560

 [Chapter 151]

[Crossroads of Choice (2)]

After sending word to Eunha that the Elixir was completed,

That day, Jeong Seokhun immediately contacted Lee Jeongin.

"What's the occasion? You're saying you'll buy drinks first. Won't your wife say something?"

"We don't drink that much, why would Sujin say anything? She just told me to come home at a reasonable time, that's all..."

Jeong Seokhun and Lee Jeongin weren't particularly strong drinkers.

So they didn't really like alcohol.

But Jeong Seokhun felt like he had to drink today.

He felt like he could only speak if he drank.

"─How's Yoojung?" "You're asking me about Yoojung's condition when she's hospitalized at your hospital?"

"...Come to think of it, you're right."

"That's really too much. How can you not care when your friend's daughter is hospitalized..." "I'm sorry, I've been so busy lately..."

"I could say the same." "Haha..." "If you're sorry, have a drink." "Alright... I'll drink, I'll drink."

Lee Jeongin who he met after a long time seemed very worn out from fatigue.

Then after a few drinks, as they comfortably exchanged recent news,

Lee Jeongin seemed to be enjoying the moment, setting aside his worries.

Though it was unfair to his friend,

Jeong Seokhun was waiting for when his mood improved.

Aiming for that moment, he asked about his daughter's condition.

"Yoojung..." "Yes."

"She's not doing well. It's always been like that but..."

"..."

With alcohol in his system,

Lee Jeongin's face flushed as he hung his head low.

He gulped down another drink.

The ice in the glass rattled.

"I have so much to apologize to Yoojung for. Though Yucheon's mother raised her, I'm still sorry she grew up without her birth mother..."

"..."

"...I'm also sorry for making her be born with a weak body..."

"How could that all be your or your family's fault? It's just... bad luck."

"I want to think that way too... but when I see her suffering, I just can't think that way."

Jeong Seokhun got along well with Lee Jeongin among people in the political and business world.

Moreover, the two had the experience of losing their wives.

So the two often candidly shared their innermost thoughts with each other.

"That's why I care more for Yoojung. Not just me, but Yucheon's mother and Yucheon too..."

"I know, how could I not know that."

So, Jeong Seokhun knew Lee Jeongin's worries very well.

That most of his worries were about his daughter Lee Yoojung.

"This time when Yoojung collapsed... when I heard from the hospital that I might need to prepare myself..."

"..."

"The world looked hazy then. I thought I was always prepared since Yoojung was weak from childhood... But when I actually heard those words, I felt suffocated. Seeing her suffer like that, tears just kept flowing... I wanted to be sick in her place, I wanted to tear out my heart and give it to her."

Luminous Group's precious daughter, Lee Yoojung.

An illegitimate child born between Lee Jeongin and a servant who used to work at the former Dawn Group.

Setting aside the quite complicated story surrounding her birth,

She had to grow up under her family's care because she was weak from childhood.

Not only was she born with a weak body, but she suffered from severe mana depletion, so she couldn't do external activities.

That was why people in the political and business world didn't know much about Lee Yoojung.

"Is there really no way to treat Yoojung..."

"..."

"I want to save Yoojung even if I have to sell my soul to the devil..."

So Yoojung had no choice but to grow up as a precious daughter.

For Luminous Group people, the term precious daughter didn't have a very good meaning.

Yoojung being a precious daughter meant her body was so bad she had to be confined at home.

It was a symbol of misfortune.

Lee Jeongin hit the table with his fist and his shoulders shook.

"...Yoojung..."

Lee Jeongin who was drunk sobbed.

Jeong Seokhun rubbed his back.

"─Jeongin."

Unable to bear seeing his friend collapse in sorrow any longer,

Jeong Seokhun decided to tell him.

"What if..."

"..."

"What if there was a medicine that could cure Yoojung's illness?"

"...!"

Lee Jeongin who was slumped over the table.

He suddenly raised his body.

☆

Luminous Group's villa.

Lee Yucheon who was working nearby heard that his father and Alice Group's chairman were at the villa, so he came to greet them.

But because his father was crying,

Lee Yucheon couldn't approach the two and stood in front of the door.

That's when he heard it.

"─I made a potion called Elixir. With that, probably... we can cure Yoojung's condition." "...!"

We can cure my younger sister.

Lee Yucheon who heard those words leaking through the door gap doubted his ears.

But Alice Group Chairman Jeong Seokhun was speaking so seriously that Lee Yucheon could tell it wasn't a lie.

Elixir.

A miracle drug that can completely cure any condition as long as the person is alive.

Lee Yucheon felt his heart pounding.

"Th-that...! How can we get it!?"

His father clung to Jeong Seokhun and shouted loudly.

Lee Yucheon felt the same way.

