Im sorry, Dr. An. I didnt mean to disregard your words.

Its fine, its fine. We all survived thanks to you, Dr. Park. Youre a life-savior.

Huh? Didnt he say that to make everyone return to their senses? He wouldnt have killed someone due to a mistake in the operating room, right?

Oh my. Dr. Park didnt write a will before entering the surgery, huh?

Whaaat?

The atmosphere in the room relaxed once more with the nurses laughing at An Hosans joke.

The nerves which had been standing on end as he fixed the skull plate back in and sutured the scalp slowly disappeared. The lights and what-not also couldnt be seen.

Whats wrong with me? It felt like my hands were Last Chois.

Dowook let out a forced laugh. It was certainly because he was so sleepy. That was the only reasonable explanation. Or else hed have to be hospitalized in a mental institution.

Shhhhhhh.

There was someone who slowly approached Prof. Choi who was washing his hands at the entrance of D-rosette.

Prof. Choiii~~

At the gossipy call, Prof. Choi turned his head slightly.

Chief, why are you still here at this hour?

The vice-presidents orders. I guess you could say its hospital politics.

I heard Hong Jin Gu tried to embarrass me and left.

Why is that yeot? Is a patient food?

[T/N: It doesnt translate very well in English, but in Korean, yeot meog ida, which means to humiliate/irritate someone, literally means to feed someone yeot but yeot is also a type of traditional snack. So theyre talking about different yeot.)

Ha Sang Joong came and stood close to Choi Hoo.

Anyway, how was the assistant today? He might be a little clumsy, but hes a promising kid. Hes going to be a fellow next year so I had him debut a bit extravagantly so dont be too hard on him.

During the surgery, there were complications and that resulted in blocked coronary arteries. We had to perform a second surgery.

What? But you already came out? Did the patient die?

Choi Hoo gave the wide-eyed Ha Sang Joong a short reply.

He is alive.

Whew, and I was worried. As expected of the hospitals best surgeon. Wait. That means you sutured the cerebral artery, then you sutured the carotid artery, right? But, all that in 3 hours?

Its not because of me."

Im not blaming anyone, Prof. Choi.

Choi Hoo stood at the entrance of D-rosette after shaking off the water from his hands.

Hong Jin Gus substitute. Please dont send anyone other than Park Dowook.

I got it. Ill find a way to quickly .. Huh? Our Dowook?

Is there another Park Dowook in our hospital? Im leaving first.

Drrrk.

Ha Sang Joong couldnt close his open mouth until Choi Hoo disappeared from his sight.

Dowook, coming out from the operating room, stopped in place after meeting the snooping Ha Sang Joong.

What are you doing here, sir?

Are you finished? Hows the patient?

Finishing up inside and about to come out.

When the intern and circulating nurse pushed the cart out, Chief Ha stuck beside Dowook.

Dowook, we have a big problem.

What is it?

I cant say the specifics in front of so many people. Come to my office right after you finish transferring the patient.

The passing An Hosan bowed to Chief Ha.

Oh, youve worked hard, too, Dr. An. Dowook, you heard me, right?

Chief Ha reminded him one more time before leaving the operating ward.

I wonder what thats all about.

A few moments later, Dowook spoke in front of the patient who had safely arrived at the ICU.

Check the patients vitals every 10 minutes until he wakes up. After that, check every hour. Ill call and inform the patients legal guardian.

Yes. Thank you for the hard work, doctor.

Dowook waved at the intern and went to the locker room to change his clothes. Looking at the clock, it was 6:30 in the morning. He had spent the night with a very full schedule.

Dowook turned on his phone and checked the messages hed received from Seong Chang Soo during the surgery.

[The runaway patient seemed to have removed the needle in the bathroom. It seemed it didnt hurt. The police called and said they still dont know where he went. We know who he is though.]

Dowook called right away.

Chang Soo.

-Yeah. You were in surgery?

Just finished. Who is it, the patient?

-They said its someone whos managing a neuroscience center in Gangnam. The person who reported the incident seemed to have left the patients wallet with the police. Names Ji Gang Cheol. Some kind of professor.

Ji Gang Cheol? Do you know anything else about him?

After hearing a sound from the other line, Seong Chang Soo replied.

-I dont know either. They just called back. The police sergeant said if the amount owed isnt that big, we should just leave it be.

I cant just leave it alone. Transfer the patients file to our department. Well take care of it.

