Chapter 145
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 145
Chapter Title: Family Feud at the Grave
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“The whole family would be there on Grandma's death anniversary, so I figured I'd swing by briefly two days later.”
“Ah.”
She must've been pretty close to Grandma after all?
When I asked, Hwang Sanghun shook his head.
“It's not like we had any grand memories or anything... Just, when I was little, she made me fried eggs once, and it's been stuck in my head. Honestly, if she were still alive, I probably wouldn't have reached out.”
“That makes sense.”
“Grandpa's always been super strict about family events. We'd all gather not just for memorials, but birthdays and anniversaries too, just to listen to his stories. But after I left home, I haven't gone once. This time, my brother called and said at least visit the grave, so I did.”
I could picture their family dynamic.
I don't keep in touch with relatives either, but if someone passes, I'd probably make a trip.
“So I planned to just stop by with my brother and pay respects.”
“And?”
“...He brought Dad along.”
“Ah.”
“He goes on this whole rant about how I lack perseverance for quitting my training, and I'm about to leave when he pulls another one—says if I can't hack it, go into public health instead. Claims he's set up a PhD program at Johns Hopkins for me.”
Right. Grandpa had mentioned wanting to make Hwang Sanghun a professor no matter what.
For clinical fields like Korean internal medicine or Korean neurology and psychiatry, residency training was the bare minimum.
You do internship and residency at a hospital while pursuing a PhD at university, build experience as an adjunct instructor during fellowship, publish papers, and compete for a spot when one opens—that's the standard path.
But non-clinical subjects like anatomy, pharmacology, physiology, pathology, or herbal formulas don't require clinical training.
Like other non-medical departments, you just need a PhD and research credentials.
For fields like pharmacology or public health, where research is more active abroad, foreign degrees carry even more weight.
One of my alma mater's public health and nutrition professors had done her PhD in the UK and had WHO experience.
Seemed like Grandpa wanted Hwang Sanghun on that track.
“Grandpa's prepared this whole path for you, blah blah... He kept repeating the same crap from when I stormed out last time. I thought I'd lose my mind. I told him we'd agreed I'd leave empty-handed and that was that, but it was like talking to a wall. No matter how well I'm doing, he tries to convince me—except there's no logic, no negotiation, just yelling. ...Because it used to work.”
Of course, he's thrilled with his current life, so he turned it down.
Just thinking about his dad made him shudder in horror.
“So what'd you do?”
“Bolted.”
“Bolted? You met at the grave, so...”
“It's kinda in the mountains. I took the bus that comes once an hour to get up there, but when it was time to head down... no bus.”
“...”
“So I ran down.”
Hwang Sanghun grinned sheepishly.
“Must be thanks to the PT you hooked me up with—my stamina's improved. My brother's a total workout beast, but I shook him off and escaped.”
Wait, so he filmed an episode of Running Man on the mountain?
The mental image was absurd.
Three stern guys in suits gathered, Dad yelling, Hwang Sanghun sprinting away, brother chasing after...
What a fun bunch.
“Tough break.”
“Seriously, it was brutal. Didn't catch a taxi until I reached the bottom.”
“Not regretting it, though? Sounded like a solid opportunity.”
“Not one bit. Zero desire to go back to school. I'm happiest right now.”
I asked just in case, but he was firm.
“Planning to work here for life.”
Most sharp, quick-witted deputy directors bail within a year max to open their own clinics—that's the norm.
For some reason, Hwang Sanghun seemed anxious I'd push him to leave.
“Yeah, yeah. Suit yourself.”
If it were me, I'd have opened my own place the second I felt confident... But everyone's goals and comfort zones differ.
A deputy director this reliable is rare, so I welcomed it.
“Speaking of which, I have a favor to ask.”
Vacation was over, brief handover done.
I slid in the topic I'd been holding back until after his leave.
“Mind covering for me for about ten days next time?”
“Huh? Where to?”
“Wanna try a Europe trip.”
He easily connected the dots since I'd mentioned Rich's free hotel stay offer.
“If it's that, of course it's fine. Never been to Europe?”
“Nope. Only foreign trip was that training stint in China—first and last.”
“You have to go. Stay longer than ten days if you want; I don't mind.”
“I'll wait till you're more settled in as director... but you'll basically be in charge...”
“Don't worry about it. Go have fun.”
Hwang Sanghun flashed a reassuring smile.
Not the type to stress over the boss being away, yet opening his own place spooks him?
Anyway, with his okay, I relaxed and started planning.
Better with company than solo, right?
Who to ask...
Choo Mi-young crossed my mind, but her clinic's just her and Director Daejin—no way she could take ten days off.
Not a business trip like Jeju, and dragging her on vacation might be awkward.
Friends are for this stuff.
I texted Hwang Seoyeong.
She's busy too—might not work. Heard she went to a conference in Europe recently, but vacation time's probably tight.
Hwangje Korean Medicine Hospital hires more residents than university hospitals, but still...
Eh, if no, I'll go alone.
