Chapter 98: Show Me What You've Got (1)

"Such a case of facial paralysis... I see. Hmm."

After examining the patient, Epps muttered to himself while looking at the patient's X-ray.

'There have been reports of it still being found in people who handle marijuana...'

He had encountered a few cases in medical reports.

But this was the first time he had seen it with his own eyes.

'So I couldn't connect the dots right away.'

Epps was still a young professor in his mid-40s.

He was often described as young since he would start taking on roles in academic societies around the age of 50.

However, this did not mean he lacked skill.

He was more than capable of being a professor at a tertiary medical institution.

'But this guy figured it out right away... Is that it?'

He had heard from Hank about Suhyuk's excellence.

But this was beyond just being excellent.

A resident surpassing a professor.

He had never heard of such a thing.

"Dr. Lee, it seems you've seen cases of facial paralysis caused by marijuana before?"

So, it was natural for Suhyuk to have encountered such cases frequently, he thought.

'Thailand and places like that have a lot of drugs, don't they?'

Even in the so-called Golden Triangle, bordering Myanmar, cocaine cultivation was openly carried out in almost a lawless area.

Korea was a completely different region from there.

But as an American, Epps couldn't know such details.

To him, all of Asia was just Asia.

"Yes?"

Suhyuk asked, looking as if he was hearing gibberish.

"Have you... seen many marijuana patients? Facial paralysis caused by marijuana is rare... I was surprised you connected it so quickly."

"Oh... No, actually, I've never seen a patient related to marijuana."

"Never? Don't they grow it there?"

"No. Regarding drugs..."

Suhyuk almost said that Korea was a drug-free country but thought it wasn't quite true and closed his mouth.

Until a few years ago, he firmly believed Korea was a drug-free country.

But after a series of recent incidents, that belief had been shaken.

However, compared to the U.S., Korea was still much cleaner in terms of drugs.

So, he continued with a confident face.

"We manage it quite strictly. Distribution might happen, but production... I doubt it exists."

"Then you've never seen facial paralysis caused by marijuana?"

"No."

"But how did you... diagnose it?"

"What? Well... I've seen it in books and case reports."

If he thought he had to experience everything to treat it, why would he read books?

He would just start working in a hospital from his first year.

Of course, with the help of Baruda, such a difficult diagnosis was possible.

But Suhyuk didn't mention that.

[Well done. Your serious face looks good.]

Baruda had long decided that it was better for Suhyuk to be treated as a genius rather than making strange remarks.

[But you don't really believe you diagnosed it on your own, right?]

'No, no. Is that it?'

[You're just nervous. If you try to do it on your own and make a mistake, I'll be in trouble too.]

'Sigh.'

Of course, he didn't forget to nag.

"So... you diagnosed it without ever seeing it... without any experience."

Epps seemed quite shocked.

The small Asian doctor in front of him had skills that surpassed not only his younger self but even his current self.

'Hank... This isn't just smart.'

He had seen geniuses before.

Epps had been a top student in college and became a professor because of it.

He had friends who were even more outstanding, truly fitting the description of geniuses.

But Suhyuk was different from them.

'This... This is a monster.'

He had thought this since diagnosing the facial paralysis.

By the time the outpatient clinic was almost over, it had turned into a certainty.

Not only did the resident not miss any diseases, but every treatment plan was perfect.

'Suhyuk... When he becomes a specialist, he'll be intense...'

Epps watched Suhyuk's back as he left for his afternoon schedule.

[You did a lot today.]

Baruda was just satisfied.

The effort of pushing Suhyuk to the limit had paid off, even if it seemed a bit harsh.

'Did you see his expression?'

[Yes.]

'What do you think if you analyze it?'

[It's a continuous series of surprise and shock.]

'Well, I was surprised too when I saw it.'

Baruda laughed heartily, his voice filled with madness.

[This is the power of Made in Korea, Yankees.]

'Where did you hear the word "Yankees"?'

[The people who made me used to say it. "Yankee overthrow, Taehwa forever." ]

'Ah...'

Suhyuk remembered the researchers that Lee Hyun-jong had brought.

They all bowed with their heads down, looking like they had committed a capital offense. One of them, like Ahn Dae-hoon, had a bald spot on his head and couldn't say much.

'Suhyuk, these people are currently running a fundraising campaign. They'll prepare 100 million won.'

'What? Director, 100 million won? There are only four of us...'

'I know the chief researcher's salary, and you can't even raise 100 million won? You won't do research with us?'

'Wow...'

It was a confusing moment, whether they came to apologize or to plunder.

Anyway, the impression he got was, "They're so well-behaved."

'Those Taehwa Electronics people, when they work, keep saying "Yankees, Yankees"?'

[They swear a lot. Do you want to listen?]

'No, no. That's enough.'

[See?]

'That's enough.'

The two were having a pointless argument, and Steve, walking beside him, looked at them with a serious expression.

'Is he diagnosing something again?'

