📍The wit my subscriber sprinkled in my comment section—a kind of pepper all its own—is so much wittier than the pepper on rice or curry, you’re going to die laughing.

For a change of pace, let’s set aside the academic essays for a moment. This space is usually reserved for serious breakdowns of Weak Hero Class —we’re talking mental, directorial, and cultural analyses. But now and then, it’s a lot more fun to take a little peek behind the curtain of fan subculture. So, think of this post less as an essay and more as a little note from the fan-verse, a chance for a good, lighthearted laugh.

And before we dive in, a huge, heartfelt thank you to my dear subscriber, @asukalonginus3335, who handed me the kind of wit that’s spicier than any pepper and literally got me through the week. Your humour gave me the perfect reason to put this together. This one’s for you! ♥️

Si-eun-ah: More Than a Name

@asukalonginus3335

The one that got me was the last ‘Sieun-ah’ we will hear from Su-ho’s voice. It rings out simply and tenderly in a dream-space that is the warm, broken heart of the show.

@JennieLeeKdrama

I had a Twitter follower ask me recently how couples in Korea call each other, like with pet names, and they asked what I thought Su-ho would call Si-eun if he had a pet name for him (and I have no special aversion to this kind of subculture that naturally forms when you have a well-written script, a strong story, and a bunch of handsome/cute boys lol).

So I replied that Su-ho just calling him “Si-eun-ah” already feels like a pet name to me.

The last name Su-ho called before he woke up from the coma was “Si-eun-ah”… Yes, I still remember the insane moment. I loved that scene so much, I made an audio about the nuance that was hard to read in the subtitles… Unlike Su-ho’s usual silliness and tough accent, his voice was so sad and wistful, right? It was a truly cruel and beautiful scene.

@asukalonginus3335

Good day Jennie.

I maintain a very low social media presence to keep myself sane (I’m sure you can imagine a boss or irritating senior sending me a Facebook friend request and me buffering indefinitely because I want to ignore it at my workplace’s peril—I’d stall a lot worse than Ji-hoon whenever Hyun-wook did an improv).

And so I only have a private and almost defunct Facebook account that I use mostly for the grim purpose of checking if any friends have gone on before me. I still have no Instagram, Snapchat, or Twitter/X, but I’ll consider setting one up to further our discussions on the artistry of Weak Hero and future dramas.

It is so sad indeed. “Si-eun-ah, you can sleep after all that?” And Si-eun takes a good 20 seconds to respond, but it feels like nothing at all, because we want more time for these two precious friends together.

Dr. Yeon and Working-Class Mr. Ahn: The Beginning

@JennieLeeKdrama

Friend! No worries, I also activated my Twitter just because of Weak Hero Class 1. I’m not a social media person, either, but I felt like I had to preserve these precious conversations from my YouTube channel somewhere.

Comments like yours are what make my day, don’t ever forget that! Thank you always. And for real, while every scene in Weak Hero Class 1 gave me a huge impact, I swear the dream convo Su-ho and Si-eun had in the hospital bed left the biggest impression on me. I still often wonder what director Yoo was feeling when he wrote the script… I’m sure it’s filled with his personal experience, taste, and the inspiration that keeps him alive as an artist.

And because of that, I sometimes don’t want to see the Weak Hero Class 1 characters become adults. A follower recently asked me if Su-ho, Si-eun, and Beom-seok could form a community together as adults, and I said I thought it was impossible. A total buzzkill answer, I know, but because their social circles are so different, I think it’d be hard for them to maintain a relationship. Beom-seok is a politician’s son, Si-eun will be a professional like a doctor or prosecutor, and Su-ho is clearly working class.

It makes me so sad to think about it, but it’s more beautiful for them to remain as an intense, unforgettable memory for each other… a moment in time they’ll never forget. I hope that’s what happens. I’m so sorry for rambling again.

Have a great day!

@asukalonginus3335

Yes, I can see how the pressures of reality may pry these boys apart.

Beom-seok’s psychological problems have already caused him to act out in horrifying ways.

However, in the unreality of my delusions, fomented by time wading in shipdoms, I can totally foresee how a certain handsome working-class guy keeps visiting his favourite doctor for spurious reasons.

And each time he waltzes into the private clinic at lunch without an appointment, Dr. Yeon still sees him with pretend irritation.

Why do you keep coming?

he says, trying to sound weary of his favourite patient. But the attendant nurses already have their suspicions.

Because that’s the only time they get to see his jaded face flush with a smile so sweet and true. And he never charges a dime. After all, it’s unclear who is giving whom medicine.

@JennieLeeKdrama

Wait, when you said you work on stage… are you a playwright? Hahahahaha, oh, I laughed so hard in my delusions. Si-eun’s also a doctor, but wait… I left a tweet (below) about sexuality for my Twitter followers, and after reading this, I feel like I need to revise it. Lmaooooooooooooo!

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Assuming love can’t be defined as one type, this is just my personal rambling as always, lol. Both Su-ho and Si-eun feel too hetero to me, so I struggle imagining them sharing physical intimacy or sexual acts. I read Beom-seok as gay, so I can picture him lying in bed masturbating to Su-ho’s Instagram pics.

But if we don’t define love only through sexuality, Su-ho and Si-eun had a different type of love. Personally, I think director Yoo’s “love” meant deep bonding. Si-eun, who had zero preferences, would probably end up loving whatever colors, movies, or music Su-ho liked (totally agree with this fan headcanon).

Since Su-ho was basically the first person Si-eun opened up to after coming into the world, Su-ho had to be his first love. But as a sexually intimate couple? My headcanon doesn’t work that way. Su-ho and Si-eun probably formed an unforgettable deep bond that’ll last until death, and Si-eun suffered from first love fever—but is that connected to sexuality? I don’t think so. The one crying after masturbating thinking about Su-ho would be Beom-seok for me—but after reading your delulu, I’m about to do a complete revision.

