Chapter 4

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Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 4

Chapter Title: Doctor Lee Soo-yeon

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The next day after sending the email.

Normally, I'd spend a lazy weekend lounging at home, but today I had to head out, so I was bustling around busily.

I rummaged through what could barely be called a closet—a pathetic clothing rack.

'What should I wear?'

When going to the logistics center, I only wore comfy clothes that could get dirty without issue.

So my wardrobe was full of nothing but slightly shabby stuff.

'A doctor... and a private practitioner in Gangnam, no less.'

Last night.

Late into the night, I got an email from Lee Soo-yeon, the YouTuber doctor who sniped that germanium bracelet scam.

She must've replied after getting off work.

Doctors really are on another level.

In the video where she showed proof of being a doctor, she'd been pretty blunt: [You seem a bit mentally off], [I wanna meet you and see what kind of person you are], stuff like that.

But the email she sent me was incredibly polite.

[Hello, The Truth of the World.]

[This is Doctor Lee Soo-yeon.]

[I thoroughly enjoyed your video. If it's alright with you, could I treat you to a meal and do a little interview as fellow YouTubers?]

Guess that's what they mean by two-faced.

Her channel had gained over 10,000 subscribers overnight.

She'd hopped right on the rocket to stardom.

It might not be a full-on takedown video, but obviously she wanted to meet the guy in question, give him the germanium bracelet as a gag gift, and film his reaction.

If she pulled that off...

She'd solidify her spot in the Korean YouTube ecosystem for sure.

The email continued.

[And...]

[From your videos and comments, I'm a bit worried about your health.]

[As a doctor, if it's okay, I'd like to give you a check-up sometime.]

Hmm, looking at it now, she's consistent inside and out.

Even here, she was fretting over my mental health.

'A check-up?'

My mind was perfectly fine and healthy.

But the timing was hilariously perfect.

I'd cranked the AC too high last night and caught a cold.

My throat was scratchy, my nose was running—it'd probably be smart to swing by a clinic.

As those thoughts crossed my mind, I realized I was cutting it close and needed to head out.

In the end, I grabbed the least ratty shirt from the rack and threw it on.

Luckily, it was wrinkle-free material.

Anyway, Lee Soo-yeon wrapped up her email saying she wanted to build a good relationship as fellow YouTubers.

She'd clearly picked me as her ticket to blowing up.

'Using me as a stepping stone to grow her channel.'

It felt like she was using me, but...

Surprisingly, it didn't bother me.

No, actually, I kinda liked it.

When else would I get a chance to grab a private meal with a doctor?

'She's obviously using me too. Might as well enjoy it.'

I replied to her meet-up suggestion without hesitation, agreeing right away.

We coordinated schedules and set it for soon after.

And so, I boarded the bus to meet Doctor Lee Soo-yeon.

Staring blankly out the window, I got bored and fired up the AI app.

'Time to make some money.'

About 20 minutes to destination?

I could knock out one video in that time.

First, I opened the YouTube app to check comments.

The wisdom of the crowd can be surprisingly helpful sometimes.

Hmm... nothing useful.

Everyone's just talking about the doctor—no real ideas.

Then it hit me: Lee Soo-yeon being a doctor.

'That's it.'

The doctor theme.

It dovetailed perfectly with Lee Soo-yeon, who I was about to meet.

I switched back to the AI app and punched in a prompt.

'Make a video about [Doctors treat and prescribe for themselves when they're sick].'

The AI popped up [Searching...] for a sec...

Then suddenly threw up a warning.

"Shut up."

I ignored the warning and hit [Generate].

I already knew doctors could self-prescribe anything except narcotics.

As long as they didn't charge a consultation fee, it was legally fine.

'This idiot Shorts-making AI trying to lecture me?'

I chuckled it off and hit [Download].

I had no idea what this AI really was, but it at least steered clear of legal landmines.

I wonder if it warned about that nonsense about instant ramen being coated in wax?

'Pretty useful.'

Lost in thought, the generation finished.

Another three-minute wonder, like the cup ramen one.

The images were American cartoon-style drawings.

A doctor jabbing a muscle shot into his own butt.

I uploaded it straight to The Truth of the World channel.

Less than 10 minutes later, comments exploded.

This one felt plausible, so people were eating it up.

I hearted and pinned only the ones asking if it was a Lee Soo-yeon sniper shot.

Adding fuel to the fire.

Lee Soo-yeon was probably watching this right now too.

'Wonder how she'll feel before meeting me.'

I cackled and pocketed my phone.

Man, I'm so immature.

Before I knew it, I arrived.

