A Surgeon Who Uses Martial Arts [EN]: Chapter 495

Martial Arts Surgeon – Episode 495

97. An Ambitious Dream (1)

Knock. Knock. Knock.

A voice responded to the knock, inviting him in.

The Deputy Director of Medical Affairs entered the Director’s office.

The Director’s office was lavish.

Near the window, an orchid pot displayed lush green leaves.

A famous Van Gogh masterpiece hung on the wall beside the window.

Below it, a golf bag with a blatantly visible famous brand was placed.

The five-tiered bookshelf was filled with luxurious, hardcover books.

An LP turntable spun on the desk. Sweet classical music flowed from the LP.

-I am a refined person, lacking in no field.

The Director was intensely conveying that message through his flamboyant office.

“You’ve come?”

The Director, who had been sitting on the sofa, raised his head.

He put down the newspaper he was reading.

Took a sip of coffee.

The rich aroma of coffee filled the office.

Of course, this appearance was also a performance.

*Is this what it takes to become the youngest hospital director?*

The Deputy Director of Medical Affairs felt bleak whenever he thought about it.

The only thing the Deputy Director of Medical Affairs could keep up with the Director was golf.

“Yes, Director. Good morning.”

“It would be a better morning if your report is beneficial.”

The Deputy Director of Medical Affairs gave an awkward smile instead of answering.

He sat on the sofa opposite the Director.

Today was the day for the monthly ‘Department of Medical Affairs Performance’ report.

It was a schedule unique to the Busan branch, not found in the Seoul or Incheon Shinwon University Hospitals.

It was also a new schedule created with the inauguration of this Director.

The Deputy Director of Medical Affairs summarized the data received from the Administration Department and various departments and conveyed only the key points.

“Overall, it’s about the same as last month?”

The Director said, adjusting his reading glasses.

The printed materials were quickly flipped through.

“Yes. Only the Neurosurgery Department’s performance is noticeably better.”

“Neurosurgery?”

“Yes. The profit rate has doubled. It’s the first time in nearly five years that it has turned from a deficit to a surplus. The bed turnover rate has improved, and the number of outpatients and inpatients has also increased significantly.”

“…….”

“It also ranked in the top 3 in the in-house Q.I (Quality Improvement) evaluation.”

“What was it ranked before?”

“It was 3rd before as well. From the bottom.”

The Deputy Director of Medical Affairs mixed in a joke, but the Director did not laugh.

He was only staring intently at the Neurosurgery Department’s data.

He scratched the back of his head awkwardly.

“It was worth bringing in Director Seo. Such performance in less than 2 months since taking office.”

“Hahaha. I have believed in the Director’s insight from the beginning.”

“That’s true, but…….”

The Director stroked his chin and continued.

“Isn’t the figure improving too dramatically? Are there any problems with the statistics or data?”

“There probably aren’t any errors.”

“What makes you think so?”

The Director asked back with a sharp look.

“The trickle-down effect from Director Seo is more significant than expected. Patients who can’t see Director Seo are booking appointments with other professors.”

“Hmm…… Is that so? Is it a case of beggars can’t be choosers?”

“It seems like that.”

“But don’t just stand there with your mouth open, [넋 놓고, *neok nohgo*, meaning to be absentminded or spacing out]. It’s hard to go up, but it’s easy to fall.”

“…….”

“Given Director Seo’s personality, he’ll cause a problem sooner or later.”

The Director warned with a serious expression.

The person he brought in himself.

That coldness of not believing even when achieving overwhelming results.

The Deputy Director of Medical Affairs felt a chill down his spine for no reason.

“By the way, you must be feeling a little jealous?”

The Director leaned back on the sofa and smiled.

“Why would I be jealous?”

“Professor Kim Han-sang, who you’re pushing, isn’t doing so well, is he?”

He was hit right on the mark.

He couldn’t give an answer right away.

The Director was clearly enjoying the Deputy Director of Medical Affairs’ flustered reaction.

