Chapter 191
Choi Jonghyeon pointed at the document displayed on the screen with his mouse cursor and began explaining step by step.
"Ah, right. Before that, there's something we need to look at first. This is a research results report on Hyzollam sent from a U.S. research institute to Myungwha Pharmaceuticals. See at the top here? It states that no results proving Hyzollam suppresses the side effects from Affilatilen and Lopetamin interacting were found."
"Come on, who's assuming everyone understands English again? But there must be some people here who do speak it well. Let them verify it. Check if my translation is right or wrong."
Embarrassed by the untimely controversy over the arrogant Seoul National University reporter, Choi Jonghyeon scratched his cheek and cleared his throat again before continuing.
"We conducted multiple control groups, but the results were the same. Even adding Hyzollam doesn't seem like it can prevent the expected side effects."
Choi Jonghyeon confirmed the U.S. research institute's logo and document date at the bottom of the file. This was a document directly exchanged with that institute while Yu Minhyuk served as the lead researcher on Antrozol Alpha. And naturally, it bore a clear stamp restricting access.
"In other words, the U.S. research institute directly reported to Myungwha Pharmaceuticals that the clinical results were crap, your commissioned study failed. They even stamped it as a confidential document themselves."
Choi Jonghyeon let out a disbelieving snort and pressed on.
"Okay, remember the initial flow of the Myungwha Pharmaceuticals case? What we first raised as an issue was the side effects from Affilatilen—the main ingredient in Antrozol Alpha—interacting with Lopetamin. It increases cardiovascular disease rates, right? When that became a problem, Myungwha Pharmaceuticals showed their research results and basically said: Look here. Doesn't the U.S. institute say Hyzollam suppresses those side effects? No problem. So quit your bitching. That was exactly their attitude."
"But their internal documents reveal they concluded Hyzollam doesn't suppress the side effects. This proves Myungwha Pharmaceuticals lied. We have to hammer this home."
Viewership exploded. Even with the most popular gaming stream running in the same time slot on the internet broadcast platform, they rocketed straight to number one. Some viewers must have switched over after hearing the news, but plenty of reporters had likely flooded in too, eager to write articles now that hard evidence had finally surfaced.
"This is up to the documents that Yu Minhyuk—the lead researcher who originally developed Antrozol—personally verified while handling the Antrozol Alpha research."
"First things first: Antrozol and Antrozol Alpha are different drugs. There's nothing wrong with Antrozol. And when Antrozol was being developed, research on Affilatilen and Lopetamin—which formed the basis for Antrozol Alpha—had already been done. This was discovered under Yu Minhyuk's leadership as well. But since the side effects weren't resolved, Antrozol came out first. Why am I saying this? Because we want to make it crystal clear: Yu Minhyuk is not a bad guy."
"There are probably a ton of reporters in here right now, scribbling down articles. Make sure you get this part right. Yu Minhyuk actually helped us—he's not the one who orchestrated Myungwha Pharmaceuticals' bullshit this time."
Jo Bongjun and Choi Jonghyeon bent over backward to spread the word that Yu Minhyuk wasn't the villain. It was something I'd insisted on before the broadcast even started. Otherwise, as they said, reporters jotting down notes mid-stream might paint him as the criminal without digging deeper.
After that, Jo Bongjun and Choi Jonghyeon briefly explained how Yu Minhyuk opposed Antrozol Alpha's release and was eventually pushed out of the research. Viewers, along with anyone who valued conscience, erupted in outrage over why a man like that had to hole up in the countryside.
"Folks, it's too early to get pissed off. Myungwha Pharmaceuticals' scumbag moves shine once more here. Take a look—this is the final report for Antrozol Alpha. The MFDS can verify it too. In the spot where Yu Minhyuk's name was on the earlier document, a new name appears: Yoon Suyeong. What do you think that means?"
"Gwamegi nailed it. Exactly. But was that easy? As I mentioned, Yu Minhyuk is the guy who brought Antrozol to the world. And as we chaebol watchers know, Myungwha went public thanks to Antrozol's launch. So Yu Minhyuk was basically a founding hero. They couldn't just kick him out."
"Before swapping him for Yoon Suyeong, Myungwha tried to persuade Yu Minhyuk. Of course, since Myungwha filed the patent for Antrozol, ownership is theirs. But back then, without Yu Minhyuk, they'd have been like red beanless buns."
"And in that persuasion process, we hit another jackpot. Second piece of evidence, incoming."
Jo Bongjun signaled to Kim Jeongu, who played the prepared audio.
Kim Jeongu stopped the playback there. Viewership had surpassed 5,000, and lag was starting to hit. The chat scrolled so wildly even those with eagle eyes couldn't keep up.
Having heard the full audio without comment, Choi Jonghyeon and Jo Bongjun sighed and spoke.
"I think you get it without a long explanation."
"That's all the evidence we've secured this time. With this much handed over, isn't it time for the nation to act?"
"What the hell was Myungwha’s president banking on to say MFDS approval was no worry despite the side effects? Am I the only one curious? Nah, I'm dying to know."
"Me too."
The two core pieces of evidence from this broadcast were out. Jo Bongjun and Choi Jonghyeon would keep it going by raising a few more questions and taking viewer Q&A.
I slipped into the studio's back office with Yu Minhyuk. I handed him a warm cup of tea and sat across the desk from his slightly tense form.
"You've been through a lot, Mr. Yu Minhyuk."
"Nah, you're the one who suffered more, Lawyer."
Yu Minhyuk replied sheepishly, as if praise felt awkward. It was true I'd thrown some provocative words to persuade him. And true I'd revealed emotions from my past life where I couldn't save my father. But the Yu Minhyuk then and now were different. Though he'd run briefly, he'd brought the evidence out before Antrozol Alpha launched. That absolved him of everything. And it deserved thanks.
"...Ha, when I got your call about losing the key, my heart dropped. Thinking back still makes my hands shake."
Yu Minhyuk shuddered.
"I'm sorry for scaring you that much. I trust you'll understand."
"Of course. Fooling me like that probably let you fool Myungwha too."
I smiled faintly. He wasn't wrong. Without that, Myungwha never would've fallen for my 'fake'.
To explain the details, we'd have to rewind to the day Yu Minhyuk and I promised to meet again, heading back to Seoul from Jinseong-gun with Kang Minjae.