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I was pretending to be so elegant while archiving your super poetic lines on Twitter, and then I read your delulu… I almost fell out of my chair. “After all, it’s unclear who is giving whom medicine” lol, I almost died laughing. I wish I were one of the nurses at Yeon Clinic. I’ll be laughing so hard while taking a walk later, thanks to your delulu, omg. In my own delulu, Su-ho and Si-eun have no sexual contact because they’re too straight. I’ve always read Beom-seok as gay, and I’ve imagined him masturbating while looking at Su-ho’s Instagram and then crying in despair.

But reading your delulu made me realize mine needs a full revision. Not a single sexual word in your delulu, but the whole thing sparkled with witty innuendo. 120/100, I laughed so hard, that was truly witty. Thanks for making my night.

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I was cracking up in the shower thinking about those clever lines from your delusion, thanks for giving me a week’s worth of laughs. Tomorrow on my brutal commute, I’ll probably be grinning like an idiot, remembering your storytelling that has zero explicit content but the entire tone screams sexual innuendo, and people will definitely stare. I bet you hesitated before posting that comment. Looking at my YouTube comments, everyone’s so classy and serious—praising the show, dissecting every detail with such elegance—but you had the guts to give us just a peek at your delusion, and like Su-ho, I’m blown away by that courage.

So, in the shower… I was tempted to flesh out your 2D fantasy into a vivid 3D. Being a Korean local means I could add concrete details—what kind of manual labor Su-ho does, which construction sites, you know. Even the interior design of Si-eun’s clinic. I could paint the whole picture and have you rolling on the floor, but just thinking about it made me laugh so hard I dropped the showerhead, lol.

This might be an East Asian thing, but we’re always putting that materialistic lens on everything. When I build future arcs for this trio, for Su-ho and Si-eun to keep their social dynamic going, Su-ho would need to build wealth through Bitcoin, lol, to balance the economics. Thankfully, Su-ho’s been into investing since childhood, so hopefully he’d get rich quickly and match Si-eun’s social class. These are completely useless fantasies that don’t help my life one bit. And if Beom-seok really wants to make amends, I hope he skims some cash from daddy’s fortune for Su-ho.

Honestly, with narratives this strong, tight scripts, and cute/handsome guys in bunches, it’d be weird if there wasn’t a subculture. This is purely my taste, but if I can’t spot queer elements in the source material, I don’t get excited reading fanfic where they go romantic. Fanfic where Beom-seok makes moves on Su-ho, though? That might work. And behind elegant masks, I read Su-ho’s treatment of Yeong-i as pure kindness, but in my fantasy land, I think Su-ho and Yeong-i have already hooked up. Reading fanfic of them dating would honestly get me going.

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But Su-ho and Si-eun read too straight to me in canon, so couple fantasies don’t click. Plus, their bond feels like a love that’s deeper than sexuality—imagining them as a couple and losing that deep connection (which hits me harder) kills the appeal even more. What I’m saying is, rather than seeing Su-ho and Si-eun as a developed couple, their original deep bond gets me more. Like Director Yoo said, I can’t help but think they were in love. I’ve never heard a “tho-rai” that screams “totally hooked on you” and “you’re adorable” before… these bromantic moments hit harder than any couple delusion. The original exchanges are already more heart-fluttering; why do we need fantasies when this exists?

But your fantasy arc, just reading that snippet, got me hooked on working-class Su-ho and doctor Si-eun. You probably couldn’t fit everything in the comment, but I bet in your delusion, Dr. Yeon suddenly gives the nurses half days off, of course, paid half days, clears the clinic, and then has some quality time with Su-ho. Your scriptwriting wit killed me—definitely hit me with part 2 when you can.

Yeon Clinic Series: Where Fanfiction Sparks

@asukalonginus3335

Hi Jennie, I do get involved in scriptwriting at times, but I wouldn’t call myself a playwright. I have no published works to my name, and besides, there are so many wonderful writers out there who can send you to the stratosphere or the abyss with a phrase; my earthbound words just don’t soar the same. I’ve not pondered the self-massage habits of the canoe trio. But since this can of worms has spurted open…

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Beom-seok probably thinks hard about Su-ho, who has no idea how much sticky business goes on behind each of his Instagram uploads. Si-eun doesn’t touch himself because that reduces his study time. If the urges ever come, he chants Newtonian mantras to subdue the passions. And that’s okay because Su-ho does enough for the two of them.

I think Si-eun and Su-ho will always be “questionable straight friends” / “straight(?) friends.” There’s a whole world of gray about Gray. My take is that they look like the sort that might experiment out of curiosity, very likely initiated by Su-ho, but their true bond isn’t physical. There have been other characters in the vast multiverse of fiction who are deeply attracted to each other but do not have a physical relationship.

They love, undoubtedly, but do not make love. Why hold hands when they hold each other’s hearts? Is their embrace worth less than a kiss? They will cry, kill, and die for each other; must they also whisper sweet nothings to prove their bond? So in the end, what are they? I’m not sure, but whatever they have is so beautiful, I’d rather leave it intact in all its ambiguity; I don’t want to lob off any nuances while squeezing the two into some box of my preferences.

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But my delusions are another matter. I still like to think a certain Mr. Ahn visits Yeon Clinic rather too regularly. To, you know, cure headaches, toothaches, heartaches, and throbbing pain… Treatment might get a bit loud, but the attendant nurses are professional.

One does not fool around when Dr. Yeon is holding court. Once, when a team of audio engineers was brought in to install soundproofing, a younger trainee nurse tried too hard to be helpful.

These panels look like they cut out higher sounds, but do they also reduce thumping noises?

This summoned a stare from the owner so burning cold it made the air turn to lead.

Older nurses rushed off to do filing. Paperwork was never more welcome. It has been several months, but the trainee has yet to be promoted. It is said she is considering moving over to the rival Jeon clinic that is flourishing from its twin specialities of treating broken finger bones and stab wounds, but is plagued by rumours and scandals.

@JennieLeeKdrama

Honestly, I think you’re plotting to make me pass out from laughter and collapse from hyperventilation today. I seriously considered taking a day off tomorrow just to spend all day laughing at this wit-packed comment you left, lol

Even without my amateur Korean local perspective adding realistic bricks to your delusion arc, your fantasy already sent me to the moon.

