Sense-Chapter 71: Judgment Day (5)
『…』 – talking in English/other languages
1 PM.
Lim So-hee approached the bodyguard guarding the VIP ward.
"I'm Lim So-hee, CEO of KG Entertainment."
When she displayed her business and ID card, the door to Room 2003, where Tom Brand was hospitalized, opened. The parlor in the hospital room was already crowded with many guests, most of whom were officials from film companies.
"CEO Lim, you’re here."
The executive director of distributor Newbox came forward as he recognized Lim So-hee.
Lim So-hee asked the executive director, gazing at the bed where Tom Brand was lying through the door of the reception space.
"What did the hospital say?"
"We're waiting for that, too. I got a call that the doctor in charge of diagnosis will come soon."
"We should cancel all the promotional schedules. The distributor's position must also be bleak."
"There are many fans of the other artists, so it won't affect the box office success, but Tom Brand's physical condition looks really bad. Jet America may have to retire. We have obtained five distribution rights through exclusive contracts.….”
After passing by the worried executive director, she approached Matthew, Tom Brand's agent.
『Mr. Matthew.』
『CEO Lim.』
『I heard that the disease is serious.』
『The medical staff said that it might be malignant tumor and that we should be prepared.』
『I've already prepared a return ticket for you to leave right away, so tell me if you need it at any time. I'm really sorry about Mr. Brand's condition.』
Matthew expressed his gratitude for Lim So-hee's quick response.
『How should I reveal to the Korean media? Personal reasons?』
『Yes. Please do that for now. Our company has also scheduled an emergency meeting, so we will contact you again when the official response has been decided.』
With a nod, Lim So-hee moved toward the door to leave the hospital room after once more looking at Tom Brand who had his eyes closed.
KG Entertainment was in charge of the artist’s overall promotion schedule in Korea due to its relationship with its actors in blockbuster films, but now it was right to organize it neatly even if they lost money.
"Take good care of yourself."
Clank.
As she was going to touch the door, it opened first.
Lim So-hee looked up at the young doctor with a surprised look.
"Dr. Dowook?"
"Huh? The CEO was here, too."
Lim So-hee immediately made way because it was not the circumstance for a long greeting. Subsequently, older-looking doctors followed behind Dowook.
When the medical staff in charge entered, all the officials who were chatting calmed down.
Lim So-hee watched Dowook while stopping her steps to leave, after finishing her business.
She didn't expect him to be in a position to deal with a world-class celebrity like Tom Brand. This was totally unexpected.
"Boss?"
Actor Ryu Chul, who stood next to him after closing the door, looked at Lim So-hee with embarrassment. Lim So-hee also looked at Ryu Chul and said, "What are you doing here?"
"My friend is sick, so I can't stay still.”
"Today's volunteer work should be completed without Tom Brand.”
"I don't think the quality of the official channel video will deteriorate as the New Five and Blue High juniors are working hard. More than that, there's Dr. Park Dowook over there. The more I look at him, the crazier it seems. I think it was a good idea to cast him.”
"In what way?"
Ryu Chul summarized what happened in the morning. Lim So-hee had a light smile on her face when she heard that he showed off his skills to the point where his age didn’t prove a problem in front of older and more experienced professors.
"I knew he was the main character."
Tom Brand sat leaning against the bed.
Dowook passed the chart in his hand once and slowly conveyed the diagnosis results.
『Biopsies have concluded that the patient's symptoms are certain to be in the early stages of primary central nervous system lymphoma. They developed acute symptoms due to poor immunity.』
It was really rare to be diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor at the young age of 35. Not only Tom Brand but also his agent looked despondent.
『How should I treat it?』
『Anti-cancer chemotherapy is currently considered a standard induction treatment. Since it was discovered early, the prognosis should be positive if it is managed at a cancer hospital.….』
Vrrr.
While Dowook was announcing his diagnosis, his cell phone rang.
Dowook apologized and placed his cell phone on his ear.
"Yes, Professor Choi."
-I just checked the MRI. Neurological lymphoma is a tumor that has not been attempted surgical extraction. The case of Tom Brand, there are no similar cases in Korea. But I think I can do it. What about you?
