A Surgeon Who Uses Martial Arts [EN]: Chapter 308

Chapter 59: Pressing Down Like Mount Tai (3)

The neurosurgery conference room.

The morning conference was underway, led by the chief resident.

While Dae-hwi was briefing on the admitted patients, Jun-hoo flipped through the printed materials, reviewing the surgical schedule in advance.

According to the schedule, Jun-hoo was to assist in two brain surgeries.

One surgery involved assisting the head professor, and the other involved assisting Jin-tae from the cerebrovascular department.

‘Will the head professor keep his promise? Will he assign me to cervical and lumbar spine surgeries?’

Jun-hoo was slightly worried.

For the head professor to change Jun-hoo’s surgical schedule according to his preferences meant the head professor was showing Jun-hoo special favor.

It was impossible to avoid scrutiny or backlash from those around him.

“Now, let’s organize the surgical schedule…”

“Wait a moment.”

Just as the chief resident was about to change the topic of the conference, the head professor stepped forward.

“Let’s change the surgical schedule a bit. Seo Jun-hoo.”

“Yes, Professor.”

“Instead of the surgeries you were originally assigned to, assist Professors Hoon-shik and Jeong-hwan in their surgeries. Hyuk-jae will take Jun-hoo’s place.”

The head professor spoke decisively.

Both professors specialized in cervical and lumbar spine surgeries, so the head professor was keeping his promise to Jun-hoo.

Jun-hoo lowered his hand under the desk and clenched his fist.

“Why are you changing the surgical schedule as you please, Professor?”

Hoon-shik interjected, his voice displeased.

“Isn’t managing the surgical schedule the head professor’s job? What’s your complaint if the head professor is doing his job?”

The head professor retorted sharply, not backing down.

Glares were exchanged between the head professor and Hoon-shik.

“So, what’s the reason? The reason. Did Seo Jun-hoo catch you doing something wrong?”

“Professor Hong, watch your mouth. I may have been your junior at school in the past, but now I am clearly your superior.”

“You? Shouldn’t the head professor be careful with his words?”

“Professor Hong, please calm down.”

Jun-seo, Hoon-shik’s right-hand man, who was next to Hoon-shik, stopped the fuming Hoon-shik.

And instead of Hoon-shik, he calmly acted as Hoon-shik’s voice.

“It’s rare to completely change the surgical schedule, isn’t it? I would like to hear a detailed explanation, Professor.”

At Jun-seo’s question, all the staff’s attention turned to the head professor.

Overcoming this situation was entirely up to the head professor.

‘If the head professor can’t explain it properly, I’ll get caught up in it too. I wonder how he’s going to answer?’

As Jun-hoo’s curiosity and worry grew, the head professor began to speak.

“A few days ago, Jun-hoo came to me. He told me that he wanted to focus on training in cervical and lumbar spine surgeries.”

The head professor’s choice was surprisingly a direct approach.

It was an unexpected choice.

From Jun-hoo’s perspective, revealing your intentions to others was something a novice would do.

“Can I interpret that statement as an explicit declaration that you are giving Jun-hoo preferential treatment?”

Jun-seo’s voice, asking back, was sharp.

The gazes of the other professors and residents towards the head professor were also unkind.

The situation was becoming increasingly complicated.

“Actually…”

As Jun-hoo tried to step forward, the head professor raised his hand to stop him.

Even though the atmosphere of the meeting was tense, the head professor was not flustered at all. So Jun-hoo decided to continue trusting the head professor.

“Since Jun-hoo came on secondment [temporary assignment], our department has changed significantly. The ward and operating room have started to function reasonably well.”

“…”

“Everyone.”

The head professor paused, looking around the room.

“Are you aware that Jun-hoo has been continuously working the night shift since he came on secondment?”

At the head professor’s point, the professors murmured in agreement. Of course, none of the professors knew that fact.

The night shift of a resident was outside their interest.

“Lee Jae-sung. Am I wrong?”

The head professor pointedly asked the chief resident.

“No. That’s right. Jun-hoo volunteered for the night shift and has been working it alone until now.”

“What has changed since Jun-hoo came on secondment?”

