Chapter 84 : Normalization

Jeong Changseop.

In the medical field, they called him a ‘god.’

He had successfully performed countless surgeries, and even patients with rare diseases regained a normal life after his treatment.

It was a nickname given to him by others, but Jeong Changseop himself felt no particular emotion toward the title.

He simply thought that treating patients was just part of being a doctor.

Now, he.

“Are you saying you sang with this throat?”

He unconsciously let out a voice of astonishment.

The test results appeared clearly on the monitor screen.

The patient’s vocal cords were in a truly dreadful condition.

The muscles and vocal cords in the throat had been overused to the point of exhaustion.

Generally, when singers have been active for years, some damage to the vocal cords is expected.

But the test results now were not just a matter of that level.

Jeong Changseop narrowed his eyes and checked the results again.

Muscle fatigue, wear on the vocal cord mucosa, and tiny wounds caused by frequent use.

It was far too serious to be simply explained as overwork.

“Haa…”

He slowly let out a sigh.

To be precise, it was even more astonishing that he could still produce a voice in this state.

In most cases, it would have been hard to even speak by now.

The patient sitting in front of him, Kang Suhyun, smiled sadly, as if she knew the situation.

“…Haha. Honestly, I didn’t think I’d be this messed up.”

“To be honest, singing in this state is out of the question. Using vocal cords that have been overused like this… I don’t know how you managed to endure it.”

“I just… kept going.”

“You kept going?”

Suhyun shrugged her shoulders slightly and continued.

“I thought it’d be fine if I kept singing, even if my throat hurt a bit…”

“So… you kept singing even though you were overexerting yourself?”

“Yes. I talk a lot because of my job… and since there’s an event at the end of the year, I’ve been practicing a lot. And then…”

Suhyun’s voice trailed off.

She had the expression of someone who knew they had done something wrong, but couldn’t help it.

“I don’t know how you could have sung in that state. Honestly, it would have been expected for your throat to be hoarse…”

Jeong Changseop shook his head, unable to hide his astonishment.

In the current state, just being able to produce a voice was close to a miracle.

But the problem was not just that her throat was damaged.

The small wounds on her vocal cords were accumulating, and if not properly treated, they could lead to permanent damage.

“You’ve really been holding on in a completely unreasonable condition.”

“Is it that bad?”

“It’s not just bad… If you don’t treat it immediately, it could be a huge problem. You might even lose your voice permanently.”

Suhyun looked down at the floor silently for a moment.

Then, she forced a smile and spoke.

“…But, I’m relieved.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, it’s a relief that I can still sing.”

At those words, Jeong Changseop was at a loss for words.

The patient in front of him was fully aware of the situation she was in.

Yet, she did not lose her optimistic attitude.

“To be honest, if you keep singing in this state… recovery may be impossible. Do you still think it’s okay?”

“No. It’s not okay. That’s why… I’ll get treatment.”

Suhyun said with certainty in her eyes.

Her gaze was filled with determination.

“Can my voice come back?”

Jeong Changseop paused for a moment and answered seriously.

“If you start proper treatment now and give your throat complete rest for a period of time, you will recover. But for now, you must stop singing. Minimize speaking as well.”

“I see…”

Suhyun took a deep breath.

Her expression was still bright, but there was an underlying anxiety mixed in.

“Then, please tell me the treatment methods. I’ll do whatever it takes.”

“Alright. Then first…”

Jeong Changseop carefully continued explaining as he organized the medical records.

At the same time, he was amazed inwardly.

It was hard to believe that she had been singing with a throat in this damaged condition.

It almost seemed like a determination that surpassed the limits of human endurance.

But at the same time, he knew very well how reckless that determination had been.

‘This patient… she’s definitely not an ordinary person.’

Jeong Changseop thought as he slowly began to make plans.

To help her regain her voice.

“Umm… Is it possible within a month? I have a big event coming up soon…”

Suhyun cautiously asked.

Her voice was faint and careful, as if afraid it might shatter like glass.

Jung Changseop, sitting across from her, stared at her with a blank expression for a moment.

What is she talking about?