Otherwise, he wouldn't be muttering to himself while walking.

'He's a genius... and he works hard.'

He thought he should definitely learn from this.

At the same time, he remembered Hank's advice.

'Somehow... I need to learn this guy's... no, this person's secrets.'

Honestly, before entering the outpatient clinic today, he only thought about learning because of Hank's request.

But after seeing how he almost tore the respiratory outpatient clinic apart, his attitude changed a lot.

Even without Hank's request, he wanted to learn from Suhyuk.

How did he become such a skilled doctor?

"Hey..."

So, Steve called out to Suhyuk with great difficulty.

He felt guilty for interrupting the deep thoughts of a genius.

In contrast, Suhyuk didn't seem to mind.

After all, they were just chatting.

"Ah, Steve."

"If it's okay... would you like to have lunch together?"

"Sure."

Surprised by the unexpected offer, Suhyuk quickly recalled his memories.

Thanks to Baruda's diligent data collection, it didn't take long.

'I heard that the seniors who came here almost always ate alone.'

[Yes. The resident proposing to have lunch is 0. Professors did it a few times.]

'Something... '

[There must be a reason.]

He thought this far but didn't feel like outright rejecting it.

'Leaving a connection in the U.S. wouldn't be bad.'

[Well... I'm not sure if it will be useful...]

'I heard that not just anyone becomes a resident in charge of interns.'

Of course, hospitals sending interns would naturally send their best residents.

Then, how would the hospitals receiving the interns handle it?

They would certainly have their best residents respond.

Even if they didn't teach, they would at least inspire awe.

Of course, Steve wasn't fulfilling that role at all.

"Sure. Do you know any good places?"

"Hmm."

Steve pretended to look at his wristwatch.

Normally, he would go to the research institute with Hank.

Unlike Korean university hospitals, U.S. university hospitals didn't just teach residents clinical skills.

But today was an exception.

"Shall we go to the city? I'll drive."

"City? Can we go out?"

"Yes. As long as you're back by 3 PM."

"Oh..."

It was 1 PM, so he had a whole 2 hours free.

'Such freedom is a bit enviable.'

[That's right. What kind of resident has this much free time? We, on the other hand, are... How harsh.]

Baruda, with his excess of free time, got angry.

He sounded like a grumpy old man.

An AI being a grumpy old man.

Suhyuk shook his head, looking bewildered.

'They're from a different country, after all.'

[That's why their skills are a mess.]

'No, objectively speaking... It's not that bad.'

[That's... Hmm. You're right?]

But soon, Baruda accepted the objective facts.

[How can this be?]

Suhyuk was right; Steve's skills were on par with, if not better than, a typical third-year resident.

Considering that his working hours were about half, it was a truly remarkable result.

But Suhyuk thought he knew the reason.

'They learn whenever they get a chance. The professors... really put their all into teaching.'

[Yes, that's what happened today too.]

'University hospitals really feel like educational institutions.'

[We're a slave training camp.]

'Let's not say that.'

[It's the truth, though.]

'That's why I'm saying it.'

After all, the most painful assault in the world is a fact assault.

Especially when he saw the many residents here with their leisurely lives, the life of Taehwa Medical Center's residents felt like slavery.

Seeing the term "slave training camp" made him feel even more heartache.

[What's wrong with calling a slave a slave?]

Of course, the AI Baruda didn't empathize at all.

"Come this way."

Anyway, by then, Suhyuk had reached Steve's car.

Perhaps because the land was vast, it was parked on flat ground, not in an underground parking lot.

Even as a resident, he had a designated parking spot.

"The name is written here?"

"Yes. There's a shuttle, but... if you can't take it, a spot is always available."

"Oh."

At Taehwa, even assistant professors sometimes didn't get a spot.

Unaware that Steve had an enormous fantasy about Taehwa, Suhyuk just felt envious.

"Here we are."

After a 10-minute drive in a sleek mid-size sedan, they arrived at a small hamburger shop.

The shabby exterior lowered expectations, but Steve was confident.

"This is the best place in the region, I assure you."

It felt like he was saying it because it was his hometown.

But if the guy offering to pay says it's good, there's no need to doubt.

So, he nodded and headed inside.

"I'm looking forward to it."

"You won't be disappointed. Let's sit over there. The view from the window is beautiful. You can see the trees."

"Oh, really."

Steve waited until Suhyuk was fully seated, then spoke with a slightly serious face.

"Dr. Lee, if it's not too much trouble... Could you tell me how you study? If there's something lacking in our system, I'd like to learn."

"Ah..."

Suhyuk thought this wasn't something to say to an intern.

'Are you asking a person who came to learn to teach you?'

[Just reject it outright. How dare they ignore Taehwa. Iowa State University Hospital, what's so great... No, that's not it.]

'Why?'

[There's probably an AI developed jointly by Mayo, MD Anderson, and Harvard, called 'Watson', here.]

'So?'

[Just say you study with AI and ask to see Watson. They probably won't show it to you.]