Chapter 61: National Treasure Talent (1)

‘He’s even better than I thought…’

Professor Woo Chang-yun, who had just patted Professor Kim Gyeong-rae’s shoulder and served as the academic director of the fall conference, felt a complex mix of emotions.

‘Should I really bring him to Asun Hospital?’

As this thought crossed his mind, his head naturally turned toward Lee Hyun-jong and Shin Hyun-tae.

While he had been interested in Su-hyuk before, this presentation had taken his interest beyond mere curiosity and into the realm of ulterior motives.

‘What should I offer?’

But his sense of guilt was fleeting.

Lee Hyun-jong and Shin Hyun-tae were good colleagues, but they weren’t from the same hospital.

To Professor Woo Chang-yun, the most important thing right now was Asun Hospital.

He had painfully realized over the years that the treatment of professors within a hospital improved as the hospital grew.

‘Indeed, 1 billion won.’

On the other hand, Professor Park Guk-jin of Chilseong Hospital had already made up his mind.

Reflecting on it, it was a bit amusing.

After all, no matter how excellent Su-hyuk was, he was still only in his first year.

But from another perspective, he was already this good in his first year.

It was easy to predict that he would become one of the best doctors in the country in the near future.

"Su-hyuk, let’s go out for now."

Shin Hyun-tae immediately noticed the predatory glances from all around.

If he left Su-hyuk here until lunchtime, he might be torn apart.

Of course, this was just Shin Hyun-tae’s concern; it wouldn’t actually happen.

"Right now?"

"Yes, right now."

"Ah… Okay."

In any case, Su-hyuk slowly left the lecture hall with Shin Hyun-tae.

While the faces of the professors who had made lunch plans with him were still in his mind.

What could he do?

Even if all the professors from other hospitals gathered, they wouldn’t stand a chance against Shin Hyun-tae, who was currently leading Su-hyuk away.

"Where are you going in such a hurry?"

As soon as they stepped outside, someone called out to them near the entrance.

It was Professor Woo Chang-yun.

Shin Hyun-tae looked genuinely exasperated.

"Hey, can the academic director just leave in the middle of a lecture in the Grand Ballroom?"

"Professor Kim Gyeong-rae is chairing, so what could go wrong?"

But finding more to say to Professor Kim Gyeong-rae, a senior colleague, was difficult for Professor Woo Chang-yun.

While Shin Hyun-tae was momentarily speechless, Professor Woo Chang-yun approached Su-hyuk.

"Mr. Lee Su-hyuk, you haven’t forgotten our lunch appointment, have you?"

"Me? Lunch? I’m eating with him!"

Shin Hyun-tae shouted in a fit of panic at the mention of lunch.

"But we agreed to eat together!"

To Shin Hyun-tae’s surprise, several others also reacted with similar panic.

First was Professor Park Guk-jin of Chilseong Hospital.

"What, what are you talking about? You too?"

When asked, Professor Park Guk-jin chuckled.

"What are you talking about? I made an appointment to discuss his future."

He showed Su-hyuk his kangaroo pouch, which contained a white envelope with the Chilseong Group’s logo clearly printed on it.

‘What’s in there?’

Naturally, Su-hyuk’s attention was drawn to it.

Even Baruda, who would have called him a materialist in the past, was no exception.

[Money… It must be. The Chilseong Group is a huge company, right?]

‘Just a big company? It’s a global company. Will they offer me 1 billion won too?’

Taehwa Group was also a large company.

But compared to Chilseong, it inevitably paled in comparison.

The only reason Taehwa Medical Center was still above Chilseong Hospital was due to its shorter history, not the company’s influence.

"Hey, why are you discussing the future with him! Our Su-hyuk!"

"Our Su-hyuk? Are you his dad?"

"His dad… No, I’m not."

"Then step aside."

"No, I can’t. I can’t!"

Shin Hyun-tae reacted as if someone were trying to take his child.

The other hospital residents were so shocked they couldn’t believe their eyes.

"That calm professor is causing such a commotion…"

"Didn’t you see earlier? I would be tempted too. He’s only in his first year… How do the senior residents feel?"

"Ah… Now that you mention it, I remember hearing about favoritism inside the hospital."

"But what can you do? Is it possible to avoid favoritism…?"

"True."

Most people understood Shin Hyun-tae’s reaction.

But the professors from other hospitals weren’t sympathetic.

"Mr. Shin, can you offer Mr. Lee Su-hyuk a professorship right now? Do you have a position?"

Especially the man with 1 billion won, Professor Park Guk-jin.

Shin Hyun-tae looked extremely flustered by this sudden attack on his professorship quota.

"What… What…?"

"Can you offer a professorship?"

"Of course. If there’s a fellow position, it wouldn’t be possible, right? He’s so excellent."

"That’s why Taehwa Medical Center is lagging these days."

Park Guk-jin wagged his finger and looked at Su-hyuk.

Su-hyuk, who was already curious about what Park Guk-jin would offer, found himself looking directly into his eyes.

"Mr. Lee Su-hyuk, our Chilseong Hospital can offer a professorship to anyone who wants it. No need for a fellowship, just complete your master’s and doctoral programs. Of course, full scholarship!"

