Fifth Vital [EN]: Chapter 70

70. Imprisonment of No More Than 7 Years

“Has Mr. Kim arrived yet?”

“No, he hasn’t arrived yet.”

“Okay.”

Nurse Lim Jeong-suk, who was at the nursing station, went back down to the reception desk on the first floor.

“Did you see the doctor? Did he go into the emergency room?”

“No. Soo, Mr. Kim is seeing outpatients.”

“Outpatient hours are over.”

“That’s because that person came back.”

“Came back? Who?”

“Chairman Kim Geon-hyung.”

“What! Didn’t his secretary say he canceled and left?”

“He did. But a little while ago, a car stopped in front of the main gate, and he got out again.”

“So, the chairman is in the examination room now?”

“That’s right.”

“Oh dear! This is no ordinary matter.”

Team Leader Choi, who was looking at documents inside the reception desk, joined the conversation with a serious expression.

“Not an ordinary matter?”

“Of course. If things go wrong, our hospital might disappear. It’s not an ordinary matter.”

“The hospital might disappear? What are you talking about?”

Nurse Lim Jeong-suk, who had been staring at the monitor without paying much attention, reacted immediately to the mention of the hospital disappearing.

“I did some research on Chairman Kim Geon-hyung a little while ago. It turns out this man isn’t just any ordinary *chaebol* [a wealthy business tycoon].”

“Oh no, our team leader is starting with the unnecessary details again.”

“Just listen for a moment. He has a bulldozer-like personality, and if he sets his mind to something, he’ll build a department store or a hospital even in a wasteland. He’ll get what he wants no matter what, even if a knife is held to his throat.”

“Well, that’s because he’s a rich *chaebol*.”

“Not all *chaebols* are like that. And the most important thing is that anyone who disobeys him will definitely pay the price. Everyone remembers what happened earlier, right?”

It was impossible to understand what Team Leader Choi was trying to say.

“Our captain rejected Chairman Kim’s request outright.”

“It wasn’t a rejection, but a statement that he would follow the rules.”

“Come on, Ms. Lim, that’s not it. Who in the world would say no to Chairman Kim?”

“So, what you’re saying, Team Leader, is that Mr. Kim didn’t see him first, so the chairman is upset and will shut down the hospital?”

“Exactly. Otherwise, why would someone whose time is so precious bother to turn his car around and come back at this early hour?”

“Our team leader watches too many dramas, doesn’t he? You’re writing a novel.”

“I guess so. I’ll go up to the 3rd floor ward for a bit.”

“Okay, Ms. Soo. See you later.”

No one paid attention to Team Leader Choi’s passionate story.

“No, I’m not saying anything strange. Why is everyone like this? Ms. Lim?”

* * *

‘Chairman, I’ve found out where Dr. Kim Tae-kyung works.’

‘Good. Where is he working? Let’s exclude our hospital for now. Is it Shinhwa University? Or Taeseon University?’

‘Neither of those.’

‘Then it must be Juseon University.’

‘That’s not it either. He’s not working at a major hospital.’

‘Then where is he?’

‘He’s working at an old Our Hospital on the outskirts of Seoul.’

Kim Geon-hyung, recalling the conversation with his secretary, entered the examination room with his security team leader and secretary and naturally sat down in a chair.

“I saw that you were quite surprised to see me earlier.”

“I didn’t expect someone whose time is so precious to keep waiting.”

“I didn’t wait. I went back and turned the car around again. On second thought, I thought I should get a checkup.”

“Are you really here to see me for a checkup?”

Kim Geon-hyung was the owner of Saehee Mang Hospital, one of the leading major hospitals in Korea. It was hard to believe that he would come to him for a checkup.

He thought he was here to hold him accountable for the commotion on the weekend.

“Don’t doctors usually tell people who have had surgery to go back to the doctor who performed the surgery if they seek out another doctor? I think it would be a good answer to say that I came to the doctor who gave me emergency treatment.”

What Kim Geon-hyung said wasn’t entirely wrong.

“Since Dr. Kim gave me emergency treatment, I think it’s right to see if the follow-up treatment went well and get a checkup.”

“I understand. Please lie down on this bed.”

After examining Kim Geon-hyung, who was lying on the bed, the two sat down in their chairs again.

“How is it? Is my condition okay now?”

“Yes, you’re fine. It seems you’re out on leave while still hospitalized, but I don’t think there will be any problems returning to work after you recover your strength.”

“Eusha!” [A Korean exclamation of excitement or determination]

As soon as Tae-kyung finished speaking, Kim Geon-hyung suddenly got up from his seat. Then, he looked around the examination room and sat down again.

“This hospital seems as old as I am. It’s quite an old building. How long has Dr. Kim been working here?”

“More than that, please tell me the real reason you came to see me.”

“Hahaha! Dr. Kim, you’re very perceptive. Actually, the checkup was just an excuse.”

“I suspected as much.”

Knock, knock.

While the two were talking, Dr. Eui-jin entered the examination room after knocking.

“Doctor, you called for me…”

“I didn’t call you?”

“I called you. I asked for Dr. Jung Eui-jin to be called when I checked in.”

Kim Geon-hyung had requested that Eui-jin be called when he checked in for his examination.

“There’s something I want to ask you both.”

“Please speak.”

“These days, there are many cases where people don’t readily help because they’re afraid of getting into trouble. But when I looked at the CCTV, both of you were very active in trying to save me, despite the security team’s objections. Why is that?”

“Rather than having a special reason, both Dr. Jung and I did it to save you because your condition wasn’t good at the time.”

