Chapter 215
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 215
Chapter Title: The Chauffeur's Misunderstanding
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I'd only heard the story, but it was clear there was some kind of misunderstanding.
I tried my best to empathize with Kim Jinsang's anxiety, but no matter how I thought about it, I couldn't believe the deal had fallen through because of that.
Still, it was a transaction between major corporations—tens of billions? Hundreds of billions? Some enormous sum must have been at stake.
Of course, they were only human, and the executive he'd clashed with did seem pretty emotional.
Even accounting for that, it seemed unlikely they even knew Kim Jinsang was Park Sun-yoon's chauffeur.
"...So, don't worry. It's not because of you, Mr. Kim Jinsang."
I calmly explained my judgment, doing everything I could to help him understand.
"That could be the case."
Thanks to that, he accepted it.
"Alright, then why don't you ask Ms. Park Sun-yoon directly? See if she's really avoiding you. It might just be a misunderstanding altogether, and even if it's not, there could be another reason."
"Ah..."
Even so, the distressed look on Kim Jinsang's face didn't fade.
"Come to think of it, even without this incident, I'm probably not the right person to serve the young master... I have this hot temper, sigh."
This part was hard to deny outright.
It might not have anything to do with the deal, but they could have gotten tired of him picking fights in the next lane, or maybe offended by something he wasn't even aware of.
Truth be told, when he first came to our clinic, I thought his name suited him perfectly—a total troublemaker. He was yelling so loud I even misunderstood and thought he was about to get violent with the staff.
Kim Jinsang's hands were trembling.
"Don't blame yourself too much. Make sure to talk it out with Ms. Park Sun-yoon."
"Yes. I'll try to bring it up when I get the chance."
What chance? He could just ask her first thing tomorrow morning when he picks her up.
But pushing him further might be overkill.
He seemed somewhat convinced, so I moved on to questions for the prescription.
"How's your sleep pattern? You're not completely sleepless, right?"
"No, that's not it. It feels a bit shallow... And once I wake up, it's hard to fall back asleep."
"Do nightmares wake you?"
"Sometimes, or leg cramps, or my body itches."
His physical tension was staying high. Itching too?
"Let me check your pulse. Do you feel any heat sensations yourself?"
"Heat keeps rising to my head."
"Any heart palpitations?"
"It pounds when anxious thoughts come."
His energy wasn't low, but circulation was disrupted. Heat was surging upward.
"Let's start with Huanglian Clearing Decoction. It's commonly used for temporary high blood pressure, and it helps with skin issues, sleep, and more in various ways."
Huanglian Clearing Decoction consists of three heat-clearing herbs—goldthread, coptis, and baical skullcap—plus gardenia.
It's often used for fever reduction, but in Korean medicine, we view inflammation as heat, so it's especially versatile for inflammatory skin conditions like acne.
Coptis calms anxiety and insomnia, and directly helps lower blood pressure—perfect.
"Will this help with the stuffiness too?"
"It'll settle your pounding heart. The physical symptoms should improve a lot with the medicine."
Anyway, I prescribed the medicine well.
"How often do you do acupuncture?"
"Come as often as possible, until the physical symptoms no longer bother you."
"Yes. I'll trust you, Director."
Kim Jinsang readily agreed to acupuncture too.
For reluctant patients, I'd insist on at least twice, but with his motivation, more frequent visits were ideal.
With that, I figured Kim Jinsang's misunderstanding and treatment plan were settled for now.
Kim Jinsang kept his promise and visited frequently.
Aside from out-of-town business trips or late nights, he came almost every day—four or five times a week.
Even on days I wasn't there, he faithfully showed up for treatment from Hwang Sanghun or Lee Areum.
"How's the pounding?"
"Much better now."
"Sleep duration?"
"Over six hours. Average seven, and I barely wake up in the middle anymore."
"Good. Your eyes look less bloodshot, but do they still feel uncomfortable?"
"A bit blurry. But headaches are way better."
After about three weeks of treatment, the symptoms showed noticeable improvement.
Blood pressure returned to normal range too.
"You can stop the medicine after one more week. How's the anxiety?"
"..."
"Did you talk to Ms. Park Sun-yoon?"
"Ah, well... The timing just hasn't come up."
But the anxiety lingered.
Good grief.
I could've solved this with a simple talk?
I'm not one to think every problem can be fixed with words.
Sometimes you need medicine, or even a knife!
But this one? Honest communication would sort it out!
"Mr. Kim Jinsang, anxiety with such a clear cause can't be fully treated no matter how good the medicine is. If you haven't cut ties by now, you won't. We need to address any other issues. Please talk to her."
