Chapter 173
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 173
Chapter Title: A Modest Party?
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Back when I was at the Tang family estate, I should have realized that the "modest banquet" the elder had mentioned meant something like this.
The venue was the same mansion I'd visited before, as Choi Guijae had said.
But after a fresh makeover, it looked nothing like the usual place where only Choi Guijae, Park Seonyun, and a handful of servants lived.
The garden, which I'd thought was fairly spacious, turned out to be much larger than I remembered—big enough to set up dozens of tables for a party.
'It looks just like an outdoor wedding.'
As I wondered if they held parties like this often and headed inside...
"Director, thanks for coming all this way!"
Park Seonyun, who lived in the house, was the first to greet me warmly.
"Hello. There are more people here than I expected."
"Haha, it's a bit noisy, isn't it? Even after minimizing the guest list. I'd love to show you around myself, but..."
"Of course, the party host has to be busy."
"That's a shame. Grandma's over there. Go say hi and head to your assigned seat—oh, she's with Father."
That man was the current head of PK Group?
"Tch, you brat! Why'd you invite so many useless people?!"
He hadn't spoken loudly, but I heard it crystal clear.
Choi Guijae, the chairman who was stingy only with his own son, was smacking the back of his son's head.
"I really kept the list to the bare minimum."
His son made excuses, but even Choi Guijae knew his birthday couldn't be a solo affair.
Unless it was just family, inviting even one or two people naturally snowballed into this.
"Director!"
I figured it might be better to greet people from my seat later and was about to ask Park Seonyun about it when...
"Long time no see."
"Yeah, it has been a while since we last met in person."
Park Sesun, who had been chatting with what looked like celebrities, spotted me and waved.
Hmm, definitely celebrities. Their outfits screamed it, and even someone like me who doesn't watch much TV recognized a familiar MC face.
"Come on, let's go say hi to Grandma first. Seonyun, mind if I take him?"
"Go ahead. I'd appreciate Sis showing him around."
With that, she led me straight to Choi Guijae.
Thanks to her, the relieved son let out a secret sigh.
And there, dressed in a suit and conversing with dignified authority among middle-aged men in suits...
Finally, he exuded the aura of a corporate titan.
"Happy birthday. Thank you for inviting me."
I handed over a simple gift and greeted him, and Choi Guijae's face lit up.
"You made it—perfect timing. It's a bit crowded, more than I expected, but we've got plenty of great food, so eat your fill."
"Thank you. I'm looking forward to it."
"I'm the one who's grateful. Ever since I started your meds, everyone's been telling me how radiant I look."
"That's because you're taking such good care of yourself, Chairman."
I tried to bow out after the pleasantries, but...
Choi Guijae wouldn't let me go.
"This is Han Yeowon, my personal physician. She's been treating me whenever I'm under the weather."
"Ah, I see. Nice to meet you. I'm Kim Jeongsu, executive director at PK Construction."
He dragged me around, introducing me to several people.
The man reflexively pulled out his business card upon introduction.
Executive director? Someone he'd known since his active days. Kim Jeongsu seemed subtly tense, and behind Choi Guijae, a faint glow of pride shimmered.
Sure enough, now that we'd gotten close personally, I saw he wasn't just some lonely old lady without friends.
Among these power players, he practically overflowed with presence.
"Jeon Yuri, strategy planning team leader at LS Soft...?"
Some couldn't hide their confusion about why they were even being introduced.
They'd rushed over at Honorary Chairman Choi's call, but the gathered crowd had no obvious common thread.
"Director Kim, didn't you have that back pain last time that had you considering hospitalization? Go get treated."
"Ah, so that's why you called me. Thank you for thinking of me."
"Team Leader Jeon, you should see our director too. Headaches still bad?"
"My goodness, you even remember that? Thank you."
Ah... so they were patients.
"I'll make time to visit soon. Looking forward to it."
"Same here. If there's ever anything I can do for you, Director, just say the word."
Would I ever need ties to a construction firm or IT company?
I didn't even know what this or that "Soft" did.
"Ah, you know this one, right?"
As Choi Guijae chatted with a group, curious onlookers perked up their ears.
