Chapter 72

Chapter 5: Performance (2)

Kang Tae-sub.

For a while after hearing those three words...

I was more bewildered than angry.

His name, whether in my past life or this one, always stirred the anger buried in my heart.

When it came to anything related to Kang Tae-sub, I was like Pavlov's dog.

However, this time was a bit different.

I didn't expect to hear that name from someone else's mouth.

I didn't expect that someone else would have a direct connection to that name.

So I was both flustered and surprised.

"Professor, what exactly happened between you and Kang Tae-sub?"

I asked aggressively without realizing it.

I even made a mistake, which was unlike me.

"You sound like you know Tae-sub very well."

"Ah... I'm sorry. I don't know him at all, but... I have a feeling that he might have harmed you, Professor Yang."

"There's no need for you to get worked up. It's all in the past."

Yang Sun-jae began with a troubled expression.

The reason he decided to retire early, which he hadn't even told his soulmate Min Dong-geun, was as follows.

It was two years ago.

The place was the Busan branch of Shinwon University Hospital.

At that time, Yang Sun-jae, the head of the thoracic surgery department, was keeping an eye on a third-year resident, Lee Ji-hye.

Lee Ji-hye was the only female resident in the thoracic surgery department, known for her diligent and hardworking nature.

Yang Sun-jae said that she looked very beautiful to him.

"Of course, when I say 'beautiful,' I don't mean in terms of appearance. I mean she seemed sincere and commendable."

"..."

"Ji-hye wanted to become a capable surgeon, just like you, Shin."

I became more and more engrossed in Yang Sun-jae's story.

I instinctively knew that there was really important information hidden in the conclusion of this story.

Why did I, in my past life, remember Yang Sun-jae as just another professor?

Perhaps it was because I couldn't overcome the pain of his early retirement.

The clue must be hidden in the story that is currently unfolding.

"One day, Ji-hye came to me and said she wanted to receive personal guidance."

"..."

"Shin, you know from experience that I never turn away those who seek to learn."

Yang Sun-jae continued.

He said he taught Lee Ji-hye whenever he had time, just as he had taught me.

Time passed, and it seemed that a warm teacher-student relationship was forming.

Then, the problematic Kang Tae-sub appeared.

At that time, Kang Tae-sub was a fourth-year resident and the chief resident, which means he was the head of the department.

One day, after a surgery, Kang Tae-sub requested a meeting with Yang Sun-jae.

"Head, there's a strange rumor going around the department. I hesitate to say it, but I can't just let it pass."

"Go ahead, don't be afraid to speak."

"It's said that you and Ji-hye have a... certain kind of relationship."

"What... what are you saying?"

Yang Sun-jae felt a surge of anger as if his blood was boiling at the shocking news from Kang Tae-sub.

He wasn't even a specialist.

The idea that he had a romantic relationship with a mere third-year resident was absurd.

What kind of ridiculous and preposterous rumor was this?

"Kang Tae-sub, are you mocking me? How dare you?"

Yang Sun-jae asked, trembling with a sense of humiliation.

He was proud of the fact that he had never done anything to be ashamed of, not only to patients and their families but also to medical staff, in his journey to become the head of the thoracic surgery department.

The fact that the rumor was circulating in the department plunged Yang Sun-jae into despair.

"It's a misunderstanding. I'm not saying that. I deeply respect your character."

"But?"

"I just thought you should know that such a rumor is circulating."

"..."

"It's being whispered about."

"Ah... I've seen all kinds of nonsense in my life. Do you know the source of the rumor?"

Yang Sun-jae tried to steady his rough breathing.

He placed his hand on his chest to calm his heart, which was beating faster than usual.

After all, composure was a virtue for a surgeon.

"I don't know the exact source. However, many staff members have seen you and Professor Yang alone together over the past two months."

"..."

"Perhaps that's why the misunderstanding arose."

"I understand. I appreciate your courage in telling me. Thank you."

"No, it's just my duty."

Swallow, swallow.

Yang Sun-jae's Adam's apple moved up and down as he drank his coffee.

It was unclear whether it was because his throat was dry from talking so much or because the old wound was painful.

Perhaps both.

"..."

"..."

A heavy silence continued for a long time in the somber atmosphere.

Even though the story wasn't over, I felt I already knew the ending.

In my reincarnated life, I had a keen sense and a mature eye for reading human relationships.

To a teacher who valued morality, a scandal involving a student would be an unbearable wound.

People love scandals, even if they are false.

They enjoy pulling heroes down as much as they enjoy lifting them up.

Yang Sun-jae must have been the sacrificial lamb.

"Is the story too long? Should we stop here?"

"Come on, that's ridiculous. It's already suspicious that you kept this important matter from me, and now you want to stop in the middle? No way!"

Min Dong-geun urged Yang Sun-jae to continue.

Judging from his angry face, he seemed to have predicted the ending, just like me.

"Ah, fine. I didn't want to reveal such a blemish, but it might be good to clear the air."

Yang Sun-jae continued his story.

The head of the thoracic surgery department had a romantic relationship with a third-year resident.

