A Surgeon Who Uses Martial Arts [EN]: Chapter 74

The Martial Surgeon – Episode 74

Chapter 12: Lingering Feelings (7)

Pediatric ward hallway.

Gi-seok was bowing deeply while talking on the phone.

“Yes.”

-…….

“Yes, I understand. Thank you for your help.”

Only after hanging up did Gi-seok let out a sigh of relief.

He had just received a call from the police.

The investigation into his wife, Ji-sook, was complete, and her abuse charges were confirmed, so she would be punished.

They also issued a restraining order, so he didn’t have to let her see the child.

Gi-seok looked out the window and gave a bitter smile.

The fact that Ji-sook, whom he thought was an angel, had been abusing Geon-woo was like a bolt from the blue.

He thought Ji-sook was good at housework.

And that she was taking good care of Geon-woo, but it was all an act…….

It was all a lie…….

Whenever he thought about how he had been deceived by Ji-sook, his knees buckled.

On one hand, fierce anger towards Ji-sook boiled up.

On the other hand, he felt pathetic for not seeing through Ji-sook’s hypocrisy.

If he had paid just a little more attention to Geon-woo, things wouldn’t have escalated this far.

-Just because Geon-woo seems stable doesn’t mean you should be too relieved.

-Why?

-It’s likely due to the effects of the tranquilizers for now. So, we have a consultation scheduled with the psychiatry department sometime tomorrow.

-…….

-I hope he continues to receive psychiatric counseling even after he is discharged.

Gi-seok suddenly recalled his conversation with Jun-hoo.

A handsome doctor who was efficient at his job.

The only doctor in the ward who noticed Geon-woo’s abuse.

Jun-hoo was like an angel sent to him and Geon-woo from heaven.

Without Jun-hoo’s help, the wounds in his family would have festered beyond repair.

Holding the doll that Jun-hoo had given him as a gift.

Gi-seok returned to the hospital room.

His steps were heavy, as if he had shackles on his ankles.

He couldn’t face Geon-woo because he hadn’t been a proper father.

Being busy with work was just an excuse after all.

When he arrived at the bedside, Geon-woo was already awake. He was staring blankly out the window.

“Geon-woo.”

“Yes.”

“Here, take this.”

“What is it?”

Geon-woo turned his gaze to Gi-seok and asked.

“What it is is…….”

Gi-seok hesitated, unable to answer immediately.

-And this is a gift for Geon-woo. Don’t mention me, and tell him that his father bought it.

Jun-hoo had said kindly.

But could he shamelessly say that he bought it when it wasn’t something he had bought himself?

He was conflicted.

“……It’s a gift from Dad to Geon-woo. Do you want to open it yourself?”

Gi-seok ended up pretending that the gift he received from Jun-hoo was something he had bought.

*Teacher, I’m sorry and thank you.*

*I will follow your wishes.*

*From now on, I’m going to live for Geon-woo, even if it means being called shameless.*

Rustle. Rustle.

“Wow, it’s a Seonbi doll!” [Seonbi were virtuous scholars in the Joseon dynasty, often depicted as wise and righteous figures.]

As soon as the wrapping paper was removed, an animation character appeared.

Geon-woo, who had been crying all day, showed a bright smile for the first time.

Gi-seok felt as if all his worries were washed away by Geon-woo’s innocent smile.

“Dad, thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Dad’s sorry. I haven’t been able to pay attention to you, Geon-woo.”

Gi-seok continued, suppressing his surging emotions.

“You don’t have to see Mom anymore, so let’s live happily with Dad. Dad will try. I’ll make sure you never get hurt again.”

“Yes.”

Geon-woo replied briefly and just fiddled with the doll.

It seemed he liked the doll he received as a gift more for now.

But if Geon-woo was happy, Gi-seok was happy too.

* * *

11 PM.

The lights in the hallway and hospital rooms were all turned off. Only the bedside lamp was dimly illuminating the surroundings like moonlight.

