Chapter 24, Section 4: The Last Homework (4)

Having organized my words, I spoke calmly.

It was time to showcase the acting skills I had honed since I was one year old.

“Grandpa.”

“What is it, my grandchild?”

“Grandpa, can’t you quit smoking? Your smoking makes my eyes really sting, and I feel like I’m going to cough. I also don’t like seeing you cough and spit phlegm.”

“……”

In response to my words, Grandpa remained silent, scratching the back of his head with a troubled expression.

‘This is serious.’

My gaze lingered on the ashtray.

Since the housekeeper cleans the ashtray every day, the cigarette butts in it now must be from today.

By my estimate, there were about fifteen butts.

That was five cigarettes short of a pack.

If you add the cigarettes he plans to smoke before bedtime, it would easily amount to two packs.

After regressing, it was the first time in twelve years that I saw Grandpa, and he was a heavy smoker.

In any case, I had two major goals.

One was to encourage Grandpa to quit smoking for his health.

The other was to get him a detailed examination to diagnose bronchiectasis.

A plan to achieve both simultaneously was about to unfold.

“Grandpa, why are you silent?”

“Even if you say it, it’s hard to accept, no matter how much I trust you.”

“I promise. If Grandpa quits smoking, I’ll get into Shinwon University as the top student. I’ll become a great doctor.”

I declared confidently.

If adults use the tactic of ‘if you get good grades, I’ll buy you a game console,’

then my approach was the opposite.

I’ll show you my grades, so you should quit smoking.

“Kid, it’s good to have big dreams, but being the top student at Shinwon University is tough.”

“I’ve been the top student in my school since I started elementary school. I’m really smart.”

“……”

“I don’t want to become a doctor and treat Grandpa later.”

“Huh? What do you mean by that?”

Grandpa tilted his head, surprised by my unexpected statement.

It was a natural thought that a doctor should treat their family.

But I was going to turn that idea upside down.

“People who see doctors are sick. If Grandpa is healthy, I won’t have to treat him even if I become a doctor.”

Grandpa looked impressed by my mature and persuasive speech, which was unusual for an elementary school student.

Father, who was standing nearby, also smiled contentedly.

This was the best weapon a chest surgeon trapped in a child’s body could use.

Having taken the lead in the conversation, I didn’t let up.

I knew very well from my regression that there is a flow and rhythm in speech.

“Grandpa, if you can’t quit smoking, can’t you at least go to the hospital?”

“……”

“A large hospital’s respiratory department can help you quit smoking.”

In the 21st century, with the smoking cessation craze, health centers or specialized smoking cessation clinics provide smoking cessation treatment.

But at this time, there were almost no specialized smoking cessation clinics.

So I naturally guided him towards a hospital visit.

If it’s a respiratory department, they can diagnose Grandpa’s bronchiectasis.

I delivered the decisive blow and waited anxiously for Grandpa’s reaction. I was tense, wondering how effective my words would be.

“Sigh… If my grandchild says to quit, I have to quit. What can I do, being a bad grandfather?”

“Grandpa, I love you.”

I clung to Grandpa, using all the affection I could muster.

It was the only card I had to persuade him, and it worked.

After overcoming this hurdle, I felt much lighter.

“In return, you also made a promise with Grandpa, right? You have to study hard and become a doctor.”

“Yes! I promise.”

I smiled broadly and made a pinky promise with Grandpa.

Having already lived as a former chest surgeon, keeping the promise with Grandpa was as easy as eating cold porridge.

It was also my destiny.

After the conversation among the three men ended, the family gathered again.

We talked for nearly two more hours and then said our goodbyes with regret.

Mother and her parents-in-law looked much brighter, having resolved their long-standing grievances.

Mistakes can be rectified, and misunderstandings can be cleared.

Why didn’t I realize this simple truth in my previous life?

Why did I keep blaming myself for one mistake and leave the prejudices and misunderstandings others had about me unaddressed?

The saying ‘some things are only clear in hindsight’ now resonated with me.

Vroom.

The family’s beloved car, Le Mans, started and drove onto the road.

Looking back, I gazed at the gradually shrinking single-family home of my maternal grandparents.

I hoped for good news soon.

* * *

“Huh… Was it a waste to come?”

Yoo Chul-hwan muttered, holding a cigarette in his mouth at the entrance of Shinwon University Hospital.

Although he came to the hospital at the request of his adorable and sharp-witted grandchild, he had no desire to take the next step.

Honestly, he didn’t want to quit smoking.

His health checkup results were fine, and he couldn’t see any reason to get a consultation.

“Don’t say that. You made a promise with Belief. If you’re not going to keep it, you shouldn’t have made it in the first place.”

His wife scolded him with a sharp tongue.

Yoo Chul-hwan nodded without a word.

It was a promise made with his grandchild, whom he hadn’t seen in twelve years.

How could a grandfather break a promise?

He could still vividly remember how excited his grandchild was when they made the promise.

The thought of disappointing his grandchild by breaking the promise already made his heart ache.

“Cough, cough.”

Yoo Chul-hwan coughed and placed his hand on his chest.

Although he wasn’t sick, he had been coughing more frequently lately.

“This will be my last cigarette. Probably.”

“That’s good. You made a wise decision.”

He and his wife passed through the hospital entrance, registered, and sat in the waiting room until it was his turn to enter the consultation room.

The respiratory doctor looked to be in his 40s and had a sharp appearance.

“Where are you feeling uncomfortable?”

“I have a lot of coughing and phlegm. But I didn’t come for that; I came to quit smoking.”

“I see. When did you start smoking?”

“Since I was 20.”

