Editor’s Survival Guide - Chapter 82

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Editor’s Survival Rules Episode 82

ep14. Cha-Cinderella (2)

Crash-!

I was startled by the sound from outside the door and looked at Kim Woo-in.

But Kim Woo-in just sighed while keeping the candy in his mouth.

“That crazy bastard, where does he get off using someone else’s name?”

A fierce voice followed.

Could that possibly be Section Chief Kwon Mu-seop’s voice?

Our section chief can make a voice like that?

Thud-!

Another sound rang out, and Kim Woo-in sighed again.

What followed was heavy silence.

Click-

After a moment, the door opened and only Cha Si-eon entered.

Kwon Mu-seop seemed to have just left.

Cha Si-eon’s face was expressionless as usual when he returned.

But one cheek was swollen like someone who had obviously been hit.

“Ah, seriously…”

Kim Woo-in looked disgusted seeing Cha Si-eon’s condition and rushed out of the hospital ward.

Cha Si-eon briefly stepped aside to let Kim Woo-in pass, then went to sit on his bed.

Watching this, I fell into deep thought.

What’s this about now?

Section Chief Kwon Mu-seop, I thought he was a good person even if he’s sometimes sly like a snake…

Was he the type to beat up subordinates returning from the field like this?

If he was going to do this, why did he send Jae-gyeom to detention?

No, more than that.

What did Cha Si-eon do wrong to get hit?

I glanced at Cha Si-eon several times amid various questions.

Then Cha Si-eon suddenly snapped at me.

“If you have something to say, just say it.”

“No, I won’t bother you.”

I was curious, but I tactfully declined.

He must be in a bad mood after getting hit in the face, so I should humor him, yeah.

Nod nod-!

I opened my eyes innocently and nodded to show I’d mind my own business.

“…”

But Cha Si-eon looked at me instead.

Just then, Kim Woo-in returned carrying a dressing tray.

“Team Leader Cha, let me look inside your mouth.”

“I’m fine.”

“Are you going to make me say it twice?”

At Kim Woo-in’s scolding, Cha Si-eon had no choice but to open his mouth.

Kim Woo-in stuffed gauze into Cha Si-eon’s mouth and muttered coldly.

“Those Field Team guys always act like they’re the masters…”

As expected, Kim Woo-in was angry.

Since they hit a patient in front of a doctor, it was understandable.

“Keep biting on this until I come back.”

Kim Woo-in slammed down the forceps with a clatter and stood up.

I remained silent along with Cha Si-eon, who was biting the gauze, still not understanding what was going on.

After about 15 minutes, Kim Woo-in returned.

But someone I’d never seen before followed him in.

He was a man wearing thick horn-rimmed glasses and an obviously expensive suit.

He looked to be in his mid to late thirties.

His hair was slicked back, making him look neat at first glance, but looking closer, that wasn’t the case at all.

The man’s neck and wrists were covered with tattoos that couldn’t be hidden even with all his shirt buttons fastened.

Who is this person?

From his arrogant attitude, he didn’t seem like someone who’d work under others.

Looking at those tattoos and massive chest, he didn’t seem like he’d do ordinary work either.

That unfamiliar, distinctive man suddenly acted like he knew me.

“Oh, this is the new red bean we were looking for?”

New red bean… what’s that supposed to mean?

Is it some gambling term like jackpot?

He certainly looks like someone who’d fit right into a gambling den.

As if noticing my prejudice, the man laughed heartily and waved his hand dismissively.

“It’s okay, I’m not a bad guy. Nice to meet you, I’m Moon Ho-san.”

“I’m Seo Do-un.”

The man, Moon Ho-san, offered a handshake with hands that reeked of strong cologne mixed with cigarette smoke.

When I shook his hand and we exchanged names, Moon Ho-san laughed heartily again.

“Of course I know Seo Do-un.”

“How do you know me…”

“I’m a director at Apophysis.”

