Chapter 189
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 189
Chapter Title: The Healing Song Goes Viral
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While visiting Gwangju for some final feedback, I met Kim Shinyoung, the guardian of Ishinbi.
"Directors, thank you so much. I thought I knew my kids pretty well, but I never imagined it could be for this reason."
She mentioned stopping by Gwangju once or twice a month, so she wanted to come by even briefly to express her gratitude in person.
"Director Seon did all the work. What did I do?"
All I'd done was film the video with the little girl.
Everything from getting close to the child to persuading her had been Director Seon's role.
"Oh, come on, that's not true!"
Director Seon jumped up and down, waving her hands.
Heh heh. The two of them probably thought I'd been running AI tirelessly.
In reality, it was just some casual footage shot on my phone in the clinic's backyard.
"Anyway, it's a relief. If her mom hadn't remembered her dad's phone records, we might never have figured it out. We got lucky."
"Ugh, I'd completely forgotten about it until you mentioned it, Director. I figured just giving her some medicine would do, but you went all out to uncover the cause. Where else is there a hospital like this?"
I felt sorry for her and a bit curious too, so I'd put in extra care, but hearing such praise made me embarrassed.
"Please accept this small gift. It's really nothing."
Kim Shinyoung teared up as she offered the roll cake.
One might call a roll cake light, but she'd already brought an expensive gift once before, which Director Seon had refused.
Instead, I'd recommended she brew some tonic for her mother herself, and her complexion had improved a lot after all the stress she'd endured.
On top of that, she'd left glowing reviews everywhere she could.
I knew she grabbed guardians at the kids' cafe whenever their children got sick and recommended Seongsu Clinic.
What do you mean "small gift"!
"Thank you."
"No need for something like this...! If she gets scared of anything else or has any pain, come see us anytime."
Whew, one case wrapped up nicely.
After sending off Kim Shinyoung, who kept bowing repeatedly, I shared the cake with Director Seon.
"Director, think it's about time to wrap this up?"
In truth, I'd come for one last observation today and to discuss this very thing.
Solving a tough patient had boosted my confidence perfectly, and my chuna, pharmacopuncture, and moxibustion skills were now flawless.
"You sure it'll be okay?"
"Of course! Commuting back and forth is too hard. Of course, if anything tricky comes up or you have questions, ask anytime. I don't know everything, but I'll brainstorm with you as much as I can."
"I'll keep relying on you, Director. I'll keep honing my skills."
Director Seon nodded as if she'd been waiting for this.
Of course, that didn't mean things had ever been lax.
The newest study group member, who had fully joined, typed away with eyes sparkling brighter than anyone's.
"Whoa... Director Seon, were you like the model student in school?"
After the various directors' informal lectures and discussions, Director Seon started uploading neatly summarized files of the key points.
- No, I just like organizing things. My grades were average.
- You're the one who graduated top of the class.
Hwang Sanghun chimed in.
No, I... it just happened that way.
I'd only pushed myself for scholarships or competition.
The consistently diligent type was probably Hwang Sanghun.
- No, you're the diligent one, Director.
- Super diligent...
Choo Miyeong and Director Seon quickly denied it.
"Director Seon is just different somehow."
Her patient load had suddenly spiked, leaving her swamped with treatments alone.
Yet she somehow prepared for study group, took notes, and even improved manuals.
- I just want to help however I can.
How did I end up surrounded by such kind-hearted people?
In truth, dealing with issues from the new off-site decoction homepage and teaching Director Seon everything had eaten up my time.
But thanks to her, study summaries and paper writing were progressing faster.
* * *
Joyful commute to work!
...was honestly not the case.
Even I felt fatigued after going to Gwangju, working right away, and prepping for study group without a break.
If I was this tired, how had Director Seon, with average Korean stamina, held up?
I entered the clinic with slightly bleary eyes.
Ah—your radiant touch
Ecstatic healing moment
This encounter feels like a miracle
"Huh?"
And soon, I doubted my ears.
Kim Taeyoon's clear voice snapped me awake.
'Why is this playing in our clinic?'
I shook my head, but it was still there.
The indescribable lyrics continued filling the clinic waiting room.
This was reality.
Wh-what do you do playing something like this?
"Nari teacher? Did you put this on?"
I immediately pointed out the suspect.
She'd said she became a fan after watching that survival show, right?
Even so, shouldn't she separate work from personal interests!
In the clinic treatment room, we usually played calm music.
From classical to old hit MR tracks—always instrumental, no lyrics.
Helping patients relax comfortably was the priority.
But blasting those cringy lyrics?
They'd tense up with sympathetic nervous system overdrive!
Just like me right now!
"Did you record this from TV? The sound source? What is this?"
"Huh? The sound source came out ages ago after the survival show ended."
Gong Nari answered nonchalantly.
"No way, Director, you didn't even know it dropped? Were you in another world?"
"Huh? I might not know!"
I had been in another world, but not last week.
It's possible to miss releases when you're busy. Who tracks every new track?
It didn't even hit Billboard #1!
Ah, of course, I'd miss a Billboard #1 too.
"It's blowing up online these days! It's on a genre chart, but an indie band cracking the Billboard bottom ranks."
