well? The frequency of the headaches he’d been suffering from intermittently had decreased significantly since he started taking this medicine. It was simply miraculous.

'Did he hide some secret recipe in that countryside? Both his acupuncture and his medicine are improving at an unbelievable rate...'

Acupuncture and medicine. They were the two main weapons an Oriental doctor could use, but it was rare to find someone who used both skillfully. It was similar to the division of talent between a surgeon and an internist; the talent to handle needles freely with natural manual dexterity and the talent to make appropriate prescriptions through systematic diagnosis were different in nature.

Of course, a doctor whose ability in one area reached the extreme could also perform decently in the other. But it was difficult to possess top-tier skills in both. Even Professor In Gyeonghak, called a master in academia, inwardly acknowledged that he was an 'acupuncture doctor,' and his medicine had not reached the same level.

But having experienced both of Kyungwoo's acupuncture and medicine after a long time...

'At this rate, it'll be embarrassing to be called his mentor.'

His student's achievements were so dazzling that he felt a sense of alarm. 'Ahem. The medicine really sticks to the palate.'

He had hired a new fellow and needed to schedule the surgery, but he was hesitant because the hospital director, who had been quiet for a while, was talking about management reform again.

RRR—

A phone call came in for Professor In, who was about to brush his teeth before rounds. He answered the phone warmly.

"Oh, what brings the Society President to call?"

He called him 'Society President,' but they were actually classmates. The days of their youth still felt vivid, but his classmates, now in their mid-50s, had all carved out a place for themselves in society.

The Korean Society of Oriental Science. Among the many societies in the Oriental medicine field, it held the most members. His classmate, Baek Hyeon-yeong, was serving as its president.

"Hmm... I have something to check."

The question came in abruptly, without even a greeting, as if the matter were urgent.

"You know the Oriental doctor Hyun Kyungwoo, right?"

"He's my student. Is something wrong?"

"A paper was submitted to our society two weeks ago. It's a clinical case study on CRPS."

"And?"

If it were CRPS, the severity of the disease was very high, so it wouldn't be commonly handled in local clinics, but if it were Kyungwoo, it was possible he had seen it.

"Well... the results are just too dramatic?"

"...?"

"I want to believe it, too, but I'm worried that later on, we might find out the test data was manipulated, or that Western medical treatments were administered during that period and omitted. The corresponding author for this paper is listed as himself, so I searched for other papers submitted by Hyun Kyungwoo, and those were all written under you."

The explanation was fast and without fluff. In Gyeonghak, who knew the perfectionist personality of his female classmate from college days, wore a wry smile.

"That won't happen. Don't worry."

"I'll send you the paper. Check it and talk to me again."

"Well, I can check it, but my answer won't change. He's a guy who could sufficiently produce such results, and he's more meticulous than I am when it comes to research."

Baek Hyeon-yeong was a little surprised at that.

"In Gyeonghak is saying this? Have you gotten old?"

"I haven't changed; that kid is just special. I'll stake my name on it. There's no need to doubt the authenticity of the paper."

"Hmm. Then can I put this paper in the session for this academic conference?"

In Gyeonghak tilted his head at that.

"If it's the Oriental Science Society conference, that's mid-January, isn't it? That's only three weeks away. Haven't the schedules already been announced?"

"For a paper like this, we can do an emergency review and add a special session. By the authority of the Society President."

At those words, a vague remark Kyungwoo had once made flashed through In Gyeonghak's mind.

-Professor, please get your surgery with peace of mind. I will try my best as well.

'Did he mean he was preparing this paper...'

At a time when the director of Gyeong-hyun University Hospital had recommended Western medical treatment to a CRPS patient first, if the fact that a local clinic had treated CRPS with Oriental medicine became a hot topic, it would inevitably put a brake on Hospital Director Seong Jae-yeong's actions.

'This kid is really...'

In Gyeonghak replied to Baek Hyeon-yeong.

"That's a good idea. I'm looking forward to it, too."

"You must be really confident. Still, I'll send you the paper, so take a look."

"Understood."

Professor In Gyeonghak, who opened the PDF file of the paper he had received, felt a thrill.

This was a paper that was bound to become a hot topic.