Chapter 55

55

* * * *

Oh noble spirit, hand of lofty soul!

– Excerpt from a sonnet dedicated to Michelangelo by Bronzino –

* * * *

Working night shifts and coming in early in the morning, receiving updates on patient conditions, making rounds to see hospitalized patients, dividing outpatient consultations between the morning and afternoon, performing surgeries in between, participating in emergency surgeries at night, explaining upcoming surgeries to hospitalized patients, forming rapport with patients as a doctor, and even getting into tussles when refusing gifts from patients, asking a few questions to residents or chiefs for educational purposes, attending symposiums, reviewing papers, holding meetings with departments that require collaboration, checking upcoming surgeries, practicing new surgical techniques, eating to stay alive, occasionally washing one’s hair, drinking, and worrying about family matters, and so on.

Which doctor doesn't go through this? However, the 24 hours of doctors at Sanjiang Medical Center are excessively short.

It was far too insufficient.

Despite the good benefits and decent pay, it was excessively busy. This was a common situation for all doctors working at Sanjiang Medical Center.

As a large-scale hospital with over ten thousand employees, and with a large number of beds, it was as busy as its size suggested.

Nevertheless, the reason why doctors and nurses at the three hospitals of Sanjiang Medical Center always swarmed was due to the excellent benefits and high salaries.

And today, there was an ambiguous event somewhere in between these benefits.

“I’ve only slept for three hours in four days thanks to this event. Wow.”

“...Is that okay? Wait, weren’t you off yesterday? What did you do yesterday and sleep this morning?”

“Well, those university hospital guys finally had time, so we ended up drinking... Haha.”

“Ah, really, what a pain. While there might not be many doctors who take care of their health, from what I see, you should definitely get a neurosurgery checkup later. You’re really pushing your body to the limit. Right? Is it okay for a neurosurgery patient to be like this? It would be troublesome if you suddenly had brain problems and had to drop out. It would be a dirty rumor if a neurosurgery patient came out of the neurosurgery department.”

“Hey, Professor. That’s really harsh. But, Professor, remember what I mentioned before? Familial Natural Short Sleep (FNSS).”

“What about it?”

Familial Natural Short Sleep (FNSS).

It refers to a genetic variation in sleep patterns, where the amount of sleep needed is excessively short compared to the average person. Some argue that they do not suffer from the neurological degeneration or related diseases and side effects that neurologists claim are caused by sleep deprivation.

“I think I have that.”

“...Go to the hospital. Really, go. You must go during your next break and tell me the results. I’ve told you several times that self-diagnosis is not good, right?”

“...Professor.”

“Ah, it’s noisy. I’m leaving.”

Fellow Gong Taemin, who was massaging his shoulders with a massage device, followed the neurosurgery professor, Seong Joo-hwa, who had a uniquely intellectual gaze. Behind him, numerous doctors were gathering at the Seoul Sanjiang Hospital of Sanjiang Medical Center.

They were from other Sanjiang hospitals. With their messy hair, blood-stained Crocs, tired faces, and puffy faces with smudged makeup, they all looked like they were being chased by time and reality.

Benefits or not.

It was for the Sanjiang Medical Center World Health Day event.

They were not interested in the meaningless opening remarks, memorial ceremonies, or thank-you plaques, or the subsequent dinner. They only needed the sleep, the honey-like sleep, that they could get from this semi-mandatory event.

‘Since it’s the same event every year anyway.’

Today’s event was no more and no less than a motivational speech you might hear at an opening or closing ceremony.

‘It’s not a lecture, not a symposium, not a conference, why do they even have this meaningless event? They could just let us rest... Ah, there is one thing that’s a bit different this time.’

Seong Joo-hwa, the neurosurgery professor at Sanjiang Medical Center, who was being followed by Gong Taemin, turned his gaze to one side.

Unlike their stiff bodies, these were smooth-faced individuals dressed in vibrant colors. They were representatives from the Hankang Arts and Design School, who were participating in the event with a special segment to provide anatomical materials.

“Since it’s the day of the Project Inche presentation, how do you feel?”

“Having run the human anatomy project, do you think it will really be helpful to the medical community?”

“I’m curious about the preparations you’ve made.”

“Can you give us a hint? Or, if you’ve ranked the works personally, who would you give first place to?”

“There’s a story that a high school student participated in this project. Isn’t that a bit unfair?”

Most of the people holding microphones were familiar faces to Seong Joo-hwa.

‘Sanjiang Medical Center and Sanjiang Life Public Foundation, right?’

They seemed to have contacted their close journalist friends. They probably wanted to maximize media coverage since they had invested in it.

