Chapter 205
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 205
Chapter Title: The Ointment's Kindergarten Craze
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"Hey, Majid. Mind if I try that rhinitis ointment just once?"
The day he first brought the rhinitis ointment to kindergarten, he'd agreed to his friend's request without a second thought.
But then she went around bragging about how much easier it was to breathe, and soon enough, friends weren't the only ones asking to borrow it.
Pretty much every kid in class with a stuffy nose or even a little runny nose wanted a turn.
'Is this really okay?'
Majid panicked.
The first friend who'd tried it had great results, but the clinic director had mentioned during their consultation that there were different types.
Plus, this particular kid asking now hadn't been seen blowing his nose like Majid had. He was just hopping on the bandwagon because others said it was good.
"You guys need to go to the hospital, get checked out, and get your own medicine. We can't just pass it around like this."
Majid refused firmly.
"Aw, you're so stingy."
"You think I'm being cheap?"
The friend scratched his head at that.
Majid's words carried weight.
Most kids at this kindergarten came from well-off families, but the son of the Saudi Arabian ambassador was in a league of his own.
"Got it. I'll ask my mom to buy me some. Can I take a picture of it?"
"Yeah."
"Oh, me too—I'll ask my mom later!"
In the end, quite a few kindergarten friends snapped photos of the label on the rhinitis ointment tube.
"There was this whole thing at kindergarten today. Is that okay?"
The moment his dad got home from work, Majid reported what had happened.
Thanks to his dad cranking the heat in his room to boiling levels, Majid actually preferred hanging out in the cool first-floor living room these days.
"Of course. You did the right thing."
His dad, newspaper in hand, responded casually. A moment later, he called Majid back over.
"But is that rhinitis ointment really that good?"
"Yeah! I only blow my nose once or twice an hour now! Sometimes my nose stays clear all afternoon!"
"Oh."
Even to Ahmed, Majid's rhinitis looked dramatically better.
He used to be in and out of the bathroom blowing his nose multiple times at dinner.
"I'd like to send some to my little brother, too."
"Your family has a lot of rhinitis sufferers, huh?"
"He travels back and forth across the desert, getting hit with all that sand."
Ahmed thought for a moment.
The Korean doctor had mentioned different types of rhinitis ointment, including one for dry conditions.
The desert environment was bound to be dry.
Still, it would be better if he could examine the mucous membranes directly like he had with Majid.
'They were all jealous about the migraine cure, too.'
Maybe there was a way to bring in some acquaintances or even invite the director himself?
Exactly one month later, after finishing the first round of medicine, Majid stepped into the exam room.
Ahmed was with him again, as always.
"Director, my runny nose is way down now."
Majid's voice was noticeably brighter than last time, matching his visible improvement.
"Are we doing the nose balloon thing again today?"
"Yep, but first let's check your condition."
He was less shy now that they'd met before, even proactively asking me questions here and there.
"Hold still for me."
I started with the nasal endoscope to inspect his mucous membranes.
Definitely blowing his nose less—scabs and scratches inside were mostly gone, and visible mucus had decreased a lot.
"Your elasticity has recovered more than I expected."
I pulled up the photo from a month ago for comparison. Even a non-expert could see the difference.
"Oh, really?"
"Never underestimate a six-year-old's regenerative power. You're healing faster than I worried. Let's keep going until we get those membranes fully healthy."
"Yes. Looking forward to it."
Taking his symptom changes into account, I adjusted the prescription and moved on to treatment.
Majid wasn't a fan of acupuncture, but he loved the nasal manipulation.
"When you do it, it feels like everything opens up inside, and my head gets all cool and clear."
"Really?"
Even Ahmed perked up at that.
"Would you like to try it too, sir? It helps with headaches."
"Oh, sure—please do."
I performed nasal manipulation on both of them.
Majid got up to stage two. Ahmed went the full course.
"It really clears your head all the way up."
Even after finishing, Ahmed had more to ask and sat back down.
"Actually, I was wondering if I could buy a few more of the other types of rhinitis ointment. My brother-in-law has bad rhinitis too. Unlike my son, it's probably not from desert sand."
No reason not to.
I wasn't strict about requiring full exams for pre-made topicals.
It was non-covered territory legally, and hearing basic symptoms for a proxy prescription was fine.
"Of course. Any stuffiness?"
"Yes, from what I hear."
Desert sand, huh? Planning to ship to Saudi Arabia?
Majid's uncle by marriage was probably middle-aged with chronic issues.
For full treatment, pairing with pills like Majid's would be best, but ointment alone would help some.
In the martial world, I'd prescribed topicals-only plenty of times.
I told him I'd package the dry-mucosa rhinitis ointment, main ingredients cheonmundong and changpo, with daehwang and hwangryeon added.
"How many? Five to be generous?"
Shipping each time would be a hassle—better send extra.
Of course, he could order more after trying.
"About two hundred, please. Mixed with the basic type."
