September 1st.
Although the maple leaves were still far from turning, autumn had officially begun.
So much had happened over the past month and a half. Time had flown relentlessly.
Naturally, many events unfolded.
First, in August, Hyun-do Construction and Hyun-do Electronics, unable to meet their debts, were handed over to the creditors’ committee.
As a result, the Hyeon-do Group found itself in a dire situation. The entire country was restless.
The economy was already shaky, but the imminent collapse of the nation’s top conglomerate only added to the tension.
Then, news broke out about the mass shooting incident at the military base, capturing nationwide attention. People criticized the senior soldier who committed the act, but also berated the junior soldiers for being too reckless…
Once it became known that Dr. Kim Cheolsu had performed surgery on the military casualty, the atmosphere grew heated.
“Wow! Is there any surgery Dr. Kim Cheolsu can’t perform? Truly remarkable.”
“It’s only been a short while since he made a groundbreaking success in the Western Sea sinking accident, and now he’s saving gunshot victims? That man is incredible. He doesn’t even take breaks. Is he some kind of iron man?”
“He’s truly amazing. A model of dedication and character that all doctors of this era should aspire to. From now on, I will respect Dr. Kim Cheolsu.”
Interest in Kim Cheolsu soared both online and offline, but he remained hidden away in Hampyeong.
The attention was exhausting to him. He had no interest in fame or recognition.
As time passed, people’s curiosity waned, and Hampyeong returned to its quiet state.
Besides, this rural village was still in the thick of farming season.
The work in September was endless.
The village chief asked Kim Cheolsu, “Hey, Doctor, have you finished plowing the cabbage field? Did you spread the fertilizer well?”
“Yes, Chief. All done. Now we just need to plant the seedlings.”
“Not too hard, is it? You look exhausted.”
“The field is quite wide… but it feels really good to smell the soil after so long. Once these cabbage seedlings grow well, we can harvest them in late autumn, right?”
“Yes. Then it’s kimchi-making season. Just thinking about it makes my mouth water. Since you worked hard today, I’ll give you a few heads of kimchi later.”
“Thank you, Chief. These days, we have more food than we can eat. I’m truly happy. Farming is quite fun. When you work hard sowing seeds and watering, the harvest season inevitably comes… it’s such a good feeling.”
“You have the heart of a farmer. People from Seoul don’t think that way easily. But honestly, farming is one of the most honest ways to get results. The more effort you put in, the better the crops you harvest.”
“That really seems true.”
In truth, Kim Cheolsu had spent August quite leisurely.
Suddenly, with the crisis looming over the Hyeon-do Group, Chairman Jeong Monghun was not in a condition to undergo surgery.
As his attending doctor, Kim Cheolsu urged him to operate soon, but the chairman begged for more time.
He said the survival of the Hyeon-do Group depended on it and asked for a slight delay.
Understanding his position, Kim Cheolsu nodded.
Though worried about the chairman’s remaining surgery, thanks to this, he had a month of rest in August.
Frankly, he had been quite exhausted up to that point. Fortunately, the military unit did not conduct heavy training during the summer, allowing him to spend some time at the military hospital leisurely.
He passed the spare time helping with farming.
Slowly, he started to enjoy farming.
Eating the watermelons and pumpkins he grew, he put on weight over August.
This change was visible to outsiders as well—the village chief was surprised by the new muscle on his arms.
“Hey? You’ve been working hard on the farm. Your body looks much healthier. You’ve got some muscle on your arms now. You used to be so skinny—this is amazing.”
“Ha ha! I think it’s because I’ve been eating well and working on the farm all day. That’s a good thing.”
Kim Cheolsu believed this change was related to the timepiece implanted in his body. He had always been physically weak and had no athletic ability.
But ever since he did a chin-up on the jujube tree at home, something had changed in his body.
His muscles became firm, and his movements quickened.
Though it felt strange, he was satisfied with his transformation.
After all, it wasn’t surprising that the timepiece made him stronger.
That device had even sent him back in time once. Thanks to it, he had been able to stabilize a gunshot victim’s condition on the helicopter.
Since then, Kim Cheolsu had studied surgical techniques in plastic surgery and other departments diligently.
Daytime was for farming, and nights for reading and studying, enduring the hot summer.
Compared to when he was in Seoul, his life was more relaxed, and Kim Cheolsu was content.
This leisurely rural doctor’s life was the ideal he had always dreamed of.
It was truly a joyful time. That August…!
Lost in thought, Kim Cheolsu busily planted cabbage seedlings when his phone rang.
He apologized to the village chief, saying, “Excuse me, there’s a call. It might be an emergency from the hospital, so I have to take it. Sorry, Chief.”
“No, it’s fine. It’s already getting late. I was about to finish and go home to eat. Tonight, we’re having steamed sweet potatoes. You should come by.”
