Chapter 34, Part 2: The Symbol of the World (4)

Even after the afternoon clinic hours had ended, Myungtae remained in the examination room.

He was reviewing the data from the drug-eluting coronary stent procedures he had personally performed over the past six months.

Scroll, scroll.

Every time the mouse wheel smoothly scrolled down, a smile deepened on his face.

While other cardiologists might have performed around 40 such procedures, he had already completed nearly 120.

Although the success rate was only about 60%, that was fine with him.

What mattered to him was the number of procedures, not the success rate.

The more procedures he performed, the more patients would trust him.

He believed that a restaurant was popular not because the food was delicious, but because it had many customers.

As he expanded his influence, he was sure that he would receive calls from the broadcasting industry.

His standing in the hospital would soar to unprecedented heights.

It was certain that the position of head of the cardiology department, which would be vacant next year, would be his.

Myungtae firmly believed that the path ahead of him would be nothing but a bed of roses.

'Is it already this late?'

After checking the wall clock, he took off his doctor's coat and changed into casual clothes.

Then, with a leisurely pace, he headed to a Korean restaurant often used for hospital gatherings.

"What? You're already here?"

-...

"Yeah, I'll try to get there as soon as possible."

His steps quickened after he ended the call.

As he got closer to the Korean restaurant, Myungtae felt his minor worries growing.

The person he had an appointment with tonight was a junior from college.

He knew the junior's face and name from club activities.

Myungtae had recently performed a drug-eluting stent surgery on the junior's mother.

However, the junior's mother had passed away due to acute myocardial infarction and thrombosis.

At that time, his ambition had been excessive.

He had treated a patient who should have been referred to thoracic surgery.

As a senior, he had wanted to show off his skills.

He had an unfounded confidence that the patient's condition could be treated with a drug-eluting stent procedure.

These two factors were his biggest mistakes.

'But surely, he wouldn't suspect me, right?'

Although he felt uneasy about Guak Junho's sudden request to meet, Myungtae consoled himself that it was probably nothing.

What could Guak Junho, a brilliant lawyer, do?

The medical field was in his hands, and Guak Junho was almost as ignorant about medicine as a layman.

"Phew, hoo."

Near the restaurant, Myungtae took out a cigarette and put it in his mouth.

As the nicotine reached his brain, his tension eased, and his worries began to subside.

Everything would flow smoothly, just like water.

It had always been that way in the past, it was that way now, and it would continue to be that way in the future.

"Senior, you're here?"

When he entered the reserved room, Guak Junho stood up and acknowledged him.

"Yeah, it's been a while, hasn't it?"

"Almost a month. But, what's a doctor doing smoking? You always tell patients to quit, but you smoke yourself?"

"You try living in a hospital all day. Do you think about smoking or not?"

"This is all for your sake, Senior."

After sitting down, Myungtae and Guak Junho engaged in casual conversation.

As the food was served and the drinks flowed, their conversation also matured. When Myungtae was slightly drunk, he shed crocodile tears.

Because of me, your mother passed away so tragically.

I'm so sorry, even if I beg until my hands wear out, I can't be forgiven.

He exaggerated the emotions he actually felt several times over.

Stimulating people's emotions was one of Myungtae's greatest strengths.

"But, Senior, I have a question."

"What is it?"

"I heard from somewhere that coronary artery disease is often treated with surgery, not just stent procedures, right?"

Guak Junho's expression suddenly turned cold as he asked the question.

For the first time since their reunion, Myungtae was at a loss for words.

Guak Junho's expression, tone, and the content of his question all seemed suspicious.

Could this guy be suspecting me?

His muddled mind suddenly cleared as if doused with cold water.

"Of course. But your mother was elderly. The procedure was much safer than surgery. I wouldn't have done the stent procedure myself if it wasn't."

"Is that so? I heard that coronary artery bypass surgery can be performed on elderly patients."

Guak Junho attacked Myungtae with medical information that an ordinary person wouldn't know.

At this point, it was safe to assume that he had set up this meeting to interrogate him.

Kid, you might have a good sense of things, but do you really think you can corner me?

Myungtae snickered to himself.

"Junho."

"Yes, Senior."

"I'm an associate professor in the cardiology department at Yangsan Hospital. Do you know how many patients I've treated since finishing my residency?"

"..."

"Don't believe the nonsense from incompetent doctors. Trust me."

Myungtae used the Idol of the Theater, one of Francis Bacon's four idols.

In simple terms, he appealed to authority.

In which country is authority as powerful and blindly followed as in South Korea?

"I know everything and trust you, but there are people around me who keep trying to drive a wedge between us."

"Who's trying to come between us?"

"It's hard to say now, I'll tell you later."

Guak Junho frowned and drained his soju glass in one go.

"But, Senior, can I get the chart when I go to the hospital tomorrow?"

"Chart... chart?"

"Yes, I want to show the chart to the bastard who's driving a wedge between my brother and me. If I show him the chart, he'll know that my brother was right, won't he?"

Myungtae was quite taken aback by Guak Junho's sudden outburst.

He hadn't expected Guak Junho to be so aggressive.

"Why? You look uncomfortable... Is there a reason I can't get the chart?"

"Stupid. Please, get the chart and show it to that bastard. Let's see who was right and who was wrong."

"Then I'll take a half-day off and go get the chart in the afternoon."

"Of course, you should."

Myungtae drank with Guak Junho until midnight.

After parting ways with the thoroughly drunk Guak Junho, he called the fourth-year resident chief.

-Professor, why are you calling at this hour...

"Are you in the dorm now?"

-Yes.

"There's a patient named Lee Soon-ja who received a drug-eluting stent procedure this month. Write down exactly what I say and alter the chart."

-...

"Talk to the diagnostic radiology department and get all the test results too."

