Chapter 30 - A Suspicious Patient and an Even More Suspicious Guardian (8)
“I think both of you have fallen into a trap.”
“A… trap?”
Lee In-im carefully examined the paper Sihyeon held out.
– Inno Advanced Materials
– Il-deung General Chemical
– ......
– ......
– Jinmyung Pharmaceuticals
“Do you know what these companies have in common?”
“What is it? These are companies I’ve never seen before.”
“They were all targets of hostile M&As and ultimately failed to defend their management rights.”
“I see. While that’s unfortunate from a management perspective, what does it have to do with me?”
Lee In-im reacted as if she couldn't understand.
“There’s one more thing they have in common. They were also companies that Attorney Hwan Sa-jun advised before he left to establish Pajeon Law Firm and go independent. This is information you can find just by looking up his major case history on his website.”
“Isn't that just because he is a specialist in that field?”
Lee In-im continued as if it were no big deal.
“I appreciate your concern, but we’re fine. Our family’s shares alone account for more than half.”
“It’s exactly 51.2%, to be precise.”
When Sihyeon mentioned what he had searched for that morning, Lee In-im nodded.
“Normally, it’s a company that would be difficult to acquire no matter what methods were used.”
“That’s right. We don’t have any issues—”
“Except for a situation like ‘now’.”
Sihyeon placed particular emphasis on the word ‘now’.
“It’s not like I haven’t thought about that while deciding on the divorce. Even if my husband tries to regain control, we can sufficiently defend it. There’s also someone who will act as a white knight.”
“You might be able to defend it. However, the conflict itself is an enormous loss.”
When a management dispute occurs, the bleeding competition to secure shareholders on both sides intensifies. It could essentially become a fight with no winner.
“What if that person you believed to be a white knight betrays you at the last moment?”
“That can’t be. How can you make such wild speculations...”
Lee In-im’s eyes began to waver, and she suddenly stopped answering. It seemed like there was something bothering her.
‘Hwan Sa-jun knew something about the mistress.’
Sihyeon had a fairly solid basis for his reasoning. He just couldn’t reveal the source.
“There’s no harm in being careful. If you’re that worried, how about trying this?”
Sihyeon began to explain his plan, just as he had done with Kwak Jeong-su.
……
A few weeks later.
Vrrrrrr.
“Yes, this is Cheon Sihyeon.”
“Doctor, this is the outpatient clinic. A patient who was discharged recently is asking to see you.”
When Sihyeon went down to the outpatient clinic, he saw the couple, Lee In-im and her husband, sitting on chairs in the waiting room.
“Ah, Dr. Cheon.”
Kwak Jeong-su recognized Sihyeon first and greeted him warmly.
“The two of you came together today. Let’s go into this examination room.”
It was the same preliminary examination room where he had met Kwak Jeong-su a week ago. This time, Lee In-im was with him.
“First, I apologized to my wife and told her every single thing that happened. From the very beginning until now.”
“I also discussed it so that even if I divorce and divide the assets, my husband will manage the company for the time being.”
— How about doing nothing and just watching for a few weeks? You will surely see people around you making the first move.
Those were the words Sihyeon had spoken to each of them a week ago.
The moment they realized the current situation might have been intentionally engineered by someone, the couple decided to temporarily stop fighting and observe the situation.
For the first time in a very long while, they shared a proper conversation. Although it was uncertain to what extent their relationship could be restored, it was clearly a significant change.
“Looking back, there were many suspicious aspects,” Lee In-im began.
“In what way?”
“The attorney in charge was originally very lukewarm about identifying the other woman. However, when I told him I wouldn't proceed with the divorce suit or asset division unless the issue with the mistress was resolved first, he reportedly finished tracking her down in just a few days.”
‘In just a few days?’
Lee In-im was quite surprised that Hwan Sa-jun had easily found someone whose traces even her husband couldn't find despite his best efforts.
“Isn't it strange that he put off such an easy task for so long?”
“And even though my wife said she wasn't in a hurry, he seemed to keep rushing the divorce suit. No matter how much of a lawyer he is, shouldn't he be encouraging a deal and discouraging a fight?” Kwak Jeong-su added in a frustrated tone.
When her eyes met Sihyeon’s, Lee In-im avoided his gaze as if embarrassed. It seemed she hadn't yet told her husband about her relationship with Hwan Sa-jun.
“And I don't know where the information leaked from, but shareholders contacted me first, saying they would help if a management dispute occurred after the divorce. It was as if they were egging on the fight.”
“So those kinds of things have been happening lately,” Sihyeon nodded as he listened to the couple's explanation.
“That’s not all. I asked around through the golf club where I first met Ji-eun—no, Ye-rim—and I heard that this woman used to work at a law firm.”
“A law firm?”
“Yes, there even seemed to be a connection with Attorney Hwan Sa-jun. He denied it vehemently, though...”
“Anyway, even if I go through with the divorce eventually, I don't plan on reacting emotionally like this anymore. Especially regarding the company. But Doctor, how did you know about all this?” Lee In-im asked Sihyeon with a look of wonder.
It was a difficult question to answer truthfully.
“I didn't know the full details either. I just had a feeling that everything was a bit strange. Between the mistress showing up at the hospital to pick a fight with the attending physician... and the lawyer calling the daughters in and seeming to instigate a fight.”