"I'm…”
-If you're sure, make a suggestion.
After finishing the call, Dowook's eyes turned to Tom Brand.
It was on a completely different level to move from diagnosing the disease to recommending foreigners, especially movie actors, who the world was paying attention to, to operate at this hospital.
If he made a mistake, he would ruin his career as a neurosurgeon throughout the world.
However, Dowook did not fear this.
Ultra-difficult surgery to remove malignant tumor cells that were widely spread between brain tissues in a single attempt.
The next words popped out just because he wanted to do it.
『There’s another method. That is also to operate here.』
The eyes of section chief Won Dong-Gil, who was standing behind Dowook, widened as soon as he heard those words.
"Dr. Park. Surgery? What nonsense are you talking about?”
Professor Yeon Jung-woong also immediately disagreed.
"Why do you need to skip brain radiation therapy and chemotherapy?"
Dowook spoke to the two, who were full of anger throughout the examination, calmly after asking them to calm down.
"I didn't help you with this diagnosis to satisfy your curiosity. If you have any medical logic you want to refute, please argue with my superior, Professor Choi."
When he mentioned Choi Hoo, the two closed their mouths instantly.
Dowook looked at Tom Brand.
『The only recommendation Mr. Brand will get once you go back to a hospital in the United States and would be chemotherapy. And you’re going to hear things like this. There will be hair and weight loss, movement will slow down, and appetite will disappear. So, your life as a movie star will stagnate until you're completely cured.』
Tom Brand looked up at Dowook with a serious look. Dowook continued to speak.
『However, why don't you take a little risk to remove the tumor and continue your life as a movie star? That’s what I'd like to suggest.』
『Is there a reason I have to undergo the surgery here when it can be done by outstanding doctors in my country?』
『Where to perform the surgery is Mr. Brand's choice. However, Professor Choi and I can try to remove the tumor without any delay from the moment we open the patient’s head. We have skills that cannot be compared to ordinary surgeons that have to wait for the tumor to be revealed in detail through neural navigation confirmation time, real-time CT and fluorescent induction.』
Tom Brand, who looked worried, looked at the agent.
『What do you think?』
『I disagree. I can't guarantee the surgical ability of this hospital.』
『You can check it out. Contact all the hospitals in LA.』
『What if all of them recommend chemotherapy?』
Tom Brand looked at Dowook.
『I'll leave my life in the hands of that talented-looking Asian doctor. I can't live my whole life bald.』
Ryu Chul, who was snooping outside the hospital room and inside the parlor, scratched his cheek and asked Lim So-hee.
"What are they talking about? Tom, are you okay?”
"I think Park Dowook succeeded in promoting himself. The value of the hospital's name……. It's going to be much higher than I expected."
"What?"
3 PM.
Dowook looked around the entrance of the pediatric ward and approached Jang Soo-ran, the head of the nursing headquarters, who was leaving the ward management office.
"Director."
"Oh? Dr. Dowook, it's been a while since I saw you."
A 30-year-old middle-aged nurse known as the ward's mother greeted Dowook with, "Merry Christmas."
Dowook smiled and replied to the greeting and asked.
"Among the people who come and go to the management office. Is there an elderly man in his 60s who has a white beard?”
"I think you're talking about the manager."
"The head of the maintenance department?"
The head of the nursing department replied with a smile.
"Dr. Dowook might not know. He was a professor of internal medicine who’s now retired. That was already 10 years ago. I guess he’s been bored, so he’s been helping out with the ward since last month."
"As expected, he was a doctor. What's his name?”
"His name is very unique. Shim Pan. Prof. Choi’s name is the most famous now, but at that time, when one heard "Judgment Shim," all the professors died. His personality was like a tiger. You can't see his old self at all now though."
Listening to the old behind-the-scenes story of the hospital, Dowook only then understood the Santa fairy.
Vrrrrr.
During the conversation, a call arrived on his cell phone.
"You're busy even on holidays."
"Something keeps happening. I was going to see Professor Shim and greet him, but I guess it can’t be helped."
"Greeting? Did you get any help from him?"