This was as good as saying they would push aside all the current fellows at Chilseong Hospital.

It was a blatant disregard for fairness, but it was an incredibly tempting offer for Su-hyuk.

The idea of becoming a professor without a fellowship was unheard of in recent decades.

It felt like he had traveled back in time.

"Hey! Can you really stand by that statement?"

To Shin Hyun-tae, it was a nightmare.

Especially since he had seen Su-hyuk’s eyes light up.

So he attacked with the phrase that doctors hate the most: "Can you stand by that?"

Wishing Park Guk-jin would at least flinch.

But Park Guk-jin remained confident.

"It’s already approved by the board."

"The board… Park Guk-jin, did you plant a mole?"

The board wasn’t a naive group that just listened to professors and made decisions.

They needed objective data to move.

But if it was approved by the board?

That meant the board had seen the numerous, challenging cases Su-hyuk had diagnosed.

"Mole… That’s a harsh word. Just… a colleague."

"Colleague, my foot…"

Shin Hyun-tae glared at Park Guk-jin, feeling a deep sense of betrayal.

But it didn’t end there.

Another professor joined the competition for Su-hyuk.

"Our Asun Hospital will also secure a professorship. I’ll swear on my own position."

It was Professor Woo Chang-yun.

"You, you!"

"What’s with the ‘you’? If you’re upset, you can also put your position on the line."

He was the type who could brush off Shin Hyun-tae’s accusations with a laugh.

Shin Hyun-tae was speechless, feeling as if he couldn’t breathe.

He could only groan.

Woo Chang-yun looked at Shin Hyun-tae with a victorious gaze and continued.

"Can’t put your position on the line, yet you keep talking about our Su-hyuk…"

"I’ll put my position on the line. Get a professorship and a call from the director. All the other directors will kneel."

But he couldn’t finish his sentence.

Because a savior had appeared.

Lee Hyun-jong, the eternal eccentric of Taehwa Medical Center.

"Hey… Why are you putting the director’s position on the line?"

Woo Chang-yun and Park Guk-jin exclaimed in unison.

Was he crazy?

Putting the director’s position on the line?

But Lee Hyun-jong was serious.

"You started it, didn’t you? How dare you try to take our Su-hyuk. They’re making lunch plans with him. What do you say?"

He had always known about Su-hyuk’s excellence.

But it had become even more evident during the preparation for this presentation.

‘This kid… is a national treasure…’

To prevent Taehwa Medical Center from being overtaken by formidable latecomers like Chilseong Hospital or Asun Hospital.

To stand shoulder to shoulder with world-class hospitals.

One monster like Su-hyuk was more important than a hundred excellent doctors.

So, pulling Su-hyuk into his embrace, Lee Hyun-jong continued.

"Try to lay a finger on him, and you’ll be fighting me from that day on!"

He looked like a child who didn’t want to share his toy.

And his voice was loud, almost to the point of being excessive.

"What’s going on…"

"Is it a love quarrel?"

The commotion drew other professors and residents from nearby lecture halls, who had no idea what was happening.

While Shin Hyun-tae, who wanted to recruit Su-hyuk but wasn’t as shameless as Lee Hyun-jong, took a step back.

He even turned his gaze away.

‘Lee Hyun-jong, fight…’

He secretly cheered him on.

In any case, the battle now seemed to be between Lee Hyun-jong, Park Guk-jin, and Woo Chang-yun.

"Hey, Professor Lee Hyun-jong, that’s not right. You’re not even his father, are you?"

Park Guk-jin, who had already secured approval from the board, shook his head and spoke first.

"Exactly! What gives you the right to do this?"

Professor Woo Chang-yun, who found this argument quite convincing, joined in.

The attack continued for a while.

"As a professor, you should genuinely consider the resident’s future. In that case, Chilseong is better than Taehwa. We can provide all the support. You know, the chairman of the Chilseong Group said the future is in bio."

"Ah, but Asun isn’t behind. The hospital is under the ‘Future Group.’ We’re even planning to build a new outpatient building."

Both were speaking to Lee Hyun-jong, but in reality, they were addressing Su-hyuk.

[Both offers are indeed tempting.]

‘That’s true. Both hospitals are good.’

[It seems Taehwa Medical Center is lukewarm. Do they think they’ve already got the fish in the net?]

‘That’s a bit disappointing.’

Of course, Su-hyuk had a personal attachment to Taehwa.

But the world doesn’t run on loyalty alone.

Sometimes direct benefits are more important.

‘I wonder if the director has something else to say…’

Just as Su-hyuk, who was leaning towards Taehwa, was hoping for something, Lee Hyun-jong made his move.

Thud.

Despite not being a heavy person, his footsteps echoed loudly.

It seemed he had deliberately stomped.

It was a minor action but quite effective, as both Park Guk-jin and Woo Chang-yun fell silent and turned to look at him.

Lee Hyun-jong waited until he had the attention of everyone surrounding them before speaking.

His face was very, very serious.

And with that serious face, he let out a shocking statement.

"My son."

"Huh?"

"Lee Su-hyuk is my son."

"What… What are you saying…"

"I’m going to make my son a professor with my own hands. Don’t argue."