I surprisingly receive a call from Kris during the weekend.

What's going on? He said its something to do with the Director...

A black sports car races towards my home and stops in front of me.

The driver's side window opens and Kris's face pop out of it.

"I hope you werent waiting long. Hop in."

Inside the car

"I'm sorry. I know its your day off."

"That's all right,"I said.

"The director all of a sudden told me to bring you over."

"He did? So where is she?'

"He's at home."

"Are we going to his home then?"

What's going on? This is a great chance to get inside the Director's home but.....

"The Director holds regular dinners and today's the day."

In other words, a lot of people close to the Director's will be there.

"And why am I?"

"The Director only invites the people who he likes close. It looks like he has taken a liking to you."

"Um...I see..."

"Is that unsatisfactory?"

"Of course not! It's just that ..... I dont see the reason on why he would feel that."

"You're an exceptional doctor. Plus it seems like you get  along with Lu Han... I think that's enough reason for the Director to like you."

I look at him with a smile. "You think so?Well, I'm happy to hear it."

"We're here."

So this is the Director's house....

"Please, wait here.I'll park."

I nodded to him.

I look up at the tremendous house.

This mansion and the hospital.

The things he was protecting when he concealed the surgical error...

Those are things for which my mother.....

"Oh, if this isnt Dr Jeon."

"Nurse Oh..."

The head nurse emerges from the front door.

"So you're here too."

"Oh, I'm just here to help..."

"To help?"

"Proof of his deep trust in you..,"Kris said from behind me.

"Ah Dr Wu, you both came together, I see. Anyway, please come in, both of you."
 

My goodness...I didnt know there would be so many people. Are they all his close confidants?

It doesnt look like Lu Han's here though....

"Kris. You're here,"Director greet us.

"I'm sorry I'm late. As you wished, I brought Dr Jeon with me."

Lu Jie's eyes focused on me. "Thanks for coming."

I bow my head slightly to him. "Thanks for the invitation sir."

He gave a small laugh. "Please, please. Lets do without the formalities. I only ask those who I want to ask. I am happy if you'd just enjoy yourself."

"Understood."

"Anyway, I've heard that you're very active in the hospital."

"Not at all."

"She really is a huge help,"Kris said, smiling. "The Director has a real eye fro these things, I have to say."

"Dont I? She's a good one."

Well........I suppose him liking me can be a good start.

Lu Jie's eyes roam to my back and he calls out," Ah, Lu Han! You're late . Get over here."

I turned around. So he did come......

"Hello Dr Lu,"I said with a charming smile.

"..."

"We were just talking about the surgery you two performed,"Lu Jie told his son.

"Oh."

"You and Jiyoon. I think you two make a nice team."

"..."

I disagree. It was totally based on Lu Han's skillful hands."You call us a team Sir but all I did was merely trying to keep up with Dr Lu."

"But not jsut anybody can keep up with that level of skill,"Kris state. " Just being able to keep up alone is impressive."

"Yes, precisely,"Lu Jie agrees.

"I still cant take credit..."

"All we need to be assured of, for the hospital's future is an environment where Lu Han is free to show off his talents."

Show off huh....

"He is one of the 'Ten Young Doctors to Change The Future Of Surgery' after all."

"We're inunndated by patients from across the country,"Kris said out proudly."who wants their surgeries performed by Lu Han."

".."

Lu Jie looked at me. "Jiyoon, I expect you to grow as a doctor, as well as Lu Han's partner in the operating room. Good luck."

"I-I..."

"Lu Han, with that in mind. I want you to be Jiyoon's guide."

"I dont really....."

"Whats that?"

"I dont need a partner."

I look at Lu Han who was clearly irritated.

"The job simply requires us to do what is possible in the given environment."

"Which is exactly why I am trying to establish the best environment possible,"Lu Jie reasoned out. "We cant let your hard-earned reputation be lost under our very eyes."

"It isnt reputation that saves lives."

"And yet..."

"All I want is to help as many people as I possibly can. I dont need anything else."

'Sheesh...No desire nor amiability. Regardless, what I said stands. Jiyoon, work hard."

"I will"

"All right. Time to get introduced. Lets make some rounds."

"Yes, sir."

I need a break.....

I leave the house and am in the garden when I noticed Lu Han.

"Dr Lu."

He looked up at me but didnt say anything. In fact he turned his head away.

"You're not going inside?"

"No...I'm not,"he informed me curtly,

I looked to where his head was turning at.....

"It's a beautiful garden..."I commented earnestly.

"....what about you? Are you supposed to be out here?"

"Dont look so upset about it."

"...................."

"I know you said that you dont need a partner. But I want to do it. I want to be your partner again in the operating room."

"....................."

"Would that bother you?"

He sighed......"....do as you like."

