Taeho used Rema to analyze Lee Donghyeon’s condition in detail.
-The rash pattern differs from ordinary contact dermatitis.
-Further precise examination required.
“To treat this at the root, we need to find the exact cause. First, we need to get the itching under control.”
Even to Taeho, the way Lee Donghyeon scratched at his skin looked far from normal. He had scratched until blood welled up, and there was also concern about a secondary infection from his fingernails. Above all, in that state, it seemed difficult for him to sleep properly. If a patient could not sleep, treatment would inevitably be slow no matter how good the medicine was.
“Ordinary antihistamines are likely to have limited effect. In a case like this, what prescription would be most effective?”
-A combination of topical corticosteroids and calcineurin inhibitors is recommended. Using betamethasone 0.05% ointment together with tacrolimus 0.1% ointment should be effective.
“So we’ll have to hold out with this until we find the root cause.”
Even as Taeho wrote the prescription, he felt something nagging at him.
It was as if a fog had settled over his mind, leaving him frustrated. He could clearly feel his intuition working, but he could not tell exactly what that intuition was pointing to.
***
Park Geumja, who had just arrived for work, went up to the second floor as usual and was startled.
Four sturdy men in suits were standing at the entrance to the patient room and in the hallway.
“Wh-who are you?”
“We’re the security team.”
One of the men answered.
Hearing Park Geumja’s voice, two middle-aged women hurried out of the staff lounge and bowed politely.
“Oh my, Nurse Park, you’re here. Hello, we’re the caregivers.”
“Pardon? Caregivers?”
“We were dispatched to care for patient Lee Donghyeon. But there doesn’t seem to be a separate kitchen in the clinic. We had no choice but to arrange for the food to be prepared outside and delivered.”
“What food?”
“Special meals for patient Lee Donghyeon. Our patient has rather particular tastes, you see. So a personal chef came along as well. Hohoho.”
The caregivers spoke as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Park Geumja felt as though she were dreaming. She shook her head hard.
“Where’s the nursing assistant who worked the night shift yesterday?”
“Unni!”
Nursing assistant Park Eunji appeared from the staff lounge, scooping up ice cream.
“Eunji. What is going on? If someone came to the clinic, you should have contacted me.”
“Well, they said they were here to take care of the patient, so why would I wake you up? You said you were already short on sleep.”
“Even so... But what are you eating?”
“This ice cream is really expensive. They brought it. There’s some for you too, unni. Want me to get it out now?”
“Oh my goodness, you’re so immature...”
Park Geumja smacked Park Eunji on the back and hurriedly contacted Taeho.
At nine in the morning, Taeho came down from the third floor.
Taeho faced the security guards standing imposingly in the hallway.
“What is all this?”
“It was Chief Lee Donghyeon’s order.”
“This is not a hotel. Clear them out at once.”
“That will be difficult without the chief’s permission.”
At that moment, Lee Donghyeon came out of the patient room in silk pajamas, dragging silk slippers along the floor. With an annoyed expression, he yawned and asked,
“Why is it so noisy? What’s the problem?”
“Mr. Lee Donghyeon, send all your employees out.”
“I’m paying to be hospitalized here. What’s it to you?”
Lee Donghyeon answered Taeho’s words as if he found them absurd.
Unable to hold back, Park Geumja stepped forward.
“If you do this, the other patients won’t be able to receive treatment.”
“Lady, who do you think you are, lecturing me when you’re just a nurse?”
Park Geumja’s face flushed at once.
“Just a nurse? This is a hospital. What do you think you’re doing, bringing in caregivers without permission?”
“Shut up, lady. A nurse from some rural backwater dares to...”
“Enough!”
Taeho’s voice rang out like thunder. Startled, Lee Donghyeon turned to look at him.
“What? Did you just shout at me?”
“...”
“Wh-what. What’s with you?”
When Taeho took another step closer, Lee Donghyeon retreated one step. The security guards behind him tried to insert themselves between Taeho and Lee Donghyeon, pushing their shoulders forward.
“Then shall we stop here?”
“What? Stop here? Says who? Making such a fuss over one mere nurse...”
Though he raised his voice, Lee Donghyeon flinched at Taeho’s cold gaze. Then he grew angry at himself for flinching. Until now, there had been no one who did not bow their head before him.
