Fifth Vital [EN]: Chapter 115

Fifth Vital- Episode 115

115. Assemblyman Gam Deok-chan

“Director! We have a big problem.”

“What’s got our team leader so worked up this morning?” Nurse Lim Jeong-suk asked casually, observing Team Leader Choi’s rather dramatic behavior.

“Nurse Lim, this isn’t the time to be calm. More importantly, Director, did you happen to wash your hair today?”

“My hair?”

“Yes, your hair.”

Team Leader Choi, rushing forward, posed this odd question with a look of utter shock, as if he’d seen a ghost.

“And you definitely washed your face, right?”

Hair, then face. It was like a parent sending their child off to school, suddenly concerned about Taekyung’s hygiene.

“Why? Do I smell?”

“No, it’s not that… Director, don’t be alarmed. A, a huge thing, no, a huge *person* has arrived outside.”

“A huge person?”

“Yes. That’s why I was so surprised…”

“Team Leader!” Nurse Lim Jeong-suk exclaimed, exasperated.

“Stop beating around the bush and tell me what’s going on.”

“Okay. A member of the National Assembly is here.”

“A member of the National Assembly?” Taekyung raised an eyebrow, questioning.

“Could it be Assemblyman Gam Deok-chan?”

“No way, how did you know?”

“Team Leader, didn’t you hear yesterday? We got a call from the National Assembly office regarding Seyoung’s sponsorship.”

“Excuse me!? No, Nurse Lim, is that true?”

“Yes, quite a few staff members are aware.”

“Why was I the only one left in the dark about such an important matter? Why?”

Team Leader Choi, occupied all night with rejecting interview requests and organizing deliveries, hadn’t had a moment to listen to the staff’s conversations.

“Director, forget this, quickly go down and meet him. Hurry.”

“Okay. Let’s go down for now.”

“Nurse Lim, thanks for your hard work.”

“You too, thanks for your hard work.”

Taekyung, looking reluctant, was ushered towards the stairs by Team Leader Choi.

“Wait a minute! Director, you’re not planning to go in that outfit, are you?”

Team Leader Choi called out to Taekyung, who was already heading down the stairs.

“This outfit is fine for a doctor.”

“No, Director. That work uniform is the biggest problem right now.”

“Then should I change into a suit?”

“That would be good, but…”

Team Leader Choi secretly wished he could swap clothes with him immediately. But since there wasn’t time, he figured he should at least replace the Crocs that Taekyung was wearing without socks.

‘I need to show that we’ve made some effort. But bare feet are a bit much…’

Meeting a member of the National Assembly barefoot seemed impolite.

Building connections with a National Assembly member could be beneficial, so he wanted to make a good impression of Taekyung, even a slight one.

“Director, at least swap shoes with me. And socks too… Director!”

While Team Leader Choi was hastily removing one shoe and sock, Taekyung was already walking down the stairs.

“Director? Let’s go together.”

* * *

Clack-

A shoe with a gold ‘H’ decoration stood out, and a white sneaker blocked its path.

Clack-

“Ha!”

With a snort, the shoe moved to the left, only to be blocked again by the sneaker.

“What is it?”

“What is *what*?”

“Are you kidding me?”

“I’m not kidding.”

“I asked what you’re doing.”

“I’m working.”

“Let’s go inside.”

The man in the suit and shoes, an aide to the National Assembly member, looked at Jang Deuk-chil, who was blocking the back door, with annoyance.

“Sir, do you see this?” Jang Deuk-chil pointed to the sign on the back door that read, ‘We apologize for the inconvenience. Please use the main entrance of the hospital.’

“I’m sorry, but you can’t enter through the back door right now.”

“The Team Leader Choi I spoke to earlier went in though.”

“Well, that’s because the team leader works at our hospital.”

“Is this how you treat people who come to the hospital?”

“We don’t treat patients like this, but I’m saying this because you don’t look like a patient. And right now, patients are using the main entrance unless it’s an emergency.”

“Your name is Jang Deuk-chil?” The aide checked the name tag on Jang Deuk-chil’s uniform.

“Yes.”

“I don’t want to say this, but the person I’m with is quite well-known, so we’d like to use the back door. I’d appreciate your understanding.”

People were still visiting the main gate to support Seyoung.

Using the main gate openly was a bit awkward.

The aide’s visit was carefully planned to improve the image of Assemblyman Gam Deok-chan.

Gam Deok-chan was a respected politician who had maintained a clean reputation during his four terms, a rarity among politicians. But a few months ago, his political career faced a crisis.

News surfaced that his younger brother and his wife were involved in illegal speculation, leading to calls for an investigation.

Eventually, Gam Deok-chan was cleared of any involvement, and his brother was also acquitted. However, his reputation suffered, as many were disappointed by the scandal.

The aide had been working to repair Gam Deok-chan’s image, but with little success. Then the Sera incident occurred.

He saw this as an opportunity.

Gam Deok-chan had been a key supporter of the Special Child Abuse Act five years prior, making this a perfect chance to regain public favor.

‘Thank you for your consideration, but I’ll decline.’

Kim Taekyung had rejected him over the phone, but he came anyway.

He couldn’t believe anyone in Korea would refuse a request from a member of the National Assembly.

He had come secretly, driving himself to avoid attention, so the aide was determined to succeed.

“Mr. Jang Deuk-chil, didn’t you hear what I said? Someone with a name…”

“I’m just a simple guy, I don’t know about that. Talk to the team leader when they come.”

“Ha! I can’t reason with you.”

