Chapter 136
Chapter 136
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 136
Chapter Title: Kwon Soo-yeon
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Kwon Soo-yeon woke up in her hospital room the next morning.
This wasn't the first time she'd awakened. She'd already come to the previous night and met her parents and brothers. That's when she heard that Na Gang-in had saved her.
"It wasn't a dream after all."
She reached for her phone.
"I need to call... Oh. My phone's smashed."
A brand-new phone sat on the table right beside her. The one the culprit had stomped to pieces had been taken by the police as evidence. Her eldest brother had brought the new one.
She recalled Na Gang-in's number from the day before.
"The number was definitely..."
Kwon Soo-yeon dialed it and hit call.
Na Gang-in rarely answered unknown numbers. But he picked this one up.
"Hello."
- Gang-in. It's me.
As expected, Kwon Soo-yeon.
"Yeah. You okay?"
- They say no issues.
Na Gang-in tilted his head.
"You looked pretty off though?"
Kwon Soo-yeon smoothly changed the subject.
- You still remember that vacant lot? Well, you can't forget a place like that.
Na Gang-in had no clue what she meant. He just glossed over it.
"Figured you'd be hanging around there. Where are you now?"
- Hospital.
Kwon Soo-yeon named the hospital. It was a general hospital not far from Na Gang-in's place.
"That's close. I'll swing by to visit."
Na Gang-in found Kwon Soo-yeon's room. He'd even whipped up some light, easy-to-eat dishes for someone recovering and brought them along.
"Try a bit of this. I made it."
Kwon Soo-yeon gave a wry smile and shook her head slightly.
"No thanks. My stomach's bothering me. Can't eat much."
"Thought you said you were good now?"
"I am. The doctors here are top-notch."
"I know."
Na Gang-in chatted with her about everyday stuff.
He tried steering things toward the past naturally, but it fell flat. After going on at length about yesterday's school incident, Kwon Soo-yeon's energy flagged, forcing them to wrap up.
Na Gang-in stepped out of the room.
"This girl sure loves to talk."
- All talk, zero useful intel.
Surgeon Kim Jung-seok stood up ahead. Na Gang-in approached and called out.
"Kim Jung-seok?"
Kim Jung-seok whipped around, startled.
"Whoa! Na Gang-in? What brings you here...?"
"Glad I ran into you. Got some questions about a patient admitted here."
Kim Jung-seok glanced around. Too many ears nearby.
"Sorry. Can't share patient info offhand..."
A page blared for Kim Jung-seok. He bowed quickly and dashed off.
Na Gang-in clicked his tongue.
"Kwon Soo-yeon doesn't seem like it's just exhaustion..."
Lee Yeon-ji, wandering the hall, spotted him.
"Ah! Uncle! Here to visit?"
"You still admitted?"
"Tch. Nah. Discharging tomorrow."
"Good for you."
Lee Yeon-ji grinned mischievously.
"Once I'm out, I'm going entertainer first. When I shoot action flicks, give me a big push, Uncle."
"Kid who hasn't even dipped a toe in showbiz, already dreaming action star?"
"Hehe. Gotta dream big. That's how you score even a little. Tiny dreams mean tiny wins."
"Yeah. Big dreams suit your age. But looks to me... think you got it?"
Lee Yeon-ji cupped her face.
"Eun-ha sis said my looks match hers. Just need acting chops now."
"That biz is packed with pretty faces tanking 'cause they can't act."
"Tch. Zero support from you. So why're you at the hospital, Uncle?"
"Visiting a friend."
Na Gang-in nodded toward Kwon Soo-yeon's room.
"That one."
Lee Yeon-ji had no idea Na Gang-in was Doctor Noname.
"Uncle's got friends, huh."
"Pipe down."
Na Gang-in was heading out down the hall when he crossed paths with Section Chief Lee Jeong-ho.
"Huh? Na Gang-in? What brings you... here for Yeon-ji, maybe?"
"No. Friend's admitted. Came to visit."
Lee Jeong-ho's eyes lit up.
"Perfect timing. Spare a sec?"
Lee Jeong-ho led him to his office and laid out the situation.
"Another severe Kaitiger syndrome case. But the father found out about Yeon-ji's successful surgery."
"How'd word leak?"
"Spotted Yeon-ji here and connected dots, probably. Now he's raising hell for surgery on his girl."
Lee Jeong-ho added hastily.
"Didn't drop your name. Used Doctor Noname."
"Doctor Noname. Not even a doctor. So why loop me in?"
Lee Jeong-ho pleaded.
"Could you at least hear the patient's story?"
AI Jeon Ji-in objected.
- Extra surgery's risky. Avoid any arrest scenarios.
"Tough call. Civilian life on the line."
- Clashes with mission. Need HQ call. No way to reach them.
"Infuriating, right?"
- Affirmative.
"Same."
Na Gang-in had been conferring with the AI, gaze elsewhere. Lee Jeong-ho figured he was mulling it over. To persuade, he pulled up patient details on the big office TV.
"This is the patient."
Na Gang-in glanced at the screen.
'Huh?'
Kwon Soo-yeon's photo filled one side. Next to it, a brief illness summary.
Lee Jeong-ho detailed the symptoms.
"Kaitiger syndrome hit her stomach—one of the spots. As you know, it's organ anomalies, not cancer. New tissue growth inside; just excise surgically to cure."
He pulled up the CT scan.
