Fifth Vital [EN]: Chapter 66

66. What are you doing to my patient!

“Ugh!”

As he entered the hospital, a receptionist greeted the man.

“Welcome. Are you here for a consultation?”

“Ugh! Ugh!”

Startled by the sudden, unidentified noise, the receptionist looked at the man, who quickly pulled out a notepad, seemingly flustered.

-I’m here for a consultation today. Is it possible to see a doctor now?

“Ugh! Ugh!”

The man swallowed the continuous screams, showing the pre-written words in his notepad.

“Ah, yes. You can see a doctor. Perhaps…”

The receptionist cautiously continued, noticing something strange about the man’s behavior.

“Is it difficult for you to speak?”

“Ugh!”

-It’s hard for me to talk right now. I apologize.

“No, it’s okay. Will you be seeing the emergency room or outpatient services? Outpatient is available now.”

Unexpectedly questioned, the man wrote an answer in his notepad.

-I’ll see outpatient services.

“Okay, what brings you here today? If you’ve injured your mouth, you can see the emergency room doctor quickly.”

-No. No, I didn’t hurt my mouth. And I’ll tell the doctor when I see them.

“Ah, okay. Then please write your name and date of birth here and have a seat.”

-Excuse me, but will it take long?

“The doctor is currently in the emergency room, but it shouldn’t take too long. However, if an emergency patient arrives, they may be seen first.”

-Okay, thank you.

The man followed the receptionist’s instructions and sat down in the waiting room.

* * *

“Thank you, driver.”

Uijin, who should have been at the hospital, got out of a taxi in the middle of downtown.

An hour earlier-

‘Soo-ssam [term of endearment for a senior colleague], I’m sorry, but can I go out for just an hour?’

‘Why? Is something wrong?’

‘I have some personal matters to take care of urgently.’

‘Jeong-ssam [Ms. Jeong] has never done this before, so it must be urgent. Go quickly and come back. Call me immediately if an emergency surgery patient comes in.’

Although she said it was for personal reasons, Uijin left the hospital at this hour because of Taekyung’s situation.

She couldn’t stand still after seeing the bill for over 200 million won sent by Nuga Group.

‘Uijin, it’s okay.’

Taekyung, the person involved, said it was okay, but Uijin was not okay at all. And when she thought about it, she felt partly responsible for what Taekyung had experienced.

“I shouldn’t have suggested meeting on the weekend.”

She was bothered by the fact that she had called Taekyung out on the weekend and insisted on meeting at the baseball stadium. Moreover, she felt sorry that she was excluded from the bill even though she was involved in the incident together. After worrying all day while seeing patients, Uijin decided to come to a place she hadn’t visited since elementary school.

This was the only way to help Taekyung.

“It’s been a long time. Well, it’s my first time here since they rebuilt the building…”

Amidst the tall buildings boasting their majesty, Uijin walked towards the main entrance of the largest building, which read “Jeong & Jang Law Firm.”

Even though it was almost midnight, many lights were still on inside the building.

“You can’t just go in there.”

As Uijin entered the gate for employees only, security guards approached.

“What brings you here?”

“I’m here to see Attorney Jeong Haejin.”

“Attorney Jeong Haejin? Do you have an appointment with her?”

“It’s okay. She’s my guest.”

The person Uijin was supposed to meet recognized her to the security guard.

“We apologize for the inconvenience.”

Leaving the politely bowing security guard behind, Uijin went outside with Jeong Haejin to a secluded bench.

“What brings you here so suddenly?”

“Unnie [term of endearment for older sister]!”

Jeong Haejin, whom Uijin called affectionately, was her older sister. Jeong Haejin was a leading partner attorney and a key figure.

“Do you know how surprised I was when I got your call?”

“Sorry. I’ve been out of my mind.”

“Is it so urgent that you ran over here in your gown?”

“It’s a bit urgent. Can you help me?”

“Of course, I have to help my sister.”

Jeong Haejin was a little surprised by Uijin’s request for help. She had never asked her family for help or reached out to them since graduating from high school. That’s how responsible her younger sister was.

