Chapter 71

Chapter 5, Episode 71: Performance (1)

‘I can’t tell if this is a dream or reality.’

Yang Sun-jae glanced at the confident Lee Min and clicked his tongue.

When he pinched his cheek slightly, the sensation of his skin, which had lost its elasticity, was vividly felt.

It was clearly not a dream, yet his consciousness was as hazy as in a dream.

The five senses transmitted from his body were vague.

All of this was because of Lee Min.

The use of surgical instruments.

An overview of the surgical process in real practice.

Today, he had brought Lee Min to Yangwon Hospital to teach the basics of surgery.

He thought it would be boring if she only studied papers and case studies.

In a sense, he wanted to give her a taste of surgery to motivate her.

But what a surprise!

Lee Min had not only pre-learned medical knowledge but also surgical skills.

When he recalled how confidently and perfectly Lee Min performed a thoracotomy and sutured the diaphragm, Yang Sun-jae still felt a chill.

Well... studying surgical books and doing image training...

Is this really what a genius is like?

Even if the subject was a cadaver, if a first-year pre-med student performed a diaphragm repair, other professors would tell him to stop talking in his sleep.

It was a reasonable reaction.

While medical knowledge could be learned through study, practical experience could only be gained in the operating room.

In any case, one thing was certain: Lee Min was a being that defied common sense.

“The heroes have returned.”

Min Dong-geun, who was observing in the observation room, approached the two and spoke.

“Min.”

“Yes, Director.”

“To be honest, I didn’t believe a word when my friend told me about you. But you know...”

“...”

“Even after seeing you in person, I still can’t believe it.”

Min Dong-geun’s words were half-joking, half-amazed. His wide eyes couldn’t seem to leave Lee Min.

- Can I borrow the operating room for a while next Wednesday afternoon?

- If you need it, just use it. Why are you asking me now?

Last week, Min Dong-geun received a call from Yang Sun-jae.

Since he often lent the operating room to his friend for research, it felt out of place for his friend to ask for permission.

- It’s fine for me alone, but I plan to bring my disciple.

- You mean that Lee Min who’s obsessed with it lately? The one who’s a genius and has pre-learned the thoracic surgery fellowship program...

- Yes, that’s the one.

After leaving the operating room.

After leaving the scene.

After putting down the scalpel, Yang Sun-jae’s voice, which had been gloomy, sounded much brighter lately.

It seemed that the student Lee Min had given his friend a boost.

According to Yang Sun-jae, Lee Min was a genius.

As a first-year pre-med student, she had the ambitious goal of pre-learning the thoracic surgery fellowship program.

Not only that, but she had also scored full marks on the questions Yang Sun-jae had selected from the medical licensing exam and the thoracic surgery board exam.

The stories of Lee Min’s performance that Yang Sun-jae told his close friend were, in Min Dong-geun’s view, almost like a third-rate novel.

They lacked plausibility and realism.

But he let it go because Yang Sun-jae seemed happy.

- Let’s say Lee Min is a genius, as you say. But isn’t it overkill to let her into the operating room already? Even geniuses need to go through the proper process.

- You only say that because you don’t know Lee Min. See for yourself after you meet her.

Yang Sun-jae provocatively ended the call.

That’s why...

Lee Min, who could charm even a goblin, became even more intriguing to Min Dong-geun.

And as time passed, today arrived.

Min Dong-geun was shocked by Lee Min’s genius skills, which he observed in the observation room.

Scalpel, electrocautery, suction.

Hemostat, retractor, scissors, forceps, Kelly, etc.

Lee Min had already mastered the use of surgical instruments perfectly.

Not only that, but she had also performed a diaphragm repair on a cadaver.

A hundred words are not as good as one sight.

Min Dong-geun couldn’t understand how Lee Min could perform so well even after seeing her a hundred times.

“Considering your age, you must have been busy with college entrance exams...”

Min Dong-geun paused before continuing.

“Did you study medical and surgical books at the same time?”

“Yes, I apologize for saying this... but I’m a genius. I just naturally got it when I studied with interest and passion.”

Lee Min scratched the back of her head, looking embarrassed.

In the operating room, she had shown a seasoned demeanor, but outside, she looked young and innocent.

Only after seeing Lee Min in person did Min Dong-geun realize why Yang Sun-jae couldn’t let go of her.

If he had such a brilliant disciple, he would have given his liver and gallbladder without hesitation.

“Ha, you’re telling an unconventional story as if it’s common knowledge. I need to hear more details at the café.”

“...”

“By the way, Sun-jae, I wonder if you’re rejuvenating because of Min.”

“Ever since I met Min, I’ve been getting younger. Can’t you tell?”

The two looked at each other and smiled.

* * *

Yang Sun-jae and Min Dong-geun found a café on the first floor.

The two exchanged various conversations about me.

