Chapter 225
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 225
Chapter Title: A Reporter's Whirlwind Day
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Won Gijun was a reporter for a small local newspaper.
He mainly covered the social section, but whenever an issue arose, he headed out to report on anything.
For instance, the articles he'd written yesterday were about the venue for the spring flower festival, the city's new public parking lot, and a small library receiving an award.
Incidents didn't happen all that often around there anyway. And even those were mostly fires.
But a mother-son scam ring that had been roaming around Gyeongnam got nabbed in Miryang? That was big news.
"Hey, I heard the new patrol officer at the station is really putting in the effort. Go get an interview."
Won Gijun immediately set out to interview the police officer, the welfare center staff, and the residents who had witnessed the event.
"Oh, it was incredible. They were so old-school analog that if we hadn't caught them on the spot, tracking them down would've been tough."
"The student who called me went and rang up every welfare center and senior hall in Gyeongnam. I figured I had to do something, so I stalled them as best I could."
The directors of clinics in Busan and Kimhae had chased the scammers all the way here.
At the very least, it was the most intriguing incident he'd heard about in the past month.
He got their contacts and requested interviews directly, and both agreed.
Won Gijun headed to the closer one in Kimhae first.
"Director Han leaped off the cliff yelling 'Taat!' and caught the perp, then hit him with a piledriver."
"...?"
"It was an amazing feat. If Director Han hadn't sensed their killing intent, we might never have known they were the hat scammers!"
A few of the residents, elderly folks among them, were saying things like that.
Like how he'd dashed after the scammer who broke a bowl and fled, grabbing him in one go.
He figured it was the usual elder exaggeration, but even the clinic director was telling the same story?
When he tried writing up what he'd gathered so far, it read less like a news article and more like an action movie script.
Would she say the same? Half excited, half apprehensive, Won Gijun visited Seongsu Clinic in Busan to meet Director Han Yeowon.
'She must have a lot of patients, so better do the interview quick before she starts seeing them.'
To avoid getting in the way, Won Gijun arrived at the clinic early.
He was prepared to wait a bit if they hadn't opened yet.
"Oh? You got here too, reporter?"
"KNS got the tip? I thought it was some gossip when it said prince's secretary..."
"They sent it to you guys too? Must be legit then."
But there were a ton of other reporters besides Won Gijun.
And they all seemed to know each other.
"Where you from?"
"KNS..."
"Goryeo Ilbo..."
A few broadcasters and major dailies. They'd come on a tip, just in case.
Won Gijun was the only one clueless about what was going on as he waited for Director Han Yeowon.
"Hello, Hello~~~!"
And then, suddenly.
A Middle Eastern prince burst onto the scene.
'Wh-wh-wh-what in the world?!'
As camera shutters went mad, Won Gijun smacked his own head.
Was he dreaming?
The other reporters swarmed the prince, snapping photos and firing questions, but he couldn't get his act together.
This real life? He'd just come to interview at a clinic...
A moment later, Director Han Yeowon appeared.
"Everyone, head up to the third floor!"
Pushed along by the crowd at the invitation, he got swept into the clinic.
Everyone was filming the prince's acupuncture treatment, so Won Gijun cluelessly joined in.
Could a local paper even run something like this? The editor might get a kick out of it.
"Reporter? You've got the worst turtle neck here. Want to lie down?"
"Pardon? M-me?"
Before he knew it, he was lying on the chuna bed.
Under the gaze of dozens of eyes.
"Uh... ah!"
He hadn't even realized how tense he was, but his neck felt refreshingly clear.
The worst turtle neck out of everyone here?
"The chief physician..."
"The pharmaceutical company..."
"Official request..."
A ton happened in a flash.
They all seemed like big shots, but since he was out of the loop, it barely registered.
"Um, who's that guy?"
"Huh? The ambassador?"
He asked about the intervener who sealed the deal midway, and turns out it was the ambassador to Korea.
Won Gijun was utterly floored.
'No one's gonna believe this without a recording!'
His mouth hung open until the situation wrapped up and the reporters started leaving.
"Take care~!"
After everyone who'd covered the prince had gone.
'Sh-should I head out too?'
Won Gijun hesitated at the clinic entrance.
He wasn't usually the shy type. How could he do reporter work if he feared talking to strangers?
But right now, it felt like he'd stepped into another world.
"Ex-excuse me!"
He mustered his courage.
Prince aside, he still needed to write the original article.
It wasn't as huge, but the hat scam story wouldn't make sense without her explanation.
"I'm really sorry. I totally spaced and didn't get to you. You must've been shocked."
I quickly sat the reporter down and poured him fresh tea.
His hands trembled faintly as he took the tea and my business card.
"You're so busy... Thank you for making time."
"No, this kind of thing almost never happens. Today was just bad timing."