"Yes. A lot of this and that. Can you give me his phone number? I have a question about diagnosis."
"I'll give you the nurse's call number, not the personal number. He'll respond during working hours."
"Thank you, director."
Dowook bowed his head. And he got a number that could contact, the Santa Fairy.
* * *
By 5 p.m., as the sky became dark.
Colorful Christmas lights turned on inside and outside the hospital, heating up the year-end atmosphere.
1st-floor lobby.
-Mic test. One, two. Please crank up the echo a little bit.
Ryu Chul checked the sound on the simple stage installed in the lobby and turned his head to the outside.
"Oh! It's snowing!"
Heavy snow was falling over the street.
Members of New Five and Blue High, who were practicing carols for a surprise performance in the evening, also jumped out of the back stage and focused their attention outside the glass door.
"It's a White Christmas."
"I know. The atmosphere of the concert is going to be totally different.”
Third floor, cafeteria.
"You don't want to eat with me? I brought Tom Brand…… No, Tom Brand was taken away by Semdol. Huh? There's something like that. Then I'll just go."
Lim So-hee, who lowered her cell phone, sighed at her younger sister’s refusal and stood up on the podium.
"Welcome."
"The bitter Americano…… No, I'd like a sweet hot chocolate, please."
Lim So-hee, who was looking for a place to sit with hot chocolate in a mug, sighed again when she saw the tables full of customers.
"Should I have gotten a take-out?"
Then, her eyes stayed at a table where no one was approaching. At first glance, a man with a noticeably blunt impression was sitting there, which was hard to ignore.
Lim So-hee also knew that face. It was Mystery Guy from the Convenience Store. She didn't know she'd see him here, so she had a smile on her face.
"Is that coffee the least delicious here?"
When she approached close and spoke confidently, Choi Hoo raised his head.
"In this cafe, the coffee beans are good, but the other things on the menu aren’t."
"What? No way….”
Lim So-hee slightly sipped on the hot chocolate.
"Ugh. It's fishy. How can chocolate taste fishy?"
Lim So-hee quickly asked Choi Hoo, who was looking back down.
"It's because there's no seat. Can I sit here?"
"Whatever you want."
Lim So-hee leaned on a chair and struggled with the hot chocolate for a while. Then, her eyes fell on the documents lined up in front of Choi Hoo on the table.
A picture of a face was embedded in the upper left corner, and career and educational background filled the content, a doctor's resume.
Choi Hoo was working on reading the resumes and classifying them, but Lim So-hee, who had seen many resumes, noticed that he seemed dissatisfied with them.
"I guess it's not about ability?"
"Do you know anything about character?"
"I've picked a lot. Because this is the kind of job I have."
Lim So-hee put her business card on the table and pushed it to Choi Hoo. After confirming that she was the CEO, he spoke slowly.
"It's not easy to judge a person only by a piece of paper. I need someone to match the team well, but it's due tomorrow."
"It's my job to deploy effective talent in such a situation. May I give you a tip?"
"Why do you want to help?"
"My sister was a patient here."
Lim So-hee pointed at a pile of resumes Choi Hoo hadn’t looked through yet.
"Let's see. An Hosan. He’s a family man. Three children. No additional work outside of regular working hours. I don't think he'll be able to come running whenever he is called.”
"Oh. Consider it that way.”
"There's more know-how. By the way, my hourly pay is very expensive. If you want to hear more…….”
"How much is it?"
"Not money, and buy me the most delicious drink at this cafe. I'll help you while drinking it."
Choi Hoo quickly rose and walked as ordered. And he brought a coffee that smelled the same as his drink and gave it to Lim So-hee.
Lim So-hee, who tasted it exclaimed in surprise.
"This is definitely great. That's strange. You bought the least delicious thing at the convenience store last time. But why are you drinking the most delicious drink right now?”
"I was going to give it to Dr. Park. In my surgical team."
"What?"
"Because he can't taste it, he prefers food that has a strong scent and strong tongue stimulation.”
Semdol has an issue with taste, and Mystery Guy from the Convenience Store was not that robotic.
"It's a fun team."
