Chapter 14
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: Surprisingly Strict Parents
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Oh? You didn't raise your son spoiled after all?
I watched with great interest as the person I had long admired handled things.
"You wrecked two Mercedes and now this accident."
"...I'm sorry."
"Drunk driving recidivism, no less? There's a limit to dragging my name through the mud."
Jo Haneul couldn't budge an inch as he begged his mother.
But she didn't flinch.
"I've talked it over with your mother. Handle this one on your own."
"What? Dad!"
"I've told Hayeong not to give you a dime, so don't even think about begging your sister."
Professor Jo Hoyeong was resolute too.
"Dad, then... No, how much did you hear? If you don't help, I might end up in jail."
"That might be for the best."
Director Choi Eunhui even let out a smirk.
"Drunk driving means no insurance coverage, right? Take a leave, serve your time, pay off the debt when you get out—perfect."
"M-Mom!"
Jo Haneul couldn't muster a proper word, just trembled.
After a long while, he finally managed to speak.
"I have to graduate from school. You told me to go there yourself."
"Forget all that. I'll pretend I have no son. Pay it all off, then take an extra semester or drop out—do whatever you want!"
Director Choi Eunhui said that, got in the car.
They had come in person to deliver the message, and the couple left just like that.
"Ah..."
Jo Haneul stared blankly at the departing car.
"Let's go."
Leaving him behind, Hwang Seoyeong and I exited the parking lot.
Hwang Sanghun hesitated on whether to console Jo Haneul, then gave up and got in his own car.
Abandoned by his once-proud family, he stood frozen in place for a long time.
A few days later, graduation exam results came out.
I took first place, pulling far ahead not just of Jo Haneul, but Hwang Sanghun too.
"You'll need to receive the top graduate medal, so make sure to attend the ceremony."
Plenty of time left in the grade viewing period, but the department head had given me a heads-up.
"Wow, ruthless!"
"She actually did it."
Seong Jieun sunbae, who'd seen me study up close, and Hwang Seoyeong both gave me thumbs up. Their grades had improved a ton from last semester too.
"Just leave the national exam to me."
"Eh, I studied so hard for the grad exam that I can slack a bit on the national one..."
"Tsk, no slacking. Aim for perfect scores on every test and give it your all!"
The national exam in January just needed a pass, but no reason to waste the perfect chance to cram all that vast modern medical knowledge into my head.
I didn't let go of my books for a second until the day of the exam.
Time passed like that.
I passed the national exam with flying colors, of course.
And soon after, the graduation ceremony.
Almost every student showed up for the university event, but Jo Haneul was nowhere to be seen.
Rumor had it he'd had a huge fight with Hwang Sanghun, holed up, and even failed the national exam... No way, really?
"Congrats on topping the class."
Hwang Sanghun suddenly acted all chummy with his greeting.
"Uh, yeah. You too, sunbae."
He'd barely scraped by without the gold medal and plaque on stage, but his face showed no regret.
I thought about asking about Jo Haneul but dropped it. Not my business anymore.
"I thought we'd end up working together. Too bad."
Hwang Sanghun was hung up on something random.
Avoiding the nightmare of being coworkers with Jo Haneul was a win unrelated to me, right?
Out of our class, he was the only one interning at Jaegyo Hospital. As soon as his license came through, he started training and work.
The more I saw his worn-out face, the more convinced I was that my choice was right.
"I told you last time I'm not doing it..."
Professor Lee Minseok had already stopped by. He'd listed all the perks again, urging me to reconsider, but failed to sway me.
"What are your plans going forward...?"
"Resting for a while."
Even when Hwang Seoyeong suggested we join Hwangje Korean Medicine Hospital together, I turned it down.
I'd made up my mind long ago.
Do nothing.
More diligently than anyone, do absolutely nothing.
Because I'd studied way too hard for certain someones.
"Alright... If you ever need help job hunting or scouting a clinic to open, give me a call."
Huh. What, he a real estate pro now? I nodded vaguely anyway.
Not like I'd ever contact him.
Hwang Sanghun fidgeted with his mouth several times before Kim Mingyu and Lee Cheoljin dragged him outside.
I took photos with Hwang Seoyeong and a few close classmates, then hit the afterparty.
Seong Jieun sunbae, outgoing as ever, had her job lined up and planned to start right after licensing.
The other classmates were prepping jobs or planning overseas trips.
Unlike them, my plan was no plan, so all I'd done was sign a one-room lease.
Needed somewhere to go once the dorm kicked me out.
"Ah, freedom at last."
Leaving the school I'd grown a bit attached to, I shouted my liberation.
Now it was time to have some real fun.
"Aigoo~ Stamina full. Time to grind events."
Morning routine: always mobile games!
Ordered delivery, set auto-battles running a few times, and food arrived soon enough. I ate heartily while clearing dailies.
Next?
PC games, obviously. Mobile's just a side gig.
Until when?
Till I crash from sleepiness.
Next day, same routine.
"Argh, why can't enhancements ever work first try!"
The same days dragged on.
"Finally SSR! Wow, a day where I don't hit pity."
And so April rolled around.
"Ugh..."
"Seoyeong! Good work! Want a shoulder rub?"
"Thanks..."
