Chapter 19
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: Monday's Early Rush
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Monday morning, 6:50 a.m.
"Who the hell decided to open at this ungodly hour?"
I inwardly cursed whoever had made that call as I dragged myself to work at the crack of dawn.
Thanks to my upright lifestyle as a model adult in the murim, I was confident in rising early.
But there was a world of difference between waking up early for morning exercise, breakfast, and hobbies, and prepping for a 7 a.m. arrival.
"Huh? Patients already?"
Four of them, no less!
I grumbled all the way in, only to freeze in shock the moment I unlocked the clinic door.
The staff was supposed to greet me with sleepy eyes, but here were four patients who'd arrived before the director, just waiting for opening time?
We'd gotten a few more patients lately, and some grannies who didn't seem to suffer from morning grogginess would pop in occasionally...
But this many? A first.
"Hello~!"
I flashed a bright smile and greeted the four patients.
"Director, thank you!"
The two grannies just nodded from the sofa, but Kang Cheolgyu sprang up from the couch and bowed deeply.
"Oh, honey!"
Yu Minha tugged at his hem, quickly nipping the fuss in the bud, but it did reveal the results of her treatment.
"Mrs. Heo Sunnam, Mrs. Jeon Yeong-i. Straight to the treatment room. I'll consult with Ms. Yu Minha."
The moment 7 a.m. hit, the staff ushered the couple into the exam room.
"Hello. Seeing you here today, I take it your period has started?"
I smiled gently. Their expressions—somewhere between tears and joy—already told the story.
"Yes, since last night."
Yu Minha nodded.
"Great. Really great. You know, this is the first time I've ever heard someone say they're on their period so cheerfully."
Judging from her history at the initial visit, I could only imagine the stress she'd endured for over twenty years.
Her relaxed face lifted my spirits too.
"The medicine worked, then."
"Yes. Normally, I'd be moaning in pain even before the bleeding started, and bedridden on day one. But last night? Nothing."
"How about now?"
"Just a bit of stiffness?"
"Put it in numbers. If the first time was a 10, what's it now?"
"2... maybe 1? Feels like a 2."
Yu Minha rubbed her belly, gauging the pain.
"Any painkillers?"
"No. I skipped them for an accurate check. Oh, my husband insisted on a hot pack as prevention last night, so I did that."
She extended her wrist for pulse diagnosis, then hesitated.
Of course, the hot pack had zero impact on the diagnosis.
"That's fine. Good call."
I took her wrist and paused to feel the pulse.
"Much more stable. The stagnation's mostly cleared, pulse normalized."
It really had improved a ton.
The chill that had seemed to come out of nowhere—even though the eternal snow ginseng couldn't have been mishandled—was down by more than half.
"Like I said at the start, another month or two of treatment, and you'll be good. If it's uncomfortable, come straight in like today, or take a painkiller—no issue."
"Yes!"
"We'll do that!"
Yu Minha and Kang Cheolgyu answered in unison.
Gone was her initial sharp edge; her eyes sparkled just like her husband's.
"Well, then..."
I wrapped up the consult, ready to send Yu Minha to the treatment room.
If results had been poor, I'd have had to talk her ear off, but same prescription repeating? No more to say.
"Oh, Director."
But Yu Minha hesitated and called me back.
"Something wrong?"
"No way!"
She shook her head vigorously.
Then paused again.
"I just... really wanted to thank you. I hoped it'd get a little better, but I never dreamed it'd clear up like this."
Her words, after much deliberation, were pure gratitude.
Tears welled in Yu Minha's eyes as her lips trembled.
"No one believed me except my husband—not even treatment. Dad just yelled to tough it out, doctors shoved the same painkillers at me with dead-fish eyes. No friends like me either... it was lonely, painful."
She choked up talking about work but held back the sobs.
Instead, she grabbed Kang Cheolgyu's hand on her shoulder and smiled radiantly.
"You've been through a lot."
"Yes. But now? I feel like I can do anything. Get a job, raise our kid right."
"Yeah, no more worries."
Kang Cheolgyu tried to rise and bow again, but I grabbed his arm to stop him.
I wasn't his master; full prostrations were overkill.
Anyway, what a sweet couple.
Contributing even a little to their happy daily life? Immensely satisfying.
This is why I do this doctor thing.
After wrapping up Yu Minha's follow-up, I headed to the treatment room.
I needled the grannies' backs—also early birds waiting for me—and exchanged greetings.