-Why all of a sudden?

Something came up so I think I really need to find this patient."

Dowook clenched and unclenched his fists as he thought of the strange experience of being able to feel the workings of his nervous system.

Who would believe him?

-Your voice sounds really serious. Theres nothing truly wrong, right?

Im trying to find out. Im hanging up first.

Dowook swiped his phones screen and opened the Internet browser. Then he searched for Professor Ji Gang Cheol.

There were a few articles and a video.

[Bankrupt Center. The Fall of the Doctor who Dreamed of Becoming the Second Han Jungwoo]

[Famous Doctor, Known as the Leader in Brain Neurological Research, Charged with Fraud]

Somehow, the situation didnt look good.

Dowook clicked on the video.

In it, he saw the man in a clean suit looking very different from how he looked in the emergency room.

Humans are jealous animals.

Ji Gang Cheol standing on the podium started talking.

If you see someone who is better at sports or studying or someone who is good at making things or better-witted, how do you feel?

He looked at the audience while walking leisurely around the podium.

You wonder what on earth they ate to grow so well. In front of someone you cant win against even if you tried, one even feels despair.

Once he took a deep breath, he spoke with shining eyes.

What if, just what if. Although you arent born special, you end up being especially tall, how would you feel, everyone?

This. Hes speaking in a roundabout way, but it's similar to the phenomena I experienced in the operating room.

Matching Choi Hoos pace and making use of his sense was exactly what the special height mentioned in the video was.

But how?

Dowook looked at his hands carefully.

Come out, yap.

Although he did something embarrassing, he didnt feel anything weird from his outstretched hands.

Vrrrr.

[Youre not coming? It's urgent.]

Chief Has message appeared on his phone.

Dowook put on a white coat and quickly headed for the neurosurgery departments chiefs office on the 5th floor.

Knock, knock.

Its Park Dowook.

Come in quickly. Quickly.

Opening the door, he could see Chief Ha seated while leaning on the sofa. As soon as Dowook sat on the opposite sofa, Chief Ha asked him with wide eyes.

Did you make a big mistake in the surgery room?

Uhhh nothing special happened.

Then why did Choi Hoo want you to be his assistant?

Me?

Dowook also became dumbfounded.

Listen carefully, Dowook. Get dispatched to a rural hospital for about a week. Ill pacify him well and find a replacement for Hong Jin Gu. This time Ill arrange for a saint-like one who can last a year.

Do we have to do so much?

This guy. Anyone who got picked like this by Choi Hoo couldnt last a month before running away.

The thing is, chief.

Dowook asked with a serious expression.

Dont you think he asked for me because I did well?

.

There was silence for a while in the chiefs office. Chief Ha asked as if he hadnt heard.

Listen well, Dowook. For about a week..

Ill do it.

Wook?

Prof. Chois skills that I saw in the operating room were too much like a work of art for me to escape in fear.

Youll do it?

Dowook thought about what he earned and what he lost. It might not be good for his mental health but to lose the chance to learn from such a talented doctor seemed more like a waste.

Ill do it. Dont ask me a third time. Ill just get worried.

Chief Ha stared at Dowook in surprise.

This guy. You really want to grow as a surgeon. Wook!

Theres no need to be so grand. Why are you about to cry?

The guy, who shaved patients with shaking hands, is all grown up and willing to enter hell and learn from Choi Hoo. I did a great job teaching a student.

It had been a while since his teacher had looked at him with so much pride. Dowook scratched his chin.

Then its all finished, right? Ill wrap up and go home.

Thats not gonna work, you brat.

Why the sudden change in attitude?

Chief Ha, who changed from about to cry to disdain, pushed a document in Dowooks direction.

The sin you have created, you must fix before you can leave.

What sin?

Dowook looked at the document and paused. It was the chart of the VIP who was brought from the hotel yesterday.

Do a thorough physical examination.

We can make the others do it in the morning.

How can we do that? That seems too thoughtless. A related party must be there. The vice-dean said hell be here by 1 PM. Make sure its all done before then. Make detailed notes. Im gonna pass out until then.

Chief Ha lay down on the sofa and covered himself with a blanket. Dowook grabbed the back of his head.

You said Im all grown up? You said you took good care of me?

Ahem.

Chief!

sync : Choi Hoos surgery skills

action : senses sharpen as to allow one to suture capillaries