I Acted Once, and Now They Call Me a Genius - Chapter 144

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Episode 144

Meanwhile, at that moment.

Da-sol’s home.

“Heuuup…”

“Let go, let go!”

Da-sol was hugging Da-yeon’s waist tightly with all her strength.

Even though Da-yeon was desperately tapping out, feeling like she might throw up all the beer she had just drunk, Da-sol wouldn’t let go of her waist.

She couldn’t help it.

The sight of Seon-woo stabbed with a knife was just too, too much…!

“Ah, let, go I said!”

Da-yeon succeeded in escaping from Da-sol after desperately twisting her body.

Then she shouted angrily.

“Ah, I almost suffocated to death. What’s wrong with you, really?”

“…Sister, what about our Yoon-seo? The knife… he got stabbed with a knife…”

“Hah…”

Watching Da-sol tear up while only talking about Yoon-seo without answering her question, Da-yeon swallowed a hollow laugh.

…Right. Being able to immerse yourself this deeply is also a blessing, if you could call it that.

If Da-yeon’s favorite actor had shown such acting, she would definitely have been just as out of her mind.

Getting stabbed with a scalpel, and all those countless emotions that flashed and faded in Seon-woo’s eyes in that instant were so delicate and deep they were hard to fathom.

It was beautiful acting.

“…People must be going crazy, right?”

Da-sol muttered while hugging her own arms.

Da-yeon nodded.

“The reaction seems like it’ll be good.”

“I can’t stand it. I have to check.”

Da-sol hurriedly got up and took out her phone.

Then she immediately searched for [Red Zone] threads.

She worried that maybe there wouldn’t be much talk about Seon-woo… but apparently that concern was unnecessary.

NoNewYearPlans: Wait, what’s with that Yoon-seo guy? Is he really a rookie?

Kim Dong-hoon: It’s really been a long time since I was this impressed by supporting role acting

NoNewYearPlans: Forget supporting roles, I’ve never seen an actor that age do acting like that…

karma: His eyes are seriously heart-fluttering, what is this, what’s happening

Gahyun: The actor’s name is Kim Sunwoo yeah, she was on that audition show “I Am an Actor” and she did really well on there too lol

└StillHaveMongolianSpot: What, was he the winner?

└Gahyun: No no, not the winner. I think she got 3rd place or something like that

└StillHaveMongolianSpot: They’re that good but not the winner? Damn

ApgujeongKnifeWielder: Wait, I came to watch Seong Do-won’s acting show… but I’m surprised the work seems to have quite high caliber

└ApgujeongKnifeWielder: Not to mention Chae Seo-ryeong’s character is charming… that Yoon-seo guy is pretty good too

└LongSleeveShorts: That So-hee girl is also a newbie but seems to have good acting skills.

└ApgujeongKnifeman: Yeah, it wouldn’t be weird if either of them played the lead role in The Mask

With a bit of exaggeration, about one in three people were talking about Seon-woo.

It was probably because Seon-woo’s impact at the end of episode 2 was so strong.

That scene of him collapsing helplessly covered in blood all over his body… was something you couldn’t see in ordinary medical dramas.

And the facial acting that Seon-woo showed in that moment was…

“Hehehe…”

“…Kid, could you pick one – either be sad or happy? I’m starting to get goosebumps.”

“I can’t help it, Sister. Look at this! Everyone’s praising Seon-woo!”

“Yeah, yeah. So, are you going to watch the next episode?”

“Of course I have to watch it!”

Da-sol immediately played episode 3 as if asking what kind of obvious question that was.

Episode 3 started with moving the collapsed Yoon-seo to the operating room.

The scene of Lee Hyeok immediately entering emergency surgery.

The surgery naturally proceeded without major complications. Since they had started treatment right after he was stabbed with the scalpel, there didn’t seem to be any major problems.

—Are you okay?

—…

But Lee Hyeok’s expression after finishing the surgery was not normal.

An expression that seemed angry, seemed tired, completely unreadable. But whatever it was, it was certain that something very burdensome and terrible was inside it.

That must have been why.

Why Sang-a, who was trying to talk to him, looked like she was about to cry but then put on a more resolute expression.

Even she couldn’t collapse.

Someone in this relationship needed to stand firm.

—There’s going to be an attack.

—…Attack?

—Patient Kang Ok-ja, her family came forward saying they’ll sue. On top of that, Yoon-seo even got stabbed with a scalpel. There’s already an article out. Medical staff assaulted at Hanul Hospital Emergency Room… attending physician seriously injured, like that.

—…

—The higher-ups will say this. That because the emergency room is operating beyond its limits, these kinds of incidents keep happening.

—What do you think.

—What do you think I think. Watching you right next to me, ready to have a seizure the moment a call comes into triage, what do you think I thought?

—…You didn’t have to watch.

—How could I not watch.

Sang-a grabs Lee Hyeok’s shoulder and pushes him against the wall.