The microphone was almost hitting Professor Park Ji-yeop, as if trying to get him to say something provocative. Just as he was about to turn his head with a dubious expression at the familiar faces of the journalists, Seong Joo-hwa caught a peculiar sight.

A young man with slightly damp hair, holding a lollipop in his mouth, was reading a book. From his standing position, it seemed he was participating in Project Inche, but what caught his eye was the title of the book.

He was reading it with a serious face, blushing as if reading an adult magazine, exclaiming in admiration, and even laughing. It was a scene that caught the eye for both good and bad reasons.

‘There are a lot of eccentrics among artists...’

Seong Joo-hwa turned his body, having lost interest. At that moment, Park Ji-yeop’s voice reached him, who had just made eye contact with Gong Taemin.

“Today, the field of human anatomy will meet a new horizon.”

It was an enthusiastic voice.

* * * *

A space filled with people in white coats. On the stage, which was filled with an unfamiliar hospital smell, a woman in a black suit was fumbling with the screen.

━ Uh, I... So, I made this human model...

“Ugh... Ugh...”

━ Since a human model is better when it’s detailed, right? So, I read a book and tried to highlight this part, using more eye-catching fluorescent colors... I thought it would be effective... So, I did it like this. Uh, I’ll move to the next slide. So, I...

“Aaaa... I made a mistake. I made a mistake. You shouldn’t stop there.”

Jang Seok, who was watching from behind the purple tent, put down his book. He had placed [(You Can Be One Too! A Grinder Expert!) The Complete Guide to Grinders] loosely to the side and turned his head.

Jo Dong-beom, who had been biting his nails and looking distressed as if possessed by the woman in the black suit, turned his head at the same time.

“T, Teacher? Why are you like that? Is something uncomfortable?”

“...No. ...Just, nothing.”

Jang Seok rolled his eyes, looking for a proper excuse.

“W, When did you get so close to that college student?”

“Oh. You were curious about that. Well, a couple of days ago, I was anxious because the CCTV across from the garage seemed to have caught my teacher’s work when I was moving it.”

Why was he anxious about that? When Jang Seok looked at him with a puzzled expression, Jo Dong-beom looked back as if he didn’t understand the question.

“No. When I was moving the nude sculpture, it seemed to be caught on the CCTV, so I was anxious. I was worried in the corridor of Han Yejeong, and this student offered to check it for me. He said he was close with the convenience store across from our workshop. The next day, he came back and said there was no problem, but his expression was not good. When I asked him why, he said he had stage fright, so I...”

Jo Dong-beom continued to explain how he got close to the college student for a while. However, after a few minutes of concentration, his eyes gradually drifted back to the Complete Guide to Grinders.

“But, Teacher, why are you suddenly reading the Complete Guide to Grinders?”

Jo Dong-beom, who had been curious about this for a while, finally showed interest in Jang Seok’s book. He was genuinely puzzled about why his teacher wanted to become a grinder expert.

“Huh?”

Ah.

Doesn’t he know?

Jang Seok realized that he had only told Jo Dong-beom that he couldn’t come to the workshop every day due to the preparation for the graduation exhibition, but had not mentioned that he was going to present a marble sculpture at the exhibition.

“That’s because I’m using a grinder to carve marble this time. I’m reading this to learn more about grinders.”

“Oh. Marble, a new material. Can I come to see it at the graduation exhibition?”

“Of course.”

Jang Seok’s permission made Jo Dong-beom nod excitedly. Speaking of marble, he remembered a story he had heard recently.

“Teacher, this is a secret.”

“...Huh?”

If it’s a secret, why are you telling me? Jang Seok looked at Jo Dong-beom with a puzzled expression. However, Jo Dong-beom’s mouth was moving quickly, despite calling it a secret.

“Isn’t there the Bloom Art Museum run by the Sanjiang Cultural Foundation? You know it, right?”

“Yes, I know.”

He had just visited it and come home after a quick shower.

“It’s famous for only accepting reservations, right? So, the story hasn’t spread much yet, but they say a foreign sculptor is carving a huge piece of marble right now.”

“A huge piece of marble?”

“From what I heard, it seems to be a Korean-American or Chinese-American, judging by the black hair... Anyway, this foreign sculptor is using a grinder day and night, carving the marble at an incredible speed. People who have visited the museum are calling him the ‘Marble Cutter.’”

Hearing this, Jang Seok shuddered.

He had a feeling he knew who it was.

However, Jo Dong-beom didn’t notice his reaction. He was moving his hands expressively, as if he were a storyteller, even tapping his thigh and matching the rhythm.

