Chapter 209 "It's Harder Than I Thought. Whew."

Even though his face had become known through internet broadcasts and news appearances, that only meant people who followed those things recognized him. Hardly anyone would spot an ordinary-looking guy like Choi Jonghyeon in a crowd. When he'd interviewed for the cleaning job at the Japanese restaurant, even the owner hadn't clocked who he was.

He figured he'd just tough it out for a few days until he gathered the intel he needed and bounced, but there was way more work than anticipated. The place was near Lee Jeongchan's home and famous for politicians frequenting it, so the owner was a neat-freak control type on steroids. They said he rarely showed up, but the moment a big-name politico booked a table, he'd roll in driving his foreign luxury car and nag endlessly. He even personally picked the servers for certain rooms, insisting they had to look prim and proper.

From the vibe around the staff, the guy had a rotten rep. Plus, with part-timers quitting left and right, he clearly wasn't just picky—he was a nightmare boss. Choi Jonghyeon had only seen it once, but he got the picture.

"Hey, old man, wipe that down too! Jeez. Can't get anyone who does a damn thing right. Think earning someone else's money is easy, huh?"

It looked spotless no matter how you sliced it, but if a speck of dust showed on the marble floor, all hell broke loose. Swallowing a stream of inner curses, Choi Jonghyeon scrubbed the mop furiously across the floor. Pretending to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠tidy shoes, he edged toward the private room where Lee Jeongchan had gone.

Today's appointment was with a judge on the verge of retirement. Probably hashing out party affiliation, but that judge was outside Choi Jonghyeon's wheelhouse.

"Old man! Sweep the parking lot too! Can't do a single thing on your own. What the hell was the manager thinking hiring you?"

A sharp voice from behind made his shoulders twitch. He turned—yep, the owner.

"Ah, yes. Got it."

Is this lady for real?

"Jeez, that bitch."

While sweeping the parking lot and rinsing the mop in the tiny sink out back, he muttered curses under his breath. Oops, but no one around to hear.

"Psycho hag. Ugh."

As his rinsing got rougher, an unfamiliar voice came from behind.

"Must be tough, huh?"

In the alley used as a staff smoking spot, a young woman in the restaurant uniform stood alone, puffing a cigarette. On a quick break, probably.

"The boss is seriously over the top. It's insane stress."

"Her voice is razor-sharp."

"She'd haunt my dreams, for real. Actually, she has—woke up to that screech in my head. Could use her voice as an alarm; no sleeping in for lectures. Before I quit, maybe record her for kicks. Wonder if those politicians she fawns over know what a nutjob she is."

"College student?"

"Yeah. Seongmun Women's University, right up the road. Failed nationals, so been working evenings for ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠tuition. About a year now?"

"You've stuck it out a while."

"Right? But anyway, quitting today. No more dealing with her face. Nailed the nationals score this time."

She grinned proudly. But Choi Jonghyeon's mind latched onto her working evenings for a year here—not the nationals bit.

He'd come to this spot, Lee Jeongchan's favorite Japanese joint, to check if he'd met the former Food and Drug Administration chief here. He'd been eyeing staff to recruit anyway, and jackpot—she was quitting, hated the boss, and he'd seen the owner assign her to Lee Jeongchan's room earlier. Perfect for prying info.

"Hey, miss."

"Yeah?"

"Mind if I ask one thing?"

"Sure, go ahead."

"Lee Jeongchan's here now, right? Comes often?"

"Oh, Lee Jeongchan? All the time."

She waved it off like it was nothing.

"Alone?"

"Nah, always with this guy or that. Seems like Minwoo Party hangout spot."

"Huh."

She nodded, and Choi Jonghyeon flashed a sly smile. Even if no Food and Drug chief link, he might dig dirt on Lee Jeongchan. Good call picking this place. With elections looming and prosecutors probing Myungwha Pharma, he'd planned a month-long stakeout expecting a meet-up. Hitting gold in days. Shame she was leaving, but grab her contact at least.

"But uncle."

"Yeah?"

"You're Choi Jonghyeon the reporter, right?"

Casually caught off-guard, his eyes widened.

Truth ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠be told, after starting streams and TV spots, he'd caught celebrity delusion. Roaming crowds stiff-necked, hoping no one noticed him. Shockingly, no one did. Same at this restaurant. But now, someone here recognized him? This girl who'd ignored him for days?

"Don't freak. I watched your Myungwha Pharma streams. Chemistry major, prepped for pharmacy school. Figured it might come up in interviews. Gave up on pharm recently, though."

"You knew who I was from the start?"

"Duh. But you seemed like you didn't want the attention, so I played dumb. Oh, and don't worry—no one's heard from me."

"...Appreciate that."

"So why here? Lee Jeongchan? Next topic?"

She whispered. Choi Jonghyeon leaned in, whispering back.

"Then miss, can you help me out?"

"Team Leader Cha!"

Choi Jonghyeon's text—big catch, come to the studio after work—had me heading straight there. Jo Bongjun and Choi Jonghyeon were already there, slurping ramen at the table.

"Want a bite?"

"I'm good. So, what's this big fish?"

Choi Jonghyeon chuckled, fishing a tiny recorder from his pocket.

"What's that?"

"Showed the ex-Food and Drug chief's photo to a server at Lee Jeongchan's regular Japanese spot, asked if they'd come together."

"They came together," Choi Jonghyeon said, pausing it with glee.

"Hm, good news, but big fish? As I said, Lee Jeongchan and Kim Hyeongjung run in the same circles—could be personal."

"Wait, hold up. Not done yet."

"Who's 'this guy'?"

I asked as he paused again.

"Who else?"

He beamed smugly.

"Myungwha Pharma CEO, obviously."

"Big fish confirmed," Jo Bongjun nodded.

I agreed. Big fish. But truth was, not much we could do with just this. Sure, the trio meeting lined up somewhat with the Antrozol approval timeline. But no convo details meant no clear motive.

Folks knew the Myungwha CEO–ex-chief connection first; chief–Lee Jeongchan was insider knowledge. If Lee Jeongchan's camp claimed the chief just intro'd a pal when the issue blew up, it'd muddy the waters. Even if Lee Jeongchan hooked the CEO up with the chief.

Still, not useless. If we could blow open Lee Jeongchan and son Lee Se-hyeong's self-staged drama... Amid the backlash, drop this connection, and prosecutors would run with it.

A week later, Taesik sent a file via staffer. Photos tailing Lee Se-hyeong, minor details. Scribbled notes in Sanggil's handwriting.

Myungwoon University Hospital. Pretending rehab, so obviously rehab department. But Lee Se-hyeong's spinal injury meant lower-body paralysis—neurosurgery consult needed.

Myungwoon University Hospital Neurosurgery.

What a coincidence.

I picked up my phone.

"Hey, it's me. Busy?"

Guess that's why connections matter. Picturing Dongjin's face, I locked the empty office and drove to Myungwoon University Hospital.