Chapter 29
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: Resolutions and Reconnaissance
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The day after attending the wedding, Sunday evening.
'Finished early for once.'
Having wrapped up his weekend on-call duties faster than usual, Hwang Sanghun headed home. Thanks to the medicine Han Yeowon had prescribed, he'd slept deeply, and his mind had been sharp as a tack.
He tackled the tasks his colleague from the previous shift had left behind, finished his own work, and even prepped for Monday's conference. With everything done, he clocked out feeling refreshed.
'...Ha.'
But the moment he stepped through the door and checked his phone, his mood plummeted.
[Sanghun, enjoying your weekend? Thanks to your help last time, the seminar wrapped up smoothly. Anyway...]
It was another message from the professor dumping extra work on him.
Should he read it or not?
As Hwang Sanghun hesitated, he squeezed his eyes shut and tapped the message.
[Heard from Seoyeong. You collapsed?]
A new message had just arrived.
'Dad?'
His father, who never contacted him outside family events. He'd never shown worry in his life, but maybe the collapse had gotten to him.
Hwang Sanghun started typing a reply to say he was fine.
[How do you expect to manage in your twenties without taking care of yourself? I was running marathons at that age. You should've kept exercising with your brother.]
[Physical fitness matters in Korean medicine rehabilitation, so get your act together. Lucky it happened on a holiday—imagine if it was in front of professors or colleagues. Getting labeled weak won't do you any favors.]
Before he could even send his response, a barrage of scolding messages poured in.
The professor's errands were annoying enough, but his father's words sparked real irritation.
'Exercise with my brother? What era is he living in?'
It was back in his early twenties. He'd gotten into a regional Korean medicine college on his first try with CSAT scores, but his grandfather and father pushed him to retake for Korea University and become a professor.
His retake scores were even worse.
As Hwang Sanghun moped, his brother blamed it on a lack of grit and dragged him out for morning runs throughout his third-year prep.
He'd finally gotten into the school they wanted, only to quit running afterward. And now they were bringing it up again.
[Make sure to attend your grandparents' wedding anniversary next month. Grandpa has high hopes for you.]
Reading the last message, Hwang Sanghun clutched his throbbing head.
Everything felt overwhelming.
'No, no need to get worked up.'
Expecting actual concern had been foolish from the start. His grandfather and father always wanted to cram him into their mold, and that wouldn't change.
'Calm down and take some more of that nerve-soothing medicine.'
- Grandpa, Uncle, Jihun bro—they're all control freaks. Listening to that nonsense will be the death of me!
That was what his cousin— who'd become his classmate thanks to her own third year— had said.
- They act like they own the world, but what can they do? Just ignore them and live your life.
She was spot on. Even if he strayed from their path or cut ties, nothing would happen.
Wasn't cutting things off with Jo Haneul—someone he'd kept around out of obligation for so long—proof of that?
Having heard Han Yeowon's story the day before, Hwang Sanghun had already made up his mind.
- We transferred to a clinic with a spare exam room, figuring we'd need a deputy director eventually!
Should he follow his father's advice? Defy it? Do his residency? Or just job hunt?
While he spun in circles with pointless thoughts, she'd already opened her own practice and was talking expansion.
They'd competed on similar grades back in school, but now she stood in a whole different league.
Her genuine concern—prescribing for someone she could've ignored— and her rock-solid confidence in treatment would surely reach her patients, backed by real skill.
How could she not succeed?
'She must've prepared thoroughly.'
She'd even said he'd be welcome as deputy director starting tomorrow.
'She might not have room for one right now... but if I work for free at first, that should be fine.'
Sure, quitting midway through internship would burden his peers, but taking a year off after would be okay.
Korea University might not take him back, but any local school would snap him up if he wanted. And if he was set on opening his own place, he didn't need to return to hospitals at all.
Thinking of heading to Busan lightened all his burdens.
[Too busy to go.]
Grandparents' anniversary? What grandson keeps track of that?
Hwang Sanghun fired off six characters to his father.
[Sorry, but work's too hectic.]
He flat-out rejected the professor's request too.
In truth, he didn't need to bend over backward for anyone.
'Whew.'
Relief washed over him instantly. The tightness in his chest eased.
Hwang Sanghun switched his phone to airplane mode, set a single alarm, and hit the bed.
He drifted off peacefully. No more useless thoughts.
Han Yeowon's medicine, the path she'd shown him.
Everything was crystal clear.
'Ah, that was fun! Knew going up was the right call—wedding or whatever!'