He got up from his seat and and started to walk away.

"I'm going to work hard. I want to earn your trust."I said loud enough for him to hear.

If it will allow me to get even a little closer to the director...........

You will open up to me. You can count on it.......

Taking my leave, I walk thru the drawing room and saw Sehun.

He was walking towards Lu Jie. As they talked, they looked very friendly, on very good terms.

Interesting....I didnt think Sehun would be bound by cliques.

Sehun realizes that I am looking at him. He turns and starts toward me.

"Jiyoon, right?"

"Yeah, thanks for the other day..."

"It's surprising to see you in a place like this."

"Funny, I was thinking the same about you."

He winked at me. "I know, I know. But hey, its all politics. We all get wrapped up in it at some point of time."

"Politics....you say?"

"I know. I dont seem the type ."

"No. I wouldnt say that."

"Sehun! Come here!" Lu Jie calls out to him.

"On my way,"he replied. "See you around Jiyoon."

I nodded and smile.

That means...nobody goes against those who have power.....

So, for example, even if there was somebody who knew about a 12-year-old mistake, it wouldnt be easy to get them to talk about it.

I'll have to take my time and track down the evidence.

Several days later......

I guessed that's all of my patients.

I garther all of my charts together and take a breath when Lu Han returns.

"Dr Lu."

"Yes?"

"I'm suddenly freed up. Is there anything I can do top be of some help?"

"....If you like, here."

Lu Han holds out a chart to me and I gladly take it.

"Mr Eun Jimin?"

"Check up on him."

"Okay."

A terminal cancer patient...He's already been told that he doesnt have much time left. The nurse in charge is.....Ha Gayoon.

"Nurse Gayoon."

"Yes?"

"Dr Lu had asked me to check in with Mr Eun Jimin. Would now be a good time for you?"

"Sure. He's in a single-occupancy room. I'll get everything ready."

"A single....."

"That's right. Its a 750 000 won per night!"

"750 000 won..."

That's twice as much as it was in my old hospital...

Gayoon smiled smiled at my reaction.

"Well, he's the Chairman of Hyundai Motors. No problem for that company."

"I guessed not."

*Knock* knock*

"Mr Eun, I am coming in."

Inside the room are a number of men and women probably family.

They abruptly end their conversation at the sight of us.

"I am sorry for interrupting. I am Jeon Jiyoon from Surgery. I'm here in place of Dr Lu Han .

"Its nice to meet you."

"All right Dad, we are going home now. Be good okay," his daughter said. Looking at me,"We all here feel better knowing that you're being taken care of here."

"...I know.."

"Thank you Dr Jeon. I'll leave my Dad to you."

I nodded with a smile.

The door clicks shut.

"You have a pretty daughter and family,"I commented.

"Yeah,"he replied with a warm smile.

"How nice for you. Being surrounded by family."

"Good, bad, I dont know....."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm at the end of my life. I just want to go my way. I guess that makes me selfish.."

Home care versus hospital care, treatment options...Perhaps he and his family disagree about these things...

".....I'm going to start the examination, okay?"

"...."

He needs to have a proper talk with his family so that his last moments arent filled with regret....

I finish the examination, onlyto find Minji was involved in a disagreement with a middle-aged woman.

"I've told you, we have no more beds available at the moment....."

"And I told you, I can pay double!"

"Money is not the issue here."

"Then what is the damn problem!"

"Hey, what's going on?" Nurse Jihyun asked.

"It's Song Hye Kyo. Song Hye Kyo!" Nurse Gayoon said in surprise.

Song Hye Kyo...you mean the actress?"Nurse Jihyun uttered.

"Yes! She's here and she's asking for Dr Lu!"

"At our hospital? That's amazin!"

Wow, now that's a popular actress on our doorstep...

The name 'Seoul General Hospital' will be even an even bigger seller, yet again.

I'm sure the Director will be pleased.

"But she cant get a single-occupancy room, no matter what she ways,"Nurse Gayoon whispered.

In other words, Mr Eun Jimin's room......

"What about that guy?"

"He's a manager."

"So he's the hotshot manager I've been hearing about..."Nurse Jihun said.

Hotshot? What were they thinking?

Are they thinking of throwing him out?

"Are you okay?"Nurse Jihuyn asked Minji after the actress left.

"There's just nothing I can do for her."

"Did she undertand that?"

"Who knows....I told her that it wasnt possible. She left saying that she would be speaking to the Director directly."

"So she's going to the Director..." I said.

Mr Eun Jimin also has a position in society. I dont think they'd throw him out...

No matter how convetous the DIrector may be, he wouldnt favor an actress, to a man who's reached the end of his days...even if she is at the top of her game. Would he?

"Dont worry, Dr Jeon. Dr Lu will put an end to this,"Nurse Jihyun said with a smile.