"How's the back?"
"Oh, much better with the needles. Used to stop twice walking from home; now just once."
"Glad to hear."
"But after starting hiking to come here, my legs keep cramping."
"I'll treat the legs too."
Ha, this slight incline is a huge drawback. I swallowed tears inwardly while beaming.
Still, patients were trickling in—slowly, very slowly.
Thanks to a few from Kim Ijin's neighborhood hospital switching over.
"Maybe we'll hit over 10 today?"
Four right at open? Today could be the day!
I nursed a sliver of hope through an ordinary day, seeing patients sporadically, one per hour.
"Kim Ijin here."
"Got it, checking you in."
Whoa, exactly 10!
One hour before close, Kim Ijin walked in, hitting double digits for the first time.
I rushed over after her physical therapy wrapped.
"A bit late today. Good practice?"
"Yes. Won the scrimmage again."
Kim Ijin blushed faintly.
"Knee?"
"Fine. No pain at all."
Basically healed. Coming for maintenance must be a chore, but Kim Ijin never missed, stamping her attendance faithfully.
"Feels like my energy builds every time I leave here."
"Come anytime."
Now fully accustomed to acupuncture, she simply enjoyed the qi flowing in.
"Oh, Director."
"Hm?"
"I've been dying to ask something."
Usually, Kim Ijin just stared at my face quietly during treatment, but today she had chit-chat.
"Shoot."
"I saw the nurse at our school vending machine, restocking drinks. Was that her? Twins, or a dead ringer?"
"Pardon?"
And it wasn't about her condition or me.
"Thought she came after late practices sometimes, but I saw her at lunch too."
What on earth?
Our staff stocking vending machines at her school? The school?
"R... really? No idea. I'll ask."
I brushed it off vaguely.
Because I truly had no clue.
Our sole staffer at the clinic... had vanished at lunchtime today without eating.
No, not just today.
Once or twice a week, she'd step out and claim meal reimbursement separately.
I hadn't minded.
Lunch was break time; everyone needs solo eats outside sometimes.
But vending machines?
"In-ae, Ijin said she saw you at school today, stocking..."
Curiosity piqued, I poked my head into the waiting area.
"Oh, uh, yes, Director. Need something?"
Seo In-ae frantically clicked to close a window.
"Hm? What're you up to?"
But in her panic, she fumbled.
I spotted the smart store dashboard on the computer.
"Eek, eek, eeeee!"
Why the scream?
Like she'd seen a monster.
"Wasn't planning to grill you or anything."
Ten patients today—up lately, but average still 5-6.
Her duties: check-in, changing instructions, applying PT, billing. Plus morning cleaning, laundry, watering plants—pure work time maybe 1-2 hours.
Sitting idle at the desk all day? Torture.
I'd meditate if anything; modern folks call no-internet hell.
"No need to hide. It's fine—not in patient view anyway."
I really didn't care.
Today I startled her by popping up, but she'd never neglected duties.
I'd seen her typing furiously in downtime, but she handled patients smoothly—no need to nitpick.
"Sorry, Director. My fault. Won't slack on the job again."
Yet Seo In-ae groveled. Apology crisp as ever.
I shrugged.
"Just curious. Ijin mentioned seeing In-ae at school, vending machine..."
"Pfft, hack! Cough cough!"
No water in sight, but she choked anyway.
Why so jumpy? I hadn't gone full killer intent like with Jo Haneul.
I'd been nothing but a gentle boss so far.
Really wasn't gonna chew her out.
Colleague stocking machines at nearby school on break? How not to ask?
"Hey, I'm not the bad guy~."
"Well, um..."
Every word made her shoulders twitch.
Come to think, my tone just now echoed my master nabbing a demonic cult spy?
"Secret?"
"Uh, wait, Director. This is..."
No good. Change tactics.
"Don't wanna talk? No prob. Relax, relax!"
I retreated cleanly.
Push too hard, she quits? Disaster.
Nurses willing to work 7 a.m. clinic opens aren't thick on the ground!
"Phew... Thanks for letting it slide, Director. I'll work harder."
"You always do great~."
I backed off; she was deeply moved. Delivered a model response in her usual curt tone.
Ah, of course, my curiosity about her was far from sated.
"Y'know, we haven't done a staff dinner since opening. When's good?"
Not grilling, really really not.
I just wanna get closer.
We've only done work so far, y'know?