Chapter 79, Part 1: Towards the Intern (4)

The basement of Shinwon University Hospital was like a shopping mall.

On both sides of the sophisticated corridor, various restaurants, convenience stores, and shops lined up.

The people walking down the corridor were also a diverse mix, making it a feast for the eyes.

Patients in hospital gowns and their caregivers.

Hospital staff with surgical gowns or name tags around their necks.

People like me, dressed in suits, who were probably insurance company employees, and so on.

There are few places where as many different types of people intersect as in a hospital, which deals with human life.

‘Strange, isn’t it?’

While heading to the café where we were supposed to meet, I recalled the memories of my past life, one by one.

Those memories, which had seemed so distant, would soon become reality.

“Have you arrived?”

When I reached the café, I saw Yang Sun-jae sitting by the window.

My teacher, with whom I had spent a total of six years—two years in pre-med and four years in medical school—was easy to spot.

Even if there were ten thousand people in this place, I would have easily found my teacher.

Yang Sun-jae had a deep place in my heart.

“You look good in a suit. You could be an actor instead of a doctor.”

“Thank you.”

I gave a short answer and sat across from Yang Sun-jae.

It felt like just yesterday when I went to his lab to beg for a chance to learn about esophageal and lung surgery...

I successfully completed the esophageal and lung surgery fellowship last year.

So, I was now an unofficial esophageal and lung surgery fellow.

An unofficial disciple of Yang Sun-jae.

If given the opportunity, I could even perform lung cancer surgery right away.

Having returned, I had become a master of surgical skills that were incomparable to my past life.

“I think I picked the wrong date for our meeting.”

Yang Sun-jae laughed awkwardly.

“After setting the date, I realized today is your interview day. It would be a burden to have a meeting before an interview.”

“Compared to the assignments you gave me, the interview is like a drop in the bucket.”

“...”

“Besides, if I were to fail the interview just because of a pre-interview meeting, I wouldn’t have been able to learn esophageal and lung surgery from you in the first place.”

“Indeed, it would be ridiculous for a genius like you to fail an interview.”

Yang Sun-jae took a sip of coffee and continued.

“Still, as a teacher, I can’t help but worry about everything my student does. Time flies. You’re already an intern...”

As I watched Yang Sun-jae, lost in his memories, I too became immersed in my own.

Six years ago, he was a robust and energetic teacher.

But lately, he looked frail and lacked vitality.

Was it because I had grown, or because he had aged with the passage of time?

Sadly, I couldn’t distinguish between the two.

After ordering coffee, I began a serious conversation with my teacher.

It was more of a session to share memories than to discuss the future.

“Shall we get to the main topic now?”

I was quite surprised by my teacher’s words.

Was sharing memories not the main topic of our meeting?

The fact that there was another main topic was shocking.

With a mix of anticipation and curiosity, I waited for my teacher to speak.

“Eun.”

“Yes, Professor.”

“I’m planning to return to the main hospital’s thoracic surgery department soon.”

I was bewildered by his unexpected answer. I even doubted my ears.

My teacher was going to return to thoracic surgery?

I started to worry about him, just as he had worried about me.

Could a man in his early 60s endure the demanding work of thoracic surgery?

If he was going to return, it would have been better to do so earlier.

What had led him to this decision?

“Is that true?”

“You know I’m not good at joking.”

“That’s... too sudden...”

“To be honest, I feel a bit burdened about returning at this age. I’ve grown old both physically and mentally. But...”

My teacher’s expression was resolute as he continued.

He didn’t seem to be backing down.

“I want to support you until you establish yourself. I want to see your talent flourish.”

Surprisingly, my teacher was still worried about me.

He was anxious that I, a genius, might not survive the hierarchical culture of Korean doctors.

I was only grateful and apologetic for my teacher’s endless care and affection.

“You don’t have to go to such lengths for me. I can handle it on my own.”

“Of course, I don’t doubt your ability. I just want your training to be smoother.”

Indeed, if my teacher returned to active duty as a thoracic surgeon, it would be a great help to me.

While interns, residents, and fellows are still in the early stages of their careers, professors are at the peak.

Every thoracic surgeon dreams of becoming a thoracic surgery professor.

If such a professor were to support me, my training would be much easier.

I never thought that another turning point would arise between my past and present lives.

“And one more thing. I also have a desire to stand in the operating room with you, my student.”

“...”

“Perhaps this is my biggest desire.”

I felt a lump in my chest at my teacher’s sincere words.

Not leaving for the U.S. and having Yang Sun-jae as my teacher were blessings for me.

These two decisions were probably the best choices I made during my medical school years.

“If you support me, I won’t let you down.”

“Of course, you’ve never disappointed me.”

We smiled at each other, understanding each other without words.

* * *

After parting ways with my teacher, I headed to the subway station.

The interview was just an hour away.

