Chapter 89

Chapter 3: Trouble Maker (4)

After confirming the bottle of soju in the soda bottle, I smiled wryly.

I had found the weakness of Kim Seulgi that I had been searching for so desperately.

When she was on duty.

Or perhaps when she drank before going to bed, as some doctors occasionally did.

However, it was a clear violation of the hospital's ethical standards.

In a place that deals with human lives.

No one would tolerate a doctor who drinks.

I stared lovingly at the soda bottle for a long time before putting it back in its place.

It wasn't time to use this weapon yet.

Even if I exposed Kim Seulgi for drinking, there was a risk that it would end up as a one-time incident.

Given the strong trust that senior staff had in Kim Seulgi.

The moment to expose her would be when I could reveal two or three weaknesses at once.

Only then would Kim Seulgi completely fall apart.

“Lee Minjeom, what are you doing?”

As if summoned by my words, Kim Seulgi returned to the on-call room.

I had to hide my excitement.

“I was cleaning the on-call room. It was smelly, dusty, and full of clutter.”

“Cleaning is good. You have a good sense of initiative… Minjeom, from now on, you just need to be more observant.”

“I think I have a long way to go to be like you, senior.”

“Of course, you do.”

Kim Seulgi laughed heartily and sat down in front of the computer.

Even though she wasn't on duty today, she started inputting prescriptions busily.

Some people misunderstand hospital work, thinking that being off duty means taking the whole day off.

Being off duty in a hospital means not having to do night shifts.

I also took a seat next to Kim Seulgi and started writing discharge orders.

An ECG test might be better done later at night.

* * *

Past midnight.

The 2nd, 3rd, and 4th-year residents had already returned to the on-call room and were sleeping in their beds.

The snoring of the 3rd-year resident sounded like a plane taking off.

But no one woke up.

They must have been that tired.

When I was a resident, I never woke up in the middle of the night unless someone woke me up.

“Sleep when you can. Don’t regret it later. Days like today don’t come often.”

Oh Hyunjun, who was on duty, spoke to me.

I was sitting next to him, memorizing ECG data on the computer.

Because I had so much to do all day.

The only way to study was to reduce my sleep time.

I was already practicing the modern version of studying by day and night.

It was tough, but there was no other way.

To get ahead of others, I had to sacrifice something.

“I’m fine. I usually don’t need much sleep, and it’s only the second day.”

“Why are you cutting down on sleep to study?”

Oh Hyunjun leaned in, showing curiosity.

“Professor Kim Yong gave me an assignment to study ECGs, so I’m doing that.”

“Planning to specialize in cardiology?”

“No, I’m going to specialize in thoracic surgery.”

“You’re as eccentric as I heard. I don’t know you well, but I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“Haha, I’m flattered.”

“Sorry to say, but just bear with Seulgi for a month, even if she treats you like dirt.”

Oh Hyunjun continued, as if consoling me.

Leaving the hospital because of Kim Seulgi would ultimately be to my detriment.

The application period for internships at the Big 5 hospitals had already ended, so my career could be set back.

It would be too much of a loss to give up the benefits of my alma mater's hospital.

His words were spot on.

Kim Seulgi knew this, which is why she treated interns so poorly.

What a spineless person...

Having a heartfelt conversation, I realized that Oh Hyunjun was a decent person.

He knew how to balance the needs of seniors and juniors.

He tried to understand me and empathized with my struggles.

The difficult life of a doctor.

Or any professional life, for that matter, can be endured thanks to people like Oh Hyunjun.

After a brief chat, I returned to my ECG studies.

My body was tired, and my head felt heavy.

If I followed my usual routine, it would be time to sleep.

The ECG graphs weren't sinking in well.

Still, I struggled to memorize them.

Given the limited time, I needed to use it as effectively as possible.

An hour passed, then two.

Even Oh Hyunjun, who was handling prescriptions, was nodding off repeatedly.

I stood up to stretch, careful not to wake him.

I had been on duty the night before, so I was exhausted, but I thought I could study for one more hour before sleeping.

This was advice from Professor Seo, who was my mentor in my previous life.

My desire was to become an expert in ECG interpretation, so I needed to shape myself according to that desire.

‘What’s that noise?’

Listening carefully, I heard a commotion outside.

It sounded like someone was arguing.

A disturbance at such a late hour when patients should be sleeping...

Curious, I quietly went out into the ward corridor.

A night-shift nurse and a large man were moving toward the station.

They seemed to be the source of the disturbance.

“Yang Seoyeon, what’s going on?”

When they reached the station, I asked Yang Seoyeon.

“Doctor, you’re still awake?”

Yang Seoyeon's expression brightened.

As if I were her savior.

It was clear that she was having trouble with the man beside her.

“This is the guardian of patient 710, Lee Sunjae.”

“Yes.”

“I noticed the guardian drinking in the room during my rounds. I told him it wasn’t allowed, but he got angry.”

Because the guardian was present, Yang Seoyeon was trying to keep her emotions in check.

But she must have been boiling inside.

How could someone be so lacking in common sense?

