Chapter 58

Chapter 58 (1)

Vroom.

The bus soon stopped at the lobby of the Cheongju La Ramada Hotel.

“Ah—”

Feeling relieved that the patient had been taken care of, Jo Taejin, who had been sound asleep, stretched.

His hair, flattened by the seat, was quite impressive.

His face looked as refreshed as his squashed hair.

It was only natural.

He had worked until 5 PM at the hospital to get to Cheongju before the conference started.

[You should gently suggest that he consider a sleep study for his snoring.]

In contrast, Suhyuk looked really tired.

This was because Jo Taejin had been snoring so loudly that it almost made the bus move.

At first, he thought about trying to cover his ears and sleep, but since Jo Taejin was right next to him, it wasn't easy.

'I guess I have to. I didn't notice it from the front, but from the side, his jaw is a bit recessed.'

[If he lies down to sleep, he will likely show severe sleep apnea.]

'But how do I say this?'

He couldn't just go up to him and say, "Professor, you really snore a lot, don't you?"

Just as he was hesitating, Jo Taejin, who was now fully awake, muttered as he looked at the hotel.

"Wow, it's been a while since I've been to Cheongju."

Then he looked at Suhyuk.

It seemed he wanted to start a conversation.

For Suhyuk, it was a gesture he couldn't ignore.

So he decided to respond.

"Ah... Have you been here before, Professor?"

"Yeah. The spring conference is always in Seoul, but the fall conference rotates. This time, it's because the request came from Chungbuk University, so our hospital will probably help with the conference proceedings."

"Ah, I see."

The conference proceedings were essentially just odd jobs.

It meant he would be running around from room to room, making sure presenters were on time and managing the schedule, rather than listening to the conference.

The residents on the third bus didn't look too happy about this.

They could have hired part-time workers for a little more money.

The senior professors still thought, "Why spend money when we have residents?"

"Let's get off first."

"Yes."

"Where and when is your presentation later?"

"Mine is at 11:30 in the Grand Ballroom."

"Wow, the largest lecture hall at the busiest time. I'll see you then."

"Yes, Professor."

As soon as Jo Taejin got off the bus, he hurried off somewhere.

For someone of his standing, the conference was not just a place for learning but also a social event.

He was curious about his classmates who he hadn't seen in a while and needed to greet his senior professors.

'Hmm.'

In contrast, Suhyuk, being only in his first year, was relatively relaxed.

'11:30 presentation. Grand Ballroom.'

It was actually quite unusual.

If he was presenting in the main lecture hall at the main time,

even a professor, not just a resident, would be quite nervous.

After all, he would be presenting to hundreds of people.

Even if the audience were laypeople, it would be nerve-wracking, let alone a room full of experts.

Not knowing where or how the attacks would come, he should have been memorizing his presentation right now.

[So, I should go in around 11:00, right?]

'Yeah, that sounds right.'

However, Suhyuk and Baruda didn't seem particularly worried.

"Hey, Suhyuk, do well on your presentation."

Even Lee Hyunjong, who was the corresponding author of the presentation and thus the responsible party, seemed indifferent.

He had been so demanding until the day before the conference, but now it seemed like he thought it was all done.

"Ah, yes, Professor."

"Since you're here for the conference, don't just prepare for your presentation. Go listen to other lectures too. It will all be beneficial."

After Lee Hyunjong left, Suhyuk was about to start listening to some lectures when someone else approached him.

It was Hwang Seonwoo, a second-year resident.

Soon, the third-year residents would start studying for their specialist exams, making Hwang Seonwoo the highest-ranking resident.

However, he was still slacking off and was starting to be outperformed by the first-year residents.

Compared to Suhyuk, he was in a completely different league.

"Ah, Professor."

Of course, this didn't change his seniority, so Suhyuk bowed deeply.

[He always curses but does well in front of people.]

'Would he curse in front of people too?'

[No, he's praising and encouraging you.]

'Praise and encouragement, my ass...'

Unaware of the conversation Suhyuk was having with Baruda, Hwang Seonwoo spoke.

"Are you really going to start listening to lectures already?"

His tone clearly indicated disapproval.

Suhyuk wondered why he was acting this way but kept a smile on his face.

[Impressive. You can separate your emotions from your expressions.]

Baruda was genuinely impressed.

Normally, Suhyuk wouldn't have let this slide.

But they were in the middle of a conversation.

"Ah... The director told me to."

"The director doesn't know what we do. First-year residents don't need to listen to conference lectures."

"Ah..."

"Don't make that face. I know you have a presentation. I'll send you later."

"Ah, yes."

Honestly, Hwang Seonwoo considered this a favor.

If he had acted on his temper, he would have already kicked Suhyuk.

'What can I do... I'm just a first-year resident...'

But touching Suhyuk now would be like picking a fight with Lee Hyunjong or Shin Hyuntae.

So, there was a suggestion to just leave Suhyuk out of it.

However, the second-year residents, who would soon take over from the third-year residents, decided they needed to show their authority.

