Fifth Vital [EN]: Chapter 269

Fifth Vitality- Episode 269

269. Our Hospital’s Most Frequent Visitors

Tae-kyung stared at the check, then checked his phone, surprised.

Rrrrrrrrrr

“……!”

The sender was Hamad.

Tae-kyung flinched. The text had arrived at the perfect moment, as if he were being watched.

-It’s me, Doctor. You’re probably wondering if you should accept this money, right?

There’s something I didn’t tell you. Our family has a curse: if you refuse a favor, you’ll never get married, go bald, and bad things will happen to you for the rest of your life.

The money has already left my hands. So, stop worrying and use it for good as you see fit.

“I really can’t beat Hamad.”

Tae-kyung chuckled at the text’s chilling jokes. Then, as if he’d made up his mind, he texted Hamad.

-Thank you, patient. I will think long and hard about how to use it in a good way.

In the end, Tae-kyung, after much deliberation, decided to accept the donation.

If Hamad were an ordinary person, he would have refused outright, regardless of the amount. Even a donation made with good intentions can be a burden.

But Hamad was rich—seriously wealthy—so the donation wouldn’t burden him.

And it would be impolite to refuse such a warm, sincere favor.

“Okay, let’s use it for the patients, for the hospital.”

Tae-kyung decided to inform Kim Cheol-gi at the nursing home. For now, he calmed his excitement and focused on his hospital duties.

* * *

“Haa.”

It was still dark, but a handsome man was jogging along the stream.

Even in comfortable workout clothes, his muscular physique was obvious.

“Hoo!”

He ran steadily, then sprinted along the empty jogging course.

“Ha!”

Finally gasping for breath, the man stopped. After jump rope, pull-ups, and boxing, he headed home.

“Hello.”

“Good morning.”

The man, entering an alley lined with houses, greeted his neighbors heading to work with a pleasant smile.

“Min-woo, your greetings can be heard a mile away!”

An old man with white hair, holding a small water bottle, smiled brightly at Gu Min-woo.

“Hello, Grandpa. Getting spring water? You’re back a little early today.”

“I woke up early. As you get older, you sleep less. So, I took my time coming back.”

“Good for you. But don’t overdo it.”

“You might think it’s funny that an old man like me fetches water, but I’ve done it without fail for over 30 years.”

“It’s not funny at all, it’s admirable. Our neighborhood’s mountain is a tough course, and you do it every day. That’s amazing.”

“Really? Am I amazing?”

“Of course. Grandpa, you’re the best!”

The old man beamed at Gu Min-woo’s bright, good-natured words.

“By the way, I saw you on TV. Was that you jumping off a cliff on a bicycle in last week’s drama?”

“Ah, yes. It must have been hard to spot… How did you see that?”

“How did I see it! I recognized your handsome head from the back. My grandson was so happy that Uncle Min-woo was on TV. It was cool!”

“Thank you.”

“The height was enormous. Were you hurt? Come to think of it, you have a scar on your hand. Did you get hurt then?”

The old man clicked his tongue, noticing a small scar on the back of Gu Min-woo’s hand.

“Tsk, tsk! You always have to be careful not to get hurt. Did you put medicine on it?”

“Yes, I did. This kind of scar is nothing.”

“I always say, as long as you don’t get hurt in a life-threatening way, okay? Always be careful.”

“Yes! I will keep that in mind, Grandpa.”

“Don’t be discouraged by what others say. People should chase their dreams, not money. You’re doing a great job, so be proud.”

“Wow! That’s really touching.”

Gu Min-woo was always grateful for the old man’s warm words and sincere support.

“Someone as diligent as you will surely have their day, even if it takes time.”

“Oh my! Grandpa, really! How can the sun rise while working as a stuntman?”

A woman, the neighborhood busybody, cut in.

“Why wouldn’t the sun rise? It rises today, it rises tomorrow, it rises every day.”

“Grandpa, you’re so funny. The sun we’re talking about here isn’t that sun.”

“Hello. Ma’am. Are you coming back from somewhere?”

“I’m coming back from church. Oh my! We’ve been neighbors for years, and you didn’t know I go to church.”

“Ah, yes…….”

“I’ll be going now. My wife will be waiting. You should go in too.”

“Yes, Grandpa. Goodbye.”

“Goodbye, Grandpa.”

“Then I’ll be going…….”

“Min-woo?”

Gu Min-woo, trying to escape the nosy woman, had to stop.

“Why are you going so fast? Is it uncomfortable talking to me?”

“No. I’m going to wash up because I’m sweating from exercising.”

“You have some time. You don’t look like you’re sweating at all. How long are you going to do that stuntman thing? You should quit.”

“……Yes?”

Gu Min-woo was dumbfounded at the suggestion to quit a job he enjoyed.

“No, you’re about the same age as my youngest son. I’m saying this because you’re like a son to me. It’s dangerous.”

“Ah, yes. Thank you for your concern.”

“You’re just a stand-in for celebrities, only appearing in dangerous scenes. Why is someone who went to a good university doing that kind of work?”

It was meddling of the highest order.

“Are you doing it because you can’t find a job? I heard you used to work at a good company, is that not true?”