"But hers grew on the outer stomach wall. Eating makes it move, agony. Too much food, life-threatening."
He showed more.
"Smaller versions in other organs too. Full removal surgery? Can't wrap in under an hour. Only you and I can save this patient..."
Na Gang-in cut in.
"I'll do it."
"Pardon?"
AI Jeon Ji-in warned.
- More people in the know amps the risk.
"Gotta anyway. Kwon Soo-yeon knows the old me. Tons to ask."
- Your call, Agent.
Lee Jeong-ho hadn't expected such quick assent.
'So life-focused. I fretted pointlessly all this time.'
"Thank you."
"But secrecy must be airtight."
"Naturally. No name, no face to the family. Caught, we're all sunk. Haha."
Lee Jeong-ho first briefed his wife, Son Mi-yeon, and disciple Kim Jung-seok.
Son Mi-yeon was all for it.
"Saving just our girl? Feel bad. Skip it and she dies, Kwon boss won't shut up."
Kim Jung-seok backed it for different reasons.
"Last surgery with Chief and Na... Doctor Noname? Eye-opening. Want to learn more."
The hitch: plastic surgeon Son Seong-hyeon, who'd supply the OR.
Son Seong-hyeon whined over the phone from Lee Jeong-ho's call.
- Bro-in-law, wasn't that a one-off? Not even my niece—why hand over my OR? Caught, my hospital's toast!
"Father's loaded. If it shuts you down, he'll pay up."
- Huh? For real?
"But no catch, no cash. Has to be pro bono. Paid surgery caught? No alibis. All of us locked up."
- Er... Fine. But this is absolutely the last.
Lee Jeong-ho quietly summoned Kwon Dong-jin.
Kwon Dong-jin asked cautiously.
"Word from Doctor Noname...?"
"Yes. Explained your daughter's case. He'll operate."
Kwon Dong-jin threw his hands up in exaltation.
"Yesss! Thank you!"
Lee Jeong-ho shushed urgently.
"Kwon boss. Secrecy's everything here. Caught, we're done. No shouting..."
"Right, right. Heh heh. Overjoyed."
"Ironclad secret."
"Of course. Even from family."
High schooler Lee Yeon-ji dropped by grad student Kwon Soo-yeon's room for fun.
"Hi."
"Oh. Who're you?"
"Sis is Uncle Gang-in's friend, yeah?"
"Huh? How do you know Gang-in?"
Lee Yeon-ji grinned.
"Hehe. We're tight."
"Really?"
Kwon Soo-yeon was dying to know how Na Gang-in had been these years. His visit today got sidetracked by school drama; no past catch-up.
"Pull up a chair? Haven't seen him in forever."
"Hmm... Where to start. Ah! Wanna hear about Cheongpyeong Lake? I killed it there."
"Cheongpyeong Lake?"
"Drug outfit holed up there back then. Wiped now. So yeah..."
Kwon Dong-jin hurried to his daughter's room. He spotted Lee Yeon-ji emerging.
"Huh? That's gotta be..."
Lee Yeon-ji breezed past, not recognizing him. Paper bag in hand.
Lee Yeon-ji snickered en route.
"Heh heh. All that yummy grub's mine."
Kwon Dong-jin turned back.
"Dr. Lee Jeong-ho's daughter for sure..."
Photos only, but unmistakable. His face bloomed.
"She's truly healed. Surgery worked."
He entered. Kwon Soo-yeon paused mid-recline.
"Dad, here now? No work?"
Kwon Dong-jin scanned the empty VIP room.
"Soo-yeon. Listen up."
Kwon Soo-yeon tensed.
"Am I worse off...?"
"No. Got a way to operate."
Her eyes went wide.
"Huh? But they said surgery's impossible."
"Girl who just left?"
"Yeon-ji?"
"Right. Lee Yeon-ji. Dr. Lee Jeong-ho's daughter—same disease as you."
"But she's out tomorrow?"
"Surgery nailed it, full recovery. You're getting the same."
Kwon Soo-yeon pieced it together. Her pupils quivered.
"So I... can live?"
"Damn right! I'll make sure of it!"
Her mind got it, but it didn't feel real.
"Mom? Does she know?"
Kwon Dong-jin hardened.
"No."
"Why!"
"Whole thing's under wraps. No leaks. You stay clueless too—just get the surgery."
"But why..."
"Reasons. I'll tell Mom when set. You? Mouth shut forever. Now and post-recovery."
"Everyone knows I'm sick though. Lab folks, friends... What do I tell them? Still ill?"
"No. Say you got treated, all better. Period. Outsiders don't know the disease. Docs don't either."
"Got it."
Felt off, but she rolled with it. Surgery meant survival—that mattered.
Kwon Dong-jin gone, Kwon Soo-yeon alone.
Now it sank in.
"Ah... Play my cards right, I'll live. Eat real food, dive back into research..."
Na Gang-in's earlier dish popped to mind. Couldn't eat it herself, so handed the sealed container to Lee Yeon-ji intact.
Lee Yeon-ji's verdict replayed.
'Uncle's cooking is seriously insane. Sis should've joined.'
'I'm good—take it.'
'Score!'
Kwon Soo-yeon hesitated, then texted Na Gang-in.
- Cook again when I'm better? Eat together then.
Na Gang-in didn't check right away. She waited; read count vanished, reply pinged.
- Yeah
She beamed, settling into bed. For now, that reply sufficed.
The world looked rose-tinted.