Chapter 42
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: The Second Seongsu Clinic
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After a brief witness interview, I was released.
The stalker pointed fingers at me, ranting about how his body had gone stiff because of some pressure point strike or whatever, but who would believe something like that? It was far easier to chalk it up to him being too startled.
Chu Miyoung said she'd hire a lawyer and file proper charges. Now that we'd caught him red-handed, there was nothing holding her back.
If the stalker countersued for assault, things might get messy, but she smiled brightly and said she'd gladly pay the fine.
"It's already almost nightfall."
By the time the investigation wrapped up, it was quite late.
Neither of us had clinic hours the next day, Sunday, so Chu Miyoung invited me to her place.
It was the same sleek new apartment in the city center she'd walked me to a few days earlier, even down to the underground parking.
Her home was as impeccably designed as her clinic.
"Thank you so much, Director. Honestly, I never thought it'd actually work out... Now I can finally sleep easy."
Chu Miyoung said as she poured me black tea from an elegant tea set.
"No big deal. It was the right thing to do."
"The right thing? Who goes this far for a total stranger?"
She went on excessively grateful, insisting it was unbelievable, but I hadn't really taken any risks.
Did helping the weak ever need a reason? That was what being a true hero was all about.
"A total stranger? I thought we were friends by now."
I grinned and said. Hey, aren't we basically that? Well, yeah, technically.
But that's what doctors did! They charged into warzones to save dying strangers!
And true heroes! They trained martial arts their whole lives just to lay down their lives for a crying child begging for help!
...Yeah, deep down, I loved that kind of romance.
No wonder I got hooked on wuxia novels.
"Friends..."
It wasn't a big deal—heck, it was even fun in a way—but Chu Miyoung got so touched she started tearing up.
Man, this girl sure cries a lot.
"I'm trash! That recording at your clinic last time... it wasn't just because of the stalker. I had bad intentions, I admit it. But you...!"
So that was it, huh? Didn't really matter. I'd half-suspected as much.
"I know. It's fine."
She'd been beating herself up over that this whole time?
The recording had her voice on it anyway, so it wasn't illegal, and I hadn't suffered any real harm.
Unlike the playful hair ruffle earlier, I gently stroked her head with genuine comfort this time.
"You've been through a lot."
"Waaah!"
She finally burst into tears like a little kid.
Tense from the stalker, furious and cursing him out, then touched enough to cry. What an emotional rollercoaster of a day.
I tore off some tissues and handed them to her.
I swapped the caffeinated black tea for a calming herbal blend. I'd finish the black tea myself.
"Directooor~ You're so cool."
Chu Miyoung sipped the fresh brew and said.
"I do have a cool vibe going."
I nodded without false modesty.
She stopped crying on cue, flashing a beaming smile like she'd been waiting for it.
"Where'd you learn martial arts?"
And then the question barrage began.
"Hmm... From a reclusive martial arts master."
She pouted, thinking it was a joke.
"Tch. What about chuna therapy? Do they teach it like that at Korea University? Or was it a seminar?"
We'd learned it in school, of course, but that was over twenty years ago—my memory was fuzzy.
What I used now was the hands-on techniques from my master at the clinic.
"That's a trade secret."
Couldn't reveal the source, so brushing it off was best.
"Ugh... Yeah, figured. Sorry for prying."
She wasn't begging to be taught or anything, and it wasn't some hidden family secret, so no offense taken.
"Heh, even if I told you, you couldn't copy it right away."
But teaching wasn't easy either.
Forget martial arts—even chuna techniques that seemed simple required tons of experience to master properly. Just cervical adjustments took snapping about a thousand patients' necks to get the feel.
I might be a better teacher than my master, but I couldn't just implant the skills like an AI, could I?
"..."
Chu Miyoung hung her head, deep in thought.
"What's with the brooding? It's fine. You can ask."
"..."
Then she suddenly looked up and grabbed my hand.
"Director, could you teach me chuna and prescriptions?"
"I just said it's not easy..."
"I'm not asking for free! I'm not trying to steal your techniques right after opening nearby either. I'll relocate as soon as my lease ends!"
Huh?
Chu Miyoung made a totally out-of-left-field proposal.
She'd go that far just to learn... after one session, she saw the value?
"No need for that. It takes a long time to teach properly—that's why I was turning you down."
I waved it off.
For my clinic's apprentices, following me around worked fine, but she had her own practice. Weekends or late nights only?
Forget my laziness—experience showed few really learned that way.
If you're gonna do it, commit as a live-in disciple. Weekly lectures? She'd start weekly, make excuses, taper off, and fizzle out.
Waste of time. Better to game.
