Chapter 163
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 163
Chapter Title: A New Branch and the Concert
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Word came quickly from Im Sucheol.
The first bit was great news: Im Eunyung's complexion and sweating symptoms had improved dramatically.
And the second was that he'd been deeply impressed by our company's vision and wanted to walk the same path.
"If you'll allow it, I'd like to join right here as the fifth branch."
I asked the other directors for their opinions.
Of course, the ones in Daegu and Jeju said it was no issue at all.
- Ah, that's wonderful. That friend Sucheol is someone who truly harbors passion in his heart. It'll help our studies and business growth too.
Kim Chunsik was thrilled.
Just the fact that he'd kept in touch with Kim Chunsik during his long hiatus from clinical work proved it was genuine.
Kim Chunsik was the type who overflowed with zeal and had no pretenses, even shouting during consultations.
'He didn't send him on purpose, did he?'
I set aside my suspicions and finalized the contract.
It was embarrassing since we didn't have any grand vision.
"Oh, my goodness! You've been preparing a paper too? I'll have to work hard to keep up with the study group!"
At any rate, it was a very good thing to have such an enthusiastic new face join us.
I put in extra effort in various ways to make it worth more than the franchise fee.
"Nari Teacher, Yuhee Teacher~! I'm going to Tae Yoon's concert. Want to come along?"
So, going to the concert wasn't exactly just for fun.
Networking? From a broader view, part of a promotion strategy? Something like that.
Melon Soda Horizon could even snag a spot in the signed collection, right?
"Whoa, even the armband lady's going to a live club?"
"The director too? Does Nari Teacher have plans? Have you been already?"
"Of course I've been—I'm a fan! And there's not much time left for their performances there!"
Gong Nari urged me to hurry if I wanted to see it, saying their contract at the Busan live club was almost up.
The broadcast was in its final stages, and he was still surviving and shining in the survival show... Gong Nari had really become a true fan.
"I'm planning to stop by after work this Friday anyway. If Nari Teacher's already been, I'll go alone. Whoa, I should go quick before tickets sell out later."
"No! I can go again. Let's go together, Director!"
"Huh? You don't have to force yourself."
"Is last week's show the same as this week's? You go on raids even if it's the same one you've done before!"
Eh, that's different.
Raids are because gear drops at low rates, so you have no choice.
At any rate, Gong Nari wasn't the type to force herself into non-work events, so it should be fine.
Her face practically screamed excitement.
"Oh, Yuhee Teacher, did you maybe go with Nari Teacher?"
I asked Seol Yuhee, who seemed like another employee who might be interested.
Seo In-ae looked indifferent at a glance, and Jin Min-jeong was probably busy.
Seol Yuhee had been in poor health for a long time and, like me, probably hadn't been to a live club, so maybe she'd want to experience it?
"Ah, I..."
But contrary to my expectations, she looked troubled.
"I was just asking in case!"
"Sorry. This Friday evening is tough. I have tutoring, and a ton of studying to do."
"Oh, you're doing tutoring too?"
Sure enough, college entrance exam prep never ends.
Even if you think you know a lot, you have to drill it repeatedly for perfection.
Having taught students of all levels in college, I found the tutoring talk oddly heartening.
"I was self-studying with online lectures at first, but I got greedy. Just English and math for now."
"Ooh, nice."
Seol Yuhee hesitated, like she wanted to say something.
"Actually, I did pretty well on the June practice test."
She straight-up bragged.
"Whoa, really? Awesome—you were studying even during lunch breaks~. That's fantastic!"
"Congratulations. With your brains and hard work, Yuhee Teacher, I knew it'd go well."
It seemed like her first time bragging, and Gong Nari looked just as new to it.
She celebrated Seol Yuhee like it was her own achievement.
"How well did you do?"
I couldn't hold back my curiosity and asked.
Seol Yuhee, like she'd been waiting, replied.
"Hehe, it'd be embarrassing compared to how much better you must've done, Director. It's not that impressive... English 2nd grade, math 3rd grade, and 1st grade on everything else. Perfect on Korean and second language, missed one on social studies."
"You crushed it!?"
Gong Nari shouted the moment she finished.
I was shocked too.
"Haha, no. I got lucky."
"What luck makes you ace whole subjects? How do you raise scores like that in months? Did you have a strong base before?"
How long had it been since she asked to cut her hours for studying, and she was pulling these scores?
Even if she'd studied on weekends before requesting, it couldn't have started earlier this year?
Seol Yuhee answered bashfully.
"Korean was always good—probably from reading a lot at the clinic. Second language is Russian, so I just coasted... The rest I sucked at, but thanks to your treatment, Director, my comprehension and memory shot up!"
"What are you talking about? You were always smart; health just kept you from putting in the time."
"No. I basically gave up on math before. But this time, I covered the whole curriculum for the first time, and stuff that never clicked no matter how many times I reviewed just flowed!"
"Wow, Director, you're amazing...!"