"First, you need to get name tags for the third-year residents. Wait in line. After you get them and distribute them, you'll be in charge of guiding people to the Grand Ballroom. When it's time for your presentation, just go in and present. Got it?"

"Ah... Yes, Professor. I understand."

If Suhyuk had been a bit more assertive, he probably would have called Lee Hyunjong right there.

But instead, he headed to the conference registration desk, walking briskly with his cane.

He wasn't particularly bothered or annoyed.

[Let's go. If you stand in front of the Grand Ballroom, you won't be able to do anything even if you want to.]

Thanks to Baruda's calculations, he was prepared.

'Why make a fuss? We might have to work together in the future.'

[Probably not with Hwang Seonwoo, but it's not good to be seen as someone who clashes with superiors.]

'That's true.'

Suhyuk nodded, thinking of Kim Jin-yong.

Reflecting on it now, he didn't feel he had done anything wrong.

Yet, some professors and a few third-year residents blamed him.

[It's early, and even in Cheongju, there are a lot of people.]

Before he knew it, he was at the conference registration desk on the second floor of the hotel.

As Baruda said, there were a lot of people gathered there.

Most of them seemed to be young doctors, likely residents.

'I'll go and say I'm from Taehwa Medical Center and get the name tags for the residents.'

[But why do I have to do this alone when everyone else can do it?]

At least Suhyuk was in a better position than the other first-year residents.

They were already assigned to take photos in each lecture hall.

They also had to move microphones, ring the bell on time, and handle computer and sound errors.

Paying to come here to study and ending up doing odd jobs.

According to the seniors, it was a moment when they felt, "Is this why I became a doctor?"

'Bad habits. We need to get rid of all this.'

While muttering this, Suhyuk did his job.

He was much faster than the other residents, who were still free.

Thanks to his cane, people automatically made way for him.

"You're doing well. Go stand over there and guide people."

Hwang Seonwoo seemed pleased that Suhyuk was following his instructions and pointed to the Grand Ballroom.

Since it was a large lecture hall, there were many people standing at the entrance.

Most of them seemed to be professors, as they all seemed to stop by at some point.

"Yes."

"Go with Jisang. Since the entrance is large, start filling the seats from the inside. Take photos from both sides. Got it?"

"Yes, Professor."

Suhyuk turned to Jisang, a classmate he hadn't seen in a while.

'Has he lost weight?'

[First-year internal medicine residents aren't easy.]

While Suhyuk was examining Jisang, Jisang handed him one of the cameras he was holding.

"Here, take this."

Suhyuk felt a bit happy, but Jisang didn't seem to be.

He seemed a bit distant.

'Maybe it's because we haven't seen each other in a while.'

Suhyuk hung the camera around his neck and spoke.

"Hey, where are you now?"

"Infectious diseases."

"Ah... You're under Professor Shin Hyuntae?"

"Yep."

"Is he treating you well?"

"Am I you? If I don't get scolded to death, I'm lucky. Anyway, I'll take this side, you take that side."

"Ah... Okay, sure."

Surprised by Jisang's unexpected reaction, Suhyuk stopped.

'Why is he like that?'

When he expressed his confusion, Baruda replied matter-of-factly.

[I heard Jisang's family is quite well-off.]

'That's true, but what does that have to do with this?'

He was probably the son of a professor from another hospital.

While not royalty, it was a family far superior to Suhyuk's.

Jisang had also emphasized this, so Suhyuk remembered it clearly.

[I also heard he was aspiring to be a professor. He must have had high hopes before coming here.]

'Can't he still aspire to be one?'

[From his perspective, you're a very strong rival. He probably doesn't like it.]

'Ah... Well... It's because I have you.'

[You don't need to feel guilty. Luck is also a form of skill. And...]

Baruda stopped, realizing he was about to praise Suhyuk's intelligence.

Given that everyone around him was already showering him with praise, it might have been a bad idea.

And Baruda's predictions were never wrong.

"Ah, Suhyuk. It's been a while."

First, Woo Chang-yun from Asan Hospital approached Suhyuk.

"Ah, Professor Woo Chang-yun."

"I heard from Hae-yun that you're doing well with your lectures?"

"Ah... It was just a coincidence..."

"Your abstract for today's presentation looks impressive. Can I look forward to it?"

"I... I prepared hard."

"Great. Let's have lunch after your presentation."

"Yes... Yes?"

"Did you make a promise?"

As Woo Chang-yun left, another professor approached.

Park Guk-jin, the head of the internal medicine department at Chilseong Hospital.

He was the one who had poached a junior staff member that Lee Hyunjong had nurtured for 10 billion won.

"Ah, Dr. Suhyuk?"

He greeted Suhyuk with a smile, like a headhunter.

Suhyuk couldn't ignore him, being the head of a department at one of the top three hospitals in the country.

"Ah, Professor Park Guk-jin."

"Oh... You remember my name. That's an honor."

"Ah, no, not at all."

"I'm looking forward to your presentation today."

"I prepared hard."

"Great. I'll watch your presentation carefully. Let's have lunch after."

"Yes... Yes?"

"Did you make a promise?"