Gang Yeonghun, considering things from a slightly different angle, spoke up with a serious face.
"You repeatedly stressed that I mustn't disturb you during surgery, so I held back with everything I had."
"Thank you."
"I—I did the right thing, right?"
"Of course. To reiterate, if too much dust gets inside the skin, it can cause problems."
Taesu explained sepsis in the easiest way possible.
Having heard it once before, Gang Yeonghun seemed to understand even better.
"You said it was really dangerous."
"Yes. Still, it must have been difficult to endure, so thank you for your hard work. And I'm sorry once again for causing you such worry."
*Bow.*
Taesu lowered his head deeply to apologize.
Gang Yeonghun also bowed his head in return, but his expression said the apology wasn't what mattered to him.
It was because Taesu's expression was dark.
Perhaps because it kept weighing on his mind, he cautiously asked,
"Did something happen……?"
"I should tell you, of course. Ahem. It's a bit embarrassing and shameful, though."
"What is it?"
Gang Yeonghun looked like he was dying of curiosity.
Taesu didn't delay any longer and began to explain what had happened inside.
"So……"
Taesu spoke at length.
It contained everything that had happened during the surgery.
He hadn't omitted a single thing, not even the situation where he had accidentally ruptured a blood vessel.
It was undeniably a humiliating matter.
That shame was something he had to bear himself.
It was right to tell the guardian everything without missing a single word.
His father had said so.
"Don't lie. One lie is easy, but to hide it, you need dozens of lies. Why do something that gives you a headache?"
That was not merely the correct answer, but a truth.
Meanwhile, Gang Yeonghun's expression changed from moment to moment.
"Hmm."
His face stiffened unconsciously.
It was his child, so he couldn't help but be sensitive.
Even so, he endured and listened to Taesu's explanation to the end.
Soon, Taesu finished his explanation.
"……And that is how the surgery ended."
As if he had been waiting for that moment, Gang Yeonghun asked urgently,
"The blood vessel……. Are you saying it burst that badly?"
"It was a very sensitive area. Fortunately, there shouldn't be any major problems."
"Really?"
Gang Yeonghun's question was as sharp as his gaze.
However, Taesu didn't avoid it and faced him head-on.
"For now."
"……."
"If there's anything else you want to know, please don't hesitate."
Taesu spoke firmly.
Gang Yeonghun exhaled several times before barely managing to ask,
"Just one thing. Please answer just this one thing."
"Please ask."
"Is that neurofibroma completely gone?"
"As I mentioned earlier, it is not present currently."
At Taesu's answer, Gang Yeonghun's eyes shook greatly.
"Then could it appear again later?"
"There is a possibility. It's not a certainty, though."
"Hmm."
"You only need to know one thing. If a problem arises for Songhui later, I will definitely set things right."
"Are you giving me your word?"
"I'm staking my medical license on it."
Taesu spoke in a strong voice—not forced, but filled with sincerity.
That was when.
*Growl.*
Gang Yeonghun slowly rose from his seat.
And looking at Taesu, he bowed his head deeply right then and there.
"Thank you."
"Pardon? No, um."
"Thank you for coming all the way to this mountain village, for operating on Songhui, and for keeping all your promises."
"I said it, so of course I must keep it."
Taesu replied with a voice that said it was only natural.
Gang Yeonghun opened his mouth again to Taesu.
"Please forget the sharp words I said earlier. She's my daughter, after all……."
"I understand fully."
"No. As a person, I should have thought of gratitude first. I only thought of myself. But……."
As he trailed off, Taesu immediately encouraged him.
"Please go on."
"That story just now……. Even if you meet Songhui's mother, I hope you won't tell her."
"Hmm."
Taesu paused, caught off guard by the unexpected request.
Gang Yeonghun asked in a calmer voice.
"It's not even certain yet; hearing such things would be very hard on her."
"I suppose it would hit the mother harder."
"That's why I'm asking. Is it too much to ask?"
His voice had become cautious before he knew it.
Taesu also thought carefully before answering.
"If that is what you wish, I will do so."
"Are you really okay with that?"
"Because you know the whole truth, Mr. Gang."
"That's a relief."
Gang Yeonghun's expression relaxed slightly.
The conversation seemed to be wrapping up.
Taesu checked the time and spoke to Gang Yeonghun.
"Excuse me, but the operating room isn't in the cleanest state, so I think we need to move Songhui."
"Right. We should take her to where Changgyu is."
"I was thinking of moving her now."
"I'll help too. Come, let's get up."
Gang Yeonghun quickly got up and fussed about busily.
Seeing him like that, nothing but the phrase "doting father" came to mind.
So Taesu expressed his gratitude in a soft voice.
"Thank you for understanding."
"No. I'm sorry for getting angry over something that wasn't even certain."
"You had every right to."
"Why?"
"Because you're a father."
*Smile.*
Taesu gave a light smile.
That smile was as simple and unaffected as Gang Yeonghun's.
A short while later.
Gang Songhui was moved to the ward tent.
Jeong Minsu was holding a stethoscope once more.
*Thump, thump.*
With a grave expression, he moved the chest piece here and there across her chest and abdomen.