The Elixir, with just that they could cure Lee Yoojung.

He wanted to run out right away and obtain the Elixir.

But─

"─Eunha has it."

"...!"

"If we persuade Eunha... we can get it."

An unexpected name.

But hearing those words, Lee Yucheon quickly turned around.

☆

The academy cultural festival began.

Of course, Eunha couldn't go see the festival because he was hospitalized.

So he was about to quietly read a web novel Jeong Geum-jeon recommended when─

"─Huh? Why did you come here?" "Wow... Isn't that too much to say to someone who came to visit? How can you say that?"

"No, I mean how did you come when you must be busy preparing for the cultural festival."

"Hmph, forget it. It's too late to make excuses now? I remembered everything. I'm going to tell everyone later."

"Papa!"

"Look how Fire Chicken welcomes me. Fire Chicken, did you miss mommy?" "Papa!"

"Really... How did an angel like you come from under someone like that?"

Jo Ara came to visit.

Eunha opened his eyes wide seeing her come to the hospital room without contacting.

Then Jo Ara seemed very displeased with his attitude.

She who had been grumbling hugged Fire Chicken who flew to her and seemed to have calmed down.

"I came to visit last time too, do I need to bring something every time?"

"You don't have to bring anything. Everyone who comes brings all sorts of things so there's no place to store them. There's already so much food..." "Oh, really? Actually I felt bad coming empty-handed so I bought egg bread that's popular at the cultural festival now... Is this really delicious?"

"I said I have a lot of food, but I didn't say I can't eat it. Thank you, I'll eat it well."

"Yeah, you should be grateful to me! Here, eat up!"

"So how did you come? You must be very busy with the cultural festival..."

"Ah, can I take something out of the fridge to drink?" "Drink, drink comfortably."

Jo Ara brought egg bread.

It was still warm as if just bought.

Eunha who took a bite of the egg bread from the bag asked her.

Then she who took coffee out of the fridge answered as if it was nothing.

"Just... My shift for today was over so I was going to look around the cultural festival, but it felt awkward to look around alone."

"Why didn't you look around with the others. Eun-woo and Seona and other kids would be there too."

"There was no one with the same shift as me today, you know? And... Eun-woo and Seona said they had promised to look around with someone... It would be awkward to interfere."

Jo Ara twirling her ivory hair with her finger and smiling bitterly.

Eunha heard her words and roughly understood the situation.

She must have decided to look around the cultural festival alone out of consideration for her friends.

But it seemed she found it boring to look around alone.

"Alright, you came to play well. I was about to die of boredom because the kids haven't been visiting lately since they're busy preparing for the cultural festival."

"See. I knew it and came. I was just passing by the egg bread store when I remembered you singing about wanting to eat egg bread before."

"You remember all sorts of things."

"That's why you shouldn't sing when you can't sing. Your singing voice haunts me every night."

"Hah, really... I'm speechless."

The two chatted pleasantly.

Then Eunha spoke a thought that suddenly came to mind.

"Come to think of it." "Yes, why?"

"Did On Taeyang not have time either?" "...Why suddenly Taeyang? You really bounce around in conversation like a rubber ball, huh?"

On Taeyang.

As soon as that name was mentioned, Jo Ara opened her eyes narrowly.

Whatever she was dissatisfied with,

She pouted her lips.

Then she swallowed an egg bread whole in one bite.

"Don't talk about Taeyang..."

"Why. Did you fight again?" "No, we didn't fight... This time he didn't even mention hanging out together at all." "..."

"Did he think I'm someone who would come out right away even if he called without making plans? And when I saw him hanging out with that Hong Yehwa woman today, I just felt my insides boiling, you know?"

"There's a cola in the fridge, want to do a cool one-shot together?"

"Oh, good, let's do it. Hah... I wish Taeyang had even a speck of consideration like you... Hmm, no. Is it consideration?"

Jo Ara sighing while complaining.

Hearing Eunha's words, she quickly ran to the fridge to get the cola.

The two toasted with cans, then gulped down the cola in one go.

"Ah, but Taeyang feels strange these days."

"Strange? How?"

Just then,

Jo Ara who was making a face at the fizzy carbonation spoke as if she remembered something.

"Hmm... how should I say it? Like Taeyang has become a bit more docile?"

"Really?"

"Yeah. He used to openly dislike Noh Eunha's group... I mean the kids, but these days it feels less so?"

"..."

"This time when setting up booths, I saw Taeyang surprisingly cooperating with Minho to work. I was so shocked I asked what was going on, and Taeyang said it was nothing, but would Taeyang collaborate with Minho if it was nothing?" "..."

"Something must have happened but I don't know what happened. Do you know anything?"

"...No. How would I know when I'm hospitalized?"

"I guess that's true."

