Chapter 23
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: Nursing Care
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The negotiations wrapped up smoothly enough.
Well, I'm not even sure if you could call it negotiations.
Wasn't it more like I just got handed everything on a silver platter?
And not just any platter—the absolute best one imaginable.
Honestly, I never expected Eun Ha-min to look after me like this.
'She's still a chaebol heir, after all.'
I figured she had some angle, some hidden agenda.
But there wasn't a hint of that in how she treated me.
'Maybe she thinks starting a new company from scratch will earn her dad's approval.'
From what I'd heard, getting her father's recognition was her goal.
She must've figured it was better to build something from the ground up—even if it meant giving away shares—than just taking over an existing company and growing it.
I hadn't even planned to dump everything on her in the first place.
And yet, she handed me 51% of a brand-new company that didn't even have a name yet...
She was genuinely conscientious.
'51% of a new holding company for various game studios...'
In a daze, I'd suddenly become the majority shareholder with control over a bunch of companies.
[51% stake in the new company]
[That's our deal.]
[I'll contact you when there's progress.]
Staring at the paused chat, I smiled in satisfaction.
I fired off quick replies: [Got it.], [Thanks.]
Responses came right away.
[Setting up the company]
[Acquiring all those mid-sized game studios will take time.]
[For now, tell me which companies to buy.]
Eun Ha-min apparently didn't know much about games.
So she asked me to pick some decent mobile game developers.
[I'll be super busy for a while.]
[Gotta handle acquisitions and dodge Dad's watchful eye.]
[So I probably can't come see my puppy oppa anytime soon.]
"We won't see each other for a while, huh..."
Dealing with a chaebol heiress was a bit overwhelming...
But part of me felt a twinge of regret.
We'd shared that deep, sloppy kiss with tongues tangling, after all.
And I'd even groped her butt.
Guess I'd grown a bit attached.
[Don't push yourself too hard.]
[If it gets tough, at least call me.]
Anyone reading that would think we were already dating.
But Eun Ha-min didn't call me out on it.
[Yeah.]
[But I prefer texts over calls.]
[Text me every day, and reply right away.]
[Otherwise, I'll worry and come over to your place.]
[Got it?]
It was a threat dressed up nicely.
Reply late, and she'd barge in.
[Got it.]
[I'll reply right away.]
I gave in easily, and a message pinged back instantly.
[My puppy oppa is so obedient and sweet. Love it.]
[(Male puppy kissing female puppy emoticon)]
[Once this wraps up, I'll give you another reward.]
Staring at the emoticon she sent, memories of last night in the hotel bathroom flooded back.
That intense deep kiss with Eun Ha-min in that cramped space.
Our hot breaths mingling, tongues entwining—the sensation came alive again.
"..."
I found myself rubbing my lips with my fingers.
It felt like the texture and heat from then were still lingering.
"Whew, snap out of it."
I patted my cheeks and shook my head.
It was just a reward, nothing more.
No chaebol heir would allow deep kisses and butt grabs as rewards, but still.
Right now, with a sick patient here, I needed to banish those stimulating thoughts.
"Man, I'm getting sleepy..."
The meds were kicking in; drowsiness washed over me.
With tension gone, my body felt heavy.
I flopped onto the bed.
My eyelids weighed a ton.
The world spun lazily.
And just like that, I passed out.
When I opened my eyes again, the sky outside was dyed red.
Sunset.
"Ugh..."
Trying to sit up, my joints creaked like unoiled machinery.
I grabbed my phone from the nightstand to check the time.
5:15 PM.
Slept a long time.
My stomach was empty, guts practically glued to my spine.
"Maybe order some porridge."
As my thumb hovered over the delivery app...
An incoming call lit up the screen.
[Team Leader]
Timing was impeccable.
I cleared my throat, composed myself, and answered.
"Hello."
- Min-jae? You up now?
"Yeah, just woke up."
- I'm right at your door. Open up?
Click.
Call ended.
'At the door?'
Dragging my wobbly body to the entrance.
I unlocked the door, and there stood the Team Leader, arms full of grocery bags.
"Team Leader?"
"Look at you, Min-jae. Your face is half gone."
She frowned at my appearance.
Genuine worry.
I hadn't expected her to fuss this much over a hungover subordinate.
"I'm feeling much better."
"Liar. Look at those chapped lips."
That was just from the AC drying out the air.
She sighed, set the bags down gently.
Then stroked my lips pityingly.
"Mind if I come in?"
"Of course. Come on in."
I stepped aside to let her pass.
Then sat primly at the dining table, watching her unpack.
Onions, carrots, enoki mushrooms, ground beef.
Garlic and kelp too.
Porridge ingredients, obviously.
