Chapter 43

“W-what did you just say…?”

Professor Han Yoo-rim’s face contorted in shock as he looked back and forth between his phone and Kang-hyuk.

The planning director beside him gave his shoulder a light tap.

Unlike before, his demeanor was far from friendly.

Taking a personal call in the middle of an official meeting?

That was completely inappropriate.

“Hey. What are you doing? Hang up.”

But Professor Han couldn’t just comply as he usually would.

His precious daughter was injured—how could he just ignore that?

No one could blame him for reacting with anger.

“Let go of me! Hey, tell me in detail. What’s her condition?”

“Sir, I really think—step outside to take the call or hang up. The meeting isn’t over yet!”

“My—my daughter is hurt! Do you understand?! So just shut up!”

“Ah.”

The sharpness in Han Yoo-rim’s voice made even Professor Hong Jae-hoon, the planning director, hesitate.

What else could anyone say?

His daughter was injured.

The other professors shared similar sentiments, so no one spoke.

The only one who still looked displeased was Kang-hyuk, who stared at Han Yoo-rim with a sour expression.

‘This is just ridiculous.’

Avoiding Kang-hyuk’s gaze, Han Yoo-rim asked again, his voice urgent.

“How bad is it?!”

The resident on the other end responded hesitantly.

“I’m… not entirely sure yet…”

“You little bastard! You call me, your professor, and you don’t even have the full patient details?!”

“The emergency responders called us first… The only reason they identified her was because one of them knew you personally, sir…”

“So how bad is it?!”

“She’s unconscious… and her blood pressure is unstable…”

“Goddamn it!”

Han Yoo-rim was losing control.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t be yelling like this in a room full of top medical professors.

“The paramedics said… if Professor Baek Kang-hyuk doesn’t see her, she might not make it…”

“What kind of nonsense is that?! Are you saying Hanguk University Hospital only has one competent doctor?!”

“Sir, according to last year’s data from 119, the survival rate of severe trauma patients at our hospital skyrocketed after Professor Baek arrived. Before he came, the survival rate of patients classified as critical trauma cases… was less than 10%.” (T/N: Damn! I think it would have made much more impact if this tiny detail was brought in the drama. )

“…10%.”

That meant if ten patients like his daughter were brought in, only one would survive.

‘No. No! Not my Ji-young…’

She was the apple of his eye.

A daughter so precious that he could hardly bear the thought of anything happening to her.

She hadn’t inherited his looks, making her all the more beautiful in his eyes.

She had his intelligence, which he was immensely proud of.

And her heart—her kind and gentle soul—was something truly special.

Just the thought of losing her made him feel like his chest was being crushed.

‘But going to him for help…?’

Han Yoo-rim turned to look at Kang-hyuk, who was watching him with an unimpressed expression.

The idea of begging that bastard made his stomach churn.

Then, the resident’s panicked voice came through the receiver.

“Professor! 119 just called again…!”

“W-what now?”

“Her… her blood pressure…”

“What about it?! Speak up!”

“It’s not stabilizing… They’ve started CPR…”

“…CPR.”

They hadn’t even reached the hospital yet, and she was already undergoing CPR.

Han Yoo-rim’s mind instantly recalled the data he had submitted to the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

According to Hanguk University Hospital’s statistics, in cases like this, the survival rate dropped below 5%.

And that included cases with better prognoses, such as cardiovascular-related incidents.

If it was severe trauma, the survival rate would be even lower.

“N-no. No!”

“They’ll be arriving in about five minutes… Should I call Professor Baek for you? I really think he’s the best option.”

When it came to skilled professors, residents were the first to know.

Younger doctors weren’t as caught up in politics or power struggles.

So if a resident was saying this, it was credible.

And Han Yoo-rim knew that better than anyone.

‘I hate him. But…’

Skill was skill.

‘His records are insane.’

If there was ever a term for a true all-rounder, Kang-hyuk was it.

And not just good at everything—he was the best in every field.

He was incredibly fast.

The more Han Yoo-rim thought about it, the more his feet started moving toward Kang-hyuk.

“Pr—Professor Baek.”

“What?”

Kang-hyuk still looked as sour as ever.

And rightfully so—he believed the 90 billion won had been outright stolen from trauma surgery.

Han Yoo-rim reached out and patted Kang-hyuk on the shoulder.

“I… I may have been a bit harsh earlier.”

“Why are you acting weird? It’s gross.”

“I get it, I do. You’re pissed, and you have every right to be.”

“What do you want? Just say it before I puke.”

Kang-hyuk hated people who acted one way but thought another.

It was the complete opposite of how he lived.

He spoke his mind without any filter.

Han Yoo-rim wiped the sweat from his brow as he looked at Kang-hyuk’s utterly unimpressed face.

“My… my daughter is hurt. You probably heard earlier.”

“And?”

“She’s… unconscious.”

“Hmm.”

Hearing that, Kang-hyuk’s expression shifted slightly.

Unlike Han Yoo-rim, he was someone who separated work and personal matters completely.

And when it came to a life-or-death situation, that distinction became even clearer.

“Tell me more.”

“I don’t have the exact accident details… But her blood pressure isn’t stabilizing, and they just started CPR.”

