Chapter 34
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: Opening Ceremony Ticket
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National Sports Festival opening ceremony ticket, huh. It was the first time I'd received a gift like this.
Usually, gifts were 95% food, and very occasionally, patients would bring expensive ones that felt burdensome.
For instance, back in the martial world, there was a merchant lord who offered to hand over his entire estate as an inheritance, forcing me to firmly decline. More recently... Madam Heo had brought in what was clearly an expensive painting at a glance.
"It's Friday, so it might be hard for you to come, but there'll be a lot of singers performing too, so if you're interested, feel free to drop by."
"I'll definitely be there!"
I read through the paper listing the opening ceremony and competition schedule that came with the ticket.
"If I wrap up a bit early, I might catch the athletes entering! Oh, but for the games, looks like I can only make the weekend ones."
"Whoa, you're even coming to watch my events?"
"Of course. Didn't you promise to be our clinic's promotional ambassador once you make the national team?"
What else would I go for if not the competitions? The opening had a lineup of singers listed, but I hadn't been into celebrities even twenty years ago.
"...Yeah."
Kim Ijin looked deeply touched.
No need to thank me. She was the first customer to bring in a bunch of people to help make our clinic thrive—I had to show up!
Plus, she'd brought new patients today, just like this.
"Hello~ I'm Min Juyeon~. I'm Ijin's friend! I've heard so much about you from Ijin!"
The cute girl with a bright personality greeted me sweetly. From the way she kept glancing over, she had to be the one who'd said she liked Jeong Inseong.
Man, so sweet~. Having all these young folks around made the place feel bright and lively. Was that an old-fogey thought?
All three finished check-in. Normally, Kim Ijin and Jeong Inseong would head straight to the treatment room, but this time they came into the exam room with Min Juyeon.
"Here, it looks like I've got some pimples. Ijin and the class prez said acupuncture works wonders, so I came! I was scared to pop them myself in case they got worse~."
"Let me wipe off your makeup for a sec."
Min Juyeon was right, but the makeup was hiding the symptoms. For the rare skin cases, I handed her some cleansing wipes I kept on hand to check the lesions properly.
Swipe. As Min Juyeon wiped her cheek, a rice-grain-sized inflamed spot appeared.
"Ah, good thing you came. That's folliculitis. If you squeeze it wrong, it could spread."
"Whoa, really?"
"Wow, glad I dragged her here. Honestly, I thought you'd say it was nothing."
Kim Ijin frowned as she spoke. She wasn't entirely wrong, really.
With proper care, it often cleared up on its own.
"It's mild and hasn't spread yet, so no big worries. Ever heard of folliculitis?"
"Nope! First time anything like this has popped up on my face!"
I sketched it out on paper and explained simply.
"You've heard of acne, right? The hair follicle has sebaceous glands attached like this. People think sebum is always bad, but it's essential for moisturizing and protection. Normally, sebum mixes with sweat and exits through pores, carrying away waste."
"Okay."
"But if sebum overproduces and clogs the pore, it swells, inflames, and becomes acne. Treatment involves calming the inflammation and piercing the pore to express the sebum. Got it?"
I hadn't bothered explaining to Jeong Inseong, who had severe acne himself—both he and his mom gave off vibes of already knowing a ton.
Min Juyeon, on the other hand, who'd probably had flawless porcelain skin her whole life, nodded eagerly like it was fascinating.
"Folliculitis looks similar on the surface, but it's not sebum buildup—it's bacterial infection from outside. If it penetrates deep and forms pus, it's trickier... but this level should heal with some ointment and good hygiene."
"Ah, what a relief!"
"Looks like you layered concealer and foundation to hide it—residues aren't great, and harsh foam cleansers can worsen it. Hmm... If you're okay with it, I'd recommend a gentle lotion for moisturizing only."
"Yes! I usually skip makeup except on photo days and just do sunscreen~ This thing's been stressing me out so bad~!"
No wonder Jeong Inseong's expression was darkening by the minute.
Ahem. Your own problems always hurt more than someone else's.
"It's the same Huanglian Jiedu ointment I gave Inseong—should help with the inflammation. We'll do acupuncture to boost your immunity too. Come back next week if it's still there."
"Yes, thank you!"
I'd made extra Huanglian Jiedu anticipating Kim Jin-sang's return from his shingles.
Come to think of it, it'd been a full week for him—maybe he wouldn't show? Honestly, that might be for the best.
For Min Juyeon, I'd phrased it as immunity boosting, but I'd check her pulse, needle meridians to vent excess qi and supplement deficiencies. Plus direct skin helpers like the Four Flower Points, Lung and Large Intestine meridians.
"Take good care of our Juyeon, please."