“Are you threatening me right now?”
“It’s not a threat. It’s a warning. If you don’t want treatment, pack your things right now and go back to Seoul.”
Lee Donghyeon’s face turned pale and stiff. If it were up to him, he wanted to leave this run-down rural clinic immediately, but he could not. Last night, after applying the ointment that doctor had prescribed, he had finally managed to sleep. He could not remember how long it had been since he last slept properly.
Above all, he felt that this doctor might be able to treat his itching properly. Since he had to stay anyway, he had only called people to attend to him so he could be more comfortable...
Lee Donghyeon lifted his chin and protested.
“I’m a patient! Is it all right to drive out a patient like this?”
“If you’re a patient, act like one. If you want to throw your weight around, go home and do it there.”
“No, th-that’s...”
He was seething with anger, but he had no words to refute him. No, more than anything, fear surged up that he might really be forced out.
Fuck...
It was infuriating.
Taeho said with a composed expression,
“Mr. Lee Donghyeon, apologize to Nurse Park Geumja right now.”
“What? Apologize?”
Lee Donghyeon looked at Park Geumja as if he could not believe it. But when Taeho glared at him, he snorted and finally opened his mouth in a small voice.
“I’m sorry.”
Taeho said coldly,
“More clearly.”
Lee Donghyeon took a deep breath, his fists trembling.
“I’m sorry. I was thoughtless.”
Park Geumja looked at Taeho in surprise. Without wavering, Taeho issued another order.
“Send out all the security guards and caregivers. You will also eat only the food provided by the hospital.”
“Then what am I supposed to do?”
“Live in the hospital like an ordinary patient. If you don’t like it, leave.”
For a moment, Lee Donghyeon glared at Taeho. Until now, every doctor had prostrated themselves before him, busy trying to curry favor. There had never been a doctor who gave him orders like this.
But what could he do? Ability was power.
Fuck...
Lee Donghyeon squeezed his eyes shut, then opened them and sent the people out.
***
Lee Donghyeon sighed and looked at the clock. Two in the afternoon.
Once the pruritus had eased a little, boredom came rushing in. If he had been in Seoul, he would have been busy with company meetings or golf appointments at this hour, but here, there was nothing to do.
“Secretary Kim.”
“Yes, Chief.”
Secretary Kim bowed his head.
“I’m bored. Is there anything to see in this village?”
“Hmm. I searched it up, and there doesn’t seem to be anything special, but I heard there’s a traditional market.”
“A traditional market? Should we at least go take a look at that?”
“Shall I go get permission for you to go out?”
“Would that fussy doctor allow it? Let’s just sneak out.”
Lee Donghyeon and Secretary Kim headed for the Geumsan-ri traditional market. Small shops lined both sides of the narrow alley. Vendors selling vegetables, fish, side dishes, and the like sat in front of their shops, calling out to customers.
“Chief, please be careful. The ground is a little slippery.”
Secretary Kim held Lee Donghyeon by the arm.
“Hey, let go. I can walk.”
Lee Donghyeon irritably shook off his arm. But at that moment, the fish shop lady beside them splashed water on the ground, and droplets bounced up from the floor onto Lee Donghyeon’s clothes.
“Lady! What are you doing!”
Lee Donghyeon screamed.
“Oh my, I’m sorry. Are you all right?”
The woman apologized in a fluster.
“What do you mean, all right! What’s this smell? Ugh, fishy. Seriously, I ought to—!”
“Chief, please calm down.”
Secretary Kim tried to stop him, but Lee Donghyeon was already boiling over. The anger that had built up from being unable to say a word and living cowed in the hospital had exploded.
“Calm down? This country bitch ruined my clothes!”
Lee Donghyeon’s voice rang through the entire market. In an instant, the market fell silent.
The tteokbokki shop lady watching from nearby took off her apron and approached.
“Well now! What’s that wretched brat yapping about?”
Not only the market vendors, but even the customers passing by gathered around.
For a moment, Lee Donghyeon was flustered. All his life, everyone had recognized him and treated him with deference. This was the first time he had been in a situation like this.
“Do you know who I am? I’m Lee Donghyeon of Taeyang Group!”
“Taeyang Group? What’s that supposed to be? So what the hell are you saying we should do?”
