Ch. 60
A child with a small physique was reading a book alone in the room.
Although it seemed more fitting for a child of his age to be playing actively outside rather than sitting still and reading a book like this.
As if he had not been reading a book in this way for just a day or two, the child had been sitting in that spot for several hours.
Flip-.
The only thing that moved was his right hand when he turned the pages of the book. That child was Jong Seojun's son, Jong Shingeon.
"..."
In the room, besides the book that Jong Shingeon was reading now, countless books were piled up nearby.
Those books could be said to be Jong Shingeon's only friends and toys.
Since he could not leave the room carelessly, it was a natural thing for his hands to go to the books.
Flinch-.
At that moment, Jong Shingeon's right hand, which was about to turn the page, stopped.
As if he were restless, Jong Shingeon got up from his seat for the first time in several hours.
And unlike his appearance when he was reading a book, he headed somewhere with quite fast steps.
Swish-.
In the place where Jong Shingeon was heading, there was a brass chamber pot.
Since he had to take care of everything in the room, he had no choice but to handle even physiological matters in this way, and when the chamber pot was somewhat full, he was solving his physiological phenomena by having it replaced when they brought him food later.
Of course, at first, he was not used to this and was also embarrassed.
But that didn't mean he could hold in his physiological phenomena forever.
After taking care of his business with a now familiar appearance, Jong Shingeon closed the lid of the chamber pot.
Thump- thump-.
Jong Shingeon returned to his seat and began to read a book again.
And a moment later, as he felt the presence of someone at the door, Jong Shingeon raised his head.
"...?"
Was it already time for a meal?
To be honest, Jong Shingeon did not know what time it was now.
The only thing he could tell was whether it was day or night, but even that, he did not know for sure because the sunlight did not enter the room properly.
"Young Master, I have brought your meal."
A familiar female voice. It was the maid who always brought Jong Shingeon his meals.
Creak-.
The door opened and the maid cautiously entered the room.
And after placing the tray with the meal in an ambiguous position, she quickly began to clean the things near the door.
"..."
What the maid was doing now was taking care of the leftovers that Jong Shingeon had eaten and replacing the chamber pot.
Since these two tasks were always performed every time she came in, the maid was moving mechanically, and Jong Shingeon watched her silently.
"Well..."
Jong Shingeon, who was watching her, cautiously opened his mouth.
But his mouth soon closed. Since it was a very small voice and the distance was quite far, it seemed that the maid had not heard anything.
"..."
A life where he could not take a single step out of the room, that's why the only person Jong Shingeon could meet was this maid who visited only three times a day.
Since he missed people, Jong Shingeon wanted the maid to stay here and talk to him, but in reality, that was impossible.
The fact that she visited only three times a day was to minimize contact with people, and it was also forbidden to open one's mouth carelessly in the place where Jong Shingeon was.
If a disease were to be transmitted then?
Since both Jong Shingeon and the maid knew what kind of result that would lead to, no one could bring it up.
"Young Master, is there anything you need?"
After finishing all the cleaning, the maid asked from outside the door.
Please stay here a little longer and talk to me, Jong Shingeon wanted to say.
But he soon said to the maid with a weak smile.
"No. It's okay."
This was the end of the conversation.
After exchanging only the minimum necessary words with each other, the maid closed the door.
"..."
A tray placed in an awkward position.
Placing the food in such a way was also to avoid contact as much as possible.
Normally, he would have brought the food placed there and eaten it, or just eaten it right there.
But now, he didn't really want to eat.
And since eating a lot would naturally increase his physiological phenomena, he tried not to eat as much as possible.
Although he had gotten used to urinating, he had not gotten used to defecating.
When he had to defecate and be in that room with it... it didn't feel very good.
Drip- drip-.
Tears flowed down his cheeks and fell onto the book.
He had decided not to cry anymore for his father's sake... but seeing the tray placed alone and the room that was too wide for him, tears flowed out.
"Sob..."
A sobbing voice.
Jong Shingeon had matured too early for his age.
That's why he was fully aware of the situation he was in, and he also knew that this was the best.
"Don't cry... if I cry, my father will be sad."
Although he was also in a difficult situation, Jong Shingeon knew that the person who was having a harder time than him was Jong Seojun.
He had learned that fact about three years ago.
When Jong Seojun had knelt in front of him and had sobbed and apologized, seeing that, Jong Shingeon had received a great shock.
So he had decided not to cry anymore, and especially in front of Jong Seojun, he had vowed to always smile.
Drip-.
But still, the fact that this situation was harsh for a ten-year-old child to endure was certain.
Even an adult would have a hard time enduring it.
That's why, although he had made such a vow, it couldn't be helped that tears came out like this once in a while.
"Geon-ah."
At that moment, a voice was heard from the door.
Normally, if someone had approached, he would have noticed it right away, but since tears were coming out, Jong Shingeon was able to know that fact belatedly.
"Father...?"
The voice he had just heard was surely his father's voice.
'Why is my father here...?'
Because of Blood Death Disease, Jong Seojun also tried not to enter this room as much as possible.
Although he could sometimes visit and see him, that was also about once every fifteen days.
Since Jong Seojun had already visited the room recently, he could not have expected him to visit like this now.
"..."
That surprise was also brief. Jong Shingeon belatedly realized that he had been crying.
Since he had vowed never to cry in front of his father, Jong Shingeon hurriedly began to wipe his tears.
