Chapter 199
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 199
Chapter Title: University Special Lecture
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A massive lecture hall that could seat hundreds.
It was a place used only for events where the entire grade gathered.
The moment I pressed the pointer to advance the PPT...
...a grand hymn resounded through the room.
Broken heart, weary body
Approaching with warm hands
Stops the hellish hiccups
The lonely me who couldn't utter a word
Changed after meeting acupuncture
I look to the heavens and sing freely
Aa, the brilliant touch of our director
Those shining moments
Your healing is like a miracle
And this was the original lyrics, not even the final parody version reworked like a love song.
Once that song drew worldwide attention, Kang Jaekyung had rowed her boat with all her might.
She'd even uploaded a demo track to Newtube.
'Ugh, don't listen!'
I'd only meant to refresh everyone with a funny song, expecting they'd be tired, and use it for my self-introduction.
But the students were watching with sparkling eyes, even taking notes.
"Hello, I'm Korean medicine doctor Han Yeowon."
I greeted them and advanced the PPT.
- The brilliant 'Director' who bestows miraculous healing
- CEO Director of Seongsu Clinic Busan Branch
Why on earth had I included that in my resume?
I'd giggled while adding it, not out of serious self-indulgence, but purely as a joke, styling the whole PPT like a gag.
When it comes to gag PPTs, there's a textbook meme that's become standard these days.
A rainbow background with random characters popping up unexpectedly—that PPT.
I parodied it, swapping the characters for 'Our Cute Cheongsol.jpg' plastered everywhere.
Of course, I didn't forget the solemn rainbow beam that fit the hymn perfectly.
Clap clap clap clap clap!
The applauding students covered their mouths, unable to hold back their laughter.
Just laugh out loud already!
"Ahem, as some of you might know, the band Melon Soda Horizon's song 'Song of Healing' recently hit the Billboard charts and caused a bit of a stir."
Feeling my face heat up, I showed the Newtube thumbnail from the interview I'd appeared in.
"Has anyone seen it?"
"Yes~~!"
I'd asked expecting maybe one or two, but an unexpectedly loud response came back.
It felt like almost everyone had shouted.
"This many people watched it?"
"You're amazing!"
"Professor Lee Minseok played it for us!"
"......"
Fine, he played it, whatever.
But amazingly, the view count was racing toward a million.
So there really were that many people curious about this?
"Y-yeah. Professor Lee Minseok invited me. He said the topic was free, and since our clinic got a bit famous thanks to this song, I figured I'd start with that."
I'd included signed photos from Hyun Jumi and Park Seson, interview clips from Kim Ijin, and even pictures from my hike with Chairman Choi Gwijae in the PPT.
But nothing had the impact of Billboard.
"So, including some clinical cases from them, I'll share—not too long—a story of how I ended up here today."
Best of all, Melon Soda Horizon had uploaded all their treatment cases to Newtube themselves.
Normally, you couldn't disclose patient histories lightly, but they'd given full permission to use them in lectures as I pleased.
Having set the theme and title as 'The Legend of Seongsu Clinic Begins'...
I started from my episode with Chu Miyoung and explained entertainingly how the clinic expanded.
Kim Taeyoon came, so I met Kang Jaekyung and Park Haru.
With Chu Miyoung helping on marketing and An Joohee running a separate decoction room, that's why Kim Taeyoon chose me out of so many clinics, right?
"Ooooh!"
Whenever I said something cool, the students applauded and cheered.
"Ahahaha!"
...And every time the PPT changed, the rainbows shifted around, bursting them into laughter.
"Ahem! So in the end, I think the key is approaching patients with sincerity. That dogged determination to heal them somehow, to solve their problems."
It went without saying for patients in pain.
Chu Miyoung, Kim Chunsik, and all the directors I met later—they all carried their own worries.
By sincerely trying to find ways to help them, our bonds deepened, and I received a lot in return.
And so... amid this touching atmosphere... my prepared PPT came to an end.
"We have a bit of time left. Any questions? Doesn't have to be about the lecture!"
I wondered if they had anything they were curious about from me.
Scanning the students, a few hands went up.
"I'm curious how you studied during undergrad."
"What's the difference between textbook study and clinical practice......"
Lower-year students were mostly curious about studying.
I'd felt frustrated with the school's curriculum back in pre-med too.
"It might not click now, but chances like this to focus on basics like anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, and herbal formulas don't come again easily. Stick to the fundamentals, and if you feel thirsty for real clinical stuff, my book could be a good reference."
But you couldn't suddenly master advanced techniques.
Only after perfecting the basics and tempering the body diligently could you advance limitlessly in higher arts.
I gave a clichéd answer while subtly promoting my upcoming book.
