At that moment, in the president’s office of Hyun Do Motors—
Jeong Mong-gi, the eldest son whose proposal had been rejected by Kim Cheol-su, was furious. He shouted at his aide, Lee Hae-chun.
“Hah! Just what does that bastard Kim Cheol-su want? Even when we offer money, he refuses, and when we promise a promotion, he still declines. It’s truly infuriating. What if my younger brother somehow survives?”
“Do you really think he will survive, sir? That’s unlikely. He has cholangiocarcinoma.”
“Well, go out and find something. Figure out Kim Cheol-su’s weakness! Does he have any family? Maybe digging into that side would be useful.”
“Understood, sir. I’ll look into it.”
After leaving Hyun Do Motors’ president’s office, Lee Hae-chun reflected quietly.
The third son, Jeong Mong-hun—who had inherited the Hyun Do Group last year—would never survive.
He’d been diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma, a terminal bile duct cancer.
There was no way he’d return alive to the group.
No matter how skilled a doctor Kim Cheol-su was, curing that would be a miracle.
“Huh. Life really is unpredictable. Who would’ve thought Jeong Mong-hun, the one destined to succeed the group, would end up like this? Still, it’s a blessing for us—the opportunity’s here. We have to seize it and take over Hyun Do Group. It’s unfortunate for him… but it is what it is.”
He stepped out onto the terrace, lighting a cigarette and enjoying the fresh air.
There was a gloom in his eyes. To think someone who’d been Korea’s top conglomerate heir could fall so far—it was pitiful, yet inevitable.
It was no wonder people called this corporate war the “Prince’s Rebellion.”
The defeated prince returns to the earth as a withered branch.
Perhaps it would be better for everyone if he simply died from cancer. Then this vile war could end sooner.
Zig zag –
Flicking the cigarette ash to the ground, Lee Hae-chun crushed it under his shoe and left the terrace.
If Jeong Mong-hun died like this, everything would return to the way it was meant to be.
After all, primogeniture succession was the tradition of this country—a convenient justification for Hyun Do Motors.
****
“Uh, the big electromyography test? Isn’t that painful? I don’t like pain.”
“Forget it. But since it’s important to confirm, there’s no avoiding it.”
What Kim Cheol-su was about to perform was an electromyography diagnosis of the sciatic nerve beneath the thigh.
He knew the exact indications for this test.
The reason he hadn’t mentioned it earlier was because the suspected diagnosis was sciatic nerve damage.
There were many causes of nerve damage.
The nerve itself could be injured from trauma, or the surrounding muscle could hypertrophy and compress it.
In any case, if the nerve was damaged, the first symptom was numbness—
then the loss of sensation would follow.
It was certain that Grandma Kim Bok-soon’s left lower limb had a problem.
“It might hurt a little, Grandma. Please don’t tense up too much.”
Several sharp needle electrodes were inserted into Grandma’s bare leg.
As Kim Cheol-su stretched the leg where the sciatic nerve was located, the electromyography clearly showed that nerve conduction speed slowed when the leg was extended.
It was definite—the hypertrophied muscle was pressing on the sciatic nerve.
Finally confirming the cause of the illness, Kim Cheol-su’s face brightened.
“There’s a problem with the nerve as well. This is a case of sciatic nerve neuropathy (M0004557090006).
The hypertrophied muscle from trauma is compressing the sciatic nerve below, causing nerve pain throughout the lower limb. Have you ridden a bicycle recently?”
“No, but I did fall hard while working.”
“Then that’s when the muscle was injured. The symptoms might improve slowly on their own, but what shall we do?”
“The doctor says if you’re good at injections, just give me a good shot to make it better.”
“Understood. Sergeant No. 77, prepare the injection.”
“Yes, sir.”
Kim Cheol-su administered an injection containing corticosteroid and local anesthetic into the hypertrophied muscle.
Finding the exact trigger point for pain (1199HA0AE00) was not easy, but he focused all his attention.
Ziiing.
Click –
By enhancing his visual acuity until his eyes almost hurt, he pinpointed the exact pain trigger within the hypertrophied muscle.
The difference was so subtle it had been invisible earlier.
Despite his eyes nearly popping out, Kim Cheol-su endured and injected precisely.
“Phew—done. When you go home, I’ll prescribe medication, so please take it without skipping, alright?”
“Wow, I don’t feel any pain now. After just one shot, I feel completely cured! Thank you, Doctor. You really are a master! I’ll bring a box of fruit next time I visit. This leg is the best!”
“Haha, as long as you’re not in pain, that’s all that matters. But if you do bring fruit, I won’t say no.”
After the old lady left, Kim Cheol-su said to Shin Se-young,
“I’ll prescribe 4540—Bisteroid anti-inflammatory (Ibuprofen, Naproxen). Please remind Grandma to take all her medicine when she gets home.”
“Understood, sir. It’s busy around Ham-pyeong Hospital—wait! Would you like some tea? I’ll make some!”
Her cheerful smile made it feel just like being back at the military hospital.
At that moment, Kim Cheol-su suddenly froze.
“Oh no! I left my cell phone in Seoul!”
He quickly borrowed her phone and made a call.
“Hello?”
