Chapter 147

Suhyuk moved with Prof. Han Myungjin.

When they were heading for Han’s office, the medical staff whispered among themselves.

“Is he Dr. Lee? He is so handsome…”

“I hear that he is receiving the n.o.bel Prize this time at that young age. How wonderful!”

Though they spoke in a low voice, it was not that low enough for Suhyuk to not overhear.

Soon they arrived at the office.

Offering him coffee, Han opened his mouth,

“You look great seeming as if you have spent a good time on the island.”

“Yes, sir. The air was nice, and I feel as if I came here after a nice vacation there.”

Probably Suhyuk would be the only person to say so among those who returned after their a.s.signment on the lonely island.

“Now, what are you going to do from now on?”

“Well, I think I have to visit the Blue House, and get the prize later.”

He left the island on the condition that the clinic facilities be expanded, along with an increase in the medical staff there. He had to make sure the promise is kept.

“Anyway, you’re really great, man. Do you know how many n.o.bel Prize winners our country has produced so far?”

“I think I would be the second if I get the award this time.”

He would be famous, but would not feel burdened like before.

He had a new objective now, which was to disseminate his knowledge on stem cell research.

He was no more the Suhyuk of the past.

In the past he was only concerned with seeing the patients, but now he had a broader vision of his goal. He was growing professionally as a doctor now.

“When are you going to the Blue House?”

“They’re supposed to give me a call.”

‘By the way, how come you came here? You had better take some rest at home.”

“Oh, I’m so bored at home,” said Suhyuk with a smile.

***

When Suhyuk visited the cardiothoracic surgery department, many staff greeted him gladly.

Among them Park Sungjae was the one who welcomed him the most emotionally.

“Sir, congrats!”

With a smile Suhyuk asked, “How have you been?”

“Good, sir. I missed you a lot!”

“Now can you find the blood vessels well?”

Park scratched his head, thinking of the embarra.s.sing memories of the past.

Now he could deal with any patient.

“Yes, sir. I can find it instantly thanks to your teaching!”

Looking at him nervously, Park asked,

“You’re not going anywhere, right?”

Suhyuk smiled at his question without replying, which Park took as a positive sign that he would not.

“Sir, can I have lunch with you later? I’m going to see a patient now…”

“Can I go with you to see the patient?”

“Of course!”

Both of them went to the patient’s room.

Looking at the chart, Park said,

“She is an 18-year-old patient who swallowed a razor.”

“Swallowed a razor?”

“Yes, I heard that she broke it with her teeth partially before swallowing it while she was fighting with her father.”

Suhyuk shook his head from side to side.

Approaching the student, Suhyuk asked,

“Do you feel uncomfortable or painful in the stomach?”

Watching TV on the bed, she glanced at him, replying,

“No, not at all.”

Suhyuk asked Park, “Did she get a CT?”

‘Yes, some fragments of a razor were seen inside the small intestine.”

“When did you take it?”

“When she was taken to the emergency room.”

Nodding his head, Suhyuk asked Park to take another CT.

Park took her to the CT room immediately.

Suhyuk watched the monitor right behind the gla.s.s room where the patient was staying.

A razor about 2 cm in diameter.

He heard that it’s inside the small intestine, but it was now down to the ascending colon.

The fact that she did not complain about any pain meant that the razor fragments had not damaged her organs yet.

“Don’t you think she needs surgery? They can break out of the organ walls at any moment…”

Suhyuk smiled, saying,

“Our organ walls are not as vulnerable as we think. And you had better resort to incision as the last resort.”

That was what Suhyuk believed in as a rule.

Namely, a surgeon should not carelessly use a scalpel to open the patient’s belly.

Surgery could be done only in a situation where internal treatment was difficult, and there was no other way than open surgery for treatment.

“Shall I wait until they come out of the organs then?”

Suhyuk nodded his head.

“I think you had better monitor her condition during the day until tomorrow.”

“Yes, I got it, sir!”

As Suhyuk said, the razor disappeared from her body on the second day of her hospitalization.

It just came out from her body.

Park nodded his head, confirming it on the monitor.

***

1pm.

After a light lunch Suhyuk was going out of his house.

He was wearing a black suit perfectly fitting his body.

