Dr. Shin Seonhan: The Doctor Who Sees The Future [EN]: Chapter 182

#182 Taking a Step Forward (5)

Emerald Hall, Seoul Grand Hotel.

The was being held to wrap up the year.

Invited as a preliminary first-year resident, I was able to attend after adjusting my on-call schedule.

“Let’s see… dressing up this much should be enough, right?”

Before heading to the event, I carefully chose my outfit.

Since this was a place to make a first impression, I needed to pay more attention than usual.

I put on a suit and neatly styled my usually messy hair.

It was already late evening when I arrived at the hotel.

‘There are more people than I thought?’

Buzzing, buzzing—

The entrance was crowded.

Not only professors, residents, and fellows from the Department of Thoracic Surgery…

…but also nurses from the adult cardiac/pulmonary-esophageal/pediatric cardiac units, ICUs [Intensive Care Units], and operating rooms.

There were also separate tables assigned for PAs (Physician Assistants, ward-dedicated nurses), SAs (Scrub Nurses, OR-dedicated nurses), and perfusionists affiliated with the Department of Thoracic Surgery.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that all the members who drive Korea’s best Department of Thoracic Surgery were gathered.

‘…From next year, I’ll be a member of the Department of Thoracic Surgery with these people.’

My heart fluttered.

I looked around the hall with a sense of pride.

There were approximately 120 participants.

There were dozens of round tables, and a separate table was set up for the preliminary first-year residents.

It felt refreshing to come to a luxurious hotel after seeing only the monotonous scenery of the hospital every day.

“Seon-han hyung [older brother/male friend], you’re here?”

Ryoo Myung-in, who had arrived earlier, greeted me.

I was starting to get attached to his face from seeing him so often.

He felt like a childish younger brother.

Whether I liked him or not, we would have to work together in the future, so I decided to greet him warmly for now.

“Myung-in, you’re all dressed up today?”

“Of course. I’m going to be the hospital director in the future, so I have to make a good first impression…”

…As expected, I shouldn’t have praised this guy even for a moment.

“Just in case, don’t go up on the stage and say any nonsense like that later.”

As I was cutting off Ryoo Myung-in’s nonsense, a new face approached.

“Hello.”

“Ah, yes. Hello.”

Wang Jung-ryul.

The man I met during the interview.

He had a simple impression with short hair and a black shirt.

He was currently an intern at another hospital, but he would be working with me at Yeon-guk University Hospital from next year.

He sat next to me with a precise movement and said.

“You’re Doctor Seon-han, right? I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“About me?”

“You’re famous even at our hospital. As the intern who performed pericardiocentesis [a procedure to remove fluid from around the heart] in the middle of Gangnam Station.”

I could feel interest in his eyes as he said that and looked at me.

“I didn’t have a chance to talk at the interview last time, but I was honestly impressed.”

“No, it’s not that much…”

“Excuse me, but how old are you?”

His tone was a bit unique.

Like a soldier, perhaps?

The vocabulary he used was also different from our peers.

“I’m twenty-seven in international age. I took the entrance exam three times.”

He nodded after hearing my age.

“Then I’ll call you hyung [older brother/male friend].”

…Suddenly?

“I feel burdened.”

“It’s a sign of respect.”

“Well… do as you please.”

“Yes, hyung. Please take care of me from next year.”

Doctor Jung-ryul greeted me politely.

Suddenly calling me hyung…

It was a bit burdensome, but I had a good feeling about him because he seemed like he would do his job well.

“Hello, everyone~?”

At that moment, Shin Sang-mi, the last person to pass the Department of Thoracic Surgery, appeared with a soft voice.

“Wow~ Everyone looks so handsome in expensive clothes? I think I’m going to be working among handsome men!”

The way she spoke made it seem like her own clothes were the most expensive.

I could feel the ease that was unique to people who grew up in wealthy environments.

As Shin Sang-mi sat down, adjusting her suit skirt, Ryoo Myung-in asked.

“Noona [older sister/female friend], I’ve been wanting to ask you since last time… why did you apply to the Department of Thoracic Surgery? It doesn’t seem to suit you at all.”

Shin Sang-mi smiled slyly and said in a voice that couldn’t be heard by the next table.