"Definitely, this would not pass Dr Lu,"Nurse Gayoon adds.

"You're right."

That's true. Lu Han would never allow such unreasonableness.

Hm? He's not here...

I was going to report to Lu Han about Mr Eun's condition.

"If you're looking for Lu Han, he was just called away by the Director,"Kris said as he look at the chart on his hand.

"By the Director?"

It has to be about the single occupancy room....

"Yes, why? What's up?"

"Nothing, its just....I'm going to join them for a moment."

Kris's eyes widen in surprise.

"Its about that actress and the single occupancy room, right?"

"So you knew about that .....It probably was, but...why are you interested?"

"Because I happen to be one of Mr Eun's attending physicians."

I turned to leave but Kris grabbed my hand.

"Hold up Missy, what do you plan on doing if you join them?"

"I dont know," I confessed truthfully. "But I'm worried."

I forcefully pushed his hand away and quickly walked toward the Director's office.

Even if I feel full of strength now...what am going to do? Its not like I'm on equal footing with them....

I put my hand on the handle to open the door but the door opened and out came Lu Han. He doesnt seem too happy.

"Um, Dr Lu..."

"...."

"I..."

"What is it?"he asked impatiently.

"You talked to Director about the single occupany room, am I right?'

"And what about it?"

"I was....was wondering what's been decided. I was worried."

He glared at me. "You have no place in this discussion."

"You maybe right, but...even if it was just once, I did examine him and therefore I consider him my patient."

He looks away. "You do?"

"..."

"In that case, plese continue to look after Mr Eun,"

"Wait, does that mean....."

It has to mean that Mr Eun wll still be staying in that room.

"I will, thank you."

Of course, Lu Han would spoke out on behalf of the patient.

The Director's son..Its hard to beilieve they share the same blood.

"Dr Jeon!'

"Lay. You're visiting the hospital today?"

"Yes, ma'am. So, did something good happen?"

"What do you mean?"

"Nothing..Its just that ...your face has got this glow. You havent look like that since we first saw each other in this hospital,"Lay commented."

"You think so?

"Did you save someone by performing some difficult surgical magic?

"Nothing like that.....I guess I just feel that I've found someone I can trust"

Hmmm..who could that be?"

"Its......a secret"

"Hey...!"

"Haha." Lay smiles. "Well, I am glad "

"About?"

"You smiling again. I dont know but you always look like you were brooding over something."

"I did?"

"Yeah."

And here I've been trying my best not to let my intentions show. I'm pathetic...

"Its a relief,seeing you like the old Jiyoon again."

"Nerves...I guess. New job and all."

"Now that you mention it, you were always a little shy when young, Jiyoon."

"Dr Jeon," I corrected him.

"Right, sorry....Dr Jeon." All smile left his face.

"It looks like you're not nervous enough!"I joked.

His smile came back. "I know. I'm sorry...I should be more careful."

"Thanks."

We laugh and parted ways.

Somewhere, I feel a lightness in my step.

After that, I had an uneventful  several days......

"Mr Eun, good morning.. How are you feeling today?"

His daughter approaches me, a severe expression on her face.

"Did something happen?"

"What is this about discharging my dad from the hospital?"

I was surprised. "What? Who said your dd would be discharged?"

"WHO? Why, that would be you, wouldnt it, Doctor?" her tone full of sarcasm.

"I didnt, not a word."

"And yet a nurse came over, no more than a moment ago saying that he'll have to be out of here by the day after tomorrow."

The day after tomorrow That's too sudden. Please dont tell me its for Song Hye Kyo....

"The hospital says I should leave, we should do as what they say," Mr Eun said weakly.

"This is crazy! Even though its against the wishes of the family! You're not going anywhere!"

"Please calm down. I'm going to talk with somebody about this."

I rushed to the office.

"Dr Lu!"

Lu Han was reading some material for his next operation.

"What is it?" he asked in his usual cold tone.

"Was Mr Eun Jimin discharged?"

He stopped reading and look up at me.

"Yeah."

"Why...? Is it because you wanted to free up his room?"

"....."

"His family wanted him to continue receiving treatments here. They said that having him under our care gives the a peice of mind"

"..."

"Their feelings are completely understandable. You know how hard it is to care for the sick at home...I know you do."

"So what?"

"Dont discharge him."

"I cant do that, the next patient is waiting."

"And by that, do you mean...you're doing this for Song Hye Kyo?" I asked indigantly.

"I am his primary doctor. Its my decision."

I rolled my eyes angrily at him.

Unbelievable..He's the same as the Director after all.

In the end, it was all a show. His real priority is whatever interest the hopsital.

Whatever happened to - All I want is to help as many patients as I can?-

And I thought he was trustworthy.......