Clank-

“Director, this way.”

While the aide and Jang Deuk-chil were arguing, Taekyung came out of the back door with Team Leader Choi.

“Aide. This is Kim Taekyung, the director of our hospital.”

“Hello. Director, I’m Lee Hyun-jik, Assemblyman Gam Deok-chan’s chief aide. We spoke before.”

Lee Hyun-jik, changing his expression, smiled and greeted Taekyung politely.

“Hello. I’m Kim Taekyung.”

“You’re going through a lot. I saw you on the news, you have a very impressive presence.”

“That’s right. Our director is quite handsome. Haha!”

“What brings you here to see me?”

“Could I speak with you for a moment? I won’t take up much of your time.”

Lee Hyun-jik, expecting to be led to an office, looked slightly taken aback by Taekyung’s directness.

“Agent Jang, let’s go inside.”

“Yes.”

Clank-

“Please, speak.”

“Actually, I came here, despite your previous rejection, because of the sponsorship.”

“If it’s about the sponsorship, I believe I already gave you my answer.”

“That’s right. You rejected me so decisively that I was honestly a little embarrassed. After thinking about it, I realized I made a mistake.”

“A mistake?”

“Yes. I want to sponsor with a pure heart to support the child, so I came here in person.”

“So, you only want to sponsor?”

If he truly had good intentions, Taekyung would have gladly accepted. But the aide’s next words were predictable.

“Of course. However, I have a small suggestion.”

“I don’t understand. Do you need a suggestion to sponsor?”

“I’d just like to take a picture of our assemblyman handing over the donation to you, the director.”

Taking pictures of giving donations and game consoles to children would be too obvious and backfire. He wanted to take candid photos and upload them online without anyone knowing.

“It’s not a difficult request, surely you can agree to that?”

“It’s not difficult, but I can’t do it because it doesn’t feel right.”

“You’re refusing?”

“Yes. The fact that you’re taking the picture defeats the purpose of the sponsorship.”

“No. Well, you can see it that way. But isn’t it a win-win situation? The child is happy to receive the money, you expand your connections with our assemblyman, and our assemblyman gets some positive publicity. It’s a suggestion where everyone benefits.”

“I have a National Assembly member allergy.”

“Excuse me?! What does that mean?”

“I’m telling you to leave.”

“Don’t you realize what a great opportunity this is? Are you too young to understand?”

It might be a valuable connection for some, but not for Taekyung.

Knowing a member of the National Assembly might help the hospital in the future.

But only if they were ethical. If they were the kind who wanted something in return, it was better to avoid them.

He knew from Ko Gye-deuk at Shinhwa University Hospital how corrupt people could become when they tasted power.

“Hey, Director Kim Taekyung. Do you even know who Assemblyman Gam Deok-chan is? Furthermore, our assemblyman is…”

Just as Lee Hyun-jik’s voice was rising in anger,

“Hey. Chief Lee!”

The man who emerged from the black sedan stopped his rudeness.

The man, exuding authority and displeasure, was Assemblyman Gam Deok-chan.

“What are you saying right now?”

He had arrived in casual clothes, seemingly for a walk in the neighborhood, but his unexpected actions surprised Taekyung.

“Director Kim Taekyung, I apologize for my aide’s rudeness. It was a great discourtesy in our first meeting.”

Gam Deok-chan removed his hat and bowed deeply, apologizing before even introducing himself.

“Ah, yes. I’m Kim Taekyung from our hospital.”

“Chief Lee made a mistake. It’s my fault for not managing my subordinates. I’m truly sorry.”

The confident and arrogant demeanor often associated with members of the National Assembly was absent in Gam Deok-chan.

“I was returning from a personal engagement, and Chief Lee said there was a place we needed to stop, but I didn’t know it was here. Chief Lee! Were you always like this?”

“I just wanted to help the assemblyman…”

“Did you really think this would help me?”

Gam Deok-chan was furious.

“Don’t you know the saying, ‘Haste makes waste?’ Why are you trying to ruin everything I’ve worked for by doing foolish things?”

As Gam Deok-chan explained, Lee Hyun-jik had acted alone.

After a light hike with party members at dawn, he was on his way home when he saw an opportunity to help.

He had asked Gam Deok-chan to wait in the car, but grew suspicious and overheard the conversation.

Gam Deok-chan realized the situation and quickly apologized.

“Why, why would someone do such foolish things? Huh?”

“I’m sorry, Assemblyman. I was foolish. And I apologize to the director as well.”

“It’s okay. I’m fine.” Taekyung said, looking at Gam Deok-chan, not Lee Hyun-jik.

He wasn’t sure about the aide’s apology, but he believed Assemblyman Gam Deok-chan’s apology was sincere.

“I was so moved when I saw the news. As a member of the public, I ask that you do everything you can to help Sera recover quickly.”

“We will do our best.”

“I’ve heard a lot about Director Kim Taekyung, it feels like I’m meeting someone I already know.”

“You’ve heard about me?”

Taekyung had no contact with Gam Deok-chan, so he was curious.

“Yes. Anyway, you must be busy, so I’ll leave you to it. If there’s anything I can do to help with medical issues in the future, please don’t hesitate to contact me.”

Taekyung accepted Gam Deok-chan’s business card.

“Then I will support you openly, not through such petty actions.”

“Thank you. Please go safely.”

Despite the brief meeting, he seemed different from other members of the National Assembly Taekyung had met.

“By the way, where did you hear about me?”

Taekyung tilted his head and went back into the hospital.