Though he had some guesses,

Eunha pretended not to know to her who was expressing doubt.

There was nothing good about saying he had threatened On Taeyang.

It seems On Taeyang is obediently following my words.

A few days ago,

On Taeyang knelt before Eunha and submitted to him.

To this, Eunha promised the Elixir and demanded On Taeyang get along with his friends.

Hearing Jo Ara's words, On Taeyang's tendencies didn't seem to have gone anywhere,

But it seemed he was faithfully carrying out what he promised.

I'll receive the Elixir today, so all that's left is to set a date to use the Elixir?

Eunha fell into thought.

The Elixir would come into his hands today through Jung Hayang.

So all that was left was to set a treatment schedule with Alice Hospital.

Because the moment you drink the Elixir, the body is reconstructed into the most ideal state while toxins and waste accumulated in the body are expelled.

Moreover, it took quite some time for the body to be reconstructed.

In short, they needed to create an environment where the Elixir could be used.

Well, it shouldn't take long to secure an operating room, so we'll be able to use the Elixir soon.

Even so, now that the Elixir was made, it was as good as overcoming the hurdle.

Eunha finished his thoughts and called Jo Ara who was chattering.

"Ara."

"Hm? Why?"

"There should be some yokan on that shelf. Taehee ate it last time and said it was delicious."

"..."

"Take it to Taehee when you leave later."

"You really..."

Eunha spoke nonchalantly.

But Jo Ara seemed different.

Her eyes sparkled greatly.

Then she said─

"─You're really so considerate. I can see why the kids follow you." "What are you saying?"

"...Yes, thank you. I'll make sure to give it to Taehee."

Somehow Jo Ara's gaze is hot.

He made a sour expression looking at her who returned with yokan from the shelf.

He didn't think he did anything,

But it seemed he had gained her favor.

"You're not getting anything for me?"

"Take whatever you want from the shelf. That's enough, right?" "Tsk, you're so casual with me."

Afterwards, Eunha continued to have a pleasant time chatting with her.

Thanks to that─

"─Ara? Why are you here?"

""..."" 

The two ended up receiving Jung Hayang's glare.

A gaze as if she would pierce through them.

The two averted their eyes, and eventually Jo Ara─

"─Th-then both of you have a good time! I should go see Taehee now!"

Jo Ara quickly fled.

She abandoned Eunha without loyalty and ran away.

Eunha who was left behind─

"─Eunha?"

"Oh, y-yeah... You came?"

Had to face Jung Hayang alone.

Feeling guilty even though he did nothing wrong.

As if caught cheating, Eunha groveled before her.

Somehow he felt like he should.

☆

"I-it's delicious..." "Really? Your face doesn't look like you find it delicious..." "Come on, it's delicious. As expected, what you bring is the most delicious." "Really? I made that myself. There's a lot so eat a lot."

"...It really seems like there's only you."

His throat was blocked.

But Eunha forced down the egg bread even though his throat was blocked.

He had already eaten egg bread with Jo Ara, but he couldn't not eat the egg bread Hayang brought for him.

I shouldn't eat egg bread for a while. Now I'm sick of it, sick of it...

Not saying it out loud,

Eunha swallowed his true feelings along with the egg bread.

It was enough if she was satisfied.

"Whew..."

"Here, here's coffee."

"Thank you."

He somehow managed to eat up the egg bread.

Jung Hayang smiled as if very pleased and handed him cool coffee.

Eunha gulped down the coffee.

Now it was time to get to the main point.

"Hayang, how did that go?"

"Of course I brought it. Ta-da!"

"Oh..."

It's a priceless miracle drug.

That's how much special care was needed in transporting the Elixir.

That's why Jeong Seokhun decided to deliver the Elixir to Eunha through Jung Hayang.

Eunha's eyes lit up as he received the box Jung Hayang took out of the envelope she brought.

"But what is this? Dad said it needs to be handled carefully too."

"Hmm... want to look at it together?" "Yes!"

"Come here."

Eunha pointed to the spot next to him.

Jung Hayang who had sat next to him a few times since Eunha was hospitalized.

Unlike when she first got on the bed, she now happily snuggled up next to him.

Eunha put his arm around Jung Hayang's shoulders.

He opened the box.

""Wow....""

"Pipi..."

The two people.

And one creature.

They exclaimed in awe at the light emanating from inside the box.

There was a universe inside the bottle.

"""..."""

A potion that changed colors moment by moment depending on the angle of the light shining on it.

Something kept sparkling inside the potion as if stars were floating.

"...What is this?" "Elixir..."

"Elixir?"

It was indeed the Elixir.

Even after receiving Jung Hayang's question, Eunha just nodded silently, unable to take his eyes off the Elixir.

With just this─

─On Taeyang won't be able to defy my will for the rest of his life.