Trauma Center : Golden Hour - Chapter 95

Clack.

Baek Kang-hyuk opened the door and stepped out of the on-call room.

Officially, it was labeled the “Trauma Surgery Chief’s Office,” but from the start, Baek Kang-hyuk had never planned to hole up in an “office” to research anything new.

How could you study trauma from the isolation of a research office?

His research happened in the OR, in the ER, or even right out on the street.

So, the “office” only had a couple of old bunk beds discarded by other departments, one more that Baek had bought with his own money, and Jaewon’s study desk and computer—nothing else.

“Jeez… at least try cleaning up once in a while.”

Jang-mi muttered, looking over the desk piled high with empty bottles and cups that looked like they hadn’t been washed in ages.

The bottles were almost certainly all energy drinks.

The unwashed cups had brown rings—clear evidence of coffee.

She picked one up and put it back down, then shook her head.

There was just no hope.

“We’ll all have to get together and do a deep clean… someday.”

She knew that day would never come.

How could a department running with just three people in a hospital that saw thousands of outpatients daily ever have time?

It was just an excuse for giving up.

While she stood in front of the impressive pile of garbage, Baek Kang-hyuk was getting in the elevator.

“Ah, Professor Baek.”

Someone greeted him cheerfully.

It was an unusual occurrence at this hospital, not something Baek ever expected.

“Who…?”

He looked puzzled.

The person gave an awkward laugh.

“It’s Professor Kim In-soo. Orthopedics.”

“Ortho…? Oh, right, you’re the professor who operated on the tibia with me.”

Even though he’d mentioned Kim’s name in front of the press, Baek Kang-hyuk had completely forgotten it.

Kim In-soo looked a little disappointed, but he got over it quickly.

His patient load had exploded lately, all thanks to having his name mentioned.

You might say, what good does it do for a salaried doctor to see more patients? But there was an incentive system.

He’d even topped the department in revenue this month.

So he was in a great mood.

“Yes. Kim In-soo. Haha. Are you headed to the meeting?”

“I have to. We’re a department with only two doctors, but I am still the chief. Are you going too?”

“Ah, yes. I’m not a chief yet, but I was specially invited this time.”

He said it with a bright laugh.

He seemed so genuinely happy that Baek Kang-hyuk found it strange.

‘Why’s he so happy to be dragged into a meeting when it just means less time seeing patients?’

He doubted he’d ever understand.

But he knew people like Kim In-soo were everywhere.

Clack.

Another person got in at the next floor—another one of that type.

“Ah, Professor Baek!”

This time, it was Han Yoo-rim, chief of general surgery, looking ten times more delighted than Kim had.

Baek Kang-hyuk didn’t particularly like him, but, according to Jaewon, Yoo-rim had been taking Baek’s side lately, even going against Administrative Director Hong Jae-hoon.

Word was, Yoo-rim was now on Hong’s blacklist.

At this hospital, that didn’t mean you were principled—just naive.

“Chief.”

For once, Baek Kang-hyuk greeted him with proper respect.

Han Yoo-rim, who knew not just Baek’s reputation but his actual personality, was pleased.

“Haha, no need to be so formal. Just call me Professor Han.”

“Yes, Professor Han.”

“Heading to the meeting?”

“Yes.”

“Well…”

Han Yoo-rim looked concerned, hesitating to speak.

Clearly, he’d seen the trauma department’s financials.

Survival rates were excellent.

‘98%… Amazing.’

Around fifty critical patients had come through the Severe Trauma Center in the last month; all but one were either already discharged or still in the hospital.

Before Baek Kang-hyuk arrived, survival rates were under 20%. It was practically a miracle.

‘But a four-hundred-million-won deficit…’

Before, the hospital had never even spent that much.

They’d barely even tried to treat those patients, so it made sense.

Would the director and the board really tolerate this much of a loss?

Han Yoo-rim, now wise to hospital politics, was skeptical.

“You’re talking about the deficit, right?”

Baek Kang-hyuk jumped in, heading him off.

Han Yoo-rim relaxed a little and nodded.

“Yeah, it’s huge again this month.”

“Don’t worry. I’ve got a solution.”

“Really? Do you have some way to bring in more money?”

“Well… something like that.”

“That’s good, then! Let’s go.”

“Yes. Let’s.”

Large-scale lectures or the director’s addresses were usually held in the basement auditorium.

But smaller, more sensitive meetings like the department chief meeting were held in a secluded spot on the 19th floor, near the VIP ward.

Today was no exception.

Ding.

When the elevator reached the 19th floor, Baek Kang-hyuk, Yoo-rim, and Professor Kim In-soo all got off together.

Professor Kim immediately bowed deeply to Professor Han Yoo-rim.

“Sorry for the late greeting! I didn’t want to interrupt your conversation…”

“Ah, Professor Kim. It’s fine, it’s fine. We’ve shared enough drinks, haven’t we? You’re here to be congratulated, right?”

