Heading to a higher place (1),
I looked at Hwang Jeong-woo and then went to the guardian waiting room and talked to Yang Ji-min.
“Doctor, thank you so much. I heard that thanks to you, the surgery was completed successfully.”
“The surgeon did all the surgery. I only helped a little.”
“No. Don’t say that.”
Yang Ji-min repeatedly bowed his head, saying thank you.
Choi Ki-seok also had to adjust to that, so his head was so low that it almost touched the ground.
After a pleasant meeting, I returned to the ward.
However, I ran into Professor Jo Ji-hwan coming out of the bathroom.
‘Unlucky.’
Choi Ki-seok muttered to himself.
If I had seen it from a distance, I would have seen it in advance and avoided it, but if it’s like this, I can’t even get rid of it.
Suddenly, the image of Jo Ji-hwan, who said he would not operate on a dangerous patient, flashed through my mind.
“hello?”
“Would you like to see me for a moment?”
“yes.”
Choi Ki-seok followed Jo Ji-hwan into the conference room.
However, Jo Ji-hwan actually called the person and did not say anything.
As the silence deepened, my anxiety grew like a snowball.
Talk. Talk. Talk.
Jo Ji-hwan tapped his fingers on the table and opened his mouth.
“Are you close with Taeho?”
Jo Ji-hwan’s question pierced my heart.
I never thought I would get straight to the point from the beginning.
“Why are you being so obnoxious? Just tell the truth.”
“We used to be close, but not anymore.”
“Do you know that Taeho is my nephew?”
“I heard it myself a while ago.”
Choi Ki-seok answered as calmly as possible.
What I was worried about happened. Cho Tae-ho started putting pressure on him using his personal connections.
After all, Jo Tae-ho’s uncle is a professor of thoracic surgery…
The twist of fate is ironic.
“Aren’t you curious about what favor Taeho would have asked of me?”
“I already know.”
“······.”
“They probably wanted me kicked out of the thoracic surgery department.”
“You know me well.”
Jo Ji-hwan nodded and continued speaking.
“······.”
“······.”
The two people’s eyes met and there was a tense silence. Choi Ki-seok swallowed dry saliva and waited to see what Jo Ji-hwan would say.
“But, I have no intention of listening to him.”
“yes?”
Choi Ki-seok made a dumbfounded noise at the unexpected answer.
“I’d rather ask you that. Why do you think I should listen to him?”
“That’s it… Because I’m your nephew…”
“nephew?”
Jo Ji-hwan snorted.
“That guy only trusts his brother, the hospital director, and is always whining. He’s no help to me at all. In fact, he doesn’t really like Taeho either.”
“So you’re saying you won’t connect me with Taeho?”
“I guarantee that 100%.”
Jo Ji-hwan got up from his seat and started the coffee pot.
Soon, Jo Ji-hwan put down black coffee at his seat and Choi Ki-seok’s seat.
The faint scent of coffee enveloped the doctor.
“I’ll drink it well.”
Choi Ki-seok took a sip of coffee and woke up.
Cho Ji-hwan is of a higher level than Cho Tae-ho.
It is dangerous if you are not alert.
“Hey, I heard you applied for Fixton. I heard you’ve already decided on thoracic surgery as your major.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“I asked people around me and they gave me very good reviews. They said I had good skills and the personality of a surgeon. So, would you like to work for me?”
“I’m sorry, but I can’t.”
“The reason is?”
“I have already become Professor Song’s student.”
“They say a well-behaved cat goes up to the stove first. That’s a hit. Kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk.”
Jo Ji-hwan looked up at the ceiling and laughed hysterically.
“Professor Song is an eagle that has lost its wings. It’s not nutritious to stick around.”
“I don’t know what the professor may think, but Professor Song Myeong-jin is a person who truly works for his patients. I want to become a doctor like Professor Song.”
“You’re stubborn.”
Jo Ji-hwan’s eyebrows furrowed.
“Can I ask you a question?”
“say it.”
“Professor Cho, why did you choose thoracic surgery? Shouldn’t you have chosen another department for your ambition?”
“Bravo. That’s a sharp question.”
Jo Ji-hwan smiled and clapped.
“I’m liking it more and more. If Taeho was a cub, I wouldn’t have been able to ask questions like this.”
“······.”
