Chapter 248
Chapter 248
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 248
Chapter Title: Lingering Buzz and Discharge
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-Drug Scandal Witness Ambushed After Testimony... Song Uyeon Successfully Completes Surgery, Set for Discharge
-Risking It All for Justice: Star Chef's Brave Choice and the Tragic Aftermath
-Revenge from Past [Alley Secrets] Contestant? The Full Story Behind Song Uyeon's Assault
-Where's Witness Protection? How Did Song Uyeon Become the Victim?
-Stabbed Justice... Flaws in the Witness Protection System Exposed
→Enough already. I'm sick of it. Quit yapping about this nonstop. Doesn't our country have any other news?
→Who'd step up as a witness after getting stabbed like that? They need to step up their game!
→They're all in on it together. Throw 'em all in with a special prosecutor!
→Feels like the country's going down the drain because of the president.
[Song Uyeon Assault Suspect's Identity Leaked]
The guy who appeared on GMBB last time and got booted off.
There was already an exposé post about him getting violent with SY before and getting caught, which led to all his footage being edited out. Here's the archived post.
(Exposé post link)
Back then, tons of reactions sympathizing with SY, saying it was just community service level stuff lol.
But sure enough, he went and pulled this stunt too.
The courts, the networks—someone please protect him properly.
→That the perp? How'd you figure?
→→Most of his cuts from the broadcast got edited out, but bits with hands, feet, or shoulders slipped through. Compare to the perp's police photos—same spot, same tattoo.
→→→Whoa, no way. GSG S.
→Gives me chills. He's been stalking since then, waiting for an opening. If they buy the "spur of the moment" BS and lighten his sentence again...
→Dude's got clout. How's he "accidentally" uncovering a drug scandal, "accidentally" testifying, getting stabbed on the way back "by chance," and then it "just happens" to blow up online lololol.
→→We get what you're implying, super obvious.
→→→What? Can't even say it's wild? You handmaids are extra af.
→→→→Now even company CEOs are getting stalked psychos.
→What kinda horoscope makes life that turbulent? Feels like he can't go even a year without drama.
[Rooting for Song Uyeon]
(Injury branch store proof pic)
Supporting by eating there.
→Lolololololol
→Fair, but lololol
→Did the same today to show support—Hapjae Neighborhood Gukbap.
[Viral push is so obvious but they don't even realize lol]
Still flooding feeds with related posts even though it's been a while since the incident.
So tryhard, cut it off T_T
I get they're hustling for corporate image rehab T_T
→??
→Wtf
→Am I the only one modding for free? I wanna get paid to post too.
→Where's my viral salary??
[Corporate image wash?]
How many CEOs out there would take a knife to the gut for an image scrub?
Even if it is, at this point, give 'em credit.
→Fr lol
→Etiquette to play along at that level fr.
[Why Song Uyeon is the GOAT]
1. Franchises have insane value for money overall.
2. At least average taste, solid rep.
3. Heard they manage hygiene super meticulously.
4. Great on shows, friendly vibe.
5. Guts to take a knife.
→Wtf is the last one you psycho
→Fml lololol knife's got nothing to do with it
→→That's the most GOAT part tho
→Agreed
→From guts to get hated on to guts to get stabbed? Wild.
[Isn't the stabbing thing total BS?]
Just seems overhyped, can't buy it.
→Don't believe it then
→Who are you to say?
[Anyone else feel bad for Song Uyeon? T_T] I'm getting all teary for no reason. Can't imagine how shocked people around him must've been hearing the news...
If it was my kid, I'd be furious. How does going to court as a witness end with getting stabbed? T_T
Heard it's blowback from showbiz grudges—kid's too young for this bad luck.
→He's raking in cash tho, no need to worry about celebs~
→Think about what kids take away from this. See news like that, who'll wanna step up as witnesses later?
→Kinda hits me too, I get it.
→Jumping to pity without knowing the full story is rude too.
→Still, lucky break—stabbed but not seriously hurt.
→No family to nurse him either ;_; Twice as rough going solo T_T I get the pity feels.
The incident was still setting the internet ablaze.
Public opinion leaned heavily toward sympathy for me, though a few skeptics popped up with cynical doubts now and then.
Eh, cynics show up for every story, so no big deal. What surprised me was how the buzz just wouldn't die down.
'Wasn't the internet supposed to cycle through hot topics every day or two?'
Even on discharge day, it was still all anyone could talk about.
Bam!
"!"
I jumped and looked up. A car had pulled up in front.
Thump, thump.
Hobbling over on crutches, the driver's door swung open.