“Steamed sweet potatoes for dinner? They’re so plain yet delicious… I love them. I’ll be there soon.”
He couldn’t go to dinner covered in dirt and dust.
As he climbed the hill road toward home, his phone rang.
“Hello?”
“Heh heh — Everyone’s praising me these days for training a good student! Thanks to you, I’m feeling great.”
“…Who is this?”
The voice was familiar yet strange.
Being called his student, it must be one of the professors from the five major departments, but the voice didn’t ring any bells.
Then the call disconnected abruptly.
“What a prank! I’m Professor Cha from the Department of Trauma Surgery. You can’t pretend you don’t recognize me just because it’s been a while. That’s too sad.”
“Eh? Are you really Professor Cha?”
Startled, Kim Cheolsu grabbed the phone again, shouting.
It was unbelievable.
Professor Cha had passed away ten years ago. How could he still be alive?
“Of course it’s me! Didn’t we talk six months ago? Why are you so surprised? You’re a strange student.”
“You said we talked six months ago? Really? I don’t remember.”
“Of course. Did I make a mistake? This is strange.”
“Didn’t you have stomach cancer? How is that possible…”
“What are you talking about? You mentioned that during class long ago. I’ve never forgotten it, and I get an endoscopy every year. I found the tumor early and had surgery. You’re still young, your memory’s just weak—haha.”
Professor Cha clicked his tongue, but Kim Cheolsu was bewildered.
The timepiece implanted in him had broken once on the helicopter, sending him back to the past where he met Professor Cha.
And at that moment, without thinking, the professor had told him he would later develop stomach cancer.
But to hear that this conversation had somehow changed the future terrified Kim Cheolsu.
It meant the timepiece could send him back to the past and alter the world.
Such an incredible ability in a device…
His heart pounded.
Of course, he still didn’t know how to return to the past at will.
He couldn’t reenact the helicopter accident or break the fractured minute hand again.
But the possibility of going back and changing the future shook his courage.
The fact that Professor Cha was alive now was astonishing.
Kim Cheolsu’s voice trembled as he said, “It’s such a relief that you’re alive, Professor. I’m truly proud to be your student. I’ll visit you properly soon to show my respects.”
Professor Cha found Kim Cheolsu’s sudden seriousness odd but smiled and nodded.
“Yes. I’m still at the trauma surgery department of the five major hospitals. You should visit when you have time. I actually have a patient I want you to see. It’s a difficult and unique case, but I want to show it to you first.”
Kim Cheolsu nodded seriously at the professor’s meaningful words.
“I’m free these days anyway. If it’s your request, I can’t refuse. I’ll see the patient.”
He had no intention of refusing a request from a professor who had come back from the dead.
No matter how difficult the surgery or unusual the symptoms, Kim Cheolsu was determined to operate.
Hadn’t he studied so hard, knowing something like this might happen?
“That’s really great news. But let me tell you, the head of that hospital department where the patient is… he’s a real jerk. It’s frustrating! The patient isn’t even from our hospital.”
“Professor Cha’s close friend, the department head? And they argued again?”
Kim Cheolsu recalled that although he didn’t know which department, it was the department head of the big hospital, a close friend of Professor Cha.
This must be the person the professor was talking about.
“About their fights… hmm! That guy got all proud because his student did well at Johns Hopkins! So when you said you were my student, he didn’t believe it. He said, ‘Just some random college grad, what kind of student?’ I wanted to scold him. Next time you come to Seoul, we should go together!”
“I don’t mind. I’ve had little contact with the top doctors. Besides, Johns Hopkins is the best medical school in America, right? The department head must be proud that his student succeeded so well.”
“Hmph! But no matter what, you’re the most famous doctor in Korea, aren’t you? Military doctor Kim Cheolsu! Haha! I live to watch the news these days. I’m so proud my student has become such a fine doctor.”
Seeing how happy the professor was, Kim Cheolsu thought he needed to treat him better while he was still alive.
He also decided he should meet the other four major professors.
No one knew when Professor Cha might pass again.
He also longed to see his mother in Seoul.
He wished he had visited her last time he was in the city, but reporters had followed him everywhere, so he hadn’t dared.
He was afraid of dragging his mother into a noisy situation.
Anyway, the hot summer was gradually cooling down, and autumn was beginning.
Soon the maple leaves would change color.
Hampyeong would become even more beautiful.
The time when the entire mountain was painted in brilliant hues was coming.
Ah… how he wished true autumn would come quickly.
Lost in thought for a moment, Kim Cheolsu spoke with fervent passion to Professor Cha.
“I will continue to be a student you can be proud of. By the way, the patient you mentioned earlier—what department are they from?”
At Kim Cheolsu’s question, Professor Cha’s voice turned serious.
“That’s a plastic surgery patient. Even my friend finds it difficult to attempt surgery because the body is so damaged.”