Coming from a family of lawyers, Uijin entered medical school against her parents’ wishes to become a doctor and had been living alone ever since. It was still because of her father’s nagging to go to law school.

“But what’s going on? Ha! I know. Are you perhaps…”

“Hey! Jeong Haejin! It’s not that kind of thing.”

“I’m so disappointed, little sister. This unnie would have welcomed it.”

“Is that something you should say to your sister?”

“You’re not a teenager or a college student; you’re an adult with a clear profession. You’re in your late 30s. Your age is about to change. Mom is desperate to get you set up on a blind date.”

“Oh, never mind. Do you know anything about Kim Seohyun?”

“Don’t tell me you’re talking about that Kim Seohyun from Nuga Group?”

“That’s exactly who I’m talking about.”

“What? Are you involved with that witch?”

“You could say that, but to be exact, someone I want to help is in trouble. I need your help.”

“Explain it so I can understand.”

Uijin told her sister exactly what had happened, without adding or subtracting anything.

“You and your fellow doctor ended up following the Good Samaritan Law.”

“That story from the Bible?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

The Good Samaritan Law is a law that punishes those who do not help or ignore others in danger, even if they are not in particular danger themselves.

Currently, many countries, including the United States, France, and the United Kingdom, follow this law.

“Our country doesn’t follow that law, though.”

“That’s right. Instead, we have Article 5, Paragraph 2 of the Emergency Medical Care Act.”

Article 5, Paragraph 2 states that in the event of property damage or casualties resulting from providing emergency medical care or first aid to an emergency patient whose life is in danger, the actor shall not be held liable for civil damages or criminal liability for injury, and criminal liability for death shall be reduced, unless there is intentional or gross negligence.

“You’re talking about the exemption for well-intentioned emergency medical personnel.”

“You know it well, as expected of a family of lawyers.”

“I’m a medical professional too, so I know that much. But the question is whether that law will work for Kim Seohyun. Their legal team wouldn’t have sent the bill without knowing that.”

“Of course, they know. They probably know and don’t care at all.”

“That’s what I’m saying. Is there any way?”

“That’s right! You said the witch slapped your colleague in the face?”

“Yes, she slapped him properly.”

“We’ve got one thing to work with. Assaulting a medical professional carries a sentence of up to 10 years in prison or a fine of up to 100 million won.”

“Will that work for just a slap? I heard that Nuga Group’s legal team is like an iron fortress.”

“Hah! Little sister, you don’t know anything about family matters. Our family is Jeong & Jang.”

Jeong Haejin made a scornful expression after hearing Uijin’s story.

“There’s only one place more powerful than their legal team, and that’s our company. Didn’t you know that we handle all the major domestic and international lawsuits for Korea’s chaebol [large family-owned conglomerates] groups?”

“Oh, really? I didn’t know.”

“That means your unnie knows at least one of their dirty secrets. I’ve wanted to deal with that Kim Seohyun someday, and this is perfect.”

“Why? Did something happen to you too?”

“Was it two years ago? Our firm’s honorary attorney participated as an advisor at that time and helped resolve a difficult case.”

“And?”

“But at that time, she spoke informally and was very rude to someone who was old enough to be her father. By the way, is that doctor you’re helping a man?”

“Yes. He’s a senior colleague I like.”

Uijin deliberately confessed her feelings to her sister. She knew that Jeong Haejin would help more actively because of her personality.

“Oh my! You little thing. You should have told me sooner. So, your future brother-in-law is in trouble.”

However, contrary to Uijin’s expectations, Jeong Haejin was going beyond being active and was tying Taekyung into the family.

“Don’t overdo it.”

“That’s a little difficult. This unnie understood correctly, right? Right?”

“What brother-in-law? It’s not like that.”

“Okay. We don’t even have to go to court. Unnie will take care of it. Don’t worry.”

“I’m telling you, it’s not like that. Don’t tell our parents, okay?”

“Okay. Don’t worry. Anyone who messes with our family will be in big trouble.”

