Do You Sleep Soundly These Days?
-How could such a thing happen...!
The Gamshin-tongmaek-rok was flustered.
It wasn't that it didn't want Kyungwoo to complete his tasks. On the contrary, it was in a position of cheering him on.
After all, he was a talent for a Master-level doctor that had appeared after such a long time.
However... it had its own planned procedures and expected milestones, and this current trainee was ignoring all of them without mercy.
This time was no different.
The Intractable Case Inquiry had opened, presenting the profound task of the nine intractable cases given to the trainee.
Because this task was of such high difficulty, the rewards for completing it were equally great.
Therefore, two conditions were attached.
The first was that he had to find the path entirely through the power of the physician, without any help from the book.
Kyungwoo had accomplished this easily.
-That, too, was a staggering feat...
Originally, this was the period when the trainee should be clinging to relentless training, upholding the heaven-like teachings the book bestowed. But this trainee had recognized the appropriate acupuncture points like a ghost immediately after the Pain Resonance Inquiry opened, and with that talent, he had quickly found the solution to the first intractable case.
But the part that was even harder to understand was...
-The period required to perform that combination and acupuncture to a perfect level should be four months!
The second condition: the four-month standard treatment period.
It was by no means an easy deadline to set, yet he had cut it by a whole month.
The book, which had tried to escape reality for a moment because it couldn't judge how to respond, let out a hollow exclamation of admiration as Kyungwoo forcibly flipped the page.
[How did you do this...]
The trainee was giggling, clutching his stomach and rolling around.
Yet, for some reason, that sight... looked a bit cool?
Flip-flip-flip-
The Gamshin-tongmaek-rok flipped through the pages again, trying to regain its composure.
Even if he was showing achievements that exceeded its predictions! Even if he had briefly touched the realm of a Master!
There was still a long way to go.
It, who had to lead the trainee to the ultimate path of medicine, must not lose its head and be swayed like this!
[Ah, how did you do it...]
However... it was already being swayed.
"It's a miraculous acupuncture technique, I tell you. So, what's the result? The standard period? Did I meet it?"
In the end, the book, having given up on getting an answer, began to tally the results. A moment later, an unexpected sentence appeared.
"...Case 2?"
Currently, Yang Jinwon was registered as Case 1, and another patient in Goesan-gun as Case 2. After it was decided he would move, he hadn't accepted any additional patients for the intractable case project.
And since the last incident, the book—which had become strangely sycophantic—had snuck Im Jia onto the list as Case 3. When asked why, since Kyungwoo had already taught him the treatment method for Jia, it had given an answer like a corrupt local government official, saying that such things could be adjusted at its own discretion. And not long ago, after seeing Shin Nakhyun, he had added his name as Case 4.
Among these, Yang Jinwon should be the only one who had reached the standard period at this point...
'Did Jia get much better, so they were counted together?'
That wasn't it.
Saving one who is in extreme pain is the divine mandate of a physician, and shortening the duration of treatment is an outstanding virtuous act that reduces the period of suffering.
You have rescued the patient from the swamp of pain by shortening the designated four-month standard period by a full month, which is truly beyond the realm of an ordinary person.
Therefore, I recognize a double achievement and will record it as having accumulated two merits with a single treatment.
'Oh!'
It had said that shortening the period would be reflected significantly in the progress of the 3rd chapter's training, but it was calculating it as double?
At times like this, it was strangely generous. Or perhaps, was shortening the period such a difficult feat?
'Wait? It works like this?'
Let's see. Before the Intractable Case 9 task appeared, the number of patients he could see while maintaining his mental and physical strength was six. If he added nine to that...!
'15! So, originally, if I completed up to Intractable Case 9, I would be able to see 15 patients a day! That person called the Master must have completed the 9 cases in one year.'
He had reached the realm of Hardened Body in an emergency situation, and his tolerance for pain had expanded significantly, but this was how one reached it through the normal route!
'Then... now 18!'
If he completed Intractable Cases 2 and 3 here, he would be able to see 20 patients a day. Also...
'The one-year mark since the Pain Resonance Inquiry opened is this August.'
Would he be able to complete the 9 intractable cases faster than that person called the Master? A strange sense of competitiveness surged, and his body itched. Because the growth of his ability meant that the day he would overturn his calling was drawing closer.
Kyungwoo made a phone call.
[Oh my, is this Director Kyungwoo?]
"How have you been? I went to continuing education and met the representative director, and I heard that you quit, Sera."
