Chapter 41

41

* * * *

Last January.

The Sankang Life Public Welfare Foundation, under the Sankang Group, and the Sankang Medical Center, a medical corporation, joined hands with the Art Institute of Hankang University to launch a project.

The Human Anatomy Project InChe (體).

This project, where students from the Art Institute of Hankang University, with the support of hospitals affiliated with the Sankang Medical Center, would create three-dimensional materials heavily based on human anatomy, aimed to promote the joint development of human anatomy and the medical field.

A healthy and advanced medical development without unnecessary sacrifice of life.

This was the common goal of the three parties, or more precisely, the goal of the Sankang Life Public Welfare Foundation.

The Sankang Medical Center only participated to the extent that if there was a material they liked, they could buy it through an auction among the affiliated hospitals.

And Park Ji-yeop of the Art Institute of Hankang University was thrilled at the idea of using the budget generously to create materials related to human anatomy.

His goal, if he had one, was for this project to open a new horizon in the field of human anatomy.

In short, he hoped that this project would be reviewed positively and continue as a long-term project, not a short-term one.

To achieve this, he had to create high-quality three-dimensional materials.

However, the level of the students from the Department of Sculpture at Hankang University was not satisfactory. Park Ji-yeop was in a terrible state last January.

After much persuasion, he finally got permission from the Sankang Life Public Welfare Foundation and the Sankang Medical Center to include external participants in addition to the students. Just as he was feeling disappointed for not finding satisfactory talent,

He met Kang Seok!

* * * *

The door burst open.

"Student Kang Seok!"

Following Hwang No-min into the seminar room at Seoul Sankang Hospital, the first person I saw was Professor Park Ji-yeop from the Department of Sculpture at Hankang University.

"Professor. Hello."

"Of course. I saw your face, so of course I'm fine. Anyway, it's been a long time."

Park Ji-yeop's eyes were bloodshot. His shirt collar was wrinkled, and his tie was loose, making him look quite haggard.

According to Hwang No-min, he had been awake for three days and nights preparing for this class and the project. Even if I didn't know, I could tell from his appearance.

"I wanted to go to the opening of the exhibition... but I couldn't, which is a shame. It will be on display until the end of the solo exhibition, right?"

"Yes, that's right."

"I'll make time to go before the solo exhibition ends."

Park Ji-yeop moved with a hint of regret. He didn't seem to know that a new installation had been set up at the entrance of the Peony Gallery.

I shouldn't tell him, as he might be disappointed. Kang Seok kept his mouth shut. Or rather, thinking about it, the installation wasn't related to human anatomy, so he might not care either way.

Just as I was about to follow Park Ji-yeop, the gazes followed.

Who is it? First, it wasn't Hwang No-min, who was standing next to me. Hwang No-min was looking at the back of Park Ji-yeop, hoping he would notice him.

Kang Seok glanced back.

Everyone in the seminar room was looking at him.

'There are quite a few.'

Everyone was sending mixed looks of surprise, curiosity, and jealousy, but my first thought was about the number. There were many.

"Is that him?"

"Professor Park Ji-yeop is famous for not buying artworks, but he ran to the lecture as soon as it ended, eager to buy this one."

"But he didn't buy it, right?"

"Who told you that?"

"Brother No-min."

I thought it would be a small group, maybe four or five, but there were over a dozen.

These people are all from Hankang University.

Last night, Park Ji-yeop mentioned that, except for Kang Seok, everyone was from Hankang University.

Kang Seok had a hunch. The grades might differ, but most of them were from the Department of Sculpture. Sometimes, when art students see each other, they can tell each other's majors, and that was the case here.

"Sit here, Student Kang Seok. We'll start as soon as No-min arrives..."

"Professor, I'm here."

"......? Oh, really?"

Park Ji-yeop looked back at Hwang No-min, who had been following him, with no sign of embarrassment. Hwang No-min sighed and sat down next to Kang Seok, signaling that he had arrived and it was time to start the orientation.

"Then let's start."

Park Ji-yeop glanced at Kang Seok, saying he would see him later, and walked to the front of the stage. Despite the stage being set up for the medical staff of Seoul Sankang Hospital, Park Ji-yeop fit in perfectly.

His white hair gleamed under the white lights.

"Hello, everyone. As you've already heard, we're gathered here today for the Human Anatomy Project InChe. If you expected a simple human anatomy project, you might be surprised. This project is a collaboration between the Sankang Life Public Welfare Foundation, the Sankang Medical Center, and the Art Institute of Hankang University to create three-dimensional materials."

Park Ji-yeop began explaining the project with a friendly smile.

Three-dimensional materials. This wasn't an easy topic for the Department of Sculpture. For students accustomed to drawing human anatomy illustrations, watercolors, and sketches, it felt like another challenge.

Of course, Park Ji-yeop had explained everything before the orientation, so it wasn't as surprising as it was the first time they heard it.

And Kang Seok wasn't surprised either.

In fact, Kang Seok was more familiar with three-dimensional work than two-dimensional.

"First, as you've heard, the project will run from February 17 to April 7. However, the actual deadline for submitting materials is April 5, to coincide with the Sankang Medical Center's event on Health Day."

Park Ji-yeop emphasized the submission deadline of April 5 again.

49 days.

The time given to create the three-dimensional materials was only 49 days.

While Kang Seok didn't find it tight, it was quite a short period for others. Especially for creating unfamiliar three-dimensional human anatomy materials. The students grumbled, knowing the schedule was demanding.

