Fifth Vital [EN]: Chapter 334

335. Goblin’s Club

Kim Geon-hyung snatched the book from Chief Go’s hand and sat next to Kevin, where Seung-woo was playing.

“Seung-woo, can you look at Grandpa for a second?”

Seung-woo, who found it difficult to make eye contact with people, briefly met his gaze as always before looking away.

“Are you busy now?”

“No. I’m about to play with Kevin, but I’m not that busy.”

“Ke, Kevin?”

Kim Geon-hyung’s face briefly showed amusement as he watched the child affectionately give a name to the anatomical model.

“Yes, he’s my friend Kevin.”

However, he quickly hid his amusement and played along, thinking from Seung-woo’s perspective.

“Ah, I see. He’s a very good friend who shows you everything inside his chest without hiding anything.”

“Yes, Kevin is cool.”

“Grandpa thinks Seung-woo is cooler. Don’t you think so, Chief Go?”

“Of course. I think Seung-woo is the coolest. Thumbs up!”

When Chief Go gave Seung-woo a thumbs up and then a double thumbs up, Seung-woo liked his actions and imitated him.

“Thum…bs up.”

“Seung-woo? Grandpa wants to ask you a few questions because you’re smart. Is that okay?”

“Yes, it’s okay.”

“If Grandpa’s questions are difficult, or you don’t know, or you don’t want to answer, you don’t have to. Got it?”

“Yes.”

Seung-woo answered while assembling Kevin’s organs with his hands.

“Chief Go, how about this?”

“Yes? No, Chairman, even if it’s a test, that’s a bit much. I don’t think he’ll even understand the question…”

Kim Geon-hyung randomly opened the book and tried to ask a question, but Chief Go shook his head. The questions were too difficult.

“The questions here are more difficult than I thought. I can’t even answer them. Is it okay, Chairman?”

“Let’s just ask and see. Seung-woo, listen carefully.”

“Yes.”

“What is it called when a part of a chromosome is rotated 180 degrees as a type of mutation, causing a specific part to be reversed?”

“…”

“See? I told you the question was difficult.”

When Seung-woo didn’t answer, Chief Go started complaining about the question again.

“Is the question difficult…”

“Please say it again.”

Just as Kim Geon-hyung was about to look for another question, Seung-woo spoke again.

“I didn’t hear it well.”

He was so focused on Kevin that he didn’t hear the question properly.

“I see. I’ll say it again.”

“Inversion.”

As soon as Kim Geon-hyung repeated the question, Seung-woo answered it right away, contrary to Chief Go’s concerns.

“Th, that’s correct.”

“Is that correct, Chairman? Seung-woo is really something. Ask him another question.”

“Seung-woo, I’ll ask you the next question.”

“Yes. Ask me a question.”

“When several particles of the same type gather to form an element, what is the term for one of these particles?”

“The answer is atom.”

“Correct.”

“Chairman, let me ask one too.”

Chief Go, who was amazed by Seung-woo’s calm answers while still assembling Kevin’s body, took the book and said he would ask a question himself.

“What is the name of the music book compiled by Seong Hyeon, Yu Ja-gwang, and Shin Mal-pyeong under the king’s order in the 24th year of King Seongjong of Joseon?”

“Akhak Gwebeom [Treatise on Musical Science]. Akhak Gwebeom is a musical encyclopedia compiled by Yu Ja-gwang, Seong Hyeon, Shin Ma-pyeong, Park Gon, and Kim Bok-geun in 1493, the 24th year of King Seongjong. Also…”

Not only did he simply state the answer, but Seung-woo also gave a perfect explanation, surprising the two of them considerably.

“Ha! The more I see it, the more amazing and unbelievable it is. Just one more question…”

“Stop it!”

Kim Geon-hyung stopped Chief Go, who couldn’t close his mouth, from turning to another page and asking a question.

“Don’t do it. There’s nothing more to see. He’s not an ordinary kid.”

“That’s right, Chairman. He’s definitely a genius, not ordinary.”

