Chapter 11

Chapter 011: Force Majeure (8)

Even while leaving the hospital, Hee-soo was bombarded with questions from reporters.

However, he didn't answer any of them. With the help of his security guards, he went straight into the car.

Once inside, he asked Chief Jang,

"Do you think this is enough?"

"For what? Are you asking whether you've gotten enough media attention?"

Chief Jang tilted his head at Hee-soo's sudden question.

Hee-soo smiled and shook his head.

"No. I mean, after everything we've done, KEPCO Hospital will put everything they have into treating him, right?"

Only then did Chief Jang understand Hee-soo's intention.

He smiled.

"Of course. You've stirred things up more than enough. Now that reporters are watching KEPCO Hospital this closely, they have no choice but to use every bit of their ability."

"That's what I wanted."

"You'll hear good news. Don't worry too much."

Chief Jang quietly studied Hee-soo's expression before asking,

"But why are you paying so much attention to that young man?"

"Ah. Well... because I feel sorry for him."

Chief Jang gave him a look that said he couldn't understand him at all.

Hee-soo quickly changed the subject.

"Oh, and please contact Yuil Planning. Tell them to strengthen that young man's story a little. Make it emotional and dramatic. Since we're spending money anyway, we might as well get something out of it."

"Of course. They're already working on it."

"Thank you, as always."

Hee-soo sincerely thanked Chief Jang.

At the same time, he felt frustrated that he couldn't explain the truth even to Chief Jang, someone he relied on so heavily.

I can't tell him why I'm really doing this.

Even if I did, there's no way he'd believe me.

After returning home from work, Hee-soo found his father, Chairman Choi, waiting for him.

"What is all this? And what's this business with KEPCO Hospital?"

"It's exactly what you heard. That patient is in extremely serious condition. If KEPCO Hospital can save him, wouldn't there be enough reason for Suseong to cooperate with that hospital?"

Chief Yoon, who managed the household, suddenly approached and interrupted them.

"Oh, Chairman. Hee-soo just got home. Let him eat dinner first."

Chairman Choi let out a long sigh and nodded.

"Fine. Go eat dinner first."

"Have you eaten, Father?"

"I waited for you, but I ate first."

"I'm sorry."

"What are you apologizing for? A man can come home late when he's busy working."

Chief Yoon smiled.

"Chairman, Hee-soo needs time to digest his food too."

"I know. Enough nagging already..."

Chairman Choi spoke again to Hee-soo, who was standing near the door.

"When you're finished eating and ready, come see me."

Hee-soo bowed his head.

"Yes, Father."

As he headed toward the kitchen, Hee-soo gave Chief Yoon a small nod.

Chief Yoon winked at him and gave him a thumbs-up.

Chairman Choi watched them and shook his head.

"Chief Yoon, you spoil that boy too much. That's why he does whatever he wants."

"Hohoho. Chairman, look how well our Hee-soo grew up. He's polite, intelligent, handsome, highly educated, and now he even treasures people's lives. What is he lacking? Isn't he adorable?"

"That adorable boy of mine keeps doing everything except what he's supposed to do. Of course I'm frustrated."

"But I heard he's still taking care of all his company responsibilities."

"That's exactly why I'm even more worried. He comes home after exhausting himself outside, and instead of resting, he handles company work too. And now he's going this far for someone he happened to rescue. How could I not worry?"

"Hohoho. So you're simply worried about him, Chairman."

"How could a father not worry? Go make sure he eats properly. If I sit there with him, he'll probably get indigestion."

"Yes, Chairman. I'll do that."

When Chief Yoon entered the dining room, she noticed that Hee-soo had barely touched the dinner laid out in front of him.

"Hee-soo, did you eat something outside?"

He shook his head.

"No. What would I have eaten?"

"Then why aren't you eating?"

"I guess I'm tired today. I don't really have an appetite."

"Want me to make you some ramyeon?"

Hee-soo normally controlled his diet very strictly to maintain his body.

However, for some reason, the mention of ramyeon immediately tempted him.

"S-should I?"

"Our Hee-soo has been taking good care of himself, so just think of today as a cheat day."

A smile finally appeared on Hee-soo's face.

"Yes. Then please make some for me."

"All right. Wait just a little."

Soon, an irresistible smell began spreading from the kitchen.

The scent was so tempting that even Chairman Choi entered the dining room.

"Oh, goodness. Even I can't resist this smell. Chief Yoon, make one for me too."

Then he carefully glanced toward Hee-soo.

"Would you mind if I sat down?"

Even Chief Yoon secretly looked toward Hee-soo, waiting nervously for his response.

Hee-soo answered without hesitation.

"Of course not, Father. Please sit."

Only then did Chief Yoon relax and laugh.

"Hohoho. There we go."

Chairman Choi sat across from Hee-soo.

"This is fine, right?"

"Yes, Father. It's fine. But could you sit beside me instead of across from me?"

"Beside you?"

"Yes. Eating while looking directly at your face makes me a little nervous..."

Chairman Choi couldn't help laughing at his son's joking complaint.

"Hahaha! You brat. I'm staying right here. I want to eat while looking at my handsome son's face."

Seeing that his father's mood had improved, Hee-soo smiled too.

Samhan Ilbo.

The editorial meeting to decide the contents of the morning edition was currently focused on Yoon-hee.

During the meeting, Yoon-hee spoke with a serious expression.

"I simply can't understand what Choi Hee-soo is doing. Why is a man like him doing things like this? Are we really supposed to believe that he suddenly became some kind of humanitarian?"