The busybody subtly looked down on him, pretending to worry.

“If you work your body so hard when you’re young, you’ll get sick when you’re old and die in one shot. Just work at a company.”

“Thank you for your words, but it’s something I enjoy doing. I’m okay.”

Even with the woman’s excessive interference, the good-natured Gu Min-woo let it go.

He knew it was tiring to react to such people.

“And I heard you’re not married yet? I heard you’re just living together and only registered your marriage… How are you going to escape that by being a stuntman?”

The woman pointed to the officetel [a studio apartment often used as both living and working space] where Gu Min-woo lived and felt frustrated.

“Instead, my friend runs a big factory. Should I introduce you there? It’s a field job, but it’s pretty good. You’re good at using your body.”

“No. Ma’am! It’s okay.”

Just as the woman was recommending an absurd job change, Gu Min-woo’s wife, Lee So-ri, appeared.

“So-ri, you’re out? You must be busy these days. It’s been a while.”

“Yes, I’ve been a little busy with work. But just now, a job? Why are you introducing my husband?”

“No, I think being a stuntman has no future and, above all, it’s dangerous…….”

“How do you know if there’s a future or not?”

“Oh my! Are you upset? I’m saying this because you’re like my children. I pray for you so much.”

“I’m not upset at all. And ma’am? My husband and I are not your children. So, please don’t speak carelessly.”

“……!”

The woman was taken aback by Lee So-ri’s firm attitude.

“I’ve been holding back, but you subtly say things that make people feel bad while pretending to worry. You shouldn’t do that if you go to church. It makes people uncomfortable.”

“……!”

“Since we’re on the topic, let me say one more thing. If it’s a pretty good field job, please introduce it to your son who still hasn’t found a job.”

“So-ri!”

“I’m sorry, but I’m not done yet. Please don’t call my husband ‘honey’ anymore. Your ‘honey’ is at home. Then, have a good day today and be at peace. Let’s go, honey.”

“Oh! Okay. I’ll go first.”

“Tsk! I can’t believe it. I said it for their own good… Young people these days have no manners. That’s why they can’t even have a wedding and live like that. Ugh!”

The woman, surprised by Lee So-ri’s confident attitude, grumbled and went home.

“Don’t even think about saying anything to me. I’ve been holding back while living in this neighborhood, and I only said it once today. I’m going to an important shoot today, and it makes me feel bad when you talk about things you don’t even know.”

“Who’s going to say anything? You did well. My woman is awesome.”

“What did you just say?”

“You did well. It was so refreshing to watch.”

“What’s going on?”

“I also thought the busybody was being a bit too much. But did you come out on purpose because of me?”

“That’s also true, but actually, I have somewhere to go with you.”

“Somewhere to go at this early hour? Where?”

He wondered why his wife, who usually slept in, woke up so early.

“Where are we going?”

“We’re going to see the director.”

“The director… You! Don’t tell me? Are we going to the hospital?”

“That’s right.”

“So-ri, I’m not going to the hospital… Ah! It hurts.”

“Be quiet and come with me.”

“Okay, honey. I’ll go, let’s just change clothes.”

“Be quiet.”

Gu Min-woo, who said he wouldn’t go to the hospital, suddenly complained of pain. Lee So-ri pulled his ear.

In the end, Gu Min-woo had no choice but to be dragged to the hospital by his wife.

* * *

Our Hospital.

Knock knock-

“Yes. Come in.”

“Doctor, a patient has arrived. Can you see them?”

“Of course. Is it the emergency room?”

“No. It’s an outpatient.”

“Outpatient? At this hour?”

Sometimes patients came before work, but an outpatient at this hour was rare.

“It’s probably not an emergency. Who is it?”

“Our hospital’s most frequent visitors.”

It might sound funny, but it was true. Some people came to our hospital as if taking a walk in the neighborhood.

“Ah! Really. Tell them to come in. They’re here early today.”

“But are you going to see patients in that outfit?”

Nurse Lim Jeong-suk smiled, pointing to Tae-kyung’s work clothes.

“Well! It smells good with the fragrant coffee, but are you okay?”

“Oh! I don’t know what I was thinking. I’ve been out of my mind since dawn. I didn’t even realize I spilled coffee because of the donation.”

“Um, Doctor. Have you decided what to do with that donation……?”

“I should use it for the hospital.”

“Oh my gosh! So you decided to accept it?”

“Yes.”

“Everyone outside was wondering if you would refuse. You did a good job.”

Nurse Lim Jeong-suk was as happy about Tae-kyung’s decision as if it were her own.

“I hope I did the right thing?”

“Of course. I’ll tell the patient to come in in 5 minutes. Change your clothes first.”

“Okay.”

As Nurse Lim Jeong-suk left, Choi’s cheers were briefly heard. He’d heard the news that they’d accepted the donation.

A moment later, Tae-kyung, in new work clothes, greeted the patient.

“Hello.”

“Welcome.”

“Director, we meet again.”

A woman confidently took the lead, followed by a sheepishly smiling man.

The two were stuntman Gu Min-woo and his wife, Lee So-ri.