“Seung-woo. I’m sorry, but can you explain the skeletal structure you explained earlier to Grandpa again?”

“I can do it two or three times.”

“Really? And can Grandpa take a video of Seung-woo explaining it on his phone?”

“Yes, you can take a video.”

“Chief Go, film Seung-woo’s explanation from now on.”

“Yes, Chairman.”

After that, Seung-woo brought the skeletal drawing he had drawn earlier and explained it again from the beginning without missing a single word.

He even showed enthusiasm by using Kevin to explain all the organs, excited by Kim Geon-hyung’s enthusiastic reaction with a grandfatherly smile.

After all the explanations were over for more than 30 minutes, Kim Geon-hyung instructed Chief Go to send the filmed video to someone. About 10 minutes after sending the video, he received a call from the person who watched the video.

“Chairman, Professor Do is calling.”

Kim Geon-hyung went inside the medical office and answered the phone.

“You came quickly. Give it to me. Hello, Professor Do, it’s me.”

-Yes, Chairman. Hello.

“Sorry for contacting you so suddenly.”

-You’re very welcome. I’ve checked the video you sent me.

The person who called as soon as he saw the video Kim Geon-hyung sent was a university professor affiliated with Nugu Group and the head of the Nugu Gifted Education Center.

Kim Geon-hyung, who was rich in capital, had long believed that the greatest asset was people and took the lead in nurturing excellent talents.

In particular, he was very interested in the education of young gifted children and established a gifted center and spared no investment.

Professor Do was a founding member and had been identifying numerous gifted children and acting as their mentor.

“So, what are your thoughts after seeing it?”

-But Chairman. Who is the child in the video?

“It’s a child I happened to see while visiting the hospital.”

-By chance? Are you saying you saw this child by chance?

“That’s right. After talking to the child for a few words, he was unusually bright. So I quickly took a video and sent it to you. Chief Go is making a fuss next to me, calling him a genius, but what do you think, Professor Do?”

-It may be too early to judge with a short video, and an accurate test is necessary, but it seems to be a savant syndrome on the autism spectrum.

“If he’s a savant, that means he has genius qualities.”

-As I said before, the exact thing is that you have to see and test the child directly.

“Hey! Professor Do? You’re the best in this field in Korea, so why are you being so humble? Based on your experience so far, you can roughly draw a picture in your head. Honestly, what do you think?”

-In my opinion, he is a genius. Among them, he seems to be particularly outstanding.

“Really? I’ll arrange a schedule soon so that the child can visit. Please take good care of him.”

-Yes, Chairman. I’m also curious about that friend. Then I’ll be waiting.”

“Heo! Heo! Heo! Heo!”

Kim Geon-hyung hung up the phone and looked at Seung-woo playing with Kevin and laughed heartily.

He laughed so refreshingly that it felt like his insides were opened up.

“Chairman, what did the professor say?”

“Chief Go was right. He’s a genius himself.”

“Didn’t I say he was a genius? Hahaha!”

Chief Go, who heard about Seung-woo’s genius, also laughed loudly as if he was so happy. Leaving Chief Go, who was laughing excitedly, behind, Kim Geon-hyung returned to Seung-woo.

“Seung-woo?”

“Yes?”

“Grandpa is curious, why is Seung-woo in the hospital?”

Kim Geon-hyung was getting more and more curious about Seung-woo.

“Waiting for my sister.”

“Sister?”

“Yes.”

“Is your sister being treated at the hospital? What about your mom or dad?”

“I live with my sister. My sister has gone to save the aliens, so I have to wait at the hospital until my sister comes.”

“…”

“…!”

Kim Geon-hyung and Chief Go were momentarily silent as they felt a surge of emotion at the words that he lived alone with his sister.

“I see. But your sister is saving aliens? Why did she go to save them?”

“I like it. So my sister went to save them.”

“Really? Seung-woo likes it. What else does Seung-woo like?”

