Chapter 96
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 96
Chapter Title: Pink Ambition
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Among all types of hair loss, the one with the highest chance of treatment success is clearly demarcated alopecia areata. In the problem area, the hair count was noticeably low, exposing the pale scalp.
"Give me 1cc of Coptis Detox Injection. With an insulin syringe."
I asked the staff for the thinnest, finest needle available, then disinfected the scalp area.
"It might sting a bit since it's a needle."
"Yes, that's fine."
Soon, Seol Yuhee brought the injection.
I tilted the syringe and injected the full 1cc shallowly in ten spots, 0.1cc each, like skimming the surface.
"Eek!"
He flinched at the first prick, but it wasn't as bad as expected, so Woo Jongsu just squeezed his eyes shut and endured the treatment.
"Was it bearable?"
"Yes. It feels like something cool spreads right through."
Good to hear it went okay.
Next, I densely inserted needles into the affected area.
This was separate from needling the meridians to reduce heat; it was to improve blood flow in the lesion, treat inflammation, and stimulate growth for new hair.
"Looks like a hedgehog."
Hedgehog, huh. If the whole head was needled, maybe, but with dozens stuck just on the crown, it looked more like he had horns sprouting.
Finally, I placed needles on the limbs too.
Unfortunately, there are no instant miracle points for hair loss, so I needled everywhere effective for clearing pathogenic heat or significantly helpful for skin conditions.
"Just lie like this for a bit. Let me know if it's uncomfortable."
"Yes, thank you."
"I'm here Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat, so come twice a week for treatment. I'll ship the meds."
"Sure!"
I clearly warned him I couldn't guarantee success.
And I did everything treatable.
As my first hair loss patient since returning to the modern world, he had me worried, but alopecia areata isn't something to fear that much.
The rest was up to fate.
After repeating the treatment several times like that.
By the fifth session, fine vellus hairs started appearing on Woo Jongsu's scalp.
"Hmhm~."
Woo Jongsu was in a great mood these days.
His bald spot was still pretty obvious, but...
Click!
When he snapped a photo to check his scalp, it was different from the start.
Bit by bit, he could see something sprouting in his eyes.
'Kuhuhuuk!'
The needle hurt at first, but after treatment, there was definitely a cool sensation.
And every time the doctor's hands touched, he felt energy surging through.
"Kids, you can't even tell about teacher anymore, right?"
But testing it by taking off his hat in front of the students...
"Teacher..."
"It looks... a tiny bit better?!"
He got pitying looks as usual.
[Jongsu, wanna go on a blind date?]
Woo Jongsu hesitated.
He wanted to say yes. But from the students' reactions, he still screamed "hair loss patient" to anyone who saw him.
But next month or the one after, it might be fine!
He swallowed his tears and replied.
[Too busy with academy work this month. Hit me up next month if I'm still single.]
One month since starting treatment.
"It's working, right? Right?"
Woo Jongsu was thrilled with the progress.
"Yes. Your scalp has definitely improved over the month. These vellus hairs will grow into proper strands."
I let out a sigh of relief.
"The hot, stuffy feeling from the meds has gotten much better too. Even on non-treatment days, if something pisses me off, I wash my hair with cold water. Haha, not sure if it helps."
Good that the heat sensation improved too. Seemed like the meds' effect, as he said.
I'd prescribed Coptis and such to cool scalp heat, plus Bupleurum and Fragrant Solomonseal for stress stagnation.
"Same meds next month?"
"No. Your pulse shows much less Liver Fire now. This time, we'll go with a modified Four Substances Decoction to nourish hair follicles. It'll include Eclipta prostrata, the top herb for hair loss."
"Got it. I trust you, Director."
Woo Jongsu happily agreed to continue.
"Next month, when these grow out, it'll cover the white spots decently. Haha."
Doubts gone, expectation bloomed on his face.
With the trajectory so shifted, I had no qualms assuring him it'd heal.
"It will. Just keep coming steadily."
As I urged, Woo Jongsu kept up treatment.
Every Wed and Sat, without fail, he came for injections.
Improving each visit, he felt great even snapping progress pics.
"Hm? Woo Jongsu didn't come today?"
But on the day for finishing the second prescription and consult...
He was nowhere.
"Yeah. Should I call?"
"Nah, leave it."
