Villain’s Programming - Chapter 275



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Episode 275: The 35 Billion Dollar Drink

“A short but rich life? Are you talking to me now? To me who will soon die?”

Dojun nodded at Jobs’ words.

“yes.”

Jobs made a strange expression.

“I don’t understand. You wouldn’t be the type of person to say something like that to tease me, but you’re talking about a short but rich life?”

“Yes, I am not joking.”

Dojun looked around. He saw Jobs’ wife, Lauren, and daughter, Lisa.

When Do-jun saw them, Jobs told them that he wanted to talk to Do-jun alone for a moment.

As Jobs’ family left, Dojun took a ‘glass bottle’ out of his pocket.

“What is that? Is it a new drink? It’s too small for a drink.”

Do-jun snickered at Jobs’ prickly words.

“It’s a gift.”

“Haha. A gift… nice. By any chance, is the name of this drink ‘Short but Bold Life’?”

“Similar.”

Jobs looked at the bottle and frowned.

“Hmm, I don’t like the design of the bottle. It doesn’t match the name, Short but Bold Life. Who on earth came up with such a terrible design? Do-jun, do you know who designed this bottle?”

The bottle was shaped like a common Bacchus bottle.

Dojun shook his head and thought, ‘That’s Jobs after all.’

‘I guess you can’t stand not liking a design even if it means you’re about to die. Well, you weren’t going to wear the mask because the design wasn’t that great, right?’

Dojun said, turning the ‘bottle cap’.

“I don’t know who designed it, but I know that what’s inside is very expensive.”

“Expensive? How much does it cost?”

“35 billion dollars (40 trillion dollars).”

Jobs looked surprised for a moment at Do-jun’s words, then chuckled. This was because he remembered that the money was the amount Do-jun had spent to purchase 10% of Apple’s stock.

“35 billion dollars? Haha. Is that the famous apple juice?”

Jobs called the money he spent to buy Apple “apple juice.”

“That’s right, apple juice. It’s apple juice that you can’t get again, so try it.”

When Dojun handed Jobs the bottle, he looked at it for a moment and then poured it straight into his mouth.

“Hmm. As for the taste… I don’t know? It doesn’t taste like anything.”

“But I think it will be effective.”

“What effect? ​​If you were hoping for a placebo effect, it’s already too late. My illness… Haaam.”

Suddenly Jobs yawned deeply.

“Why… am I so sleepy?”

“If you’re sleepy, go to sleep, Jobs.”

“No… I can’t. I have… nothing to do… with you.”

Jobs strained his eyes to keep himself awake, but that didn’t last long. Soon, he was leaning back in his chair and falling into a deep sleep.

“Jobs?”

Do-jun approached him and called his name, but Jobs did not respond. When he put his finger on Do-jun’s nose, he could feel his breath.

‘Is the medicine taking effect?’

Dojun hugged Jobs.

‘It’s light.’

Jobs was as light as a child. When Do-jun took Jobs out of the study, his wife, Lauren, came running in surprise.

“Oh, it’s okay. I just fell asleep. Where is the bedroom?”

Lauren asked, leading the way to the bedroom.

“Jobs… why is he like this? Did he collapse? Then you should call a doctor right away.”

Dojun laid Jobs down on the bed and said.

“He just fell asleep, but if you’re worried, call a doctor.”

In fact, Dojun was also curious about Jobs’ condition. After a while, the doctor came and examined Jobs and said,

“First of all, there doesn’t seem to be anything wrong. He is literally asleep.”

Only then did Lauren breathe a sigh of relief.

“Thank goodness. Actually, Jobs hasn’t been sleeping well lately. He wakes up several times in pain, but he looks really comfortable today. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen him like this.”

Jobs looked really comfortable while sleeping. Plus, the corners of his mouth were slightly upturned.

“Did you have a nice dream?”

At Dojun’s words, Lauren touched Jobs’ face and said.

“Yes, that’s right.”

Lauren looked at Jobs with curiosity and then at Dojun.

“Jobs often talked about Dojun.”

“Huh? Are you talking about me? Didn’t you say I was the most evil devil in the world?”

Lauren answered with a bright smile.

