A line of crimson blood was trickling down from Taeho’s nose.
“Huh?”
Taeho pinched his nostrils between his thumb and forefinger and tilted his head slightly forward.
Gihwan quickly brought him some tissue.
“You must have overdone it, Director.”
“I’m fine. I’ll be going now.”
“Please go in and get some rest.”
Taeho plugged his nose with the tissue and left the laboratory. As he walked down the hallway, he asked Rema.
“Rema, why did my nose suddenly start bleeding?”
-According to my analysis, your body appears to have been overloaded from excessive use of intuition.
“You never said there were side effects like this.”
-Intuition extremely activates the brain’s frontal and temporal lobes. If overused, intracranial pressure and blood pressure spike rapidly, causing the capillaries in the nose, the most vulnerable area, to burst and result in a nosebleed.
“Well, damn.”
He had only thought it was good that his intuition had improved. He had never imagined there would be side effects like this.
“So if I use my intuition too much from now on, my nose will keep bleeding?”
-In Kang Taeho’s current state, yes.
“Current state? You mean Bronze level? Then does that mean it’ll get better if my level rises?”
-A higher medical level means the brain is activated to a greater degree, allowing you to perform high-difficulty tasks for longer periods of time.
“So there’s nothing I can do about it at Bronze level?”
-Correct.
Taeho shook his head and went up to the third floor.
Over the next few days, Gihwan completely redesigned the experiment according to Taeho’s advice.
He changed the method to expressing the protein at 32 degrees, performing primary purification with anion exchange chromatography, and secondary purification with hydrophobic interaction chromatography.
Taeho also visited the laboratory every day and helped adjust the subtle conditions.
“Dr. Gihwan, try reducing this elution speed by half.”
“Why?”
“It just… feels like it’s coming out too fast.”
Intuition was a feeling that could not be explained logically.
A feeling that something was wrong, a feeling that something was inexplicably jarring.
Of course, intuition did not apply to everything, nor could he predict the outcome of events like some prophet. But Taeho’s intuition was working accurately every time.
When they actually reduced the elution speed, the resolution improved remarkably.
“It works when we do as you say, Director. It’s really amazing. How did you know that?”
“I don’t know either. It just felt that way. Hahaha.”
After his nosebleed, Taeho avoided concentrating too much on any one thing. But Gihwan did not miss the hints Taeho gave from time to time and persistently devoted himself to the research.
Five days later, results finally appeared.
“Director! We succeeded!”
Gihwan came running in with the HPLC results.
“It’s 78% purity!”
Taeho also looked at the data with satisfaction.
“With purity at this level, it should be enough to produce a sufficient therapeutic effect.”
“Yes! Since it’s customized, we expect it to be even more effective than a standard 95% purity product.”
Gihwan carefully lifted a small vial containing the freeze-dried white powder.
“Fifty milligrams. We have all the amount needed to treat Mr. Park Seongu.”
At that moment, Taeho felt a deep sense of accomplishment. His enhanced intuition had actually played a decisive role in saving a patient.
“Gihwan, you’re amazing. You produced the best result even in a limited environment.”
“No, sir. This is all thanks to you, Director. If you hadn’t given me advice, it would have taken at least another year to change each experimental condition one by one.”
Gihwan bowed his head sincerely.
“Now all that’s left is approval from the IRB. Should we go through Gilcheon Medical Center again this time, Director?”
Last time, when they had gotten approval for Mei’s treatment, O Jiwon had personally submitted a request for expedited review. But it felt burdensome to ask her to do it again this time. Originally, it was something that should be submitted to the regular monthly review for approval.
Taeho shook his head.
“Let’s go through the Samcheok Medical Center IRB. We’re registered as a cooperating institution anyway, so if we get approval, we can use it at our hospital too.”
“Ah, right. So that’s why you hurried to conclude the cooperation agreement with Samcheok Medical Center.”
Only then did Gihwan clap his hands as if he had finally understood Taeho’s deeper intention.
