Chapter 129
Chapter 129
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 129
Chapter Title: Yulmyeong Biotech
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A Yulmyeong Biotech employee asked a nurse.
"That girl who just passed by... was she Manager Lee Jeong-ho's daughter?"
"Yeon-ji? Yeah, that's her."
"She was wearing patient clothes. Is she seriously ill? Her stomach, maybe?"
"Oh? How'd you guess it was her stomach?"
"Huh? Oh, she had surgery? What was wrong with her..."
The nurse chuckled.
"You think I'd just tell you that?"
The employee looked put out.
"Come on, between us..."
The nurse added.
"Truth is, I don't know either. The manager had her surgery done at another hospital, and we're just handling the recovery here."
"What? Why go out of the way..."
"Probably because that other hospital was better for the procedure. We can take better care of her recovery, though."
"Ah..."
The nurse narrowed her eyes.
"Why are you so interested in Yeon-ji anyway? She's still a minor."
The employee waved his hands frantically.
"Hey, no! That's not why I asked. What kind of person do you think I am?"
"Then why?"
The employee grinned.
"I'm interested in Manager Lee Jeong-ho. Next time I see him, I should bring some health supplements. Something good for teens."
The next day, during lunch in the Yulmyeong Biotech break room, the employee recounted his hospital visit.
"Manager Lee Jeong-ho's daughter... I saw her yesterday, and she'd had surgery."
"Really? What was wrong?"
"Dunno. But get this—it's interesting. He had her surgery at another hospital, then brought her back here to recover."
"Huh? Isn't Manager Lee's surgical skill world-class? Maybe it wasn't his specialty, so he sent her elsewhere?"
"Nah. They said it was abdominal surgery."
"He's top-tier for abdominal procedures."
"That's why I was shocked. A guy like that sending his own patient elsewhere? Must hurt his pride."
"Pride's not the issue. No matter how skilled, you can't operate on your own daughter."
"Oh. Makes sense."
"Yeah..."
A new voice cut in.
"What's so fascinating that you're chatting during work hours?"
The employees whipped around and jumped to their feet.
"Gah! Boss!"
Yulmyeong Biotech President Kwon Dong-jin entered the break room.
"What were you talking about?"
"Nothing! We'll get back to work!"
Kwon Dong-jin's voice boomed.
"I said, what was it? I'm curious!"
Startled by the shout, the employee quickly explained.
"There's this super talented surgeon, Manager Lee Jeong-ho. I went to the hospital today and overheard his daughter had major abdominal surgery. That's what we were discussing."
Kwon Dong-jin looked flustered.
"I overheard as I passed by and hoped it wasn't... but it really was Dr. Lee Jeong-ho's daughter?"
"Yes."
"Why would he risk death like that..."
"Pardon? Death?"
"Abdominal surgery! Of course she'd die!"
The employee blinked.
"She had an IV and was walking around the hospital. Looked pretty lively to me..."
Kwon Dong-jin's face hardened. His eyes shook violently. His complexion turned ashen.
"Y-you're serious? Dr. Lee's daughter had surgery... and survived? She's really alive? Why didn't she die? How?"
The employee thought to himself.
'Does the boss have bad blood with this manager? He's way too worked up that the daughter didn't die.'
As a salaried worker, he couldn't say that outright.
"I don't know the details... I only heard it from the nurse."
Kwon Dong-jin sat down.
"Sit and tell me everything you saw and heard. Don't leave out a single detail."
"Uh, yes. So, it went like this..."
President Kwon Dong-jin listened to the full story, asked a few questions, then left the break room.
Only after the elevator hummed away did the employees exhale.
"Whew. Didn't expect the boss to show up like that."
"Why'd he take it so seriously?"
"Yeah, bad expression too."
"Does he have some grudge against Manager Lee?"
Yulmyeong Biotech President Kwon Dong-jin returned straight to his office.
He slumped into his chair, face stricken.
"Dr. Lee's daughter had surgery? Abdominal surgery, even?"
That much he could understand.
"Sure, he could operate. Can't lose his daughter like that—panic makes you try anything."
But the rest didn't make sense.
"How is she still alive?"
Kwon Dong-jin knew about Kaitoiger syndrome. He knew its symptoms and all prior research intimately.
That's why he knew Lee Yeon-ji couldn't survive abdominal surgery.
"How on earth?"
He glanced at his desk. A small framed family photo sat there.
"If there was a way to operate, he'd have told me by now. Why no contact after all these days?"
He unlocked his smartphone and pulled up Lee Jeong-ho's number. Should he call right away or dig more first? He hesitated.
The photo caught his eye again. He made up his mind and dialed.
Lee Jeong-ho's voice came through.
- Hello?
"Dr. Lee. It's Kwon Dong-jin."
- Yes, President Kwon. How have you been?
"I'll cut to the chase—I'm in a hurry. Did your daughter have surgery?"
Lee Jeong-ho faltered.
- Pardon? Well...
Kwon Dong-jin drew a sharp breath.
'Hesitating means it's true!'
His voice rose involuntarily.
"The surgery succeeded!"
- It's...
The more Lee Jeong-ho hesitated, the more convinced Kwon Dong-jin became. He pressed urgently.
"Can you operate on my daughter too? Right? It must be possible now."
- Su-yeon has different symptoms from Yeon-ji...
Kwon Dong-jin had expected this.
'If there were no issues, he'd have contacted me already.'
But he couldn't give up.
"Let's meet first. We need to talk in person."
