Chapter 6: A Genius (3)

“Hey.”

The rounds by Manager Shin Hyun-tae didn’t take long. For patients already diagnosed, he just had to inform them that they needed more antibiotic treatment. For those yet undiagnosed, all he could say was for them to wait a bit longer.

As soon as Manager Shin left, Hwang Sunwoo, who was in his second year of residency, called out Suhyuk. The quick-witted Yoo Jisang tried to slip away quietly, but it proved futile.

“Where do you think you’re going? Aren’t we both first years?”

“Yes, I’m sorry.” Ji-sang bowed apologetically before Hwang Sunwoo.

It suddenly dawned on Suhyuk that this might be Hwang Sunwoo, the infamous “bad-tempered first-year resident” he had heard about since his internship days.

Suhyuk turned to look at Ji-sang’s face, and he realized that it was true. His face had gone pale.

“Do I look like a newbie? Are you lacking common sense? For fuck’s sake, when I said I didn’t know yet, you should have answered that you don’t know either. What? Did I say I knew everything?”

Suhyuk closed his eyes as he thought, ‘Here we go again’.

Naturally, Baruda, being an artificial intelligence, couldn’t understand what was happening.

[Suhyuk, why is this person acting like this?]

‘It’s because of you, dammit…’

[I do not understand what you mean. Baruda made the correct diagnosis.]

‘That isn’t the problem. If you don’t know something, then don’t speak on my behalf.’

[Mm.]

‘No, “mm” doesn’t cut it!’]

[Understood.]

Baruda and Shinna continued their lively conversation, but it seemed to stun Hwang Sunwoo.

‘Ha, look at this guy.’

It was as if something had gotten stuck inside Suhyuk’s head, and they couldn’t remove it. Sunwoo didn’t know about the strange events that occurred right after Suhyuk woke up such as studying non-stop. Unlike Manager Shin Hyun-tae, who feared Suhyuk, Sunwoo’s anger towards him continued to grow.

“This bastard is asking where you were hiding? Hmm?”

As he got angrier, he raised his foot to kick Suhyuk on the shin, but he couldn’t bring himself to follow through with the action. It might have been due to the cane Suhyuk held onto. Although bullying freshmen was somewhat ingrained within university culture…Sunwoo felt like there should be some line drawn when dealing with someone disabled.

He thought it would be crossing a line to hit someone with a disability. It wasn’t out of guilt but rather concern for his reputation. He already knew he wouldn’t become a professor, but one never knows what could happen.

“I’ll let you slide this time because you’re disabled. You…ughh…you take this instead.” He kicked Ji-sang’s shin who was standing next to him.

Since Hwang Sunwoo wore Crooks sneakers and not dress shoes, Ji-sang didn’t feel much pain from the kick. However, Ji-sang pretended as if it hurt immensely.

“Ahhhhh…”

Sunwoo liked seeing others suffer, so Ji-sang exaggerated his reaction accordingly. As expected, Hwang Sunwoo’s expression softened slightly. It was odd that an internal medicine doctor found pleasure in witnessing other people’s pain.

She wasn’t the only internist who had experienced this. Whenever there was a large group of people gathered together, you were bound to encounter some strange individuals.

“Hey, does it hurt? If so, then teach him some manners. Is this how you should behave here? Huh?”

“I’m sorry. I’ll make sure he understands his place.” Ji-sang bowed deeply while Suhyuk continued to stare off somewhere else as if lost in thought. She forcibly made him bow his head.

“What is with these weirdos? Haah…” It seemed Jiyoon didn’t like Suhyuk since he appeared distracted. To add insult to injury, she already felt slighted by Manager Shin Hyun-tae treating her like a clueless second year rookie.

To think this newbie, who had been here for only one day, was able to outshine him…

Weil’s Syndrome? Ha! Bullshit.

Even now, he couldn’t believe it. He was already in his second year, yet he’d never heard of Weil’s Syndrome before. How did this bastard know about it?

In order to overcome his feelings of inferiority, he needed to see Suhyuk squirming in front of him. Instead of inflicting physical pain, he decided to give Suhyuk some mental anguish, but someone cleared their throat.

“Ahem, hmm.”

Someone dared to interrupt when a second-year resident was roasting a first-year resident. He turned around with the intention of giving a piece of his mind to whoever didn’t have any manners, and saw that it was the director.

“Oh, Dr. Henry. Good afternoon!” Hwang Sunwoo immediately bowed deeply at a ninety-degree angle. Being a typical bully, he acted weak towards those stronger than himself while being aggressive towards those weaker than him.

The quick-witted Ji-sang also bowed to Dr. Henry. Only Suhyuk continued staring at empty space, and he was late to react.

The director had been observing them for some time now, and his emotions were extremely complicated. No, it wasn’t just complicated. Despite being an eminent scholar for several decades, he couldn’t find any words to describe what he felt.

“Senior, Lee Suhyuk seems like a genius. He is acting a bit strange though…but wow…I’m surprised.”

After hearing this from Manager Shin Hyun-tae, the director decided to come over himself to talk with Suhyuk. After all, as both the director of the hospital and a professor of Internal Medicine, it was within his purview.

‘This bastard… Isn’t this a little weird? If this is the future… Hyuntae, you son of a bitch…’

Even while being scolded by his senior, Lee Suhyuk couldn’t stop staring oddly and smirking. This was particularly concerning since investigations revealed that he hadn’t been like this before.

