Dr. Shin Seonhan: The Doctor Who Sees The Future [EN]: Chapter 222

Dr. A Doctor Seeing a Fresh Future – Episode 222 (222/241)

Extra Story 4: The Reason Yeonseo Smiles (4)

“Why did you call me out here again?”

Last week of February.

Near the end of her internship.

Yeonseo found herself facing Lee Eokjun in the emergency staircase once more.

He paced anxiously in front of Yeonseo and asked, “I want to ask you one last time, for real.”

“I’m sorry, Senior…”

“Is this real? Are you really rejecting me, or are you just playing hard to get? I’ve expressed my sincerity to you this much!”

Yeonseo nodded.

She felt a bit sorry knowing he was sincere.

However, she couldn’t bear the thought of him continuing to give her uncomfortable looks when she wasn’t interested.

So, she decided she needed to reject him more politely, yet firmly.

“I told you clearly last time, and nothing has changed. I’m sorry, but…”

At that moment, Eokjun reacted intensely, his words bursting out, “You’re really playing hard to get.”

“Excuse me?”

“The rumors were true. I heard rumors that you have incredibly high standards! It was true, it was true!”

*What is he talking about?*

Yeonseo blinked.

*Does someone have high standards just because they reject him…?*

Eokjun, his pride deeply wounded, began to say whatever came to mind without thinking.

“Hey, do you think your face will last forever?”

“Excuse me?”

“Looks are assets that depreciate over time! You’re still young, so you might not realize it, but you should think carefully about how people value you!”

“…….”

“And frankly, you’re not as pretty as an announcer or a celebrity! You only hear that you’re pretty inside the hospital!”

*Wow.*

*This guy is hopeless.*

She felt foolish for having even briefly considered him in a positive light.

His values—talking about someone’s worth to their face—were pathetic, and his temper—trying to belittle her because his pride was hurt—seemed petty and unattractive.

Rather than being angry…

What should she say? She was dumbfounded.

Her already non-existent liking plummeted endlessly.

At that moment, the door to the emergency staircase opened, and a janitor appeared with cleaning tools.

“Oh, excuse me, doctors. I’ll just pass by.”

“Hey, lady. I’m having an important conversation right now!”

“Yes?”

“Close the door. Can’t you hear me? Go do your work later, later!”

*Shoo, shoo.*

Eokjun gestured dismissively.

It was as if he was chasing away a mosquito.

The janitor blushed and bowed her head.

“Oh, I’m sorry… Please continue your conversation, doctors.”

*Clang—*

The emergency door closed.

Eokjun blew his bangs up and said, “Where were we? So…”

“What did you just do?”

“Huh?”

It was chilling.

Yeonseo was glaring at him.

People who don’t usually get angry can be scary, and that was Yeonseo’s expression right now.

If there was weight in her eyes, her gaze would be as heavy as a ton right now.

“Are doctors superiors?”

“Huh?”

“Are doctors allowed to treat other people badly in the hospital? Are you allowed to speak carelessly to someone doing their job and tell them what to do with finger-pointing?”

“……?”

Eokjun blinked, embarrassed.

He had never been criticized for this in his life.

Not all rich kids grow up like that, but Eokjun certainly did.

“No… why are you picking a fight over something random? Those people are just people we pay to work at our hospital.”

“Aren’t we too?”

“What?”

“We also get paid to work at the hospital.”

“No, are those people and us in the same position? Were you always such a fake person?”

“Haa.”

Yeonseo covered her forehead and looked away.

*Where should she even start?*

She felt that they fundamentally couldn’t communicate.

*Is it the difference between someone who grew up treating the workers around them like vending machine buttons and someone who grew up being cared for by those workers?*

“Senior.”

Yeonseo squeezed out the last bit of kindness and said, “When women look at men… appearance, ability, wealth, those things are important, but they also pay attention to how you treat the people around you.”

Of course, she didn’t know Lee Eokjun well either. But there were things she had observed while working with him for a month.

When giving instructions.

When treating patients.

When interacting with employees at company dinners.

Attitudes toward those around you are revealed anytime, anywhere.

For example, Lee Eokjun often treated nurses condescendingly.

Especially new nurses who were not yet familiar with their work were his main targets.

He would get angry and yell at even small mistakes as if he would devour them.

When Yeonseo told Jina, ‘There are things that can’t be solved no matter how much money you have,’ this was exactly what she meant.

“No… is that kind of thing important?”

“It’s important.”

“What?”

“It’s the most important to me.”

Yeonseo said, drawing a clear line.

Lee Eokjun still didn’t understand and wore a dumbfounded expression.

Some people live their whole lives without knowing that there are people outside their perspective who also deserve respect.

“Senior, it’s not that I have high standards.”

*Should she say it or not?*

The hesitation didn’t last long.

Yeonseo drove a wedge into Eokjun’s blank face.

“It’s just that you’re really not my type.”

* * *

“I heard you rejected him again?”

“Yes.”

“What did you say that made Lee Eokjun’s face turn so red? I heard he looked like a well-ripened tomato this time?”

Soon after hearing the whole story, Gu Jina got angry and jumped up and down.

“What’s wrong with him! He said that to you?”

“I was surprised too.”

“Wow… there was a reason why that guy has a lot of money but can’t get a girlfriend. His true colors come out when his pride is hurt. You rejected him well, you rejected him well!”

“I’m worried that I’ll get a reputation among the residents for being rude.”

