Fifth Vital [EN]: Chapter 150

150. The Method Was Wrong.

“Irresistible conditions?”

“Yes. There’s no pressure regarding treatment and surgery costs for patients, full support for any research you want to do, and guaranteed tenure. Plus, they’re offering an absurdly high salary. Would you still refuse?”

Kim Geon-hyung stared intently at Tae-kyung, as if asking, ‘Will you still refuse even with all this?’

Tae-kyung paused to think.

*Being able to do everything I want in a large hospital, not my private clinic, is impossible in the current Korean medical reality. But they’re saying they’ll make all that possible.*

Anyone familiar with this industry would agree that these are irresistible conditions. And most wouldn’t refuse the offer. But Tae-kyung was different.

“Yes, I will still refuse.”

Tae-kyung’s answer remained the same. It was definitely a good offer, but he didn’t feel inclined to accept it.

It wasn’t for any grand, altruistic reason.

He simply didn’t want to turn his back on Kim Cheol-gi, who had reached out to him when he was going through a tough time. And he was also attached to *our* hospital now. That was all.

“What! You’re really refusing?”

“Yes.”

“You’re refusing *this* offer? Is Director Kim out of his mind?”

“Maybe so.”

“You’re laughing? Is this a joke to you? People will think you’re crazy if they hear this.”

Kim Geon-hyung narrowed his eyes and scolded Tae-kyung, who was laughing innocently. He had half expected it, but he didn’t think Tae-kyung would refuse even such an extraordinary offer.

“No, tell me *why* you’re refusing? Give me a reason.”

“I don’t really have a reason.”

“What? Honestly, you’re really something else.”

Kim Geon-hyung took a sip of the coffee he had said was tasteless, looking frustrated.

“By the way, how did Director Kim end up working at this hospital?”

“I had some personal issues to resolve, and our hospital director helped me out. That’s how I ended up working here; he’s been a benefactor and someone I’m grateful to.”

“That director has an extraordinary eye for talent.”

“I’m just grateful that he sees me in a positive light.”

“But you know, has that director completely entrusted the hospital to you?”

“Yes, he doesn’t interfere with the hospital’s affairs at all and leaves everything to me.”

“From what I hear, he trusts you immensely. So, what are Director Kim’s plans for the hospital now?”

“Pardon?”

“You said earlier that you want to grow the hospital. So, what kind of blueprint do you have for growing the hospital?”

“…….”

Tae-kyung was silent for a moment.

*A blueprint for the hospital?*

He thinks about hospital management countless times every day.

He also wants to grow the hospital in the future. But after hearing Kim Geon-hyung’s words, that future wasn’t so clear anymore.

Kim Cheol-gi always told him to think of it as his own hospital and to do whatever he wanted.

Tae-kyung had been thinking that way too, but after hearing Kim Geon-hyung’s question, he realized he hadn’t been.

It felt like he was running Kim Cheol-gi’s hospital instead of thinking of it as his own.

Like holding a transparent glass bottle and carefully wiping it to avoid scratches or breakage, rather than thinking about putting flowers in it.

He wondered if he had been trying to maintain the hospital as it was, without causing any harm to the hospital Kim Cheol-gi had entrusted to him.

Tae-kyung wondered if he had been trapping himself.

“You’re having trouble answering, so you probably haven’t thought about it deeply either, Director Kim?”

“Yes, Chairman.”

“Your director probably didn’t just put you in that hospital as a director. Would he have brought in a capable and talented doctor like you to an old hospital simply as a salaried employee?”

“Well, I honestly don’t know about that. I think I need to think about it a bit.”

“If I were that director, I would have watched to see if you were running the hospital well. If he hasn’t said anything about the hospital’s affairs so far, it probably means you’re doing a good job. And then, I would want to hear about how you want to grow the hospital.”

“May I ask why you think so?”

“Because I would.”

“Yes?”

“I’m just saying what I would do if I had brought in a doctor like Kim Tae-kyung. You should seriously think about what you want to do if that hospital were really your own.”

“Yes, I understand.”

The conversation with Kim Geon-hyung that day gave Tae-kyung a lot to think about.

After that, the two of them had a general conversation about the hospital and wrapped up the discussion.

“I’ll be going now.”

“Alright. You’re the type who gets restless when you’re away from the hospital for too long, but I kept you for too long.”

“Not at all. Thank you for the expensive coffee, Chairman.”

“Let’s have a meal together sometime.”

“Yes, I’ll treat you.”

With that, Tae-kyung finished his fruitful conversation with Kim Geon-hyung, whom he had met by chance, and returned to the hospital.

Knock, knock-

“Come in.”

After Tae-kyung left, Team Leader Go, Kim Geon-hyung’s ever-present security chief, entered the room.

“Chairman, how did it go?”

“How does it look?”

“Judging by your displeased expression, Director Kim didn’t come over.”

“Not a chance. I tempted him with all sorts of good conditions, but he didn’t budge.”

“See? I told you it wouldn’t work.”

“Are you happy about that?”

Kim Geon-hyung was displeased with Team Leader Go, who was smiling gleefully.

“I’m amused that the Chairman was rejected.”

“Who was rejected? I said ‘if.’ I didn’t make a direct offer, so technically, it wasn’t a rejection.”

“These days, young people call that a mental victory [a self-serving interpretation of events]. Hahaha! Are you that interested in Kim Tae-kyung?”

“It’s a waste.”