How great my talent was.

What kind of future I should have.

The seasoned surgeons’ conversation about me, in front of me, was embarrassing.

Genius.

This word was an invincible cheat key for me, who had regressed, but it was also a button that made me feel ashamed.

During my internship, I was called C-turn.

—In the hospital, interns are often called A-turn, B-turn, and C-turn based on their performance—

I was treated as a failure until my second year of residency, and now I’m called a genius...

Comparing my past life to now, my face felt hot.

“By the way, I’m curious if you really have no interest in going to the United States. I still think it’s not too late...”

Min Dong-geun brought up the topic of the United States again.

Like Yang Sun-jae, he thought similarly, perhaps to avoid being a soulmate in the medical field.

“I’ve made up my mind. I want to train in Korea.”

I spoke calmly.

“The first reason is that I’m sure there won’t be a benefactor like Professor Yang in the United States.”

“...”

“The second reason is that there’s something I want to change in Korea.”

“Something you want to change... Can you tell me more specifically?”

“It’s hard to explain, but it’s related to people. It involves family issues, classmate issues, and various intertwined problems.”

My ultimate goal through regression was to correct my past self.

The regrets, mistakes, and faults I had.

The wrong relationships I formed, the relationships I should have maintained.

If I chose to go to the United States, I could grow faster, but I couldn’t correct the blemishes of my past life.

During the 11 years of training in the United States!

In that sense, staying in Korea might be inevitable.

I didn’t regress to take a path I hadn’t taken.

I regressed to retrace the path I had taken and correct the mistakes.

“You’re a 20-year-old kid talking like an old man.”

Min Dong-geun chuckled after hearing my words.

“At this point, you should admit it. My skill in reading faces is exceptional.”

“...”

“What I said when I first met Min turned out to be true.”

“That’s only half right. You said Min was a typical hard worker who often regrets and reflects. Min is not a hard worker but a genius.”

“Even a layman can get half right. Tsk, tsk, tsk, that perfectionism of yours. That’s why you retired early without any friends.”

“What? This guy can say anything. You, who have no ability, are running a hospital you inherited from your parents.”

The words exchanged between Yang Sun-jae and Min Dong-geun were harsh, but their expressions were cheerful.

It was the kind of banter only close friends who knew each other’s weaknesses could have.

I envied the two because I didn’t have such a close friend in my past life.

Ultimately, it’s people who make others laugh and cry.

If I had paid more attention to my relationships, I wouldn’t have been devastated by Kang Tae-sub’s betrayal and would have risen again.

In this life, I will definitely make a soulmate.

We will pull each other along and navigate the challenging medical field together.

This was one of my goals in regressing.

In the past, I lived like a fool, not knowing the value of people.

“Don’t you feel the urge to get back into the operating room when you see Min? I would if I were you.”

Min Dong-geun changed the topic.

“I can’t say for sure, but I often think I retired too early.”

“I hope you return to the faculty. Of course, after you’ve taught me everything.”

“Ah, you too.”

Yang Sun-jae chuckled at my half-serious, half-joking words.

“Didn’t I tell you to drop that perfectionism? You’re already a successful thoracic surgeon.”

“...”

“Even if you’re not perfect, your surgeries would be a hundred times better than those currently being performed in the operating room.”

“Maybe.”

I sensed something unresolved in the bitterness on Yang Sun-jae’s face.

Perhaps...

Yang’s early retirement might not have been due to perfectionism.

There might have been a secret he hadn’t shared with anyone.

If I could uncover that secret, Yang Sun-jae might return.

He could be a great support for me when I start my internship and residency in a few years.

“Professor, is there any other reason you’re not returning to the field?”

I cautiously began.

“Sigh, I don’t know.”

“It’s okay if you don’t want to talk about it.”

I deliberately said something I didn’t mean.

A valuable skill I learned from regressing to the age of one.

The skill of peeking into someone’s secrets.

It involved taking a step into their inner world and then immediately stepping back.

This created a space that the other person would fill.

After a long, heavy silence, Yang Sun-jae broke it.

“Now that I think about it, I haven’t told you this story, Dong-geun.”

“What’s so serious that you’re setting the mood like this?”

“It happened exactly two years ago.”

Yang Sun-jae, looking into the distance, seemed to be recalling a memory.

I was filled with anticipation, hoping to learn the reason for his early retirement.

And if I could hear the reason, I was confident I could heal the wound in Yang Sun-jae’s heart.

His return would be an added bonus.

“At the time, there was a friend named Kang Tae-sub who was the head of the department. Everything started with his words...”

The name that came out of Yang Sun-jae’s mouth was unexpectedly Kang Tae-sub.

The archenemy who manipulated my soul, stole my new surgical method, and exiled me to a local branch.

Why is Kang Tae-sub related to Yang Sun-jae’s early retirement?