“How many cigarettes do you smoke a day?”

“Usually about two packs.”

As the doctor wrote something on the chart, he began to examine Yoo Chul-hwan’s fingers closely.

“Do you have clubbing?”

“Clubbing? What’s that?”

“It means that the blood flow to the fingertips is poor, causing the fingers to become club-like and thick.”

“……”

“Let me check. I have some suspicions, so let’s do some tests.”

“Tests? I’m healthy. My health checkup said there was nothing wrong.”

Yoo Chul-hwan puffed out his chest confidently.

Coughing and phlegm are inevitable for smokers, so there was nothing he could do about it.

He considered himself to be in perfect health.

“Sir, you’ve been coughing a lot. Can you take off your shirt for a moment?”

The doctor approached and placed a stethoscope on his chest.

When the doctor’s expression turned serious, Yoo Chul-hwan felt a sudden fear.

“Is there a problem?”

“I hear a crackling sound (Rhonchi) that indicates the bronchi are narrowed or blocked. Sir, you may have bronchiectasis.”

“What’s that?”

The doctor continued his explanation.

Bronchiectasis is a condition where the bronchi lose their elasticity and become dilated.

This leads to the bronchi not functioning properly, causing various complications.

“Huh, what’s going on…?”

Even after hearing the doctor’s explanation, Yoo Chul-hwan muttered in disbelief.

He had only come to the hospital to keep his promise with his grandchild.

Suddenly being suspected of having bronchiectasis felt like a bolt from the blue.

“Let’s do the tests first. If it’s confirmed, quitting smoking will be mandatory, not optional.”

“……”

“A lung CT scan and sputum test will be conducted. We’ll meet again after the CT results are out.”

With a dazed expression, Yoo Chul-hwan moved to the examination room with his wife to undergo the tests.

Although he thought the doctor must have made a mistake, it was Yoo Chul-hwan who was mistaken.

When he faced the doctor with the test results, he received a definitive diagnosis of bronchiectasis.

The doctor said:

The sputum test results will be available in ten days, but the CT scan confirms bronchiectasis.

I’ll give you nicotine patches to help you quit smoking.

Bronchiectasis is chronic and cannot be cured, so consistent management is crucial.

Take the prescribed medication and come back next week.

Although the doctor explained everything, Yoo Chul-hwan couldn’t fully process it.

He was shocked, having always been confident in his health.

“Did you hear the doctor properly? You look like you’re in a daze.”

As they left the hospital with the medication, his wife touched his arm and asked.

“Huh? Oh.”

“Thankfully, you came to the hospital because of Belief. If not, you could have suffered greatly from lung disease. You must quit smoking from now on. Got it?”

“…I will.”

Yoo Chul-hwan hastily removed his hand from the cigarette pack in his pocket.

He thought of Belief, whom he met yesterday.

It seemed that God had sent Belief to help him live longer.

* * *

My steps were light as I left the apartment complex and headed to school.

The plan to send Grandpa to the hospital was a huge success.

I heard from Mother that Grandpa had been diagnosed with bronchiectasis two days ago.

If he quits smoking and manages his condition from now on, he can live a long life.

‘Being a child’s body is surprisingly useful.’

So far, I have used my status as a child to my full advantage.

I used the innocence of a child to solve many problems.

At the age of one, I convinced my father to clean the bookstore.

I prevented my mother from getting into a car accident.

In kindergarten, I taught the Heimlich maneuver to my teacher, saving Son Seung-woo’s life.

Recently, I successfully got Grandpa diagnosed with bronchiectasis.

Perhaps because of these reasons,

I felt grateful for not being reborn as an adult.

Starting a new life from the age of one allowed me to correct more things.

Not only that, but I also learned how to influence others’ hearts as I wanted.

If I can maintain this sense,

I will be able to excel in hospital life as a doctor.

There was a reason why I was looking forward to my future hospital life.

“Hey, Belief!”

Turning at the familiar voice, I saw Kim Ji-won.

Next to Kim Ji-won was a male middle school student I had never seen before.

Judging by his uniform, he was from nearby Typhoon Middle School.

“Hi, Ji-won. Hi, sir.”

I politely greeted the male student, who seemed to be Kim Ji-won’s older brother.

“Hey, do you know my brother?”

“No, I just thought he might be your brother and greeted him.”

“Look, brother. Belief is smart and sociable, right?”

“He really does seem that way. I’m Ji-won’s brother, Ji-yong. Nice to meet you.”

Kim Ji-yong smiled and patted my head.

“Yes, sir.”

“Be friends with Ji-won. She really likes you.”

“What? Stop saying weird things.”

Kim Ji-won blushed and shouted.

I, of course, knew that Kim Ji-won liked me.

Kim Ji-won, who was popular among boys in my previous life, liking me…

In the past, it would have been a dream come true, but I had already experienced everything.

Kim Ji-won, as an elementary school student, just seemed cute to me.

“Come to my house after school today. I just bought a game console.”

“Yes, sir.”

“See you later.”

As I watched Kim Ji-yong walk away, I frowned.

‘Hmm… He seems prone to pneumothorax…’

Slim build.

Already over 170 cm tall at a young age.

From Kim Ji-yong, I sensed the signs of pneumothorax.

Tall and thin people have less fat and less lubricating fluid in their bodies.

Therefore, their lungs can easily rub against each other and get injured.

Especially in teenagers, the growth of lung blood vessels is faster than the blood supply, leading to the formation of air bubbles in the lungs.

This is why tall and thin teenagers are more prone to pneumothorax.

As I walked to school with Kim Ji-won, I muttered to myself.

Am I too obsessed with my professional disease?