Chapter 6: Genius? (3)

"Hey."

The rounds by Chief Shin Hyuntae didn't take that long.

There was nothing much to say to patients already diagnosed except that they still needed antibiotic treatment.

And to those not yet diagnosed, he could only say to wait a bit longer.

Right after Chief Shin disappeared, second-year resident Hwang Seonwoo called out to Suhyuk.

Clever Yoo Jisang tried to sneak away, but it was no use.

"Where are you going? Aren't you a first-year too?"

"Yes, I'm sorry."

Jisang also bowed his head in front of Hwang Seonwoo.

It suddenly occurred to him that the notorious 'bad-tempered first-year internist' he had heard about vaguely since his internship days might be this Hwang Seonwoo.

When Suhyuk turned his head to look at Jisang's face, it seemed to be the case.

His face was pale with fear.

"Does a second-year look like shit to you? Are you clueless? Shit, if I said I don't know, you should have said you don't know. What? I know?"

Suhyuk closed his eyes tightly, thinking, 'Of course, this was bound to happen.'

Naturally, the AI Baruda didn't understand at all.

[Suhyuk, why is this person like this?]

'It's because of you, damn it...'

[I don't understand what you're saying. Baruda made the correct diagnosis.]

'It's not that kind of problem. If you don't know, don't speak for me in the future.'

[Hmm.]

'Not "Hmm"!'

[I understand.]

Then, Suhyuk had a lively conversation with Baruda, which seemed to Hwang Seonwoo like he was daydreaming.

'Look at this guy...'

Suhyuk had something stuck in his head that couldn't be removed or studied right after waking up, and so on. Hwang Seonwoo, who didn't know the details of the incident, was not afraid of Suhyuk like Chief Shin Hyuntae; instead, his anger boiled up.

"Let's see what this bastard senior can do. Huh?"

He raised his foot to kick Suhyuk's shin but couldn't do it.

It was because of the cane Suhyuk was leaning on.

Even though it was a kind of culture for a second-year to bully a first-year, hitting someone with a disability seemed to cross a line.

It wasn't so much a matter of conscience as a concern for his reputation.

He already knew he probably wouldn't become a professor, but who knew?

"Since you're a cripple, I'll let it slide. You, ah... You take the hit. Bastard."

So he kicked Jisang's shin, who was standing next to him.

It wasn't a boot but a crutch, so the pain wasn't severe.

But Jisang pretended to be in a lot of pain.

"Ouch..."

He knew that's what they wanted to see.

Sure enough, Hwang Seonwoo's expression eased a bit.

It was a bit strange for an internist to enjoy seeing someone else's pain, but who said internists were all the same?

When many people gather, there are bound to be some odd ones.

"Hey, does it hurt? If it hurts, teach your classmate better. Is this how it's done? Huh?"

"I'm sorry. I'll make sure to teach him properly."

Jisang bowed his head repeatedly and forced Suhyuk, who had been looking at something else, to bow his head.

"What the hell is wrong with this guy? Huh..."

Hwang Seonwoo was clearly annoyed by Suhyuk, who seemed to be lost in thought.

He was already upset at being treated like a fool by Chief Shin Hyuntae.

Now, to be outshone by a guy who had only been there for a day.

'Wales Syndrome? Huh, shit.'

Even now, it seemed absurd.

Why did this guy know a syndrome that even a second-year like him had never heard of?

To alleviate this inferiority complex, he needed to see Suhyuk suffer.

Instead of physical punishment, he decided to give a more psychological shock, but someone cleared their throat.

"Cough, cough."

Daring to clear their throat while a second-year was bullying a first-year.

He turned his head to see who the clueless bastard was, and it was the director.

"Ah, Director. Hello!"

Hwang Seonwoo, a typical bully who was weak to the strong and strong to the weak, immediately bent his waist at a right angle.

Clever Jisang also bowed.

Only Suhyuk, who had been looking at the air, was a beat late.

The director, who had been watching this scene for a while, had very mixed feelings.

No, it wasn't just mixed; he didn't even know how to express it.

- Senior, but this Suhyuk guy seems like a genius. He's a bit strange, but... I was really surprised, you know?

After hearing this from Chief Shin Hyuntae, he had rushed over to have a talk.

Being the director and an internist professor, he thought he should.

'This guy... Is this a bit strange? Is this the future? Hyuntae, this guy...'

Even while being scolded by his senior, Suhyuk's peculiar gaze and moving lips didn't stop.