“The ward and intensive care unit patient management are going well. Prescriptions, treatments, and chart documentation are not delayed. Frankly, we are benefiting a lot from Jun-hoo.”

At the chief resident’s explanation, the head professor nodded as if saying, ‘See?’

“Jun-hoo is working so hard and excellently, what’s wrong with giving him a little convenience?”

“…”

“What’s the problem with giving him surgeries in the relevant area because he wants to specialize in cervical and lumbar spine?”

“…”

“I changed Jun-hoo’s surgical schedule, but did I exclude Jun-hoo from doing surgeries altogether?”

As the head professor began to explain point by point, none of the professors could respond.

Jun-hoo intuitively felt that the justification was now on the head professor’s side.

Even if a verbal battle broke out in the orthodox martial arts alliance, it was usually like this.

Depending on whose justification was stronger and whose reasoning was more thorough, the decision-making power shifted.

Unlike what Jun-hoo had worried about, the head professor was skilled.

He just hadn’t been able to demonstrate his abilities because of the obstacle called Hoon-shik.

‘This is good, actually.’

‘If I just deal with Professor Hong, the Daejeon department will return to normal.’

Jun-hoo smiled inwardly, envisioning the blueprint that would unfold in the department in the future.

“Seo Jun-hoo.”

“Yes, Professor.”

“Are you only going to assist in cervical and lumbar spine surgeries from now on?”

“That’s not true. I want to assist mainly in cervical and lumbar spine surgeries, and if there are no schedules, I would naturally like to participate in brain tumor or cerebrovascular surgeries as well.”

“Okay. Then, if anyone has any objections to my decision, please raise your hand.”

The head professor’s voice was filled with authority. Faced with that authority, the professors could not easily raise their hands.

Even Hoon-shik, the king of objections, looked as if he had been hit hard.

“Then, let’s settle Jun-hoo’s surgical schedule like this from now on. Everyone agreed, so don’t say anything different later.”

After speaking, the head professor stared at Jun-hoo.

It was a look that said, ‘I kept my promise, so it’s your turn next.’

Jun-hoo nodded lightly.

“Before organizing the changed surgical schedule, let’s address one thing. Professor Hong?”

“What is it?”

Hoon-shik retorted gruffly.

“You know that the spinal arteriovenous malformation [abnormal connection between arteries and veins in the spinal cord] patient came to the emergency room yesterday, right? Don’t even think about denying it because Jun-hoo directly notified you.”

At the head professor’s point, Hoon-shik’s earlobes turned red. Even his cheek muscles were twitching.

“I know, so what?”

“Why didn’t you operate on that patient when it was an emergency?”

“It seemed like transferring was a better option than surgery, so I ordered a transfer. Jun-hoo didn’t follow that.”

Hoon-shik said, glaring at Jun-hoo.

“Doesn’t that make sense logically?”

The head professor questioned.

“Let’s say you sent the patient to another hospital. Then, that hospital would have naturally operated on the patient, right?”

“Probably.”

“Then isn’t it more dangerous to send the patient for transfer? We can operate on the patient right away in our hospital, so why transfer the patient to receive surgery?”

At the head professor’s point, Hoon-shik became speechless.

Hoon-shik knew best that his excuse didn’t make sense.

Hoon-shik’s face hardened as he was cornered.

And Jun-hoo, watching that scene, felt a sense of satisfaction.

‘It must have been nice playing golf, but the aftermath will be hell.’

“You weren’t on duty yesterday, were you? You didn’t operate because you weren’t on duty, but rather because you couldn’t, right?”

“Ugh…”

“I will report Professor Hong’s work negligence at today’s head professor meeting. Brace yourself.”

At least in today’s meeting, the head professor had won a clear victory over Hoon-shik.

* * *

The following conference and rounds atmosphere was not good. This was because Hoon-shik was expressing his discomfort with his whole body.

Other professors were busy watching the powerful Hoon-shik’s mood.

‘Ha… that bastard is finally causing trouble.’

As the rounds were coming to an end, Hoon-shik glared at Jun-hoo openly.

As if he had no fault at all.

As if he was completely clean and innocent.

Hoon-shik sincerely believed that.