At that force, Da-sol gasped and inhaled, then immediately covered her mouth seeing the tears filling Sang-a’s eyes.

—The person I love is falling apart. There’s not a single day I don’t have nightmares. I keep hearing from above about what to do with you, how could I not watch you! Huh?

—What do you want me to do.

Lee Hyeok didn’t raise his voice.

Nevertheless, Da-sol momentarily thought he had shouted.

No, maybe it was a scream.

—What am I supposed to do. Right. You’re all correct. This patient might die if we don’t take them, but let’s just send them away. It’s hard for us. Let’s take it easy. We don’t need to be responsible for everyone’s life, right? Should I say that?

—…That’s not what I’m saying right now.

—I know. I know but… to me, that’s what it sounds like, Sang-a.

It’s not that Sang-a’s words were like that.

Lee Hyeok embraced her as if clinging to Sang-a. It was less like a lover’s embrace and more like a castaway’s struggle.

An embrace like someone desperately trying to grab onto anything on a steep cliff.

But even as he buried his face in her arms like that, the exhaustion filling Lee Hyeok’s eyes wasn’t erased at all.

Sang-a gritted her teeth seeing him.

—What should I do with you… really.

Nevertheless, Sang-a embraces Lee Hyeok.

As if believing that even if it’s meaningless, putting her heart into it will someday create meaning.

And watching the two sharing such a pitiful embrace,

“….”

“….”

Da-yeon and Da-sol maintained silence as if they had made a promise.

They had let their guard down. While talking about Seon-woo, they had forgotten that these two were incredible acting monsters.

Just from this brief embrace, they could tell.

How deep their love was.

How difficult a time they were going through.

Da-yeon muttered.

“No way, Lee Hyeok acts all gruff with other people… but he gets subtly weak only with Sang-a, that detail is insane.”

“Right….”

“Ah, no. I can’t cheat. I shouldn’t cheat.”

“…Sister, you thought about cheating again? Your favorite just won an award at Cannes and came back.”

“But, but it still hasn’t been released! I still can’t even see his face.”

“It’s releasing in a few days, what….”

“Anyway, good is good!”

Da-yeon shouted loudly.

“No, that was such a reversal charm just now. How can I not fall for it?”

“….”

Honestly, it was hard to argue.

Seeing someone who seemed so terribly strict and difficult suddenly show weakness like a child was more than confusing—it made her feel sorry for him.

A feeling of wanting to protect him.

But,

—….

When the next scene continued, Lee Hyeok’s existence was completely erased from Da-sol’s mind.

In a hospital room with sunlight streaming in, Yoon-seo was blankly opening his eyes. His appearance was too neat to be considered a patient. But it wasn’t his appearance that caught Da-sol’s attention.

Still seeming not fully awake, Yoon-seo’s gaze, which had been blankly looking around, turned toward So-hee who was adjusting his IV.

And Yoon-seo slowly tilted his head, slowly looking at her.

Who is that?

With eyes that seemed to ask why she was so beautiful, as if trying to engrave every aspect of her face in his pupils.

Da-sol, seeing those eyes that seemed distant as if facing something purely beautiful, trembled…

“That’s cheating….”

She shuddered.

How can a patient’s eyes be so deep?

He doesn’t even seem to have properly come to his senses yet, how can he have such eyes?

Transparent.

And in those transparent eyes… you could see the sprout of affection that even he wasn’t aware of.

A sprout that seemed ready to grow and bloom at any moment.

—What. You’re awake?

But So-hee didn’t seem to see that sprout.

So-hee, making eye contact with Yoon-seo, sighed and shook her head.

—Are you crazy. How did you think to jump in there?

—I… Ah, right. In the emergency room… Professor. Is the Professor okay?

—Worry about yourself. A guy who got stabbed in the neck is worrying about someone else?

—…St, stabbed? Ugh!

—Ah, don’t move. The wound isn’t fully healed yet. Don’t even think about moving your neck area.

So-hee sits on the edge of Yoon-seo’s bed.

And she chuckled looking at Yoon-seo.

—Crazy bastard. How did you think to jump in there?

—…If I had thought about it, I wouldn’t have been able to jump in.

—Well, I’ll admit it now.

—What.

—Actually, whenever you talked about saving people and stuff, I thought it was nonsense? Like, you’re not even a saint, why do you keep acting like you’re the only doctor… I admit it. That you’re sincere.

So-hee’s eyes darkened slightly.

—That you know how to sincerely give your all for someone.

—….

Once again, Seon-woo’s eyes became moist.

And Da-sol and Da-yeon, seeing that, simultaneously slapped their foreheads as if they had made a promise.

“That guy… really needs to do a romance drama at least once.”

“That’s what I’m saying. Wouldn’t it be absolutely thrilling?”

“But he’d suit a second male lead better than the main male lead.”

“…Hmm, there is that feeling.”

While she was at it, Da-sol also checked the threads.

She figured by now there would be another explosion of talk about Seon-woo.

