Evening, after consultations had wrapped up.
An emergency meeting was held in the consultation room of Geumsan Clinic.
In front of Taeho sat Nurse Park Geumja and two nursing assistants, all wearing tense expressions. The two assistants were Park Geumja’s younger cousins from Wonju.
Taeho pointed to the large chart he had put up on the wall of the consultation room and began speaking calmly.
“As you all know, the number of atopic dermatitis patients visiting our clinic has recently increased sharply. So, in order to respond efficiently, I’ve established a customized ‘Atopic Dermatitis Dedicated Protocol.’ I’ll explain it to you, so please make sure you familiarize yourselves with it.”
Park Geumja nodded seriously, and the two nursing assistants waited for Taeho’s explanation with nervous eyes.
Taeho began explaining the “Atopic Dermatitis Dedicated Protocol” he had created using Rema.
“First, when patients come in, quickly assess their skin condition, medical history, dietary habits, and previous treatment records. After that, I’ll examine the patient and prescribe treatment. You will prepare the injection therapy or compound ointment procedures. It would be best if you prepared local immunomodulatory injections or medications in advance according to the patient’s condition.”
Lastly, Taeho emphasized.
“This is the most important part. Even after treatment, patients must return every one to two weeks so we can monitor their progress. Through this, we can continuously manage the patient’s condition and minimize the possibility of recurrence. Please pay particular attention to managing appointments and guiding patients.”
Park Geumja answered as if summarizing his words.
“Yes, Director. We’ll proceed according to the protocol.”
Taeho smiled, looking reassured, and said,
“Our clinic is able to operate thanks to all of you. Let’s do our best together.”
The core of the protocol was, “Once a fish has entered the net, hold on to it tightly through systematic management.”
Most of the patients who had rushed in this time were the type who could afford non-covered treatments—people who thought, “Money doesn’t matter as long as it works.”
Just that morning and afternoon, sixty to seventy people had flooded in. There had been almost hundreds of calls asking for appointments. Most of the patients he treated readily chose expensive procedures such as injections, ointments, and testing packages worth hundreds of thousands of won.
“Doctor, today’s revenue exceeded five million won.”
Park Geumja reported with tears in her eyes, as if deeply moved. After Taeho had taken over the clinic, there had been so few patients that she had lost sleep at night. She had been afraid the clinic might close down at any moment due to worsening profitability.
Now in her mid-forties, she knew well that finding employment at a new clinic would not be easy.
Though her body felt as if it might split apart from exhaustion today, she had seen hope and a future. Director Kang Taeho, whom she had thought was merely handsome, had actually been a jackpot lottery ticket. She resolved to work loyally under Director Kang Taeho until the day she retired.
“But surely it won’t only be like this today, right?”
As if to make Park Geumja’s concern seem pointless, revenue broke new records the next day, and then again the day after that.
Revenue was not the only thing that changed.
The attitude of the villagers changed as well.
At first, there had been people who criticized Taeho, but when they saw patients dressed in luxury clothes flocking in before their very eyes and paying expensive medical fees while still looking pleased, their thoughts gradually began to shift.
“But what’s so good about that clinic that those folks line up every day like that and wait?”
“Where’d all them people come from?”
“I know, right? I’ve never seen cars that expensive in our village before. That doctor must not be ordinary.”
“Our village folks all go to other towns to get treated, but it sure is strange that so many people are coming all the way here on purpose.”
“Guess there must be somethin’ mighty special about it.”
Geumsan Clinic was receiving nationwide attention. Patients were pouring in from all over the country, yet the people of Geumsan-ri were ignoring the hospital right under their noses and going to clinics in other areas instead.
The residents of Geumsan-ri could not shake the feeling that they were somehow losing out.
“I heard the doctor at Geumsan Clinic saved someone at a restaurant last time.”
“I heard that story too.”
“But then why’d the village head tell us not to go to Geumsan Clinic?”
“How should I know?”
Among the residents of Geumsan-ri, dissatisfaction was growing without anyone quite saying it outright.
Meanwhile, childcare YouTuber Bomin’s Dad uploaded his second follow-up video. It was a vivid review showing that Bomin’s skin had improved perfectly. The second video’s views also soared rapidly toward 1.5 million.
Local media outlets, too, requested interviews under headlines such as “A Country Master Doctor Defeats Atopic Dermatitis.”
***
It was after all evening consultations at Geumsan Clinic had ended.
Normally, the clinic would already have closed by now.
Park Geumja opened the consultation room door and spoke in a tense voice.
“Doctor, the patient with the appointment has arrived.”
Taeho stopped what he was doing and raised his head.
It was someone who had pleaded to receive a private consultation while avoiding other people’s eyes. They had even said they would reveal the name on the day of the appointment. When Taeho refused, they had insisted that they would pay regardless of the cost, so in the end he had accepted the appointment.
The newly hired nursing assistants had all gone home, and only Nurse Park Geumja remained. Park Geumja had confidently declared that the patient must be a celebrity.
“Is it really an entertainer?”
“I was surprised too. It’s Lee Hajun…”
Park Geumja pursed her lips as if she had just revealed a heavenly secret. For some reason, her face seemed slightly flushed as well.
‘Lee Hajun? Isn’t he the rising star who’s been appearing a lot in dramas and commercials lately?’
A moment later, the consultation room door opened, and actor Lee Hajun entered with a bulky middle-aged man.
Lee Hajun was thinner and smaller than he appeared on TV, and his face was hidden by a cap and mask.
“Hello.”
Lee Hajun greeted him in a barely audible voice. Unlike the charismatic image he showed on screen, his expression looked rather shrunken.
The middle-aged man who came in with him inspected every corner of the consultation room.