The Samcheok Medical Center IRB was much faster than the Gilcheon Medical Center IRB, and its review was less strict.
Taeho smiled.
“We’ll need to hurry with the paperwork. Can you do it?”
“Of course, Director. Paperwork happens to be something I’m extremely good at.”
Gihwan smiled confidently.
***
Around evening, Taeho stopped by Park Seongu’s hospital room.
Park Seongu was lying at an angle on the bed, looking at something on his phone, then hurriedly hid it under the sheet.
Taeho could guess what it was.
“If you miss your daughter that much, why don’t you contact her?”
“No. No.”
Park Seongu shook his head.
“I’m grateful enough just to look at her pictures like this. How could I possibly show up in front of my daughter with this sick body?”
Park Seongu lowered his head. With his gaunt hand, he rubbed his dry face.
Taeho asked.
“Won’t you regret it?”
“…I have plenty of regrets. How could I not? Why did I say such cruel things to the children’s mother back then? That’s what I did. I asked her if all she could do was ask me to send money. I said she and the kids were parasites living by eating away at my life. Haa… Under pressure, I even said things I never should have said. After that, they stopped contacting me.”
“Do you think your daughter was hurt by that?”
“She probably was. She was old enough to understand, and my wife always consulted with her and relied on her.”
“Once approval for the new drug comes next week, we’ll begin treatment with it immediately. Since it’s a new drug, even though we’ve prepared as safely and thoroughly as possible, side effects may occur. Mr. Park, your physical strength has weakened a great deal, so an emergency could arise as well.”
“…”
“Even if this is your last chance, are you still not going to contact her?”
Taeho asked calmly.
Park Seongu kept his head lowered and could not say anything.
“…”
“Then you have a few days, so think it over slowly.”
Taeho was just about to turn and leave.
“Um…”
Park Seongu called out urgently.
When Taeho turned back, Park Seongu spoke with an expression as if he were about to burst into tears.
“If I don’t say I’m sorry now… and then something goes wrong, I think I’ll regret it.”
Park Seongu’s voice trembled.
Taeho nodded.
“I’ll look into a way.”
With Rema’s help, Taeho found Park Seoyeon’s phone number.
The next morning, Taeho went to see Park Seongu.
“Mr. Park. I found your daughter’s contact information.”
Park Seongu looked at Taeho with an expression of disbelief.
“Director, there really is nothing you can’t do.”
“Ms. Park Seoyeon is currently working in LA as an architectural designer. Her specialty is eco-friendly architecture.”
Taeho showed him the information he had found on his phone.
Park Seongu shed tears at the news of his daughter.
“Ever since she was little, she loved sitting on my lap and building with blocks. And now she’s working in architecture.”
“Shall we contact her now?”
Taeho asked carefully.
Park Seongu hesitated for a long while before nodding.
“Yes. If it isn’t too late…”
Taeho set up an international video call. Calculating the time difference between LA and Korea, he tried contacting her at a time when Park Seoyeon would likely be getting off work.
The ringing tone sounded, and then a young woman appeared on the screen. It was Park Seoyeon, with eyes that resembled Park Seongu’s.
-Hello.
“…Seoyeon.”
Taeho handed the phone to Park Seongu and left the hospital room.
After the thirty-minute video call ended, Park Seongu seemed like a completely different person.
He looked somewhat excited, and his eyes and expression were overflowing with vitality.
“Director, can I become healthy again?”
“Of course. If you want to go meet your daughter in person, you’ll have to recover your health.”
“My daughter said she’d forgive me. She said she’d missed me all this time and told me to come to LA right away. I’m going to meet my son too.”
Park Seongu’s eyes sparkled with hope.
“I want to see the architecture office where Seoyeon works in person. My son Seojin said he’s working as a fitness trainer at a gym. Even if I can’t restore my relationship with my wife… I want to be a father to my children, the way I couldn’t be all this time.”
“Good. Let’s do our best.”