“Why else? My grades in undergrad and my intern scores were ruined.”

“That’s what happens when you date so much.”

“Myung-in, what can I do when men don’t leave me alone?”

Dating…

I had vaguely heard about it.

There was an intern colleague who had changed boyfriends three times this year.

So this was that person?

Shin Sang-mi was known among the interns as a . [The original text is missing a word here. Based on context, it seems like she is known as a ‘player’ or someone who dates a lot.]

“Wow, but Seon-han ssaem [term of respect for teachers/doctors] looks really handsome in a suit? Actually, I wanted to talk to you even before, but we haven’t exchanged contact information yet, have we~?”

…I don’t think I’ll ever get used to that nasal voice.

Before I could answer, Ryoo Myung-in interrupted.

“Noona, don’t hit on Seon-han hyung! Are you trying to make your fourth boyfriend this year?”

“Can’t I?”

“You can’t!”

“Okay, then I’ll wait until next year. There are only a few days left anyway.”

Shin Sang-mi said that and laughed.

…It seems like people with unique personalities have gathered.

Ryoo Myung-in with his middle school syndrome.

Wang Jung-ryul with his soldier style.

Shin Sang-mi with her free spirit.

And even me.

‘All four of us are so different.’

The four of us will become colleagues and have to live as thoracic surgery residents.

Ryoo Myung-in will obviously try to keep me in check, while Wang Jung-ryul showed me favor and trust.

On the other hand, I could feel the eyes of a hawk aiming for its prey from Shin Sang-mi.

‘…Well, it won’t be boring.’

As I was thinking that, I heard the sound of the event starting.

“Everyone, thank you for coming and brightening up this event! The adult cardiac part table seems a bit empty? Ah, a heart transplant is in progress? The pulmonary-esophageal part is….”

Professor Heo Joon-im was the host for today.

“Yes, everyone. This year was also full of ups and downs. Especially this year, as you all know, the number of surgeries has increased a lot compared to last year because the operating room expansion construction is over. Thank you for your hard work for the past year….”

As expected, his rapid-fire eloquence was perfect for a host.

The first part of the year-end party was a time to summarize the major and minor events of the Department of Thoracic Surgery over the past year.

Several slides passed on the large screen in front of the hall.

The next was the self-introduction time for the new first-year residents and new fellows.

“Now, next are our department of Thoracic Surgery’s new faces! We will have a time to introduce the preliminary first-year residents!”

Soon, the four of us went up on the stage.

“Hello, I’m Shin Seon-han.”

People buzzed.

‘Is that the intern?’

‘I guess so.’

Etc….

Along with the murmuring voices, I could feel countless gazes fixed on my face.

“I am honored to be a member of the Department of Thoracic Surgery at Yeon-guk University. I look forward to working with you in the future. Thank you.”

Soon, I heard applause and cheers from some people.

I finally felt like I was being accepted as a member of this group.

“Hello, I’m Ryoo Myung-in. I will do my best to make Yeon-guk University Hospital’s Department of Thoracic Surgery the best in the world!”

The venue stirred.

‘Isn’t that something a first-year resident should be saying?’

‘If you only listen to him, you’d think a new professor came in.’

Everyone seemed to think so.

Of course, knowing Ryoo Myung-in’s personality, I was rather grateful that he restrained himself.

“Hello, I’m Shin Sang-mi~ I want to become a wonderful thoracic surgeon. I want to learn from not only the professors but also all the members of the Department of Thoracic Surgery. I look forward to your guidance in the future~!”

Wow—

Cheers were heard.

There was a perception that thoracic surgery was the domain of men, but that’s a thing of the past now.

Shin Sang-mi’s confident tone was enough to win everyone’s favor.

“I’m Wang Jung-ryul. If you reverse my name, it’s King of Passion. I will work hard at Yeon-guk University Hospital. Please take care of me.”

A soldier-like, precise tone.

It seems like that repertoire is fixed.

‘He’s an FM [field manual; by-the-book] style?’

‘That guy seems like he’ll do his job well.’

Along with those favorable gazes, applause echoed.

“Now, next is the greeting time for the new clinical assistant professors….”

After that, the greeting time for the new fellow teachers ended, and the comments from the thoracic surgery professors to wrap up the year continued.