[Yes~ After you quit, Director, I was just starting to find the work a bit boring, and then I got scouted by a dermatology clinic, so I changed jobs. What a surprise, it's so good to hear from you. Is your body feeling a bit better, Director?]
Kang Sera. She was a staff member who assisted Kyungwoo during his time working at Daeo Oriental Hospital. She was a friend with good sense and work efficiency, making her easy to keep by his side, and she was promoted to chief when Kyungwoo became a second-year resident. Even after that, she was the staff member who looked after him until the very end, buying him time when Kyungwoo was struggling.
He had heard she quit, so he called just in case...
'She went back to Western medicine.'
She was a friend who originally started her career as a coordinator in dermatology and plastic surgery. She had taken a break from work to acquire a nursing assistant license in the middle, and after that, she had been hired at Daeo because she said she wanted to try working in an Oriental medicine clinic for once.
'What a waste.'
It wasn't just her sense; she was a person with a luxurious aura, so having her sit at the desk elevated the hospital's class. That was the reason she was quickly promoted to chief at Daeo as well. But he couldn't ask her to quit a job she was doing well at.
"I've gotten much better. You took good care of me back then, too, Sera."
[Oh my, I thought you were going to collapse back then. You kept seeing patients even while breaking out in cold sweats. It was truly heartbreaking to watch.]
"Haha."
[But what brings you to call? It's not because something happened, is it? Oh! Are you getting married, by any chance?]
"No. I just heard your name after a long time and was curious how you were doing, so I called. It's nice to hear your voice."
At those words, Kang Sera, who had been chattering away saying she was glad to hear from him too, suddenly asked.
[Oh, by the way, Director. Do you happen to know a place that's good at treating rhinitis?]
"Rhinitis? Did you get rhinitis, Sera?"
[No. It's my son.]
"Ah, Yuhyeon?"
Kang Sera was in her early 30s now; she was 29 when she first met Kyungwoo. She had married early and already had a child who was five or six years old back then.
"How old is Yuhyeon now?"
[He's going into second grade this year.]
"Is the rhinitis severe?"
[Yes. It's a bit severe. Having been at an Oriental medicine hospital, I don't want to just get by with antihistamines, and I've been to a couple of nearby Oriental clinics, but they were just so-so... If only you were nearby, Director, I'd go there right away.]
"Bring him."
At those words, Kang Sera was startled.
[Did you open your own clinic, Director? In Seoul?]
"I'm preparing to open in Gwanggyo. I'll be opening in early to mid-March."
[No, why didn't you start with that!]
Kang Sera rolled her eyes for a moment.
'Gwanggyo isn't far from home.'
She lived in Bundang. Although she was achieving good results at the dermatology clinic she was currently attending, the work wasn't as fun as when she worked with Kyungwoo. The very fact that she had joined an Oriental medicine hospital in the first place meant she had a unique romance for it.
'It was really fun back then.'
It was fascinating and rewarding to see patients who said they were dying of pain get better as soon as the Director's hands touched them. But strangely, she kept looking after him because he was always on the verge of death, and that surprisingly suited her aptitude. And above all else...
'If it's rhinitis treatment, he'll have to receive it for quite a long time, and if I'm at the clinic, I'll be able to rest easy when Yuhyeon comes for treatment.'
Her son's treatment was at stake. Of course, she was making such an assumption because she had already read Kyungwoo's intentions.
[Director, have you hired all your staff?]
'She's quick-witted as always...'
That was why she was easy to work with. "I have a staff member for the treatment room. I'm going to bring her from the clinic I'm currently at. I still need to hire for the desk."
[I know someone who works well!]
"That staff member seems to have a job already, doesn't she?"
[There's more than a month left, so I can just give notice and quit. The pay for this staff member is a bit high, but she said you don't have to feel too burdened because she'll take it as an incentive once the clinic grows and the revenue goes up!]
Kyungwoo chuckled. She was an interesting friend, as always.
"I'd be grateful if you could do that. I'll contact you when I go to Seoul, so let's meet. We need to write a contract, too."
[Great. Oh, I'm so excited. Come to think of it, it was most fun when I worked with you, Director.]
It would be even more fun now. He decided to leave how she would accept his changed self as a future pleasure...
"Yeah. I'll contact you."
Just like that, the staff problem was completely resolved.
'I wonder how Miyoung and Sera will get along...'
Their personalities were truly different... He couldn't quite imagine it yet.