“Was it an In-car TA (Traffic Accident inside a vehicle) or an Out-car TA (Traffic Accident involving a pedestrian)?”

“In-car.”

“That’s at least somewhat better.”

If she had been a pedestrian, unconscious with unstable vitals, it would almost certainly mean death.

But if she had been inside a car?

Then there was still a chance.

She might still be savable.

“She… she’ll be here any moment now. Please, Professor Baek, I’m begging you. If you do this… I-I’ll find a way to get more funding…”

“Yeah, well, you deal with that yourself.”

Kang-hyuk was already on his feet, heading toward the door.

A patient was arriving—a critically ill one at that.

There was no time to waste.

Without hesitation, he pulled the door open.

Creak.

Then, as if remembering something, he turned back.

“Oh. Since the patient is arriving, I’ll be taking my leave. We can finish our discussion later. See you.”

With that, he didn’t even wait for the elevator.

Instead, he bolted down the stairs.

Han Yoo-rim, his face still stricken with shock, lowered his head before hurrying after him.

His daughter’s condition was all that filled his mind, making his legs feel weak as he struggled to keep up.

* * *

Thud, thud, thud.

Kang-hyuk sprinted at full speed and called out to Han Yoo-rim, who was lagging far behind.

“Slow down! If you’re not used to running and you trip, you’ll just become another patient!”

“Ah… You’re right. Yeah… Okay…”

Han Yoo-rim responded weakly.

But he couldn’t slow down.

His daughter’s life was on the line.

Meanwhile, Kang-hyuk, still racing ahead, pulled out his phone and made a call.

“Professor,” came the immediate answer.

Jaewon had picked up almost before the first ring even ended.

“Hey, Anus. Where are you?”

“I’m in the ICU. About to start weaning on Lee Ki-young. He’s doing great.”

“Ah. Is he fully conscious?”

“Yes. He’s communicating just fine. I gave him a whiteboard.”

“Hmm.”

Kang-hyuk paused to think.

Should he have Jaewon complete the weaning process, or have him drop everything and rush over?

‘No. Once you extubate, you have to monitor carefully.’

Taking a patient off a ventilator was, of course, good news.

But it also came with serious risks.

Unexpected complications often arose post-extubation.

Someone had to be there to monitor closely.

So now was not the time.

“No, leave him for now. Go wait in the ER treatment room. The surgery and emergency medicine residents should already be preparing.”

“Ah, is there an incoming patient? Why didn’t anyone notify me first?”

Jaewon sounded puzzled.

Kang-hyuk glanced up.

By now, Han Yoo-rim had fallen four floors behind.

Even though he was panting heavily, he was still doing his best to keep running.

Moments like these reminded Kang-hyuk just how powerful a father’s love could be.

“It’s a VIP case. They called me directly.”

“A VIP? Who?”

“Han Yoo-rim’s daughter.”

“His… daughter?”

From the other end of the line, Kang-hyuk heard hurried footsteps.

Jaewon was already moving.

His voice came back, tense.

“Ji-young?”

“You know her?”

“Of course. She’s come to our department dinners before. She’s such a sweet kid… Wait, are you saying she’s the patient?”

“Yeah. Unconscious. Currently undergoing CPR.”

“…”

Jaewon didn’t respond.

It wasn’t necessary.

Kang-hyuk shoved open the door to the first floor.

“Are you close to her? If you are, step back from the treatment.”

There was a reason why doctors rarely treated their own family members.

Emotions clouded judgment.

Even the most skilled hands could falter.

“What? No! I mean, I know her, but not like that. If I don’t do it, who will—”

“If you hesitate, you’ll just get in the way. It’s better to work alone than with someone who’s distracted.”

“I won’t hesitate. I can do this.”

“Yeah? Fine. Do as you like. Where are you?”

Despite sprinting down 17 floors, Kang-hyuk wasn’t even breathing hard.

And he still wasn’t stopping.

He was already pushing through the emergency room doors.

“I’m in the ER now. Just arrived.”

“Good. See you in the treatment room.”

“Understood.”

Both of them rushed toward the treatment area at the same time.

WEEEOOOO—!

Right on cue, the ambulance sirens blared outside.

The moment the vehicle stopped in front of the hospital, the rear doors flung open.

A stretcher slid out, smoothly gliding toward the entrance.

One of the paramedics was on top of the patient, performing chest compressions.

“One! Two!”

Sweat was pouring from the paramedic’s body.

He had clearly been giving it his absolute all.

“Straight to the treatment room!”

Kang-hyuk didn’t bother asking for more details.

At this point, keeping the patient alive took priority over questioning.

Medical history could come later.

“Where’s my daughter?! WHERE IS SHE?!”

Han Yoo-rim’s desperate voice echoed through the ER.

The surgical and emergency medicine residents instinctively moved to go meet him.

But Kang-hyuk stopped them.

“Hey. Focus on the patient. Do you really want to let him see this?”

He gestured toward Ji-young.

Blood-tinged foam dribbled from her mouth.

Her eyes—partially open—were completely unfocused.

A more devastated sight would be hard to imagine.

“A-ah… No…”

“Close the curtain. Keep him out.”

“Y-yes, sir…”

“And the rest of you—get moving! Hook up the ECG now! Don’t stop chest compressions!”