"I heard you opened your own clinic right after graduation—mind if I ask how that was possible?"
"Got a loan~."
I answered graduating students' practical questions straightforwardly.
"Director, I want to work at your clinic!"
I praised the bold one declaring their ambition in front of hundreds.
"Oh, I like that attitude. No openings now, but when our deputy director opens her place or other branches need one, give us a call."
"Thank you! I'm Park Jun! I bought your book! I'll study hard!"
Gutsy, I like it.
"Director, could you show us just once how you treated Park Haru's hiccups?"
They hadn't learned acupuncture yet?
Lots of lower-years, apparently.
Not a tough request, so I happily agreed.
"Sure. Anyone have needles? Hmm, need a volunteer too......"
A student in the front row pulled needles from her bag right away.
But finding a patient volunteer was tricky.
To needle the infraspinatus, they'd have to take off their top completely—who'd do that in front of everyone?
"I'll do it."
Luckily, a volunteer stepped up immediately.
It was Park Jun, the guy who'd raised his hand about wanting to join our clinic.
"Oh, thank you. Questioner, come on up?"
Thanks to him, I called the questioner forward for a quick demo.
It wasn't anything special, but other students crowded around, eager to see up close.
"Park Jun, mind if I let a junior try on you too?"
"Sure, that's fine."
I showed the questioner and a few others around how to do it.
"Anyone else......"
I looked up to see if there were more volunteers.
'Huh? Why's he over there?'
I spotted Jo Haneul.
He was standing outside the crowd of students surrounding me for the demo, peeking over.
Our eyes met for a second.
"Jo Haneul?"
Did he want a turn?
I called him over.
"Shall we give it a go?"
Grinning as I asked, the crowd parted like the Red Sea.
"...Sure."
As all eyes turned to him, Jo Haneul approached with a sour face and took the needles.
With fairly practiced hands, he flicked off the tube—tok.
"Spot on!"
Just the other day, he'd fumbled finding the rhomboids, and I'd told him to go to his mom's clinic.
Impressive growth.
"...Thank you."
Not wanting to show he knew me, he replied politely.
Hmm, respect.
"I'm sure you all have tons more questions, but that's all the time Han Yeowon has given us."
The demo had eaten up quite a bit.
With Jo Haneul as the last, Professor Lee Minseok stepped up to end the lecture.
"Alright. Professor Lee Minseok will teach you acupuncture later. Study the acupoints first, and by third or fourth year in main studies, the acupuncture class will really hammer it home. You'll be treating in real clinics right away, so pre-med students, no worries~."
With his closing remarks, applause erupted.
Followed by a flood of autograph and photo requests.
'Why? Seriously, why?'
It wasn't like Melon Soda Horizon was here—what were they gonna do with my autograph?
Utterly baffled, I still smiled brightly and posed for photos with the students.
The first edition had only sold in Korean medicine communities—where'd they get them? Family?
Anyway, I happily signed books for those who wanted it.
And so the short special lecture ended triumphantly.
"It was a touching story. Students get caught up in exams right in front of them. The message to stick to basics and approach patients sincerely was excellent."
I nodded.
Hmm, sure, I'd made the PPT funny, but the content was seriously prepared.
With hundreds giving me an hour, I had to leave something memorable, right?
"By the way, which company did you commission for the slides? They really grab attention. I'd like to use them too."
"...Pardon?"
Was he hinting indirectly? I squinted, but Professor Lee Minseok looked dead serious.
"You didn't commission a designer?"
"No way!"
What nonsense! Who'd pay for that!?
"Ah... So Han Yeowon made them herself."
No, I can make proper ones too!
I have a normal aesthetic, unlike Professor Lee Minseok!
"You made them yourself, Director?"
Sandro, standing next to Professor Lee Minseok, asked.
"Made 'em funny on purpose, but it flopped. Didn't expect this big a crowd."
I shook my head.
"Ah... I thought this was how presentations are done in Korea. Guess not."
"Absolutely not! Don't take it as reference!"
No way!
No matter the cultural gap, what country makes presentations with rainbow screens!?
For leading an Italian to wildly misunderstand Korean aesthetics, I silently apologized to all Korean artists in my heart.
Thankfully, he cleared up the misunderstanding right away.
He even looked a bit relieved.
'Is he okay? Honestly, the advising professor's the problem, not Korea's average standards?'
Let's skip this topic.
Bury the slides forever.
"So why's Haneul oppa still at school? Grad student?"
I changed the subject to something I'd been curious about.
It'd be almost three years since I graduated.
I asked if he was a grad student, but if so, he wouldn't have shown up to my lecture.
He was repeating that final semester he'd failed... What had he been doing the year before and the one before that?
"He still hasn't gotten his act together."
Professor Lee Minseok shook his head.