“That’s why I chose thoracic surgery.”
After a pause, Jo Ji-hwan continued speaking.
“This is because thoracic surgery deals with people’s lives most closely. If I reach the top position in thoracic surgery, I can control people’s lives at will.”
Choi Ki-seok trembled when he read the madness in Jo Ji-hwan’s eyes.
A person who appears to be normal but has deviated infinitely from normal.
It was my first time meeting someone I had only heard about.
“What a doctor needs is not medical skills. You just need to know how to treat in moderation; the rest depends on politics.”
“I don’t think so.”
“Is that really so? You can tell just by looking at Professor Song, who you consider your teacher.”
Jo Ji-hwan continued his explanation.
CAPAR surgery.
This is a heart surgery developed by Song Myeong-jin and caused a stir in the overseas medical community. There were no aftereffects compared to existing surgeries, and the cost of surgery was much cheaper.
“The CAPAR surgery created by Professor Song cannot actually be performed in our country. Do you know why?”
“······.”
“This is because the companies that are making money from existing artificial valves, the doctors who requested them, and finally, the doctors who are jealous of Professor Song’s skills are blocking the surgery.”
Choi Ki-seok could not refute Jo Ji-hwan’s words.
“You are completely mistaken. There are not as many doctors as you think who truly care about their patients. If you side with the few like you do now, you will one day regret it. Even your excellent skills will rot and crumble.”
After a pause, Jo Ji-hwan continued speaking.
“Will you still follow Professor Song?”
“I believe that doctors exist for patients. And I believe that the most important thing for a doctor is the ability to treat patients and the ability to empathize with patients.”
“······.”
“That’s why I want to join Professor Song.”
Jo Ji-hwan frowned at Choi Ki-seok’s punctuation.
But that only lasts for a moment.
He quickly regained his calm expression.
“They say it’s about reading sutras to small ears. That’s exactly what it looks like now.”
Jo Ji-hwan smiled in vain and continued speaking.
“But you will find out this week. Who you should really follow.”
Jo Ji-hwan gestured as if to go away.
Ki-Seok Choi breathed a sigh of relief after leaving the conference room.
I barely escaped from the tiger’s den.
* * *
Uijin University Hospital main auditorium.
Numerous employees were gathered together.
Today is the day of the monthly meeting.
Since all employees except the minimum number of employees attended, it was possible to see employees from each field in one place.
“From now on, we will start the monthly meeting at Uijin University Hospital.”
The host’s voice echoed throughout the auditorium.
Starting with the national ceremony, the formal proceedings began.
The first order was the Friendly Employee Award.
Friendly employees are selected from those who receive many complimentary cards from patients.
“Nurse Kim Yun-jeong of the orthopedic ward, dermatology outpatient nurse Choi Mira, urology outpatient, Dr. Kim Soo-cheol… Lastly, thoracic surgery intern Choi Ki-seok. Please come up to the podium.”
Ki-Seok Choi went up to the lecture hall when the host called his name.
Thanks to consistently building rapport with patients, I received many complimentary cards.
Thanks to this, I was selected as a friendly employee.
While hospital director Yang-ki Cho presented the certificate, it was Choi Ki-seok’s turn to receive the award.
“It’s been a long time since an intern was selected as a friendly employee.”
Yang-ki Jo muttered while looking at Ki-seok Choi.
Knowing that he was Cho Tae-ho’s father, Choi Ki-seok swallowed dry saliva.
“congratulation.”
“thank you.”
Fortunately, the award ceremony ended without incident.
After the friendly employee award ceremony, a full-fledged introduction of new employees followed.
Recently, Uijin University Hospital has been aggressively attracting high-quality talent from other hospitals. So every month, more than ten non-new doctors are becoming members of the family.
“Finally, I would like to inform you of the news of thoracic surgery. The position of director of thoracic surgery was vacant as Director Jeon Tae-hyung moved to another hospital.”
“······.”
“Through an internal meeting at the hospital, there was unanimous agreement to elect Professor Cho Ji-hwan as the new director of the Department of Thoracic Surgery. Please welcome Professor Cho Ji-hwan, director of the Thoracic Surgery Department, with a round of applause.”
The host’s words were met with unanimous applause.
Jo Ji-hwan came up to the podium at a leisurely pace.
