Chapter 29

Chapter 29

On Saturday, Gain interviewed candidates for a nurse and front-desk position.

Namgung Ju, the receptionist introduced by Choi Yuri, was bright and cheerful.

She felt exactly like Yuri's friend.

But OB-GYN nurse Hong Inyeong looked completely different.

Tired.

Worn down.

Like someone who had been beaten around by life for years.

Apparently all three had attended the same high school.

"Hello. I hope we can work well together."

Hong Inyeong introduced herself cautiously.

Gain had already heard the circumstances from Yuri, but asked again.

"Where did you work before Gangnam OB-GYN?"

"...Hanguk University Hospital OB-GYN outpatient department."

Gain stopped turning the résumé pages.

That explained why the woman looked familiar.

One of the faces Gain had passed in the outpatient hallway while pushing chart carts during internship.

She didn't remember the name tag.

But the face was familiar.

"I thought I'd seen you before. We probably crossed paths when I was an intern. Why did you leave?"

Hong Inyeong was silent for a moment.

Then spoke very calmly.

"I worked Professor Oh Seongmin's outpatient clinic for three years."

"..."

"He was so kind in front of patients. But once the consultation-room door closed..."

She stopped.

"If you worked in that department too, Director, you already know."

Gain knew.

Very well.

There was no need to hear more.

"Are you okay now?"

Hong Inyeong nodded.

"It won't interfere with my work."

If it were Choi Yuri, she would've already poured out her entire life story.

Hong Inyeong was quiet.

She probably wouldn't discuss clinic matters outside either.

"Hong Inyeong, Yuri explained the situation already, right? Can you start tomorrow?"

Her gloomy expression brightened slightly.

"Yes."

"Then start tomorrow."

After signing the employment agreement, Hong Inyeong looked happy.

Just before leaving, she turned at the door.

"Actually, another reason I applied here... An old colleague still working in the outpatient department called me."

Gain looked up.

"Professor Oh keeps telling people lately that anyone who goes to Im Gain's clinic must be out of their mind."

"...What?"

Hong Inyeong's expression remained serious.

"I thought if someone Professor Oh hates that much runs the clinic, she must be a good person."

Gain burst out laughing.

For the first time, she felt grateful toward Oh Seongmin.

The next applicant was someone Gain knew very well.

"Nurse Lee, long time no see."

"Dr. Im! I'm so happy to see you."

Gain was equally happy Lee Seyeong had come.

"Even if I try to match what Hanguk University pays, there's no way I can match the welfare benefits of a university hospital. So when you said you'd still come, I was really relieved."

Gain needed a trustworthy and competent nurse.

Someone she'd already worked with was even better.

Lee Seyeong was perfect.

"If you're matching my salary, I'm already worried you're pushing yourself too hard, Doctor."

Lee Seyeong smiled and gently rubbed her lower abdomen.

"I don't think I would've considered changing jobs if it weren't for Strongie."

Choi Yuri, who had already heard the story, shook her head.

"I didn't even know that kind of thing still happened. How can people whose job is literally saving lives act like that?"

"Exactly! And it was even my turn this time!"

Pregnancy rotation.

Nurses working three rotating shifts often followed an unspoken custom of taking turns becoming pregnant.

But Lee Seyeong's direct junior became pregnant first and immediately took childcare leave.

Two other nurses were also pregnant and preparing for leave.

They planned to return after maternity leave, but until then three people would be absent.

Staffing was already tight.

Even with helpers borrowed from another department, everyone suffered.

Only one helper had been sent.

Then the happy news Lee Seyeong had been waiting for finally came.

But her department became uncomfortable.

"They told me the other two are young, so couldn't they just have children another time!"

No matter how politely it was phrased, the meaning was obvious.

It sounded like pressure to get an abortion.

Lee Seyeong was furious.

"I worked there ten years. Isn't that horrible? I thought at least the head nurse and senior nurse would stand up for me."

"You did well coming here."

"But Dr. Im, are you really okay with hiring me? After the baby is born, I won't be able to work for a while."

"Don't worry. We'll hire temporary coverage ahead of time. Just train that person well."

"Of course I will."

Lee Seyeong smiled brightly.

"Honestly, I was already sick of the place. I hated the pharmaceutical-company lobbying too. Prescribing unnecessary expensive digestive medicine just to attach it to morning-sickness prescriptions..."

She sighed.

"I always wished there were more people like you. I'm glad I'll get to work with you."

"Me too. But Nurse Seyeong..."

Gain carefully asked something she'd wondered.

"Yes?"

"How did you know to contact me before I even announced I was hiring?"

Seyeong burst out laughing.

"Doctor, do you know you're practically famous now? You're known all over the parenting cafés as the great OB-GYN doctor of Somang City. People upload photos of the long line outside."

She smiled.

"The photos looked like you only had two employees. I figured you'd start recruiting soon."

Mystery solved.

Gain nodded.

Seyeong continued.

"You should call Dr. Yuk too. Things are terrible over there lately."

"Jaecheol?"

"You know the department head tried something to mess with you before and it failed? Ever since then, they've been targeting Yuk Jaecheol specifically. It's awful."

Gain's brow tightened.

"Jaecheol didn't do anything."

"They just don't like him now. You know how it is. It isn't the first time. I don't know how much longer Dr. Yuk can endure it."

With his personality, he would never be the first to admit he was struggling.

Gain nodded again.

Lee Seyeong immediately signed the employment agreement.