Yes… I need to ensure nothing goes wrong. There must be no accidents. Absolutely none…

It seemed the second-year resident had taken it upon himself to mentor the peculiar first-year. The kick to the shin came as quite a shock, but the director brushed it off, having experienced similar treatment during his own residency days. As inappropriate as it sounded coming from an educator, internal medicine doctors needed to learn how to save lives, even if it meant tough love.

However, Lee Suhyuk should not be subjected to such harsh methods. He appeared genuinely unhinged, after all.

It looked like he might even stab someone if provoked.

‘Nope, this won’t do.’

Fortunately, Dr. Henry knew very well what was the best way to protect first year residents. He didn’t need to say anything else. It was enough for him to pretend that everything was fine. The other residents would fill in the blanks with their own assumptions.

“Oh, I have something quick to discuss with Suhyuk. Do you mind giving us some time alone? Nothing serious though.”

“What? Ummm…yes. Yes, sir.”

“Great. Thank you. Oh, Suhyuk. Let’s grab a cup of coffee together. It has been awhile.”

As expected, Hwang Sunwoo, a second-year resident, retreated looking crestfallen. Yoo Jisang, who seemed to be his colleague, alternated between staring at Lee Suhyuk and Dr. Henry with his mouth agape.

Isn’t he from a poor family?

Even though Taehwa University’s medical school provided full scholarships…

It wasn’t as if students from poor families could attend. Instead, it attracted high achievers. When Suhyuk entered the program, all they had to do was line up applicants based on their national exam scores, and those within the quota for Taehwa University’s Medical School were accepted.

In other words, among all the students at Taehwa University’s Medical School, there was no one poorer than Suhyuk, who hailed from humble origins.

Yet, despite this, the director personally called upon him? And even invited him for coffee, something he hadn’t done in quite some time?

‘Royal… So, he’s actually a royal bloodline! That’s why he ranked fourth but chose Internal Medicine! Damn, I knew something seemed off!’

Yoo Jisang, with his limited imagination, reached only this conclusion. Of course, Hwang Sunwoo didn’t fare much differently.

‘Ah…I’m screwed… It was truly a royal patient…’

He looked back and forth between Suhyuk and the director with a crestfallen expression on his face.

“Yes…sir.” Suhyuk wasn’t sure what this was about, but he decided to follow Dr. Henry’s orders since it came from the director himself. Besides, based on the current atmosphere, Hwang Sunwoo wouldn’t be able to harass him anymore. He decided not to overthink things and just go along with it.

“Yes. So…what do you think of him? As his primary physician?” The director waited until they entered a bustling café before speaking again. Despite being somewhat eccentric by nature, the director usually avoided crowded places due to his position. However, today, people greeted him enthusiastically as soon as he appeared.

Suhyuk inadvertently showed everyone that he was with the director.

“I’ve only been doing it for one day, so I’m not sure yet.” Suhyuk responded to the director’s question with a bewildered expression on his face.

He tried to act like a typical first year resident doctor, but the director didn’t see him as such.

Look at this! Look at those eyes. Something is strange about them.

Luckily, their coffee cups were disposable take-out cups. Otherwise, the director would have been worried.

However, being a hospital director wasn’t just about enduring hardship silently. He had to reveal some of his inner thoughts.

“Yes, you’re right. Don’t be too disheartened by your need for a cane. There are many areas within Internal Medicine where physical strength isn’t necessary.”

“Thank you for your concern, Dr. Henry. I am fine.”

Suhyuk truly believed he was okay. The alumni association provided him with money, an internal medicine specialist agreed to create a customized prosthesis, and someone even offered to help find employment opportunities. Moreover, Suhyuk didn’t always need his cane; he could walk short distances without it. Of course, running quickly or any similar activities were still out of reach.

Regardless, this ensured he would likely be exempt from military service. Three years is not a short period, after all. Having limitations on one leg shouldn’t overshadow everything else negatively.

“Oh dear, how forgetful of me. I’ve taken up too much of your time.”

The director suddenly realized they had been chatting in the café instead of attending to business.

Suhyuk never dreamed that it was due to fear of him; he assumed the director’s busy schedule was the reason for the short meeting.

“Oh, yes. Then I will head upstairs.”

“Yes, yes. If anyone harasses you, uh…”

The director pondered over what would be an appropriate phrase instead of ‘don’t let them get away with it.’ He opened his mouth and suggested something that Suhyuk and those around him could easily understand.

“Instead of saying anything to them, mention my name first. And if there is any trouble, come talk to me or… No, better yet, inform Manager Shin Hyun-tae. Yes, that should work.”

“Ah, understood. Thank you, Dr. Choi.” Suhyuk smiled genuinely, expressing his gratitude towards the director who showed genuine concern for him. His eyes also lit up with warmth.

‘He is smiling. Damn, he is actually smiling.’

However, the director couldn’t accept it straightforwardly and hastily left the room.

Left alone with his ice Americano, Baruda started glowing again before Suhyuk’s eyes.

[Suhyuk, do not waste time. Consume large amounts of caffeine to improve your deficient computational abilities, and then you must assess Patient Kim Jinchul.]

‘Shut up.’

[If I shut up, Suhyuk will never know the diagnosis for Patient Kim Jinchul.]

‘Hah.’

Suhyuk wanted to firmly deny this, but since it seemed true, it made him even angrier.

[Will you really stay here? Or shall we go now?]

‘Fine, let’s go, g…go after finishing this drink.’

[Tick-tock.]

‘Don’t make those sounds; they unsettle people. It’ll take me just a minute, damn.’