Minsu was flustered as he looked at the children who had suddenly surrounded him. Only an hour ago, they had been avoiding him, but now they were looking at him with curious eyes.
Class president Yujin asked first.
“Minsu, was the director of Geumsan Clinic your uncle?”
“Y-yeah. That’s right.”
Minsu answered awkwardly. Since he had told him to call him uncle, he decided that from now on, he really would call him Uncle.
Hyeonji, the chattiest girl in the class, said with sparkling eyes.
“Whoa, that’s amazing! I’m a huge fan of the director of Geumsan Clinic! Isn’t he seriously handsome?”
“I agree! When he came into the classroom earlier, it was like there was a halo shining behind his face.”
“I watched all his videos on YouTube. He was so cool!”
“Where on YouTube? Send me the link.”
The girls looked at their phones and exchanged information.
This time, Taejun, the best student in the class, patted Minsu on the shoulder and said,
“Hey, you’re seriously blessed. That famous doctor is your uncle?”
“My mom said the director of Geumsan Clinic is famous even in Seoul!”
“Right. That’s why patients drove all the way here and lined up to see him.”
“Of course! Search him up online. Tons of stuff comes out.”
“Look here, there’s even a news article.”
The boys also gathered around phone screens, murmuring among themselves.
Minsu found the children’s reactions fascinating. The internet was full of stories about Taeho that even he didn’t know well.
“Hmph! Uncle, my foot. He’s not even your real uncle…”
The one who came out picking a fight was Choi Geonu. Choi Geonu had been going to school with Minsu since kindergarten, so he knew Minsu’s family situation well. That was why he had always looked down on Minsu.
“Really? He’s not your blood uncle?”
“His mom works at Geumsan Clinic. If you want to be precise, that doctor is his mom’s boss. Her boss.”
“Minsu, is that true?”
As Minsu hesitated, the classroom’s back door suddenly flew open.
All the children’s eyes turned toward the back door at once.
“Move!”
It was Gu Jintae, the top dog of the second years, who was said to beat up even third-years like it was nothing. He was already 182 centimeters tall, and because he had learned judo, his shoulders were broad as well. As Gu Jintae strode in, the children parted like the Red Sea.
“Here. Who’s Lee Minsu?”
No one answered, but since the children were already looking at Minsu, he was not hard to find.
Gu Jintae walked up to Minsu.
Minsu looked up at Gu Jintae from his seat. He was so tall that Minsu’s neck hurt.
“The director of Geumsan Clinic came here a little while ago, didn’t he?”
“Yes.”
“I heard he came because of his nephew. Are you that nephew?”
“He did come because of me, but I’m not his blood nephew…”
Minsu’s voice grew as small as an ant’s, becoming almost impossible to hear.
The children standing around them whispered.
“Did he do something wrong?”
“What’s going to happen to Minsu now…”
The children nearby held their breath and watched.
But then, all of a sudden, a bright smile appeared on Gu Jintae’s face.
“Hey, that’s freaking awesome!”
The children around them looked bewildered.
“Your uncle is my family’s benefactor.”
“What?”
“Last year, your uncle saved my dad.”
“Whoa…”
“Really?”
The children looked at him in surprise.
Gu Jintae recited, with a solemn expression, the story he had heard from his father so many times that he had memorized it.
“Last year, my dad had just gone into a restaurant and ordered food. Then suddenly, everything spun in front of his eyes. And then he went crash, falling over with the chair and all. Back then, everyone was panicking and had no idea what to do, so it was total chaos. But by chance, Director Kang Taeho was right there beside him. The director sprang to his feet, glared at the people, and shouted.”
Gu Jintae raised a finger toward the children and shouted fiercely.
“Bring me sugar water right now!”
The child standing at the tip of his finger flinched and hunched his shoulders.
Gu Jintae scowled and acted as if he were a villain from a movie.
“Bring drinks or candy, too! This man’s life is in danger!”
“Whoa…”
The children listening felt goosebumps rise on their backs. They thought that the doctor who had smiled so kindly just a little while ago became that terrifying when a patient’s life was at stake.
That was right. That was what a real doctor was.
Several children nodded as if they understood.
Gu Jintae continued.