If it had caused a real serious problem, they'd have taken action right away—recommend resignation or drag him to apologize.
I emphasized this and urged him to talk to Park Sun-yoon again.
"Understood."
Whew, do inwardly fragile people really act tough by lashing out?
I understood his fear of facing her directly, but frustration won out.
A few days later.
Park Sun-yoon visited the clinic.
"Hello."
"Ms. Park Sun-yoon, it's been a while! What's bothering you today?"
We'd run into each other recently while hiking with Chairman Choi Gwijae, but it had been ages since she came to the clinic.
Seol Yu-hee, at the desk, greeted her warmly.
Of course, no one wants to need a hospital visit, but I was secretly thrilled.
I'd never wanted to see Park Sun-yoon this badly!
"Um, well... Nothing hurts, but could I pay the consultation fee for a quick chat?"
"Oh, sure! We have people who just come for consultations or check-ups!"
Hm?
No pain at all?
"Right this way!"
Park Sun-yoon entered the exam room and fidgeted with her lips.
Stressed about something? Business probably brings endless headaches.
Maybe she was too busy with other worries to think about Kim Jinsang. I rated that possibility higher.
I didn't think she'd still be hung up on the door-bump incident.
"Our chauffeur, Kim Jinsang... He's getting treatment here, right?"
So I was a bit surprised when his name came up immediately.
"Yes. He's been diligent."
"Seems like almost daily treatments..."
"Right. He's been coming faithfully as per the plan."
"Um, I..."
Park Sun-yoon hesitated again.
Kim Jinsang was enough, why was she being difficult too?
...No. Lots of patients struggle to describe symptoms. My tolerance was just lowered because of him.
'...Now that I think about it, she's the original culprit?'
This frustration started with Park Sun-yoon first.
She hemmed and hawed so long over the business proposal that I even misunderstood her having a crush on Seol Yu-hee.
"Truth is, Mr. Kim Jinsang has looked after me since I was little. He's driven me to and from academies, so I think of him like an uncle."
Even so, she finally opened up.
She really came because of Kim Jinsang, huh.
Elementary? Middle school? If he'd been driving her since then, it was understandable she'd worry.
Maybe Kim Jinsang wasn't quite as bad off.
"I see. He seemed to think highly of you too."
Park Sun-yoon nodded slowly.
And finally got to the point.
"Director, I'm so sorry for this awkward request. Please tell me what illness Mr. Kim Jinsang is being treated for."
"Oh dear."
But I couldn't grant that request.
"Medical professionals have a duty of confidentiality. I can't just tell you."
"Gasp!"
It was a standard response, but she jumped in shock.
As if I'd declared a terminal illness.
"No, it's not that serious."
Mentioning confidentiality made her think he was hiding a major disease.
I couldn't share someone else's condition casually, and I'd promised Kim Jinsang separately, so that's all I said.
"If you ask him directly, Ms. Park, he'll tell you gladly. He probably held back to avoid... no, causing unnecessary worry."
I hinted it was no big deal and suggested she ask him herself.
The physical symptoms were mostly resolved; she just needed to clear the misunderstanding, and he'd be fine.
"I already asked, and he said it's blood pressure."
What? He told her?
"Yes, blood pressure and eye congestion treatment."
No reason to stonewall if she already knew.
I admitted it straightforwardly.
"No other issues besides blood pressure? Or maybe something serious causing the hypertension...?"
"No serious illness, really. There is another issue, but it's privacy—I can't disclose. Ask her yourself."
"...I see. But isn't it overstepping for an employer to pry into an employee's personal life?"
Aargh!
That personal issue is because of you!
He's anxious about hurting you, making the young master mad, getting fired!
Words rose to the tip of my tongue.
Confidentiality had never frustrated me this much over something trivial.
"He seemed really struggling lately, so I told him to take it easy, but he looked even more drained. He's improving since starting treatment, though..."
No, and that was supposed to be consideration?
"You don't need to do that. It's not overwork."
"Is that so."
Even as I kept saying it was fine, Park Sun-yoon's serious expression didn't lift.
"He wanted to give his all to the end, and I was thoughtless."
Park Sun-yoon's eyes welled up.
He's not dying. Not dying.
Not the end!
"I won't ask anymore. I'll leave everything to you, Director. You're the best physician I know, so please don't worry about costs and take care of our chauffeur..."
"I can't take this anymore."
I couldn't hold back.
"Wait right here! I'll bring Mr. Kim Jinsang and make you two face each other!"
As long as I didn't say it myself, it wouldn't violate medical law, right?
No choice now—I'd sit these two down.
And yell at Kim Jinsang to explain it himself.