No reply from Hwang Seoyeong till I finished clinic that day.
Phone rang near midnight.
“- Yay! Let's go! I wanna go so bad! How long's it been since we hung out?”
Positive response—nice.
“Can you swing the time off?”
“- Yup! Tons of leave saved up! Haven't taken vacation this year, so I can adjust. Sunday to Sunday, about 8 days! You good timing-wise?”
“Yeah, Sanghun oppa's happy to cover.”
“- Kyaa! So cool!”
I explained the Rich chairman story.
Free stay at any Rich hotel worldwide—no lodging costs.
Plus, new acquaintance in Rome, so ideally include Italy.
“- Whoa, you're killing it! Italian tycoon? Insane.”
“Just kinda happened.”
“- Knew you were good, but... nah, didn't expect this. Thought you were nuts opening a solo clinic, but you're pulling patients from around the world on skill alone.”
“Whoa, overkill. This guy's pure coincidence.”
“- Coincidence my foot! The referrer was so blown away by your skills—grateful turned to awe—that it led to an Italian billionaire!”
Come to think of it, it started with Kim Jin-sang. He brought Park Sun-yoon, leading to Park Se-seon, Nam Hyun-jung, and Rich.
With side branch Hyun Joo-mi, no one's raving like that, right?
Getting embarrassed by more praise, I changed topics.
“Anyway, 7 nights 8 days—too short for multi-country?”
“- Yeah. Southern Italy loop or Italy-France duo sounds perfect. Sorry I can't do longer~! If you extend, hit UK or Switzerland! Switzerland's my fave!”
No need.
Sanghun said longer's fine, but it'd burden him more.
Just going was enough.
Sticking with well-traveled Hwang Seoyeong would be comfy too.
“7 nights 8 days is plenty. Once leave's approved, book flights and plan.”
“- Awesome! Sanghun oppa doing good?”
Since she asked about her cousin, I shared his story briefly.
“Yup. Says he'll stick around forever.”
“- Must love it there. Take good care of him~! Don't forget my spot!”
“Heard your grandpa prepped a US PhD slot for him—you know?”
“- For real?”
Random thought, but she seemed clueless.
“- More serious than I thought. Whole family gathered for Grandma's memorial recently? Grandpa was sighing at Uncle a lot then. Still hasn't given up, huh.”
“Oh... He say anything to you?”
“- Mom and Dad crushed all family hopes ages ago.”
Yeah, that's the way to live free.
The obedient kid snaps one day and cuts ties.
Chatting with Hwang Seoyeong dragged into dawn.
“- You work tomorrow? Sleep! I held you up!”
Circadian adjustment's quick for me, but late it was—I hung up.
And the next day.
“Director, hi.”
“Hi... Huh?”
Jin Minjeong stood awkwardly at the desk.
Not her shift day.
Did I mix up the schedule? Peeked inside—nope, her day off.
“She says she needs to register.”
Seol Yuhee, already at the desk, explained.
Jin Minjeong rubbed her waist sheepishly.
“Hurt somewhere? Injured?”
Fine yesterday, but her stance was off.
If after work, gym or home.
“Tweaked your back? Gym mishap?”
“...Director, you got cameras?”
No other likely spots.
She looked shocked.
“How'd it happen?”
Her face flushed.
“Deadlift. Trainer said don't chase weight, take it slow... But you bench 400 total, so...”
“How much?”
“80kg.”
“Whoa.”
Don't copy that!
Why compete on deadlift?
80kg's solid for a healthy adult male. Women need serious time building to that.
Seo In-ae, Seol Yuhee, Gong Nari had PT longer, but Jin Minjeong started seriously post-Lee Ah-reum's schedule tweak—way too soon.
The others weren't power-focused either, so no 80kg for them.
Me? Exception.
“Not prepping for powerlifting comps. Trainer's right—low-intensity reps build endurance better. Go at your pace.”
“Sorry.”
“No need to apologize, but... ouch.”
Her expression was odd, though.
“Thirsty for strength gains? Eyeing comps?”
“No, no! Absolutely not!”
She waved frantically.
“Didn't know I had good bone structure till you called me 'martial frame'... Saw online 3-lift stuff, figured 100kg was impossible for me. But following trainer, lifting heavy, muscles growing...”
“Ah, athlete's challenge spirit awakened?”
“Pfft, athlete? Housewife being silly.”
“Lifting makes you an athlete!”
Seol Yuhee chimed in.
Jin Minjeong nodded, embarrassed but pleased.
“Right. Athletes maintain. Can I work tomorrow?”
She patted her waist awkwardly.
“Gotta check. Change and come in five.”
Couldn't chat at desk forever—I suited up in scrubs and gown.
Let her in, examined her back.
“Straighten up, then slowly bend.”
First, range of motion.
“Ow, hurts from here.”
Pain at 30 degrees bend.
“Arch back. Side bends too.”
Less on extension, but right side on lateral.
Already narrowed it down.
“Cough—echo pain?”
She looked up, wincing.
“Gasp, how'd you know?”