The Provocative Interview
I was so exhausted that the moment I got home, I showered and immediately passed out cold.
The problem was that when I woke up, it was already past three in the afternoon. Next to me, my phone was ringing like mad.
I answered without even checking the caller ID.
“Wh-who is this?”
“Why are you only answering now?! Junhyun, have you lost your mind?”
That shrill voice could only belong to Shin Iseol. I frowned, held the phone away from my ear for a second, then brought it back.
“Haah… I got home late last night and barely slept.”
“Wh-what? Why are you so brazen about it? Unbelievable. Now that you’re the ace, nothing else matters, is that it?”
“No, it’s not like that. I’ll get ready and come in.”
“Wait, wait! Don’t hang up yet. I have something to tell you.”
Shin Iseol cleared her throat on the other end of the line.
What could be so important that she was dragging this out?
“Was the reason you asked for time off these past few days because of Gu Somin’s father?”
Huh? How did that fact reach Shin Iseol of all people?
I answered, puzzled.
“Yes… it was. Why?”
“Ugh. Then you should have just said so. Gu Somin called earlier and she was completely frantic. You know the magazine Men’s Care, right?”
“…Yeah. The men’s health magazine?”
“Mm-hmm. They want to interview you. Looks like Gu Somin pulled some strings.”
“Huh?”
My head was still foggy from sleep, so I couldn’t process the situation quickly. I must have sounded like an idiot, because Shin Iseol, clearly exasperated, explained further.
“Just… don’t ask any questions and go straight to the hospital where Gu Byeonghwon is admitted. They’re planning to interview both of you at the same time. Ha, seriously, an ace is an ace—I can’t even scold you.”
“Wait, what does that mean… so I shouldn’t come to work today?”
“Is work more important right now? And by the way, Gu Somin put down a ten-million-won VIP deposit in your name. You already knew that much, right?”
“What? T-ten million?”
“You didn’t hear? Yes, yes, ten million. But that’s only part of the contract fee. You two can discuss the rest yourselves. You and the boss are just going to get rich together, huh? Gu Somin said she put the deposit down early because she was worried you’d get chewed out by the boss for being away from the shop for a few days. What a perfect VIP client, right? Haha.”
I pictured Gu Somin’s face.
To do something this thoughtful… I guess beautiful people really do beautiful things.
Anyway, she wanted me to report straight to Gu Byeonghwon’s side. The fact that she was telling me to go there without even scheduling the interview properly meant the magazine staff were already on site.
I scrambled out of bed and told Shin Iseol,
“I’ll get ready and head out right away!”
“Ah, no… w-wait…!”
Click.
I hung up without listening to the rest of what Shin Iseol had to say. Then, while showering, I found myself grinning.
I was slowly becoming the one in charge. Had I ever been the one in charge in my entire life? Even when I worked part-time jobs, I was always watching the boss’s mood, fretting that I’d get fired if I was even a minute late. That bottom-rung life was over.
All that was left now was to make my name known to the world.
About two hours later, I was able to enter Gu Byeonghwon’s hospital room.
The moment I stepped inside, several things surprised me at once.
First, Gu Somin—who should have been in Europe—was here. Second, the ward nurse I’d slept with was sitting right next to her. And third, about five members of the filming crew were seated around the room. Gu Byeonghwon was standing with the help of crutches. I’d seen him do rehab exercises with those crutches before, but I’d never seen him standing so casually like this.
“Kang Junhyun!”
The first to greet me wasn’t anyone else—it was the Men’s Care side.
“You made it. We heard you might not be able to come today, so we were so anxious. I’m the staff team leader in charge of today’s interview.”
“Ah, yes…”
“I was told that Kang Junhyun made the impossible possible. Something even the hospital side couldn’t do.”
“That’s not true. The hospital put a lot of effort into his rehabilitation exercises as well. I simply massaged him within the range of what I could do.”
“You say that, but everyone else’s statements paint a completely different picture. Model Gu Somin here has been singing your praises nonstop. She spoke of you as if you were the Messiah. Someone who works miracles. Ah! Since you said you’re a masseur, we can call you the ‘Miracle Hand,’ can’t we? There was someone who caused a stir with that title once before. He was like some kind of Taoist sage… but Kang Junhyun, you’re so young! Haha!”
The staff team leader rattled on by himself about whatever he found so funny, then burst into hearty laughter.
The other staff members, still holding their equipment, laughed loudly along with him. I forced a wry smile to match them. Stay humble. Stay humble! These people are the media!
“I have no intention of dismissing the hospital’s efforts.”
“Ah, of course not! Goodness…! Look at me. I have no intention of making that kind of accusation, so don’t worry! Hahaha!”
