Chapter 98
Chapter 98
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 98
Chapter Title: Guts
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Under the dim lighting, three young women, their bodies glistening with sweat, moved with ferocious intensity.
Their past glory might have faded, but every gesture carried the sharp precision of a blade, an overwhelming energy that dominated the viewer, and a breathtaking beauty that felt alive and pulsing.
Wow... fuck...
Honestly, scraping by in this cutthroat reality left me no room to care about celebrities.
Even when I heard Choi Yang used to be in Pink Angels, I just shrugged it off with a "Whatever."
The past was the past, I thought.
But... fuck,
seeing them like this, right in front of my eyes.
The heart-pounding beat clawed at my chest, the choreography synced without a single flaw, and at the center, Choi Yang shining bright.
Every time her short hair whipped with the fierce movements, the aura radiating from her lithe, rippling muscles made me hold my breath without realizing it.
And it wasn't just her.
The other two members dancing alongside her stole my gaze with their perfect synergy honed from endless practice and expressions brimming with desperate longing for the stage.
Now I finally got it, bone-deep, why guys drool over idols like this.
It was on a whole other level from watching on a screen—a raw, overpowering beauty.
Surpassing just pretty faces or toned bodies, it was the purest, most intense burst of human energy imaginable.
I stared at their movements, completely entranced.
Something new stirred inside me, an emotion I'd never felt before.
It went beyond mere lust—reverence and possessiveness,
and maybe even...
a twisted regret that hit too late.
And at the end of all those feelings, I reached one solid conclusion.
I'm certain. Any guy with a dick would fall for this. No doubt about it.
Even me, right now—my crotch was twitching like it couldn't hold back.
Who am I?
A guy tempered by at least two rounds a day, rotating through three women in threesomes, foursomes, all kinds of depraved sex—and even I'm like this.
Some average 40-something nerd stuck in a lab his whole life? No way he could resist.
Not a chance in hell.
I flashed a satisfied smile as I watched the three of them panting, sweat pouring off them, catching their breath.
Now, the most powerful and beautiful "weapon" for my legend was ready.
The question was, out of these three weapons, which one to unleash on President Choi Shin-su.
Choi Yang's off-limits—she's my personal view,
so that leaves the other two.
Leaning back on the sofa, I started sizing them up.
One was the classic glamour type. Big tits, tiny waist—a body that would drive men wild at first glance.
But her eyes dripped with too much seduction.
For a lab rat like Choi Shin-su, it'd just make him wary and uncomfortable.
Pass.
And the last one. Innocent face, kind eyes, slender build.
The epitome of a "good girl," the kind that triggers a man's protective instincts.
'Hmm... Who'd be best for President Choi... Slurp...'
I smacked my lips, eyeing the last one standing.
Men—especially repressed types like Choi Shin-su—go crazy for a sweet girl like her abandoning her purity "just for him" and falling into depravity.
Perfect. You're the one.
I made my final call and crooked a finger at her.
"You. Come here."
The moment I pointed her out, she flinched, then shuffled over hesitantly.
On the unselected one's face, relief mixed with a flicker of envy.
I gave the girl standing before me one last full appraisal, head to toe.
Truth be told, before deploying her on President Choi, I wasn't above "sampling" her first...
But knowing she'd played bed-warmer for some near-60 sugar daddy sponsor to keep Pink Angels afloat? Kinda turned my stomach.
The old broke, starving Kim Cheolsu might've jumped at it,
but now that I could pick prime cuts? Why bother?
Honestly, compared to Choi Yang, the other two were a notch down in looks anyway.
Anyway, yeah.
No personal tasting for me.
She's strictly "business use" only.
With all calculations done, I fixed my cold, professional gaze on her anxious upturned face and asked,
"You any good at acting seductive for guys?"
Over the weekend, I turned Sojin, the former idol, into my new "weapon."
Dangling the sweet carrot of a "comeback," she swore she'd do anything.
Now everything was set.
Monday afternoon, I brought Sojin—buoyed by hopes of relaunching her career—and Choi Yang, who seemed to have resigned to her fate, back to the rundown knowledge industry center.
To formally sign the investment contract with Shilla Biotek.
President Choi Shin-su rushed out barefoot to greet us.
