Letting go of this small, fragrant being was not easy for Tae Hyuk, even though he knew they would meet again at the hospital tomorrow.

“Professor,” her tender voice called out to him.

Expecting her to say he should go inside, Tae Hyuk almost pretended not to hear.

“Thanks to you, Professor, I was happy today.”

Surprised by her unexpected words, Tae Hyuk lifted his head to look at her face.

The word ‘happy’.

No one had ever said that to him, nor had he ever said it to anyone else.

It was a phrase he thought was not his until Na Young gave it to him.

“Really?”

Na Young gazed softly at him and whispered, “Being with you, Professor, makes me feel like I can be happy in the future too.”

A smile slowly spread across his face, like a warm sun rising over a calm sea.

“That’s an amazing thing to say.”

He had always wondered why he was born, but he found a reason for his existence in saving her. And now, knowing she was happy, he felt the value of his existence.

That made him even more reluctant to let her go.

“I just can’t do it. Can I just take you to my place?” he half-joked, likening it to adopting a stray cat. Na Young firmly shook her head, refusing.

All the way home, Tae Hyuk felt blissful. Even the streetlights he usually passed without a second thought seemed beautiful.

Feeling so good, he called Cha Hyun to arrange a meal, as Na Young suggested.

[You called sooner than I thought. I didn’t expect to see you for a year.]

Truthfully, if Na Young hadn’t insisted, Tae Hyuk would have avoided Cha Hyun for a long while.

“We need to have a meal and send a proof photo. When do you want to meet?”

Cha Hyun understood who instigated this, even without a subject.

[I’ll come by the hospital area during the week.]

“Alright.”

Tae Hyuk was brief and ended the call. Then he texted Na Young.

He had hidden a gift in her aquarium when they went to the Gangwon Province beach. He thought she would have naturally found it by now, but apparently, she hadn’t cleaned the tank yet. Neglecting it wasn’t good for her fish, Blackie.

If Na Young wouldn’t do it, he would use it as an excuse to visit her house.

After sending the message, he received a call.

It was Hong Sik.

“Why?” Tae Hyuk answered, slightly annoyed.

[You told me to call immediately if anything happened with Madam Hwang.]

At the mention of Madam Hwang, Tae Hyuk quickly asked, “What happened?”

[Today, Madam Hwang asked for a ten-day leave to visit her hometown.]

Madam Hwang had never been away from home for so long. For her, that place was home, and those people were like family. She rarely interacted with her real relatives.
Tae Hyuk couldn’t just ignore the situation, so he instructed Hong Sik.

“Check Madam Hwang’s room when she’s not around tomorrow.”

[Me? You want me to snoop around Madam Hwang’s room?]

Hong Sik was shocked and reluctant to do such a thing.

“There must be a reason why Madam Hwang is suddenly leaving for ten days. Find out why.”

[Oh no! Did Madam Hwang fall for some bad people’s tricks?]

Tae Hyuk repeatedly emphasized to Hong Sik.

No matter how trivial, if he finds anything, take a photo and send it to him.

Na Young saw Tae Hyuk’s message about cleaning the aquarium in the morning, but she couldn’t do it as she had to go to the hospital. Also, having never done it before, she didn’t know how.

To learn how to clean the aquarium – and truthfully, to see his face for a moment – Na Young visited Professor Tae Hyuk’s office during lunch. She bought coffee to share, using the aquarium cleaning as an excuse.

Ding.

When the elevator door opened and she saw Professor Tae Hyuk walking, her expression brightened with joy.

She hurried out of the elevator and followed him. But instead of going to his office, he was walking in the opposite direction.

“Profe…”

Just as she was about to call out to him, Na Young hesitated and stopped.

Tae Hyuk’s destination was not his office but Yoon Ina’s room.

Knock, knock.

He knocked and then immediately entered Yoon Ina’s office.

Na Young stood there, dazed, just staring at the door he had disappeared through.