"Then I'll see you tomorrow."

As she gathered her handbag to leave, she suddenly turned back.

"Dr. Im... No, Director."

"Yes?"

"I need to call you properly starting tomorrow, so I was practicing."

Seeing her smiling face, Gain couldn't help smiling too.

"All right, Head Nurse Lee Seyeong."

"Oh, this is really awkward. Me, a head nurse? Normally I'd need another fifteen years."

Gain waved while laughing.

"It won't feel awkward after tomorrow. You're probably tired, so go home and rest."

After Lee Seyeong truly left, the clinic became quiet.

Gain didn't hesitate.

She called Yuk Jaecheol.

Ring.

He answered before the second ring.

"Yes, Doctor."

His usually calm voice sounded exhausted.

"Jaecheol, I heard things have been hard lately."

Gain spoke.

Jaecheol answered weakly.

"Yes."

"Hang in there. Just get your specialist certification and come out. I'll match the salary and vacation days."

"...! Senior."

His voice immediately brightened.

He seemed about to say something else.

Then Gain heard a pager in the background.

She recognized the hospital call instantly.

"Go. You have work. I'm hanging up."

"Yes, Senior!"

Hearing energy return to his voice made Gain happy.

As soon as she ended the call, the bell at the first-floor outer door rang.

"Who's that?"

Gain checked the CCTV screen installed at the entrance.

The footsteps she'd heard with the bell were heavy.

Male dress shoes.

Still, it could be a guardian accompanying an emergency patient.

A wife.

Daughter.

Mother.

Doesn't look like he brought a patient.

The man stood alone.

He didn't look particularly urgent.

Gain pressed the intercom.

"Consultation hours are over. Please come another day."

Hearing her calm voice, the man answered in an argumentative tone.

"I'm from the market merchants' association. Our merchants are suffering because the lines outside your clinic block the market on weekdays and weekends."

Beep.

The door unlocked.

Gain spoke calmly.

"Come in. We'll talk."

Park Mansu looked around.

It was his first time entering the second floor since the previous OB-GYN had closed.

I don't exactly have a reason to visit an OB-GYN.

An unmarried bachelor, he'd never had reason to come here even when the previous clinic operated.

He had visited the first floor back when it was a café.

But not upstairs.

I've never seen the director commuting.

He remembered this building from when it was first constructed.

There was a large space on the top floor intended for night staff to rest.

Was she really eating and sleeping there?

Doctors make plenty of money. Why stay here? Is she obsessed with money?

Sitting in the patient chair inside the consultation room felt awkward.

He almost felt like a patient.

Park Mansu confidently placed his business card on the desk.

Vice Chairman, Market Merchants' Association.

"Director Im, I'll speak honestly. Our merchants have suffered enormous losses for the past week. People block our entrances. The rice-cake shop and rice store are both making less than half their normal sales."

In truth, Mansu had been uncomfortable about this meeting from the start.

The demand for five or ten million won in compensation had come from Song Yeonggon.

The association hadn't formally approved anything.

But if Mansu returned without even bringing it up, Yeonggon would spread some new rumor through the market.

Mansu fiddled with the edge of his card while choosing his next words.

"I'm glad you came."

Gain calmly interrupted.

Mansu froze.

She interrupted me?

She'd cut off a man more than ten years older without irritation or anger.

Still perfectly polite.

It was an unfamiliar response.

"I was already planning to formally introduce myself to the merchants' association. I intended to visit before construction begins."

Mansu blinked.

"Construction? What construction?"

"I rented the first-floor unit. Expansion remodeling begins next week."

She continued.

"Once it's finished, patients will wait inside on the first floor. There won't be a line blocking the market alley anymore."

Mansu licked his lips.

"That'll still take three or four weeks. Until then..."

As though suddenly remembering something, Gain smiled.

"We're also installing a telephone reservation system. That should shorten the outside line."

Mansu felt almost as if she was playing with him.

If she'd said that first, he would've started by explaining the losses.

He hurriedly changed direction.

"Then what about the losses up to now...?"

"The Somang Bakery and café told me they're grateful for the increased foot traffic."

Gain stopped there.

"You must be tired. Please head home."

Suddenly, a chill ran down Mansu's back.

She was clearly just an ordinary woman in her twenties with a youthful face.

Yet the atmosphere around her felt strange.

One memory appeared in his mind.

He'd once taken his nephew to a safari park.

A lion slowly stood inside the enclosure and walked toward the bus.

When it suddenly lunged toward the window and shook the frame, Mansu's legs had almost given out.

He'd needed to urinate.

His back became soaked with sweat.

Right now felt exactly like that.

She's just an ordinary woman.

Park Mansu rose.

His knees trembled.

Twenty years of salesmanship from working in the market and serving as merchants' association vice chairman suddenly vanished.

"I, uh... yes. I understand. I'll report what you said to the association."

His voice didn't sound like his own.

If he stayed longer, his legs might collapse.

Feeling the woman's gaze following from behind, Mansu left the consultation room.

"Heh... what was that..."

A dry laugh escaped him.

Cold sweat rolled down his back.

He couldn't clearly remember how he returned to the shop.

Or how he eventually reached home.

Alone in the consultation room, Gain stopped organizing charts.

Something faint moved near her heart.

Then a heavy, muddy sensation passed through her briefly.

...What was that?

It was different from the warm divine power created by patient gratitude.

Different in nature.

Gain had never felt anything like it before.

She thought quietly.