“Ms. Sae-baek, it’s me, Kim Cheol-su.”
“Oh, what is it? Aren’t you at a hotel like Resistance? You could’ve just come to my room directly.”
“Well… actually, I’m down in Ham-pyeong. I forgot you were working outside. Sorry.”
“Really? Hmm, it can’t be helped. When reporters swarm, you get nervous. I’ve been through that many times, so I understand. I’m getting my remaining treatment in Seoul anyway. The planning agency kept nagging me to hurry up for the performance.”
Hearing her bright voice, Kim Cheol-su felt reassured.
“Thank you for saying that. Congratulations on your discharge. I guess I won’t have much to do with you anymore, since you’re so busy.”
“Now that I’m better, I have to return to being a singer. But I won’t forget my memories in Ham-pyeong. You never know when I might drop by, Doctor.”
“Ms. Sae-baek, you’re always welcome. It’s late already—I’ll hang up now. Rest well and take care of your health. Don’t overdo it after surgery.”
“Thank you for your concern. Have a good night, Doctor. I’ll never forget my time in Ham-pyeong.”
Click –
After ending the call, Kim Cheol-su stared blankly into space.
Though it wasn’t romantic, they’d grown close—like friends.
Still, it felt a little sad knowing they might not meet again.
*****
Just then, Shin Se-young entered the room.
“You’ve been waiting, right? I brought green tea and chocolate cookies. Huh? Who were you talking to? The atmosphere feels a bit… different.”
“No, it’s fine. Come in, let’s have tea together. The green tea smells great. And thank you for bringing cookies—where are these from?”
“These were brought by my great-uncle who traveled to France. Please try them.”
Crunch –
As expected of French cookies—the taste was exquisite.
Soft chocolate melted inside as Kim Cheol-su, realizing how long it had been since he’d last eaten chocolate, kept reaching for more.
The texture was slightly firm, but pleasant.
That’s why the green tea was perfect—to wash down the sweetness.
Sluuurp –
He enjoyed the bittersweet taste of the tea while gazing out the open window.
Outside, patients in hospital gowns strolled around the grounds.
Beyond them lay the tranquil scenery of Ham-pyeong—deep mountains, crisp air, and a soft birdsong drifting nearby.
The mountain breeze carried a clean scent.
It felt as if all the smoke he’d inhaled in Seoul had vanished.
He was glad to be back in Exisigol.
No matter how impressive any offer might be, Kim Cheol-su realized he had no desire to leave this place.
“Phew… this is nice.”
Coming to the hospital always eased his mind and appetite.
He would soon walk the dirt road home, feel the cool soil under his feet, and breathe in the valley air even deeper.
But for now… he just wanted to enjoy this moment with her, the quiet time that wasn’t awkward, even in silence.
A peaceful feeling, mixed with a strange emotion, made this tea time precious.
Flurry –
Taking another sip, Kim Cheol-su smiled and said,
“This green tea is really good. It feels like I’m back at Ham-pyeong Hospital. Thanks to Sergeant’s tea.”
“Thank you for saying that. I was worried the French cookies might not suit your taste.”
“No, they’re delicious too. Honestly, the best thing is the clean air here in Ham-pyeong. The greenery outside the window is beautiful, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, it feels like my heart is opening up. I really prefer this place to Seoul. Coming back to Ham-pyeong feels so good.”
Hearing Shin Se-young’s cheerful voice, Kim Cheol-su smiled softly.
“Me too. It’s wonderful. I almost want to live in this moment forever.”
Tapping!
Tapping… – Brrr –
Suddenly, Kim Cheol-su’s phone rang.
A strange foreboding ran through him.
It was just a phone ringing—but it felt different.
He and Shin Se-young exchanged a glance and nodded.
Kim Cheol-su answered tensely.
“Yes, this is Kim Cheol-su.”
A serious voice came through the receiver.
“This is the head of the Medical Secretary’s Office at the Military Medical Command! Prepare the Critical Care Surgery Team for immediate deployment! An emergency helicopter is heading to Ham-pyeong Hospital! A soldier from a nearby military unit was in an accident!”
Before he could even process it fully, Kim Cheol-su moved.
Calmly but quickly, he instructed, “Gather Captain Oh Ha-jin on the roof! This is the first deployment of the Critical Care Surgery Team! Hurry!”
“Yes, sir!”
Thud thud thud –
As Kim Cheol-su ran down the hallway with Shin Se-young close behind, the sound of the approaching helicopter’s propeller grew louder.
A helicopter? Why a helicopter all of a sudden?
Did an intersection get blown up? Or was someone shot? This is unsettling.
Yeah, that’s right. That’s an emergency helicopter, isn’t it? What on earth happened?
Patients looked up at the sky through the windows, confused and anxious.
Everyone could sense that something serious had occurred.
There was no time to waste. They had to reach the rooftop immediately.
Wearing his doctor’s gown, Kim Cheol-su sprinted through the corridor.
No matter who the patient was, he was determined to succeed.
Hwa Dok! –
The genius doctor gritted his teeth, bracing for what awaited.
“No matter how difficult the surgery, I’ll make it a success. I’ll give it everything I’ve got!”