“Looking back, it really was strange, but my judgment definitely must have been clouded back then.” Lee In-im shook her head.
“This is all my fault. I’m truly sorry.” Her husband gently took Lee In-im’s hand.
“You seem to have a natural intuition, Doctor. I think your clinic will do very well once you become a specialist and open your own practice. Hahaha.”
“Don’t mention it. I also learned a lot thanks to you. I hope many good things happen for both of your family and the company.” Sihyeon smiled at the two of them.
“Well then, I’ll see you next time. Ah, since your wife isn't a patient... perhaps we might not have a reason to meet again.”
Just as he was about to stand up and say goodbye, Lee In-im said something unexpected.
“Our company is planning to conduct clinical trials for a new drug candidate substance we developed at the Samadae Hospital research center. I might see you again later, Doctor.”
“If it’s a study my department is participating in... is it perhaps a neurological medication?”
“It’s a treatment for schizophrenia. It’s still in the early stages, though.”
‘If it’s a schizophrenia drug...’
Memories of the past flashed through his mind.
‘Could it be that this couple were the owners of that company?’
— SB Biopharma
He hadn't realized it because the name had changed after being acquired through a hostile M&A in the past, but looking at it now, it was that very stock Kim Min-hong used to talk about until his ears bled.
It was also the company that had developed the candidate substance in a clinical study Sihyeon had participated in when he was a research-focused resident.
While the drug was still under development at this point, in a few years, it would become a massive hit, causing the stock price to skyrocket.
‘This, too, must be fate.’
Sihyeon watched for a long time as the Lee In-im couple moved further away down the outpatient hallway.
‘I wonder what Hwan Sa-jun’s next move will be?’
Everything was fine up to the point where he recognized the company's future value and found and executed the only way to trigger a management dispute—except for the fact that his opponent was a regressor.
Thinking of the man who must be agonizing over this unexpected turn of events made a laugh escape Sihyeon’s lips.
……
At the same time.
“It is currently impossible to initiate a stake war. I’m sorry.”
In an executive office with a clear view of the Olympic Highway, Hwan Sa-jun was on the phone, looking out the window.
—Did you not say it was in the final stages?
A voice mixed with a metallic rasp came through the receiver. it was a voice devoid of emotion, sounding almost mechanical.
“I had judged it to be so, but the major shareholder suddenly changed her mind... It seems there is nothing I can do for the time being.”
—Unexpected. This has never happened before. Why is it only this time...?
The man on the other end of the line reacted as if he couldn’t understand it.
—Fine, I get it for now. Find out what the ‘variable’ is.
“Yes, I understand.”
—You’ll have to bring me an acceptable explanation.
“……”
At the man’s words, Hwan Sa-jun swallowed hard.
Click.
‘Dammit.’
Hwan Sa-jun’s face twisted as he finished the call.
……
Ding-dong!
[System: Achievement reward granted.]
[See You in 4 Weeks – You have contributed significantly to a couple on the brink of divorce taking a period of deliberation. (Very Hard Difficulty +3,000P)]
[3+1 Event – You have used subscription passes 3 or more times for the same patient and earned 1 free subscription pass. (Very Hard Difficulty, +Kaitman’s Glasses Free Subscription Pass)]
Once the Lee In-im couple had completely disappeared from his sight, the welcome notification sound rang out.
‘What would the me of the past have done?’
Perhaps he would have been caught between the conflicting opinions of the patient and the guardian, unable to find his footing, and might have ended up administering antipsychotic medication to an innocent patient.
Just as depression or delusional disorders cannot be diagnosed with an MRI, psychiatric diagnoses often lack biological markers. In the end, the tool for diagnosis is the doctor themselves.
Sihyeon naturally thought of the patients he had met before his regression.
‘What are those patients doing right now?’
He felt that if it were now, he might be able to listen to their words just a little more attentively.
……
“Sihyeon, what are you looking at so intently?”
As he was about to close the notification window and head back to the ward, someone called out to him.
“Ah, Chief.”
Kim Min-hong was just coming out after finishing his outpatient clinic duties.
“The Chief’s patient who was discharged recently came to the outpatient clinic, so I saw them for a moment.”
“Ah, that patient? The one you said had delusions of infidelity?”
“After talking with them, it was definitely not a delusional disorder.”
“Eh? How do you know that?”
Kim Min-hong asked in a slightly puzzled tone.
“Ah, that... the husband was actually having an affair. Since there were no specific symptoms, I didn’t use any drug therapy.”
“Really? It must have been tricky to differentiate... By the way, did you finish organizing the materials for tomorrow’s research meeting presentation?”
“Yes. I’ve finished the data entry. I sent the SPSS (statistical software) file with the newly added patient data and the PPT materials to the research resident’s email earlier.”
“Ooh. Sihyeon, you’re seeing patients well and doing your work well lately. I’m very impressed.”
It was a natural reaction. He already knew the results of the paper that would be presented next year after analyzing this data.
Ding-dong!
[System: Resident Kwon Won-ju has gained significant trust in the user. (Hard Difficulty +1,000P)]
It seemed the research resident, Kwon Won-ju, had just checked the email. Seeing the trust level rise, it appeared he liked the PPT that had been meticulously organized.
[System: Cumulative points have exceeded 200,000P. Opening new items.]
Sihyeon opened the system window and scanned the items marked with “NEW.”