Lim So-hee looked at the resume and saw snow outside the window. She didn't know she would be sitting alone in a cafe with a man and drinking coffee on a snowy Christmas.
Smiling slightly, he met Choi Hoo’s calm gaze.
"Funny people are not considered."
"Yes, yes."
Fifth floor, chief’s office.
Ha Sang Joong was giggling while looking at the computer screen.
A picture of himself shaking hands with actor Ryu Chul with a happy expression. This would soon be reprinted and framed so it could be hung on the wall of the chief’s office.
"Dowook made me work for six hours and did a business that left a lot of money. I can't believe I let a famous actor use his face freely.”
Vrrr.
When he looked at the screen, his cell phone rang, and it was his daughter.
"Yes, daughter. Are you coming? Like I said, New Five is performing in the hospital lobby today. Do you want Ha Hyungmin's autograph? Of course, of course. I’m the best, right?"
After finishing the call, Ha Sang Joong's face, who had been pleased for a while, looked at the message from the head of the human resources department at the bottom of the monitor.
[Does it make sense to have an anesthesiologist assigned to a professor's team? Neurosurgery is already in the red. What are you going to do?]
"I know. Choi Hoo is crazy about perfect surgery, so if I don't do it, he won't listen. What can I do?"
Ha Sang Joong sighed and looked out the window.
"The snow falls silently, but there are no days in our department that are quiet because of the two surgeons."
20th floor, VIP lounge.
Dowook approached Lim So Yool, who was staring out of the window blankly.
"Director."
"Oh, I'm here."
Lim So Yool's expression looked a little dark, so Dowook sat next to her and asked.
"Did something bad happen?"
"Just… I remembered the Christmas I spent with my college friends in Seville."
"Did you all study math under the tree? Or… It's not like that, right?”
If it were usual, she would have glared at this question, but this time she smiled blandly. There seemed to be a reason for not revealing something, but Dowook did not ask anymore.
"That's right. Merry Christmas."
Dowook said and took a bunch of candy out of his pocket. It was a luxurious candy in pretty wrappers.
"Ryu Chul gave it to me. An overseas fan gave it to him as a gift or something. Sugar and syrup. It's an exquisite blend of fruit concentrate and honey.”
Lim So Yool, who picked up one of the candy bundles on the table, opened the wrapper and put it in her mouth.
"Delicious…"
"Really?"
"Doctor, you should try it, too.”
"It doesn't mean much to me. I don’t have a sense of taste."
Her eyes became round.
"Lies. Really?"
"You don't have to look at it with such sad eyes because I’m living without much discomfort."
Lim So Yool, who looked sad at the fact that he could not taste this delicious thing, soon confessed.
"I got a call from someone I hate the most in Korea. So I was depressed, but I feel better because of you. Thank you."
"It's probably because of the expensive candy."
Lim So Yool glared at Dowook. Dowook smiled lightly and revealed why he came up here.
"The diagnosis of Gabi. I think I found someone who can help me a lot. Sooner or later, let's push for a thorough diagnosis.”
"That's great. I'll talk to Gabi's parents."
Ta-tap..
Snowflakes were attached to the window of the sky lounge.
"Oh, it’s finally here."
"What?"
"Snow."
Following the direction Dowook was pointing, Lim So Yool's gaze headed towards the window.
"Oh my…"
In front of the two, a white gift created by winter collided like a wave.
The falling snowflakes, the people on the streets who enjoyed them.
The atmosphere outside was not just Christmas. The two people sitting side by side also became part of Christmas.
—–
Sync: ‘Judge/Judgment Shim’s’ hand acupuncture
Action: At this moment, clinical reasoning that is most suitable for the patient's disease can be carried out. The ability to prescribe drugs accurately is a bonus.
A/N: A bit of a fun fact about this novel that I wanted to share is the author has a slightly weird naming sense. For example, Choi Hoo literally means “The End/Last” and is probably part of the reason behind his nickname as ‘Last Choi.’ Ji Hwi-gwan also literally means commander, hence his nickname ‘Commander Ji/G.’ Shim Pan in Korean literally means judgment/referee, again the reason for his nickname. It’s funny although it makes me as the translator second guess myself when it comes to new names.
