Chapter 20: The Ambitious One (1)

“Hello.”

Young-Joon greeted Choi Myung-Joon and Seo Yoon-Ju. Both of them were startled like they saw a ghost or something. Now, they could see Cheon Ji-Myung, Bae Sun-Mi, Park Dong-Hyun, and Jung Hae-Rim glare at them with fierce eyes from afar.

Seo Yoon-Ju gulped. She was extremely nervous.

Young-Joon stared at her for a bit and then said, “The happening at the cafeteria. You were in the wrong, right, Scientist Seo?”

“... Yes, that’s right... I’m sorry,” Seo Yoon-Ju answered in a tiny voice.

“Well, I’ve only been in the Life Creation team for a week, and the ones that you had trouble with were my seniors, so you don’t have to say sorry to me. You just need to go talk to the seniors yourself.”

“...”

“The reason why I came to see you wasn’t to argue about that but just to let you know about something.”

“Let us know?” Puzzled, Choi Myung-Joon asked with his head tilted.

“Yes, a venture company in Korea is working on probiotics, and I think they are going to create a good product soon.”

Young-Joon was talking about Celligener. Of course, the part about them creating a good product was a lie.

“Which company?”

“I can’t tell you that. When it comes out, it will be better than Roche’s Active Lactobacillin.”

“What?” Choi Myung-Joon was filled with shock.

“Manager Choi, the Health Food Department is the team working on probiotics at A-Gen, right?”

“...Yes.”

“I heard that you got an earful because you let Roche steal your share in the market.”

“Yes... That’s right.”

“Even if Roche surpassed A-Gen, I heard A-Gen is ahead in markets in Korea and Asia. However, if a venture company in Korea develops a good product, their competition is going to be A-Gen rather than Roche, isn't it? Because they’ll start with the market in Korea.”

“...”

“If you do nothing, you might bleed a little from the criticism during the next seminar. Do you have a plan to solve this?”

“We’re working on it,” Choi Myung-Joon said.

“If you sit back and relax like that, A-Gen will keep losing its share in the probiotics market. It’s a reliable item and the future industry, so we can’t afford to lose it like that. I’m thinking of experimenting with probiotics since our department received the Award for Exceptional Performance.”

“That’s our department’s responsibility!” Seo Yoon-Ju shouted in surprise.

“I know. But there’s a tradition of letting the department that got the award do whatever research they wanted for a year, and they have the budget to do that, too. And we’re all A-Gen employees, aren't we? It’s all of our loss if A-Gen loses the probiotics market. We should stop it if we can, no matter the department. I have a better item than the venture company, too.”

“What... is it?” Choi Myung-Joon asked with a slightly quivering voice.

“It’s a secret.”

“S-Stop bluffing. How can someone who’s only worked with animal cells at the Life Creation Department know about probiotics? Those are bacteria and microbes!” Seo Yoon-Ju shouted.

“

Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Bifidobacterium breve, Bifidobacterium lactis, Lactococcus lactis, Enterococcus faecalis

.”

As if he was chanting a magic spell, Young-Joon began listing the components of Roche’s probiotic product. Choi Myung-Joon and Seo Yoon-Ju couldn’t see it, but a list of ingredients in Roche’s product that he had seen before was floating in front of his eyes.

“Those are the components in Roche’s product.” Young-Joon added, “I can also tell you the biological mechanism of these bacteria. For example,

Lactobacillus acidophilus

usually use lactose, and they can suppress the growth of harmful bacteria by creating around twenty different types of chemicals and using those as natural antibiotics. When given to the intestines, it can help with the activation of the immune system and improve bowel movements.”

“...”

“Do you need me to explain the others?”

“No...”

Seo Yoon-Ju gulped.

“You really don’t think I have a good item? Because it’s weird that someone who worked with animal cells knows a lot about probiotics? But it’s also just as weird for someone who developed anticancer drugs to work on stem cells,” Young-Joon said.

“...”

“I want to borrow the Health Food Department’s equipment once I start working on probiotics. We can work together, right? Or we can make a task force team for probiotics. Of course, we would share some of the rewards with you.”

“Of course,” Choi Myung-Joon replied with a bright face.

“That’s a relief. I was going to work with that venture company if you said no.”

Choi Myung-Joon and Seo Yoon-Ju both flinched. Young-Joon went on.

“To be honest, the person who told me that the venture company was working on probiotics is actually my friend. Haha, they told me they wanted to do it together. It would look good if A-Gen and a venture company had a technology partnership, right? So I was thinking we should make a partnership with them and work together.”

