Chapter 117: Establishing (5)

Chapter 117: Establishing (5)

“Good to see you again, Mister Jin-Ho,” said Jo Gyu-Min.

“Hello to you, too.” Kang Jin-Ho greeted him back.

Their current meeting place was in front of Jaegyeong's hospital. Jo Gyu-Min arrived first and waited since they had already discussed what was about to happen beforehand.

Kang Jin-Ho asked in a serious tone, “The thing we discussed, will it be possible?”

“Of course,” Jo Gyu-Min replied with a cool nod.

“Jin-Ho, what's going on?” Park Yu-Min asked while looking puzzled. He got a call from Kang Jin-Ho early in the morning, telling him to come to the hospital. He assumed they were simply going to pay a visit to Sister Yi today, but that didn't seem to be the case since Jo Gyu-Min was waiting for them like this. “Uhm, it's nice to see you again, Chief Director.”

“Ah, hello, Yu-Min. It's been a while, hasn't it? I’m just the acting chief director, though.”

“Oh...”

“Actually, you should call me the former acting chief director.”

Kang Jin-Ho waited until the pleasantries were finished, then addressed Jo Gyu-Min, “In that case, I'll leave it up to you.”

“Understood. We'll get on it right away.”

Kang Jin-Ho then glanced at Park Yu-Min. “Let's go.”

“Eh ”

When Kang Jin-Ho left behind Jo Gyu-Min and walked with purpose toward the hospital entrance, the still-confused Park Yu-Min hurriedly followed him. “Are we going to see Sister Yi now?” ViiSiit novelbi/n(.)c/(o)m for latest novels

“Yeah,” Kang Jin-Ho replied without looking back.

Park Yu-Min didn't ask any further and followed his friend. Kang Jin-Ho would have said something by now if he believed it was necessary. That was his style, after all.

They soon entered the room where Sister Yi was staying, then bowed their heads in her direction. “Good day, ma'am.”

“Good to see you two,” Sister Yi smiled brightly at them.

Park Yu-Min smiled back at her. “You look so much better than before, ma'am.”

“Jin-Ho worked hard to get me transferred here, you know. Looking better is the least I can do.”

Park Yu-Min wasn't paying lip service just now, though. Sister Yi's complexion was indeed markedly better.

She tilted her head slightly. “What brings you two here so early in the day?”

Park Yu-Min chuckled apologetically. “Jin-Ho was raising a fuss about coming to see you. That's why.”

“Jin-Ho did?” Sister Yi stared at Kang Jin-Ho with a slight question mark on her face. She knew all too well that he wasn't the type to do things without a good reason. If he insisted on visiting her so early in the day, then he had to be thinking of something.

Kang Jin-Ho nodded slightly. “Ma'am, the hospital will perform tests on you today.”

“Mm Tests?”

“Yes. They'll be redoing the full-body scan, biopsy, and MRI.”

“Jin-Ho...” Sister Yi sighed, her expression displaying her unwillingness. “It's not good to try and stop something that cannot be stopped.”

“It can be stopped, ma'am,” Kang Jin-Ho replied with a firm voice.

“What do you mean, Jin-Ho?”

“Trust me, and go through with the tests, please.”

Sister Yi quietly studied Kang Jin-Ho's face before nodding away. His tone and attitude were too confident for her to say no. Even if tests were meaningless, she was willing to go through with them as long as they could put this young man’s mind at ease. Especially when he had been trying so hard for her until now.

“However, don't we have to book the test beforehand?”

Kang Jin-Ho nodded. “I've already taken care of that.”

“I see. So, is this why you brought me to this hospital?”

“Yes.”

Sister Yi gently chuckled. Maybe because her complexion had become better? Her smile came across as a little warmer than a few days ago. “Very well. Let's go get those tests, then. I'm sure Jin-Ho will be able to end his army vacation without worry if I do.”

“Thank you, ma'am.” Kang Jin-Ho bowed deeply. Almost at the same time, the door opened to let the doctors and nurses enter the room.

Kang Jin-Ho quietly said, “Please inform the patient appropriately, Doc.”

“Ah, yes. Of course.” Kang Chun-Sik nodded, having already jumped to his own conclusions. As a doctor, he wasn’t happy about participating in things like this, but the patient's improved condition suppressed his unwillingness. After all, being able to save someone previously thought to be beyond saving was worthy of celebration.

The office door opened, and Park Yu-Min entered while pushing a wheelchair forward. In the wheelchair, Sister Yi bowed her head at the doctor.

“Please come in, ma'am.”

Kang Jin-Ho got up and made room, allowing Park Yu-Min to place the wheelchair directly opposite Kang Chun-Sik. He then waited nervously for the doctor's opinion.