"You punk. Why're you out here already?"
"Owner."
Lee Incheol rushed over, popped the passenger door, snatched my crutches, and shoved them in the back seat.
"Thanks."
"Skip it. Hop in. Bags?"
"Other stuff's already moved out. Today I can just bring myself."
"Right. Get in."
Lee Incheol started driving without another word.
"Thanks. Picking me up last time too—always bailing me out like this."
"Where's that clingy mutt of yours?"
"Jaeha? School today."
Took some convincing to stop him from skipping class to get me. First time at college, can't have him ditching lectures.
Practically had to pry his feet off the ground.
"Your secretary?"
"Not a secretary—it's Team Leader Cho. He had meetings today."
Plus, awkward asking for personal errands during work hours.
Guess Lee Incheol sees Jo Yi-ruk as my secretary, but he's not really.
"Jongchun's manning the branch today. Looks like it's just me."
"That's why I called you. Thanks for coming."
"Quit it. Call 'em all if you need. Any day the shop's closed, I'm there."
No joking lilt in his tone. Lee Incheol said it heavy with sincerity.
"You're no fool. Must be a good reason you called."
"Wow. That's some trust you've got in me."
"Yeah. If you skipped the dumb stunts once in a while, you'd be even greater."
"Ugh. Was wondering when the nagging would start."
At that, Lee Incheol shot me a mock stern glare.
"Nagging? Kid, this is worry, not nagging."
"Deeply reflecting on it."
"That's why I'm not piling on. Don't make me."
"Yessir."
I'd heard enough nagging to last a lifetime in the hospital.
Especially when Kim Jongchun and Han Miae visited together... I learned what "music to my ears" really meant—no, wait, the opposite.
Jeong Daon reining them in was the only reason I wasn't pinned down all day.
Not to mention the nonstop calls and KakaoToks pouring in from everywhere.
'Just the ones I remember...'
[Chef Bong Kangmin: Wooyeun~! Heard the news and freaked out. You okay...? (Read more)]
[Chef Jeong Haneul: Surgery go smoothly? Saw the news but still worried... (Read more)]
[Chef Anderic: You good?]
[Do Kyung: Wooyeun, heard what happened. On overseas tour so Korea's gotta be dawn—leaving a message... (Read more)]
[Announcer Im Hye-eun: Mr. Song~ Reaching out carefully. If it's not a bother, mind if I visit...? (Read more)]
[Choi Min-hyeok: Wooo yeon aa you really ok?? Just saw news fu... (Read more)]
"Well, well. Must be living the dream?"
"Hm?"
"You're grinning."
"Me?"
I touched my face. He was right. My lips had curled up without me noticing.
"...Yeah."
"Leg's wrecked and you're beaming? What's so great?"
"Haha. Beats me."
No clue why I was so chipper. I mumbled, staring out the window.
"Maybe it's the warmth..."
"Huh?"
"Nah, nothing."
"Weather's warming up. Manage that surgical scar. Heard summer makes 'em stick out."
"Already got the lecture."
"Stay down longer next time. Why rush discharge?"
"What else am I gonna do flat on my back? Can hobble on crutches now, so time to catch up on work. Lying around just makes you sick."
"Can't argue there."
Lee Incheol clucked his tongue.
Watching his profile as he drove, it hit me how much time had flown since we first met.
Maybe 'cause he's the guy I started out with—seeing him pulls me back to those empty days.
'A lot's changed.'
I was chuckling to myself when Lee Incheol spoke up, eyes still on the road.
"When you went into emergency surgery this time."
"...?"
"Got a call from someone."
News to me. All I knew was Hyun Yeowon found me stabbed and called Baek Jaeha first.
Those two aren't close enough to ping each other in a crisis, are they?
"They said the hospital needed a signature on the consent form. Insisted on a guardian."
"Ah."
"You were out cold. The folks who followed to the ER tried to sign, but hospital wouldn't let 'em. Legally, non-family can't be guardians or whatever."
"..."
"So they called me, begging if I could come pretend just once. Or if I knew any relatives. Sobbing their eyes out."
"...What'd you do?"
"Your blood loss kept climbing, so hospital bent the rules in the emergency—made the ones there temporary guardians. Got you into surgery quick."
"Whew, dodged a bullet."
"But you never know with life. Could happen again."
"True, but what can ya do."
I shrugged. That whole "guardian" headache? I'd dealt with it plenty pre-regression—enough to make me gag.
"So what I'm saying is."
Lee Incheol gripped the wheel tight, cleared his throat gruffly, and asked:
"How about... we become your guardians?"