A silence fell over the hospital room.

Geon-woo couldn’t fall asleep easily.

He knew that his mom was being punished for hurting him.

He also knew that his dad would be with him from now on.

But he still couldn’t shake off his anxiety.

Because there were still more days when he was nervous about being hit than days when he lived peacefully.

Geon-woo didn’t like being hit by his mom, but he had endured it all this time.

The reason was simple.

His dad looked happy when he was with his mom.

What if his dad became unhappy if he confessed that he was being beaten by his mom?

Young Geon-woo was thinking that far.

So he kept his mouth shut.

If only he pretended not to know, his dad could be happy.

Geon-woo quietly closed his eyes to fall asleep.

But in the darkness, his mom appeared as a giant monster.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

She ran towards him as if to devour him, making loud footsteps.

He was so scared that he wanted to scream, but he held it in.

He put the Seonbi doll he had placed at his bedside in his arms and hugged it tightly.

Whenever he was abused by his mom.

It was always Seonbi who protected him.

Seonbi was small and cute, but he was righteous.

He bravely defeated the bad monsters.

Although Seonbi couldn’t defeat his mom, his fear disappeared when he was with Seonbi.

-I promise. A world where we will always be together. I’ll give you all the shining hope. I’ll become someone who doesn’t tremble with fear.

Geon-woo muttered his favorite lyrics.

He tightened his grip on the doll.

Then, an amazing thing happened.

Seonbi became as big as his mom and protected Geon-woo from her.

Thank you, Seonbi.

Only then did Geon-woo fall into a deep sleep.

* * *

That night.

Jun-hoo was on duty with Hyun-jin in the on-call room.

There were no emergency room calls.

He had finished all the pending orders.

He even helped Hyun-jin, who was busy entering charts.

Thanks to that, he was able to enjoy a relaxing time.

“As expected of Seo Jun-hoo. It’s not just an A-turn, it’s an S-turn [referring to his excellent performance]. I don’t know how long it’s been since I’ve been able to rest during on-call duty.”

Hyun-jin praised Jun-hoo.

Jun-hoo’s speed and accuracy in handling tasks were that amazing.

His pride was a little hurt, but he had to admit it.

Jun-hoo was much better at his job than he was.

“I’m just good at using tricks.”

“Teach me some of those tricks. By the way, is the NewTube filming going well?”

“The filming is going well, but the views and subscribers aren’t increasing, so it’s a problem. This field isn’t easy.”

Currently, Jun-hoo was filming himself studying medical books with his phone.

It was a study vlog video.

“NewTube is such a red ocean anyway [a hyper-competitive market]. Try it moderately and give up. What are you lacking that you’re so desperate for NewTube?”

“I have to be desperate. Because there’s something I want to do by making NewTube successful.”

“Why? Are you starving for money?”

“I’m very hungry.”

Jun-hoo answered honestly.

Strictly speaking, it wasn’t that Jun-hoo needed money.

He just wanted to support patients he would encounter while working as a doctor in the future.

Especially patients who were struggling financially, with the profits from his NewTube channel.

“But why aren’t you saying a word while filming?”

“Today’s video is silent. I’m emphasizing my face while filming. There are many comments praising my appearance, so I’m taking that as the concept.”

“Yeah, our Jun-hoo is handsome, to be frank.”

Hyun-jin nodded as if acknowledging it.

Jun-hoo’s appearance was as well-regarded as his skills.

So much so that nurses from other wards would sneak around the orthopedic ward to see Jun-hoo.

A tall and slender figure.

Big eyes and a gentle gaze.

A sharp nose and a smiling mouth.

On top of that, Jun-hoo’s skin was flawless.

Perhaps that’s why.

He looked more like an actor playing a doctor than an actual doctor.

“I subscribed to your channel.”

“Have you watched the videos?”