Kim Ijin grinned as she said it, and Jeong Inseong bowed deeply with a serious face.
"Of course. I'll treat you all well."
I kindly opened the exam room door, pointed them toward the treatment room, then sat back down.
I jotted a quick chart summary of the chat with Min Juyeon and recorded treatments for the patients before these three.
Less than a minute later, ding-a-ling~ the entry bell rang.
"Hello, Kim Jin-sang here."
Speak of the devil. Guess he's no gentleman after all?
Once someone shows violence, better stay cautious with him.
I cracked the exam room door, ready to intervene if he acted up, and watched the desk.
"Sorry about last time. This... it's not much, but as an apology."
"Oh, cookies? Thank you."
Seo In-ae accepted mechanically. She probably didn't think much of him either.
"I'll pass it to the director. You'll check in?"
"Yes. You told me to come back, but I was on a business trip out of town."
"Got it. This way to the exam room."
Moments later, his name popped on the chart, and Kim Jin-sang entered.
He bowed 90 degrees and apologized politely.
"I'm truly sorry, Director. I'm uneducated and couldn't tell right from wrong—I was so rude."
"It's fine. Doctors disagree sometimes; misunderstandings happen."
"This hot-tempered nature of mine gets me chewed out everywhere. Thank you for saying that."
Hmm. 'Hot-tempered' just barely lands him forgiveness? No harm done yet, anyway.
"How's the shingles rash and pain? It's been just over ten days since onset."
"Like you said, I got tested right away and antiviral meds. The itchy blisters have crusted over or burst, but the pain won't quit."
"What treatment have you had since?"
"My boss had business in Jeju, so I tagged along..."
Mid-sentence, Kim Jin-sang turned his head.
The exam room door was shut tight, but he'd sensed footsteps outside.
[Director; Kids are eavesdropping at the exam door, Send to treatment room?]
[Leave 'em]
...I'd noticed a bit ago too.
I'd pointed them to the treatment room plenty, but with Seo In-ae handling him at the desk, they hovered by the desk instead, whispering.
"Hey, hey. Kim Ijin, that's the guy."
"Huh?"
"The one who yelled 'Hey, you punk~ Get the director out here~' and threw a fit!"
"Oh no, what if he causes a scene again?"
"You two, get inside and close the curtain."
"What're you gonna do?"
My sharp hearing caught the trio's chat clear as day.
Kim Ijin ignored Jeong Inseong and Min Juyeon's questions, radiating killing intent.
The other two, oblivious to it, joined the peeping for fun, leaving Seo In-ae flustered by the huddled trio.
And Kim Jin-sang, sharp in his own way, sensed the ominous aura.
"...Followed my boss to Jeju, so no other treatment. I'm a driver, you see."
What kid radiates that kind of energy? She's no Heavenly Demon born under the Butcher Star!
"Um... that..."
"Students from a nearby school on career day. Told 'em not to come in during exams, but they're curious. Mind if I let them in?"
I asked loud enough for outside to hear.
Her protective intent was sweet, anyway. Even in the Tang clinic, only Master outdid me.
Sending them off via Seo In-ae would just worry them more.
"Ah, sure, go ahead."
Having messed up last time, Kim Jin-sang readily agreed.
Back when treating Nangong Young Master, Master had stood guard outside just like this—experience said letting them in was best all around.
"Hello. Thanks for letting us observe."
"Hehe~ Thank you!"
"......"
The three shuffled in awkwardly.
The 180cm short-cropped muscular girl exuding killing intent felt off, but the acne-riddled glasses model student and dolled-up girl balanced it to average normalcy.
Confirming they were really students, Kim Jin-sang relaxed and turned back to me.
"Anyway, please do something about this pain. Neuralgia is hell. Painkillers don't touch it, and driving's torture."
"Must've been rough."
"Yes. Barely got vacation to come. Tried a local clinic in Jeju, but the needles weren't like yours that first day. Please save me."
Hence the cookies and polite switch-up.
First day, showed at 5:55 demanding treatment, now vacation time to arrive during hours, scared of another door-in-face.
"Don't worry. There's a great treatment for postherpetic neuralgia."
Once a patient here, best care was only right.
"Really?"
"Ijin, ask In-ae outside for 0.1cc bee venom acupuncture prep, please."
Super effective.
The most painful procedure in the clinic.
Not for that, of course—it's genuinely great for shingles neuralgia.
Seo In-ae soon brought the bee venom, and I rolled up his sleeve with a grin.
"Test first~."
"T-test?"
Kim Jin-sang hunched his shoulders, looking up at me fearfully.
Why so scared?
It's not like I'm injecting poison... ah.
It is poison.