To stop this absurd and suspicious rumor from spreading, Yang Sun-jae decided to take action.

After the morning conference, he addressed the rumor directly.

"Recently, there's been a rumor about my relationship with Ji-hye. I don't think any of the staff would believe such a ridiculous story, right?"

"..."

"Ji-hye, were we ever in an inappropriate relationship?"

"Absolutely not. Professor, you were just kind enough to teach me."

Lee Ji-hye strongly denied the rumor.

"Alright, now everyone should know how absurd this rumor is. Don't let your imagination run wild and focus on your work."

"..."

"We don't even have enough time to treat patients."

He thought he had perfectly resolved the rumor, but it was just a delusion.

His explanation only led to more unnecessary misunderstandings.

By denying the relationship in a public setting.

People thought he must have felt guilty about something.

Would Lee Ji-hye have answered properly if he asked her about the relationship in front of other staff members?

The doubts began to pile up.

As a result, the staff in the thoracic surgery department started to look at Yang Sun-jae and Lee Ji-hye with disapproving eyes.

Surprisingly, even Yang Sun-jae's excellent character, which he had built up over time, was powerless against the rumor.

Some staff members even thought he was a hypocrite, which was a shocking revelation.

Suffering a significant blow to his morality, Yang Sun-jae eventually had to step down from his position as head of the department after four months.

He was forced out by a baseless rumor.

"To be honest, I didn't quit because I was tired of the work."

"..."

"I was deeply hurt by the incident I just mentioned. When the rumor about a scandal with Ji-hye circulated, no one stood up for me."

"..."

"Perhaps it was my own fault. If my character had been a bit better, everyone would have believed me."

Yang Sun-jae, who had finished speaking, held the empty coffee cup and shook it.

The unspeakable pain Yang Sun-jae had endured.

I couldn't help but lower my head at the pain he couldn't express.

I never imagined that my teacher had such a shadow.

Well, considering the significant wound he had suffered.

The quality of the classes I took from Yang Sun-jae during my undergraduate years couldn't have been good.

"Don't blame yourself. It's not your fault. It's just the nasty habit of people who enjoy pulling others down."

"Dong-geun, I'm sorry. I shouldn't be unloading this story on you now."

"To be honest, it is a bit suspicious. So, you'll have to pay for the drinks for a while."

"That's not a problem."

Min Dong-geun lightened the heavy atmosphere with his cheerful response.

He was no ordinary person.

"Shin, what do you think of me? Are you disappointed after hearing this story?"

"..."

"Do you feel like I'm making excuses and justifying my relationship with a resident?"

"Absolutely not. I stand by Professor Yang, even if the sky splits in two."

I answered firmly.

Although I hadn't been his student for long, I knew that Yang Sun-jae had a pure soul.

If he had any fault, it was that he only cared about patients.

"Thank you, just for saying that."

Yang Sun-jae paused and continued.

"You might think you're receiving help from me, but it's actually the opposite."

"..."

"Watching you excel at the accident scene and seeing your remarkable talent reminded me of my younger self."

"..."

"I wasn't as talented as you, but I was also a prodigy who didn't hesitate to treat patients."

"..."

"Thanks to you, I've been able to reflect on myself, and I can comfort myself that my medical career wasn't entirely in vain, even though my retirement wasn't beautiful."

"I will be a student worthy of your teaching. Please continue to guide me."

"Thank you."

The conversation ended with Yang Sun-jae's long and painful confession.

I stayed at Min Dong-geun's hospital, and Yang Sun-jae drove me back to school.

On the way back, I chewed on Kang Tae-sub's name and cursed him.

If I had been in my past life, I probably would have reacted similarly to Yang Sun-jae, feeling wronged.

I would have thought, "What a ridiculous rumor to get caught up in."

But in this life, I couldn't shake the suspicion that Kang Tae-sub had deeply interfered with Yang Sun-jae's retirement.

Kang Tae-sub was a psychopath who could do even more.

Controlling people's emotions and thoughts was his specialty.

In the near future, this psychological manipulation would be called gaslighting.

Kang Tae-sub must have been recruited by the opposing forces and used to bring down Yang Sun-jae.

In return, he probably got a quick promotion or became a co-author on important papers.

As I reflected on the story, I also became very suspicious of the female resident, Lee Ji-hye.

She was likely infatuated with Kang Tae-sub's charming appearance and manners and was under his control.

Asking the head of the department for personal tutoring, something even senior residents would hesitate to do?

This was completely out of the ordinary.

It could only be seen as taking advantage of Yang Sun-jae's good nature.

"Ah... What a ridiculous villain. How could a junior resident bring down the head of the department in such a way?"

I couldn't help but marvel at Kang Tae-sub.

To turn Yang Sun-jae's strength, his morality, into a weakness and bring him down so easily...

He was truly a villain of the century.

Kang Tae-sub and Lee Ji-hye.

The enemies who stabbed their teacher, who could have contributed to the development of the thoracic surgery department, in the back.

No, they were trash that couldn't even be recycled.

I buried their names deep in my heart.

The moment I become a doctor and face them.

They will receive the hammer of justice.