Damn. Looks like I’ve run into a weird one.
After finishing the greetings with him, I walked over to Gu Somin.
“Somin, did you finish everything you needed to do in Europe?”
“Not completely, but when I told them there was this kind of good news, they told me to come back. I did finish the contract, though. It looks like I’ll have to stay in Europe for a while longer.”
“I also heard you put down a deposit.”
“…I just felt so grateful to you, Teacher. I’d received a large contract fee and wanted to repay the favor… was I being too forward?”
“No! Forward? I never even expected it. I’m just grateful.”
I gave her a gentle smile. Then I glanced sideways at the nurse sitting next to her. She was looking at me with the ambitious eyes of a woman who’d just spotted a delicious meal.
Fortunately, it seemed the nurse hadn’t said anything strange.
I deliberately ignored her and looked at Gu Byeonghwon, who was leaning on his crutches.
“How are you feeling, sir? Are you able to walk?”
“Thanks to you. Is there any way I can repay you like this? I really don’t know how to repay this kindness.”
“I didn’t do it expecting repayment. Just staying healthy will make me feel proud enough.”
“Aigoo… you even speak so nicely… So, when are you taking my daughter?”
Gu Byeonghwon laughed playfully, and Gu Somin’s face beside him flushed bright red.
“Dad!”
“Hahaha. Just kidding, just kidding. No need to get so worked up.”
“You’re making Teacher uncomfortable.”
The one who actually looked uncomfortable was the nurse next to us. She kept sending me sex signals nonstop. I never used to notice, but women can be this blatant about sexual appeals too, huh.
While we were having our happy reunion, the Men’s Care staff team leader approached me.
“Alright, alright! Shall we start the interview?”
“Yes, let’s do that.”
The staff team leader’s name was Lee Jeongphil.
Lee Jeongphil hummed like the most carefree man in the world as he scribbled with his pen. He was so full of energy that I wondered if all interviewers were this cheerful by nature.
He asked a few questions, and I answered them carefully one by one.
Lately I’d had so many situations that required quick thinking that my improvisation skills had gotten pretty sharp. Even I thought I was answering rather well.
“Did you have confidence that you could cure Gu Byeonghwon’s condition?”
“Rather than confidence, I thought I could at least provide some minimal help. I have my own know-how, and I’ve always loved helping people.”
“You seem to have a truly strong sense of professional duty. I heard that before taking on this work, you didn’t want any compensation at all.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“There are many aspects of you that are truly admirable. I expect many people who see this interview will try to contact you. There are people all over the country who need help. Will you be able to take care of all of them?”
“Taking care of everyone would be impossible. After all, I only have two hands.”
I held up both hands and smiled.
As expected, Lee Jeongphil burst into another pleasant laugh.
“Hahaha!”
Then he suddenly switched gears and continued with a serious question.
“But you know, there’s something I’ve been very curious about. I think this is something everyone will be curious about.”
“What is it?”
“It’s a question about the ‘Miracle Hand.’ Whether Kang Junhyun might be a disciple of that famous Taoist-like figure from before. Do you know him?”
I answered this question without the slightest hesitation.
“No. I’ve never heard of him. I don’t even know if that person actually exists.”
“Ah, I see. Then do you know about Shin Yongseop?”
Ah. Shin Yongseop—the top masseur Choi Wonjae had mentioned, the one who specialized in chiropractic. I’d heard he was called the second Miracle Hand.
“I’ve only heard the name.”
“Really? That’s surprising! In this field, there’s almost no one who doesn’t study him. You could call him a Taoist sage who’s come down to the secular world.”
Something felt off.
Ever since the questions about the Taoist sage started, I’d sensed a strange undercurrent.
The atmosphere was different somehow.
What exactly did Lee Jeongphil want from me with these questions?
The real point came out not long after.
“Then I’ll ask one last question. Between Shin Yongseop and yourself, who do you think is closer to being the ‘Miracle Hand’?”
“Excuse me?”
The question was so absurd that I couldn’t help frowning.
So that was it. Of course. Men’s Care hadn’t recruited me for no reason.
Shit.
They were planning to pit me against Shin Yongseop through the media. The world always wants a number one, after all.
But I knew my position very well. I couldn’t compare myself to a veteran like Shin Yongseop. Of course, thanks to my superpower I was confident I could win, but this time I decided it would be better to take a step back.
“I’d like to learn massage from Shin Yongseop. Especially chiropractic. It’s not a skill you can just pick up anywhere, is it?”
The interview ended there, and the next day my comments appeared in Men’s Care magazine like this: