Chapter 25: Let's See the Patient (1)

"Damn it."

Suhyeok was now sitting in a corner of the basement of Tae-hwa Medical Center, looking as if he were a loyal patriot who had lost his country.

"Oh, that's a miss."

Baruda muttered in a disinterested tone, as if talking about someone else.

Naturally, this was a reaction that could only make Suhyeok explode with anger.

'Oh, a miss? You bastard! The mood was good! If you hadn't tried to hold her hand at that moment... Ah... '

"So, why didn't it work? It's strange. My analysis was perfect. Where did this error come from?"

Baruda maintained a cold and analytical tone. It didn't seem like he was doing it on purpose, but his nonchalant attitude was enough to make Suhyeok even angrier.

Suhyeok was on the verge of going crazy. His blanket might tear tonight.

'This... this bastard. Ah...'

How could he make this guy suffer?

The frustrating thing was that he couldn't see any way to do it.

After all, the kid was well-protected inside his head.

Even if he threw a tantrum, Suhyeok would likely suffer more.

'How... how can I face Professor now?'

"I looked into Suhyeok's memories and found a very appropriate saying for the current situation. Would you like to hear it?"

'No!'

Suhyeok cut Baruda off as soon as he finished speaking. He knew it would just upset him more.

Of course, Baruda didn't listen when Suhyeok told him not to.

"I'll just say it."

'Don't, you bastard! Don't!'

"The responsibility for a failed stock investment lies with the individual. How about that? Very appropriate, isn't it?"

Baruda even cited academic consensus from other fields to tease Suhyeok.

'Wow... how can I break this?'

"You can't. Look at the results of the neurosurgical consultation..."

'Enough, you bastard... Huh?'

Suhyeok was pulling his hair out in frustration when he noticed his phone vibrating in his pocket.

It wasn't his shift, so there was no reason for a call. The only person who could be texting him was one person.

'Oh, a reply?'

With a pounding heart, Suhyeok hurriedly took out his phone.

"Just now, I really had a mosquito on my hand and caught it. Really."

He had sent a text that sounded ridiculous even to himself.

But he didn't give up hope.

Suhyeok was a positive person.

'Please, Hahyun! Please!'

"Don't call me by my first name, I said. After such an awkward parting... "

'You shut up!'

His hands were trembling, making it difficult to take out his phone.

"I'm glad I didn't go into surgery. This is something, oh."

'Ha.'

Suhyeok was so tired of telling Baruda to shut up that he just sighed and took out his phone.

Sure enough, the sender was Woo Hahyun.

'Please, not a curse...'

With a prayerful heart, he opened the text and almost screamed.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know. I was so surprised... I left without even saying goodbye. I feel so bad. I'll treat you to a meal next time."

It was a bit embarrassing, but it was the most polite text he had ever received from a romantic interest.

When his classmates teased him about being a "lovebird," he always denied it.

There was a reason for his denial.

She even offered to treat him to a meal!

He wondered if this was a dream or reality.

'That, that green light? Is this a green light?'

Suhyeok's mind was already envisioning his great-grandchildren.

"You're quite polite."

'Shut up. Do your fancy analysis.'

"I need to see your face to do that... It's difficult right now."

Suhyeok shook his head, not wanting to hear more.

'No... You'll probably be wrong again. I'm the fool for believing you...'

"That's a difficult statement to accept."

'You were wrong, weren't you?'

"I've completed the analysis of where the error occurred. I won't be wrong again."

'Really?'

This time, even if he was wrong.

Actually, if his emotional analysis worked properly, it could be a huge help in the future, not just in dating but also in advancing his career as a professor and excelling in it.

There had to be some benefit to putting up with this crazy behavior.

If there were a god, it would be a fair deal.

So, Suhyeok listened to Baruda with a curious expression.

"I've been analyzing your memories and accumulating data, as you know."

'I know. It's driving me crazy.'

When he asked why Baruda was sifting through non-medical memories, he was told that it helped gather data related to the five senses: sight, hearing, taste, smell, and touch.

So, what could he do?

If it improved the accuracy of future diagnoses.

For Suhyeok, it was an inconvenience he had to endure.

So, he had told Baruda to only touch him when he was sleeping.

"For this romantic relationship, I used 'Pretty Noona Who Buys Me Food,' 'Scandal Makers,' 'Secret Garden,' and 'Goblin' as references."

'Wait, this is going to be a very hurtful conversation, isn't it? Don't say it.'

"I'll continue."

'No, I think you should stop.'

Suhyeok kept shaking his head, but Baruda ignored him.

"The male leads are Jung Hae-in, Song Joong-ki, Hyun Bin, and Gong Yoo."

'Stop... Please, stop...'

"According to the simulation, if Suhyeok had any of their charms, Hahyun wouldn't have left today."

'Please, shut up...'

"Let's learn from this incident..."

'Is this even an incident?'

"Could it not be a case?"

'Ah, that's true.'

Fortunately, Hahyun was kind.

Otherwise, Suhyeok might be sitting in a jail cell instead of the hospital basement.

A stranger had suddenly grabbed her hand.

"Anyway, I'll analyze based on Suhyeok's standards from now on."

'Hmm...'

"I think I need to conduct a more conservative analysis. I'll approach it very carefully."

'This...'

"Let's send a reply first."

'Oh, right.'

Suhyeok, who had been fuming, suddenly turned his attention to his phone.

Baruda thought he was an easy person to deal with but didn't say it out loud.

He didn't want to further agitate Suhyeok, who was already very angry.

Suhyeok started typing a text slowly.

"Thank you. I'll..."

"Are you crazy?"

'It was a slip of the finger. Really.'

"Shit..."

'Don't swear. No, don't respond. Don't move your lips.'

He knew Baruda would say he learned it from him.

Instead of arguing, Suhyeok deleted what he had written and started over.

"Um, no. It was a situation that could be misunderstood. I'll treat you to a meal. As a senior. I think I'll be free the first week of next month. Is that okay?"

"Inviting someone to a meal is just a polite gesture. You're taking it seriously."

'Stop it. I'm sending it. I'm sending it.'

"Do as you please. Just don't get hurt and neglect your studies."

'Would I do that?'

"Exactly 5 years, 2 months, and 11 days ago..."

'Ah, stop!'

Suhyeok waved his hand, remembering the embarrassing episode that sometimes came to mind when he was in bed.

He ended up sending the text, but it didn't matter since he was going to send it anyway.

"Yes, thank you. I'll see you on the first Saturday of next month, senior."

Fortunately, the reply was quite successful.

'Phew. I thought it was over... Phew...'

"Isn't it over? If you parted like that on your first meeting, you need to face reality."

'You, you are... really...'

"Anyway, you have some time. What will you do? Waste it or study?"

It was a strangely provocative statement.

But it was true that he had nothing to do on Saturday evenings without the appointment.

It was a sad fact, but his classmates were also in their first year.

He had no one to meet.

'Alone... eating something delicious and studying...'

"Very good."

'Ha...'

Suhyeok sighed and opened a food delivery app.

It was a reality that most places wouldn't deliver a single serving, but the restaurants near the hospital were different.

They were used to delivering to residents who often ordered single servings.

It was more efficient to deliver them all at once.

Moreover, stressed residents often overate.

"Kanjang noodles, sweet and sour pork, and dumplings."

"Are you bulking up?"

"Shut up... When will I get to eat something like this again? I'll be eating hospital food for a while."

"True, it is subpar. I admit it."

'What's going on?'

"I only say the truth, Baruda."

'Oh.'

Suhyeok shook his head and ordered the food.

He didn't question why the restaurant only delivered a single serving of noodles.

It was a place with experience in delivering to the hospital.

Slurp,

"Hmm... This is the taste of noodles. Hmm..."

As he slurped the noodles, Baruda made a very satisfied comment.

'What, can you taste it? Oh, you said you could, right?'

"Yes, and it's quite good. Compared to hospital food..."

"Right, right? Hospital food is trash."

"Indeed, I admit it. It's trash."

'Now that you know, help me become rich more actively.'

"Why is the conversation going this way?"

Suhyeok continued, smiling meaningfully.

Some noodles flew out of his mouth, but neither he nor Baruda cared.

'I need to make a lot of money to keep eating like this.'

"Ha..."

"Why?"

"Strangely, it's pitiful, but I admit it. The noodles are excellent."

'Bastard. I'll treat you to chicken next week.'

"Chicken?"

"You'll love it. It's better than this."

"Is that possible?"

"It is. Make a lot of money. I really..."

"I'll do my best, Suhyeok."