Chapter 57
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: Business Talks and Future Plans
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My words might have come off a bit cringy, but that worry was unfounded.
"Well... I wanted to make a similar scouting offer. The moment you placed the needle, I felt this electric jolt from head to toe, like destiny striking."
Park Seonyun doubled down.
Lightning? Lightniiiing?
Um... that wasn't destiny; it was just the needle touching a nerve. And she thought that far because of something so minor?
At least it was a relief that he was speaking in the past tense. It must have just been his initial thought when he first got the acupuncture.
"Ha. I didn't have any specific proposal. I was just greedily poking around, wanting to work together on something. At first, I thought there was a separate head director at the clinic, and you were just an employed physician."
"I did open my own practice at a pretty young age."
He seemed to have briefly considered scouting me for a research position before dropping it.
"Yes... Opening a clinic in your twenties means you're clearly committed to clinical work, so I gave up on the scouting idea."
Park Seonyun looked a bit downcast, but I smiled and nodded.
He was right.
I loved interacting directly with patients, treating them, and seeing the results. Research is undoubtedly important, but clinical practice suited me far better.
And if I had any inclination toward research, I would've stayed at the university instead of joining a corporate job.
"But wouldn't you figure out pretty quickly that I'm the head director, just by coming and going a few times? You showed interest for quite a while despite that."
"Ah, yes. I thought even if full-time employment was tough, collaboration might be possible. That's what I'm proposing now! For example, couldn't we formulate the diet prescription you gave Seseon into a health functional food?"
"Ahh."
In the end, my initial guess was spot on.
Park Seonyun might feel wronged, but strip away the romantic veneer, and the gist was this:
When a merchant takes interest in a clinic, it's always about selling medicine to make money.
Of course, my response was the same one I'd repeated dozens of times back in the murim.
"If it's health functional foods, I'll pass."
Medicine should remain medicine. Once it leaves the clinic and becomes a commercial product, it can no longer be called medicine.
"You could make a fortune while still running the clinic. Just provide some ideas and research consultation...!"
"I'm grateful you think so highly of me, but that's the kind of idea only someone who's not a Korean medicine doctor could have."
I'd heard this pitch plenty of times, but my stance hadn't changed.
I shook my head.
"It worked wonders for Seseon. But what if you took it? It'd barely have any effect. Conversely, someone frail like our Yuhee would suffer headaches, insomnia, and chills. Dosages have to be tailored to body weight and constitution."
"Even if the effect is milder, couldn't we just use a safe amount for everyone?"
I explained calmly to Park Seonyun.
"There are so many herbs used in both food and medicine, and most have minimal side effects, so it's easy to take them lightly. But some can cause serious issues and turn poisonous. Ephedra in diet meds is a prime example."
"Ah, we don't have to stick to diet products."
"Even a mild formula like Ssanghwa-tang can cause digestive issues. The drinks sold at convenience stores are just flavored, so no problem there."
In Western terms, it makes no sense. You can't sell acetaminophen from Tylenol as a 'health functional food' for fatigue just because it's a small dose.
But Ssanghwa 'tea' is sold in cafes and convenience stores. Even though Ssanghwa-tang can save someone collapsed from extreme physical labor.
Since reality is like that, I couldn't just blame Park Seonyun's ignorance for wanting into the health functional food market.
"Personally, I believe something that can't be poison can't be medicine. Use an ultra-tiny dose with zero side effect risk for anyone, and it won't work. I can't sell that for money."
Park Seonyun pondered my words for a moment, pausing.
"......"
But he soon nodded as if convinced.
"......I see. My thinking was shortsighted. I lacked caution."
He hadn't expected such a firm rejection, yet he grasped the point quickly.
"Still, I'm glad I asked. I nearly pushed a solo plan that could've caused big trouble."
Even without me, someone at the company would've stopped him. There's a reason PK hasn't jumped into health foods yet.
"I'm glad you understand. It's a shame we can't just prescribe pharma-made meds without brewing ourselves... but the current system makes it tough."
"True. It'd be great if Korean docs could prescribe herbal meds as pharmaceuticals under their license, but that's not allowed either."
Unlike his casual view of health foods, he knew quite a bit about pharmaceuticals.
It was a famous incident in the Korean medicine world: some arthritis drugs made from herbals were researched, proven effective, and designated as prescription meds.
Only Western MDs—who didn't even know the ingredients were herbal—could prescribe them, turning the consulting Korean docs into industry traitors.
"Under the current system, the best we can do is pre-prepared decoctions from some external prep rooms. Probably not appealing enough for big pharma."
"Yes......"
External decoction rooms are companies that brew and deliver herbal meds outside clinics.
I brew in-house, but there are services that take orders from multiple clinics, prepare, and ship via courier to minimize hassle.
They pre-make high-demand reserved prescriptions like Gongjindan or Gyeongokgo for easy clinic sales.
At this point, Park Seonyun's face fell slightly.
He'd brainstormed collaboration ideas, but they hadn't panned out.
"So, here's the thing."
Clap!
I clapped my hands in front of him to change the air.
"Not now, but later with Haan Cham. If I massively ramp up demand, could you supply it?"
"You, Director?"
"Yes. It's still chugging along haphazardly, but I'm planning to expand the network. Maybe even build a hospital? If we create a nationwide distribution through clinics and do big marketing, couldn't we make something happen?"
"Ah......?"
Park Seonyun looked utterly shocked.
Scouting offer? Dead on arrival.
Health food collab? Firmly rejected.
He thought I had zero interest in partnering, yet here I was proposing something new.