“That’s not possible. Jobs said that Do-jun was the only person in the world who understood him. He said that there were a lot of frustrated people in the world, but when he talked to you, all his frustrations would go away. He even said that if he could, he would kidnap you and work with you at Apple.”

Dojun was surprised. He didn’t know Jobs would say something like that.

‘You want to work with me at Apple? That would be an honor.’

Dojun thought about the dreams Jobs had failed to achieve in his past life.

‘Jobs, let’s create something together in this life.’

Dojun said, whining.

“This… I guess I should just lie down in front of the house? It’ll be easy to kidnap.”

“Pfft. Do-jun is a really fun person. Thank you, Do-jun. Maybe the reason Jobs slept so comfortably after a long time was because he met Do-jun.”

“No. It’s all thanks to Lauren. I got married last year, and I can’t imagine a world without her.”

Dojun said that and handed his business card to Lauren.

“Jobs is asleep, so I should go. If he wakes up, please contact me. If not, I’ll come back tomorrow morning.”

* * *

Jobs opened his eyes and saw the familiar bedroom ceiling.

‘When did I… fall asleep?’

Jobs sat up, pondering for a moment.

“hmm?”

Jobs blinked as he raised his upper body. Lately, he had always had to rely on his wife’s help to get out of bed.

‘Are you in good condition? Or did you just regain some strength before you died? There’s a saying, ‘a return to normalcy’.

Jobs turned his head. Sunlight streamed in through the window, illuminating the bedroom. The light seemed warm today.

Jobs got up from the bed with his legs down. He was lifted up smoothly without any support.

‘Do you feel light?’

I felt refreshed as I walked into the bedroom.

‘What’s going on? This doesn’t seem like a symptom before death.’

When he looked at his watch, it was 9 a.m. Jobs thought about what had happened the day before.

‘Yeah… Dojun came yesterday. I had a brief conversation with him and then fell asleep. I think it was around 3pm… … .’

Jobs was shocked. If that was true, he had slept for more than 12 hours. He had not slept more than three hours at a time recently.

‘Is it because I slept well? My body feels so good.’

Jobs opened the bedroom door and went outside. He went into the living room and saw his wife Laurene talking to someone.

Jobs’ eyes widened.

“Dojun?”

Dojun said, waving his hand.

“Good morning, Jobs.”

“… Good… morning. By the way, you didn’t go home yesterday?”

“I went and came back in the morning. Oh, Lauren is a good cook. The soup and toast are really good. Jobs eats them too.”

Jobs sat at the table, looking at the soup and toast.

‘I can’t eat this.’

It was then that a ‘gurgling’ sound came from his stomach. It was so loud that both Do-jun and his wife, Lauren, could hear it.

Jobs said with an embarrassed smile.

“You’re acting strange today. I usually have no appetite, but today I feel hungry. Lauren, toast seems too much for me, so give me some soup.”

“Jobs, are you okay?”

“huh.”

When Lauren brought him the soup, Jobs took a sip with a spoon. Jobs groaned a few times, then opened his eyes wide. Then he ate the soup again and again.

His wife Lauren said urgently.

“Jobs, eat slowly.”

Despite Lauren’s words, Jobs ate the soup without thinking. In less than five minutes, the bowl of soup was empty.

“One more bowl.”

“Is Jobs okay?”

“It’s strange. My appetite is crazy today. And my digestion seems to be improving.”

“Should I…call a doctor?”

“No. Even if it’s wrong, I like it now. I haven’t been living as a human being for a while. I want to feel this moment a little more. Lauren, give me another bowl of soup.”

Jobs took another bowl of soup and stood up. Lauren looked at him with concern, but Jobs felt strong for the first time in a long time.

‘Something has changed.’

At first I thought it was really a ‘reflex’, but now I know it wasn’t. My physical condition was really good overall.

‘What on earth happened to my body?’

I was taking medicine every day. It didn’t seem like it was because of the medicine.

Jobs turned his head. There was Dojun smiling. For a moment, Jobs’ eyes widened.

‘Yesterday… that drink!’

Jobs remembered that he had drunk the ‘drink’ Dojun had given him yesterday, which was unusual.

“Dojun, can I talk to you for a moment?”

“Of course.”

Jobs and Dojun went back to the study where they had met yesterday.

Jobs said, sitting on the sofa.

“I feel really good today.”