"What do you think this is?"
"...Porridge stuff?"
"Ding ding ding~♪"
She patted my cheek lightly, then pulled something from the bag's depths.
An apron.
She tied it around her waist, gathered her long hair into a tight ponytail with a rubber band.
A strange feeling washed over me.
Casual clothes, apron, ponytail.
Exactly the wife in the kitchen I'd imagined.
"Min-jae, staring like that makes me shy."
"No, it's just... It suits you."
"Sickness making you say wild things. But thanks."
She chuckled and picked up a knife.
Vegetables chopped briskly on the cutting board.
Tak tak tak tak.
The rhythmic slicing was oddly soothing.
Savory sesame oil scent filled the apartment.
She stir-fried the beef, added soaked rice, poured water.
Cooked the porridge like a pro.
Stirring the bubbling pot, her back view looked reliable.
No, downright beautiful.
"There, all done."
A while later.
A steaming bowl of beef veggie porridge placed before me.
She plunked down a soy sauce bottle beside it.
"Eat before it cools."
"Thanks for the meal."
I scooped a big spoonful.
Savory, soft texture filled my mouth.
But...
"..."
"How is it? Tasty?"
She asked, eyes sparkling.
I swallowed and answered honestly.
"No seasoning at all..."
"Of course not."
She crossed her arms like it was obvious.
"You think I'd dump salt in? Patients shouldn't eat salty food. Empty stomach like yours—salty stuff would shock it."
"But this is too bland..."
"Be grateful it's not just rice gruel. Soy sauce is right there. Dip a bit."
Ah, that's why the soy sauce.
I followed orders, dipping the spoon tip lightly and mixing.
Savory saltiness hit just right.
"Oh."
"Tasty now?"
"Yeah, perfect seasoning now. Delicious."
"...And before?"
"Still tasted good then too."
I started scraping the bowl clean, and she finally smiled, relieved.
She propped her chin on her hand, watching me intently.
Like a mom beaming at her kid eating well.
I ate hastily, porridge smearing my mouth; she grabbed a tissue from the table.
Wiped my lips meticulously.
"Eat slow. Choking would make it worse, you know?"
Her touch was gentle.
My face heated up.
Felt like a kid in front of her.
I polished off the bowl; she whisked it away and washed it spotless.
Then dragged me back to bed.
"You've sat up enough. Lie down and sleep. That's how you heal."
"Not sleepy now..."
"Tsk. Close your eyes."
She tucked the blanket up to my neck carefully.
Even set a bottle of Pocari Sweat from the fridge on the nightstand.
"Gonna head out. See you at work tomorrow."
"Yeah. Take care."
"..."
She paused at the door, hesitating.
Glanced at the entrance, then back at me.
Fidgeting, she suddenly bent down.
Mwah.
Warm, soft lips brushed my cheek, then pulled away.
Over in a flash.
"Uh..."
"L-Later, when you're all better... then..."
Her words trailed off.
But somehow, I knew what she meant.
I didn't say it aloud, though.
Her face flushed red; she bolted out like fleeing.
Slam. Door shut.
I lay there, staring blankly at the closed door.
Hand to my cheek where her lips had been.
"Worried by so many people... Being sick ain't half bad."
I rarely got sick, and had no one close personally. First time like this.
Despite the illness, I felt good.
After Team Leader's whirlwind visit.
Lying in bed, chuckling at Nutube videos.
Body felt a bit better.
Belly full, mood great.
"Hey, AI app."
Yes, Master. What is it?
"Let's make a video."
That bland porridge from Team Leader sparked a genius idea.
Shorts uploads had slowed; subs were bored.
Comments asking if I was out of material.
"Theme: [Why You Eat Porridge When Sick]."
Medical content?
"Nah, you know my style. Plausible nonsense."
Logic assembled in my head.
How to explain so the app gets it.
"Listen. People get sick 'cause viruses or germs invade, right?"
Correct.
"They need energy to thrive, yeah? Where from?"
Bacteria metabolize glucose, proteins, lipids via enzymes...
"Who asked for textbook science?"
[...]
"Simple: they steal it from the host body."
The AI spun processing my BS for a bit.
About two minutes later, it responded.
Precisely, viruses hijack host cell energy for replication.
"So both steal from others, right?"
Yes.
"Porridge digests easy, meaning nutrients absorb fast. Straight to the bloodstream."
Yes.
"Viruses think: Why destroy cells for food? Just take the free porridge."
[...?]
Question mark from the app.
Broke?
I pressed on.
"Porridge is an offering to the viruses. 'Don't wreck my body, eat this and behave'—peace treaty."
The app went silent.
Probably overloading verifying my lunacy against its database.
"Key point: Why no seasoning?"