Chapter 190
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 190
Chapter Title: Stars at Seongsu Clinic
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Kang Jaekyung bowed his head politely and made his request.
"I don't want to miss this opportunity."
Hold on, hold on! This is moving way too fast!
"Haha, nice to meet you. I saw what Sasha Lian mentioned too. Never would have imagined it—congratulations!"
The corners of Kang Jaekyung's mouth twitched upward.
He must be thrilled to death.
He barely held back a mad cackle, his lips quivering.
"But... isn't the success of the Melon Soda Horizon song and me appearing in your content pretty unrelated?"
Of course, congratulations were in order.
But promoting Korean medicine? Was that really necessary?
Fans would be curious about content featuring singers, right?
Sasha Lian was a special case, though?
"Even without a direct connection, I want to give it a shot."
But he was incredibly firm.
"It might just be my personal greed. And honestly, we don't have that kind of influence yet, but I want to spread the word. Me and Haru aside, when Kim Taeyoon lost his voice, it felt like the world was collapsing."
Really? You had the most normal reaction to his antics, though.
"I had no idea there was a way to heal it like this. Shouldn't we give foreign singers a chance at treatment too?"
"Oh..."
Kind of cool, actually?
Unlike me, who'd only felt embarrassed linking it to the 'Song of Healing,' he'd thought this far ahead.
"Plus, it ties into our success to some degree. We might even aim for some national pride and shoot even higher!"
"Hmm."
National pride? With Korean medicine?
I'd thought he was joking, but his eyes were blazing.
"Even if it doesn't blow up, there's no downside. We won't include anything harmful to you or the doctors! We'll manage any negative comments thoroughly."
Kang Jaekyung clenched his fist tight.
Yeah, he's dead serious.
If he'd just spouted pure, selfless intentions, I'd have been suspicious.
Why do something good just for me?
But look at that fierce, ambition-filled glare.
Kang Jaekyung had been preparing for a day like this—uploading all sorts of content to his channel despite his agency's indifference, even adding English subtitles religiously.
When the tide comes in, those who paddle early move heaven itself. How could I refuse such a request?
"Alright. I'll review it positively. I just need to consult the directors at the other branches first."
"Of course. Thank you!"
I took a step back.
Before the full meeting, I checked with the vice directors.
"A chance to put Seongsu Clinic on the world map?"
As expected, Lee Areum was thrilled.
"I'll prepare hard so we don't drop the ball."
Hwang Sanghun seemed quietly pleased too.
I floated the idea lightly, and he showed no aversion to appearing on NewTube himself.
Oh, if even these two were on board...
- Kyaaak, we're going international like this?
Chu Miyoung lit up immediately, cheering nonstop.
- Hmm, quite an honor. I'll send over a few papers perfect for explaining acupuncture mechanisms.
Kim Chunsik started searching for papers right away.
Aigoo, if he explains that dry stuff, everyone will just scroll past.
- My heart's racing. Time to attract more foreign patients.
Even Jeon Minji and Yu Kyung-hun were positive.
No way—it won't draw foreigners all the way to Korea, right?
At best, a few Melon Soda Horizon fans curious about NewTube might stop by.
- I'll swoop in late and reap all the promo benefits. Wow... Director's patient was Melon Soda Horizon? I'm jealous. I cheered for them the whole time watching that show.
Seon Nayeon gave a pouty smile. Ah, a fan hiding among us.
With everyone on board, I contacted Kang Jaekyung right away.
"Thank you!"
He came straight to the clinic again.
He'd brainstormed all sorts of ways to film it.
Bring Park Haru for a simple hiccup acupuncture demo, explain the principles behind it, then promote our clinic.
Straight out of the playbook. Nice, nice.
"If it's okay, could you link it on the Seongsu Clinic Instagram channel too?"
Our channel wasn't small, but their fans coming via the clinic Insta beat clinic followers discovering them.
He downplayed it, but their recognition rivaled top idols.
"Sure. Here's hoping it's a win-win."
I nodded.
But Kang Jaekyung's eyes sparkled again, like he had more to say.
"I had another idea."
"Yes?"
"Our song only has the audio track—no music video yet. What if we filmed it here at the clinic...?"
No, that's going way too far.
What kind of music video do you film in a place like this!
Filming took place early in the morning to avoid disrupting treatments.
"Hello, we're Melon Soda Horizon~! Greetings from Seongsu Clinic, where we cured Haru's hiccups!"
All the members were there, and Kang Jaekyung beamed as he nailed the opening line.
Maybe it was the camera massage, but they all looked even shinier than our first meeting.
"Hello, I'm Korean doctor Han Yeowon."
"Hwang Sanghun here."
"I'm Lee Areum~!"
The three of us gave simple intros.
"Whoa, you could be celebrities!"
Park Haru tossed a joke at Hwang Sanghun to lighten the mood, and things proceeded per the script.