“Kevin. School friends look at me strangely and don’t listen to me. Some kids hate me for no reason. But Kevin listens to everything I say. So I like him. I wish I had more friends like Kevin.”

“From now on, you’ll have many good friends who recognize Seung-woo’s true worth. So don’t ever be discouraged by what your school friends say. Got it?”

“Yes, thank you.”

“Seung-woo, do you know what a goblin’s club is?”

“Yes. I read it in a fairy tale. It’s a club with horns that grants all your wishes.”

“That’s right. This grandpa has something similar, is there anything Seung-woo needs?”

“No. I don’t need anything.”

“You don’t need anything? Then what do you like? Toys or anything you want?”

“I like books, but I can see books as much as I want even if I don’t have money, so it’s okay. And my grandmother said that you have to live a little lacking to know longing and gratitude. If you live hard while being satisfied with what you have, you’ll be blessed.”

“What? Your grandmother said very great things.”

“I just want my sister to be happy and live happily with me without having a hard time.”

“Okay. Thank you for answering.”

After asking Seung-woo a few questions, Kim Geon-hyung took a seat on one side of the medical office.

“Chief Go?”

“Yes, Chairman.”

“Take a picture of the picture Seung-woo drew earlier and send it to Director Kim to see if he has talent in drawing as well.”

“Yes, I understand. But Chairman, don’t forget that you have a dinner appointment with Chairman Park, Chairman Choi, and Chairman Lee tonight? I think you should leave now.”

“Cancel it.”

Kim Geon-hyung answered indifferently without taking his eyes off Seung-woo.

“Yes?”

“I said cancel it. I haven’t met Director Kim yet, and it’s much more meaningful and fun to be here.”

“But everyone is waiting for you to come.”

“It’s always the same when I go there. They’re busy showing off to each other and it’s a gathering with no substance. Nothing will happen if I miss a meeting once. Contact the secretary’s office… No, I’ll do it myself.”

Kim Geon-hyung, who had to put it into practice as soon as he made up his mind, immediately called his secretary.

-Yes. Chairman.

“I have something to do today and can’t attend the meeting, so tell them that.”

-Yes. I understand.

“And do you know what ‘Mom is an Alien’ is?”

-Yes? Mom is an Alien?

“Yes. It’s something elementary school students like, and the name is ‘Mom is an Alien’. Whatever it is, get as much as you can. And prepare the most recent and best anatomical model.”

-…

The secretary’s office was unable to grasp what to answer to the order they had never heard before.

“No, why aren’t you answering?”

-Yes, I will prepare it right away as you said.

“Are you going to give it to Seung-woo?”

Chief Go, who heard the conversation next to him, asked.

“People, whether they are children or adults, if they are humble and have a good heart, you want to help them even if you don’t want to. How pretty is that young heart.”

“That’s right. But Professor Do said Seung-woo was autistic, right?”

“What does it matter if he’s autistic or not? There are many people who can’t do their part as human beings among those who are born with a sound mind and body. Seung-woo is a much more valuable person than those people.”

“That’s right. I almost cried when I heard that he lived with his sister.”

Seung-woo, who had to be spoiled by his parents at an age when he had to be spoiled, could not help but feel sorry for Seung-woo, who lived alone with his sister.

Click-

“Chairman?”

At that moment, nurse Lim Jeong-sook entered the medical office while the two were worrying about Seung-woo with the hearts of a grandfather and uncle.

“Have you been waiting long? The director was a little late because of an emergency patient consultation. It’s almost over, so go to the examination room.”

“Long? I had a very enjoyable time. Chief Go, you play with Seung-woo here. Buy him something delicious. Buy some snacks for the staff while you’re at it.”

“Yes, Chairman. I understand.”

Kim Geon-hyung handed Chief Go a black card and smiled contentedly until he left the medical office and moved to the examination room.

Click-

“Chairman. How have you been?”

Taekyung, who entered the examination room, greeted Kim Geon-hyung happily.

“Director Kim, I have so many things I want to ask you right now. I thought I’d be waiting eagerly. Come and sit down quickly.”