Dong-sik and Min Seo-ah kept looking at me with strangely intense gazes.
I wasn't exactly sure what emotion was reflected in their eyes, but if I had to name it—
It was probably something close to admiration.
"Really… Mr. Hyun Si-woo is… an incredible and admirable person…Using your abilities for the world…Using the talent you were born with to make the world a better place…"
Min Seo-ah murmured those words while staring at me with an astonished expression.
No, that's really not why I started this business…
I had simply proposed the business to Dong-sik so I could earn enough money to cover my father's hospital bills and my own living expenses—just until the day the Akashic Records decrypted a cure for him.
Nothing noble. Nothing lofty.
And Dong-sik, who knew that fact better than anyone since he'd been watching me the whole time, was now looking at me with slightly dazed, admiring eyes as well.
If this continued, a very unnecessary misunderstanding was bound to form.
I hurriedly tried to correct the situation.
"Ahem. This isn't a business driven purely by such grand or noble motivations.At its core, it's a for-profit venture.In the end, it's something I'm doing for my own benefit."
That should clear things up, right?
But Min Seo-ah looked even more impressed.
"Oh my…There's an old saying that goes, 'The fuller the rice stalk, the lower it bows.'Looking at you, I feel like old wisdom really never misses the mark."
Dong-sik nodded in agreement.
…No, this is really not what I meant.
At this rate, the misunderstanding was only going to deepen.
So I quickly changed the topic.
"Th-Thank you for evaluating me so highly. I truly appreciate it.But now, if we may, there's something else we'd like to ask of you, Ms. Min Seo-ah."
A question mark appeared on her face.
"A request…?Ah—after receiving such an incredible kindness, of course I should help in any way I can."
She bowed repeatedly as she spoke.
"Thank you… truly, thank you so much…Thanks to you, Mr. Hyun Si-woo and Mr. Kim Dong-sik, I've been given a completely new life…"
She was far more polite and courteous than I had expected.
Honestly, if I were in her position, I'd probably behave the same way.
But her manners didn't feel forced by the situation—
They felt natural, as if politeness had been ingrained in her over a long period of time.
"Not at all.We're simply glad that our company's new technology was able to help you."
Before even more embarrassing praise could come out of her mouth, I hurried on.
"If you don't mind me asking…May I ask what kind of life you're planning to live from now on?"
"…My life?"
"To put it more directly—Do you plan on resuming your activities as an influencer, or are you considering a different path?If that's too personal, I apologize."
She waved her hands quickly, flustered.
"Oh, no, not at all.After receiving such treatment for free, it's only natural that you'd be curious.As for my future…"
She paused for a moment, thinking.
"…I think I'll probably return to what I used to do.It's a bit embarrassing to admit, but I've been an influencer since high school, and I never really prepared for anything else.So… it feels like that's the only thing I can do."
That answer was somewhat unexpected.
After becoming a top influencer—practically a celebrity—she'd suffered a sulfuric acid attack by a malicious fan and spent years living in what could only be described as hell.
The attacker, suffering from delusional disorder, had confessed that he believed Min Seo-ah was originally his lover and that she had betrayed him by pretending not to know him—leading him to commit the attack out of twisted resentment.
It was the kind of crime that could only happen to public figures whose faces and personal information are widely exposed.
It wouldn't have been strange at all if she'd developed overwhelming trauma toward the entertainment industry.
Yet she was choosing to return.
Was it because she couldn't let go of the spotlight?
Or because she truly believed that was the place where her talent could shine the most?
Min Seo-ah continued.
"During the years I spent in isolation—and especially after meeting you today—I thought about many things.I realized something just now.Like you, Mr. Hyun Si-woo, I want to use the talent I was born with to help the world and bring something positive to people.I want that to become my life's goal."
I listened carefully.
"The talent I was born with is probably the ability to entertain and bring joy to many people through mass media.So I want to work hard in that place, in my own way.I may not be able to save people or accomplish something as great as you…But I want to overcome my fear and do what I can."
It was a deeply impressive statement.
She said she'd learned a lot by looking at me—
But honestly, it felt like I was the one learning something from her.
Min Seo-ah was quietly breaking down some of the prejudices I'd unconsciously held about influencers.
"I think many people will gain hope and courage by seeing Min Seo-ah return after overcoming such immense hardship," I said sincerely.
She flushed slightly and turned her face away in embarrassment.
"Ms. Min Seo-ah…That's why I wanted to ask—would you be willing to become the advertising model for our company's skin cream?If someone who was treated using our company's new technology became our model, I believe it would create tremendous synergy."
"…A model?"
"Yes."
Truthfully, this had been the original reason Dong-sik and I had gone to such lengths to contact her.
Would she accept?
Given her star power and visuals, it was highly likely that after her return she'd once again become a top-tier influencer or celebrity.
Becoming the model for a small, newly founded startup like ours…
It wasn't an easy favor to ask.
People's hearts change once business enters the picture.
Even though she'd repeatedly expressed gratitude, there was no guarantee she'd agree.