“What is?”

“I wish I had known Kim Tae-kyung before our hospital director.”

“It’s unlike the Chairman to regret the past.”

“You know what’s funny?”

“What is it?”

“The fact that Kim Tae-kyung’s refusal makes me want to make him my man even more.”

Although Kim Geon-hyung didn’t make a direct offer to Tae-kyung, he was being sincere. He had always highly regarded Tae-kyung as a doctor and regretted that he belonged to another hospital.

He had been thinking of creating an opportunity to subtly sound Tae-kyung out. Then, he happened to meet him today and brought up the topic.

“I think I made a mistake.”

Kim Geon-hyung, who had been playfully bantering with Team Leader Go, wiped the smile off his face. Then, with a serious expression, he continued.

“The method was wrong.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Kim Tae-kyung isn’t someone who moves for money. No matter how much money I give him, he’s not the type to come to me easily.”

“That’s right.”

“I approached the wrong person.”

“Then who should you approach…? Don’t tell me!”

Team Leader Go, who had been with Kim Geon-hyung for a long time, could guess what he was thinking.

“You’re thinking what I’m thinking: our hospital director. We should make an offer to that person.”

“For Doctor Kim?”

“No. Kim Tae-kyung is the backbone of *our* hospital, and the employees trust and follow him. If we ask for Kim Tae-kyung in that situation, that director won’t budge.”

“Then?”

“We should make an offer for the hospital. We should acquire *our* hospital.”

“Pardon? Is Kim Tae-kyung worth that much?”

“Of course.”

Team Leader Go had never seen Kim Geon-hyung go to such lengths to acquire a single person.

“And the truth is, our hospital’s location is a golden spot. I don’t know if that director knew that when he set up the hospital there, but if he has enough capital, he can grow the hospital in any direction.”

“So, the Chairman wants to catch both Kim and the hospital?”

“That’s not it. If I had to choose between the two, I would unconditionally choose Kim Tae-kyung. Every time I see that friend, I’m reminded of my older brother when he was young. Maybe that’s why I want to keep him close.”

“Then why don’t you try looking for your brother first?”

“Forget it. Don’t do it.”

Although he said no, Team Leader Go had known for a long time that Kim Geon-hyung secretly wanted to find his brother.

“I’ll look for him.”

“I said forget it. I’ve already looked once.”

“You have?”

“Yeah.”

Kim Geon-hyung had found his brother a long time ago, but he had never mentioned it. But it was unsuccessful. Kim Geon-hyung had felt bitter for a while back then, and he hadn’t looked for his brother since.

“Let’s stop talking about that.”

“Alright. Then, should we look into our hospital director first?”

“Yeah, there’s no rush, so look into it slowly and quietly. It’ll be too noisy if the kids find out.”

“Understood.”

Kim Geon-hyung, who was more serious and sincere about Doctor Kim Tae-kyung than anyone else, suddenly changed his tune and became curious about our hospital director.

* * *

Shinhwa University Hospital.

At that time, Go Gye-deuk, who had been nicely defeated by Tae-kyung’s eloquence, trembled and rushed into the hospital.

He had to fix the situation because Lee Cheol-hoo had heard the news that Tae-kyung wouldn’t perform the surgery, thanks to some blabbermouth.

*It must be those two guys.*

It was probably one of the two directors who had been with him in the Korean restaurant room earlier.

Go Gye-deuk’s plan to persuade Lee Cheol-hoo to use another doctor after a day or two of assessing the situation had become useless.

“You’ve arrived, Director?”

As he entered the VVIP ward, the secretary quickly approached Go Gye-deuk.

“Is Director Lee in his room right now?”

“Yes, his wife is with him too. But there’s a bit of a problem.”

“I know. It’s about the surgery, right?”

“No, it’s not about your surgery, Director. It’s another issue.”

The frivolous footsteps heading towards the room where Director Lee was staying suddenly stopped.

“Another issue…? What issue?”

The secretary, who knew Go Gye-deuk’s difficult personality well, was hesitant to speak.

“Ah! Just tell me quickly.”

“That’s…”

“Director Lee is requesting to be discharged.”

“What! Discharge? No, why suddenly a discharge…? Forget it. I’ll go see him.”

Creak-

“Director Lee? Is your daughter feeling better?”

“Oh, Director Go. Our daughter is fine. She hasn’t had any pain since the chest pain subsided yesterday, and we’re going to be careful with her diet for the time being, as you said.”

“Director Lee, I’m really sorry about this. I’m on my way back from meeting Director Kim Tae-kyung, and it seems it will be difficult to entrust him with the surgery.”

“I heard the news anyway. What can we do if they refused? It can’t be helped. Director Go, don’t worry too much about it.”

“Thank you for understanding, Director.”

“Don’t mention it. More than that, Director Go, please process our discharge.”

“Yes? No, Director, what do you mean by discharge?”

Go Gye-deuk, who had thought it was fortunate that Director Lee had taken it well without showing any displeasure, was at a loss when the word ‘discharge’ actually came out.

“Thank you for your concern, but we’ve decided to move to another hospital.”

“Director Lee, you know how many good doctors we have at our hospital, right? And that surgery is really simple, so there’s no need to go this far…”

“Look here, Director Go Gye-deuk?”

Lee Cheol-hoo’s wife, who had been listening to Go Gye-deuk’s story, cut him off, seemingly displeased.

“You’re saying things in a very unpleasant way.”