Chapter 24: This is Confusing (4)

"Seriously, how did you think of this?"

Professor Jo Taejin's amazement continued even after the rounds.

In fact, it had grown even more intense than before.

- "There's no need for the patient to undergo additional tests. Just monitor the progress. Let's do another MRI in a month."

After saying this to patient Park Sang-a, he seemed to be overwhelmed with emotion.

"Come on, come on. Don't eat anything random. Let's go out for breakfast, out."

He even took Hyuk and Kim In-su down to the underground parking lot.

Kim In-su, a third-year resident, had gone out once or twice during working hours.

But for Hyuk, a first-year resident, it was a first-time experience.

Actually, it was something other first-year residents could only dream of.

Beep.

Just as he was standing there with a puzzled look, a car sound came from somewhere.

Turning his head, he saw a German car with an emblem that exuded class.

'Wow... That's... My dream car.'

[You'll drool, close your mouth.]

'Quiet, tin can. Do you know how much that costs?'

[Even if I don't know, it's probably cheaper than me.]

'Ah...'

It was true.

Baruda was the essence of Taehwa Electronics.

A world-renowned conglomerate had poured its heart into developing it and continued to update it.

It was probably a priceless treasure.

[So, Hyuk, who owns me, is much richer than Professor Jo Taejin.]

Baruda spoke to Hyuk, who was standing there in a daze.

It sounded like he was showing off, and Hyuk didn't like it much.

'So what? I can't even buy a meal.'

[Look at the big picture. Can't you see the path to becoming a professor now?]

'That's true.'

[It's all thanks to me, so just be grateful.]

'Ha...'

[Stop talking and get in the car now. Based on the analysis of Professor Jo Taejin's expression, Hyuk is currently under significant suspicion. Probably thinking if you're a weirdo or not...]

'I get it, I get it.'

Hyuk shook his head and got into Taejin's car.

Since the front passenger seat was already taken by Kim In-su, Hyuk naturally sat in the seat right behind the driver.

Taejin, who had been looking at Hyuk with a puzzled expression, soon took the steering wheel.

He had always known that Hyuk sometimes acted strangely.

"Sorry, just move the golf clubs to the side."

He decided to continue acting like a good professor.

"Yes, Professor."

Hyuk quickly nodded and moved the golf bag to the side.

Strangely, the golf bag also had the emblem of the foreign car.

'When you buy a good car, they give you these as gifts... It's really true.'

[Stop being envious.]

'Can't I be envious? Look at me. I can't play golf no matter how much money I make because of my leg injury.'

[Ah.]

'Sorry?'

[Well... When you gain something, you also lose something.]

'This guy is really... '

Just as Hyuk was making a face of exasperation, Taejin's car smoothly pulled out of the underground parking lot.

It was really quiet, probably because it had a genuine 6-cylinder gasoline engine, not a common 4-cylinder turbo.

It was a prime example of the quietness that high-end cars boasted.

'So envious...'

Naturally, envy quickly filled Hyuk's heart,

[Enough already.]

Baruda's sarcasm continued.

"Ah, Hyuk."

By then, the car had already pulled out onto the main road.

Since it was past the morning rush hour, the road was unusually empty.

Taejin, who had been driving leisurely, suddenly spoke to Hyuk through the rearview mirror.

Hyuk, who couldn't afford to contradict a professor, immediately responded.

"Yes, Professor."

"Do you know... Uha-yoon, a fourth-year medical student?"

"Yes, I know, Professor."

"Do you remember when Professor Uchang-yoon from Asan Hospital asked you to meet him?"

It was impossible to forget.

Uha-yoon was famous, and Uchang-yoon was also a very famous person.

'Doctor Friends... A very popular medical YouTube channel, and a close friend of Mr. Lee Nak-jun...'

That's why he occasionally appeared on YouTube.

Although his videos were often boring and had low views,

he was still a famous person.

"Yes, Professor. I remember. I did get his number, but I haven't contacted him yet."

"Ah, that's why he contacted me. You're not on duty tomorrow, right? Since there are no urgent patients now, why don't you meet him tomorrow? Don't feel pressured. Think of it as meeting a junior."

"Uh..."

The thought of meeting someone arranged by a professor flashed through his mind.

[Quickly say 'yes.' My analysis shows that Professor Jo Taejin is waiting.]

'Ah, got it.'

But after hearing Baruda, it really seemed like he should say 'yes.'

"Yes, Professor."

"Well... It would be nice if it goes well. I've known Ha-yoon since she was little, and she's really kind."

She was so gentle that she never caused any trouble from the time she was a baby.

Even when people joked that she was more like a sister-in-law than a brother, the proud Uchang-yoon would just laugh.

Squeak.

The car, which had been driving for a while, stopped in front of a 24-hour seolleongtang (ox bone soup) restaurant.

'What, really?'

Hyuk's face, which had been expecting to see beef being grilled, was filled with disappointment.

"Wow, I really like seolleongtang. Thank you, Professor."

