Chapter 70 – Actress of the Century (9)

Office of the Commander, Far East Command.

The disease of Marilyn Monroe, revealed through Steve Martin’s examination, was indeed cryptococcosis. Steve Martin had Marilyn Monroe transferred back to the National Medical Center, where he treated her along with Professor Jeong Gi-ryeo, Kim Ji-hyuk, and Kim Yun-seok, and Marilyn Monroe gradually began to show signs of recovery.

As Marilyn Monroe reached the final stage of recovery, Steve Martin left the remaining treatment to them and was set to return to Japan; before going to Japan, he visited John Hull, the commander of the Far East Command.

“Miss Monroe’s symptoms have recovered a lot.”

“I have no excuse.”

Commander John Hull had a serious expression.

“If she had been misdiagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma and undergone surgery in the United States, it would have been a disaster.”

“Yes. It was my oversight.”

If she had been transferred to her home country and undergone lung cancer surgery, it was a situation as clear as day that it would have dealt a fatal blow to her career as an entertainer.

It was an incident (?) in which Commander John Hull, who directed all of this, almost made a massive mistake.

“There is no reason for you to apologize to me. It is not necessarily because Miss Monroe is a celebrity. You ignored the diagnoses of the Korean doctors and worsened the patient’s condition solely because this is a weak nation. In Miss Monroe’s case, if the treatment had been delayed just a little bit, a serious situation could have resulted. You must thoroughly discipline those responsible and make an official apology to the National Medical Center.”

Professor Steve Martin spoke in a firm tone.

“That is…”

Commander John Hull, with an embarrassed look, could not continue his sentence.

“You still haven’t escaped from that authoritarian mindset. The medical battalion clearly made a misdiagnosis and almost put the patient in danger. If you had listened to the diagnoses of the Korean doctors even just a little, this wouldn’t have happened. Make an official apology!”

“Do we absolutely have to do that? We have already expressed sufficient regret to the Korean hospital.”

“Is that so? If Commander John Hull’s family had suffered such an incident, would you have responded in the same way?”

Professor Steve Martin glared fiercely at Commander John Hull.

“……….”

“Fine. Then it cannot be helped. If you act like this, Commander, I have no choice but to make this fact known through foreign correspondents!”

Steve Martin had no intention of bending his will.

“Phew, do you really have to do this?”

“Just a few years ago, we in America fought a fierce war to overthrow imperialism. And we reached where we are today at the cost of many sacrifices. Furthermore, we fought and won against communism.

Yet, how can we harbor such imperialistic thinking? An apology is not something to be ashamed of. Isn’t admitting one’s mistake the very foundation of democracy? If you understand the true nature of democracy, Commander, I believe you would not say such things.”

“Hmm… I, I understand. I will make an official apology through a spokesperson.”

At last, Commander John Hull accepted Professor Steve Martin’s proposal.

* * *

Marilyn Monroe’s hospital room.

Although Professor Steve Martin had crossed over to Japan, Marilyn Monroe’s condition had greatly improved thanks to the devoted treatment of the medical staff, including Professor Jeong Gi-ryeo. In fact, it was better than before she entered Korea.

“Miss Monroe, how is your condition?”

Kim Yun-seok, who entered the room, asked after Marilyn Monroe with a bright face.

“It is very good! I feel so great that I could fly!”

“Hahaha, is that so?”

“Yes!”

She looked much brighter.

“For the time being, you must not consume alcohol or sleeping pills! The treatment is not completely finished yet.”

“Hohoho, alcohol? What is that?”

“Pardon?”

“I do not drink alcohol anymore! And I do not want to take sleeping pills either! This is the first time I have felt so light and ready to fly. It is all thanks to you, doctors.”

“That is the best news I have heard. You made a very good decision.”

“Of course. It is a happiness I found with such difficulty! I plan to live even harder when I return to America!”

“Yes. You should. By the way, you must be returning home soon?”

“Hohoho, are you sad to see me go?”

“Well. Although I am a bit sad that I could not see Miss Monroe’s performance, it is fine since you are returning after recovering your health!”

Hehehe, Kim Yun-seok smiled sheepishly.

“I can just perform.”

It was Marilyn Monroe’s unexpected response.

“Pardon?”

Surprised, Kim Yun-seok opened his eyes wide.

“I said I will perform! Since the purpose of coming to Korea was to perform, shouldn’t I naturally do it?”

“Well, then do you mean you are going back to the military base? That will not do. You have not completely recovered yet…”

“No. As you said, doctor, that seems too difficult, but wouldn’t it be fine to do it in the lobby of this hospital? I think that much is possible.”

“Will you be alright?”

“If the hospital allows it, I would like to try. Hmm… Since I came for a charity performance, I would also feel regretful if I left without doing anything.”

“Hmm, that could be so.”

Kim Yun-seok slowly nodded his head.

“I would like to invite wounded soldiers and hold a small performance. I have already discussed it to some extent with my manager. If only the hospital permits, I do not think there will be any major issues with performing. Please make it happen.”

“Hmm, alright! I will speak with Professor Jeong Gi-ryeo about it!”

“Yes, doctor! And I wanted to make a careful request, if that is alright?”

“Yes. Please go ahead.”

“It is a difficult request…”

“It is alright. You can tell me. What kind of request is it…”

“Since I fell ill this time, I developed some trauma… Do you have any thoughts of going to America with me?”

Marilyn Monroe brought up the subject with difficulty.

“Pardon? Am-America?”

“Yes. That is right. Please come to America and look after me, I beg you!”

“Ah! This is such a sudden proposal that it is difficult for me to say anything.”