*You perverted old man.*

“It’s okay. It’s not a bad thing to take care of your people.”

“…….”

“I just wanted to let you know that you don’t have to read my face anymore.”

“…….”

“If you want to devour Director Seo, try to bite him hard. I’ll pretend I didn’t see it.”

The Deputy Director of Medical Affairs tilted his head at the unexpected remark.

*Is this human being serious right now?*

*Is he subtly testing the waters?*

It was difficult to grasp his overall intention.

“Anything else to say?”

“No, I don’t.”

“Then go.”

The Director waved his hand, and the Deputy Director of Medical Affairs fled the Director’s office.

Even though his business was finished, the Deputy Director of Medical Affairs stood there staring intently at the Director’s office door.

*What is the Director’s true intention?*

*What is the relationship between the Director and Jun-hoo?*

More time was needed to find the answer.

* * *

At that time, the Intensive Care Unit of the Trauma Center.

Jun-hoo was sitting next to the bed where Go Hyun-chul was lying.

Go Hyun-chul was already thin, but he had become even more emaciated while staying in the intensive care unit after the surgery.

His arms and legs were like pith [the soft, spongy tissue in the stems of certain plants].

It was hard to find any muscles.

“Do you know where you are?”

“Hospital.”

“How many fingers do you see?”

“Three.”

Go Hyun-chul answered in a dry voice to Jun-hoo’s questions.

He hadn’t meticulously calculated the GCS (Glasgow Coma Scale) score [a neurological scale used to assess the level of consciousness], but his consciousness was clear enough.

A long silence came after the short Q&A.

Go Hyun-chul blankly looked up at the ceiling.

Jun-hoo only looked down at Go Hyun-chul.

In fact, he had been curious for a long time.

A powerful politician.

What exactly was the reason that drove a political veteran to suicide?

Will that secret be revealed today?

“It seems you regained consciousness a long time ago. At least yesterday evening?”

“How did you know that?”

Go Hyun-chul raised his eyebrows.

His eyebrows formed a seagull shape.

“If you had just regained consciousness, you would have looked very confused. Your voice wouldn’t have been as clear as it is now either.”

“That’s right. I was pretending to sleep. I wanted to sort out my thoughts. Are you the doctor who operated on me?”

“Yes.”

Jun-hoo nodded.

He paused for a beat and asked a question.

“Do you resent me?”

“I don’t resent you that much. Saving people must be your job.”

Go Hyun-chul’s voice was indifferent.

He didn’t seem to welcome his recovery very much.

“The surgery was successful. If you go through rehabilitation and get discharged, you will be able to live the same life as before.”

“Modern medicine seems to have developed a lot. To see that I’m fine after falling from that high place.”

“What was tormenting the Assemblyman [Korean term for a member of the National Assembly] so much?”

Jun-hoo threw a fastball [a direct and straightforward question].

It may have been a somewhat rude attitude, but Jun-hoo was confident.

Jun-hoo’s eyes were already tinged with the light of a blue lake.

A martial art that affects the mental realm.

He was using Jeong-an(正眼) [a martial arts technique involving intense focus and mental clarity].

A pure heart to know Go Hyun-chul’s true feelings.

That heart harmonized with his inner energy and was contained in his eyes.

Go Hyun-chul was reflected in Jun-hoo’s eyes, and Jun-hoo was reflected in Go Hyun-chul’s eyes. Two different islands were communicating.

“Ha…….”

Go Hyun-chul sighed painfully.

He covered his face with his palm.

“The doctor probably thinks I have everything, right?”

“No. I don’t think so.”

“Why?”

“Everyone has shortcomings. Even if the outside looks fancy, the inside is somewhat rotten. I’m the same way.”

Go Hyun-chul chuckled at Jun-hoo’s answer.

It was an unexpected answer.

Perhaps that’s why.

The hope that Jun-hoo might understand the darkness within him arose.

“I haven’t been treated, but it seems I’ve been suffering from severe depression.”