Despite Uijin’s words that they weren’t even together yet, Taekyung in Jeong Haejin’s mind was already labeled as her future brother-in-law.

“Oh, right. Can I see a picture of our brother-in-law?”

“I don’t have a picture.”

“Have you two held hands?”

“I’m telling you, it’s not like that!”

“You haven’t held hands. Tsk tsk! Be more proactive.”

* * *

“Ugh!!”

“Isn’t that man a little strange?”

“He is a bit odd.”

The receptionists were watching the man who was making consistent noises with a towel in his mouth.

“Should we call Team Leader Choi?”

“No. He hasn’t caused a disturbance yet and is just sitting there, so let’s watch him a little longer.”

“Ugh!”

The man sitting in the waiting room looked anxious as the waiting time was longer than expected.

“Ugh, ugh!”

Swallowing rough curses with a towel in his mouth, he got up from his seat, realizing he couldn’t take it anymore.

His jaw was getting weaker from biting the towel so hard, and the towel was soaked with saliva, causing drool to drip little by little.

“Ugh!”

The man hurriedly wiped his saliva off the chair leg with his top and moved his feet.

‘I can’t do this. Let’s go out for a bit.’

Just as the man, whispering his desperate heart, was about to step out of the main entrance,

“How long do I have to wait to see a doctor… Ah!”

A woman who was turning her head and talking to the person behind her didn’t see the man and bumped into him.

At that moment, the towel dropped onto the woman’s high heel. At the same time, rough curses burst out of the man’s mouth as the stuffy towel fell.

“Ah! You x-bitch!!”

“Oh my! What is this?”

The woman screamed and dropped the soggy towel on the ground, stepping on it.

The man quickly tried to pick up the fallen towel and put it in his mouth, but he hesitated because of the dirt and dust on the towel. And curses spewed out of his mouth again.

“Ah! You dog-like xx! Ugh!”

“Hey! You. What did you just say to me?”

The woman, hearing the curses, became angry and confronted the man.

“Sorry… Ugh! Sor, shix. Ugh!”

The man tried to say the word “sorry,” but it was difficult because curses kept bursting out.

“That’s not ugh! And… shix. Ugh! Not.”

“Ha! Really.”

The woman, scoffing and taking off her sunglasses, was none other than Kim Seohyun.

“I only have shitty things happening to me because of some shitty doctor. He looks young, doesn’t he? Are you not going to apologize?”

“Sor… Ugh, you son of a bitch!”

The man, flustered by Kim Seohyun’s firm attitude, finally made a circle with his left hand and shoved it into his mouth.

“Woop!”

It was to stop the curses from coming out. And he took out his notepad and pen, knelt on the floor, hurriedly wrote something, and stood up.

-I apologize for making you hear curses. I am cursing against my will. I am very sorry for making you feel uncomfortable.

“Ugh!!”

“What is he saying? Are you drunk?”

The man, realizing that he couldn’t handle the situation, tried to write something quickly, but he couldn’t.

Thud-

Kim Seohyun snatched the notepad from his hand and threw it away, urging him to apologize.

“Are you kidding me? And do you know how much these shoes cost? Why does it smell so dirty? Apologize quickly!”

“Woop! Woop!”

Saliva dripped out of his left hand, and the man lowered his head, but Kim Seohyun was not satisfied.

“This is not just playing with people, are you trying to get in trouble?”

Kim Seohyun, still not relieved of her displeasure, annoyingly tapped the back of the bowing man’s head with her palm.

“Hey, lower your head deeper and apologize properly.”

And she was poking the man’s forehead with her index finger and patting his head with her palm, gradually increasing the intensity. Soon, Kim Seohyun put strength into her palm, which stopped in the air.

“Woop!”

Just as the man closed his eyes with his left hand in his mouth, swallowing curses,

“What are you doing to my patient!”

A thunderous shout struck Kim Seohyun’s eardrums. The person who shouted at Kim Seohyun was Taekyung, who had just come out of the emergency room.

“Take that hand off right now!”

Taekyung shouted clearly once again.