Park Ji-yeop looked uncomfortable but said coldly to the grumbling students.

"You shouldn't grumble. Starting next month, that is, February, March, and April, for the three months the project runs, you will receive 3 million won per month, deposited into your account on the 26th, regardless of working hours."

The students nodded.

"That's true."

"Grumbling just now was a bit selfish."

However, Kang Seok had a different view.

While it might seem like a lot at first glance, calling students in the second half of February and asking them to create three-dimensional materials for a human anatomy project by April was essentially asking them to work on it every day.

Naturally, it would cost more money, and it would be difficult to pay for each task individually, so it made sense to give a comprehensive salary including overtime.

Of course, Kang Seok didn't voice this. Art, after all, isn't about hourly wages. He didn't join just for the 3 million won a month.

And this was true for most students at Hankang University. Park Ji-yeop was a renowned expert in human anatomy whom they wanted to work with.

The Sankang Medical Center also promised to reimburse material costs through the Sankang Life Public Welfare Foundation, provided receipts were submitted, on the 15th of the following month.

With 3 million won in February or using personal funds to buy materials and getting reimbursed later, the material costs were essentially free.

"Of course, this isn't the end."

Park Ji-yeop smiled his usual friendly smile.

Not the end?

The eyes of the Hankang University students widened in surprise. Park Ji-yeop walked to the side of the stage and spoke as if sharing a secret.

"There's a reason we need to create good three-dimensional materials. On April 7, Health Day, the materials we create will be sold at an auction, not donated."

Kang Seok glanced at Hwang No-min. Hwang No-min's eyes sparkled, as if saying, "I was right."

– 'There are three hospitals under the Sankang Medical Center. Two in Seoul and one in Busan. On April 7, the medical staff from these three hospitals will participate, and the three-dimensional materials will be auctioned to the hospitals. So, it's not just about providing the materials; it's better to create what each hospital wants.'

– 'What about the proceeds from the auction?'

– 'The proceeds will likely go to the creators. Professor Park Ji-yeop isn't the type to be obsessed with such things. He joined this project because he genuinely wants to create high-quality human anatomy materials.'

The conversation from the hallway flashed through his mind. For some reason, Hwang No-min seemed to like Kang Seok and was sharing information.

It also seemed like he wanted to boast about how much he knew.

"Sold?"

"Of course. You get 9 million won as a base, and if your material sells, you get additional money."

"Will it sell?"

"Most likely. I heard that Sankang Hospital has a lot of money, especially Seoul Sankang Hospital, which operates a VIP ward and makes a lot of money. So, they don't pressure the medical staff to meet performance targets."

The murmurs of the students spread through the air. They were just mumbling, so I couldn't hear them clearly.

"Alright, everyone. Just create good materials. No-min."

"......Yes?"

"No-min."

"Ah! Yes!"

Hwang No-min quickly stood up and started distributing the paper he had been holding. He must have gone to print it while walking in the hallway.

"Write your ideas on the paper and feel free to come to my office at any time. It's better to decide quickly, considering the possibility of changes."

The room became noisy. Everyone was excitedly discussing what they would create.

– 'It's better to create what each hospital wants.'

Kang Seok thought in silence. Materials that are anatomically accurate, that they want, that can sell for a high price, that have no substitutes, and that he wants to create.

'Time is 49 days. If I make one every 7 days......, it seems possible.'

Kang Seok gripped a ballpoint pen and started writing the proposal without hesitation. When he put down the pen after writing smoothly,

"Already finished?"

Hwang No-min asked as he sat down.

"Yes."

"Can I see it?"

Hwang No-min asked cautiously. Ideas are usually something you don't want to show others. But Kang Seok nodded without hesitation, just as he had written.

Hwang No-min looked down with pure curiosity, and Park Ji-yeop, who had approached without notice, peeked over Kang Seok's shoulder. They both looked back at Kang Seok with a "What is this?" expression as soon as they saw the paper.

The proposal started like this.

* * * *

The orange light turned on in the dark corridor.

Kang Chae-young was climbing the stairs. The heavy backpack seemed to be pulling her neck. Elevator. I need an elevator. Kang Chae-young held her breath, feeling the muscles in the front of her thighs being pulled.

The corridor wasn't soundproof, so if she made any noise, the whole floor of the apartment would hear.

Kang Chae-young clenched her teeth and climbed the stairs. When she reached the fourth floor, the door creaked open.

"Are you here?"

It was Baek Myung-hee. Kang Chae-young nodded vigorously and entered the house.

"I'm back."

"Did you go to the library?"

"Uh-huh. I went and came back."

"Nothing unusual today?"

"There was. Someone was wandering around and sticking Post-its everywhere at the slightest sound... I wish they hadn't. Why not go to the reading room? Why come to the free reading room and do that? Ugh. It was tiring."

Kang Chae-young took off her sneakers roughly and rubbed her face on the floor in front of the shoe rack, then rolled to the side with her eyes closed.

Thanks to Kang Seok's ant control application, she could roll around without worrying about ants, so her movements were more daring than before.

Roll, roll.

Just as Kang Chae-young was about to roll to the wall leading to the kitchen,

Rustle. She hit something. Rustle, thud. What is this? The sound was strange. Was there something on the wall? Kang Chae-young opened her eyes. Blink, blink. She slowly sat up.

"......What is all this?"

Now she noticed