"Pardon?"
I double-checked, but yeah—two hundred.
...Three digits? Resale? Their family in distribution?
I narrowed my eyes suspiciously, and Ahmed quickly explained.
"My friends, my wife's family, brother-in-law, his friends, their families—lots of people. All acquaintances, I swear."
"Dad's got tons of friends! Back home, he was always at parties."
Fair enough—diplomat life. Friends with princes, even.
He'd come low-key so I wouldn't notice.
"That many is tricky... Didn't you mention a Korean doctor there? How about getting a prescription through him?"
At my suggestion, Ahmed looked troubled and shook his head.
"The one from the royal hospital went back to Korea. I'll check if there's a private practitioner."
"Sounds good."
"And if there's a chance, it'd be great to invite you sometime."
"Haha, let me know."
This guy treated jokes like gospel.
Rhinitis ointment wasn't a high-volume item, so I didn't stockpile.
For now, I sent Ahmed five each of basic and dry-mucosa types.
'If just his circle wants two hundred, what's the real demand?'
Burned once by bad forecasting, I didn't speculate wildly.
Official export would need way more, for sure.
...Time for expert help?
Suddenly, Park Seonyun's bizarre investment pitch crossed my mind.
Before I knew it, amid the hustle, January was wrapping up.
Word from Seoul: Sandro was studying with real enthusiasm.
He was learning from Professor Lee Minseok and Kim Chunsik, but the jargon was still mostly Greek to him. Even so, he wanted to sit in on our study sessions.
'Tell him to come end of February.'
No time to teach him properly right now anyway.
Once Hwang Sanghun got back, I'd have breathing room.
Too frantic, and his absence hit hard—regretted sending him off so gung-ho sometimes.
"Director!"
"What's up?"
Right on cue.
Seol Yuhee, who never got this worked up, pounding on the exam room door.
What happened? If it was just supplies, she'd handle it.
"I-I-I did it! I passed!!!!"
Ah.
University acceptance results.
Regular admissions dropped right around now.
"Wooo! Congrats!!!"
"Yuhee's gonna be a real director now!"
"Awesome!!!"
We'd celebrated post-exam day, but seeing "Accepted" on the screen hit different.
She'd checked at the desk just now.
"Who got into college?"
"Our Yuhee teacher—Korean med school!"
"No way?"
"Congrats!"
Even waiting patients chimed in.
"Party time!"
"Hell yeah!"
Busy as hell, working today and tomorrow too.
But you gotta party for this, right?
Seol Yuhee was game for tonight, so we booked a spot.
"I'll text Hwang Director too."
"He's in Changwon, though..."
Probably commuting nearby anyway—hates living with bro.
No harm asking; he's family.
—Of course I'm coming.
Hwang Sanghun and Lee Areum confirmed.
Suh Inae, Gong Nari, Jin Minjeong were locks. Even An Juhee, who skipped most outings, showed.
"Cheers to Director Seol Yuhee!!"
"Ack... still six years away. Embarrassing."
"To our future director!"
We hit a grill spot that took last-minute reservations and poured drinks like crazy.
"Sniff... everyone... thank you so much. I never thought... studying... drinking like this..."
Good vibes sped up the cheers? Or just not used to booze with her health issues?
Seol Yuhee got tipsy fast.
"Teacher, you're drunk. Drink some water."
"Not drunk!"
"You are..."
"Russian blood—we're all booze hounds!"
Way out of character, she even refused Gong Nari's water, digging in stubbornly.
"Yuhee, hangover relief pill."
I'd brought some just in case, but...
"I'm fine without it!"
Proof she was smashed.
Refusing my meds?
'Eh, whatever.'
Everyone overdoes it sometimes.
She could tough out half a day tomorrow and recover on her own now.
Better to learn young than burn out in college.
I watched for fun drinking quirks.
"Cheers!"
No martial arts dramatics like me.
Just... kept chugging endlessly.
Thus ended the clinic's priciest party ever.
'I'm an idiot! Total idiot!'
Post-party, Seol Yuhee couldn't show her face at the clinic.
Why'd she think she wasn't drunk? Spouting nonsense no sober her would, chugging like that!
Next day was her worst hangover in ages.
Took the relief pill, even bugged the director for acupuncture.
'Tonight, exactly one drink. That's it!'
Lesson learned—she vowed no mistakes today.
OT. Freshman orientation!
Student council senior had invited her.
Her heart raced.
At twenty, her future had seemed so bleak. Who knew life could flip like this?
Failed the college entrance exam, moped for months. Planned to at least attend classes, but got sick right before OT.
Barely scraped by with shaky attendance, never fitting in.
'This time, I'm making friends no matter what!'
But everything was different now.
Diligent in classes, she'd make college buddies too.
OT meant club intros, afterparties, drinks with new faces—peak campus life!
Brimming with enthusiasm, Seol Yuhee stepped onto campus.