Seol Yuhee added her two cents.
...It really was Billboard. They're getting famous, huh.
I'd been too swamped these past weeks for any internet time.
Fine for Gong Nari, but Seol Yuhee too? Me lagging behind examinees on info?
"Is that song really doing that well? For real? People's tastes nowadays... no, is my common sense off?"
"See for yourself, Director!"
Meanwhile, Gong Nari shoved a screen in my face.
What, it's in English?
"Every time I watch a performance like this, I feel so inspired. Truly an incredible stage! ?✨"
It was simple English I could read.
Roughly, great stage.
Sure, some might like the lyrics, the performance...
"Sasha Lian mentioned this 'Song of Healing' directly, and it's getting worldwide attention!"
What?
I doubted my ears for the second time today.
Billboard made sense now, but what? Sasha Lian? As in the American pop star Sasha Lian...?
Even I, who knows almost no celebrities, knew her.
Hold on, that song by Melon Soda Horizon—the one dedicated to our clinic.
Its title really became 'Song of Healing'? Wasn't it packaged as a love song or something?
"Wow, anyone would think you're a spy—no, even spies would know this!"
Gong Nari scolded me, but it barely registered amid my shock.
"It's so moving! To think we were here for the exact moment it was born!"
Gong Nari clasped her hands in awe.
"The butterfly effect is insane."
"No way!"
Hwang Sanghun's comment made me want to tear my hair out.
This isn't Truman Show, is it? Foreigners listening to this song...?
"I only cured hiccups. No connection to me."
It wasn't life-threatening.
No matter how one's corn feels worse than another's smallpox, it was just chronic hiccups.
Park Haru had suddenly gotten inspired, that's all.
To a broken heart, weary body
Your warm healing touch
Saved me from hell—holy water—
But as I denied any link, the lyrics stuck in my head.
"Ack-choo!"
No, wait. This sounds even weirder than the first time?
"Kuh, cough, cough!"
"Holy water"—those two words made me choke.
I don't usually get tongue-tied.
I can clap back at any thug's nonsense.
This, this...
"......"
I had nothing to say.
"Might as well enjoy it since it's out there."
"Promote it to patients? Say it's from here?"
I shot down Hwang Sanghun and Seol Yuhee's suggestions flat.
"Fine, I get it's famous now, but skip the lyrics—play the MR version."
I barely managed the instruction.
Just telling them to swap one song after arriving had drained me.
I stumbled into the treatment room and flopped into the chair.
But this was not the end.
It was the beginning.
♩♪~♩♩~♫♬♩
I'd never paid much attention to the treatment room music before.
Seo Ina first, then Gong Nari's playlists—I'd just gone with it.
But today, I flinched every time that melody played.
"'Song of Healing'—heard it? So good, right? Should've watched the show earlier; I'm bingeing from episode 1 now."
Even without lyrics, some patients recognized it.
Whenever they brought it up in small talk, I zoned out.
"I... see."
This much was fine.
Pretend not to know, done.
But very coincidentally, when Park Haru burst out strumming her guitar in the treatment room, other patients were lying on beds too.
"Director, that's... it, right?"
"Yes......"
By now, couldn't you have forgotten?
"Amaaaazing! Huge hit! I wasn't sure, but I went to the same clinic as Jaekyung!"
"Jaekyung? Oh, Ms. Jaekyung."
"Watching with my granddaughter, became total fans, FANs, you know!"
What do I do?
Rumors might spread...
"Ma'am, let's keep it our little secret for now..."
"Really? Gotta tell the whole neighborhood!"
No sealing lips.
Unlike a 5-year-old who loves secrets, grandma's mouth was itching already.
"Yeowon, just give up. It's easier."
Hwang Sanghun patted my shoulder post-treatment.
He'd overheard from the next bed.
I knew logically, but my heart wouldn't accept it.
I finished treatments in a daze and headed home.
Ah—your radiant touch
Kraaaah!
Bombed once more on the street.
'How good was that stage for those lyrics to land?'
I searched "Song of Healing" online.
Final survival stage, right? Was it that epic? Or a concert post-TV debut?
Clicked Sasha Lian's SNS link.
A new post from 5 minutes ago.
"So curious about traditional Korean medicine. Fascinating stuff!"
Curious about Korean medicine? Intrigued?
"......"
This is too much.
Why would an overseas pop star suddenly care about Korean medicine?
Blinking, I clicked the post below.
"How was 'Song of Healing' made? 3-Min Summary!"
Melon Soda Horizon's self-shot video popped up, complete with English subtitles.
Yeah, you guys blabbed everywhere. Treatment here inspired the song.
'No idea. Sleep.'
The more I thought, the dizzier—I shut my phone.
In the Korea I know—no, America—such a song trending? Impossible.
Wake up, back to murim... that'd be bad!
Probably wholesome hits topping charts in a beautiful Korea.
Slept 10 hours solid.
But the world stayed the same.
"Long time no see, Director. Sorry to drop by suddenly with this request, but could you appear on our NewTube? We'd love to feature Korean medicine too."
Kang Jaekyung even visited the clinic in person with the offer.
Strike while the iron's hot?