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I do hope this comment never gets deleted. Even if a satellite crashes into Earth like in Don’t Look Up with DiCaprio, I want this wit-bouncing comment preserved. It’s so funny. I’m going to read it 50-plus times, like those novels I used to hide from my mom but read in school. While archiving today’s comments with subs for Twitter, I found our OST convo. Reading that reminded me I was going to upload audio about the context and subtext of the karaoke song Su-ho and Yeong-gi sang together. I scrapped it for copyright issues but suddenly remembered and posted about it.

Gosh, no matter how I think about it, it’s so funny. “Self-massage,” “mantra,” hahahaha. How can every single word from A to Z be sexual even though there’s not a single sexual word? Forgive me for trying to add some Korean reality to your Nobel Prize-worthy fiction, just because I’m a local, lol. I’ll read it a few more times and leave a comment.

@asukalonginus3335

Hi Jennie, thanks for indulging in my sheer nonsense.

Actually, weekends are by far the busiest days for me because that’s when arts groups tend to concentrate their activities. I had to keep sneaking out to fantasise, and even took a self-extended lunch break, kind of like Mr. Ahn. (Dr. Yeon skips his.)

I’ve been brewing some of this word soup for a while now. It’s bubbling with ingredients from various shipdoms. You are very welcome to add whatever jang you wish. I know yours is certified authentic.

Do step in as the clinic’s interior designer; you don’t have to knock, kind of like Mr. Ahn.

Mr. Ahn’s Questionable Walk-ins

@JennieLeeKdrama

Dear, your wit literally kept me smiling through this brutal Mon/Tue, the first time I haven’t been miserable on weekdays, lol.

If you need my brick-fitting skills for your fantasy arc, that’d be an honor, to be honest. I’m counting down to the weekend so I can post nonsense on my rambling blog that’ll crack you up.

While reading your Yeon Clinic saga, I had this song on repeat—Primary’s hit (he’s Weak Hero Class 1’s music director)—and it was the perfect BGM, imagining Dr. Yeon’s inevitable smile when handsome, working-class Mr. Ahn drops by unexpectedly. You’ll dig it.

@asukalonginus3335

Yes, it’s the perfect soundtrack to the Yeon Clinic series, hahahaha.

It’s got such a cheeky, breezy vibe, like a light summer fling. And just for you, Jennie, I’ll boil more word soup later after work. May it nourish you throughout the week. It will be a larger bowl this time.

@JennieLeeKdrama

Speaking of cheeky, I need to correct one part of your take: if those two ever went that extra something mile out of curiosity, it wouldn’t be Su-ho initiating but Si-eun’s teasing, because in my take, Si-eun, as an Eunjang High senior, is bold and cheeky.

I’m not sure if my humble YouTube comment section has the capacity for your larger bowl; my channel’s bowl isn’t big enough to contain yours.

Yeon Clinic is clearly internal medicine, but here comes working-class Mr. Ahn walking through those clinic doors with spurious reasons like headaches, toothaches, chest pains—basic family medicine stuff—while Dr. Yeon gives him that slightly furrowed brow paired with a smile creeping across his lips that totally doesn’t match his expression. As the interior designer of this sequence, that was my background music choice, hahahahaha.

@asukalonginus3335

A good point, well taken.

It is indeed highly unlikely he remains totally chaste after years of Ba-ku and Go-tak’s nonsense.

I suspect I will need a few posts for this bowl. I’ll number them.

The Hidden Photo Frame

bowl of non-canon, highly-revisionist soup:

Because he didn’t always knock, one day Mr. Ahn barged in to find a rather startled Dr. Yeon. This was on purpose, of course; alarming his closest friend was a form of gentle teasing he had been doing for years. It didn’t matter that the physician here was something of a cult hero, revered and envied by insiders for his phenomenal memory and the precision of his cuts and injections. To him, Dr. Yeon was just a more decorated version of his reticent high school mate, the strength behind his heartbeats, and Mr. Ahn loved seeing those liquid eyes widen into pure, clear pools.

This rude entrance was usually followed by a lecture on manners and morals from the medical savant, but the nature of the procedures the doctor performed here on him made these Confucian scoldings sound hollow. Still, Mr. Ahn absorbed every word. He wanted to hear his voice. It was all part of an elaborate ritual that sprang up in place of him saying,

Si-eun-ah, did you miss me? I missed you.

That would have been the plain truth of things, but the words burned with embarrassment in his mind, and he couldn’t say them, since he was already going for checkups almost every other day.

This time, however, Dr. Yeon remained quiet. He simply gulped. Something’s off. Dr. Yeon abruptly gestured to a sound panel behind Mr. Ahn, and asked,

Doesn’t that one seem slightly crooked?

While the light of his life turned around to check the offending installation, Dr. Yeon hurriedly swept a small photo frame off his sparse tabletop and stuffed it into the lowest drawer, desperately pried open with the tip of his leather shoe.

But Mr. Ahn sensed the fluster and spun back just as the drawer closed with a soft but distinct click.

Yah!! How sneaky!

He thought.

He must have been like this when he buried my phone in the sofa all those years ago!

He tilted his head and smirked cheekily.

And was that thing in the drawer for my treatment? Or yours?

What? No way he saw that! Tsk! How is he so sharp?

Dr. Yeon thought. He said,

Don’t be so disgusting, please. And not everything is about you, you know? My patients here have the right to confidentiality.

Of course they do.

Mr. Ahn walked over.

That’s why I trust you won’t say a word about my preferred therapy for today.

Mr. Ahn lunged for the drawers and was promptly blocked by Dr. Yeon. This resulted in the two turning back into high schoolers as they engaged in a wild bout of jostling, grabbing, pinching, and tickling, much of which was audible to the nurses outside. They have known for a while now to put up the notice, “closed for lunch,” whenever Patient A strolled in.

It turns out the trainee nurse was quite right. The panels didn’t do much to dampen the bass thumps; contrary to her expectation, though, they didn’t quite cut off the high notes either, nor much of anything else. At best, they muffled conversations, but the screech of shifting furniture, the growling and groaning, the shrieking, and the shouts of “YAH!!” were especially sharp today. She rolled her eyes. “Told you so,” she muttered bitterly.

