A competent doctor can cure everything - Chapter 74
“Hahaha! They’re calling him ‘Glasses Guy,’ ‘Glasses Guy.’”
Ye Wonil, lying on Min-hwa’s living room sofa while scrolling through his phone, laughed so hard that he rolled around holding his stomach.
“Hyung, did you see this comment? They’re going to start a fan club for you!”
“Why are you here on the weekend instead of resting at home?”
“Hey~ With such fun news, how could I wait until work to tell you? I came to tease you as soon as possible.”
“……”
After the chaotic Saturday, it was a peaceful Sunday afternoon.
But now my rest is being interrupted by Ye Wonil, who suddenly barged in.
He’s laughing so hard that he’s wiping tears from his eyes.
Back in school, he used to be intimidated by me, but I have no idea how it ended up like this.
“Ah~ Why is it so fun to tease you, hyung? The feeling of hitting the mark is so satisfying.”
“From what I’ve analyzed, it’s because it’s different from your usual self…! You’re usually so flawless and perfect, so it’s rare to see you surprised. But when something like this happens, you get really flustered. I think that’s why I end up teasing you more because we don’t usually get to see you like this.”
“…Thanks for the analysis.”
“Hyung, why are you being so biased? Why aren’t you glaring at Rilla hyung?!”
How could I glare at that sensitive kid?
Someone like Ye Wonil, who’d get scolded and still turn around to giggle right away, would never do that.
These days, Min-hwa is making an effort.
He’s trying to finish his sentences clearly and make proper eye contact with people.
One day, when I turned on YouTube on the living room TV, do you know what popped up in the related videos?
-’How to Speak with Confidence’, ‘How to Make Eye Contact Naturally’—those kinds of videos were showing up.
‘I could never scold a kid like that.’
“Hyung, are your ears okay?”
“…?”
“You’ve probably been itching to talk about yourself all over the country since yesterday, right?”
“……”
This kid… His teasing methods are getting more sophisticated.
Well, since yesterday, my phone has been blowing up with messages, like it’s on fire.
It’s not just from YouTube anymore, it was even on live national TV.
Of course, my grandmother contacted me, and I even heard from Mika after a long time.
[Patient Moon Deok-soon (Mika): What’s this really?? I was so surprised when I saw it on the internet.]
[Patient Moon Deok-soon: I told you to be my personal doctor, so what are you doing at a volleyball game!?]
I replied asking if she’s been doing well, and this is the response I got:
[Patient Moon Deok-soon: Stop only looking after other people and take care of me too! I’m busy with my comeback soon! I’m tired! I want some tonics made!!!]
[Patient Moon Deok-soon: You didn’t even know I was coming back, did you? You weren’t interested, huh?]
I knew. She’s coming back with a lively and fresh concept for summer.
I’ve been hearing it non-stop from my roommate.
Min-hwa has even been marking X’s on the calendar, eagerly waiting for Purple Angel’s comeback.
“Ah~ Glasses Guy. The netizens really have a knack for naming, don’t they?”
Just as Ye Wonil was smirking and looking at his phone again, suddenly, his phone rang long and loud.
“Huh?? What’s going on with this? Hmm, hmm.”
He suddenly cleared his throat and lowered his voice dramatically.
“Yes. Hello?”
Who could he be talking to like that, acting all serious?
It seemed like some serious conversation was happening, and his brows furrowed.
“Hmm, really? That’s a big problem. The date’s coming up soon, though. Alright, I’ll look into it and get back to you. Don’t worry too much.”
The call ended, and I asked him.
“What’s going on?”
“Oh, Hyung! This is perfect timing. Help me out with this. The president of ‘Hanbit Nuri’ contacted me. They said something came up at the medical volunteer site we were supposed to go to in August, and they told us not to come.”
‘Hanbit Nuri’ is one of the medical volunteer clubs at Hanbit University’s College of Oriental Medicine.
Ye Wonil had been the president of the club when he was in his 4th year of medical school.