The meeting spot with Doctor ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Lee Soo-yeon was a quiet cafe in Seoul.

No crowds, super peaceful.

Did private Gangnam docs really come to places like this for coffee?

I went in, said I was waiting for someone, held off on ordering, bought a bottle of water, and sat down.

About 10 minutes later.

Screeech—

A harsh brake sound from outside.

A bright red sports car pulled up.

'Whoa... even sports car owners come to a place like this for coffee?'

I didn't know the model, but it screamed "more than 10 years of my salary combined."

And... Lee Soo-yeon stepped out of the sports car.

Not in a white coat, but dressed like a model.

She slipped off her sunglasses—way prettier in person than in videos, by a factor of ten.

She scanned the cafe, locked eyes with me huddled in the corner, and strode over without hesitation. Click-clack.

Her perfume hit me like a wave.

"Are you... [The Truth of the World] by any chance?"

She said my channel name.

I nodded yes and showed her my phone.

The channel dashboard convinced her. She stood there tapping through my videos.

"25 million views... 18 million views..."

She skimmed the numbers, nodded, and took off her sunglasses.

"Verified."

Then she sat across from me.

She crossed her legs, and my eyes drifted down involuntarily.

"But..."

She eyed me up and down.

"How old are you?"

"Twenty-eight."

"Twenty-eight?" She squinted.

I was used to it.

"Nah, no way. You don't look it. Lie to noona and you'll get in trouble?"

"Not lying."

"Noona's twenty-seven this year."

She propped her chin on her hand, smiling at me.

"But Min-jae... oh, Min-jae, right? Saw it in your YouTube handle."

"Yeah."

"Where do you get twenty-eight from? You look like a total baby."

I got why she misunderstood.

I looked younger than my age.

On the bus, drivers make me cancel and re-scan as a student.

It's awkward sometimes.

I silently pulled out my wallet from my pocket.

"Here."

I showed my driver's license.

My resident registration number was clear as day.

Only then did Lee Soo-yeon check my birthdate and widen her eyes.

"Whoa... for real?"

I put the license away.

"Ahem..."

She cleared her throat awkwardly and straightened up.

"Can't call you oppa no matter what. I'll just call you by name casually. Cool?"

"Sure. 'Oppa' feels weird to me anyway. Whatever's comfy."

"Alright, Min-jae. Ordered a drink? What'll you have? My treat."

"Ice Americano then."

She went to the counter and ordered an ice Americano.

She brought it back quick, handed me one, rummaged in her bag, and placed a small recorder on the table.

For the video?

"Okay, down to business."

Her eyes shifted to 'Doctor Lee Soo-yeon' mode.

"What on earth got you posting stuff like that? You a specialist?"

"Nah, just..."

I kept the AI generation secret and spun my prepared lie.

"Shorts are flooded with misinformation, so I leaned hard into that concept. People don't believe the truth these days anyway. Figured I'd just piss everyone off."

"Oh... on purpose, backwards?"

She nodded, buying my plausible story.

"Impressive. Mentally too. You get roasted hard."

"I actually enjoy the roasting."

She smirked.

Like she was one of us.

"Saw your morning 'Doctor Self-Treatment' video too."

"What'd you think, as a doctor?"

"We doctors go to regular hospitals ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠when we're sick. For a simple cold, we might rough-prescribe, but nearby pharmacies don't always stock what we need."

"Yeah. Ortho-area pharmacies have ortho meds... that kinda thing?"

"Exactly. Our clinic's near ophtho, ENT, urology, OB-GYN, so we've got variety."

She chuckled and plopped her bag on the table.

Then pulled out an item.

That shiny bracelet from her video.

The real germanium deal.

"Here, gift."

"..."

"Try it on. For the verification video."

She raised her phone to video mode.

Recording started; time to film.

I took the bracelet wordlessly.

Cold metal wrapped around my wrist.

"Alright, The Truth of the World. One-word impression."

Lee Soo-yeon giggled while filming.

"So, wearing it—feel the negative ions, far-infrared rays... any of that?"

"..."

I gave a wry smile and fiddled with the germanium bracelet.

"Not really. Maybe my nose is too stuffy. Sniff."

I snorted from the cold.

She burst out laughing at my response.

She filmed enough, stopped recording, and set her phone down.

"Caught a cold? Voice sounds hoarse."

"Yeah. Blasted the AC too hard last night."

"They say fans kill you, but AC doesn't?"

"Ahem..."

"Well, since we're here, wanna hit the clinic? I'll hook you up with a shot and some meds."

"I'd appreciate that."

Lee Soo-yeon stood.

She led me out and casually opened the passenger door of that red sports car for me.