Because if Jun-hoo had followed his instructions, there would have been no reason for things to escalate this far.

If Jun-hoo had transferred the patient according to his instructions, today’s incident would have been buried without a trace.

“Seo Jun-hoo. Come see me for a moment.”

When the rounds were over, Hoon-shik called Jun-hoo to the conference room.

“What’s the matter, Professor?”

Jun-hoo’s eyes, facing Hoon-shik, were saying, ‘I don’t know anything.’

It was truly a brazen look.

“Hey, you bastard. Does my word sound like dog barking? Why aren’t you doing as I say and causing trouble?”

Curses burst out from his throat first.

He felt even more angry after speaking.

“What… what are you talking about…”

“Did I tell you to transfer the patient? Or not?”

“You told me to transfer.”

“But?”

“I thought the patient needed surgery right away. So I notified the head professor separately one more time.”

“Are you calling that an excuse, you son of a bitch? Is the head professor a cervical and lumbar spine specialist? You should follow my words, why are you stupidly calling the head professor and making things bigger?”

“I’m sorry, Professor. But…”

Jun-hoo, who had his head bowed, continued in a subdued voice.

“Why?”

“When I notified you, Professor, I heard some refreshing sounds. Were you perhaps playing golf?”

At Jun-hoo’s bold question, Hoon-shik’s eyes widened.

“Hey! Are you crazy? Are you asking that question in this situation?!”

“I was just too curious.”

“This son of a bitch. You’re only good at your job, but you have no sense at all.”

Hoon-shik’s breath became hot and rough.

Unable to hold back his anger any longer, Hoon-shik kicked out.

He kicked Jun-hoo’s shin with the toe of his shoe.

“Ugh…”

“Ugh…”

Two groans erupted simultaneously.

One was Hoon-shik’s, and the other was Jun-hoo’s.

Hoon-shik had kicked Jun-hoo, but Hoon-shik’s toes were throbbing. It felt like kicking a solid rock.

Hoon-shik had no way of knowing that Jun-hoo had protected his shin with internal energy.

“What? Why is your shin so hard?”

“I don’t know. Anyway, it hurts a lot too.”

Anyway, since Jun-hoo was frowning and expressing his pain, Hoon-shik had achieved his intended purpose.

“You stupid bastard. Koreans are dead without common sense [lack of social awareness]. Pay attention from now on. Huh?”

Hoon-shik kicked Jun-hoo’s shin one more time.

This time too, the tip of Hoon-shik’s toes tingled.

And this time too, Jun-hoo was in pain.

He was busy bending over and stroking his shin with one hand.

Hoon-shik couldn’t understand why he felt like he had lost even though Jun-hoo was in pain.

Squeak.

Just then, the conference room door opened and Dae-hwi, a first-year resident, came inside.

Reading the tense atmosphere between Hoon-shik and Jun-hoo, Dae-hwi froze in place.

“Kim Dae-hwi.”

“Yes, Professor.”

“You didn’t see anything just now. Got it?”

Hoon-shik ordered Dae-hwi to keep his mouth shut.

“…Yes. I didn’t see anything.”

“Then go.”

No sooner had Dae-hwi left than Jun-hoo complained in an unsightly manner.

“Professor. My shin hurts so much. I was wrong. I will never make the same mistake again.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

Hoon-shik smiled lewdly at Jun-hoo’s plea.

Hoon-shik tasted a thrilling pleasure from dominating and controlling others.

Power was as sweet as chocolate.

“From now on, keep your mind sharp and pay close attention. Get rid of the naive thought that it’s over when your secondment ends and you go back to Seoul.”

“…”

“I have many colleagues in Seoul. Burying someone like you is nothing.”

“I will keep that in mind, Professor.”

Thud!

Hoon-shik deliberately tapped Jun-hoo’s shoulder and left the conference room.

But it was right then.

No sooner had Hoon-shik left than Jun-hoo’s submissive expression changed 180 degrees.

It was the expression of a hunter, not prey.

“Threats, assault, work negligence, a set of three came all at once. That’s why modern times are so good.”

Jun-hoo grinned.

And pressed the recording stop button on the phone he had put in his gown.