But—
"…Of course I'll do it.I won't even take advertising or modeling fees."
"…What?"
"…Huh?"
Dong-sik and I both blurted out in surprise.
Not only did she accept immediately—she even refused payment.
Morally speaking, that might be the "right" response.
But in reality, not everyone acts morally when business is involved.
Her instant, hesitation-free answer genuinely caught us off guard.
"By the way…The medicine you gave me—are you really planning to sell it as a skin cream…?I was a patient myself, so I have some understanding, but with that level of effectiveness…It's stronger than any medicine that's ever existed."
Naturally, the Luktic Cream sold as a cosmetic was a diluted version mixed heavily with water.
While still far more effective than ordinary skincare products, it wasn't nearly as dramatic as the version Min Seo-ah had used.
"Ah, the version sold commercially is a significantly diluted and regulated product compared to the one provided to you.The product name is Luktic Cream.If you're truly willing to become our model, we can supply you with as much of it as you like."
Min Seo-ah looked at me with eyes full of anticipation.
"Really…?If the cosmetic version is this good, I can't even imagine how amazing it'll be.Thank you so much.Once I resume activities, I'll definitely upload a review on my official account."
"No, we're the ones who should be thanking you for agreeing to be our model under such generous terms.We look forward to working with you, Ms. Min Seo-ah."
"I'm the one who should be grateful—forever.Please take good care of me."
That concluded our conversation.
Min Seo-ah struck me as someone with a genuinely kind heart.
That said, signing a completely free modeling contract wasn't ideal from a business perspective.
Once business relationships are involved, even a symbolic contract fee helps maintain a healthy balance.
I made a mental note to discuss that properly later.
After seeing Min Seo-ah off, Dong-sik and I talked in the office.
"Dong-sik, your idea this time was incredible.We were able to help someone in need, and at the same time, it feels like our business is about to gain massive momentum."
But Dong-sik didn't respond.
He was standing there absentmindedly, cheeks slightly flushed.
"Dong-sik…?"
After a long pause, he finally muttered quietly—
"She's not human…She's an angel…"
Soon after, news spread across the country that Min Seo-ah had completely recovered from the burn scars caused by the sulfuric acid attack.
Naturally, public attention focused on one question:
Who were the medical professionals who had restored a face deemed impossible to heal by modern medicine?
The press release boldly displayed our company's name.
Luktic Corporation.
Based on that release, countless articles flooded the internet.
For days, the web was ablaze with discussions about Min Seo-ah—and about Luktic.
[kise**]**: "Wow… is this even real science? They say sufficiently advanced tech is indistinguishable from magic, and this proves it."
[unb8**]**: "They restored burn scars modern medicine couldn't fix… how is that even possible?"
[euro**]**: "If this is true, it completely changes the medical landscape."
[inve**]**: "What's the company name? I'm buying stock immediately."
[baka**]**: "Not listed yet. Apparently it's a brand-new venture."
[good**]**: "If this is real, isn't it Nobel Prize–level?"
[jh01**]**: "I wouldn't have believed it if it were just words, but seeing Min Seo-ah's face restored… I have no choice but to believe.Honestly, she looks even prettier than before."
[mymy**]**: "Insane technology… Please do an interview with the company CEO."
[real**]**: "Seriously curious who developed this tech."
After the press release went out, our once-quiet office phones started ringing nonstop—every single day.
Interview requests.Coverage requests.Endless calls.
We also received countless messages of gratitude from Min Seo-ah's long-time fans.
Dong-sik said to me with a dazed expression,
"Si-woo… she really is an incredibly influential person."
"Yeah.If people start finding out about Luktic Cream too… won't we absolutely explode?Should we start looking for a bigger warehouse already?"
Normally, Dong-sik would've warned me to stay calm and focus on stability.
But even he nodded absentmindedly this time.
"…Yeah.We might need to put up a job posting for packing and shipping staff."
A few days later, Min Seo-ah officially announced her return to public activities.
After a multi-year hiatus, it would be difficult for her to jump straight back into full-scale work.
But her buzz alone was enough to engulf the entire nation.
The narrative of a celebrity who had lost her career to a tragic attack—only to miraculously return—was irresistible.
The comeback video she uploaded to YouTube quickly surpassed1 million views…2 million…5 million…And eventually crossed 10 million views.
Midway through the video, Min Seo-ah casually mentioned our company and product.
"Many of you already know this from the news, but the people who helped me start a new life are the employees of a startup called Luktic."
"This is the skin cream currently sold by Luktic—Luktic Cream.Some of you said my skin looks even better than before, and that's because I've been using this cream lately."
"According to Luktic's staff, this cream applies the same technology that healed and restored my skin.My skin is quite sensitive, but this cream causes no irritation and feels incredibly gentle.From now on, I plan to use only Luktic Cream for the rest of my life."
Dong-sik and I stared at each other, half out of our minds.
"Dong-sik… can we even handle this?Things feel like they've grown way bigger than we expected."
"…Si-woo.Looks like we're going to be pulling all-nighters for a while."