Even though it was just polite talk, he looked incredibly grateful.
Strange folks barge in sometimes, but today was next-level.
I'd been flustered too.
"Ah, yes, th-thank you, thank you... Um, how'd you end up chasing the scammers?"
I tried to ease his nerves and recounted the story from back then.
So much had happened in such a short time that it already felt distant, even though it wasn't long ago.
"I was volunteering when I realized a grandma had been scammed. She offered bean sprouts and asked me to boil them, but I knew right away."
I explained in detail and answered his questions faithfully.
"They say you jumped off a cliff—is that true?"
"Cliff's a stretch. It was like 4 or 5 meters. I just went down quick."
"Quick... right..."
His eyes had lit up while I described the pursuit.
But for some reason, when the details of that day came up, his pupils shook again.
"Haha, everyone be careful, and I hope scams like this don't happen again."
Still, we wrapped up the interview somehow, and I did some separate photos too.
He wanted material for an extra article beyond the scam story, so I let him shoot the clinic.
"Whoa, celebs and athletes come here a lot."
"Not a ton, just a few regulars. Ah, send me the article when it comes out. I'll print it and post it."
"Y-yes?"
Maybe because of all the shocks today, he flinched even at that.
"Don't you usually post articles?"
"W-well, even so, my article here..."
For some reason, he couldn't meet my eyes as he gripped his fist tight, vowing to write hard.
"Neck feeling okay? You seem really tense today."
"Ah, yes! Totally! Feels great. Thank you so much for the interview and the treatment."
"If you're uncomfortable with other papers or broadcasts, I can ask them to cut it."
"Not at all!"
It was just a bonus treatment, but getting thanks made it a bit awkward.
Anyway, the very last reporter left satisfied.
An Juhee had gone downstairs earlier, telling me to call if needed.
I told Seo Inae we could start treatments right away.
"Phew, finally done. Okay to send patients up to the third floor now?"
"Sure you don't need more rest?"
"I'm good. Aren't there patients waiting?"
We'd delayed over an hour, so most of mine had gone to Lee Areum, but some insisted on me and were waiting.
"What was all that?"
I sighed and explained to them.
"The Middle Eastern prince showed up with a horde of bodyguards."
"Gasp!"
"What for?"
"Treatment."
"Not love at first sight?"
"Nah, he wants me as his chief physician."
"Oh my!"
"For real?"
The aunties were amazed, asking if it was true and regretting not sneaking down to see.
Seeing their fuss and shock finally made it feel real to me too.
"Probably be on TV later."
"You're not ditching us, right?"
"No way. I'm not going anywhere. Alright, face down! Shoulders, back, left finger today?"
"Yes. Sliced with a knife, now my wrist hurts too~."
Treating my regulars flew by until lunchtime.
I gathered the staff and briefed them on everything.
I messaged Hwang Sanghun too, since he was out today.
I had to tell them myself. How bewildered would they be seeing it pop up on TV out of nowhere?
"Uwaaa, finally over!"
It had been such a long day.
Not even that many patients, but mentally exhausting.
Somehow wrapping up today's treatments, I stretched.
"Director!"
"...You made it."
Unfortunately, I had to scrap my plan to head home, circulate my qi, and regain some peace.
Park Seonyun was waiting at the door.
'Figured he was running late for a reason.'
Kim Jinsang gave a slight bow from behind him.
Good to see the two fully reconciled now.
"Heard the news right away, huh."
The ambassador and prince didn't strike me as slowpokes.
Had they already compiled and sent details?
"Director, you're incredible. We were pulling every string to connect during Faisal bin Amir's visit to Korea, but you got the first contact!"
"Oh, that's what it was?"
"Heard the story! You're finally expanding!"
Park Seonyun clutched his papers tight, his face lit up with excitement as he shouted.
I'd had zero plans short-term, but looks like that changed.
His side wanted first contact with Faisal? That was surprising.
She was... no, actually pretty high-profile? Not just some attention-seeker?
"Guess so. Think PK can move forward?"
Of course, tons of reviews and meetings ahead, but someone like Park Seonyun could probably gauge it.
I asked if it seemed feasible.
"Of course!"
Park Seonyun beamed and handed over the papers he'd been hugging.
"Not like last time with just rough ideas. We've reviewed every scenario. Just say the word, and we can get board approval right away!"
"Pardon?"
It was none other than a massively thick business plan.
"You already had something in mind?"
"Been digging since the investment talk. Wrote the plan after the proposal."
"..."
...Today?
"Stack of papers" didn't cut it.
No exaggeration... this was a brick.
Thicker than a brick, and despite being paper, heavier too.
"Take your time reading. Want me to explain?"
Park Seonyun smiled brightly.
"Ha, haha."
I just smiled back brightly, matching him.