Hwang Seoyeong, who'd started at Hwangje Korean Medicine Hospital and been swamped adjusting, finally came over after ages.
"You've been living like this the whole time?"
She spotted my dual monitors running NewTube and two games.
"Yup."
"Lucky. I should've taken a break too..."
"Hang in there. Fighting!"
The more I saw her suffer, the more right my choice felt.
I spent every moment not eating, sleeping, or doing chores in the cyber world.
"No way this is real. Total fake."
Got hyped or mad at dumb NewTube stories.
"Maybe take a trip?"
Toured the world via streams.
May arrived.
"Travel... China? Hell no. Japan... what if something like China happens? No money for Americas or Europe."
Staying home felt stuffy, but no urge to go anywhere.
Once, a domestic trip to Gangwon-do.
But phone was more fun than fresh air and qigong.
"Yeowon."
One day, Hwang Seoyeong said seriously.
"You really not job hunting?"
"Huh?"
"This spot in Yongin—decent commute. Why not toss in a resume?"
She'd even scoured job sites and found a deputy director gig.
"Hmm..."
Only then did I start pondering my future.
In the murim, I'd only dreamed of returning to modern Korea.
No rest there ever.
- Divine Physician, please save our son!
- My grandmother won't eat. Could you just check her pulse?
How could I turn away those desperately begging me?
I treated every patient without refusal, researching Soul Return Great Law in spare moments.
Finally succeeded with the great law, thought I'd rest plenty, but came back to immediate semester start.
Had to get the license, so student life was the only path.
Passed grad and national exams, graduated.
Achieved all goals. Time to enjoy... or so I thought.
'Gotta work to eat, right?'
I scratched my head.
"Lemme play a bit more and think it over."
Not enough yet.
"Okay. Just worried, that's all. Don't mind me."
I checked my dwindling bank balance, then fired up games.
Gearing up my character mattered more.
Finally summer. June.
"Hmm..."
Nothing to do.
Full vitality top-ups on mobile, grinding games, but content drought.
PC gear incomplete, but 200 raid clears got boring.
I impulse-deleted the game.
"So empty. Is this the void of total accomplishment?"
Even NewTube ran dry.
Checked subscribed channels daily, but even frequent uploads maxed at 1-2 a day.
"Any new content...?"
Installed unplayed games, deleted them; hunted new NewTubers, clicked shorts.
"Oh?"
One thumbnail caught my eye.
[If There Are No Difficulties, You're on the Wrong Path.]
Motivational vids? Never watched one in six months—how'd this hit my algorithm?
I watched, mesmerized.
'Difficulties... Sigh, none lately. Not even raid clear highs.'
A wave of self-loathing hit. Days treating tough patients, empathizing with their pain, flashed back.
Soon, related video autoplayed.
[Working 16 Hours a Day, 120 Hours a Week, 52 Weeks a Year—and People Still Call Me Lucky.]
That EV-and-spaceship CEO's famous quote.
I sat up straight, watched on.
'...Cool.'
Watching that man's Mars dreams ignited my chest.
'No, this ain't it. Can't live like this.'
I'd once dreamed impossibles, filling days to the brim.
Those busy, tough times felt happier than this do-whatever-now phase.
Master said something similar. Striving toward mad desires makes the most beautiful life.
I resolved.
"Time to see patients."
Logged into the Korean medicine community, hit job transfers board.
Clicked the top post.
Someone moving cities, transferring their clinic.
"Opening my own."
Commented right away: Coming to check it out.
Reply in under 10 seconds. Set up a meet with the director.
28 hours later, stamped the contract.
Clinic transfer done, next evening.
Called Hwang Seoyeong out for dinner.
Heading afar soon—last supper, right?
"Sweet! Calling Jieun unnie too!"
She'd worried about me holing up, invited Seong Jieun too.
"Yeowon~ Seoyeong~ Been good?!"
First meet since graduation, she greeted us brightly.
"Yeowon still jobless? Want me to hook you up?"
Must've heard from Hwang Seoyeong; Seong Jieun fretted.
Appreciated, but I'd decided.
"Nah, I went and opened my own clinic. Signed the contract!"
Hwang Seoyeong and Seong Jieun's eyes went wide.
"What?"
"Suddenly?"
"...You're serious?"
Showed the stamped contract.
"No heads-up!"
"Prepping all this time?"
They rapid-fired questions.
"No, saw a NewTube vid that inspired me."
"Huh?"
"Who from?"
"This girl. Bought his autobiography! Swapped wallpaper to space."
Proudly showed my purchase.
"...Space? No way."
Their looks turned weird.
Why? I'd been in murim forever, but he's famous worldwide, right?
"Uh... I mean, hold on."
"Book and wallpaper aside."
"You read that autobiography, got inspired, and signed a transfer deal?"
Technically NewTube, but the book was moving too.
I nodded.
"Joy from 120-hour weeks? So cool! Planning 7 AM opens!"
Seong Jieun gaped; Hwang Seoyeong faceplanted and clawed her hair.
"Aaaah! You're insane!"
"Hey, why didn't you stop her?"
"Nooo, thought she was chilling too hard, but this explosion?!"
Why? What?
Clueless to their freakout, I tilted my head and stroked the book.