- There's... circumstances. Sigh.
"I knew there would be. Still, we have to meet. Don't I deserve to hear this?"
- Hm... Please don't tell anyone else. If we can meet quietly...
Kwon Dong-jin was the desperate one now.
"Of course. Tonight work? I'll arrange the place."
Surgical Director Lee Jeong-ho sighed heavily after hanging up.
"Whew. Driving me crazy. Can't avoid meeting President Kwon."
He first called Son Mi-yeon and Surgeon Kim Jung-seok at the hospital to explain the situation.
"If I don't meet him, he might spread rumors in the industry. A pharma president talking means not just police, but the Ministry of Health and Welfare will hear."
Surgeon Kim Jung-seok tensed.
"Director, we have to prevent that at all costs. Or we'll all get arrested."
"Yeah. I'll meet him and smooth things over. Worst case, I won't mention your name. Jung-seok, just understand the situation. Sorry."
Na Gang-in stopped by the SAH Entertainment cafeteria. AI Jeon Ji-in loved the food here.
"Feels a bit guilty eating free all the time..." - Agent, you released a digital single through SAH Entertainment. It's doing well. You even trained their rookies. It's fine to eat here often.
"Still, I'm not officially with them." - Since when did you care about that?
"I don't. Later, I'll cook in their kitchen to pay back. High-powered gas stoves here—perfect for bulk cooking. Meal for meal." - Excellent idea. Shin Eun-ha's manager, Park Woo-seop, often helped Na Gang-in too. He came for lunch, spotted him, and approached. He overheard the comment. Park Woo-seop sat across, beaming.
"Gang-in, definitely call me when you cook here. I'll adjust schedules to eat at the cafeteria."
"No need to go that far."
Park Woo-seop suddenly turned serious.
"Wait. Then others would taste Na Gang-in cooking... If PC bang crowds surge, that's trouble..."
"No way. They barely know me."
Park Woo-seop grinned wide again.
"Right? Strangers can't. Only folks like me who know you well. Haha!"
The four Ppf Girls entered for lunch and heard the laughter. They glanced over and spotted Na Gang-in.
"Ah! Teacher Na Gang-in!"
The four approached the table to greet him.
"Hello!"
Na Gang-in raised a hand casually.
"Hey. Enjoy your meal."
Leader So Ji-young jumped in.
"We can do that thing!"
"What thing?"
"Nature Gymnastics Level 2!"
"Huh? That was just to tease Ji-hye."
The four energetic girls deflated instantly. So Ji-young looked on the verge of tears.
"Then... no Level 2 gymnastics?"
AI Jeon Ji-in spoke. - It exists, but it's hard to learn and has some injury risk.
"It exists, but..."
So Ji-young perked up immediately.
"We'll work hard!"
"Problem is the injury risk. And what would you even do with it?"
"You said we could upload to Nutube?"
Manager Park Woo-seop chimed in supportively.
"Great idea! Gang-in, our girls are sweet and hardworking, but never got their shine till now."
"Uh... Eun-ha mentioned something like that."
"Lately, thanks to you, their rural event vid blew up, wild boar one too, and Nature Gymnastics. People recognize them now."
"Good... for them?"
"Their song re-entered the top 100. Bottom, but still!"
"True."
"Help 'em out. They'll hustle."
Na Gang-in eyed the four Ppf Girls. All stared at him desperately.
"Hm... Level 2's tough; might not land well. But if you really wanna learn..."
All four shouted in unison.
"We'll work hard!"
Other diners murmured.
"What's that about?"
"They gained fame from Nature Gymnastics lately. Guess there's more levels not public yet?"
"Ooh, I do it daily. Should I ask him to teach me?"
"You know Na Gang-in?"
"No, but company might connect us."
Park Woo-seop reported to SAH Entertainment President Seo Jae-hyeon.
"So, after they learn Level 2 Nature Gymnastics from Na Gang-in, we'll make tutorial vids for Nutube."
Seo Jae-hyeon asked.
"Hold on. Isn't there injury risk if viewers mimic it?"
"That's why Na Gang-in will teach them a safer version. Health benefits might drop a bit."
"Uh... so mastering it takes time?"
"One day a week, fits their schedule fine."
The four Ppf Girls were in the office too. Leader So Ji-young tilted her head.
"We have no schedule though?"
Maknae Choi Ji-hye agreed.
"Yeah, fame up, but no gigs yet."
Park Woo-seop said.
"You have a schedule now. University event."
The four leaped with joy.
"Really? Eek!"
"We're finally doing college events!"
Park Woo-seop clarified quickly.
"Not a festival. School internal event. Low fee."
"Fine! It's a college event!"
"Yeah, whatever. Glad you're happy."
Seo Jae-hyeon said.
"Fine. Do the Level 2 gymnastics. Carefully, since it takes time to learn safely."
"Yes!"
Park Woo-seop added to Seo Jae-hyeon.
"President, one more thing."
"What?"
"For Nutube content before they finish Level 2—self-defense class?"
"Huh? Na Gang-in teaching martial arts? To all four?"
"Yeah."
Seo Jae-hyeon swallowed hard.
"Why? Conquering a battlefield?"
"No, just basic self-defense."
"Ah, right. No need to turn our girls into killing machines."
"Exactly. Good filler content till Level 2's done."
"Phew. Thought something else."
The four Ppf Girls blinked, not getting it.
Park Woo-seop noticed late and laughed awkwardly.
"Joke, joke. Our president loves jokes. Ha, haha."