The other nurses whose imaginations were set on fire got into gossip mode.

Wow, so much energy these two…

Bet it’s too much ginseng.

They say eel and sea cucumber works as well.

Well, whatever it is they are eating, my husband needs some.

Giggles all around. And then:

I think they are eating each other.

Silence. Then an explosion of hushed cackling and sharp whispers: “What?! My god, girl! SSHHH! If he hears that, he will know the soundproofing was a scam, and we are so fired!” But the image took root in various forms in their brains, and they all felt a little funny in their bellies for the rest of the day.

The Prod, the Flick, and the Grab

There was no beating Su-ho in a physical match. He was just too strong, fast, flexible, and born with a spatial awareness that was the dream of athletes. It didn’t help that he was still doing heavy hands-on work, whereas Si-eun had lost weight and stamina from the demands of medical school, serving as a military doctor, and then single-handedly setting up the clinic. Remarkably, the exertion burned the last of his baby fat, gave him eye circles that looked like light-goth makeup, polished his cheekbones, and sharpened his jawline, so he unknowingly carried a special ‘hot-weak’ look. The line of nurse trainee applicants grew to unmanageable length as word spread of the mysterious Weak Doctor, and in those days Dr. Yeon felt like an idol doing a fan meeting in an alternate world.

While the thought of strangling his bestie with his stethoscope did cross his mind, as did bonking him with a defibrillator paddle, he decided mid-wrestle to save these tools for the boss of Jeon clinic across the street, if it ever came to that. Plus, he noticed Su-ho did not even strike him once. In the only real fight they ever had, Su-ho had punched him in the face. It was barely a serious jab—the handsome devil was grinning half the time—but it felt like an anvil. Si-eun lost, but it was the shame of losing control of himself that gnawed at him until he apologized in public to Su-ho the next evening, literally from a bus window. For his sincerity, he received his first finger heart. It was a fluorescent little gesture that passed so quickly into memory, but to Si-eun it lit the night sky, though it didn’t show on his unreadable face at the time. He often daydreamed of it fondly.

Su-ho refused to make a fist this afternoon. No kicks, knee butts, or elbows either. He was not going to mar the complexion of his favorite face on the planet. Si-eun had matured into a very fine young man. God, how do people look so much better as they grow older? He must be injecting himself. He caught Si-eun’s eyes looking at the defibrillator. Ah, Dr. Yeon Si-eun. Still a total psycho underneath, I knew it. Well, if he knocks me out, he will have to resuscitate me mouth-to-mouth.

Instead of his quicksilver knuckles, Su-ho employed three highly irritating techniques whenever he sensed an opening: ‘the Prod,’ ‘the Finger Flick,’ and ‘the Grab’n’Squeeze.’

The Prod was meant to tickle, the Flick was pure playfulness, the Grab was utter humiliation, as well as an invitation to more trouble. Except it all hurt like hell, because Su-ho’s fingers were hard and unrelenting, he had a terrifying grip strength that could fracture walnuts, and Si-eun was bonier now than before. Totally exhausted and unexpectedly bruised top to bottom, Si-eun now lay sprawled out on the ground.

He panted and sweated while looking around at the chaos in disbelief. Drip stands were toppled, his files and books lay on each other like collapsed dominoes, and some sound panels were now crooked for real. His auburn-dyed hair was a bed head mess. His white coat was torn under his left arm, his black tie was dislodged, and he had to find his right shoe. Thank God he kept extra sets of clothes in this room. There was also an affixed, functional bathroom with a powerful shower and medicinal soap for days when there were body fluid accidents from performing surgery or other therapies. He needed that shower now.

Just let me catch my breath. I’ll make this stupid patient clean this mess up with me! I can’t let those nice nurses know anything. Only that sharp new trainee seems to suspect something.

Just then, he heard Mr. Ahn fumbling with his drawers.

Just Showering, Okay?

No, wait… wait, please…

Dr Yeon exclaimed.

Mr Ahn stopped.

_He’s pleading for real. What is he hiding?_

Mr Ahn clicked his tongue and pursed his lips.

Si-eun-ah,

he said gently.

What’s going on?

Dr Yeon hadn’t heard his name called this way in a while. Most of the time Mr Ahn just addressed him with informal pronouns. Or he called him ‘Dr Yeon’ with a touch of pseudo-seriousness.

His defenses lowered and he replied softly,

Please don’t get angry when you see it. It’s in the third drawer.

Mr Ahn hesitated briefly, then opened the drawer cautiously.

What greeted him was a photograph of himself standing upright in his high school uniform, his head thrown back with a smile. Behind him Si-eun rested his forehead against his left shoulder, eyes closed. The photo had been lovingly brightened, expertly coloured a delicate sepia, and framed. It was beautiful.

Mr Ahn tried to stifle a gasp.

Huh. And you said not everything is about me.

But he sensed his voice was about to tremble so he stopped and swallowed hard.

After some time he asked, ‘didn’t Yeong-i take this?’

Dr Yeon froze.
_He probably can’t remember because of the coma._
His eyes looked downward.

Uh huh

he croaked out weakly.
He really hated lying to Mr Ahn. But how was he to tell him that it was Beomseok who took this picture?

He was very glad when Mr Ahn changed the subject.

Why didn’t you want me to see this? You made it sound like you had my nudes or something.

Oh gross.
Well, I guess I was… embarrassed. I mean, I like the photo, but what if you didn’t like it as much as I do?
It would be like stepping on my memories.
Also Byeoksan wasn’t the happiest place for either of us. I didn’t want you to get upset.

Well, I like the photo very much and I am very happy I met you.

Now it was Dr Yeon’s turn to swallow hard.

Mr Ahn smiled.

Come, I’ll help you clean up.

Uh-uh. I’m going for a shower first.

I was talking about your body.

… … …

Awww don’t be like that. Can’t hyung come shower too?

Actually yes you should. Because if I came out looking all fresh and cool, and you walked out looking like you do now, the nurses will think I was the abuser. But we’re just showering okay!! My appointments are all backed up already.