“Don’t worry. If there are any kids who spread weird rumors about this, I’ll just take care of them all! How dare they mess with our Yeonseo!”

Yeonseo chuckled at Jina’s threat.

She was grateful.

As the time to part ways approached, she felt even more appreciative of her sister [close friend] who had been with her throughout her internship.

Now the internship is over. A new chapter of her life as a doctor is beginning.

While tidying up the room, Yeonseo said, “Thank you for the past year, Sister.”

“Oh, come here, pretty!”

*Whack—*

Jina hugged Yeonseo tightly and patted her back, saying, “Let’s be happy.”

“You too, Sister.”

“And I hope it goes well. With him, the one you like.”

“…….”

Yeonseo rested her chin on Jina’s shoulder and smiled quietly.

*Well.*

*I hope it goes well too… will that day ever come?*

*He’s so focused on work, work, work that no matter how much I hint, he doesn’t notice.*

* * *

The internship is over.

The corridor connecting the cancer center to the main building, the corner with the elevator.

She walks the path she always ran busily with a slightly more leisurely pace today.

Early dawn.

People working today are bustling around.

The hospital isn’t just filled with doctors and nurses. Even at this moment, various workers are working.

Assistants.

Janitors.

Administrative staff.

Social workers.

Researchers.

Funeral directors.

Cooks in the cafeteria.

Transporters.

Security guards.

It’s hard to list them all without missing anyone; so many people are working in their respective positions to ensure the hospital functions properly.

“Ouch!”

*Crash!*

A sound of something spilling is heard.

Yeonseo turned her head.

In a slightly distant place, an assistant was picking up IV [intravenous] bags that he accidentally spilled in the hallway while moving them.

The amount was so large that it seemed like it would take a while.

She thought about helping a little.

And then.

*Tap tap!*

A cheerful footstep was heard in the hallway where the early morning light dimly entered.

“Hello?”

“Oh, Doctor. Hello?”

“Can I help you a little?”

A young doctor bowed his head and approached the assistant.

Slightly pale face, disheveled hair, wrinkled gown.

It’s a familiar back.

It was also a back that Yeonseo liked.

As the man squatted next to him, the assistant hurriedly waved his hand.

“Oh, I should do it! Leave it, Doctor.”

“I’m not busy right now.”

“Still, you shouldn’t do this kind of chore with your precious hands…”

“It would be nice if it’s cleaned up quickly. Should I put it in this side?”

“Yes, yes.”

The man spoke in a slightly dry but gentle tone and moved his hands busily.

You can tell just by looking at him what kind of attitude a person lives their life with.

He should be used to the position of a doctor now, but that attitude remains the same.

At first, she simply thought it was clumsiness. She still remembers the first impression of him asking her for directions to the hospital, having come up from the countryside not long ago.

At that time, she thought it was funny and a little cute…

At some point, Yeonseo began to capture that image one by one deep in her heart.

“It’s all done.”

“Oh, thank you.”

“What floor are you going to? Are you going to an odd floor? I think the elevator is here.”

The man got up and pressed the elevator button. It’s a movement that seems like a busy daily life is ingrained in his body.

The assistant smiled and thanked him repeatedly, exchanging questions such as whether he had eaten.

It seems they had exchanged greetings a few times while passing by.

After the assistant pulled the cart and disappeared into the elevator.

Yeonseo carefully approached and tapped the man’s back.

“Kind Oppa [term for older brother or male friend]!”

*Slap!*

The impact feels particularly satisfying today.

Intern colleague, Shin Seonhan, is surprised and turns around, grumbling.

“It was Yeonseo.”

“Good morning!”

“Did you become enemies with my back?”

“Hehe.”

“You’re excited today too. Is there anything good going on? You always smile like that.”

“Me?”

Yeonseo stroked her cheeks.

Before she knew it, the corners of her mouth, which had been drooping, were rising.

*Since when have I been smiling?*

*I don’t know.*

*Just smile.*

Then Seonhan tilted his head, not knowing why.

“Why are you smiling again?”

“Just because.”

Yeonseo kept smiling.

There was no reason to hide the natural smile.

And she thought.

*Maybe this man will think that I always have this expression.*

*In fact, there’s not much to smile about these days, but whenever I meet Seonhan, a smile always comes out first like this.*

*This is ridiculous.*

“By the way, in a few weeks, we’ll finally be residents!”

“I know. I heard the new interns had their orientation last week. It’s already been a year.”

“I heard Ryu Myungin was the intern leader, so he went there and gave a 40-minute presentation?”

“He needs to talk less.”

“Hehe, I agree.”

“I have to spend four years with him in the Department of Thoracic Surgery, and my ears are already bleeding.”

Yeonseo laughed out loud.

Even trivial jokes were funny.

On the other hand, she also realized that the department was now officially different.

Everything changes.

The position of people, the relationship between people.

Even people who think they are close now often lose contact after just one or two years.

But…….

“Oppa.”

“Why?”

“Can we see each other for a long time?”

“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

“Just…….”

For a moment, Yeonseo stopped talking and thought.

She doesn’t know what kind of relationship she will have with this person in the future.

To be tied together.

Or to be cut off.

Even if the relationship changes.

Even if we eventually grow apart someday…….

“I just want to see you for a long time.”

Seonhan was someone Yeonseo always wanted to keep in her sight for a long time.

– Part 1 Extra Story: The Reason Yeonseo Smiles 完