Her throat is this damaged, and she’s asking if she can recover in just a month?

Is that even possible?

Jung Changseop frowned and checked the examination results again with his fingertips.

The diagnosis displayed on the computer monitor read:

Vocal cord fatigue: Severe.

Vocal cord mucosal damage: Micro-damage due to continuous use.

Accumulated fatigue of vocal cord muscles: Critical level.

Possibility of pain when speaking: Very high.

In short, this throat should not be used without rest.

For an ordinary person, even speaking at this point should be difficult.

Yet, the girl—or rather, the young woman—in front of him was casually asking if she could recover within a month.

Does this mean the patient is in denial? Or is she just that desperate?

Jung Changseop shook his head.

“A month… you say.”

His voice was somewhat cold.

He had to tell the truth. Giving her false hope was not an option.

“To be honest, it’s impossible.”

Suhyun’s expression stiffened for a moment.

But soon, she forced a smile.

“Ah… I see. Then… would two months be enough?”

Her eyes still held onto hope.

That gaze seemed both anxious and excessively determined at the same time.

Jung Changseop sighed and shook his head.

“Kang Suhyun, your throat is in a much worse condition than you think. Forget one month—recovering even in two months would be difficult. At this very moment, even using your voice is dangerous.”

“……I see.”

Suhyun quietly stared at the floor.

Her long eyelashes trembled slightly.

It was as if he could hear the sound of all her hopes shattering.

Jung Changseop paused for a moment.

But his instincts told him that the patient before him was not someone who would give up so easily.

“Kang Suhyun, as a doctor, I’ll be honest with you. If you don’t rest your voice immediately, it won’t just be a matter of slow recovery—it could get even worse.

You might lose your voice entirely.”

He continued speaking slowly.

“So from now on, you need to reduce speaking as much as possible and focus on treatment. Ideally, you should avoid using your voice altogether. That would be the best approach.”

Suhyun didn’t say anything.

Her eyes were fixed on the diagnosis report on the monitor.

With a dazed expression, as if she was struggling to accept reality.

Then, her lips parted slowly.

“…If I don’t speak at all, how quickly can I recover?”

This time, her voice carried a hint of desperation.

Jung Changseop met her gaze and thought for a moment.

“If… you truly refrain from speaking and let your throat rest completely, and if you follow the treatment program properly, there is a possibility of some improvement within two months.”

Scratch.

After that, Suhyun switched to writing instead.

[…Really?]

“Yes. But I can’t guarantee a full recovery. Whether or not you regain your voice depends on how well your throat heals.”

Suhyun bit her lip.

But her eyes were still shining.

As if she was clinging to even the smallest glimmer of hope.

[Then… even if I don’t fully recover in two months, will I at least be able to speak?]

“……You should be able to speak, but singing will be difficult.

Speaking and singing put different kinds of strain on the vocal cords.”

[…So I won’t be able to sing.]

Suhyun took a deep breath.

Her face was filled with mixed emotions.

Disappointment, anxiety, and an unyielding determination.

But then, she smiled again.

[…I’ll still do my best. I’ll do everything I can.]

Jung Changseop looked at her with slight surprise.

Most patients would have despaired after hearing this diagnosis.

But this person… refused to give up.

“Alright. Then I’ll set up a treatment program to protect your vocal cords.

We’ll combine medication and rest, and later, we’ll begin rehabilitation training to help you regain your voice.”

[Thank you.]

Suhyun bowed deeply in gratitude.

Her gaze was unexpectedly calm. No—rather, it seemed resolute.

Jung Changseop suddenly grew curious.

What kind of work does this patient do that she would push her voice to such extremes?

“Kang Suhyun.”

[Yes?]

“If you’ve been straining your voice to this extent… is there something important you need to do?”

Suhyun hesitated for a moment.

Then, avoiding his gaze, she answered slowly.

[…Ah, well… I guess you could say it’s important… It’s just something I have to do, no matter what.]

“Can I ask what that is?”

Suhyun smiled again.

But this time, it seemed more like a joyful smile.

[…That’s a secret.]

Like a child who had regained their enthusiasm.