But after hearing Kim In-su's well-practiced flattery over the past three years, Hyuk snapped out of it.

'I still have a long way to go...'

After a brief self-reproach, he joined Kim In-su in flattering Professor Jo Taejin.

Most of what he said was about how much he had learned from the professor in just a week and how grateful he was.

Kim In-su also mentioned that internal medicine, especially hematology-oncology, was the real deal.

Hyuk was once again impressed.

'I really need to learn this.'

[It may seem unnecessary, but considering that a senior is clearly more skilled than Hyuk, it might be necessary.]

Anyway, after a meal filled with half-compliments and half-flattery, Hyuk left the hospital as soon as it was morning the next day.

Although he had occasionally gone out in March,

this was the first time he had gone out early and officially since becoming a first-year resident.

[You have an appointment. Why are you going out so early? Aren't you going to study?]

'Come on... Studying isn't the only path to success.'

While saying this, Hyuk checked his reflection in the window.

His face was decent, but his unkempt hair made him look like a beggar.

To make matters worse, he was also carrying a cane.

'Well... I don't expect much, but...'

Hyuk wasn't without thoughts.

Uchang-yoon was known for being eccentric, so he might not mind Hyuk's flaws.

But to others, Hyuk was far from being a top-notch groom.

Actually, he might not even be considered a groom at all.

An orphan with a leg injury.

[Then why are you getting a haircut?]

Baruda sarcastically commented on Hyuk, who had entered a salon where a haircut cost over 20,000 won.

'What, can't I make an effort?'

[Is this because of the text message you received yesterday?]

Hyuk looked at his phone again at Baruda's words.

<Senior Lee Su-hyuk. I've heard a lot about you from my dad and Director Shin Hyun-tae. I'm really looking forward to what you have to say. I'll meet you at the cafe in front of the hospital at 3 PM tomorrow. Thank you.>

The text message, which he had read so many times that he had memorized it, was displayed.

[This is just politeness, not a sign of affection.]

'I know, I know.'

[Then why are you buying clothes?]

'Can't I make an effort? You'll understand when you see Ha-yoon.'

He remembered when Uha-yoon had entered the university.

Everyone was so excited.

But she wasn't the type to fall for someone just because of their looks.

She was such an excellent person that no one could easily approach her.

Of course, this was a statement that wouldn't impress Baruda.

[When did you start calling her by her first name?]

'I don't know, I just did.'

Hyuk, using his March salary, bought clothes and shoes and headed to the cafe.

The cafe, which he usually visited, looked different today.

Maybe it seemed brighter.

[Stop being dramatic and talk about internal medicine.]

'Can you stop being so annoying?'

[Ah, there she is. Hmm.]

'Why does she look so beautiful even to you?'

[No, her coffee is half empty. Judging from the water stains on the floor, she's been here for at least 30 minutes.]

'Don't try to be Sherlock.'

[How did you know my reference?]

'I know everything. You keep digging into my memories when I sleep, causing me to have weird dreams.'

Hyuk was about to continue the conversation but shook his head and approached Ha-yoon.

Even if they were meeting as seniors and juniors, it was still their first meeting.

He didn't want to be called crazy by others.

"Ahem, hmm."

"Ah, Senior!"

"When did you arrive? Did you wait long?"

Hyuk, who had arrived early himself, made a joke.

Ha-yoon, looking at her coffee cup, waved her hand.

"No, I came here to study anyway."

As expected, she was a good person.

Hyuk couldn't help but smile warmly and sat across from her.

[Your expression looks stupid. I request a correction.]

Of course, Baruda's nagging didn't stop.

But Hyuk, who could also feel that something was off, decided to listen.

"So, you have questions about internal medicine?"

Unable to bear the awkwardness before the coffee arrived, Hyuk opened his mouth.

Ha-yoon, who seemed to be wondering if he would go straight to the point, quickly responded.

"Yes. I find internal medicine the most interesting when studying. But my dad says other departments are easier and better."

Everyone always said internal medicine was the best.

But it seemed he didn't want his daughter to do it.

Hyuk, thinking about whether he had made the right choice to go into internal medicine, continued.

"If you find it interesting, I don't think you'll regret it. The process of applying the knowledge in your head to patients is really interesting."

"Really? I thought so too."

Fortunately, Ha-yoon was good at keeping up the conversation.

They had a common interest in internal medicine.

Thanks to this, they talked non-stop for a full two hours.

[Hyuk.]

Just as he was thinking about moving to another place, Baruda spoke.

'What?'

[You can hold her hand now.]

'What the hell are you talking about, you jerk? How long have we known each other?'

[Don't you trust me? Baruda is the world's best diagnostic AI. I've also accumulated recent emotional analysis data.]

'Ha...'

I want to dismiss it as nonsense.

But it somehow sounds tempting.

'Are you serious?'

[Of course.]

'Hmm...'

[Don't hesitate. Uha-yoon is waiting. When have you ever seen me make a mistake?]

'I haven't.'

[Then go for it.]