“It looks like that.”

“It wasn’t like this before. I had no strength, I couldn’t taste food, and I couldn’t sleep properly.”

Dojun said with a smile.

“You seem to have had a good night’s sleep last night, right? Didn’t you sleep for more than 12 hours?”

“I slept for 18 hours. I can’t even remember the last time I slept this long.”

“In Korea, they say that sleep is a good medicine. I think I feel good because I got a good night’s sleep.”

At Do-jun’s words, Jobs looked straight at Do-jun and asked.

“Ugh. You keep beating around the bush. Normally, I would have just let it go, but I can’t. I know it doesn’t make sense, but… what did you do to me? What was that drink you gave me yesterday?”

Dojun asked with a smile.

“The worst designed soda bottle ever?”

“Yeah. That ‘Brief But Tough Life’ drink that you said cost $35 billion, even though it has the worst design!”

“Oh! A $35 billion drink?”

Jobs asked with wide eyes.

“Surely that’s worth 35 billion dollars?”

Dojun shrugged.

“Well, it’s similar.”

“Oh my God, what is that drink? No, it’s not a drink. Is it a new drug?”

His illness was one that no one in the world could cure. If there was a new drug that could cure or alleviate that illness, $35 billion might not be an exaggeration.

“It’s all about the name, but I think it’s enough to just be called the mystery of the East. Rather than that, Jobs, let’s go to the hospital together.”

“Why are you at the hospital?”

“Aren’t you curious? What is Jobs’ current physical condition?”

At Dojun’s words, Jobs immediately prepared and went to the hospital. The examination was conducted immediately, and the results came out the next day.

“It’s a miracle. The cancer has shrunk in size!”

Jobs’ mouth fell open at the doctor’s words, and his wife, Lauren, covered his mouth.

Dojun was the only one who had the same expression as usual.

‘It’s similar to when Kim Jae-hwan was a mother!’

Lauren asked.

“So, can Jobs survive now?”

“Well, we have to wait and see… … I can’t guarantee anything. Looking at the test results now, they’re better than the last test, but the condition is still not good. Surgery is also out of the question.”

The doctor said Jobs had a life expectancy of between one year and one year and six months, and told him not to give up because a miracle like this one might happen again.

Jobs held Dojun’s hand tightly as he left the hospital.

“Thank you, Dojun.”

“What? It’s not like I’m completely cured.”

Jobs shook his head.

“You don’t know how precious this time you gave me is. Now I understand why you said life is short but rich.”

Jobs opened his arms and took a deep breath of air.

“I now know how precious it is to walk on my own feet, eat delicious food, and sleep comfortably.”

“Congratulations. I just haven’t realized it yet.”

“Haha. You can realize this much later.”

Jobs looked at the busy road in front of the hospital and asked Do-jun.

“That drink… no, even if I ask what the medicine is, you won’t tell me, right?”

Dojun just smiled silently.

“Good. If I get greedy any more, that won’t work. Instead, I want to pay for the medicine.”

“Jobs, I didn’t give you anything I expected.”

“Yes, but my conscience won’t allow me to take a 35 billion dollar drug for free.”

“Jobs, I don’t need any more money.”

Jobs continued speaking while looking at Dojun.

“Haha. Who said I’d pay with money? Just watch closely. You know how I pay for the medicine.”

Do-jun didn’t understand. But after a while, he couldn’t help but understand what Jobs was talking about.

* * *

[Steve Jobs, death rumors circulate.]

[Apple stock falls 7%.]

Oh Tae-sik, vice president of the mobile division of the Osung Group, threw the newspaper on the table and shouted.

“Look at this, look at this article!”

Oh Tae-yeon sighed as she looked at the article that Oh Tae-sik was pointing at with his finger.

“Brother, your voice is too loud. You’re going to wake up Dad.”

Taehoon Oh, Taeshik Oh, and Taeyeon Oh gathered at home for the first time in a long time. It was because their father, Chairman Geonju Oh, had called them.

But when I got home, Chairman Oh Geon-ju was sleeping. As my health got worse and worse, I fell asleep more often these days.

Oh Tae-sik spoke to the two people in a slightly lower voice.

“I told you not to invest in VENUS GROUP. They invest in Apple, and Apple will crash when Steve Jobs dies! That’s exactly what I said.”