The editor-in-chief tilted his head as well.

"That's what I'm wondering too. Why is he doing this? It's already been three weeks. I looked into it, and apparently he really was officially hired and is actively working."

"Thanks to Director Choi, the public image of firefighters has improved, and apparently more people are even applying to become firefighters."

"Of course that's happening."

Yoon-hee frowned.

"Then shouldn't Choi Hee-soo go give lectures at a fire academy or something if he wants publicity?"

"If this is a show, why is he wasting his time at some fire station on the outskirts of Seoul?"

"Who knows? Isn't that why you're putting together a team to investigate him?"

"Exactly."

"We don't know yet whether this will become a documentary or an investigative report."

"What do you want it to be?"

"Investigative journalism."

Yoon-hee's eyes sharpened.

"I want to uncover the dark side of a chaebol."

Seeing that look in her eyes, the editor-in-chief shook his head.

"I'd rather it become a documentary."

"There's no way. That's exactly why I'm suspicious."

"A chaebol using his time to save people instead of making money? It makes no sense."

Her gaze was filled with complete certainty.

"Just wait and see. There has to be something behind this."

"Senior, what are the other media companies doing?"

"They're all preparing special reports."

"Something along the lines of, 'The Crown Prince of Suseong Demonstrates True Noblesse Oblige.'"

"Well, they don't know any better."

Yoon-hee crossed her arms.

"This was definitely approved openly by Suseong."

"Probably."

"Then I'll expose whatever dark motive they're hiding."

Yoon-hee strengthened her resolve.

The residence in Hannam-dong.

Three in the morning.

Hee-soo had been sitting in front of his computer for quite some time.

He stretched his back, then nodded with a satisfied expression.

"Okay. This should be enough for the basic framework of the AI."

"Now I can tell the company to start building the servers."

"But before that, I suppose I should get Father's permission."

He checked the time.

For a moment, despair appeared in his eyes.

"Why does time pass so quickly? It's already three in the morning."

"I'll only get three hours of sleep again today."

Exhaustion washed over him.

"Still, after today, I'll have a day off..."

Since becoming a firefighter, Hee-soo had been deeply focused on developing an AI system.

Relying only on his own eyes caused far more mistakes than he had expected.

He needed an AI capable of properly understanding and analyzing the situation around him.

He had worked on AI since his days at MIT, but back then he had developed a general-purpose AI without any particular goal.

Now, however, he had a clear objective.

"If I build from this foundation, I could probably create a truly unique AI company."

"The biggest problem will be the servers and network infrastructure."

"But if I package those together too, they're all things that can make money."

"That's not bad."

"Haah. I should sleep now."

At that moment, he heard movement outside his door.

Hee-soo quickly opened it.

Chairman Choi was standing outside with an awkward expression.

"F-Father? What are you doing up at this hour?"

"I thought you were going to sleep."

"Ah. Yes."

"You still haven't gone to bed?"

"No, Father. There's something I wanted to show you tomorrow."

"I see. I don't know what it is, but make sure you get enough sleep."

"Are you still awake too, Father?"

"I woke up. I was going to the bathroom. I heard something coming from your room, so I stopped by."

That was obviously not true.

Hee-soo's room was on the second floor.

Chairman Choi's bedroom was on the first floor.

There was already a bathroom attached to Chairman Choi's room, and he almost never came upstairs.

The house also had excellent soundproofing.

Even if Hee-soo jumped around his room while blasting heavy metal music, there was no way the sound would reach Chairman Choi's bedroom.

Furthermore, his father didn't look like someone who had just woken up.

His perfectly neat hair made that obvious.

I've made Father worry about me again.

But I don't have enough time.

If I can finish this, I'll be able to save time later.

I just need to endure until then.

Hee-soo was blaming himself and preparing an excuse when Chairman Choi spoke first.

"Whatever you're trying to do, do it the way you want."

"Use as much funding as you need. If necessary, establish a separate company."

"You don't need to ask my permission for every little thing. I'll tell the secretarial office to support you."

"R-really? Is that okay? What about the board?"

"If it's less than ten billion won, you could simply use your own money, couldn't you? Are you planning something more expensive than that?"

"No, not really."

"Then you can treat it almost like a hobby."

"You're not doing anything strange. You're establishing a company."

"What could the board possibly complain about?"

"If those board members make trouble, your grandfather or I can silence them with a single word."

"The board is still a little difficult for me."

"Don't give those directors too much confidence."

"If you do, they might start controlling you."

Chairman Choi thought for a moment.

"Actually, this might be a good opportunity to establish it as a completely independent corporation with no direct connection to Suseong."

"I'll send people I trust to help you."

"Father... thank you."

"I'm investing in you."

"I should help you while I still have enough influence to do so."

"Just like you said, once my power weakens, even the board members might stop listening to me. Then helping you won't be this easy."

Looking at the light from Hee-soo's desk, Chairman Choi's expression became worried again.

"Turn that light off and go to sleep."

"You need enough rest."

"If you don't sleep properly, you won't be able to make good decisions."

"Yes, Father."

Chairman Choi closed the door and left.

Hee-soo shook his head.

"Haah. I wish I could do that too."

"But even money can't buy me more time..."

He suddenly stopped.

"Hmm? Have I simply not spent enough money?"

A moment later, he shook his head.

"No. That's not it."

"This is something that requires my own time no matter what."

Realizing that there were things money couldn't solve made Hee-soo feel frustrated all over again.