“Ah…”

So-

This is the Apophysis director who quit but still acts entitled to senior treatment, who neglected the National Theater and got thoroughly criticized before working for free, who backed out saying the rescue operation was dangerous but quickly joined in when hazard pay was offered to loot the empty building.

“I’ve only heard your name a lot, but this is the first time seeing you in person. Nice to meet you, Kwon Mu-seop’s new red bean.”

New red bean… is it some kind of abbreviation?

Who, dug, what, the earth? What does this even mean?

Moon Ho-san, who had thrown me into confusion, gripped my hand tightly.

Then he shook it vigorously, making me cough lightly as I was jostled around.

Meanwhile, Kim Woo-in, who had removed the gauze from Cha Si-eon’s mouth, spoke.

“You’re both patients, so just handle your business briefly and go.”

“Yeah, of course. Team Leader Cha, have you been well?”

Moon Ho-san greeted him smoothly, then looked at Cha Si-eon’s face and suddenly shouted.

“What bastard messed up Team Leader Cha’s face like that?”

Is it just my imagination?

It sounded like he obviously knew who did it.

“It’s been a while.”

“Yeah, Team Leader Cha. Let’s keep in touch. Are you so busy that it’s hard to even see your face?”

Moon Ho-san replied familiarly and pulled something out of the shopping bag he was carrying.

“Here, a gift. Get well soon.”

What Moon Ho-san pulled out was none other than alcohol.

Expensive alcohol with quite fancy packaging.

“I heard you had a rough time this round? I was worried I might receive Team Leader Cha’s obituary.”

True to someone who brought alcohol as a hospital visit gift, Moon Ho-san’s jokes were also bold.

Kim Woo-in frowned at that crude remark.

But Moon Ho-san didn’t care and laughed heartily.

“Did you thank Seo Do-un over there?”

Then he suddenly brought me into it.

“It was lucky he got dragged along too, because if Team Leader Cha had been alone, it really could have been a disaster.”

“I’ll repay the debt later.”

“What debt? Thanks to him, I made a lot of money. The Management Bureau really treasures that guy, don’t they?”

“….”

“But I think people are being a bit too much. Team Leader Cha gave up quickly, but now that Seo Do-un got dragged away, they’re making a huge fuss saying they need to find him immediately. It made me feel sorry for him. It’s like discarding someone after using them up.”

This guy had a bad feeling from the start.

He’s sitting someone down and openly trying to drive a wedge between us.

But there was nothing wrong with what Moon Ho-san said.

The Management Bureau had indeed given up on rescuing Cha Si-eon once.

However, the abandoned rescue operation was executed again the very next day.

Not for Cha Si-eon, but to rescue me.

None of us would be unaware of this fact.

Moreover, Cha Si-eon had said it directly with his own mouth.

That my life took priority over his own, and that it wasn’t for my sake.

Strategically, it was the right decision.

But humanly speaking, well.

It was true that the Management Bureau, and we ourselves, were treating each other as expendable.

And as long as we’re human, it’s difficult to just understand and accept this.

“Team Leader Cha, don’t do this here and come with us.”

Moon Ho-san said suddenly.

No, not suddenly – everything he said before was all buildup for this.

“I’ll treat you properly. You can earn twice what you’re getting now. Isn’t it a waste to sell your skills and experience at face value like this? You should earn according to your abilities. How long are you going to play Kongji under Kwon Mu-seop?”

Kongji?

That Kongji from the Kongji and Patji tale?

“What’s the point of spinning your wheels here? Who’s going to appreciate it? Did these bastards here properly look for you when you were isolated? Why are you suffering like a dog while being treated like trash? And you’re still taking care of that girl all by yourself, right? Hey, damn it, how long are you going to act like such a sick…”

“Watch your language, will you?”

Kim Woo-in, who couldn’t stand listening anymore, intervened.

“If you’re here to recruit, just present your conditions cleanly instead of this dirty gaslighting.”

Moon Ho-san, whose words were cut off, hesitated for a moment.

Then he chuckled and turned to look at Kim Woo-in.

“Doesn’t the doctor feel pain?”