"So I go, hic! Chug soda, hic! And end up hiccuping all day! Hic! It wouldn't stop, driving me insane! Woke up hiccuping in my sleep, chugged water to stop it, failed and cried..."
...It wasn't scripted quite that dramatically.
Park Haru flopped onto the clinic floor, splaying her legs out.
Yeah, figured she'd go off-script.
I wasn't even fazed by her Little Mermaid-style desperate slump.
"That's when acupuncture's grace came down."
"Haru using words like that got me mistaken for a cult leader."
I couldn't help reacting to 'grace.'
You have no idea how ridiculous it was for me.
When Park Haru recounted playing half-naked, the elevator doors opening, and what followed, the members burst into delighted giggles.
After the slightly exaggerated recap, the acupuncture demo.
"In Korean medicine, hiccups are seen as a diaphragm rebellion."
I explained it simply, just like during a consultation.
"Meds are needed sometimes, but in her case, needling to relax the diaphragm and shoulder muscles brought instant relief."
I placed a few needles in Park Haru's infraspinatus after she shed her top.
Viewers' eyes would focus obviously, but I explained acupuncture too, referencing Kim Chunsik's papers.
Finally, the Seongsu Clinic promo.
We'd treated all sorts before, with branches nationwide—the members gave the expected reactions.
That about wraps it up.
Just as I thought filming was done...
"Mind if we grab a quick patient interview?"
The manager made one more on-the-spot request.
"Sure. Start filming if the patient agrees."
Treatment hours began right on cue.
The first patient in was...
"Aigo, don't get me started. My back was bent like this, now it's straight—it's a miracle, a miracle!"
Heo Sunnam Grandma.
She often came early mornings, but today was an uncanny coincidence.
Hey? We'd just talked about the cult mix-up—won't this spark needless misunderstandings?
"Ooh!"
Of course, Kang Jaekyung and the manager were thrilled.
Exactly the kind of thing they wanted.
"Ah, I'm here for neck disc treatment. Getting better bit by bit."
There were normal interviews too.
"Gasp... I'm a fan...!"
And patients starstruck by Melon Soda Horizon in person.
That should give them all the footage they wanted. Editing would make it look great.
Everyone satisfied, time to wrap...
"Huh?"
Kim Ijin stepped into the treatment room.
"Director, who's this...?"
I explained quickly so she wouldn't be startled—how a famous overseas singer's mention led to this.
Phew! Kim Ijin was totally in the dark too. Guess I'm not the only one late to trends!
"Ahh, as expected of the director. Amazing. Even celebrities like that as patients."
Kim Ijin's voice sounded oddly downcast.
Something feels familiar?
The Tang family juniors flashed in my mind.
Kids who hadn't left the estate yet, eyeing peers with titles—that jealous, envious look.
Like, I could be famous too...
Ey, my instincts are sharp.
Early murim days were life-or-death; that insight still keeps me going.
Why would Kim Ijin, not even an athlete like the singers, look so glum?
Kim Taeyoon's voice and skills were great, but Kim Ijin's talent was one-of-a-kind.
"This is Kim Ijin, the rising star of women's pro basketball. She's been coming steadily since we treated her ACL tear here."
I hyped her up in the intro.
Recalling her post-first-game interview... she'd love this... right?
Of course, Kang Jaekyung flipped the camera back on.
"Yes, I've been close with the director since the clinic's early days. She's our Busan BUK team doctor, and thanks to her bone-strengthening soup for the captain, the bone's healing fast—back in games soon."
Kim Ijin boasted too.
Though her emphasis was a bit off.
With that, filming truly wrapped.
Melon Soda Horizon gave thanks and left the clinic.
Good, ended quicker than expected.
"Ijin, what brings you today? Something hurting?"
"Nothing major, just hamstring tightness—here for maintenance."
But... what was this?
Even during treatment, Kim Ijin kept pursing her lips a little.
"Director, every time I see you, you're doing even better."
"Haha, this was pure coincidence. It's not like Truman Show or anything—that song just..."
"Melon Soda Horizon? You're tight with the band too, huh? Even appearing on their NewTube."
No, not my imagination.
Real jealousy?
Forget the mopey face—she'd straight-up said it.
"Hey, you're my closest, of course!"
Right, right.
She'd acted the same when I gave Myeong Seonju that recording.
"I want to get more famous too..."
"Aigoo, you're already killing it! So proud watching your games. And since the early days together, it's extra special."
This was...
Not just talk—she really saw it as special?
Wasn't she our first long-term patient?
Her quick recovery spread the word too.
"Been a while since I came, and we're too busy to even chat properly."
As I soothed her gently, Kim Ijin gave a small nod.
"Then tomorrow..."
"If you're free tonight, want to just eat dinner at my place?"
"Pardon?"
I tossed out the casual invite.
"Yes!"
Kim Ijin beamed.
Brighter than when she'd won nationals.