The Fourth Drawer’s Secret

What Dr Yeon didn’t know was that in a hard-to-access part of his wallet, Mr Ahn carried a much smaller, almost passport-sized version of the exact same photo. He received it from Beomseok and printed it out years ago, back when they were friends. But he could see sadness flash across Dr Yeon’s face every time they talked about Byeoksan high, even briefly. Si-eun always had a soft spot for Beomseok, even at the lowest point of his unravelling. So he asked about Yeong-i as a way out.

And what Mr Ahn didn’t know was that Dr Yeon pried open the fourth drawer with his foot, not the third. In that last drawer was a photograph of Si-eun on the left, and Beomseok on the right, both of them holding pool cues. And in the middle, looking all hyung-ish, sat Su-ho, his arms around the two boys. The afternoon sun was behind them, as if trying to nourish this fragile flower bud of a friendship.

Hmm it looks kind of swollen. Did I really squeeze that hard?

Oh shut up.

Grammar Questions and Secret Wishes

Before I can shed my socially acceptable professional mask this weekend, I savoured this line as an appetiser:
“While the thought of strangling his bestie with his stethoscope did cross his mind, as did bonking him with a defibrillator paddle, he decided mid-wrestle to save these tools for the boss of Jeon clinic across the street.”

While savouring it, I was naturally reminded of those devilish pronoun questions from Korean college entrance exam English passages – the ones designed to trap non-native English learners like me into wrong answers till the bitter end.

Question: Who exactly do these “he” and “him” pronouns refer to?
Options:
(1) Mr. Ahn / Dr. Yeon
(2) Dr. Yeon / Mr. Ahn
(3) Mr. Ahn / Dr. Jeon

Flashbacks to circling the wrong answer while the English teacher who wrote this test smirked knowingly in the corner (though he himself doesn’t actually speak English well).

Official answer: (2) Dr. Yeon / Mr. Ahn
My wishful answer: (4) Dr. Yeon / Dr. Yeon

In this case,

I hope the subject doing the strangling with the stethoscope is Dr. Yeon, who, when at a disadvantage, has an old combat habit of turning whatever he can grab into a weapon.
However, ironically, I also hope the second-person pronoun receiving the defibrillator paddle bonking also refers to Dr. Yeon. Because that’s what he wanted. It might seem like an incorrect answer, but you can’t fool Mr. Ahn.

Head Nurse’s Recipe Notes

Hi Jennie,

Thanks for reading this mad story. I remember in my first post to you on your youtube channel, I said I was ‘not really’ a shipper. That’s still true. Realistically, I think the boys will be the deepest friends forever, even if they don’t meet too often because of their social circles. There might (or might not) be some homoerotic tension between them, but they don’t need a romantic relationship, and are not likely to pursue one.

That said, if I WeRe a shipper, Yeon Clinic would be exactly the kind of hallucinogenic mushroom soup I would be serving my guests.

Cheers 

Head Nurse, Yeon Clinic, heading off for a single malt.

Unplugged but Charged

Mr. Ahn, of course, knew to temper his grip when wielding that defibrillator paddle as his ultimate wrestling weapon.

He wouldn’t want to leave blue-black bruises anywhere on Dr. Yeon’s body, a body worn thin from brutal military doctor years and the long years of medical training for his license.

When his unscheduled visit earned him that signature frown – a smile always betraying the corners of Dr. Yeon’s mouth – Mr. Ahn hoped for a perfect blush to bloom across those pale cheeks. He wanted to see that same rosy flush from their old Byeoksan days, a delicate colour that would paint the skin of another hidden cheek as well, as tender and neglected as the tired eyes from long days treating patients.

Mr. Ahn had discovered – through those nights of drinking soju together until dawn – that his skilled hands from years of hands-on work remembered exactly how to comfort his dearest friend during what he considered the minimal proper exercise routine for Dr. Yeon, who lived a sedentary lifestyle.

So he channelled just enough power into the paddle unplugged from its power unit to elicit soft mewling sounds slipping from between cracked lips, but enough to instantly make Dr. Yeon’s eyes well up with tears…

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… Think of this as my advance deposit toward your magnificent feast – even though you humbly refer to it as just soup – catch you this weekend, with deep admiration.

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If you’re thinking of adding a new, “spicy” flavour to your soup that might change its whole profile, you’re gonna need some really intricate euphemisms or metaphors. But if you’d rather serve up a raw steak for me to slice into, then email is definitely the best way to deliver it.

Always Starch Linen: A Thank You Note

Ah Jennie, regarding the boys tumbling about on starched white sheets, I must say you’ve bestowed upon me a most tantalizing bouquet of fine herbs to work with heheheh, thank you.

But do give me a while to ferment them; my projects are due 3rd week this month and progress deadlines limit my freedom to cook a proper dish. (Though I can perhaps still make some fast food on the side, and I will definitely make time to read the blog—I’m looking forward to Coma, which I believe should boost my energy levels in healthier ways than too much ginseng.)

Oh one thing, I’ve always wanted to say that your English is of a shocking high standard, especially since it is not your native language. You are really remarkable, Jennie. I wish you much fun exploring possibilities with the boys.

ASL,

Always Starch Linen

Friday Night Creative Release

Hey Asuka, 

I’ve finally entered Friday night where the blazing weekend unfolds – time to peel off that professional mask I’ve been wearing so primly all week and let something moisturize my brain (and sometimes other private part too) HAHAHA. 

Without a job, we can’t pay rent, so ‘work’ remains our top priority – but of course, we can’t indulge in guilty pleasures without restraint either, right? So please, never feel obligated to serve up any dishes. And I figure, any chef witty enough to string along a faceless wireless friend across the Pacific probably keeps their natural talent intact even after a decade away from the kitchen fires – that’s exactly the kind of chef you are, isn’t it? 

As you dive headfirst into worldly matters and get swamped with heavy workloads ahead, I’ll occasionally send you a fast-food one-liner to bring that Dr. Yeon-esque grin to your lips – hoping these modest verses will grant at least brief moments of laughter to brighten your days when work makes them arid.

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You need to dry your hair properly. You’ll catch cold.

Go ahead and beg hyung for a kiss, you psycho.