He called over one of the eavesdroppers and introduced me again.
'Who is it?'
I racked my brain, but no tycoon faces came to mind.
No clue at all.
"Haha, this is the mayor of Busan."
Luckily, the man introduced himself instead of turning it into a guessing game.
If I'd been in Busan during election season, I might have seen his face, but sadly, we were total strangers.
With a politician's smile, he said to call if I ever needed anything.
"Thank you. I'm Han Yeowon. Mayor, feel free to visit anytime if you're not feeling well."
"Will do. I'll bring my son sometime. I've heard a lot about Seongsu Clinic."
"You've... heard a lot?"
"Not just talk—it's buzzing even among city hall staff."
Really?
I exchanged cards with the mayor in a daze, but verifying the truth would be tricky.
"These are people worth knowing."
Finally free from the greeting frenzy with strangers, Park Sesun whispered to me.
Nothing bad about it, sure—but would any good come of it?
I wasn't even sure they'd actually show up for treatment.
"And your seat is..."
Not seeing it nearby, Park Sesun pulled out her tablet.
"Huh, they put you way in the back? Want me to switch you to the front?"
"No, I prefer the back or the side."
"We could just grab a chair from Seonyun's table."
The table she pointed to was smack in the center, front and foremost.
"With Director Park here, the subsidiary's status has completely changed. The meaning of this project's success..."
"I'd love to work with your side next..."
Clearly business talk way over my head.
No way I was sitting there.
"Ah, Director. This way? I pushed for the front, but Grandma said you'd feel pressured and recommended a spot on the edge."
"The chairman really knows his stuff."
Park Seonyun suggested it mid-conversation, but I turned it down flat.
The assigned seat was perfect.
Out on the very edge, with Heo Sunnan Grandma, Seong Myeongin, and Cheon Wonil's names listed together.
Right on cue as the invitation time hit, the three were taking their seats.
'Should've timed it better! Coming early turned into this mess.'
I thanked Park Sesun for the guidance and finally sat at my assigned spot.
"Lots of politicians and celebrities here. Not sure I belong."
Heo Sunnan Grandma and Cheon Wonil were their usual selves, but Seong Myeongin couldn't tear his eyes off the crowd.
Watching him somehow eased my own dizzy head from all the earlier schmoozing.
I was just tired of nonstop new faces, but for him, just being in this space was overwhelming.
"You need to get used to it, kid."
His master barked.
But for someone whose daily grind was painting in a secluded room, this was torture.
"Haha, he's right. With Master Seong on track to be a world-class artist, he'll get invites like this all the time."
"Y-Yes... I'll hurry to catch up to our already world-class Director."
Seong Myeongin spoke with his hand over his mouth like he might hurl.
"...?"
But his words were odd.
If it was Grandma's joke, fine—but why would Seong Myeongin say that?
I straight-up asked what he meant, since I genuinely had no idea.
"You introduced me to that Italian tycoon. He placed an order and mentioned preparing to open a clinic in Italy too. Come to think of it, thanks to you, Director, I've had plenty of VIP clients, but I haven't even properly thanked you."
"Pardon?"
"We should set up a proper get-together sometime..."
"No, that's at least three years out? Did Chairman Rich really say that?"
"Yes. He commissioned it to hang in the clinic later. We agreed on a generous year-plus timeline."
"... ."
"Put extra care into it. Who knows—this painting might become the centerpiece of the Rome branch, just like how it all connected this time. Then I could ride your coattails, Director, and hold an exhibit in Italy."
No, wait—didn't he just buy it because he liked the picture?
Already prepping for Rome branch decor?
"Hmm. You never know when opportunity knocks, so best to give every piece my all."
Whether I was stunned or not...
Cheon Wonil nodded, encouraging his disciple.
Soon after, the program kicked off.
Not like a wedding with rigid rituals, though.
Just guests sharing thanks, recounting life stories and bonds built over time.
I enjoyed the delicious food from my quiet corner, clapping along when the crowd did.
And when Choi Guijae's turn ended...
"Whew, finally free. What a fuss over nothing."
She headed straight for our table.