Originally, Song Myeong-jin should have ascended to the position of manager, but Jo Ji-hwan’s background and influence were powerful enough to go against the principles.
“As expected, Professor Cho became the manager.”
“Of course. My brother is the director of the hospital and he is very close with the heads of each department. They are already saying that he is a powerful person at the hospital.”
“Tsk, tsk. I only feel sorry for Professor Song.”
Several doctors looked at Jo Ji-hwan and said one thing at a time.
“I feel burdened because I feel like I have been given an undeserved position. However, I will do my best to live up to the hospital’s vision of providing the best patient-centered care for the world.”
Jo Ji-hwan finished his speech briefly.
match. match. match. match.
The sound of applause spread through the auditorium.
Jo Ji-hwan leisurely waved one hand and returned to his seat. And then he looked at Song Myeong-jin sitting next to him and smiled.
“Please take care of me in the future. Song. Gyo. Soo.”
* * *
11 a.m.
Choi Ki-seok was resting in the lounge after handling a flurry of orders.
I had mixed feelings.
It feels good to be selected as a kind employee at the monthly meeting. However, I was concerned about the fact that Jo Ji-hwan became the director of thoracic surgery.
It feels like leaving the fish shop to a cat.
Since the positions of Song Myeong-jin and Jo Ji-hwan were reversed, it was fully expected that Jo Ji-hwan’s right to speak would become stronger.
“This week you will realize who you should really follow.”
Ki-Seok Choi remembered it later.
The meaning of what Jo Ji-hwan said a few days ago. And that the warning still holds true.
If Song Myung-jin fails the lung transplant surgery…
Choi Ki-seok shook his head and shook off the ominous thoughts. Then, I poured the can of coffee on the table in one go and moved to the pediatric thoracic surgery ward.
Drurr.
When I entered the hospital room, I saw Hwang Jeong-woo and his guardian packing up their luggage.
Mitral valve reconstruction was completed successfully and no special side effects were revealed.
Today is the day Hwang Jeong-woo is discharged safely.
“teacher!”
Hwang Jeong-woo smiled brightly and ran towards Choi Ki-seok.
Choi Ki-seok gently stroked Hwang Jeong-woo’s hair.
Physical strength: 7/10
Main symptom: Chest
pain Painful area: Chest
Diagnosis: None
Current status: Non-emergency
Progress: Good
Past history: Mitral valve reconstruction
[Caution! This patient is taking warfarin.]
Hwang Jeong-woo’s condition was still good.
I felt like I could send it off with peace of mind.
“How are you feeling?”
“I feel like I’m flying.”
Hwang Jeong-woo swung the immortal sword toy he had placed on the bed.
“But you shouldn’t overdo it. What did the teacher say?”
“I said you shouldn’t get hurt. The bleeding won’t stop while you’re taking the medicine.”
“Always remember what the teacher says.”
“yes!”
Hwang Jeong-woo nodded vigorously.
Choi Ki-seok cast the light of rebirth on Hwang Jeong-woo and said goodbye to his guardian.
However, just as he was about to leave the hospital room, Hwang Jeong-woo called out to Choi Ki-seok in a loud voice.
“Sir, wait a minute!”
Hwang Jeong-woo looked hesitant and then took out something from his desk drawer.
“I’ll give you my treasure.”
“treasure?”
“Yes. It’s a bit of a waste, but I can give it to you, teacher.”
Hwang Jeong-woo closed his eyes tightly and held out the object in his hand.
The true identity of the treasure is the 6-star Carlisle card.
In the card, Carlisle was swinging the sword of immortality with style.
“Thank you. You need to be healthy.”
After stroking Hwang Jeong-woo’s head, Choi Ki-seok put the card in the doctor’s gown and left the hospital room.
But it is that moment.
[You have acquired a unique item.]
[Wear the item. Unique items cannot be transferred and are automatically used one-time.]
Unique item?
This was my first time getting an item, so I quickly checked the status window.
A card was visible under the Master’s Apprentice buff.
[Immortal Carlisle]
– Dying? This can never happen to me. Even if the world falls apart, this body will always be there.
– Immortal effect: By equipping the item, you can avoid the risk of death once. Applies to disasters or external incidents and does not apply to diseases.
Choi Ki-seok checked the items and swallowed a laugh.