Maybe avoiding extra med advice? Some patients do that. Lots, actually.
I always schedule result consults to log changes, but patients planning to continue come, while quitters find it burdensome.
Even effective cases like his, hard to say "I'm stopping."
"Hello!"
But a week later, my suspicion proved wrong.
Woo Jongsu showed up at the clinic, looking flashy as ever.
"Whoa, Jongsu, you dyed it?"
"Wow, passionate pink."
Seol Yuhee and Gong Nari marveled.
I couldn't hide my shock at his changed look either.
"Yo, Jongsu, your hair grew back a ton? Hardly notice now."
"Right?"
Meeting friends, he finally heard good hair talk.
Woo Jongsu nearly offered to buy all the drinks in glee.
"Treating at an acupuncturist's my student recommended. Works great."
"For real? Maybe I'll try."
"Ahem. Nah, not for you. Our director says genetic hair loss rarely succeeds. Mine's alopecia areata, that's why."
"Argh, annoying!"
"Blame your genes, Kyungchul~ Cheers~!"
"Ugh. Was gonna set you up."
Teasing friends, giggling—then Woo Jongsu's attitude flipped.
"For real? Thanks, Kyungchul! I'll pray daily with water by your bed so your hair doesn't fall!"
Regretted missing last one like crazy, but blind date again!
His hair was nearly fixed now.
Nothing to fear.
"Let's go!"
Treatment nearing end, he eagerly booked the restaurant on her requested date.
[Sorry. Doesn't feel like the right match.]
Next evening, ghosted cold.
"Wasn't the hair?!"
Only then did Woo Jongsu realize another issue.
"Took you long enough?"
"No way! Why? I'm decent, right? Face is like grade 4! Good money too!"
"Your personality, mocking my hair loss despite sharing the pain."
"Grade 4? Average is 7."
"Haven't talked to girls in ages?"
"Not just hair then, but still hair issue. What's with the mushroom cut?"
Last point hit home for Woo Jongsu.
Decided to change style, hit the salon.
"Try trendy?"
Seduced by the smooth-talking stylist who seemed romance pro, he dyed.
Hearing the story, I couldn't stop admiring.
Pink hair. Quite bold for a working adult male in Korea.
"I see. Dyed last week, so missed?"
"Haha, blind date day. No reservation, didn't call—sorry if you waited."
"Academy work okay?"
I couldn't hold back curiosity.
"Hahaha, even better. A parent requesting a meeting bolted after seeing my hair, like 'This director's no ordinary guy!' Less stress! Kids love it, of course."
I see. If less stress, all good.
Click.
I snapped a scalp pic, showed progress on screen.
Last one's hair pink, but distinguishable from scalp.
"Borders narrowed for sure? Started as 3cm wide, 5.5cm long circle. Now... front 0.7cm diameter, back 0.3cm."
Two circles left in figure-8, but shrunk sharply, more hair covering noticeable spots.
"80% healed, right?"
"Yes. One more month to 100%, but meds as you wish."
"Gotta finish, obviously!"
He got injection, paid happily.
"Jongsu looks so much better. Relieved."
One I worried about, so after closing, chatted with staff.
"Jongsu? The dyed hair loss guy?"
"Asked if girls like this... Tough sell."
"Ooh, truth slips?"
"Nah, said cool. Some girl out there must like it."
"Idol-level needed to pull it off..."
Staff chimed in on his dye.
Seo Ina vanished like wind, Jin Minjeong off nights.
Gong Nari, Seol Yuhee, even Hwang Sanghun lingered on fave styles.
"Guys' hair? Safe two-block good?"
"Eww, hate it! Slight waves, voluminous feel."
"Baby perm?"
"That? Dunno name."
"Yeowon, what style?"
Answered Hwang Sanghun without thinking.
"Me? Long hair."
"...Long? Wolf cut?"
Oh no.
Too honest.
My tastes remodeled over 20 years.
Long hair to waist—peak male beauty.
"Ah, Director! Not game chars! Real guys!"
Luckily, Gong Nari took it as game character talk.
Who'd guess wuxia hunks warped my prefs?
"Your style's unique too! Green bridge—root dye every time?"
"Haha, yeah! Sure!"
I deflected.
They'd assume game cosplay.
Deep story behind it, though.