After investigating, it turned out he wasn't originally like this, which made the director even more worried.

'So... I need to make sure he doesn't cause any trouble. No trouble, no trouble...'

It seemed Hwang Seonwoo was trying to educate the strange first-year, but kicking his shin was a bit shocking.

But the director, who had been a resident, knew that paddling was a daily occurrence back then, so he let it slide.

As an educator, he believed that sometimes you had to beat sense into an internist.

But not with Suhyuk.

He was a madman.

He might stab someone if pushed too far.

'No, no.'

Fortunately, the director knew the best way to protect a first-year.

There was no need to say anything special.

Just pretending to know was enough.

They would make their own assumptions and do the right thing.

"Ah, Suhyuk, do you have a moment? We need to talk. Nothing serious, right?"

"Uh... Yes... Yes, Director."

"Good. Thanks. Ah, Suhyuk, let's have a coffee. It's been a while."

Sure enough, Hwang Seonwoo's face turned pale as he stepped back.

Yoo Jisang, who seemed to be a classmate, gaped at Suhyuk and the director.

'Wasn't he a poor guy?'

Even though Taehwa University Medical School offered full scholarships, it didn't mean that financially struggling students could get in.

In fact, it attracted even more high scorers, and when Suhyuk entered, the top students from across the country filled the spots.

In other words, among all the students at Taehwa University Medical School, Suhyuk, an orphan, was the poorest.

But now the director was calling him out, even inviting him for coffee?

'Royal... He's royal! That's why he's fourth and chose internal medicine! Shit, that's why it felt strange!'

Yoo Jisang's impoverished imagination led to only this conclusion.

Of course, Hwang Seonwoo wasn't much different.

'Ah... It's over... He's completely royal...'

He looked at Suhyuk and the director with a lost expression.

"Uh... Yes, Director."

Suhyuk, unsure of what was happening, decided to follow the director's order.

Moreover, it seemed Hwang Seonwoo wouldn't be able to bully him anymore.

Good was good, so he decided not to think too much about it.

"Ah... So... How's it going? Your attending?"

The director only spoke after leading Suhyuk into a bustling cafe.

The director, known for his eccentric personality, usually avoided crowded places, but now he was suddenly appearing, and greetings poured in from all sides.

Suhyuk, unintentionally, was now seen with the director by many people.

"I've only been here for a day, so I'm not sure yet."

Suhyuk answered the director with a bewildered look.

He looked like a normal first-year resident.

But not to the director.

'Look at this. His eyes are strange, I tell you.'

It was fortunate that the cup was a takeaway cup.

Otherwise, it would have been a cause for concern.

But the director, in his position, couldn't reveal his true feelings.

"Right, right. Don't be too discouraged about the cane. There are many areas in internal medicine where you don't need to use your body much."

"Thank you for your concern, Director. I'm fine."

Suhyuk genuinely believed he was fine.

He had money from the alumni association, a promise to help him become a specialist, and even a job offer.

And he didn't need to use the cane all the time.

He could walk short distances without it.

Of course, he couldn't run fast.

But he could avoid military service.

Three years was not a short time.

Just because one leg was less active, it didn't mean he should think too negatively.

"Oh, my, I've taken up too much of your time."

The director, who had just entered the cafe, made a joke.

Suhyuk, unaware that the director was afraid of him, thought the director was just busy.

"Ah, yes. I'll head up then."

"Right, right. If anyone gives you trouble, um..."

The director, instead of saying 'don't bother him,' thought for a moment and came up with the most effective solution for Suhyuk and those around him.

"Don't say anything to that person. Use my name. If it gets serious, you can tell me. No, wait. Yes. Tell Chief Shin Hyuntae. That'll do."

"Ah, yes. Thank you, Professor."

Suhyuk smiled warmly, showing his gratitude to the director who was genuinely concerned.

'He's smiling. Shit, he's smiling.'

But the director, unable to take it at face value, hurriedly left.

Left alone with his iced Americano, Suhyuk was once again subjected to Baruda's outburst.

[Suhyuk, don't waste time. Consume a large amount of caffeine to improve your deficient computational ability and go check on patient Kim Jincheol.]

'Shut up.'

[If I shut up, Suhyuk will never know the diagnosis of patient Kim Jincheol.]

'Ha.'

I want to say it's not true, but...

It's true, and it makes me even angrier.

[Will I shut up? Or will you go now?]

'Fine, I'll go, I'll go... Let me finish this first.'

[Drip, drip.]

'Don't make that sound. It's making me anxious, shit.'