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I couldn’t be more thrilled to breathe life into those utterly useless vocabulary clusters I memorised from TOEFL Vocab 1000 – words that never see daylight in real conversation – imagine how delighted Professor McGonagall must have felt unleashing those ‘sealed’ spells when she finally got to battle Voldemort’s army

Your wireless friend, Brick Layer

Stubborn Hearts and Mountain Tears

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Asuka, and when those two climbed to the mountain top, I imagined Dr. Yeon with his cult-like medical mythology crying like a child going “eong-eong”

so my commute home was thoroughly delightful. 

Hope it was like a tasty Jollibee burger – bad for the body but delicious.

Jingle bells jingle bells, eong eong all the way

Oh my! Christmas has come early!

This was really quite romantic *squeals and giggles* hahaha

I am glad you share Prof McGonagall’s delight, but I doubt she was as moisturized as you. (That said, a liberated and moisturized dominatrix McGonagall would be quite a sight as the new, leather-wearing headmaster of Hogwarts. Goodness knows where she hides her extra wands. But I digress…)

Thanks for writing. It was a pleasure to read, and re-read. Such a soft (but hot) scene. Was Dr Yeon wrapped in anything other than Mr Ahn’s gaze? Any towel for the Weak Doctor?

If not, no matter how stubbornly he keeps his face unreadable, rising passions will surely reveal his desire…

Ah, spicy! I can just imagine how many nurses have their ears pressed to the door. 

Have a great weekend,

Sincerely fantasizing, 

Head Nurse ASL, got to towel dry myself too

Weekend Treats and Bromance Culture Analysis

From: Jennie Lee
Sending you some treats since you’re having a crazy busy weekend – no pressure to reply

Chapter 1: Weekend Bliss and Korean Media’s Bromance Culture

I’m having the most blissful weekend, enjoying the gourmet soup you made, one delicious spoonful at a time. Weekends are a blessing for a salary slave like me in this country with the highest average work hours in the OECD. Spending my evening with a soup seasoned with your wit and humour? Could it get any better than this?

I’m still cracking up over that brutally honest thing I told my followers:

Suho, Si-eun, and Beomseok are from totally different social classes with zero overlap, so the chances of them mixing in the future are basically nil.

The fact that you got so hooked on my “working class Su-ho” and “professional Si-eun” lines and have run with it this far is absolutely hilarious. Once again, I’m applauding your creativity and sense of humour!!!

Here’s some feedback on your delusion unreality soup. Fair warning – I’m an amateur foodie, so expect some excitement and rambling. Please bear with me.

On Shipdoms and Bromance Culture

When you’ve got strong writing, well-crafted scripts, and a whole parade of cute/handsome characters, it’d be crazy if shipdoms didn’t emerge, right? Anyone in the media industry who doesn’t know the scale of this subculture is probably living under a rock. As long as they respect the original creators and keep things within reasonable bounds, even the original writers know that shipping culture keeps their work alive long after the show ends.

That said, I think excessive shipping of real people – like idols or actors – should be avoided. The people being “consumed” in these ships are actual human beings. By “excessive” I mean fantasising that two male idol group members are dating, and then becoming an anti-fan when either of them starts dating someone of the opposite gender. That’s bordering on mental illness territory. So whenever we enjoy any culture, we need to maintain the distinction between fantasy and reality and keep our common sense intact. The key is always finding that “middle ground.”

In Korean media and cultural industries, bromance is interpreted more as deep brotherly love. If it weren’t for that interpretation, it’d be pretty difficult for one of the world’s most conservative countries to heavily layer bromance elements into its content. But seeing these bromance-heavy works go from webtoons to live-action in one of the most Confucian and conservative countries makes me wonder: is the consumer base really that solid?

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This is my headcanon, but I think before producing WHC2, the production company probably agonised over how much to dial up or down the bromance. I think S2 showed bromance way more explicitly than S1, but S1 was what gave this fandom its major “bromance” impact, right? They didn’t put it blatantly on the table. There’s this ridiculous Korean formal expression used when hosting guests:

There isn’t much prepared, but please eat a lot. (The table’s already bent)

That’s exactly how I felt watching S1. The fandom was getting served:

There isn’t much bromance prepared, but please feast away. (The table’s already bent)

And when Si-eun calls Suho “psycho” but it sounds like “you’re so cute” or “I’m totally smitten with you”? I’d never heard a “psycho” that sounded like that before. Really, even people completely oblivious to bromance undertones couldn’t have missed the intense bromance between Suho and Si-eun in the show.

Best Lines from “Working Class Mr. Ahn and Dr. Yeon Clinic” Series

Who knew I’d feel S1’s metaphors and analogies (even if unintended by the directors) in your Yeon Clinic series 😂 In this Chapter 2, I’ve picked out the best killing verses from your clinic series. This isn’t a ranking – I organised them in the order you wrote them:

Best Lines Collection:

(1) “And he never charges a dime. After all, it’s unclear who is giving whom medicine.”

You can feel Mr. Ahn’s “certain special privilege” of being able to waltz into the Yeon Clinic without an appointment, even though the clinic is famous in the neighbourhood for its special ‘hot-weak’ look (and even has a line of nurse trainee applications).

(2) “To, you know, cure headaches, toothaches, heartaches, and throbbing pain… Treatment might get a bit loud, but the attendant nurses are professional.”

I almost rolled off my train seat laughing at this one on my way home. The Yeon Clinic clearly specialises in “internal medicine”, so why is Mr. Ahn coming in with toothaches? And why does headache treatment always involve “a bit” of noise? I hope these cheeky nurses don’t let their employer find out that the soundproofing panels are actually defective until they retire.

(3) “This was on purpose, of course; alarming his closest friend was a form of gentle teasing he had been doing for years”

This teasing started back in high school when Suho would knock on Si-eun’s house without warning, shouting “food delivery!” while Si-eun was reciting Newton’s mantras to subdue his urges. How romantic can you get?

(4) “It didn’t matter that the physician here was something of a cult hero, revered and envied by insiders for his phenomenal memory and the precision of his cuts and injections.”