“…….”

“I’ve felt like my body and mind have been sinking into dark water for several years.”

“…….”

“In the meantime, I divorced my wife, and my children followed her.”

“…….”

“It was also hard to bear that my influence within the party was decreasing. I devoted all my youth and prime to the party.”

“…….”

“Divorce is something that everyone else does. It’s natural that power isn’t the same as before.”

“…….”

“It was too hard to accept that.”

Parents, siblings, relatives.

The words he couldn’t say to his friends and political figures flowed out of his mouth.

Go Hyun-chul was surprised at himself for speaking so transparently.

He had firmly believed that all these stories would remain a secret even after his death.

But it was a strange thing.

He had only muttered a few words to himself.

But the feeling that bright sunlight had come to his dark heart was already there.

“Assemblyman. Look me straight in the eye.”

“Yes.”

Go Hyun-chul obediently followed Jun-hoo’s instructions.

He wasn’t even a foreigner.

Jun-hoo’s eyes were tinged with aquamarine blue.

The surging emotions were calmly subsiding.

“What is the season that comes after spring, summer, and fall?”

“Of course, it’s winter.”

“Depression is also like winter. I’m not saying this to belittle the Assemblyman’s pain, so don’t misunderstand.”

“…….”

“If winter passes, won’t spring come?”

“…….”

“I will help until spring comes to the Assemblyman. Maybe you won’t need me.”

“…….”

“There are a lot of people waiting for the Assemblyman in the intensive care unit waiting room. There are parents, a wife, and a son. There are also political colleagues.”

“…….”

“How about it? Do you have the strength to endure now?”

Jun-hoo’s words melted Go Hyun-chul’s frozen heart.

Go Hyun-chul literally cried like a child.

His eyes were hot.

His nasal bridge was stinging.

Tears streamed down, and thick snot blocked his nose. It was hard to breathe, so Go Hyun-chul gasped for air.

He couldn’t control the tremors bursting out of his body.

*That’s right. I wasn’t lacking.*

*I wasn’t a weakling.*

*I was just spending a desolate winter alone.*

That realization covered his body like lightning.

“Here, take this.”

Jun-hoo handed Go Hyun-chul a tissue, deliberately avoiding Go Hyun-chul’s gaze.

Tears were about to burst out.

Jun-hoo was also desperately holding back.

For Jeong-an to be effective, Jun-hoo also had to be sincere with the other person.

The aftereffects were also overwhelming Jun-hoo.

Still, the problem was solved.

Jun-hoo’s heart was much lighter.

He had a sense of inferiority that he could solve the disease of the body but not the disease of the mind.

But when he used Jeong-an skillfully.

He gained confidence that he could cure the disease of the mind as well.

It’s a bit of an overinterpretation.

Even if a psychiatrist had counseled Go Hyun-chul and prescribed medication.

He might not have been able to play as big a role as Jeong-an.

How much time had passed?

Go Hyun-chul, who had vomited out all the crying in his body, was making a refreshed expression.

“Doctor. Thank you. Thanks to you, I have regained my zest for life.”

“What have I done?”

“I’m only saying this because we’re alone.”

Go Hyun-chul carefully looked around and continued.

“If there’s anything you want to ask in the future, feel free to do so. I will help as much as I can.”

“I just hope the Assemblyman is healthy…….”

Jun-hoo trailed off.

Go Hyun-chul was an Assemblyman, and he was a doctor. He didn’t think there was anything he could ask for.

But when he thought about it in detail, that wasn’t the only thing.

The point of contact between the two clearly existed.

He wondered if it was okay to make such a request so blatantly, but Jun-hoo decided to put on a thick face for once [to be bold and shameless].

“Can I really ask you for a favor?”

“Of course.”

Go Hyun-chul’s voice was dignified.

“Then there is a first-term Assemblyman named ‘Park Jae-hyun’ in the Assemblyman’s party. Please take good care of that Assemblyman.”