031 Liu Zhimin!

On a rare day off, following the conclusion of her practice sessions, Liu Jimin took a late-night car ride back to Seongnam.

As soon as she stepped through the door, she saw her older sister, clad in pajamas and wearing a facial mask, wandering about like a ghost.

"Sis, why are you home?"

"Hmm..."

Her sister nodded, emitting an ambiguous sound, looking every bit like a walking corpse.

Liu Jimin was startled. This was strange; her sister had visited her in Seoul just a short time ago to treat her to a meal, and she had been perfectly fine then.

"Sister, are you alright?"

"Sigh..."

Her sister let out a heavy breath and drifted slowly into her room.

"Sister?"

"Is our second daughter home?" her father called out from the kitchen, stopping his youngest child. "I saved you some dinner. Come over and eat first."

Liu Jimin made her way to the dining area. Her father sat opposite her, holding a tablet and once again scrutinizing the stock market.

"Is Mom on duty tonight?"

"That’s right. Your mother headed back to the hospital as soon as she finished dinner."

Her father was a native of Suwon, Gyeonggi Province. Growing up in poverty, he had volunteered for the Marine Corps, serving for several years. The Marines were always known for their camaraderie and unity. Although the concept of "transferring careers" didn't exist on the peninsula, following the advice of his superiors, he had balanced his service as a non-commissioned officer with earning an undergraduate degree and obtaining an accounting certification.

After his discharge, acting on the recommendations of those same superiors, he moved to the rapidly developing Bundang New Town. He secured a position at the local Nonghyup Bank, becoming a promising bank accountant. At a social gathering, he met a trainee nurse from a small hospital in Seongnam who had also moved from out of town.

It was love at first sight, and they were soon married. When they had their first child, the birth went so smoothly that the baby arrived almost instantly. The obstetricians at the small hospital were stunned by the ease of the delivery, and the mother returned to her post with barely a break.

The good news continued. The memorial foundation behind the hospital decided to invest in building a new regional trauma center in Bundang New Town. All the staff from the original clinic were to be transitioned into the new general hospital. Later, due to her excellent performance, the mother was recommended for advanced training at the foundation’s Songdo Medical University in Incheon.

Neither of them found it strange; the foundation had been running this training program for years to improve the standard of nursing care at its local clinics. Every participating doctor and nurse had to sign a contract, pledging to return to their original hospital to continue their service. Life held more and more promise, and the couple was determined to grit their teeth and buy a home in one of Bundang’s new luxury apartments. They believed they could pay off the loan and were full of confidence in the future.

***

Yet, they never expected to encounter what they did. At such a major crossroads in life, how was one supposed to choose?

"Sigh..."

Her father put down the tablet. The latest stock market news was disheartening; it felt as if everything was about to collapse.

"What’s wrong, Dad? Both you and my sister are sighing. Are you not happy I came home?"

Liu Jimin was on the verge of "tears," trying to evoke some fatherly affection. She was the most doted-upon child in the house, but today was definitely out of the ordinary.

"Your sister... she resigned."

"What?"

Liu Jimin was stunned. No wonder her sister was at home today; she should have been working in Incheon. "Why would she resign? She wasn't being bullied, was she?"

Unable to grasp the situation, Liu Jimin pressed for answers. Her father didn't know how to respond. He actually felt quite ashamed; his eldest daughter had learned of "that matter," and he felt he had let down his wife, who had struggled alongside him.

It touched upon issues of bioethics. Although the technology had been applied in major hospitals across the peninsula since the early 90s, it remained a significant shock to traditional societal norms. He didn't want his youngest daughter to know.

"Dad! What are you talking about???"

Her sister emerged from her room. She had washed off the mask and rushed to intervene, fearing her father might blurt out things that shouldn't be said. "I just felt my qualifications weren't enough and wanted to pursue a master's degree. The hospital position is still being held for me, alright?"

"Oh, is that all? I’m sure you’ll get in, Sis!"

Liu Jimin sighed in relief, having feared the family was falling apart. It turned out her sister just wanted to study for a master's degree. She likely understood her father's concern, as her sister wasn't particularly academic, and medical graduate school admissions were notoriously competitive; having a stable job was safer.

After finishing dinner, Liu Jimin went to shower. Her dear father took over the dishwashing, and her sister joined him in the kitchen.

"Dad, the Director is very fond of Jimin, and Jimin treats the Director like an older brother. It’s best not to let her know about that incident."

Evidently, after returning home, the sister had confronted her parents and learned part of the truth.

"She’ll find out sooner or later. Yun-hui is not a child who doesn't know how to be grateful," her father muttered, though he was merely being stubborn.

"Dad, you shouldn't say that in front of the Director either."

"I know my limits."

***

Her father was annoyed—was he not even allowed to vent in his own home? Eh, well, he kept his mouth shut.

The old Chairman, Yoon Doo-young, was their benefactor; he had accompanied his wife throughout that entire procedure. Everything that followed had gone smoothly—both their lives and other aspects—much like when his wife gave birth to their first daughter.

"Does… does Director Yoon know you resigned?"

"He likely does. Even if he doesn't, I wouldn't be lucky enough to stay at Songdo Hospital. Dad, the Director is both sentimental and unsentimental. I believe I'll be fine finding a new job or pursuing my studies. Let the favors stay with Jimin; she wants to be an idol and is about to debut—she won't be short on trouble."

The sister had a spirit of truth-seeking; based solely on a childhood memory, she was determined to get to the bottom of the truth. Moreover, her act of secretly taking Yoon Yun-hui’s sample for testing was, in essence, an act of being an inside mole—a betrayal. No one likes a traitor.

"Hey, eldest, do you think it's possible..."

Her father, washing the dishes, was silent for a long time before he suddenly added, "If our second daughter were to marry Director Yoon..."

"Dad!"

Her sister was speechless. Why not just send her to the Director's bed while he was at it? Did he want them to walk the same path their parents had?

"Alright, alright, Dad is muddled. Dad is muddled."

Her father begged for mercy, but he couldn't help it—he only had two daughters. He had achieved class mobility, and they had been dutiful to their four elders back home, earning the praise of every neighbor. His only regret was not having a son. Though his two daughters were wonderful—his "two little cotton-padded jackets"—they would eventually marry off. He thought Yoon Yun-hui was a fine young man and would surely make a worthy son-in-law.

But he was just thinking out loud. The last time he had seen Yoon Yun-hui was before the old Chairman passed away.

"Let's not mention Jimin again, but you need to pick up the pace. Whether it's graduate school or finding a new job, you're already twenty-five, eldest."

"..."

The sister gave her father a brilliant smile before turning on her heel and walking out, her expression darkening.

Nag, nag, nag. That's all he knew how to do all day. If she actually brought a boyfriend home, he probably wouldn't be happy about that either. She knew her father well; he only put on airs of authority. The one who truly ran the household was her mother.