“My dad always said that if there’s a true master physician in this world, it’s someone like Director Kang Taeho. He’s our benefactor. My family will never forget him for the rest of our lives.”
“Um, hyung…”
Choi Geonu raised his hand.
When Gu Jintae looked at him, Choi Geonu spoke slyly, as if his chance had finally come.
“Director Kang Taeho isn’t even his real uncle. His mom just works at that hospital.”
Gu Jintae’s thick eyebrows twitched, and he turned to look at Minsu.
Minsu felt as if all the blood in his face had drained downward.
“What do you call Director Kang Taeho?”
“U… Uncle?”
Minsu muttered in a voice that seemed to sink into the ground.
Gu Jintae grinned.
“I’ve got uncles I’m close to, too. An uncle you’re close to is no different from a real uncle. Actually, they even remember your birthday and give you more allowance. And didn’t Director Kang Taeho personally come all the way to our school today because of Lee Minsu?”
“That’s right.”
“He came because of Minsu.”
The other kids answered for him.
“Listen carefully from now on!”
Gu Jintae spoke as if making a proclamation to the children gathered around them.
“Lee Minsu is Director Kang Taeho’s nephew! And Director Kang Taeho is my family’s benefactor! So from now on!”
When Gu Jintae whipped his gaze toward Choi Geonu, Choi Geonu unknowingly took a step back.
“If anyone messes with our Minsu, I, Gu Jintae, won’t let it slide!”
“Whoa!”
“Holy crap, that’s insane!”
“Is this for real?”
Not only the children in the class, but even the children crowded in the hallway to watch, all gaped in amazement.
Gu Jintae seemed satisfied as he lightly patted Minsu on the shoulder and said,
“And our Minsu!”
“Yes, yes?”
Startled, Minsu straightened his back.
“If anything happens from now on, come to our classroom anytime. Got it? Hyung will take care of it for you.”
“Yes…”
Minsu answered blankly, as if possessed by a ghost.
After Gu Jintae left, the children around Minsu grew even more excited.
“Minsu, this is amazing!”
“The top dog says he’ll protect you?!”
“I’m so jealous!”
“Now no one in our school can touch you!”
“Forget our school. No one from other schools can touch him either.”
Minsu couldn’t believe this situation. Thanks to Doctor Kang Taeho—no, Uncle Taeho—his school life was changing completely.
***
Just as Taeho was about to leave the school building, an urgent voice called from behind him.
“Director Kang! Please wait!”
When he turned around, homeroom teacher Lee Soyeong was running toward him, panting.
“Director, whew, you really walk fast. Thank you so much for today. You gave such a wonderful lecture to the children in our class.”
Lee Soyeong bowed her head.
“Not at all. Please take good care of our Minsu.”
“Don’t worry about Minsu. If it isn’t too much trouble, could you stop by the principal’s office for a moment?”
“What is it about?”
“The principal said he’d like to speak with you.”
Now that he thought about it, since he had come all the way to the school to ask them to look after Minsu, it seemed only proper to greet the principal before leaving.
“Then let’s go.”
Taeho followed Teacher Lee Soyeong to the principal’s office.
“The principal is waiting for you, so you can go in. I have class, so I’ll be going now…”
Lee Soyeong bowed in front of the principal’s office and left.
When he entered the principal’s office, Principal No Deukguk, who looked to be in his mid-sixties, was waiting for Taeho.
“Principal, hello. I’m Kang Taeho.”
Taeho greeted him politely.
Principal No stood and smiled brightly.
“Welcome, Director Kang. I have heard much about your reputation. Please, have a seat over here.”
When Taeho sat down, Principal No poured the tea he had prepared.
“This is tea made with ginseng grown in this region. Its richness can’t be compared to other teas. Once you try it, you won’t forget it.”
“Thank you.”
Taeho accepted the ginseng tea and drank it, exchanging a few words about the tea.
Just then, a sturdy man entered the principal’s office. The man, who looked to be in his mid-thirties, was wearing a tracksuit.
“You called for me?”
“Ah, Teacher No, sit over here. This is the famous Director Kang Taeho of Geumsan Clinic. Director Kang, this is Teacher No Seongjin, our school’s physical education teacher. He’s also my son.”
Principal No introduced him with a hearty laugh.