Gang Yeonghun, watching the scene, was full of puzzlement.
He eventually asked Taesu quietly,
"What is he doing now?"
"That's a stethoscope……."
"She had face surgery, so why?"
"General anesthesia can have side effects, even with a slim chance, so……."
Taesu explained calmly, one point at a time.
There was another gaze watching that bedside.
It was the gaze of Yi Changgyu, lying in the next bed.
Perhaps because the medical staff were there, he lay motionless in his bed.
Only his two eyes were focused on Gang Songhui.
*Peek, peek.*
He was watching her with difficulty through the gaps between the adults.
That was when.
*Swoosh.*
Taesu stepped slightly aside and spoke to Yi Changgyu.
"Can you see better like this?"
"Yes."
"When Songhui wakes up, tell her about this and that. Don't forget the call button."
"I will."
Yi Changgyu answered all too simply.
Taesu smiled gently at Yi Changgyu like that.
Before, that sight had looked so annoying.
Now that he had glimpsed Yi Changgyu's true feelings, he could not misunderstand.
He believed that one day, Yi Changgyu would say those words himself.
So he took his time without impatience.
Then, Jeong Minsu put away the stethoscope and spoke to everyone.
"No particular abnormalities were found, and she should wake up in about four hours."
"Then is there an abnormality that isn't particular?"
Gang Yeonghun asked cautiously with a face full of worry.
At that moment, Taesu quickly stepped in to clarify Jeong Minsu's words.
"He means there's no rejection response."
"Still……."
"It's just a manner of speaking."
"Ah, yes."
"He's being careful with his words, not saying there's a problem. Isn't that right, Mr. Jeong?"
Taesu slipped in a question at the end.
Feeling the focused gazes, Jeong Minsu quickly answered seriously.
"Mr. Choe is correct. There really are no problems."
"Yes. Thank you."
"Don't mention it. Then we'll take our leave, so please bring Songhui's mother."
At Jeong Minsu's suggestion, Gang Yeonghun looked awkward.
"Well, this is……"
"Please don't mind us. We believe the day will come when we can meet with smiles."
"Thank you for understanding."
"Then we'll be going now."
This time, Jeong Minsu gave his final greetings and left the ward tent first.
Taesu and Gim Hyeokgwon also greeted them and followed.
Thus, the three of them came out of the ward tent.
They immediately started heading toward the quarters tent.
It was still the afternoon, before sunset.
But perhaps because it was the mountains, darkness was already falling fast.
Taesu stretched lightly and spoke.
"Waaaah, I'm sore, but perhaps because the surgery's over, I feel refreshed."
"Precision surgery is more difficult than you'd think. It's beyond comparison with ordinary emergency surgeries."
Taesu added to Gim Hyeokgwon's reply.
"On top of that, since it was facial surgery, it was unfamiliar and awkward, so it took even more effort."
"You handled it well for all that, though?"
"Even one previous experience gives you tricks."
At Taesu's answer, Gim Hyeokgwon smiled broadly.
"If it's about tricks, I can't even hand out my business card."
"Thank you for acknowledging that, and shall we go to the stream and wash our backs?"
"In this weather?"
Taesu flinched when Gim Hyeokgwon asked.
"Oh dear. If I poured stream water on my back now, I'd go straight into arrhythmia."
"Anyway, we definitely removed the neurofibroma, so isn't the surgery a success?"
Taesu tilted his head and answered his meaningful question.
"That's true."
"Then don't we deserve to eat the special meal sent from Korea today?"
"Ah. There was ramen."
"Ramen is Korean, isn't it?"
Gim Hyeokgwon subtly provoked him.
Taesu was weak when it came to Korean food above all else, so he took the bait immediately.
"Of course Korean ramen is the best."
"We have to taste it?"
"We have to eat until our stomachs burst. Let's go."
As Taesu and Gim Hyeokgwon united in purpose, Jeong Minsu quickly joined in too.
"Yay, ramen."
"And it's ramen after finishing surgery."
"It's the best."
Thus, the three united under ramen quickly headed toward the quarters tent.
And shortly after.
A ramen party began in the darkening mountains.
*Slurp.*
"Phew. It's killer, absolutely killer."
"Top it with some kimchi here……. *Slurp,* mm. Mm."
"Kyaah. The broth is the real deal after all."
Each immersed themselves in the ramen in their own way.
And on a cold day, eating ramen deep in the mountains while puffing out thick white breath?
Nectar. No, it was simply honey itself.
And there was an additive that made the taste even more savory.
The first neurofibroma surgery was a success.
Celebrating that meaningful moment with Korean food made the joy even greater.
They weren't indulging blindly.
Only today.
They had drawn that line and were enjoying themselves.
When tomorrow came?
They would compose themselves again and closely monitor Gang Songhui's side effects and complications.
The mere fact that they had finished an unfamiliar surgery without major trouble was qualification enough to eat ramen.
Several hours later.
They were enjoying a languid repose after the meal.
*Beep, beep.*
The call bell placed on the table rang out.
"Looks like Songhui is awake."
"We have to go. Up we get."
"Let's pack what we need to take too."
The three shot up and busied themselves.