Choi Myung-Joon’s hand trembled slightly.

“W-Would you need to work with another company when you have a department that works on probiotics in the same lab...” Seo Yoon-Ju mumbled.

“Right? There’s no reason to do that. Haha. I feel a little sorry for my friend, but I should give my item to the Health Food Department, and give my friend’s company something else, right?” Young-Joon asked.

“Of course...”

“Oh, Scientist Seo. I heard that you met Soon-Yeol-sunbae in front of the washroom during the break before the ceremony started.”

“Huh? Um... Yes, we met.” Seo Yoon-Ju went pale as if all the blood left her body.

“I heard you guys talked for a little bit? I assume you apologized?”

“...”

Young-Joon stared at her. Seo Yoon-Ju could not say anything.

“Or did you fight more?” Young-Joon asked like he was curious.

“Um... That is...”

“We’re sorry.” Choi Myung-Joon quickly interfered. “We couldn’t deliver a proper apology because we were so busy. We will apologize right now and provide compensation.”

Choi Myung-Joon put his role as the department head, a middleman, above being a scientist. He believed that his eye for people had become pretty sharp from working at a company for so long. From what he saw, Young-Joon was not someone they should keep as an enemy.

Choi Myung-Joon considered what kind of results Young-Joon, a scientist who was only about thirty, had shown. His bravery in setting up projects that seemed almost impossible in the Life Creation Department, which was basically barren, in the face of pressure to get results. His determination, which drove the project forward when his department members would have disagreed on it, and his ingenuity, which allowed him to get results. The spirit and ferocity to go against Kim Hyun-Taek without compromising his morals.

‘This guy is dangerous.’

They were relatively autonomous in terms of research direction now that they got the award, and they also had received funding. What this meant was that there was no telling what this genius would do next.

Young-Joon was probably going to climb up the ladder quickly. He would probably become an executive soon since he was talented and also caught Nicholas’ eye. He might even become the CTO when he became Choi Myung-Joon’s age. If that happened, it would go in whatever direction Young-Joon wanted, as A-Gen was a research-focused company,

There was no reason for Choi Myung-Joon to be afraid as Young-Joon was still a Scientist, but it was clear that he was someone they should not keep as an enemy.

“Let’s go, Yoon-Ju.”

Choi Myung-Joon quickly grabbed Seo Yoon-Ju’s wrist.

“Let’s go.”

Young-Joon grinned and led the way as if he was waiting for this.

‘He came here, already knowing that this would happen.’

Choi Myung-Joon gulped. He felt like Young-Joon, who was walking in front of them, looked like the devil.

However, to Koh Soon-Yeol and the other members of the Life Creation Department, Young-Joon looked like a wizard. They couldn’t think of any other way to explain that situation other than Young-Joon using magic, such as mind control.

“He’s really bringing them here?” Park Dong-Hyun exclaimed in surprise.

“Doctor Koh Soon-Yeol.” Choi Myung-Joon bowed to Koh Soon-Yeol. “We misspoke last time. We sincerely apologize.”

“I’m sorry. I was the one who bumped into you. I will provide compensation,” Seo Yoon-Ju also apologized in a tiny voice.

“We’re also really sorry to Doctor Jung Hae-Rim and Doctor Park Dong-Hyun.”

The two bowed toward them as well.

Park Dong-Hyun crossed his arms and stared at them.

“Alright. I hope something this exhausting doesn’t happen again.”

“I will send you the money for dry cleaning. I’m really sorry. I will be careful next time...”

Seo Yoon-Ju noted down Koh Soon-Yeol’s bank account number with tears welling up in her eyes.

* * *

“Should we choose where to get dinner?” Bae Sun-Mi asked after Choi Myung-Joon and Seo Yoon-Ju left.

The members of the Life Creation Department were psychos who could not get along with people in other departments. However, all they did was not suck up and speak up in an authoritative kkondae environment.[1]

They were also people with common decency.

“Let’s get beef. We can finish dinner at nine, and people who want to go for round two can go if they want. Drinking is optional as well,” Cheon Ji-Myung announced.

“Is there anywhere near here to get beef?” Park Dong-Hyun asked and pulled out his phone to look up places nearby.

“I know a place. There’s a good restaurant around here that has good beef,” Bae Sun-Mi said.

“Oh! Of course you do, sunbae. You said you have a foodie blog for restaurants... Where is it?” Jung Hae-Rim brightly smiled.

“Do you know that they have black cows in Jeju? They call it Jeju Black Cow, and this place specializes in it. They cook it for you, and the taste...”