Kim Geon-hyung didn’t know what kind of answer he was expecting, but Tae-kyung’s answer was simple. As a doctor, he had instinctively rushed to save him.

“I see. The reason I came to see you is that I heard from my daughter, President Kim, that you said you would take responsibility for what happened that day? Is that correct?”

“That’s correct.”

“Well, everything comes with responsibility. You have to take responsibility.”

Like father, like daughter, Kim Geon-hyung said the same thing as Kim Seo-hyun.

He still didn’t regret saving the person, but Tae-kyung couldn’t help but feel nervous when he talked about taking responsibility.

‘The rich are even more demanding. This is why *chaebols* are scary. I think I need to go back to my sister later.’

Eui-jin also felt that what was coming had come, and she was planning to run to her sister, Jung Hae-jin, as soon as she got off work.

“The legal team sent a bill, but I didn’t see the contents properly, so I wanted to check it. Is that okay?”

“This is it.”

Tae-kyung handed over the bill sent by Nugu Group, and Kim Geon-hyung took out his reading glasses and carefully read it.

“The contents are so lacking. This is why I kept nagging them to write the report well. The bill is nonsense.”

“……”

“Dr. Kim, Dr. Jung. What should we do about this? The bill is too small for the responsibility and price of touching my body without permission.”

“That’s too…”

Eui-jin, unable to watch any longer, tried to say something, but Tae-kyung grabbed her hand and shook his head, stopping her. He didn’t want Eui-jin to get involved in a difficult situation if she said something to Kim Geon-hyung now.

“Ahem!”

“Chairman, we’re on duty now. If you’re going to hold us responsible, please tell us quickly.”

He had no idea what he was thinking. Tae-kyung couldn’t just wait for Kim Geon-hyung, who was staring at his face and hesitating.

“You have a hasty side too. Good. I’ll tell you quickly. I’m a stubborn person who never listens to others, but I always listened to my deceased parents. Among them, my father always emphasized one thing.”

“Chairman, your digression is too long.”

The security team leader next to him tried to say something for Tae-kyung and Eui-jin’s sake, but it was no use.

“If you owe a debt, pay it back. Especially a debt of life, you must pay it back. If there is someone who saved your life, do everything you can to treat them as benefactors.”

Tear-

Then, he tore the bill handed to Tae-kyung in half horizontally and continued.

“The reason I came to see Dr. Kim today is to repay my debt of life.”

“……”

Something unexpected happened.

Not only Tae-kyung and Eui-jin, but also the security team leader and secretary were surprised by Kim Geon-hyung’s sudden actions.

“I’ll grant you both whatever you want, so tell me three things each.”

They didn’t know how to react to the words of granting three wishes, like the genie of the lamp.

“I’ll tell you in advance, I’ll grant you whatever you say. I promise.”

“……”

“Oh dear! Why are you smart people just standing there? You have to know how to seize an opportunity when it comes. This won’t do. Dr. Jung, tell me first.”

“……”

“Are you going to keep your mouth shut like that? Tell me quickly.”

“I didn’t do it for any reward, so I don’t need anything like that.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really. But I would like an apology.”

“An apology?”

“Yes. An apology from Kim Seo-hyun.”

Eui-jin didn’t want anything. However, she definitely wanted to receive an apology for Kim Seo-hyun’s assault and abusive language.

“Since you saw the CCTV, I think you know the inside story of the chairman’s incident. Kim Seo-hyun’s slapping Dr. Kim’s cheek and her words to us both violate the Medical Service Act.”

“Violation of the Medical Service Act? Secretary Kim, is that true?”

“Yes, Chairman. According to the Medical Service Act, assault or intimidation of medical personnel is punishable by imprisonment of no more than 7 years or a fine of no more than 70 million won [approximately $53,000 USD].”

“Seventy million is a small amount of money.”

“I know you have a lot of money, Chairman, but money isn’t everything.”

“Hahaha! Dr. Jung is a very smart person. I’m just kidding. Just kidding.”

The chairman, who is the number one in the Korean business world, was making such jokes, but it didn’t sound like a joke at all.

“I promise, I’ll make President Kim apologize. Because I have so much money, my children all have a little bit of a bad attitude. Dr. Kim, I’m really sorry that Seo-hyun hit you.”

“No, I’ll accept the apology when Kim Seo-hyun apologizes. It’s not something you need to apologize for, Chairman.”

“I won’t. So, is that really all for Dr. Jung?”

“Yes, that’s all.”

“Now! Then it’s Dr. Kim’s turn. Tell me. Do you have anything?”

‘Of course not.’

Eui-jin said to herself when Kim Geon-hyung asked Tae-kyung.

‘What kind of person is my senior?’

It was Tae-kyung, not anyone else. Eui-jin wore a smug expression and turned her head slightly to the side. But on the contrary, a completely different answer came back.

“No. I have something.”

“Senior, you have something?”

“Yeah. I have it.”

From the moment Kim Geon-hyung told him to say what he wanted, only two things came to Tae-kyung’s mind.

“There are two things I want.”

“Tell me.”

“First, I hope you don’t fire the security team leader and his team members behind you.”

“What? Dr. Kim? What are you talking about?”

“It’s as you heard.”

The security team leader, who was standing firmly, even took off the sunglasses he was wearing like a tattoo and stopped Tae-kyung.

“What kind of opportunity is this? Don’t say such a thing. It’s not something Dr. Kim should care about…”

“Team Leader Go, you stay still. Good. The security team issue will be dropped, so don’t worry. What’s the other one?”