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The cameras flash bright, reporters jotting down Baek Kang-hyuk's words furiously. It was the beginning of a major shift in the politics of South Korea's healthcare system, spearheaded by Assemblyman Son and the Trauma Center team from Hankuk Hospital. Prof. Baek stands at the rostrum calmly, speech firm and resolute.
"The trauma center at Hankuk Hospital currently is scraping by with government subsidies and public donation, but this system is not suitable for the long-run, neither is it suitable for other trauma centers nation-wide."
Yang Jaewon scans the faces in the crowd absent-mindedly as he nods along to the professor's words ; he sees some familiar reporters' faces - the same ones blocking the ER entrance everytime a major incident happens, he notes drily. Suddenly his eyes land on two faces he's never expected to see here out of all places. Yang Jaewon's brain freeze in panic.
"Mum?! Dad?!"
Today's Assembly Son's presidential campaign run on healthcare is held close to his neighbourhood, but remembering his parents' reluctance of letting him be a trauma surgeon for fear of him collapsing under the pile of work, Yang Jaewon didn't think of inviting them to come. However, seeing them cheer for Prof. Baek... Did they watch the documentary film and became fans...?
"That concludes my speech for today. Are there any questions from the audience?"
Yang Jaewon hears Prof. Baek ending his talk, but he remains frozen in place, eyes widening in horror as he watches his dad raise his hand, the world coming to a snail's crawl around him.
"Me!"
Prof. Baek gestures welcomingly, throwing a curious glance at the man in the crowd and Yang Jaewon's increasingly pale face. The man looks familiar...
"Has my son been helpful to your team's efforts?"
Prof. Baek sucks in a surprised breath ; Yang Jaewon by his side deflates and lets out a strangled choking noise. "Dad...!"
The professor echoes him. "Mr. Dad?!"
The man in the crowd nods, eyes bright ; the elegantly dressed woman besides him also nods with a smile. "Yes, I'm Yang Dae-eop, Yang Jaewon's father. This is my wife, his mother."
The cameras flash even more. What a scoop! Getting to see the parents of one of Korea's national heroes!
Now I understand why Jaewon is such a good kid, he grew up with such parents. No wonder he's so well-mannered and gentle. Prof. Baek smiles endearingly, looking straight into Mr. Yang's eyes.
"It's my pleasure to finally meet my best student's parents. Please forgive me for not greeting you earlier, and thank you for entrusting me with your beloved son."
"As for your previous question..."
The event finally ends and the reporters all took their leave. Prof. Baek rubs his forehead and walks off the stage with Yang Jaewon tailing him. "I didn't expect so many questions, that was quite tiring."
"Thank you for your hard work, Professor. At least you've learned to smile and be less blunt."
"You little punk, now you're Team Leader 2 you've got the guts to talk back to me, huh?" Baek Kang-hyuk's words had no bite, because it was true he's mellowed out since coming to Hankuk Hospital. Yang Jaewon's compassion and humanity rubbed off on him, erasing the sharp pointy edges sanded on the battlefields.
"It's still early, why not we go have dinner with your parents?"
Yang Jaewon barely had the time to open his mouth before a cheery voice behind Prof. Baek chipped in. "We're here! That's a good idea!"
The two surgeons turn around in surprise, only to see the Yang parents waving at them. "Oh, Mr. and Mrs. Yang!" Prof. Baek immediately switched on his charming side as he walks up to the couple, smooth and charismatic. "Let me treat you to dinner, as thanks for having Jaewon helping me out so much these two years I've been in Hankuk Hospital."
"There's no need to do so, we're the ones who should treat Dr. Baek for taking in our son as your mentee!" Mrs. Yang tries to counter the dinner invitation, but Baek Kang-hyuk never took no for an answer ; he lightly nudges Mr. Yang, before leading the way to the exit.
"No, no, it's my pleasure to meet you two as well. Please, don't let me down."
Mr. and Mrs. Yang took a look at each other, before cheerily going after him. "Oh, my, what a well-mannered person Dr. Baek is! It's really reassuring to have Jaewon with you!"
Yang Jaewon, the man in question, is left behind in cold sweat. "My parents have been enamoured by a wolf in sheep's clothing, help!"
As anybody would have expected, an emergency call came in the middle of their dinner. Mr. Yang drops the two surgeons off in front of the ER, and watching their backs rush off to save lives, wipes a tear from his eyes.
"Honey, I'm so proud of our son." Mrs. Yang is smiling brightly, having seen her beloved Jaewon all grown up and working hard.
"I'm so glad for him. Come on, let's get some thank-you snacks for the whole ER team."
"Hey Prof., I just realized you called my dad 'Mr. Dad' on-stage."
"Well, the disciple's parents are also the master's parents, right?" Baek Kang-hyuk smirks at the dazed expression on Yang Jaewon's face as they wash out of their scrubs, finally finished with operations.
"You called him 'Dad' on national news, Prof.! Not me, his actual son!" Jaewon prods the attending doctor fiercely, earning him a light slap on the head.
"Why does it matter, you stinky punk... Before I catch you slacking and send you packing...!" Prof. Baek's threatening words is met with Yang Jaewon sticking his tongue out in rebellion, before he runs away out of the grasp of the attending's sharp claws. "I'm going to go for an outpatient round! See you, Prof.!"
Baek Kang-hyuk snickers as he watches Yang Jaewon flee around the corner.
"You better be getting used to me calling him Dad, kid, because we still have a long way to go." He turns and makes his way to the on-call room for a nap before the morning literature review assembly with his other slaves - cough, disciples.
Such was the dynamic between the 'Mad Dog' Professor Baek Kang-hyuk and his best disciple Team Leader 2 (FKA Slave No. 1 or Anus) Yang Jaewon. Seems today will be a good day saving lives.