“Hello. I’m Kang Taeho.”
“I’m No Seongjin.”
When Taeho offered a handshake, No Seongjin held out his hand. Taeho took No Seongjin’s hand and quietly looked at him. Taeho’s brow furrowed slightly.
“What is it, Director?”
“It’s nothing.”
Taeho changed his expression and answered with a smile.
Principal No Deukguk smiled brightly.
“Teacher No, Director Kang is someone with a truly impressive reputation. These days, patients are flocking to him from all over the country because of his outstanding skill.”
No Seongjin sighed inwardly. This was not the first time he had seen his father act like this. Ever since he was young, whenever his father saw someone famous or successful, he had always tried to connect him to that person.
In elementary school, he told him to befriend the class presidents. In middle school, he told him to hang out with the students who studied well. In university, he told him to get on the professors’ good side. After he became a teacher, he told him to build relationships with people at the office of education and with local community leaders.
Each time, No Seongjin had felt uncomfortable.
“Ah, yes, Principal.”
No Seongjin spoke in a slightly irritated voice.
Taeho noticed the subtle difference in temperature between father and son. He could sense the principal’s excessive kindness and the son’s quiet resistance.
No Seongjin looked at Taeho. He did seem to be a skilled doctor. But because his father was making such a fuss, it only felt awkward.
“It’s the same this time. He’s a famous doctor, so Father wants me to build a connection with him.”
Meanwhile, Principal No Deukguk’s thoughts were complicated.
“Seongjin won’t spend his whole life in this small town. If he builds a network with someone like Director Kang, it’ll help him later…”
In his younger days, No Deukguk had painfully realized the importance of connections. Even becoming a principal had been possible thanks to the help of many people. He wanted to create those kinds of opportunities for his son as well.
“Director, our Teacher No is truly diligent as a physical education teacher. The students like him, and he’s very capable. And as for his stamina, it’s incredible. For the past three years, he’s even competed in triathlons every year.”
Principal No Deukguk began bragging about his son.
The more he did, the stiffer No Seongjin’s face became.
Taeho watched the situation with interest. He fully understood Principal No’s good intentions. But from the son’s perspective, he could see how it might feel burdensome.
At last, No Seongjin’s face looked like it was on the verge of exploding.
Perhaps Principal No noticed it too, because his words trailed off.
“Teacher No is certainly a physical education teacher whom the students follow very much…”
An awkward atmosphere settled over them.
At that moment, Taeho spoke first.
“Teacher, do students often get hurt during physical education class?”
“Pardon? Ah, yes. Sometimes.”
No Seongjin answered, flustered by the unexpected question.
“These days, you must do a lot of first-aid training too, right? Physical education teachers tend to know first aid well.”
At those words, No Seongjin’s expression brightened a little. It was a topic related to his area of expertise.
“That’s right. I’ve gotten several first-aid certifications myself. The students’ safety is the most important thing, after all.”
“Oh, is that so? What kinds of certifications do you have?”
For the first time, a natural conversation began to flow between them.
No Deukguk let out a sigh of relief as he watched. His son and Director Kang were naturally building a connection.
Taeho, however, was looking at something else. He noticed that No Seongjin’s eyelids trembled faintly every time he spoke.
“Teacher, have you been feeling tired lately, or under a lot of stress?”
“Why do you ask?”
“You just look a little tired.”
Principal No, who had been listening, cut in.
“Of course he’s tired. He works so diligently that he must be overworking himself. Director Kang, could you perhaps take a look at him?”
“Father, I told you I’m fine!”
Unable to hold back any longer, No Seongjin raised his voice.
When Principal No looked at him in surprise, No Seongjin spoke in a softened tone.
“I’m just a little tired. I’ve been busy preparing for the sports day lately.”
Taeho observed No Seongjin carefully. Outwardly, he looked healthy, but there were definitely a few things that bothered him. However, bringing that up now would likely only make the atmosphere worse.
Taeho smiled lightly and said,
“When illnesses are found early, there are many times when they can be managed well enough. If you’ve been feeling a little off lately, it might be good to visit Samcheok Medical Center or a nearby hospital and get a simple checkup.”
“Yes. I’ll do that.”
No Seongjin gave a perfunctory answer, brushing it off.