Moon Ho-san’s voice was still cheerful.

“I do, and if I get hurt, it would hurt just the same, wouldn’t it?”

But his eyes watching Kim Woo-in while slightly lowering his glasses were nothing but menacing.

Hidden behind the thick horn-rimmed glasses, I hadn’t noticed before, but Moon Ho-san’s eye area was covered with scars as if carved by a knife.

At that blatant threat, Kim Woo-in’s eyes also became sharp.

Then Cha Si-eon intervened to stop them.

“That’s enough.”

“Hey, I’m just joking.”

Moon Ho-san laughed while putting his glasses back on.

“Anyway, Team Leader Cha, think about it this time. It’s about time you got comfortable, isn’t it?”

Perhaps judging that talking more would be counterproductive, Moon Ho-san patted Cha Si-eon’s shoulder and muttered one last time.

“Don’t stubbornly endure under some bastard who slaps people in the face.”

After finishing his words, Moon Ho-san left with a grand wave of his hand.

As if it were a trace of that frantic man’s visit, only a fancy bottle of liquor remained alone on the drawer.

* * *

What Moon Ho-san said to me.

That was probably something like ‘Patji.’

Since he called Cha Si-eon ‘Kongji,’ it must be that.

Then what does the ‘Yu’ in front mean? I’m not a Yu.

More than that, why is Cha Si-eon Kongji?

Wouldn’t that be too rude to Kongji?

I was seriously pondering this when.

Creak-

The hospital room door opened and Kim Woo-in entered.

Seeing that Cha Si-eon’s bed was empty, he asked me.

“Where’s Team Leader Cha?”

“He went out alone earlier. It’s been about an hour.”

It seemed like he went out to get some fresh air.

Though it would just be the terrace under an artificial sky with air purifiers running.

At my answer, Kim Woo-in clicked his tongue and looked at his watch.

He seemed troubled that the patient had disappeared when he had medicine or an injection to give.

Kim Woo-in sat down in the chair beside the bed, perhaps planning to wait.

Then he looked at me and said.

“Earlier, you were surprised, weren’t you?”

“No.”

Actually, yes.

“I was a bit uncomfortable too, but don’t think too badly of him.”

“Think badly? Of what?”

“Section Chief Kwon Mu-seop.”

I looked at Kim Woo-in in surprise.

So this time Kim Woo-in asked me.

“Why?”

“It’s a bit unexpected.”

“What is?”

“I thought you’d go kill the section chief today or tomorrow…”

“What kind of nonsense is this…”

Kim Woo-in was dumbfounded by my delusion.

But I was quite serious.

I really thought he’d go and beat up Kwon Mu-seop as soon as he got off work.

But instead he defended him, which was unexpected.

Perhaps seeing through my thoughts, Kim Woo-in opened his mouth as if to clear up the misunderstanding.

“I do complain about him usually, but still, Section Chief Kwon Mu-seop is…”

But Kim Woo-in only got out the first part and couldn’t continue.

“The section chief is what?”

“….”

“…?”

“…Well, anyway.”

Doctor, you might as well just curse instead.

“I hate people hitting others regardless of the reason. But there are people who communicate that way, you know.”

Doctor, you’re greatly misunderstanding the meaning of communication.

“Besides, Section Chief Kwon doesn’t do it just anytime, so don’t look at him too strangely. He at least acts human normally.”

The person who really looks at Kwon Mu-seop strangely is someone like Kim Woo-in…

Yes, that incident earlier was a bit shocking.

Of course, I still feel goodwill toward Kwon Mu-seop.

However, for this goodwill to continue, I think I’ll need to keep a generous distance from the section chief – enough to watch a fire across the river.

“But why was the section chief angry?”

“Hmm…”

At my question, Kim Woo-in looked up at the ceiling for a moment.

After choosing his words in that position, he soon spoke in a resigned tone.

“Team Leader Cha has been going too far lately.”

Then he added this.

“Like someone who’s absolutely desperate to die.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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