(5) “This rude entrance was usually followed by a lecture on manners and morals from the medical savant”

A medical “master” who lectures his bestie about manners and morals, but on crisp white linen becomes a baby going “eong eong”… Who could make him like that?

(6) “Yah!! How sneaky! He must have been like this when he buried my phone in the sofa all those years ago!”

Ahn Suho won’t be fooled twice by Si-eun’s sneakiness. As expected!

(7) “They say eel and sea cucumber works as well.”

Seeing the nurses’ gossip dialogue made me think that passengers in huge ships probably already know the culture and history of the country where Suho and Si-eun grew up better than we could tell them. The fact that you know the subtext of sea cucumber and ginseng… It’s shocking (😂). Also, I imagined how solid your creative arsenal must be, built up layer by layer through various cultures.

(8) “The line of nurse trainee applicants grew to unmanageable length as word spread of the mysterious Weak Doctor, and in those days Dr. Yeon felt like an idol doing a fan meeting in an alternate world.”

So basically, Mr. Ahn has like an annual membership premium pass, like the kind used at Disneyland? And Dr. Yeon didn’t charge a single dime when selling that pass… what the… such blatant favouritism?

(9) “They decided mid-wrestle to save these tools for the boss of Jeon clinic across the street”

Don’t spare the “unplugged panels” for the Jeon Clinic boss either. The stubborn doctor friend who promised to sleep 7 hours a day for his health but gets absorbed in medical books until 3 AM – Mr. Ahn’s been using rubber panels to discipline him since way back, but this would be a bit more intense than those…

(10) “‘The Prod,’ ‘the Finger Flick,’ and ‘the Grab’n’Squeeze.'”

This sequence needs to be made into at least one full episode. Especially the climax where tension builds up to ‘the Grab’n’Squeeze.’

(11) “There was also an affixed, functional bathroom”

This clinic is like a magic box full of chocolates. A mini bathroom and mini bed… It’s a fully equipped hotel, but the irony is that only the soundproofing panels are a scam.

(12) “Si-eun-ah”

If I had to pick the most heart-fluttering line in both reality and this cheeky unreality, it’d be “Si-eun-ah.”

(13) “What greeted him was a photograph of himself standing upright in his high school uniform, his head thrown back with a smile. Behind him Si-eun rested his forehead against his left shoulder, eyes closed. The photo had been lovingly brightened, expertly coloured a delicate sepia, and framed. It was beautiful.”

We don’t even need to attach the photo – we all know exactly what picture this is. Not some $1 plastic frame from Daiso but a sepia-toned wooden frame… Dr. Yeon… you sentimental fool, aren’t you? (in Seong-je’s tone)

(14) “He really hated lying to Mr Ahn. But how was he to tell him that it was Beomseok who took this picture?”

Sadly, this line reveals that Beomseok’s name still equals Voldemort among them. Everyone knows him, everyone was hugely impacted by him… “He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named” yet “He-Who-Cannot-Be-Forgotten” Did Suho forgive Beomseok? Or did he just pretend to forget with a “that’s all in the past” attitude? Suddenly, I’m curious about your opinion.

(15) “Well, I like the photo very much and I am very happy I met you.”

Such sweet words coming from Suho’s mouth… I wouldn’t need chocolate for a whole year. I can picture that goofy but puppyish smile he had when saying this.

(16) “But we’re just showering okay!! My appointments are all backed up already.”

I hope we can check the detailed specifics of Suho’s non-compliance with “okay” in the shower during dessert time after the full course meal.

(17) “In that last drawer was a photograph of Si-eun on the left, and Beomseok on the right, both of them holding pool cues.”

After learning the secret of the fourth drawer, I became convinced that in your delusion, Suho got over Beomseok a very long time ago. Maybe the one who suffered the biggest trauma from that incident wasn’t Suho, who got the external injuries, but Si-eun, who got the deep internal wounds, and maybe it’s Dr. Yeon who still hasn’t escaped from that trauma.

True Friends’ “Hiding”: Things We Conceal Out of Love

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Huh. And you said not everything is about me.

But it’s blatantly untrue. Intimately and intuitively, Mr Ahn knows why Dr Yeon has this photo, and so he replies:

Sieun-ah, I love you too.

But it doesn’t come out like that. Hyung doesn’t talk like that unless he is dead drunk and vulnerable. And so we get:

Well, I like the photo very much and I am very happy I met you.

With a goofy puppy smile.

But Dr Yeon gets it and has to swallow the lump rising in his throat. Ah… these two… And they haven’t even showered yet… What happens after that is open to interpretation ie, dependent on a reader’s personal delusion level.

My non-authoritative director’s cut is that in the shower, Mr Ahn sees bruises forming on Dr Yeon’s body thanks to his three techniques, and he feels very sorry. So Mr Ahn embraces him from the back.

This causes some swelling for Dr Yeon, which is promptly noticed by his dearest friend, and leads to Dr Yeon’s appointments getting even more backed up. 😉

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(14) and (17) are utterly delicious to unpack. It’s clear that Si-eun and Su-ho did not fall out with Beom Seok at the same ‘rate’, even in their teen days. In S1 ep 6 around 21’30, as the camera closes in on Su-ho, that look on his face feels to me like the exact point where he decides to sever his connection with Beomseok.

Bastard. So it was you. Don’t ever come near me again.

(I was so sad for their friendship…sigh…) Literally seconds later, he chucks a chirpy puppy Suhoism at Si-eun, although his expression is ever so slightly tight, because he is simultaneously enraged with Beomseok but doesn’t want to ruin the mood with Si-eun. (How the hell are you so damned good at acting, Choi Hyunwook? Like seriously…)

But Su-ho can’t resist throwing a threat at Beomseok as he passes by. This obviously disturbs pure child Si-eun, who has no idea what transpired the night before. And Su-ho keeps it that way. I tried to preserve this dynamic between Mr Ahn and Dr Yeon. People say true friends don’t hide things from each other.

As for Si-eun, on your YouTube channel, I added the light edit that:

He is the same Yeon Si Eun who hid his broken arm and told me things were fine.