Creak-.
The door opened and Jong Seojun appeared.
At the same time, Jong Shingeon, who was wiping his face, lowered his arm. And he said with a smile.
"Father, what's the sudden occasion?"
"..."
Jong Seojun silently examined Jong Shingeon's face, who was asking him.
Although he had wiped his tears with his sleeve, the area around his eyes was still red.
Seeing that, he could tell that Jong Shingeon had been shedding tears until just now, but Jong Seojun also knew that Jong Shingeon did not want to show him such an appearance.
"...Were you reading a book?"
Jong Seojun asked, hiding his pitiful heart.
Then, Jong Shingeon answered, still maintaining his smile.
"Yes, I was reading the book you got me last time."
"You haven't eaten yet."
"I was going to eat after reading a little more."
"...I see."
A bitter smile appeared on Jong Seojun's lips.
It couldn't be helped that he felt a sense of guilt whenever he saw his son.
But that didn't mean he could make a sad face in front of his son.
Since his son was also smiling, he could not make a stiff expression, so Jong Seojun was forcing himself to maintain a smile.
Swish-.
Jong Seojun entered the room.
And a person who entered the room with Jong Seojun.
Cheon Myeong smiled at Jong Shingeon and said.
"Hello?"
"...?"
Although Jong Shingeon was flustered by Cheon Myeong's sudden greeting, what was more flustering was the fact that there were a total of three people in this room now.
Had there ever been so many people in this room until now?
No, there hadn't.
Since the number of people who could enter the room was always limited to one, this was the first time in four years that Jong Shingeon had seen two people standing in front of him.
"Ah, hello..."
Although he was flustered by this situation, it would be polite to receive a greeting if one was given.
Jong Shingeon barely greeted Cheon Myeong, whom he was seeing for the first time in this place, hesitatingly.
"Are you Jong Shingeon?"
"Yes... that's right."
"My name is Cheon Myeong."
"...Yes."
Although he had wanted to talk to someone else, now that he was talking like this, Jong Shingeon could not say anything.
Since his original personality was timid and he had met a new person for the first time in a long time, it would be normal for him to not be able to speak properly like now.
Like a first meeting at a blind date, Jong Shingeon was shy and was busy avoiding Cheon Myeong's gaze.
"Geon-ah."
Jong Seojun's call.
Hearing that voice, Jong Shingeon's gaze, which had been wandering until now, finally found its stability and went to Jong Seojun.
"This person is Young Master Cheon Myeong, the leader's son."
"The leader's son..."
No matter how young he was, he knew what that meant.
Moreover, since Jong Shingeon had only lived in his room, he did not know the outside situation at all.
He had no choice but to judge Cheon Myeong just by the words 'the leader's son'.
"The Young Master said he wanted to talk to you."
"With me?"
"Yes, so I brought him, so will you talk to him for a moment?"
"..."
Why would a person of such a high status as Cheon Myeong want to talk to him?
Although Jong Shingeon had usually wanted to talk, it couldn't be helped that he was hesitant in this situation.
Grin-.
Cheon Myeong was still smiling at him.
Seeing this, Jong Shingeon said with a cautious voice.
"I'm okay."
Jong Shingeon's permission was given.
Then, Jong Seojun looked at Cheon Myeong with a silent gaze.
Nod-.
Cheon Myeong nodded at Jong Seojun.
In fact, although Cheon Myeong had come here to diagnose Jong Shingeon, he had deliberately hidden that fact.
If he were to hear that he had come to diagnose him, wouldn't Jong Shingeon have expectations?
Since it was possible that Cheon Myeong would say that treatment was impossible after diagnosing him, Jong Seojun did not want his son to be disappointed at that time.
So before entering the room, Cheon Myeong had coordinated with Jong Seojun.
Thump- thump-.
As permission was given, Cheon Myeong approached Jong Shingeon.
Seeing this, Jong Shingeon was startled.
Since he knew what the action of approaching him meant, Jong Shingeon was surprised.
"It's okay."
At that moment, Jong Seojun said.
Since his father had said that, Jong Shingeon did not avoid Cheon Myeong with a nervous face.
And at some point, Cheon Myeong had come right next to Jong Shingeon and had sat down.
"Will you show me your hand for a moment?"
"..."
"It's okay."
Cheon Myeong said with a gentle voice.
Swish-.
Since his father was also watching quietly, Jong Shingeon cautiously raised his left hand and held it out to Cheon Myeong.
And Cheon Myeong, who held Jong Shingeon's outstretched arm with his two hands.
Since it was the first time in several years that another person had touched him, Jong Shingeon was startled, but he soon remained still.
"..."
Holding his arm, Cheon Myeong maintained his silence.
Although it looked quite like he was taking his pulse on the outside, in fact, he was just holding his arm.
'I don't know if I'm doing it right.'
Of course, Cheon Myeong did not know how to take a pulse.
But if he didn't even show this much, wouldn't he not be able to gain trust from Jong Seojun?
In order to prescribe as he said in the future, these trivial parts were necessary.
"Shingeon-ah."
At that moment, while still holding his arm, Cheon Myeong called Jong Shingeon's name.
And at the same time, a smile appeared on Cheon Myeong's lips.
"I'll let you come out of this room."
The famous doctor, Cheon Myeong, the diagnosis was over.
(End of Chapter)