"I want to learn it properly, no matter how long it takes."
But she wouldn't back down.
She dropped to her knees and begged.
Argh, how do you say no to this...?
"I was gonna drop out of the Haneul Clinic network soon anyway, paying the penalty. Teach me, and I'll give you 10% of my monthly sales after I relocate!"
What?
"...10% of sales?"
Not even net profit?
"Ah... Too low? 15% then?"
She rolled her eyes, upping the offer.
No, the numbers aren't the issue!
"You wanna pay tuition as a percentage of sales? Forever?"
"Well, yeah... We'd franchise, you'd check my practice and teach me stuff I don't know..."
That changed things.
10% of sales forever? That's...
'Jackpot.'
I'd expected a few million won at most, tops.
Short-term, hard to convey that value, so I'd planned to refuse.
'But if she's serious about paying real dues.'
No reason not to teach.
If she masters it, countless patients benefit, and it's huge for me too.
Isn't this the network I'd dreamed of? Teaching prescriptions and chuna for franchise fees, without knowing ops yet.
'Auto-farm honey...!'
Winning.
"How much is the penalty? You sure it's worth it?"
"Totally!"
"I'll consider it positively, so sit comfortably and let's talk."
"Yes!"
Suddenly cutting ties felt iffy. Her lease ends soon anyway? We'd collect fees long-term.
She straightened up and sat back on the sofa.
"I've been thinking of quitting anyway. Monthly sales are 30 million, but franchise fees, ads, payroll, rent, misc—expenses hit 35 million. Losing 5 million a month. Better to eat the 20 million penalty and bail."
...Pardon?
This woman keeps surprising me.
"What're you doing with 35 million monthly expenses? Multiple nurses and estheticians? Your payroll must crush mine..."
"Uh, rent's 3 million first."
...Over three times mine?
Okay, bigger space. Fancy waiting room.
Right by the station, ten-minute uphill walk... Pretty prime. Ten minutes my pace—normies take longer.
'I've been running super lean. No deficits even on slow days!'
Chu Miyoung kept going.
"Payroll over 10 million like you said, Haneul franchise 10% of total sales, extra 5% to the old Cheonan branch manager who taught me, plus ads beyond central ones... Yeah, over 5 million? Loans for deposit and key money interest, daily meds and supplies..."
Hold up!
"Haneul fees aside, Cheonan branch?"
"Yeah. She taught me, hooked me up with Haneul. Heard 15% total isn't bad—comes out of HQ cut."
If you frame it that way, sure.
Classic MLM.
"...And what'd the Cheonan teach you? Been meaning to ask—why Sipmi Paedok-tang for Jeong In-seong's acne?"
"That was Sipmi Paedok-tang?"
"Seriously suspected, but you didn't know?"
"Called it 'Acne Rx 1, 2, 3' style."
"..."
"They taught advertising, greetings well, even if secrets stayed secret."
Greetings—Seo In-ae mentioned: hiring in 14-hour shifts?
"Ha..."
I gaped, dizzy at Haneul's exploitation.
This was borderline scam, right?
Most networks ran fine— theirs must be uniquely screwy.
"Alright. I can do way better. If you don't quit midway, I'll take full responsibility and teach you everything."
Initially worried about sunk costs, but details showed cutting losses was smart.
And she'd picked the right guy this time.
"Let's start with weekend classes. Handle penalty, termination, transfer with your lawyer. Before relocating, observe at my clinic when you can."
"...!"
Her face lit up; hands clasped. My acceptance thrilled her, eyes sparkling.
"Thank you, Director! Or CEO? Master? I'll call you Master!"
"...Just stick to Director. Not rushing the move."
"Got it! They picked my spot, and quitting means closing anyway! I'll wrap it up quick! Looking forward to it!"
I extended my right hand for a shake.
Now we were teacher-disciple and business partners.
Grip.
Her eyes blazed with determination to learn and succeed.
I burned with responsibility and ambition too.
Not like those thugs hiding prescriptions and screwing people over—we'd build a network for me, branch directors, and frontline patients.
Today was the turning point.
We sealed the deal with hearts before papers.
To celebrate Seongsu Clinic's second branch, Chu Miyoung brought out her priciest wine.
"Lots to learn from you. Prescriptions aside, how'd you train staff so one desk girl handles that many patients?"
Her first question in the relaxed vibe.
Seo In-ae?
...She just kinda happened.
"Our goals aligned. Lucky, yeah. But hitting limits now. Time to hire."
Agreed to add staff when over 40 patients/day three days running exceeded her solo capacity?
Hadn't said, but nearing a week straight over 40.
Better recruit ASAP.