Gosh, look at me. This was supposed to be a short reply… It’s the Weak Hero effect… Thanks again for reading, Head Nurse, Yeon Clinic, back to work now. Glad you enjoyed it!My pleasure!

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Suho and Si-eun’s wrestling could be seen as a metaphor for something, or it could literally be life coaching (physical education?) from a friend for Dr. Yeon, who, unlike Mr. An, sits around all day HAHAHA 

Even back in their Byeoksan days, Suho would coax and encourage Si-eun to work out by the Han River – with sweet coaching, of course. But thanks to your email and director’s cut, I finally got the behind-the-scenes scoop on why Si-eun’s junior got swollen, which made for a very fulfilling Sunday HAHAHA

Hmm, Beomseok’s queen bee fantasy – I’ll reveal my director’s cut once I survive this brutal week and Friday rolls around again 

And the rubber panel/paddle was Young-i’s birthday gift to Suho for the two puppies’ fun time. Young-i and Seokdae used to source various products using their business skills back in the day, including toys. Suho still holds Si-eun tight when he has nightmares about ‘that unspeakable day’ breaking out in cold sweats. Back in Si-eun’s college days, their place was too small for a double bed, so like it or not, they had to sleep close together. After seeing how Si-eun would quickly fall back asleep when Suho patted his butt during those cold-sweat episodes, it became his gentle gesture of comfort… Though when they’re having their fun, the scale gets a bit bigger, shall we say HAHAHA

I should stop here before I oversleep and rush to work tomorrow – time to chant Newton’s mantra and sleep.

Oh, according to the script book, after the scooter accident, Si-eun realises it was Beomseok who made Suho limp. He says something like ‘It was Beomseok who did this, wasn’t it?’ But the final cut doesn’t show or hint that Si-eun figured it out. However, your portrayal of ‘wanting to protect a precious friend’ and ‘Suho’s heart not wanting his beloved friend to get hurt’ was so evident in that scene that it still breaks my heart. 

We already know – from this point, this trio’s wooden canoe paddling under the setting sun starts sinking below the surface just like that twilight… Ugh, my chest tightens again.

Hope you have a lovely rest with your comfort cocktail. 

Your wireless bricklayer, Jen.

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It must have been a very carefully deliberated choice by Director Yoo and his team to not make this obvious and official. I think it makes things all the richer and more three-dimensional when fans (like myself) start supplementing the Weak Hero world with their own worlds of ideas.

Anyway, based on your interior design experience, what sort of hands-on work would Su-Ho be involved in? I am brewing a new pot and I’d like to know your choice of flavoring here.

Dawn Air and Windbreaker Embraces

Suho worked in construction after graduating from Byeoksan High (in my ocean of delusions, of course). 

Sadly, in this country where safety negligence runs rampant, construction sites rarely follow safety protocols properly. After Si-eun researched lol the annual statistics on worker injuries, one night, he wraps his arms around Suho’s waist and says he wishes Suho wouldn’t do unsafe work. When Si-eun looks up at Suho, who’s a good two hand-spans taller – with those big eyes welling up without blinking, that’s pure kryptonite for Suho. 

So he quits the very next day. (This stems from that scene where Suho waited for Si-eun in front of Daesung Academy and put the helmet on him. From then on, this cheeky Si-eun realises that three things are this handsome guy’s soft spots: 1. his big eyes 2. eyes brimming with tears 3. looking up at Suho – and he strategically deploys them when needed.)

For a while, Suho works as a delivery rider, still wearing that windbreaker of his. 

I wanted to ramble about this exact concept, hence all the buildup above. 

I don’t know if it’s the same where you live, but Seoul where Suho and Si-eun live has particularly harsh seasonal transitions in late fall. Temperatures drop suddenly and everyone gets runny nose colds.

But in my delusional unreality, I imagine Suho doing early morning delivery runs. Work ends around 4 AM. When he punches in their shared door code, Si-eun wakes up from studying himself to sleep. Seeing Si-eun’s messy hair with a few strands sticking up from static electricity, Suho smiles faintly. Si-eun opens his half-closed eyes and shuffles to the entrance, where Suho’s taking off his shoes, wrapping his arms tight around Suho’s waist. Suho’s windbreaker is saturated with Seoul’s crisp autumn dawn air from the seasonal transition. Si-eun hugs that windbreaker – and all that air it holds – as tight as he can. (I want to go home…)

Fast forward 10 years: Si-eun has graduated med school, served as a military doctor, and become a cultishly revered physician, while Suho has become a wallpaper and tile specialist.

Thanks to Suho studying real estate investment since his Byeoksan days (remember when he went to Beomseok’s house and saw that tree in the living room and was like ‘Is this one of those money-making trees or whatever?’ – Suho’s always been money-minded), he started investing whatever he saved from a young age. So work should be more of a hobby for him – that way these two young men can enjoy their fun time in the evenings.

Waiting for clock-out time, your wireless bricklayer Jen

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By the way, I am totally sold on this:

When Si-eun looks up at Suho, who’s a good two hand-spans taller – with those big eyes welling up without blinking, that’s pure kryptonite for Suho.

And this is an utterly beautiful vignette, loveliest thing I’ve read all day:

‘ Work ends around 4 AM. When he punches in their shared door code, Si-eun wakes up from studying himself to sleep. Seeing Si-eun’s messy hair with a few strands sticking up from static electricity, Suho smiles faintly. Si-eun opens his half-closed eyes and shuffles to the entrance where Suho’s taking off his shoes, wrapping his arms tight around Suho’s waist. Suho’s windbreaker is saturated with Seoul’s crisp autumn dawn air from the seasonal transition. Si-eun hugs that windbreaker – and all that air it holds – as tight as he can. ’

The thing is, Yeon Clinic soup has been simmering on the assumption that they haven’t been living together for a while. Would this be a possibility somewhere in the 10+ years after high school in Korea? Perhaps because they go to the army at different times, and somehow they can’t afford rent when one of them is away? Or Sieun’s medical school is too far from Su-ho’s construction work and their shared love shack, so they have to separate for a while?

Working-Class Mr. Ahn’s Unscheduled Visits to Dr. Yeon’s Clinic (2)