Then a man got out of a luxury sedan parked on the other side of his house.

He was the chief presidential bodyguard Choi Kitaek.

“How are you, sir?” said Choi, lowering his head.

Then he got inside the car when Choi opened the back door.

An hour’s drive took him to the Blue House.

Getting out of the car, Suhyuk looked around slowly.

He was accustomed to it as it was seen on TV, but he felt its surroundings strange on his actual visit.

His parents were busy calling their relatives about Suhyuk’s visit to the Blue House, praising it as a family celebration.

“Let’s go inside,” said Choi.

Nodding his head, he followed Choi.

How many minutes did he walk for? Choi was standing before a big gate.

It was inscribed with gold-colored Mugunghwa, a rose of Sharon on its front.

“Wait a moment here.”

Suhyuk fixed up his clothing in the meantime.

Soon Choi reappeared, with the door opening.

“Now you can come in…”

There was a big red carpet in the entrance.

A middle-aged woman sitting at the PC desk confirmed his name, and stood up.

“Come on in!” said a gentleman.

He came up to him for a handshake.

“My name is Jang Chulwoo, the chief presidential secretary.”

Suhyuk grabbed his hand, saying, “My name is Lee Suhyuk.”

“You achieved a really great thing! We didn’t know that there is such a talented man like you in this country. I’m proud of you as a citizen of this country.”

Suhyuk made an awkward smile at his flattering.

“Oh, the President is waiting for you now. I’ll escort you to the guest house.”

Suhyuk moved again, escorted by him. It was not that long.

Arriving at the gate, he knocked on it lightly before going in.

There were several guests seated there, and he saw someone seated on the upper seat of the table. He was the President of Korea.

***

Now Suhyuk was coming out of the guest house.

It looked like he talked for about two hours with the President over lunch.

The President said something like this: thanks for promoting our country’s prestige, a special plane will be provided for your flight to Norway for the n.o.bel Prize, etc. And exemption from the military service, too.

“Let’s go,” said Choi, who was on standby nearby.

Never did he think that he would come to visit the Blue House like this.

“Please give me a ride only to the entrance,” said Suhyuk.

“Well, I have a duty to escort you in safety…”

“I’ve got an appointment, though.”

“Got it, then.”

Of course, the appointment he mentioned was a lie. He just wanted to buy some trekking shoes for his parents who said they were going mountaineering.

Soon the car arrived at the entrance, and Suhyuk got off there.

“Take care then!”

“Thanks.”

After exchanging greetings with Choi, Suhyuk walked for a bit before catching a taxi.

He felt much more comfortable now without the bodyguards.

Now he was heading for the department stores in downtown.

He would have felt it burdensome to come to this place in the past, but he still had lot of money that he had earned during his stay in the United States.

Once inside the department, Suhyuk carefully checked the trekking shoes for the best quality ones.

He spent about 30 minutes time selecting the trekking shoes and clothes.

When Suhyuk presented his card to the counter clerk, she took a glance at him, saying

“Oh, are you Dr. Lee Suhyuk by any chance?”

Suhyuk’s eyes opened wide because she was a total stranger to him.

“Yes, I am. How did you know me?”

In a blush she said, “I saw a TV doc.u.mentary about you the other day.”

“I hear that you’re receiving n.o.bel Prize this time…”

When she asked cautiously, he nodded his head awkwardly.

“Wow! Congratulations! I heard that only a genius can get the prize.”

“Thanks.”

Paying the bill instantly, Suhyuk left the place.

Then the employee stopped him, asking, “Hey doctor!”

He turned his head at her.

“Can you pose with me for a picture?”

“Oh… no problem…”

Click!

“Thanks!”

Suhyuk left the shop instantly, but he was still hanging around in the department store.

He wanted to buy some more things for his parents, but could not think of anything.

Then one item came into his eyes. A nicely wrapped piece of delicious beef.

He purchased it without any hesitation because his parents liked meat.

Then he went up and down the escalators.

Suddenly he stopped walking at the voice of a woman behind him.

He turned his head backwards to find a familiar face out there.

She was holding the hands of a man who looked stout, as if they were a couple.

Walking from the opposite side she also found Suhyuk.

Suhyuk smiled at her, saying,

“Long time, no see, Binna!”