"Sis calls everyone and then complains—what can we do?"
Why was no one calling her out?
Common sense said she should sit at that spacious front table with Park Seonyun.
Sure enough, people were glancing our way.
"Food's served, so they'll manage. I feel most at ease next to the director and Sunnan. I'll take my birthday cheers quietly here."
Choi Guijae ignored them and raised her glass.
"Phew."
Despite hosting countless parties in her life, she didn't seem entirely comfortable.
"You've been through a lot. Happy birthday."
I took her hand, soothing her turbulent energy.
At the same time, I threw up a thin barrier of qi around our table.
"To live to 100, I shouldn't have to deal with this. Take good care of me from now on."
Gradually, the surrounding attention faded.
And Choi Guijae chatted peacefully with Heo Sunnan, oblivious to the outside noise.
A party with a few close folks.
Not exactly modest, but modest enough.
I'd figured those introductions were one-and-done encounters.
"Hello, Director. We met at the chairman's birthday, right?"
But some patients actually showed up.
The woman's name was Jeon Yuri. She had a sharp, no-nonsense vibe—like someone meticulous about her work and everyone else's.
"Ah, yes. You mentioned headaches?"
At the word, pain must have flared—Jeon Yuri pressed her temple with her right hand.
"Yes. Over 30 years now. Started in middle or high school."
"That's a long time."
"Tell me about it. No big expectations here. But the chairman praised you so much, I had to try. Not hoping for a cure—just less pain would be great."
Classic chronic patient, cycling through hope and letdown.
"Is it bad right now? Constant all day? Or occasional intense episodes?"
"Always a low hum, and sometimes full-blown migraines with auras."
Jeon Yuri grimaced and sighed.
Hmm, years of pained expressions had etched deep frown lines, sharpening her stern look.
"With that history, you've probably tried every test and treatment out there."
"Yup. Everything... and they found a tumor."
She tapped her head.
"Brain tumor?"
"No, brain's fine. Trigeminal nerve tumor. Went to university hospital debating surgery, but position wasn't ideal, so no go. Steroids work, but regular painkillers? Useless."
Better than a brain tumor, at least.
"Still on steroids then?"
"Did during crazy work stretches, but side effects killed it. Kept upping doses till vomiting, diarrhea, skyrocketing liver enzymes, muscle wasting—doc and I quit cold. Now I tough out the mild stuff. ER for the brutal aura ones."
"Must be rough."
Jeon Yuri nodded.
Tap tap tap.
As I jotted her history, something felt off.
"You're pressing your temple now. Pain there?"
"Yes."
"Not forehead or jaw?"
"Jaw, never. Forehead... not really? Occipital throbs and radiates sometimes, but feels different from the temple ache."
"Hmm. Based on location, doesn't match trigeminal distribution. Tumor pain usually follows nerve paths."
I pulled up a trigeminal nerve map.
I'd seen plenty of trigeminal cases—pain tracks jaw, forehead, temples precisely.
"Right—some doc said the tumor wasn't the cause. Meds still didn't work, though."
Evidently, multiple diagnoses from all the trials.
"Hard to pinpoint one cause here. Tension headache and occipital neuralgia overlap location-wise, and aura migraines are separate."
"I see..."
"Tried acupuncture?"
"Not long-term. Workload, and it didn't stick. Worked as a kid—back when painkillers did too, so..."
Hospitals and clinics alike, proper treatment abandoned.
A trial here, a skip there, hoping for magic.
"Tried manual therapy for forward head posture—no dice. Stress at another—can't quit work anyway..."
I noted her treatment odyssey, then...
"Does it hurt when I press here?"
Checked key upper neck muscles for occipital neuralgia.
"Let me check your pulse."
Pulse diagnosis, abdominal palpation—thorough.
"Complex causes, so no guarantees on percentage improvement. But neck muscles, stress, autonomic imbalance? Big gains there."
"That alone would be a win."
"Clear your schedule: three sessions a week for two weeks. You'll see progress."
Three times weekly for two weeks.
Doable for most, but Jeon Yuri looked conflicted.
"Got it. I'll make it work. Can squeeze it in before overseas meetings."