'If she wanted me gone, she'd have kicked me out ages ago.'
Truth be told, I had something I wanted from him too. Not urgent, no need to seem desperate, but I'd been waiting to casually bring it up over this dinner invite.
"Haha, no need for me to scheme—you were already planning something far bigger. Scouting someone of your caliber? Totally overstepping."
Park Seonyun let out a hollow laugh.
We're both just trying to make money—does caliber even matter?
"In that vein, I have one favor to ask."
Of course, I didn't mean to start the network thing right away. I'd just opened one branch; how much could we sell of big-corp products?
There was a prerequisite step.
"From me? You said it's not business-ready yet......"
"Not company-level—something you could do personally."
Park Seonyun's eyes widened, and he tilted his head. He looked genuinely surprised.
This was intriguing. He'd get tons of favors pitched and be wary, yet here he was.
"Let's hear it."
Even so, he didn't promise outright.
Tch, is the romantic the disguise? Unpredictable guy anyway.
I got straight to it.
"The herbs in the digestive and hangover aids you mentioned earlier—you source from China, right?"
"Of course."
Modern Koreans hate anything 'Made in China,' but some herbs are valued higher from there, and many can't even be grown domestically.
Realistically, brewing without any Chinese herbs is near impossible.
And the low-quality rep of Chinese herbs is overstated.
Incidents hit the news sometimes, but anything circulating as medicine domestically passes KFDA safety checks.
Still, I wanted to go further.
Select the best ones.
Of course, that meant judging quality myself... and I could confidently say my senses outperformed lab tests.
Not like I hadn't trained under a master who'd tasted ten thousand poisons and a thousand meds.
I hadn't tasted poisons myself, though.
"Could you introduce me to your Chinese wholesaler next time? Not in person—just a phone call."
"Not a tough ask. But why......?"
"Not immediately, but once the network grows a bit, I plan to run my own external decoction room."
And going through him was due to China's 'guanxi' culture.
Problematic as it is here or there, not my country, not my problem.
One call from A introduces me to B, and B treats me like A.
Way better starting terms than going direct.
Park Seonyun calculated mentally for a bit.
"If that's it, happy to help. An honor."
He agreed readily.
Done!
Endorsing me could've been a burden, but he looked thrilled.
"Truly grateful. Introducing your cousin, granting my request... I'm sorry I couldn't fulfill yours."
"No! You politely explained despite my rude pitch. Broadened my horizons."
Happy to have built some connection, even slight? No idea why he thought so highly of me. He hadn't wandered clinics for an incurable disease before coming to me.
Knock knock.
As our voices quieted, a knock came from outside.
Ah, right—main course hadn't arrived. They'd waited tactfully during our business talk.
"Wow, this steak is... wow, wow......"
"Glad it suits your taste."
The portion was ridiculously small, explanation went in one ear and out the other, but it was heavenly.
I devoured the main course, exclaiming nonstop.
"This is nothing like any steak I've had before."
After that, the mood lightened. I shared my misconceptions; he protested vehemently.
"No way! I flinched every time your hand touched my back—how's that enjoying it?"
"Sorry. Had to check, just in case."
Misunderstanding about Seol Yuhee cleared up too.
"Zero ulterior motives with Desk Teacher. Didn't even know her name! She looks a decade younger—how trash did I seem?"
"You never got to the point."
"Position means I have to tread carefully. You drew lines too... Made me want to find a way."
Park Seonyun trailed off.
"Ended up here anyway. When you open the decoction room, let me know. Herb connections go without saying; I might invest personally if needed."
"Haha, I'll keep in touch. Shall we head out? I'll get the bill."
A satisfying meal ended with a full belly. I grabbed the check and said,
"I settled it when reserving. Naturally on me."
"Pardon? At least let me transfer. I rejected all your proposals and just asked favors."
"It's fine. Honored to meet you; learned a lot."
I'd gotten everything I wanted, so dinner was the least... but he refused firmly.
Whatever, let him pay if he wants.
"Thanks for the great meal. Nice spot."
After paying, we left the restaurant. Park Seonyun rode the elevator to the first floor with Han Yeowon.
Of course, he'd valeted, heading to the parking lot.
But Han Yeowon turned the opposite way.
"Director, no car?"
"Ah, yes. Meant to buy one, haven't yet. Walked—no, took public transport."
"I see! Which way's home? I'll drop you."
Park Seonyun immediately offered a ride.
Never imagined no car. She seemed like a great driver too.
Should've offered to pick her up from clinic or home!
"I'm good. Love walking in the evening breeze."
"Not cold?"
"I don't mind cold or heat much."
But rejected firmly again. Like all his proposals.
"......Understood. Take care."
"You too, Seonyun."
Park Seonyun let her go without excuses.
No words would sway Han Yeowon anyway.
Watching her stroll away in just a thin cardigan even midwinter, Park Seonyun recalled his grandfather and the physician from decades ago.
"......Cool as ever."
Did Grandpa feel this way?
With her, anything seemed possible.
But what they could do was beyond his choice.
Regret over missing clinic during his business trip? Park Seonyun stood watching until her figure vanished.
Even if I'd paid for that fine dining with Park Seonyun, it wouldn't have been a burden.
I've been making good money lately.
"Director, acupuncture on beds 1, 2, 3 in order, one minute tuina each, one med consult. 15 minutes till next appointment—hurry."
"......Yes."
In exchange, I was swamped.
Mouth shut, needles only—I could handle 100, no 300 a day.
But proper consults and chats had limits.
'Time to hire a deputy director for real.'
Needed to revamp the system before it was too late.
I made the decision.