“Yes, so you already knew.”

“Your department chief bragged so much my ears nearly fell off. Compared to that, our department…”

Han Yoo-rim looked at Baek Kang-hyuk and sighed.

He owed Baek a huge favor, so he couldn’t bring himself to say anything critical.

Baek Kang-hyuk understood Han Yoo-rim’s feelings.

‘Well… General Surgery’s never been a money-making department.’

Not just not profitable—just plain poor.

Because of the way Korean insurance policies work, the more a department deals with life-and-death cases, the harder it is to avoid deficits, and general surgery deals with a lot of life-critical cases.

The only real profit-makers were [breast reconstruction] and [proctology], and even [breast reconstruction] was being taken over by plastic surgery lately.

And now with a 400 million won deficit, the whole department was in the red.

“Come on, let’s just go inside. Go on in.”

Han Yoo-rim gave an awkward smile, then pointed to the meeting room.

Whether they were a bit late or not, the room was already pretty full.

“Yes, let’s.”

Professor Kim In-soo quickly went inside and grabbed the seat next to his department chief.

Han Yoo-rim followed, but then hesitated.

The seat next to Administrative Director Hong Jae-hoon—usually his—was now occupied.

“Hello?”

Sitting there was Jin Tae-rim, Chief of Anesthesiology, who didn’t even bother to bow.

“Uh…”

Han Yoo-rim was confused and looked to the administrative director.

Hong Jae-hoon silently pointed his chin toward an empty seat in the corner.

The meaning was clear: go sit over there.

Only then did Han Yoo-rim realize that Hong Jae-hoon was really pushing him out now.

‘This petty bastard. After everything I’ve done for him…’

He’d never given him cash, of course—doing that would just get him destroyed.

But how many times had he driven him to the airport for overseas trips? Even picked him up after red-eye flights and driven him home. He’d driven him to the golf course countless times, pretending to lose. He was such a pro at it that Hong Jae-hoon still didn’t know Han Yoo-rim was a single handicapper.

‘And just for defending Baek Kang-hyuk a little, he throws me out? Bastard…’

Han Yoo-rim headed for the corner seat, scowling.

“Wow. Always packed in here,” Baek Kang-hyuk muttered as he walked in behind.

It was a bit loud for a mutter, but by now, no one bothered to call out his rudeness.

Only the big shots near the administrative director shot him dirty looks.

“Alright, the director will be here soon.”

Hong Jae-hoon joined in with the glares, then stood up.

Everyone else followed—except for Baek Kang-hyuk, who only stood when Han Yoo-rim dragged him up by the arm.

“Man… it’s not the military. Why bother…”

“That’s just how it’s done here. Gotta follow the rules.”

“Seems like a custom that needs to be smashed.”

“Save that talk for when you’re director. Ah, here he comes.”

Han Yoo-rim glanced at the front door.

The current director, former [proctology] professor Choi Jo-eun, entered.

He glanced silently at Han Yoo-rim, exiled to the far end, and shook his head.

He said nothing, but Han Yoo-rim could read his thoughts.

‘You brought this on yourself.’

Han Yoo-rim gave a wry smile, thinking of his soon-to-end term as department chief.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to keep the job.

But he was already riding the tiger, and Baek Kang-hyuk had saved his daughter’s life.

He couldn’t just turn his back on that, not with what little conscience he had left.

“Alright, let’s begin the February department chiefs’ meeting.”

No matter his inner conflict, the meeting began.

As always, the director opened with, “You’ve all done well, let’s keep doing well,” and then, as always, turned to Administrative Director Hong Jae-hoon for the profit rankings.

“Yes. Once again, the funeral home was first, the parking lot second. But… there’s a change in third place.”

“Oh? Not the cafeteria this time?”

Everyone listened closely, even though the director probably already knew.

The administrative director paused for effect, then nodded.

“Yes. This January, orthopedics took third place. Thanks to Professor Kim In-soo’s surge in endoscopic knee replacement surgeries. The department posted a surplus of over 150 million won.”

“Wow… incredible. Is Professor Kim In-soo here?”

At the director’s mention, Kim In-soo stood, looking both embarrassed and proud.

“Come on, everyone. Let’s give him a round of applause.”

The director led the room in applause for Kim In-soo.

At the same time, he glanced at Baek Kang-hyuk—as if telling him to get ready for his turn.

Anyone else would have felt the pressure, but Baek Kang-hyuk remained completely calm.

‘Let’s see if they really have the guts to come at me.’

(T/N: i apologize for the super delayed chapters, baby time was so rough. baby is currently on a sleep regression phase. good news though, i should be back to our regular release rate (or even faster) by the end of this month. we’ve got everything arranged, so we’re all set. )

We appreciate you reading! If you loved this chapter, don't forget to bookmark us or share with your friends!