And indeed, her prediction was right on target.

evafromuk: This romance is a wholesome romance.

MacaronOneBite: It’s kinda funny how everyone was totally disgusted when the romance first appeared but now they’ve all completely changed their tune lololol

└Ppuppo: That’s not romance. It’s pure love.

└MacaronJustOneBite: For real for real, that’s pure innocence… No, how can someone’s gaze feel so pure like that. It’s like looking into a child’s eyes

└ppo: Totally agree, looks exactly like an elementary school kid who’s fallen in first love

└OneBiteOfMacaron: What was that lol

Gahyun: But does it make sense that So-hee can’t notice Yoon-seo’s feelings even after seeing those eyes? If it were me, I would’ve already looked into wedding venues and dresses

└eyesonyou: Well, it seemed like Yoon-seo herself doesn’t know… so it’s understandable that So-hee doesn’t know

└Gahyun: Ugh, you frustrating people ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ

Overall, the response was favorable.

It wouldn’t be strange for people to complain about why they’re adding romance to a well-made drama… but it’s probably thanks to Seon-woo acting properly.

‘And somehow it feels natural story-wise too.’

Should I say even the romance feels doctor-like.

And the fact that [Red Zone] felt more like a human drama than a medical drama also played a big part.

Rather than having incidents happen in the emergency room and solving those incidents… it felt like dealing with the inner erosion and weathering of humans in that war-like field that repeats every day.

So maybe that’s why Yoon-seo’s romance feels appropriately placed.

But unfortunately, the romance scene ended here.

—Kim Yoon-seo.

—Ah, oh. Professor… ugh.

—Hello, Professor!

—…Are you okay.

Lee Hyeok entered the hospital room while receiving greetings from Yoon-seo and So-hee.

He slowly looked down at Yoon-seo’s nape with tired eyes. Then he opened his mouth in an uncharacteristically low voice.

—Foolish guy.

—…You mean thank you, right?

—Don’t be cheeky. You, you almost died if things went wrong. What were you thinking? What were you thinking acting so recklessly?

—Uh… I wasn’t thinking anything.

—…What?

—My body just moved…

Yoon-seo scratches his head as if embarrassed.

Then he moved his neck again, causing pain to rise up and frowning, but then trying to smile again.

—Doesn’t a doctor need no reason to save people?

At that moment, Lee Hyeok’s eyes widen greatly.

Like someone who heard something completely unexpected.

And watching such Lee Hyeok, Yoon-seo smiled brightly.

—I learned that by watching you, Professor!

Why did those words shake Lee Hyeok so much?

The reason is unknown. Lee Hyeok looked at Yoon-seo with a very complicated expression, then finally turned his back.

—…Park So-hee.

—Yes.

—You take responsibility and manage this guy.

—Ah… Yes! I understand.

Leaving only that final request.

And the following content is ordinary.

The Chairman pressures Lee Hyeok once again, and Seo Ryeong continues to persuade Lee Hyeok.

Did that persuasion work?

After that day, Lee Hyeok surprisingly didn’t interfere with the emergency room at all.

Not interfering here meant that even when nurses sometimes tried to refuse patient transfer calls, he didn’t say anything about it.

People whisper.

Lee Hyeok has changed.

Did he finally mature? Or did he compromise with reality?

Should this be called growth? Or should it be called having his spirit broken?

The eyes looking at Lee Hyeok only grow more questioning.

But most people are soon satisfied. After all, the atmosphere in the emergency room has improved much more.

It’s busy when it’s busy, but there are more frequent chances to catch their breath.

And as time passed like that… when Yoon-seo had just been discharged and was returning to work, Lee Hyeok faces Sang-a’s Father, the Hospital Director.

—Yes. Lee Hyeok. How are things these days?

—Thanks to your concern, I’m doing well.

—Ahem… don’t think too badly of this. This is all for your sake. I know very well what an excellent doctor you are. If possible, I’d like to pass this Hospital Director position to you too. Is that because you’re my prospective son-in-law? No? It’s because you’re an excellent doctor.

The Hospital Director speaks with a kind smile.

The viewers watching could tell just from that smile. Ah, this person is truly caring for Lee Hyeok.

He’s not saying this for political reasons. As an adult, and as someone who will soon be family, he’s speaking with all his heart.

But what Lee Hyeok presented to such a Hospital Director was a pure white envelope.

An envelope with “Resignation Letter” written on it.

Naturally, the Hospital Director’s eyes waver.

—What is this?

—I’m going to quit.

—…What? Our Hanul?

—No.

Lee Hyeok takes off his gown along with his ID badge.

And looking at the Hospital Director who’s staring at him with a dumbfounded expression, he says calmly.

—I’m quitting being a doctor.

…And then, fade out.

As the title cut of [Red Zone] appears over the pitch-black screen… Da-sol lowered her tightly clenched fist.

“…Crazy.”

Quitting being a doctor?

What’s this. ‘Thank you for loving [Red Zone] until now’?

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————