“What? There’s less than three weeks left until the summer volunteer trip!”
“I know, right?! Finding a volunteer site is such a hassle. It seems like the president’s team is in a panic. They said they’ll try calling the sites we went to before and asked for recommendations.”
Almost all students at the College of Oriental Medicine join a volunteer club.
You could say it’s because they’re deeply committed to serving as future medical professionals, but…
‘There’s so much to learn in the club itself.’
During the volunteer period, and even before that, there are vacation studies.
Upperclassmen will tutor the lowerclassmen in areas like herbal medicine and acupuncture points.
Those upperclassmen, in turn, will study acupuncture techniques or herbal prescriptions under the guidance of licensed practitioners.
“Hyung, are you going to the volunteer trip this time?”
“I’m planning to take vacation and go.”
If only students go on the volunteer trip, it’s considered illegal medical practice.
Since they’re still students at the Oriental Medicine College, they don’t have licenses yet.
However, if they’re supervised by licensed medical professionals, it’s fine. So it’s essential to find a senior practitioner to accompany them during medical volunteer trips.
‘So, the most important part of preparing for the volunteer trip is choosing the volunteer site, and next, coordinating with the seniors so there’s always a licensed practitioner present each day.’
“Ugh… Truly a great senior. Hyung, let’s go together.”
“Are you going too?”
Of course, it’s hardest to find a senior who can stay during the weekdays.
That’s why I’m planning to go to the volunteer site during my summer vacation.
‘Who would want to use their precious vacation time to go on some student volunteer trip?’
Plus, being a senior licensed acupuncturist, you’d have to buy snacks or late-night meals for dozens of students.
That’s going to cost a lot of money.
But since I received so much help during my six years as a student, I thought I should give back.
Once I become a licensed practitioner, I plan to participate in as many volunteer activities as I can for the juniors.
“Hyung! Of course, we have to go. I was the president. By the way, where did we go when we were there?”
“Hmmm… I can think of a few places.”
There are factors to consider when choosing a volunteer site.
First, it should be a medically underserved area, in line with the purpose of the medical volunteer program.
Ideally, it should be a village that doesn’t even have a health center.
‘But too remote of a place would also be problematic.’
There needs to be a reasonable number of village residents to treat.
And it’s even better if the residents warmly welcome the volunteers.
“Tell the president of Hanbit Nuri to contact this number.”
“Who is this person?”
“The village chief from the village where I worked as a public relations officer. I was thinking of suggesting the neighboring village as a volunteer site.”
The place I was at least had a health center, but the neighboring village didn’t even have that, so many people from that village would come to our village for acupuncture.
“Oh, sounds good! I’ll pass it along right away.”
While Ye Wonil was distracted, I quietly stood up.
I was now holding a paper bag in my hand.
“Huh? Hyung, where are you going?”
“Secret.”
“I must’ve teased you too much. I won’t tease you anymore, Hyung!”
Ignoring Ye Wonil’s shout, I closed the front door.
If I mentioned the destination, I knew Ye Wonil would cling to me and nag about it.
* * *
A little while later, I arrived at the front of the hospital.
I took out my phone and called Lee Hyun-seung’s contact number.
“Professor, you’re on duty today, right?”
– Oh? Yeah, yeah. Why?
“Then, can I bring you some side dishes to your office?”
– Side dishes? Oh, the ones your grandmother mentioned? No, it’s really okay, though…
“It’s a must. I already brought a lot with me from home.”
– Oh, really? Then you can come up now.
When I arrived at the professor’s office and knocked, the door gently opened.
Lee Hyun-seung was standing with her arms crossed, leaning against the doorframe.
“How did you know I was on duty?”
“I checked the duty roster in the EMR (electronic medical record).”
“Oh, right. I forgot about that method.”
“……”
“……”
What’s with this silence?
I was the first to break the silence.
“Professor, I really appreciate it. My grandmother also wanted me to thank you.”
“Enough already. If I hear that thanks one more time, it’ll be the hundredth time.”