After treatment on a Friday in early February, Kyungwoo headed to Suwon. Hyenin Oriental Hospital had switched to a five-day work week as it entered its final month. It was because there was a lot to do ahead of the opening. He drove on the highway to Suwon and arrived at the new clinic at 9 PM. But the lights were still on...?
"Hello."
"Ah, you're here, Director."
The company representative was doing decorative tile work with one of the workers. He had seen their faces almost every weekend since construction began, and they were skilled and quite affable people.
"Do you usually work until this time?"
"Hey, this is a special case. Nakhyun came by during the day today, too. He was so insistent, asking if this was all we'd done so far."
"The building owner?"
"Yes. What kind of relationship do you have with Nakhyun? It's the first time I've seen him act like that."
The boss shook his head, recalling Shin Nakhyun's semi-threats.
-When the Director contacts you, tell him you'll do this first no matter what.
-No, we have schedules booked...
-Then please return my investment money.
-Oh, Mr. Shin. What kind of disappointing words are those...
-Just do it. This place needs to open quickly. Oh, and give the quote with a clear conscience, thinking of it as your own younger brother's shop, okay?
-I don't have a younger brother...
-I'll just think that my mom gave birth to a younger brother at this age. Haha, that'll do, right!
A guy who was always relaxed and never had anything to be desperate for was doing something like urging. What on earth was their relationship...
"He's a former patient. I liked this location, and when I met the building owner, it turned out to be my patient."
"Wow, you must be a great doctor, Director. I'll definitely come by once you open."
Kyungwoo smiled and looked around the clinic. Seeing the space where the partition walls, wallpaper, and tiles were mostly finished, he could imagine the clinic somewhat completed. He entered the space for the Director's office. Considering hiring an associate director later if the number of patients increased, he had made two treatment rooms. He entered the larger room, which would be his own.
The representative director's office had a glass window, allowing a cool view of the outside, and the neon signs, which shone even brighter in the darkness of night, caught his eye.
[Somyung Oriental Clinic]
The moment he saw that, an interesting thought suddenly popped into Kyungwoo's head.
'Should I go once?'
Saturday morning. Director Lee Taeyoung looked at the building across the street with a sour expression as he arrived at work.
[New Oriental Clinic Opening Scheduled for March]
A large banner that had been put up a while ago was flapping on the front of the building. 'Who is coming in here as a new clinic? They must be either completely clueless or have a lot of nerve...'
The year before last, after buying the franchise rights for the Somyung Suwon Gwanggyo branch from the previous director for a huge sum, Lee Taeyoung had even expanded and relocated. Right here. Because he had thrown a winning move, bearing the high monthly rent and labor costs, the headquarters had supported him a lot. As a result of the name Somyung, a large clinic with four directors, and pouring money into local advertising, the Somyung Gwanggyo branch had become the number one clinic at this intersection.
'Don't they know that everything around here has gone bankrupt...'
He thought it must be some stupid person coming in without knowing anything, but for some reason, it bothered him. 'I should do some big events in March.'
Lee Taeyoung, who had made such a resolution, arrived at work. The staff bowed their heads to greet his appearance, and the associate directors also came out of their rooms, saluting with strict discipline, "Good morning, Representative Director!"
'Heh heh...'
The taste of success is indeed good. The clinic was busy all day today, too. Consulting frantically, receiving calls from the treatment room, smoothing over a situation where an associate director's patient wanted a refund on medicine by taking it upon himself, and running to the treatment room again...
'Let's get into the top 10 in revenue this month!'
He was spurring himself on to rank within the revenue rankings within the Somyung network. Even by using tricks like this.
"Director, please see this patient and take a first-time patient in bed 2."
"First-time patient?"
"Yes. They came without an appointment, but since the wait was too long and they were about to leave, I slightly put them into the treatment room. You told me to catch first-time patients no matter what."
"Well done. Chief Yoon has good sense, as expected."
After praising the chief, he walked toward bed 2. And the moment he pulled back the curtain,
"Good morni..."
He doubted his eyes. Lying there was...
"Hyun Kyungwoo...? Why are you here..."
"My feet were tingling, so I came for treatment."
"Feet?"
"Yeah. Do you sleep soundly these days?"
Grin-
Hyun Kyungwoo bared his teeth and smiled. 'Don't tell me he knows I spread the rumors and came to settle the score...'
Lee Taeyoung felt a chill run down his spine.