On the conference table, instead of last time's instant coffee mix, fancy bean coffee and snacks were neatly laid out.
I sat on the sofa, reviewing the contract sent by Lawyer Han Ji-hye, thinking to myself,
'Holding a shareholders' meeting before the formal contract to strip President Choi of his authority would be cleanest, but time-wise, it's impossible. Can't keep delaying the investment forever.'
Pump the money in to kick off the project first, deal with management control later. No rush.
With my math done, I signed my name on the contract.
Then slid it over to President Choi. His hand trembled as he gripped the pen, glancing at me nervously.
I gave him the kindest, most trustworthy smile in the world.
Finally, he signed his name.
The moment the devil's deal was sealed—50 billion initial investment, massive monthly research funds, and 80% royalties on the new drug in exchange.
We stood and shook hands.
"Looking forward to working with you, President Kim! We'll give it our all!"
He gripped my hand, bowing repeatedly.
I patted his shoulder reassuringly, then pointed to Sojin behind me.
"Same here, President. Oh, and this is... my cousin—happened to be nearby on business and tagged along."
Cousin? Total bullshit, of course.
An orphanage kid like me? No blood relatives anywhere.
She's just an idol hopeful who took the "comeback" bait to play honey trap and destroy Choi Shin-su.
I wrapped her in the most plausible lie, hiding every detail perfectly.
At my intro, Sojin stepped forward like she'd been waiting, smiled sweetly, and bowed.
"Hello. I'm Sojin. I've heard so much about you."
"Oh, really? Nice to meet you. Must've been a hassle getting here."
President Choi Shin-su accepted her greeting with innocent, untroubled warmth.
Beside him, the sole witness to this whole scam—Choi Yang—watched silently.
After the handshake, I looked at President Choi Shin-su and the "cousin" beside him, saying,
"Hey, sis. Mind chatting with the president a bit? President, I need a word with Team Leader Kim Seulgi—mind if we step out?"
My words served two purposes.
First, leave my new "weapon" Sojin alone with the "target" Choi Shin-su, naturally.
Second, brief Dr. Kim Seulgi—my perfect puppet—on the next steps.
President Choi Shin-su nodded eagerly, no suspicion whatsoever.
I left the president's office and headed to the small lab at the end of the hall.
Opening the door, Dr. Kim Seulgi greeted me like a lovestruck girl.
"You're... here? I... missed you..."
She blushed shyly.
Whoa... ma'am? You're making my conscience sting here.
My secretary's glaring at me like human trash from behind right now?
I leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, ignoring Choi Yang's "Knew it" look, and flashed Dr. Kim Seulgi a businesslike smile.
"Haha, yeah, it's been a while—feels even nicer... Anyway, Team Leader."
I tried to cut the sticky vibe and get to business.
But she cut me off, pouting.
"...Seulgi."
"...This is the office, though?"
At my polite refusal, she let out a "Hiiing..."—a sound utterly unimaginable from a mid-30s PhD researcher.
Damn...
Even for me, adapting to a near-ten-years-older woman I'd just met acting like this was tough.
I rubbed my forehead without thinking.
"Fine, got it. So... Seulgi. Can we get to the point now?"
"Yes!"
At my reluctant use of her name, she snapped back to sharp Dr. mode and answered brightly.
I was sure her demeanor would make her a very useful tool going forward.
I glanced toward the president's office.
Through the glass wall, President Choi Shin-su's hearty laughter and Sojin's sweet responses drifted over.
The warm vibe carried all the way here.
Everything was going exactly to plan.
I turned back to Dr. Kim Seulgi and spoke lightly.
"Can you start the research right away?"
"I'd love to, but..."
Her face darkened again.
"Most of this investment will go to covering overdue operating costs, I think. Bro-in-law... I mean, President Choi has that planned..."
I recalled the clause from the contract we'd just signed.
On paper, Shilla Biotek had discretion over how my funds were used.
In exchange for 80% future drug royalties, I explicitly stayed out of day-to-day operations.
So from President Choi Shin-su's view, dragging research with minimal effort while using my cash to extend the company's life? Totally legal.
'In the end, everything rides on what happens in that room.'
I glanced at the president's office, smirking inwardly.
My perfect legend now hung on the hands of a washed-up idol hopeful just debuting her scheme.