But something about Lee Hyun-seung’s attitude felt a little strange.
She wasn’t making eye contact, and her tone was stiff.
‘If it were usual, she would’ve told me to come in, but standing by the door and talking like this is odd.’
Given her personality, she should’ve teased me at least a hundred times about being on TV by now.
Why is she being so quiet today?
‘Does she not know about the volleyball game incident yet? Or… is she really angry?’
After all, doctors at the hospital are employees too.
She must’ve wasted her precious vacation time.
“I’m sorry. You lost your vacation because of me.”
“Eh, I’ll have more time off in the future.”
“…If it’s okay with you, may I treat you to a meal sometime?”
“!!!”
At that, Lee Hyun-seung flinched, then shook her head.
“No. Really, it’s fine. Don’t worry about it.”
Refusing even a meal… Maybe she’s really upset.
I decided to give up for now and take my leave, bowing politely.
“Okay, then.”
“Yeah, yeah, go ahead.”
I felt uneasy.
As I was leaving the hospital, I ran into an unexpected person at the main entrance.
“Hey! Isn’t that Seon-Joon?”
A sharp face with a hearty voice. It was Professor Yeon Jae-wook from the Department of Oriental Rehabilitation.
Without his white coat, his muscular build was even more prominent.
“Professor, hello.”
“Ah~. I watched the broadcast. Seon-Joon, you really did it again, huh?”
Professor Yeon laughed loudly and patted my back.
“Coach Han Mi-young was so grateful. She said she was at a loss until you helped her. Thanks to you, my face was saved too! Thank you.”
“It’s all thanks to everything you’ve taught me.”
“Haha! You even know how to say the right things.”
It wasn’t just empty words.
The study sessions the professor had given me were extremely helpful.
The knowledge as a team doctor, ultrasound diagnostic methods, and other invaluable know-how that money can’t buy.
“By the way, have you thought about it?”
“Huh?”
“Which sports team you want to work with.”
As I hesitated, the professor nodded.
“It seems you haven’t decided yet. If possible, going with a well-known team would be better for your career. If you want to be selected as the team doctor for the national team at major events like the Olympics, that would be the way to go.”
“A well-known team…”
“Of course, you should choose from the top three sports in Korea: soccer, basketball, or baseball. I have connections with most teams, so feel free to pick whichever one you like.”
“…….”
Being the team doctor for a national team… I really want to do it.
Choosing a famous team from Korea’s top three sports sounds like the best option.
“Yes… I’ll think about it some more.”
But why do the smiling faces of the Blue Whales players come to mind?
* * *
Meanwhile, after Seon-Joon left the professor’s office.
Lee Hyun-seung turned toward the back of the room and said,
“You can come out now.”
“Why did I have to hide?”
“I didn’t want you to say anything weird in front of him.”
The person hiding deep inside the office was Jeong Daun, an OB-GYN fellow.
Jeong Daun widened her eyes and exclaimed regretfully,
“Hyun-seung! Why did you turn down the cutie when he asked you to have a meal! Are you crazy?”
“I’m going to give up.”
“Why! You’ve watched the volleyball video with him in it dozens of times!”
Lee Hyun-seung scratched her chin awkwardly.
“No matter how I think about it, an intern is just…”
“So, is it fine if the cutie becomes a resident?”
“…The first-year resident is no different from an intern, so it’s a bit…”
“You see~. You’re just making excuses now.”
“Ugh.”
Jeong Daun grabbed her friend by the shoulder and stared directly at her face.
“Hyun-seung~. What are you so afraid of?”
“Phew. Hey, honestly, look at his eyes. Do you really think he’s interested in dating?”
“Hm~, I guess. It’s hard to imagine the cutie teacher dating.”
Hearing Hyun-seung’s sulky remark, Duan couldn’t help but understand.
“It’s better to keep some distance rather than awkwardly getting too close and making things uncomfortable. If I do that, my feelings will settle down eventually.”
“Hyun-seung…”
Jeong Daun looked at her dejected friend with sympathy.