To drink in a hospital room when everyone else is sleeping.

Of course, I felt the same way as Yang Seoyeon.

A hospital is a place where touching and poignant stories unfold, but it is also a place where despicable and ugly things happen.

“Hey, did I make a lot of noise? Did I eat snacks loudly?”

“...”

“Just drinking quietly, and that’s not allowed?”

The man, who looked to be in his mid-40s, started speaking rudely.

He was acting as if he had every right to be angry.

The veins on my forehead were popping out from his rude behavior and words.

...Is this really a human being?

“Sir, drinking is not allowed in the hospital. We explained this before admission.”

“Doesn’t it only apply to patients? I’m healthy, so it’s fine, right?”

“Whether you’re a patient or a guardian, drinking is not allowed. It’s a rule. I’ve been telling you this for days...”

Despite Yang Seoyeon's patient persuasion, the guardian wouldn't listen.

He huffed, unable to control his temper.

Yang Seoyeon, looking scared, shrank back.

It was time for me to step in.

“Yang Seoyeon, please look at me for a moment. Guardian, can you wait a moment?”

“What are you, anyway?”

“I’m a doctor.”

Intentionally using the term "doctor" instead of "intern," I called Yang Seoyeon into the station.

I listened to her story about the guardian.

His name was Jo Heetae.

A super troublemaker in the cardiology department.

He had been drinking in the room since admission.

Recently, he had switched to drinking at night after being caught during the day, and he had even tried to offer drinks to other guardians.

“Doctor, I’m really struggling because of this guy. Everyone is refusing to do night shifts because of him.”

I felt sorry for Yang Seoyeon.

The staff closest to patients, both physically and emotionally, are the nurses.

So, when a patient or guardian is a troublemaker, the nurses suffer the most.

With a super troublemaker like Jo Heetae, the suffering must be unbearable.

“I’ll handle it. Please stay out of it.”

“Thank you, but I feel bad...”

“If you feel bad, sing a pop song. I like pop songs.”

My joke made Yang Seoyeon's eyes widen.

I tried to lighten the mood, but it didn’t work well.

Even after reincarnation, my sense of humor hasn’t improved.

“Anyway, just watch and don’t interfere. Got it?”

I aligned my words with Yang Seoyeon and returned to the station.

Jo Heetae, recognizing me as a new opponent, glared at me.

“Guardian.”

“What?”

“The hospital is not a place for you to drink. Please refrain from drinking from now on.”

I took a firm stance with Jo Heetae.

With the recording function on my phone activated.

Patients and guardians who are labeled as troublemakers in hospitals can be divided into two main categories.

The first category consists of patients who became troublemakers due to poor hospital services and lack of care from staff.

In this case, the medical staff also bear significant responsibility.

It often results from taking out stress on innocent patients.

The first category of troublemakers, strictly speaking, are not troublemakers, so they can be easily calmed down if the staff admit their mistakes.

And the second category.

Patients and guardians who are inherently troublemakers.

Like Jo Heetae in front of me.

They are arrogant and disrespectful, like immature calves.

Therefore, when dealing with the second category, one must be firm.

It’s only possible to reason with someone if they are a reasonable person.

“So, you’re saying that as long as I don’t disturb others and drink quietly, it’s fine. Can’t a young person understand that much?”

“It seems you’re misunderstanding. Drinking in a hospital room is itself a disturbance.”

“...”

“Guardian, do you realize that you smell of alcohol? And that you’ve disturbed the other patients and guardians in the same room?”

“... Damn, you’re really pissing me off. What’s your name? Lee Minjeom? I’ll tell the professor everything during rounds tomorrow.”

“...”

“Young guy, you don’t know how to respect a guardian and act rudely.”

“It seems the one at a disadvantage is the guardian...”

“Me?”

Jo Heetae sneered.

“All our conversations are being recorded.”

I took out my phone from my doctor’s coat pocket and showed it to Jo Heetae.

His face turned pale instantly.

His flustered expression was priceless.

“Can a doctor record a conversation without the guardian’s consent?”

“No consent is needed for a party to record a conversation. It also has legal standing.”

“Hey, give me that. Quickly!”

Perhaps his judgment was clouded by alcohol.

Feeling the danger, Jo Heetae lunged to grab the phone.

“Hey! Hey! Are you pushing me? This is not allowed!”

I showcased my peak acting skills, honed since I was one year old.

After calculating the CCTV angles precisely,

I pretended to be pushed by Jo Heetae and fell backward.

As soon as I performed the fall, I stopped the recording.

Then I stood up, smiling coldly.

“The recording of our conversation and the CCTV footage of the guardian pushing me are both available.”

“What... What are you talking about? I didn’t push you.”

Jo Heetae shook his head, looking bewildered.

He seemed to realize the situation was serious,

And I recognized that I had taken full control of the conversation.

That’s how you deal with people.

“Yang Seoyeon, did I fall on my own? Is it possible to fall on my own in this situation?”

“No...”

“Even a witness can testify that you pushed me.”

I continued, smiling coldly.

“Do you want to be charged with assault, or do you want to stop drinking?”