* * *

“In the second part, the singing contest event is prepared, and there are also various gifts prepared for you all~!”

The sound of singing echoed from the microphone.

If the first part of the year-end party was serious, the second part was a full-fledged party atmosphere.

As the noisy song battle continued, I headed to the back of the hall to get some refreshments.

“Hey, buddy!”

“Ah, teachers, hello!”

I met familiar faces in the middle of the hall.

Song Yoo-joo and Ma Dong-seop.

Doctor Ma Dong-seop’s suit exuded an overwhelming presence.

It was the completion of a gangster look, perhaps?

Doctor Song Yoo-joo next to him was also wearing a suit, but his slender physique made the contrast clear.

“You’ll be starting your thoracic surgery life from March, right?”

“I have one more thoracic surgery intern schedule in January.”

“Ah, really? Is it a fix turn [fixed rotation]?”

Fix turn.

It means that after an intern passes, they do their internship in the relevant department with their affiliation confirmed.

“I did the pulmonary-esophageal part last time, so I should assign you to the cardiac part this time.”

Ma Dong-seop, who will soon become the chief resident, said.

In late January and early February, the fourth-year residents take the national exam to become specialists.

So from January, they gradually take their hands off the work, and naturally, Ma Dong-seop and Song Yoo-joo, who are in their third year, effectively play the role of chief of thoracic surgery.

In other words, they become the most senior residents, and of course, they also assign the interns’ parts.

He smiled and rubbed my shoulder affectionately.

“Well, practically, we’re like one family from January. Welcome! We’ll be in the cardiac part at that time, so we’ll teach you a lot. Yoo-joo, you say something too!”

At Ma Dong-seop’s words, Song Yoo-joo, who was holding a cocktail glass in his hand, nodded indifferently.

“Oh, do well.”

It was a simple word, as expected of Song Yoo-joo.

Ma Dong-seop laughed and added a word.

“If you happen to run into professors, make sure to greet them well, even if you don’t know them! First impressions are important.”

“Yes, thank you.”

I went to grab a few cookies from the refreshment corner in the back.

I was so busy greeting the passing professors that I couldn’t properly look around.

At that moment, someone touched my shoulder.

“Hey, smarty.”

Smarty?

I feel like I’ve heard this thick, low voice somewhere….

In my memory, there’s only one person who would call me by that title.

I turned my head and was surprised.

“Doctor Jang?”

The guardian of Gok-dam.

Emergency Medicine Doctor Jang.

It was a reunion after half a year since the dispatch last summer.

I smiled with joy at the unexpected meeting.

“Teacher. What brings you here?”

“Hehe, what else? I’m also from Yeon-guk University’s Department of Thoracic Surgery, you idiot!”

Doctor Jang laughed.

I heard that invitations are also sent to alumni of the department, so it must be true.

Doctor Jang’s visuals, whom I saw after a long time, were much neater than I remembered.

His somewhat messy, long hair was tied up tightly, and his beard was neatly trimmed.

His rough visuals, like an old rocker, have now changed to be more like a modern person.

“It’s my first time seeing you in a suit, but it suits you well.”

“Of course. When I was young, I was an aspiring model! If I had debuted, I probably would have dominated the Korean runway?”

As expected, Doctor Jang.

As soon as we met, he started with a nonsensical boast.

It’s been a while since I heard that boast, and even that feels welcome.

I didn’t expect to meet you in a place like this.

“Did you originally attend every year, teacher?”

“No, it’s been a while since I came up to Seoul too. I came to see someone today, but I can’t see them….”

A person to see.

He must be talking about a professor he had a relationship with in the past.

But Doctor Jang’s following words were surprising.

“Don’t go around talking about it. Actually, I came to see Doctor Baek.”

Doctor Baek?

My eyes widened.

There must be more than one or two thoracic surgeons with the last name Baek in the world….

“By any chance, are you talking about Professor Baek Eui-shin?”

“Oh, yeah. I heard that Professor Baek had been abroad for a while and recently came to Korea.”

Thump, thump—

My heart was beating.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that the direction of my life originated from Professor Baek Eui-shin.

Baek Eui-shin was the person at the starting point of me coming to the Department of Thoracic Surgery.

But… that person is here right now?