[Chapter 150]
[Misfortune or Perhaps Fortune (4)]
Though he always says he's bored,
Hospital life wasn't entirely boring.
Besides family, Jung Hayang, and Han Seohyun, friends often came to visit.
These days even Taehee comes to play sometimes...
On Taehee's mother was also hospitalized at Alice Hospital.
So recently On Taehee has been visiting his mother and stopping by Eunha's hospital room as well.
Today was the same.
Somehow it seems Taehee's visits are increasing... Maybe it's just my imagination.
Taehee's mother also seems quite ill...
It seemed Taehee often visited because he got along well with Eun-ae too.
On the other hand, according to what Taehee said, his mother's condition wasn't very good.
The explosion accident at the Yeongwon Pharmaceuticals industrial complex a few months ago.
The incident that affected the mana environment across Seoul and Gyeonggi area seemed to have worsened the condition of his mother who was suffering from mana depletion.
Though it seems she only recently regained strength.
The elixir needs to be completed soon.
Eunha, who was somewhat responsible for the explosion accident at the Yeongwon Pharmaceuticals industrial complex, was inwardly sorry to Taehee.
So he wanted to heal his mother with the elixir as soon as possible.
According to Jeong Seokhun, the elixir has now almost reached the completion stage.
On the other hand, besides On Taehee,
There was one more person who came to visit today.
"─How's your body now? Is it much better than before?"
"Huh? What brings you here, hyung?"
"I stopped by briefly on my way. Ah, this is a dessert that will be released next month, try it. I brought it because I thought you'd like it."
Lee Yucheon, direct descendant of Luminous Group.
For some reason, he came unexpectedly without contacting.
Lee Yucheon who entered the hospital room after On Taehee left shook the paper bag so Eunha could see it well while smiling kindly.
☆
When Dawn Group was dissolved due to Lee Byungin's terrorism and Luminous Group was newly born,
Only three direct descendants existed in Luminous Group - Chairman Lee Jeongin and his bloodline Lee Yucheon and his younger sister.
However, in reality, the only person who would succeed Lee Jeongin as the next chairman was Lee Yucheon.
So Lee Yucheon had to spend very busy days as the successor.
To the extent that it was really difficult to make appointments or contact him.
What brings this hyung here?
He's not someone who can suddenly make time...
Lee Yucheon visited Eunha in the hospital not long after he was hospitalized.
Even then, Lee Yucheon had work and couldn't stay long in the hospital room.
Eunha remembered him leaving apologetically.
But because he knew his situation well, Eunha felt more sorry than disappointed in him.
Then he thought Lee Yucheon wouldn't visit again unless he called him.
But Lee Yucheon suddenly came to visit like this.
"How is it? Isn't it delicious? It's made using maple syrup because it's autumn, isn't it quite good?" "It's delicious. As expected of Luminous Sweets. YH Sweets can't compare. It's just my taste." "Pipi pipi papa papa pupu pupu!"
"YH Sweets executives don't like desserts in the first place. That's why their sales keep falling. Ah, by the way, did you hear about that?" "About what?"
"It's going around the Yeouido financial district, they say Yejang hyung has been visiting renowned doctors these days?" "Renowned doctors? What kind of doctors?"
"You know, that. Doctors excellent in impotence."
"Ah..."
As expected of Luminous Sweets.
Eunha was savoring the dessert to be released next month.
Then Lee Yucheon leaned in close and whispered to him.
Choi Yejang of YH Group's impotence.
Eunha nodded.
It's lasting longer than I thought?
No one knew,
But Eunha had used Stygian Eye to make Choi Yejang impotent.
Because he was so annoyed by him clinging to Han Seohyun.
But whether he controlled his power wrong or the fear was stronger for Choi Yejang himself than he thought,
Hearing the story from Lee Yucheon, it seemed the effect of Stygian Eye was still continuing on Choi Yejang.
Well, let him be.
The magic's effect will disappear someday.
Is he still unable to shake off such fear in this world?
A bastard who can't even act like a man.
Eunha inwardly clicked his tongue while listening to Lee Yucheon's story.
"So it seems YH Group is in emergency. It's a matter of possibly cutting off the bloodline. I heard the chairman there is now searching the entire country for good magic potions or famous doctors for that."
"What do you mean cutting off the bloodline... YH doesn't have only one direct descendant, so why are they making such a fuss? Doesn't Choi Yejang have a younger sister there too? She probably has quite high succession rights, so can't she inherit the group if necessary?"
"That's true, but it seems the chairman is reluctant because she's a woman."
"Isn't that chairman a woman too?"
"That's what I'm saying. Maybe because that chairman is such an old-fashioned person, it seems she values men more, though not to the extent of primogeniture like Donghae Group."
"As long as they have ability..."
There's a saying that a frog doesn't remember its days as a tadpole.
Eunha recalled that proverb while listening to Lee Yucheon's story.
YH Group was a group separated from Galaxy Group.
Because Choi Inho, who laid the foundation for Galaxy Group, tried to pass on overall management of the group to his eldest son Choi Yunhan,
His younger sister rebelled and split the group to create YH Group.
She must have disliked the tendency to value sons over daughters that much.
Yet she's frantically looking for a way to solve Choi Yejang's impotence, saying the bloodline might be cut off.
You really can't understand people's minds.
They seem consistent but sometimes they're not...
Could this lead to a succession dispute in YH Group?
The stone Eunha threw without thinking not only created ripples on the water surface, but made the surface turbulent.
"Was it Choi Yejin? What does she think?" "Eunha... No matter what, she's someone who even tried to propose engagement to you before, but you don't even remember her name..." "Oh, was that so?" "...Didn't your father tell you?"