The newspaper contained a photo of Steve Jobs, apparently taken by paparazzi a few days ago, looking visibly ill.

He looked like he had difficulty moving as he was leaning on a cane.

Oh Tae-hoon, the eldest son of the Oh Sung Group, said after seeing the newspaper article.

“Yes, this time, Taesik, you played a big role. If I had invested 3 trillion won in VENUS GROUP as my father wanted, I would have suffered a huge loss.”

Oh Gun-ju instructed VENUS GROUP to consider investing. However, VENUS GROUP was an investment company with no track record, and when he asked Do-jun, he said that he would invest in ‘Apple’.

Apple’s stock price has been volatile more than ever, due to Jobs’ investments and rumors about his health.

Numerous investment experts have published reports recommending against investing.

Oh Tae-sik also thought this was the right time to block the investment. In the end, the investment did not happen, and Apple’s stock price plummeted.

“Now you know, bro. Apple would be nothing without Jobs. But why would Dad invest in such a company? Has Dad lost his senses now?”

Taeyeon Oh shouted at Taeshik Oh’s words.

“Brother. Be careful what you say.”

“Did I say something wrong? Your father is not feeling well, and now he needs to rest in a warm place. That is the best thing for his health.”

“Father, you’re still in the right place. And you’ve lost your touch? Then Larry Page, Bill Gates, and Jeff Bezos have all lost their touch?”

The one who answered Oh Tae-yeon’s words was the eldest son, Oh Tae-hoon.

“They invested because of Hwang Do-jun. And so did my father. I agree with Tae-sik. Investing based only on people is an old-fashioned way of doing things.”

“That’s right, hyung. Every day, father calls me Hwang Do-jun, Hwang Do-jun. It’s really annoying. Isn’t it time to stop now? What are we worse than Hwang Do-jun?”

Taeyeon Oh frowned at Taeshik Oh’s words.

“Brother, don’t you know that the success of Gamnia 2 is half thanks to Dojun oppa? Isn’t it thanks to him that you were promoted to Vice President of the Mobile Business?”

“Tsk tsk. Taeyeon, do you still like Hwang Dojun? Forget it, he’s already married. Or maybe… are you two enjoying each other?”

At those words, Taeyeon Oh suddenly stood up.

“Brother!”

“Your ears are going to fall off. So if you don’t want to hear this kind of talk, get married quickly. I heard there are guys chasing after you because they like you.”

When Taeyeon Oh, who was angry, was about to snap at Taeshik Oh, a low voice was heard from upstairs.

“What are you doing in the house!”

The three siblings looked towards where the voice came from. Chairman Oh Geon-ju was coming down there.

The three siblings got up from their seats. Oh Geon-ju sat down on the top sofa, grumbling, “Tsk tsk.”

“I told you to be friendly with each other! Tsk tsk.”

When Oh Geon-ju clicked his tongue again, all three siblings lowered their heads.

At that time, Oh Tae-sik quickly handed the newspaper to Oh Geon-ju.

“Father, look at this article. Steve Jobs is going to die soon. Apple stock is also at the bottom. If O-seong had invested in VENUS GROUP, he would have suffered a huge loss.”

After reading the article, Oh Geon-ju sighed at Oh Tae-sik’s words.

‘These guys only know how to see the phenomenon, not the people. Even though they said that running a business is running people.’

Oh Geon-ju saw Hwang Do-jun as someone who would never make a losing investment. He thought that even if he suffered a loss in the short term, he would eventually make a big profit.

‘That’s too bad.’

He himself was old. His children were already thinking about his afterlife. The Ohseong Group was full of people lining up for his two sons.

In the end, his son and the company’s executives opposed this investment, and he had no choice but to change his mind.

‘Isn’t it fortunate that Taeyeon is maintaining a good relationship with CEO Hwang?’

It was then. Taeyeon Oh looked at her phone. It was because the ‘KoTok’ alarm sounded.

‘Huh? It’s Dojun oppa, right?’

Taeyeon immediately opened the messenger and checked. There was a news message there.

Taeyeon Oh shouted after seeing the news headline.

“Dad, we’re in big trouble.”

“why?”

“Steve Jobs is announcing a new product! And he looks healthy.”

.