What nonsense is this?
Gu-eum-jeol-maek meant she was smart to begin with!
Her mental and physical health had held her back, and treatment fixed that.
But I couldn't boost comprehension or memory.
If I could, I'd have made a name teaching exam prep folks back in the murim world!
Just covering the full math curriculum before the June test showed it was purely Seol Yuhee's effort.
"Anyway... so you're getting ambitious and pushing harder."
"Yes. My dad's friend is doing English tutoring, but it's awkward asking to adjust schedules already."
"Oof, can't interrupt that. We'll catch the concert after exams. There'll be big opportunities later."
Seol Yuhee nodded.
"Um, Director."
"Yeah?"
"You said you did a lot of tutoring back in the day, right? Know any good math tutors among your contacts?"
"Hmm?"
Her dad's friend was handling English, but math hadn't started yet.
Dad suggested finding a specialist like his friend for math, Mom wanted a recent exam-taker college kid for motivation, but she hadn't decided.
"Don't know anyone specific. Especially not in Busan. Generally, pro tutors or academies might be better..."
I hesitated in answering.
In the cutthroat private education battlefield, experienced survivors were probably superior on average?
But I couldn't conclude firmly—I'd only done college student tutoring.
One by one, by any means, I'd boosted their scores.
'Too bad. If it was right after graduation, I could've taught her myself.'
I'd tutored up to early senior year, mostly math.
If I hadn't forgotten all my national language, English, and math after murim!
"Oh, Director. How about asking Jeong Inseong?"
Then Gong Nari had a good idea.
Right, that kid went to Korean medicine college in Busan?
When he first consulted, he'd said he was bad at math, but his scores had improved a lot.
"That hair loss patient... what was his name? Anyway, he said he does private tutoring on top of academy work."
Oh, experience too?
"Is it okay getting tutored by a patient? He's younger than Yuhee Teacher."
"If it's Inseong, I'd love that!"
"Then tomorrow when Grandma Heo Sun-nam comes, let's ask through her."
I thought Jeong Inseong would diligently prepare and teach to Seol Yuhee's level too.
Asking directly might burden him to say yes, so better to inquire lightly via grandma.
Friday evening, live club.
Ahh— Your radiant touch
Ecstatic moment of healing
This meeting feels like a miracle
Kim Taeyoon's clear vocals filled the not-so-spacious venue.
'Kyaargh!!'
I swallowed a scream, unable to yell it out.
We said we'd change the lyrics together!
They'd be totally different!
Kang Jaekyung had blushed and sworn it too.
Park Haru's inspiration struck on the spot for the improv, making it weird, but once finished, it'd be fine—he'd boasted.
Something had changed, as he said.
No more 'Director'—words that shouldn't be in band songs.
But what good was that with 'healing' in it?
The essence was the same!
"Whoa, Melon Soda rarely does love songs, but this new track's amazing."
"Right? Kinda like a hymn, so unique."
The fan next to me whispered.
A love song?
Now that she mentioned it, maybe?
Knowing how this song came to be, I couldn't hide my shock.
'...!!'
I glared at Park Haru and mouthed at him.
...But the instant our eyes met, he winked.
It had a totally different charm from when he'd sung it on the stairs.
His refreshing voice boomed through the club, and the band's sound was grand enough to drive me mad.
"That was incredible... You're really something."
It was an amazing show in multiple ways.
After the live set ended, I waited for the signing and photo folks to pass, then greeted them.
Last time Gong Nari came, it wasn't this crowded—TV exposure was definitely boosting their fame.
"You should've said you were coming! I was shocked to see you from the stage."
"Just wanted to catch a show. Nothing much, but here's a gift."
I handed over the new Gamgil candy lightly.
"...I was shocked too. To think that song would turn out like this."
"Heh, reactions are off the charts—best ever. Thanks to you."
Wasn't the buzz from the fame?
I couldn't muster a response.
"Oh, the Han Yeowon Director I've heard about?"
"The one who treated our Taeyoon, Jaekyung, and Haru?"
The other members, who'd been greeting fans, approached us.
Guitar and bass members I'd never seen at the clinic acted all chummy, saying they'd heard the story.
Well, they must've talked about me to rewrite that song.
If even unfamiliar members knew it, it wasn't just embarrassing—the whole club heard!
"The teacher Taeyoon mentioned?"
Then a total stranger grandpa recognized me.
How far did the story spread?
Maybe prejudice, but a fan that age coming to a live club and buddying with members seemed unlikely.
Family of a member?
"Ah, yes. Thanks to Director Han here, he recovered quick, boss."
"Director, this is the club owner. Famous around here for killer sound work."
"Psh, famous what."
Ah? The club owner?
I moved to bow, but the grandpa stuck out his hand for a shake.
"Thank you. Taeyoon was out of it mentally when his throat tanked, but thanks to you, he's thriving."
As I clasped his hand, he shook my arm heartily.
"By the way, can you treat burning legs too?"