My holiday in Seoul flew by like the wind. Lost track of time hanging with Hwang Seoyeong, and before I knew it, the weekend was gone. I caught a predawn flight Monday and rolled into the clinic right on opening time.
First thing back, I had business with Seo In-ae.
Her workload was tight, and patient numbers kept climbing—maybe time to hire more help?
"Teacher, doesn't running between the desk and treatment room wear you out?"
During a lull with no patients, I grabbed her and asked.
"Pardon? I'm fine. Did I mess up and get a complaint?"
She'd been pondering something while ordering vending machine drinks on the computer and whipped around in surprise.
"Not at all. You're always perfect. But we talked about hiring when it hit this volume, and it's hard for you to take vacation anyway."
"Ah, if that's the reason, it's still too soon."
And just like that, she shot down my suggestion.
"Not tough?"
"Patient numbers fluctuate by day, so boosting fixed costs isn't ideal yet. I recommend hiring when the three-month average tops 25 daily, or when we hit 40+ three times and I can't handle it alone."
"Oh...?"
Of course, another salary means more burden. Crunching numbers, holding out to max capacity makes sense... but is that okay from the employee's side?
"If we surge this month and drop next, we'd have to consider cuts. I'd rather push through and keep working with you, Director."
"No way we'd cut if numbers dip a bit."
Once hired, we'd stick by them as long as possible! Even if deficits dragged on for months forcing cuts, it'd never be Seo In-ae.
Where would I find another worker this good?
"You have to!"
But she was firm. Unlike me winging business on big dreams, she was sharp as a knife.
"Cutting costs is crucial! It's not all about revenue. That Haneul Clinic downstairs works staff 14 hours a week to dodge holiday pay—take notes."
"No, we shouldn't copy that."
"Your strategy of generous base pay and fat incentives is great too. But it's too idealistic. I hustle because it's you; today's twenties are total MZ! If you're going this route, be ready to axe when it's not working."
Ah, got it?
Still, we treated staff like employees here, but her entrepreneur mindset was straight out of America.
Two twenty-somethings chatting MZ vibes felt off somehow.
"Got it. I'll think more on hiring. But tell me right away if it's too much."
"Of course."
I bring it up, and my employee lectures me silly.
Hmm, is she overdoing it? Hospitals I remembered had at least two nurse aides even with few patients. Pre-takeover, on the brink of ruin, they still had two.
Last hospital visit was over 20 years ago—memories fuzzy.
'Oh yeah, Haneul Clinic's right nearby.'
Down the hill—not mountain, hill—and there's the Busan branch right by the station. Patients gripe about clinics on "mountains," so I started calling it one too.
They work staff 14 hours a week? For nurse aides, that's more loss than gain—maybe skin care techs.
Back in high school, I'd visited the Gangnam main branch craving a glimpse of Director Choi Eunhui. Wondered how franchise branches ran.
'Time to scout?'
I learned later from Overdirector Unnie and Hwang Seoyeong: pros scout before takeover. Director photos are often on sites, so send family or friends.
I'd boasted about growing the clinic—late, but benchmarking sounded fun. No face on my blog, so I wouldn't get caught.
During treatments, I snuck peeks at Haneul Clinic's site and blog in patient gaps.
Pro polish everywhere: handsome, beautiful doctors' photos galore, interiors screaming money.
As Seo In-ae said, top of searches for "Busan diet clinic" etc.
"Alright, let's go!"
I start early mornings, so their hours ran longer. Go quick, catch 'em today.
"Teacher~ Got sunglasses?"
"Yeah, but...?"
"Lend me for a day. Return tomorrow."
Scouting needs a disguise, right?
I recalled the shades she wore out for lunch sometimes.
Since Kim Ijin recognized her, she used shades or masks for school runs.
"Sure."
"Expensive ones?"
"Nah."
Huh, thought Daiso buck special. True to form—function first.
She eyed me suspiciously, but I finished closing prep.
This should make me unrecognizable even if I post my face on the blog later.
All set early, lights off...
...Five minutes to close, a patient walks in.
"My shoulder and arm are killing me."
"Sorry, we cut off intake 30 minutes before close. Come early tomorrow."
"I'm dying here! Can't sleep— just send me away?"
"If you'd come sooner..."
"I made it in time! Came right after you closed!"
And he yelled at Seo In-ae about intake being over.
"Let him in. Too late for PT, but I'll do quick acupuncture to settle it."
Couldn't turn away someone dying, so I took him. Seo In-ae shot me a "don't overstep hours" look but checked him in fast.
"Kim Jin-sang."
Tsk, even the name's shady?