Chapter 194
Around 10 p.m., right when the broadcast ended, Jin Hye-kyung called. It was impeccably timed, as if she'd been monitoring our show live. She said she wanted to meet tonight and hoped Jo Bongjun and Choi Jonghyeon could join as well. And that's how we ended up here...
"Lawyer Cha, I'm really upset with you."
Jin Hye-kyung grumbled as soon as she entered the room and shut the door.
"You said you'd even fabricate materials if needed and promised not to premiere them on Jo Bongjun's broadcast. How could you drop such explosive stuff on an internet show? For buzz or whatever, it would've been way better on our News9."
"To be precise, when you asked if we'd premiere it on Jo Bongjun's show, I didn't actually answer."
"......"
She shot me a glare and took a sip of water. Then she turned to the two men staring at her in amazement.
"Oh, sorry. I've got so many grudges against Lawyer Cha that I forgot to greet you first. Jo Bongjun-ssi, Reporter Choi Jonghyeon. Nice to meet you. I'm Jin Hye-kyung. You both look even better in person?"
"Aw, come on, Anchor Jin takes the cake for looking better in real life. You're a real beauty."
Jo Bongjun grinned broadly, grabbing her outstretched hand for a shake. Choi Jonghyeon exchanged brief greetings with her too.
"Flattery about my looks feels nice, but as an anchor, praise for my work hits even better, Jo Bongjun-ssi."
"Oh dear, my bad. I just can't help gushing over anyone with killer looks, man or woman. Sorry if that came off rude."
"Hmm, I saw on the broadcast earlier—you were warning Lawyer Cha never to come back on air, right? Haha."
Jin Hye-kyung teased with narrowed eyes, prompting Jo Bongjun to clear his throat awkwardly.
"You caught that, huh? Ugh, talk about awkward."
"Shall we order food first and chat? I called this meeting to ask a favor, so it's on me. The courses here are solid. How about A course for everyone?"
A course ran 150,000 won per person. When Choi Jonghyeon looked hesitant, she waved it off.
"It's embarrassing to ask a favor over something this minor. A course it is for all."
I couldn't help but find Choi Jonghyeon's reaction a bit absurd. I'd always footed the bill for meals, splashing out on pricey ones too, and he'd devoured them without complaint.
The courses started arriving soon after ordering. Choi Jonghyeon and Jo Bongjun, starved from all the laughing and bantering on today's broadcast, dug in eagerly. As we polished off the mains, Choi Jonghyeon spoke up.
"So, Anchor Jin, what's the favor?"
"I wanted to invite you on News9. We think you're the right fit, Reporter Choi—what do you two say?"
"Me, not Bongjun?"
"You're better for it, hyung. I'm under lawsuit threats anyway, and radio's one thing, but main news feels too B-list for me. You've got that Iljungilbo cred, plus you're famous there. You planned our show too."
Jo Bongjun patted his full belly decisively. Choi Jonghyeon pondered briefly, then turned to me.
"What do you think, Cha?"
Truth be told, both had been disappointed that I stayed mostly in the shadows on this case. But stepping front and center would've been dicey for me. I'd already poked Wooshin multiple times, and I'd just undergone a prosecution probe because of them. If word got out I was spearheading the Myungwha Pharma case, it'd spark backlash claiming it was all fabricated revenge—guaranteed.
This fight started partly from my personal grudge—losing my father to Antrozol Alpha—but ultimately, it was about saving lives. I didn't want to complicate things just to stroke my ego. Still, in this cutthroat world where everyone hogs credit, it was nice they acknowledged mine.
"You two brought this to the public and fought it head-on. I just assisted. Plus, I appeared once before over Jeong Yeongjun, so repeating might pigeonhole my image."
All media has biases. Korea unfortunately splits into two ideologies clashing around one axis. I picked News9 for its relative neutrality, but it's not perfectly impartial. Sticking with them could paint me biased—not ideal.
"Exactly. And one more condition: Your internet broadcast already aired the evidence and sparked articles everywhere, but you haven't handed over originals yet, right?"
"Yes."
"We'd love exclusive rights to broadcast them."
"Anchor Jin, any decisions on how to cover the case?"
"We've got an outline, but happy to incorporate your input. This is all your reporting and material—we're just delivering it."
A top anchor setting aside News9's pride was surprising. In my future memories, solo media sometimes outdid broadcast reach, but not yet in 2008. Internet shows usually hit TV only to bash them as harmful to youth or pity projects for broadcast rejects.
Of course, this was great. I'd planned the internet broadcast for future impact, and if it was already this big, who knew what was next.
"Ideally, phone interviews with MFDS and Myungwha execs. And expert opinions, obviously. We've dug up papers, but we're no specialists. Backing from pros would help."
Choi Jonghyeon laid it out, Jo Bongjun nodding along. That was our weak spot. The medical reporter he'd initially tapped for spark was still writing articles, but Myungwha had "experts" denying Antrozol Alpha issues. We'd pushed forward without recruiting counters, though developer Yoo Min-hyeok had aided us—his role now done.
"Got it. Truthfully, the leaked convo between Myungwha prez and Yoo Min-hyeok sealed it—even a 0.0001% chance the drug's fine, we're done. That's our angle. Not riding trends against your views—we share the doubts you raised. No need to doubt that."
"No doubts. But there's zero chance—no, not even 0.0001%—Antrozol Alpha is safe. It's 100% defective."
"Lawyer Cha, you're uncharacteristically certain today?"
Jin Hye-kyung smiled. I sipped water instead of answering. I'd lived it. That drug was poison. No "what if" existed.
"Tight timeline, but we're covering Myungwha tonight—dedicated segment. Reporter Choi, can you join? Prep okay?"
"Of course."
"Great. Questions by morning."
"Got it."
"Whoa, hyung, you were moping about quitting Iljungilbo for third-rate media, but now TV and promo for our show? Sweet."
Jin Hye-kyung answered Jo Bongjun's quip.
"Definitely. We'll screen your broadcast as footage."
"The Hyazolam research data released by former research team leader Yoo Min-hyeok has been verified as not fabricated. However, after his resignation, we commissioned new research, which confirmed Hyazolam suppresses side effects of Aphilatilen and Lopetamin. The leaked recording he released is clearly fabricated. We have never paid U.S. institutions to falsify clinical records. Nor did we bypass MFDS approval standards through improper means."
* * *
"Lawyer, did you see?"
Late meeting on the News9 appearance delayed my arrival. Oh Yanghun and Kang Minjae, chatting at the table, whipped around as I entered.
"See what?"
"Myungwha's press conference just now."
"Wasn't it at 2?"
"They advanced it."
Kang Minjae spun his laptop toward me. I'd known about their early-morning emergency conference, but not that it'd happen before I arrived.
"Those crazy bastards, right?"
Kang Minjae exploded. I wasn't shocked. It was predictable. Yesterday's bombshell evidence was too damning—deny it, or Myungwha becomes the villain profiting off lives.
"This forces an investigation. Official conference naming MFDS seals it."
"Prosecutors handle it?"
"Likely."
"......What now?"
Kang Minjae clenched and unclenched his fists anxiously.
"No, this is actually good."
"......Huh? How? Our hard-won evidence could get dismissed as fake depending on the probe."
He was right. But with the MFDS deal surfacing, new angles opened.
"Now we can pivot this into a fight between MFDS and Myungwha."