“A month? From what I heard, he’s been there for about a month. They say his eyes are crazy. Just looking at him is scary and makes your heart race. They say if you make eye contact, he might cut you... How about we go see it sometime, Teacher? I’m curious about what kind of eyes you have that people are talking about like that.”

That’s me.

Jang Seok looked at Jo Dong-beom with a strange expression.

No matter how he listened, the description was pointing to him.

How should he explain this? Jang Seok scratched his nose, looking troubled.

First, he should say that he was carving marble, not cutting it. He had no intention of cutting anyone if they made eye contact. Or should he start by saying he’s a native Korean, not a foreigner?

Or should he tell Jo Dong-beom about the eye contact and the rumors, while he was still thinking.

“Jang Seok student. Jang Seok student.”

Park Ji-yeop approached. His eyes looked overly joyful, quite different from his usual calm, gentle, and kind look.

Joy was overflowing from his entire body.

“Jang Seok student, it’s almost your turn.”

Behind Park Ji-yeop, seven men appeared, each carrying a chair.

* * * *

“Of course, there’s nothing really amazing. Right, Professor?”

Gong Taemin whispered beside Professor Seong Joo-hwa. His skin condition was too good to have just taken a nap. It was possible that his fellow was really an FNSS.

He was even considering taking his fellow to a genetics research conference on sleep and brain degeneration.

“Professor?”

“...Hmm. There’s nothing really worth expecting.”

Seong Joo-hwa agreed, coming out of his thoughts. It wasn’t bad, actually. Considering they were college students, the quality was surprisingly high. But that was it.

Since they were current students, there was nothing that warranted the investment of research funds or departmental budgets. Should he just be happy that their sleep time has increased?

In fact, most doctors didn’t raise their hands, and the finance team bought most of the materials. Or maybe the orthopedic department?

Seong Joo-hwa leaned back in his chair. There was only one presenter left. He had a surgery tonight, so he would have to stand for at least five hours. Maybe he should get some sleep now, just as he was about to close his eyes.

━ Now, we have the final presentation.

Professor Park Ji-yeop of the Department of Sculpture at Hankang Arts and Design School took the microphone. Park Ji-yeop, who teaches human anatomy, is also a professor who frequently interacts with the medical staff of Sanjiang Medical Center.

Seong Joo-hwa had also requested his collaboration a few times to create illustrations for his papers. It seemed appropriate to wait until Park Ji-yeop finished speaking and then take a nap.

Behind Park Ji-yeop, seven men entered the stage, each carrying a chair. A performance? Seong Joo-hwa raised a question mark in his drowsy state. There were seven chairs.

The chairs were placed in order in the center of the stage, and the black-clad men disappeared offstage.

Park Ji-yeop smiled and looked around at the doctors.

━ Some of you might have heard me say that today, a new horizon might open in the field of human anatomy.

It’s hard to believe, isn’t it?

Park Ji-yeop said.

The doctors suppressed their laughter, feeling embarrassed. Their eyes, which were used to dealing with real people, were set too high. Even if it was Professor Park Ji-yeop, whom they usually had a good relationship with, they couldn’t help it. It was a matter of money, after all.

━ Let’s see. I’d like to introduce the final presenter of Project Inche, Jang Seok.

With a confident expression, Park Ji-yeop handed the microphone to the young man who appeared on stage, and then slowly disappeared.

There was a high school student participating in the project, and this was him. He stood out among the participants for his youthful appearance.

The young man, Jang Seok, slightly bowed.

He didn’t fold his waist excessively due to nervousness, nor did he bow at a 90-degree angle as is customary in Korea. He just greeted.

He scratched his nose slightly, and then, holding the microphone, he said:

━ Let me introduce Mark Twain.

And the seven black-clad men who had disappeared reappeared on stage, carrying seven nude human figures on their backs.

“What?”

“...?”

“Is he crazy?”

The doctors looked at each other, startled by the sudden appearance of nude human figures on stage. Even if they were men, bringing them on stage naked was excessive.

Most of the doctors instinctively leaned forward in their seats. They all looked wide awake. Seong Joo-hwa and Gong Taemin also slightly opened their mouths and looked at each other.

‘Professor, what is this...?’

‘Is this going to be a problem?’

This could lead to criticism from netizens who might come across the news. The finance and marketing teams, who had been smiling, now looked at the Sanjiang Life Public Foundation, which was in charge of the project, with serious expressions.

As if anticipating this reaction, Jang Seok looked at the people who had been seated and shrugged.

━ This is Mark Twain.

The doctors were speechless.

To bring human figures and call them Mark Twain.

It was like saying he had made soybeans with red beans and asking people to believe it.

“What the hell is this?”

56. After the Sculpture Was Completed