Bae Sun-Mi showed a thumbs-up as she imagined it.

“Let’s go already. I’m getting dizzy,” Park Dong-Hyun said.

“Follow me, everyone.” Bae Sun-Mi led the way in excitement. The place she took the team to was a barbeque place behind the restaurant alley behind the A-Gen building.

[You a Fool If You Ain’t Been Here][2]

“...”

‘What a name, huh?’

As confident as Bae Sun-Mi was, the meat was absolutely delicious. The server grilled the thick cut of beef with mushrooms and onions.

Koh Soon-Yeol, who grabbed a piece, was shocked when he put it in his mouth.

“Haa?

Oishii?

It’s better than wagyu.”[3]

“I’m going to cry because it’s so good. I want to subscribe to your blog...” Jung Hae-Rim said with teary eyes.

“It’s really good. I’m going to come here with my wife next time,” Park Dong-Hyun added.

“Hae-Rim and Dong-Hyun, you’re going to drink, right? Soon-Yeol doesn't drink.” Cheon Ji-Myung asked.

“Of course!” Jung Hae-Rim shouted with a bright smile.

“Lead Sun-Mi isn’t drinking too because she needs to watch her kid—” Cheon Ji-Myung commented but was interrupted swiftly.

“No, I’m going to have some today. My husband is at home watching the kid because it was his day off.”

“Aha. Alright. Do you like alcohol, Doctor Ryu?” Cheon Ji-Myung asked.

To be honest, Young-Joon could barely tolerate alcohol. He had it every day after being kicked out of the Anticancer Drug Research Department, but before that, he tried really hard not to lose consciousness during every company dinner.

“I’ll have a little bit.”

“We don’t force you to drink or anything. You don’t have to have any if you don’t want to,” Cheon Ji-Myung assured Young-Joon.

“Ahaha, yes, thank you. Just a little bit, please.”

“Alright. Soon-Yeol, you want Coke?”

“I would like it if you got me Sprite. Sprite is good to have because it’s refreshing, just like our win.”

“Excuse me, could we get two bottles of Chamisul[4] and a bottle of Sprite?” Cheon Ji-Myung ordered and turned his attention toward Young-Joon again. “How much can you drink, Doctor Ryu?”

“About half a bottle of soju.”

“No, you can’t talk about your limit like that,” Cheon Ji-Myung replied.

“Dong-Hyun, how should a scientist say their alcohol limit?” He asked.

“Of course, in liters per hour,” Park Dong-Hyun replied.

“Haha, then I’m not sure. What about you, Dong-Hyun-sunbae?” Young-Joon asked.

“My limit is one bottle per hour, but I can only have half a bottle because of my wife.”

“Does she scold you if you have more than half a bottle?” Young-Joon asked as Park Dong-Hyun suddenly brought up his wife.

“No, well, nothing like that, but...”

“Haha, Doctor Ryu. Dong-Hyun’s wife has a good grip on him. Don’t have a marriage like that,” Cheon Ji-Myung said, chuckling.

“No, I just really love my wife. She doesn’t control me or anything.” Park Dong-Hyun shook his hand like it was nonsense.

“... Is what he says, but he always calls her and reports the situation every hour when we have a team dinner. You’ll probably see him do it today, too,” Jung Hae-Rim said with a laugh.

Young-Joon also chuckled and remarked, “Well, no matter the reason, it’s good that you hold yourself back.”

Cheon Ji-Myung poured everyone a glass once the server brought it to their table.

The winter night deepened, and the Life Creation Department kept drinking and eating. Koh Soon-Yeol watched an hour of anime during dinner, and Park Dong-Hyun made an excuse that he needed to go to the washroom and went and called his wife. No one forced them to stay, and yet, no one left. Everyone wanted to enjoy today’s feelings a bit more.

And after a few bottles of wine at a bar, they went for round three...

“Doctor Ryu, I’m saying this not as your department head, but as a scientist who has done research for a lot longer than you have. I’m being sincere, and it’s because I’m thinking for your sake,”

Cheon Ji-Myung said with a slur.

“I want you to leave A-Gen.”

1. Kkondae refers to people who are usually authoritative and force their traditional and negative thoughts and beliefs onto someone else. These people are usually from the older generation. ?

2. This restaurant name is a wordplay. ??, or Black Cow, is often used as ??, which means ripped-off, because it sounds similar. The original name of the restaurant means that you’re getting ripped off if you haven’t been here. ?

3.

Oishii

is Japanese for “delicious”. ?

𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

4. A soju brand ?