Kang Chun-Sik cleared his throat and spoke in a reassuring tone, “First of all, it's good news. The patient's condition has improved dramatically.”

“R-really?” Park Yu-Min's eyes opened wide. Wasn't he told that Sister Yi's condition was hopeless not too long ago? Yet, she had improved in such a short time

“Yes. The patient's illness has improved by a great deal. We believe we can even operate on her with her current condition.”

“O-operate?” Park Yu-Min was left speechless and urgently stared back and forth between Kang Chun-Sik and Sister Yi.

An operation? They could operate on her now? Less than a month ago, the doctors in the other hospital said her cancer had advanced too much to operate. But now, her condition had improved to the point where an operation had become a viable option

Obviously, Park Yu-Min had asked around as much as he could, hoping to find more information. However, most doctors or specialists he had talked to had all said the same thing—a patient in such an advanced stage of cancer would be better served by allowing them to die peacefully. As for those who had claimed there was hope? They were either scammers or peddlers of alternative medicine.

But now, Sister Yi could be operated on

Park Yu-Min gulped a mouthful of his saliva and asked once again to make sure, “A-are you being serious, Doc?”

“Yes. We can do this.”

"Did you hear that, Director " Tears began flooding out of Park Yu-Min's eyes as he tightly held Sister Yi's hand.

Strangely, the person in question remained rather composed despite the revelation of there being hope for her. She slowly turned her head and looked at Kang Jin-Ho for a moment or two, then gently smiled at him. “Jin-Ho, so this was it?”

“...Yes, ma'am.”

“I see. You must've gone through a lot of trouble for me, Jin-Ho.”

Park Yu-Min also turned his head and belatedly stared at his friend. He was too overjoyed and ended up overlooking it, but now that Sister Yi had mentioned it, Kang Jin-Ho must have done something for this situation to happen.

Kang Jin-Ho unhurriedly nodded. “For the time being, let's continue listening to the doctor.”

Sister Yi also nodded and turned her attention back to Kang Chun-Sik. “Indeed, let us.”

Kang Chun-Sik coughed to clear his throat before continuing. The proposed plan was to completely remove Sister Yi's stomach, directly connect her esophagus to the small intestine, then extinguish the remaining tumorous growths. Once Park Yu-Min heard that Sister Yi could lead a relatively normal life without a stomach as long as she paid attention to her diet, he nearly fainted on the spot. “H-how can this be...”

When Kang Jin-Ho said Sister Yi had to transfer to another hospital, Park Yu-Min had a feeling that something was afoot. However, he had figured it was simply a gesture to help Sister Yi's final days be more comfortable. After learning about this miraculous change in the situation, though? Park Yu-Min couldn't even think of anything anymore. It felt like his mind was blank.

Kang Chun-Sik continued, “We shall schedule an operation right away. The patient's condition might suddenly deteriorate, after all. Unfortunately, our schedule is fully booked until next month, so operating on her immediately is not feasible, but—”

This was when Jo Gyu-Min silently shot a sharp glare in Kang Chun-Sik's way. The latter chuckled awkwardly. “But, as the patient's case is just too urgent, we shall proceed with her operation even if it means we'll have to do it outside of regular operating hours. As such, the operation might occur within the next few days, so we ask you to mentally prepare in the meantime.”

“Thank you so much. Thank you, Doc.” Park Yu-Min bowed his head repeatedly, tears still streaming out of his eyes.

Sister Yi, quietly listening to the doctor's explanation until then, smiled gently and bowed her head as well. “Thank you, Doctor.”

“No need to mention it, ma'am. I haven't done much, anyway. And you can thank me after the operation.”

“Then, we'll leave it in your hands, Doctor.”

“Of course. Thank you for coming by, ma'am. If you have any questions, please ask them when I do my rounds tomorrow.”

“I see. Thank you,” said Sister Yi.

The group left the department head's office and stood in the corridor.

Kang Jin-Ho glanced at Park Yu-Min. “Let's take the director back to her room.”

Park Yu-Min hurriedly nodded and began pushing the wheelchair forward. “Jin-Ho, I... I can't think straight right now.”

“Looks that way.”

Park Yu-Min's face was a mess of tears and snot, but his hands resolutely held onto the wheelchair. He was so elated that he looked like he would pass out, but he somehow managed to hold on.

They soon reached the VIP room. After carefully laying Sister Yi on the bed, Park Yu-Min seemed to have finally gotten a hold of himself. He gently grasped her hand and murmured happily, “Director, it's great news, isn't it?”

“Indeed, Yu-Min. It seems so. By the way...” Sister Yi turned her gaze to Kang Jin-Ho and muttered, “Yu-Min, can you leave us for a minute? I'd like to have a chat with Jin-Ho.”