Kim Yun-seok showed a troubled expression.

“Dr. Ji-hyuk also highly recommended that Dr. Yun-seok go study in America.”

“Pardon? Ji-hyuk did?”

“Yes. He said Dr. Yun-seok is such an outstanding doctor that he needs to study more to play a major role in the development of Korean medicine. That is why I said I want to support you. Come to America, experience, and study to your heart’s content. I will take full responsibility for the financial support.”

“Phew, it is such an unexpected proposal that my mind is blank. Could you give me a little time to think?”

Kim Yun-seok could not readily accept Marilyn Monroe’s proposal.

“Yes. Since I have decided to perform here anyway, there is some time. You can think it over sufficiently before making a decision!”

Marilyn Monroe said with a bright smile.

“Yes.”

Kim Yun-seok still had a dazed expression.

That evening, the surgical duty room.

“Ji-hyuk, I have something to tell you.”

‘Marilyn Monroe must have spoken to him.’

Kim Ji-hyuk had already figured everything out.

“Uh? Yeah, go ahead.”

“This is so absurd that I do not even know what to say first.”

“Well. Are absurd things in this world so rare? Considering that Marilyn Monroe getting hospitalized at our hospital is also happening.”

Kim Ji-hyuk slowly examined Kim Yun-seok’s reaction.

“You, did you tell Miss Monroe that it would be a good idea for me to go study in America?”

‘I did! Of course you have to go to America and secure a ten percent stake in Walmart. If you go too late, everything might be in vain, Grandfather! You have to go as quickly as possible and finalize that first. Every second counts!’

“Ah. Yeah. I just casually tested the waters, but I never dreamed Miss Monroe would react like that. She was incredibly proactive.”

Kim Ji-hyuk vaguely made excuses, contrary to his inner thoughts.

“Hmm, honestly, I want to go too, but…”

“Then you absolutely must go. With your skills, getting into Johns Hopkins is a piece of cake. You are the king of exams! So, strike while the iron is hot and make a bold decision.”

“Then what about Mi-ju…”

Kim Yun-seok’s expression darkened abruptly.

‘Don’t worry, Grandfather! As if I would let Grandmother go through a hard time?’

“Do not worry about Mi-ju. I will try to help Mi-ju study acting on Broadway in America. You know that I invested in American stocks and the returns are quite high, right?”

Ji-hyuk was achieving immense investment returns by investing in leading American corporations, including Polaroid.

“Really?”

“Yeah. Go over to America first and study. I will take good care of Mi-ju while she is still in Korea before she leaves for America, so do not worry too much.”

“Can you really do that?”

Kim Yun-seok seemed to have relieved some of his worries.

“Gosh, have you been deceived your whole life? How can you not trust your bosom friend like that?”

“Sigh… Will I be able to do well in America?”

‘It is not a matter of doing well or not, Grandfather! Go find Sam Walton and make sure to get the shares!’

“Of course! You can certainly do well! If I look at your physiognomy, you have the face of someone who will become the best surgeon and return home in glory!”

“Do you read faces too??”

“Hehehe, of course. Would I only read faces? I possess a mysterious ability to look into the future too!”

“Crazy bastard! Okay, I get it. I will review it positively! If you make things hard for Mi-ju, you are dead, got it? Promise me!”

“Of course. Do not worry about anything and just get ready for your studies in America!”

Kim Ji-hyuk actively pushed for Kim Yun-seok’s departure to America.

“Okay, I got it.”

Kim Yun-seok still had a bewildered expression.

* * *

A week later, the lobby of the National Medical Center.

As promised, Marilyn Monroe ended up holding a modest performance in the lobby of the National Medical Center, inviting wounded American and Korean soldiers.

Bampabam—

The stage set up in the lobby.

Along with the sound of a saxophone situated in the center, the voluptuous silhouette of Marilyn Monroe stood out between the parting curtains.

Whooa—

“Marilyn Monroe!”

“Marilyn Monroe!”

At that, the soldiers filling the audience shouted cheers and chanted her name repeatedly.

Rustle—

Finally, the curtain divided to the left and right, and Marilyn Monroe’s figure appeared. And the spotlight fell upon her!

Marilyn Monroe’s posture, coming out in her signature pink dress that completely exposed her back, was fantastic.

“Thank you! Thank you!”

She repeatedly blew hand kisses toward the audience.

As she walked to the center of the stage and grabbed the microphone, her sexy voice finally began to fill the stage.

♬♪♪

She began to sing joyfully and perform a captivating dance.

As she swayed her body and approached the front of the stage.

Swoosh—

A gust of wind blew from beneath the stage.

Flap—

When the hem of her skirt spread out like an umbrella, exposing her flesh, Marilyn Monroe, with a startled (?) expression, quickly pulled down the flared skirt and wore a shy smile.

Aahh—

Whooa—

“Monroe, Monroe, Monroe, Monroe!”

The excited soldiers began to whistle along with roaring cheers.

“Ji-hyuk! Isn’t that an ac-accident? What should we do?”

Yun-seok, who was startled while watching the performance, looked at Ji-hyuk.

At that.

“Who knows?”

Kim Ji-hyuk, wearing a strange smile, curled up one corner of his mouth.

* * *

A few days later.

Having completed her performance in that manner, Marilyn Monroe boarded a plane bound for America under everyone’s warm hospitality.

“Ji-hyuk, I want to go to America!”

And Kim Yun-seok, who had been in deep contemplation during that time, also decided to go to America.

‘Huhuhu, you made a good decision, Grandfather!’

Kim Ji-hyuk wore a satisfied smile at Kim Yun-seok’s decision.