Taeho nodded.
***
Park Seongu fastened the last button while looking in the mirror. His hair was neatly trimmed, and he wore a well-fitting suit. He had become a completely different person from the Mr. Box who had collapsed in the abandoned school three months ago.
“You’ve really improved a lot.”
Taeho smiled as he organized the final medical records. The effects of the new drug, combined with Park Seongu’s will to see his children as soon as possible, had produced a miraculous recovery speed. All of his blood test results were within normal range, and his bone density test also showed astonishing improvement.
“This is all thanks to you, Doctor. You gave me a new life.”
Unlike three months ago, Park Seongu’s voice had strength in it. He bowed deeply to Taeho. When he raised his head again, his eyes were filled with tears.
“I sincerely hope you live more healthily and happily with your family from now on.”
Taeho sincerely blessed Park Seongu and handed him an envelope.
“Your passport, visa, and plane ticket are all in here.”
“I really don’t know how to thank you for this…”
Park Seongu received the envelope with trembling hands. With Taeho’s help, the family register arrangements and identity restoration procedures had all been completed.
Gihwan, Nurse Park Geumja, and even the nursing assistants all gathered to see him off.
“I have caused you much trouble during this time. Thank you so much.”
Park Seongu bowed his head once more.
“To think the day would come when you’d recover and walk out of this hospital. I’m so glad.”
“May only good things lie ahead of you.”
“Be happy with your children. And please stay healthy.”
Everyone smiled brightly and gave Park Seongu their blessings.
Park Seongu looked at them all with a joyful yet tearful expression.
The taxi to the airport arrived in front of the clinic. Park Seongu had almost no belongings, so he was carrying only one small suitcase.
“Director, I’ll be sure to contact you.”
“Don’t overdo it, and just take care of your health.”
As the taxi departed, Park Seongu rolled down the window and waved.
Watching the taxi grow distant, Gihwan said,
“He’s really changed so much. He seems like a completely different person from when he first came.”
“I think he showed us that people can start over at any time.”
Taeho said with a pleased smile.
Park Geumja dabbed at her tears and murmured,
“To meet his family after twenty years… how excited and happy he must be.”
That evening, Rema gave him the coins she had promised.
-Treatment of patient Park Seongu complete.
-Reward: +100 coins
-As you contributed to patient Park Seongu’s social reintegration, an additional reward will be given.
-Additional reward: +50 coins
-Current: 1,235 coins
A reward greater than expected.
But Taeho did not pay much attention to the coins.
“Rema, I feel really proud today.”
-I agree. A patient’s recovery and return to society is the greatest achievement for medical staff.
***
Late in the afternoon, the second snow of the winter was falling in Geumsan-ri. White snowflakes gently embraced the mountains, covering the bare branches and old roofs in white.
Taeho and Gihwan were on their way back after a house call.
“Grandmother Cha Yongsun’s condition seems quite a bit better than last time, Director.”
“I’m glad the medicine is working well. She said her joint pain has decreased significantly too. Her inflammatory markers are stable as well.”
“But the snow is falling heavier and heavier.”
Gihwan said worriedly as he looked out the car window.
Taeho carefully turned the steering wheel and nodded.
“When we get to the clinic, we’ll have to clear some snow.”
The SUV slowly entered the village entrance.
A man was sitting on the bench in front of the bus stop. The young man, dressed in a neat coat, had a sketchbook on his knees and was briskly drawing something with a pencil.
“A tourist?”
Gihwan muttered to himself from the passenger seat, craning his neck forward. It was not common to see tourists in this kind of weather.
Taeho, too, kept his eyes ahead while glancing toward the bus stop.
It was then.
The body of the man sitting on the bench suddenly arched backward, and his whole body began convulsing. His arms and legs trembled uncontrollably, and the man collapsed face-first onto the ground.
Screech—
Taeho immediately stopped the car in front of the bus stop.
“Call 119!”
Taeho shouted as he jumped out of the car.