“Uh…… I haven’t watched the videos yet.”

“Then please watch the videos and like them too.”

“You’ve already become a true NewTuber [a dedicated content creator on NewTube, a fictional analogue to YouTube].”

Hyun-jin laughed heartily.

Meanwhile, Jun-hoo was also studying orthopedics while filming NewTube.

He was reading an orthopedic specialist textbook.

While scrubbing in for surgeries.

Jun-hoo’s interest in orthopedics was growing day by day.

Hammers, nails, chisels, screws, drills, and so on.

In orthopedics, there were sturdy surgeries like a carpenter fixing the human body.

There were also delicate surgeries like hand surgery.

Perhaps orthopedics was the only surgery with such two-sided charms.

Jun-hoo stopped studying and stared at the phone placed on the stand.

The filming was progressing smoothly.

And the battery still had plenty of power.

He would hold on until he was chosen by the NewTube algorithm, so to speak.

That was Jun-hoo’s current goal.

Drrr.

The door to the on-call room opened, and Dong-seok appeared.

A third-year resident.

A senior who habitually assaulted his juniors and interns, calling himself the disciplinarian, and who had become an enemy of Jun-hoo.

Dong-seok’s appearance made the atmosphere in the on-call room turn cold.

Hyun-jin glanced at Dong-seok and hurriedly pretended to work.

“Hey, Seo Jun-hoo. What are you doing?”

“I’m studying and filming NewTube.”

“Damn it. An intern’s life is the best. An intern is doing other things during on-call duty.”

Dong-seok clicked his tongue and turned his gaze from Jun-hoo to Hyun-jin.

“Are you going to leave that bastard like that? Pass on some of your work if you have any.”

“Well…… I’ve finished entering the charts, and there are no problematic patients in the ward.”

“If I find something, you’re dead.”

Dong-seok chased Hyun-jin away from his seat and sat in front of the computer desk.

He carefully examined the charts of the patients in the ward.

But what’s this?

The necessary tasks were really finished.

Normally, he should be busy entering charts until dawn.

“Ha…… really nothing. Was your hand that fast?”

“Well…… I received help from Jun-hoo.”

“So that’s why he was acting like that.”

Dong-seok shook his head and continued.

“Seo Jun-hoo, I’ll say it nicely, stop filming that NewTube thing.”

“Why?”

“If a senior tells you not to do it, just don’t do it. Are you daring to talk back?”

Dong-seok frowned deeply and spoke.

In response, Jun-hoo also showed an unpleasant expression and looked at Dong-seok.

*That guy is finally revealing his true colors.*

*Since there are no professors around at night.*

*He’s trying to catch him without restraint.*

……He easily realized that fact.

But Jun-hoo had no reason to bow down to Dong-seok, nor did he want to.

“Professor Lee Dong-hoon said that I can film NewTube as long as it doesn’t interfere with my work.”

“…….”

“Didn’t the senior hear it from the side too?”

“You little punk, talking back again. I don’t want to see it, so don’t do it. An intern is slacking off and doing NewTube.”

“I’m following the professor’s instructions, so if you have any complaints, tell the professor.”

Dong-seok’s face turned red at Jun-hoo’s answer.

How dare an intern cause insubordination to him.

Is the discipline of orthopedics only this much?

Anger began to rise in Dong-seok’s chest.

“Hey, Kang Hyun-jin. Let’s start by hitting you first.”

“Me…… me?”

“It’s because you’re doing a terrible job of training the interns that they’re climbing all over me. Your responsibility is the greatest.”

Dong-seok took another step towards Hyun-jin. He slapped Hyun-jin’s cheek with his hand as big as a pot lid.

Smack!

A cheerful sound should have echoed…….

But it didn’t.

Just before his hand reached Hyun-jin.

Jun-hoo approached in the blink of an eye and grabbed Dong-seok’s arm.

“Enough. I was the one holding back, not you.”