“There aren’t any recorders or cameras here, are there? We’re extremely sensitive about privacy leaks…”
“Please rest assured. Doctors have a duty to maintain confidentiality regarding a patient’s diagnosis and personal information.”
Taeho answered.
Only then did Lee Hajun remove his cap and mask. On his small, handsome face, terrible skin trouble was revealed. The eczema had climbed dangerously close to his eyes.
When Taeho lifted the rim of his glasses, Rema answered.
-Patient health indicators detected. Initiating scan mode.
First, he needed to check the skin lesions. Lee Hajun slightly lifted his shirt, revealing red inflammation spread across various parts of his body.
“At this level, it’s quite serious. Were you taking any medication or receiving injections? Steroids or hormone agents, for example.”
At Taeho’s question, Lee Hajun grimaced.
“Yes. Actually, before filming, I wanted to build some muscle and shape my body a bit… It wasn’t illegal, but I got hold of a pharmaceutical company’s clinical trial drug and used it. But after that, my skin became like this. If this gets exposed to the media, not only my next project but even my commercial contracts could fall through.”
At those words, Taeho nodded.
“There’s a high possibility it’s a drug side effect. I suspect a skin disease accompanied by a strong immune response.”
“Yes…”
Lee Hajun lowered his head deeply. When he grew gloomy, his manager stepped forward in his place.
“We can’t go to a big hospital because we’re afraid word might leak that our Hajun used medication. We came here because we thought a clinic like this might guarantee confidentiality. To be honest, before coming here, we met a famous dermatologist in Gangnam, but he couldn’t really guarantee that he could treat it. What do you think, Doctor?”
When Taeho adjusted his glasses, Rema reported in a hologram outside the lenses.
-User, probability of hormone-like drug detection: 79%.
-Immune hypersensitivity response present.
-Skin inflammation indicators: Cat-16, Cytokine IL-23, and TNF-α all elevated.
Taeho checked the data values.
Immune imbalance + hormonal imbalance + drug toxicity.
He concluded that it was a kind of complex skin disease combining all three factors.
“It could be seen as a severe skin allergy, but at this point, it’s almost the same as festering from the inside. The risk of secondary infection is high as well, and if it spreads into chronic inflammation, recovery will be difficult.”
When Taeho gave his diagnostic opinion, Lee Hajun’s face filled with despair.
“Then what should I do? Drama filming starts in a month. If I ruin this project, then I…”
Lee Hajun, the nobleman on screen, the dream of Korean Wave fans around the world, and the nation’s boyfriend, looked so gaunt that even another man would pity him.
The manager spoke pleadingly.
“It doesn’t matter how much it costs, Doctor. Please just cure our Hajun so he can start shooting in a month.”
When Taeho tapped the rim of his glasses, Rema understood perfectly and answered.
-Considering the patient’s condition, I have calculated the optimal molecular concentration that can minimize side effects.
“Let’s see, if we minimize the treatment period as much as possible…”
As Taeho scribbled on a piece of paper on his desk and muttered as if to himself, Rema replied.
-If injections and ointment are used twice a day, every morning and evening, complete recovery within twenty days is possible with an 89% probability.
‘That’s right. Good.’
Taeho nodded toward Lee Hajun.
“For skin diseases like this, long-term treatment is the standard rule. However, I’ll try a method to recover quickly while minimizing side effects. If it goes well, I think we can cure it within a month.”
Taeho deliberately gave himself a generous time frame.
Hope flashed in Lee Hajun’s eyes.
“Is that really possible, Doctor?”
“Yes. However, you’ll have to receive both injections and ointment treatment twice a day.”
Lee Hajun and his manager exchanged glances.
It seemed they had something to say.
At last, the manager opened his mouth.
“Doctor. Is there anywhere nearby where he could stay?”
“What? Stay?”
“Well, if we travel back and forth from Seoul to here every day, it’s inevitable that people will notice. Hajun has three cars, and there are even reporters who follow all three of them after checking the license plates. Today, we had to slip away as if carrying out a military operation. We’re willing to pay any amount. Please introduce us to a trustworthy guesthouse or boarding house nearby.”
But Taeho did not know any places around here either.
“I’m not sure. Would there be lodging in this neighborhood suitable for Mr. Hajun? If you go toward the coast, there should be some luxury hotels.”
“Forgive me for asking, but I heard that the third floor of this clinic is your residence. Is that correct?”
The manager asked cautiously.
Taeho shook his head.
“That would be a bit difficult. I can’t invite a patient into my private space.”
“Please, I beg you, Doctor. Just for one month, only until Hajun’s skin gets better. The air here is so good, and I don’t think there could be a better place for Hajun to recuperate. We can bring in anything we need. As for the cost of Hajun staying here, any amount…”
“I still can’t.”
But the manager did not know how to give up.
As the manager continued insisting that any amount of money was fine, Taeho cut him off firmly.
“One hundred million! Could you pay one hundred million won?”
The manager’s eyes widened, but soon his expression changed.
“That’s possible. The company can support that much. Then would it be all right for him to stay at your home, Doctor?”
He was really saying they would pay one hundred million won?
Now it was Taeho’s turn to be surprised.
“But my residence is quite shabby and unimpressive. It will probably be far from sufficient for Mr. Hajun to stay in.”
“I’m fine with that, Doctor.”
Lee Hajun clasped his hands together as if making a wish.
Taeho crossed his arms and ran the calculations in his head.
‘What is this, some kind of VIP-exclusive medical care? There are three rooms on the third floor, so we can use them separately, but wouldn’t it be uncomfortable living with a patient? Well, so what if it’s a little uncomfortable? I can earn one hundred million won in twenty days…’
Thinking about it, there were truly many things he could do with one hundred million won.