The butcher came out wearing a bloodstained apron. In his hand, which was as big as a pot lid, he held a sharp butcher’s knife.
Feeling his life was in danger, Secretary Kim spread both arms and blocked Lee Donghyeon from the front.
Lee Donghyeon’s face turned red.
“It’s the truth! Did I say anything wrong? This is the countryside, and you people are hicks and country bitches!”
“What’s wrong with the countryside?”
An old man in his seventies, leaning on a cane, glared at Lee Donghyeon. It was Gu Yongsan, a man respected by the villagers. He looked Lee Donghyeon over carefully.
“Look here, isn’t this the son from Taeyang Group?”
“Hah, finally, an old man with eyes in his head shows up.”
Lee Donghyeon lifted his chin and looked around at the people as if to say, See?
“Elder, you know him?”
“I do. He’s in the papers often enough.”
Gu Yongsan nodded as he spoke.
“The disturbance he caused at a club last year, the drunk-driving accident the year before that, and before that, even the allegations that he assaulted his secretary. Why, he’s a regular in the papers. Take a good look at that young bastard’s face.”
“Ah, so he’s complete trash.”
“Tsk, tsk. Is he even human?”
“How’d something like that roll all the way in here?”
The people standing around pointed fingers and clicked their tongues.
Lee Donghyeon’s face burned hotter and hotter.
“Chief, let’s just go.”
Secretary Kim grabbed Lee Donghyeon by the arm.
Lee Donghyeon shook him off and shouted,
“Let go! I’m not leaving! You old bastard!”
When Lee Donghyeon tried to swing his fist at Gu Yongsan, the butcher charged in, and the tteokbokki lady grabbed a broom.
The market instantly turned into pandemonium.
“Chief, it’s dangerous!”
Secretary Kim shielded him with his body and dragged Lee Donghyeon away.
***
Taeho called Gihwan, who was at the research lab.
“Mr. Gihwan, how are the analysis results?”
-I just sent the analysis report by email. There were no special components in the herbal medicine you brought. It’s just an ordinary tonic.
“Then the herbal medicine isn’t the cause.”
-That’s right. There were no ingredients whatsoever that could cause toxicity or an allergic reaction.
Taeho let out a groan.
If it was not the herbal medicine, then what was the problem?
“Mr. Gihwan, please analyze the blood and urine in detail. There must be something we missed.”
-Yes. Understood.
Just then, the door opened, and Nurse Park Geumja said with an awkward smile,
“Director. Some residents are requesting a meeting with you.”
“A meeting?”
Gu Yongsan, Mr. Jang from the butcher shop in the market, and the lady who ran the tteokbokki shop immediately barged in.
“What’s the matter, Elder?”
Gu Yongsan sat in a chair with a troubled expression. The firm line of his closed mouth suggested he had something to say.
The quick-tempered butcher spoke first.
“Because of that delinquent at Geumsan Clinic, there was a huge commotion at the market!”
“And that’s not all! That bastard looked down on us, calling us country folk, and in the end he even swung his fist at the elder! I was so furious I could hardly stand it.”
The tteokbokki lady also spoke heatedly.
Taeho calmed the agitated residents and listened to the whole story.
“So that happened. I’ll take measures.”
Gu Yongsan, who had been listening quietly until then, also said a word.
“I know Director Kang will handle everything well, but don’t be too rough with him. Try to soothe him gently.”
“I’ll speak to him firmly. I’ll make sure this never happens again.”
Taeho nodded.
After the residents left, Taeho headed to the patient room to rein in Lee Donghyeon.
Secretary Kim, who was standing in front of the room, saw Taeho walking toward him from afar. Like a hermit crab fleeing into its shell, Secretary Kim hurried into the patient room.
When Taeho opened the door, Lee Donghyeon looked at him in surprise.
“What are you doing right now?”
Taeho’s voice was cold.
Flustered, Lee Donghyeon stammered,
“Ah, this is just, Secretary Kim brought it because he thought I might be hungry...”
What nonsense is that?
Taeho’s eyes swept over the table spread out on the bed. The lunchbox had been hurriedly put away, but crumbs of side dishes remained.
“You even had outside food brought in?”
“Huh? Well...”
“This really won’t do.”
When Taeho furrowed his brow, Lee Donghyeon sprang up from the bed.