-Even if you say so, Professor, that's...

"Did I teach you to talk back? Do you want to be kicked out after finishing your residency?"

-...No. Please tell me. I'll write it down in my notebook.

Myungtae instructed the necessary information manipulation to give the stent procedure legitimacy and then ended the call.

If the chart was altered, there would be no reason for Guak Junho to suspect him.

Of course, this was a clear violation of medical law, but at this point, there was no way for the patient's family to know about the chart manipulation.

'You're still under me, you cute kid.'

Myungtae hailed a taxi and headed home, feeling relieved.

Unaware that he himself had fallen into a trap.

* * *

Another weekend morning arrived.

After waking up late, I washed up, had breakfast, and left the apartment complex.

Today, I was going to the movies with Kim Ji-won, Kkaburi, and Kim Yo-han.

I was worried about Professor Myungtae, but worrying wouldn't change anything.

For now, the best thing to do was to trust the skills of Guak Do-an's father.

'If everything goes according to plan, we can really hit him hard...'

I recalled the conversation I had with Guak Do-an's father a few days ago.

Guak Do-an's father had verified my words through a thoracic surgeon at another hospital.

He was burning with determination to fight Professor Myungtae.

To him, I made a bold suggestion.

"How about setting up a drinking session and subtly probing Professor Myung?"

-Probing?

"Professor Myung doesn't know that you printed the chart for insurance, right?"

-That's right.

"So, use that. Just to be safe, record all your conversations with Professor Myung."

My plan was as follows:

First, Guak Do-an's father would meet Professor Myungtae and deliberately hint that he suspected him.

Feeling uneasy, Professor Myungtae would alter the chart.

Since it was relatively easy to alter charts at this time, Professor Myungtae would surely manipulate the chart to cover up his mistake.

-Compulsory retention of original and modified medical records

-Compulsory review and copying of medical records upon patient request

-Compulsory creation and retention of electronic medical record access logs

These laws regarding medical record obligations would not be passed until the late 2010s.

In 1999, when such laws did not exist,

Doctors could freely manipulate medical records.

The idea was to use this to our advantage.

In addition to violating the duty of care and the duty to explain, we would add the charge of chart manipulation.

This was my best plan to deal with Professor Myungtae.

Whether the plan would work as intended was uncertain.

But I had done my part.

I didn't need to shoulder all the world's problems.

Sometimes, it was necessary to clear my mind and recharge.

Walking backward, I temporarily let go of my complex thoughts and emotions.

Reflecting on my life after the regression, it had been as tight as my father had worried.

I had been trying to make up for the mistakes I made in my previous life.

Or struggling to overcome the future that was coming.

A life that had past and future but no present, like a chicken breast.

So, at least one day a week, I should be able to enjoy a free and easy daily life.

"Good morning."

Kim Ji-won, standing in front of Mokdong Station Exit 1, waved at me when she saw me.

I waved back happily.

Perhaps because it was a rare outing, Kim Ji-won had dressed up.

She had done her makeup and was wearing a cheerful summer dress.

Passing men couldn't help but steal glances at her.

"You look amazing today. You look great in casual clothes too?"

"Hmph, I know."

Kim Ji-won smiled brightly like a flower. But it was only for a moment. She took a step closer to me and pinched my side.

"Ouch, that hurts. Why did you do that all of a sudden?"

"I thought we could have a nice, private date, but why did you bring Ji-ho and Yo-han along?"

Kim Ji-won seemed unhappy about Kkaburi Ji-ho and Kim Yo-han joining us.

"It's nice to see everyone after a long time, isn't it? And if we were alone, we might end up with a dating rumor, which would be awkward for you too."

"You worry too much. I'm not a famous enough actor to have dating rumors, and hardly anyone recognizes me."

"You never know."

"Whatever, I can't argue with you. I give up, I give up."

While I was bickering with Kim Ji-won, Kkaburi and Kim Yo-han joined us.

Kkaburi was still as mischievous as ever, and Kim Yo-han had grown much taller than before.

He was about the same height as me.

The four of us, reunited after a long time, headed to a nearby theater.

The movie we were going to see was "August Snow."

It was a romantic film based on a novel, known for making viewers cry.

Although it was a famous movie, I hadn't seen it in my previous life, so I could watch it with a fresh perspective.

The story of a photographer with a terminal illness and a parking enforcement officer.

The plot was somewhat cliché and predictable, but it wasn't boring.

I could naturally empathize with the main characters' emotional lines.

The parting, which I knew would happen, made my heart heavy.

While watching the movie, I also thought about this:

Could I have a proper relationship in this life, unlike my previous life as a lonely old bachelor?

The person I could most easily imagine being with was Kim Ji-won, sitting next to me.

In my previous life, my connection with Kim Ji-won ended with us being in the same class once in elementary school.

But after the regression, Kim Ji-won and I had been close friends.

It wouldn't be bad to build a family with Kim Ji-won, who was as loyal as a dandelion to me.

But there was one person who kept nagging at me.

A woman I met during my thoracic surgery residency at Shinwon University Hospital.

Thinking about her, my heart still felt heavy.

'I'm overthinking. I've grown a lot, haven't I?'

I scolded myself and refocused on the movie.

Despite the occasional snoring from Kkaburi, the movie ended on a touching note.

As soon as we left the theater, Kim Ji-won, with tears and snot streaming down her face, ran to the bathroom.

Kkaburi and Kim Yo-han and I also headed to the bathroom.

I said to Kkaburi, who was using the urinal next to me.

"Kkaburi, you need to go to the hospital soon."

"Hey, what are you talking about in your sleep? What's wrong with this healthy body of mine that I need to go to the hospital?"

Kkaburi asked, frowning, but my expression was firm.

"No, you need to go. I'm really worried about you."