"I think he said something, but I told him to reject all incoming engagement proposals..."
"...You remember my name, right?"
"Of course."
"Sigh... Well, it's something that you remember my name at least. Ah, where was I?"
"What Choi Yejin thinks." "Well... I don't know since I'm not that close with Yejin. Wouldn't it be better to ask Hayang or Han Seohyun noona about this? Just as men have their own world, women must have their own world too, so they'd know well." "I guess... I should ask later."
"But in my opinion..." "Yes?"
"Being born as a direct descendant of a group with market cap over trillion won, I don't think Yejin lacks ambition to the extent of handing it over to Yejang hyung. It's just that she's overshadowed by Yejang hyung, not that she lacks ability... There's no one in the world who wants to lose what they have, right?"
Lee Yucheon's opinion.
It was a reasonable point.
Eunha nodded.
Even so, I don't want a situation where YH Group has a succession dispute...
YH Group was essential to check Galaxy Group.
YH Group's influence decreasing wasn't a situation Eunha wanted.
But there's still time...
There was still a lot of time left before Choi Yejang and Choi Yejin could become chairman.
In the meantime, Choi Yejang might be freed from the magic and escape impotence.
So Eunha's concern was still just a distant future for now.
There was no need to worry too much.
I should just keep track of the situation for now.
Choi Yejang's younger sister is the same age as me, so she's probably somewhat close with Hayang, I should ask Hayang later.
After coming up with a rough plan of action,
He decided to put thoughts about YH Group aside for now.
"Come to think of it, aren't you entering university next year too? Have you thought about where you'll go?" "Ah..."
Lee Yucheon's age is 19 this year.
When Eunha spoke the thought that suddenly came to mind, Yucheon's face darkened rapidly.
He sighed deeply.
"So I'm a bit worried." "Why? What's wrong?" "Barring any surprises, it seems I'll enter the university Han Seohyun noona is attending. The business administration department where Han Seohyun noona is, at that." "That's great. Seohyun will help with your university life too." "...Are you saying that seriously?"
"Huh?"
Blinking.
Eunha tilted his head at Lee Yucheon who looked at him as if dumbfounded.
He couldn't understand why he was thinking so seriously.
Hearing his story─
"─She doesn't seem to do it to you, but everyone in the political and business world knows about that noona's prickly personality." "I've heard that too." "You've heard it. I've experienced it directly. Do you know that when I entered the sky lounge with you at the last gathering, that noona called me separately afterwards and showed clear signs of disapproval?"
"Seohyun has never said such things to me..." "That noona who tries to look good to you wouldn't have said that... You won't tell Han Seohyun noona that I said this, right?" "Hehe..."
"When I tried to call her Seohyun noona because it's awkward to call her Han Seohyun noona, she scolded me for calling her by name without permission..."
"That's right. Why don't you just call her with her surname, why call her by name? It's not like you're close with Seohyun."
"..."
"Hm? Why?"
"Wow... So this is exactly how you felt every time I told you not to touch my younger sister."
"What are you suddenly saying?" "I got it. I'll call her Han Seohyun noona while being polite. Actually, if it weren't for my younger sister, I wouldn't want to know that noona..."
"Seohyun is just shy with strangers. You should understand, hyung."
"Hah... Anyway, thinking about attending the same university as that noona next year is a bit scary. She'll try to eat me alive with her eyes if I don't call her sunbaenim..."
"...Good luck."
Lee Yucheon mutters gloomily.
Unfortunately, Eunha couldn't feel any sympathy for his story.
On the other hand, he felt secretly proud.
So you're saying that noona treats others prickly, not me?
Emotions that don't settle neatly.
Pride that can't be expressed in words.
Eunha raised his nose high.
"─I should get going now."
"You're leaving already?"
"Already... I've been here for 2 hours. I need to go do work now." "Okay, it can't be helped."
Time had passed before they knew it.
Eunha could only watch him leave regretfully as he packed his things and got up.
Just then.
"Ah."
He turned around as he was about to leave the hospital room.
He says with a bitter smile.
"I'll come often from now on." "Huh?"
"My younger sister is being hospitalized here from today."
"Why? Is she sick?" "Her condition has gotten much worse, so they say it's difficult to recover just by resting at home."
"...I see."
"It seems her body condition worsened due to the explosion accident at the Yeongwon Pharmaceuticals industrial complex." "Ah..."
"So I'll often drop by when I come to visit my younger sister." "Okay. I hope your younger sister gets well soon." "Pipi pipi papa papa pupu pupu."
"Thank you. Fire Chicken too."
Lee Yucheon leaves the hospital room.
Eunha felt sorry for him as he looked at the hospital room he left.
─There seem to be many sick people.
There are so many sick people around.
Feeling sorry for his younger sister too, I should find some good magic potion for her body when I get up.
Eunha smiled bitterly.
And right then─
─Slam
Suddenly the door opened.
Yoo Do-jun came to visit.
"─Oh, you seem to be doing well healthily. How's your body?"
"You're the worst. How could you not come even once until now."
"I'm sorry. I've been too busy lately. You should understand."
"Yucheon hyung came twice today even though he's busy." "I met Yucheon hyung on the way and got hit once already."
"Huh? You got hit? He's not someone who would hit others..."
"Younger sister. She's hospitalized. Because of that, he said to let him hit me once even though it's not my fault." "Ah..."
"Ow, my back hurts. I wonder if they'll treat this at the hospital if I ask."
"Just endure it."
The two who met after a long time burst into giggles.