I had planned to meet up with my friends and go to the interview location together.

“Black Knight, why are you coming from that direction?”

Shin Cheol-woo, standing at Exit 1, waved and acknowledged me.

“I had a brief meeting with Professor Yang. But am I still the Black Knight?”

I asked in a curt tone.

While “Black Knight” was a much better nickname than “Dandruff,” it still didn’t sit well with me.

“A Black Knight is always a Black Knight. How was your talk with the professor?”

“It went very well.”

I answered with a broad smile.

The news that my teacher was returning to support me and that I would soon be standing in the operating room with him was certainly good news.

That’s why...

I couldn’t wait to finish my internship and start working in thoracic surgery.

“You’ve already built connections with professors and have talent. What’s not to like?”

“Is there anyone who dislikes Jeju Island?”

“What? That’s a rotten joke... I thought you were from the North Pole.”

“What does it mean to be a good friend? Don’t you have to accept even boring jokes?”

I chatted with Shin Cheol-woo about various topics.

If I failed the internship exam, which was unlikely given my past life, Shin Cheol-woo planned to join the military.

By obtaining a medical license and immediately joining the military, he could almost certainly work as a public health officer.

Public health officers and military doctors.

If asked which was better, the answer would clearly be public health officers.

Public health officers didn’t have to be trapped in the military system like military doctors.

Of course, in my past life, I served as a military doctor.

I also had a few issues to address in the military.

“You two were here first.”

“Good afternoon.”

I turned my head towards the familiar voice.

Kwon Ah-reum and Nam Chae-ryong were waving and approaching us.

The two, who were once young college students in their first year of pre-med, now exuded maturity.

Six years is not a short time.

Just looking at how my daughter, who was in kindergarten, is now in middle school, you can see that.

“Phew. Look at all the pollen flying around.”

Kwon Ah-reum, standing next to us, waved her hands around.

As she said, dandelion seeds were floating around the street.

“Ah-reum, do you have pollen allergies?”

“No, not really. I just don’t like them sticking to my clothes. I’m wearing a black suit, and the seeds would stand out.”

As she answered Nam Chae-ryong’s question, Kwon Ah-reum kept brushing off her suit.

“By the way, dandelion seeds are not pollen but seeds. They don’t cause allergies.”

“Really?”

“Pollen that causes allergies is invisible. From late February to May, it’s mostly tree pollen.”

I took the opportunity to show off my knowledge.

I had studied this topic extensively because my mother suffered from rhinitis.

We headed to the hospital, discussing the upcoming interview.

The topic of conversation was the interview questions we had heard from seniors.

There were “question banks” for interviews, just as there were for practical exams.

“You guys go ahead. I have something to take care of.”

“With the interview just around the corner, what could you possibly have to do? Are you meeting a secret girlfriend?”

Shin Cheol-woo asked with a playful tone.

“Girlfriend? The Black Knight doesn’t have a girlfriend.”

“Hmm... Now that you mention it, you’re right. The Black Knight is everyone’s lover, so he can’t have a secret girlfriend.”

“Do you find that convincing?”

“Just make sure you’re not late and get to the interview on time.”

Unlike Shin Cheol-woo, Nam Chae-ryong spoke kindly and took care of me.

It was heartbreaking to think that such a kind and considerate person had tragically passed away during the orientation in my past life.

After sending my friends to the auditorium, I began to thoroughly search the hospital area.

I didn’t know the exact time,

nor the exact condition,

but the father of the emergency medicine professor who was interviewing today was somewhere in the hospital, collapsed.

I had to save him.

If I could save him in time, he wouldn’t suffer from any aftereffects.

I had heard that he collapsed near the hospital and was quickly transported, which saved his life.

With the keen eyes of a predator, I searched the hospital area.

However, after searching for over 30 minutes, I couldn’t find anyone collapsed.

Was it not yet time for him to collapse?

Or had he already collapsed and been taken to the emergency room?

As the interview time approached, I felt increasingly anxious.

The worst scenario would be failing to find the patient and missing the interview.

“Excuse me, have any elderly patients come to the emergency room in the past hour?”

“No, not that I know of.”

The emergency room staff, whom I approached in a hurry, answered in a flat tone.

I felt like I was sinking into a quagmire.

What should I do?

Should I just give up on the patient and go to the interview?

Without realizing it, my feet were moving towards the auditorium where the interview was held.

But right then,

a flash of insight struck me.

How did the patient get to the hospital?

As I pondered the means of transportation, the solution became clear.

If the patient had collapsed outdoors or inside the hospital, he would have been easily found.

There are so many people moving around the hospital.

In that case, he would have received prompt emergency care and avoided any aftereffects.

The fact that he was found late

meant that he had collapsed in a place with few people.

Where would such a place be?

As I shifted my thinking, the path forward became clear.

I ran towards that place, my suit and shirt flapping in the wind.