Chapter 98

Student Song Do-yoon, wearing a plain, common black long coat, seemed quite unfamiliar.

It was because I was only used to seeing Song Do-yoon in school uniforms or gym clothes.

“Professor, you’ve arrived.”

“Did you do well at your part-time job?”

“Yes.”

After removing her shoes and entering, Song Do-yoon took off the coat and carelessly spread it next to the electric blanket on the floor.

As expected, it seemed that was where Song Do-yoon slept.

At the sound of the door, Song Do-yoon’s younger sibling peeked into the living room.

“Big sister, are you home?”

“Could you bring some water to boil in the kettle? Do we have any yuzu tea left at home?”

“Ah, that… I ate the last bit yesterday.”

As Song Do-yoon turned her expressionless gaze toward her sibling, the younger one, unsure of what to do, quickly averted her eyes.

“If you had just mentioned it, I would have saved some…”

The sibling was completely different in personality from Song Do-yoon.

Song Do-yoon passed by her sister and opened the fridge door.

A quick glance inside revealed only a few plastic containers of side dishes sitting lonely in the refrigerator.

After staring inside the fridge for a while, Song Do-yoon let out a small sigh and closed the door.

“I’m sorry, professor. I don’t have anything to offer. I initially planned to serve yuzu tea, but my younger sibling ate it all.”

“It’s fine. I didn’t come here expecting anything.”

“Mom has diabetes, so we don’t have any juice at home. With the cold weather, I could at least offer some warm water…”

“No, it’s really alright.”

After briefly looking at me, Song Do-yoon let out another small sigh and spoke.

“Well… Please come into the inner room.”

Song Do-yoon nodded toward her younger sibling.

“You, go back to the living room.”

After closing the door, Song Do-yoon motioned for me to sit on the floor, and she sat down next to me.

“I’m sorry, professor. We don’t have decent chairs.”

In response to Song Do-yoon’s mother’s comment, I waved my hand, saying it was fine.

“To start with, you might or might not know this, but the team our student Do-yoon was part of ranked first in the academy this semester.”

“I’ve heard about it. It’s thanks to the professor’s excellent guidance. Thank you.”

“Mostly due to Do-yoon’s remarkable abilities. Even as a first-year, she possesses extraordinary skills. If she continues like this, she should graduate without any problems and become a fully-fledged hero.”

We exchanged pleasantries discussing various topics.

It turned out that Song Do-yoon’s family had always been poor.

As is often the case with impoverished households, the poverty handed down from grandparents continued, perpetuating the cycle by marrying into similar circumstances.

Song Do-yoon’s father worked as a low-level employee at a die-casting plant but passed away when Song Do-yoon was young due to an unexpected industrial accident.

Her mother, left alone, worked every odd job she could find to raise two children. But after suffering an accident on the road, she injured her spine, leaving her immobile.

And to make matters worse, she also had diabetes.

Some writer once said,

“All happy families resemble each other, but each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.”

“Then, might I ask, how is the family managing financially?”

“We receive a basic living allowance and a disability stipend. And… Do-yeon also works part-time.”

By Do-yeon, she was referring to Song Do-yoon’s younger sibling.

I recalled that Song Do-yoon’s academy tuition was fully covered by scholarships due to her academic excellence and, given my understanding, the academy also provides support to students from less fortunate backgrounds.

We discussed many other things.

We reconfirmed details I had already known from her profile while asking about things I hadn’t been aware of.

Song Do-yoon’s mother repeatedly mentioned how much “Do-yoon” praised the professor, to which Song Do-yoon, each time, irritably told her not to say such things, shooting her mother a sharp glance.

How much time had passed?

After glancing at the wall clock, Song Do-yoon said,

“Professor, I apologize, but today my mother and I need to visit the hospital to get her prescription.”

“Ah, I see? I’ve taken up too much of your time. I’m sorry.”

“No. It’s because I failed to organize my schedule properly. Thank you for coming all the way out here.”

As I was about to stand up, a thought crossed my mind.

“But you’re personally taking your mother to the hospital? Isn’t proxy prescription available for regular medication for patients with mobility issues?”

“I know that, but if we don’t go, she’d just stay at home all the time. When we go to the hospital, it’s also a chance for her to get some fresh air outside.”

“Ah, I see.”

However, this raised another question for me.

How exactly would two girls carry their mother, whose lower body was paralyzed, to the hospital?

Especially since we lived in a steep mountain area where even cars couldn’t reach the narrow alleyways.

“I’ll carry her down. Once we get to the main road, we can hail a taxi.”

So that was her plan….

“Damn this world for being so cruel!!”

Hearing the scream from outside the window, I paused and thought.

Anyway, I was currently on vacation, so I didn’t have anything urgent to attend to right away.

Although I planned to go to Yu Hye-won’s house, a little delay wouldn’t be a big issue.

“Then let’s go together.”

“Professor? No, you don’t have to. You’re busy, aren’t you?”

“I’m on vacation. I’m not heartless enough to leave in this situation. I’ve parked my car below, so we can drive there comfortably.”

Song Do-yoon and her mother continued to refuse, saying it was unnecessary, but I wasn’t about to back down.

Song Do-yoon is my guidance student, and I have an obligation to guide her in all aspects.

Eventually, Song Do-yoon resignedly said she would appreciate the help, and thus, we all headed to the hospital together.

“I’m sorry, professor, for involving you in such an inconvenience during your home visit.”

Song Do-yoon’s mother, riding on my back as we descended the steep slope, apologized.

“It’s no problem. I used to be a hero, so this isn’t much of an effort.”

When we reached the spot where my car was parked, Song Do-yoon’s younger sister excitedly pointed at it.

“Big sister! Look at that car! What’s such an expensive car doing here?”

“That’s the professor’s car.”

“Wow!! Are you serious?! Incredible….”

Song Do-yoon’s younger sister kept marveling throughout the ride to the hospital, opening the window, pressing various buttons, and constantly showing excitement.

Once we arrived, the sister ran off quickly and returned with a public wheelchair.

After placing the mother into the wheelchair, Song Do-yoon spoke to me.

“Professor, we can handle it from here. Please go ahead now.”

“You’re going home anyway, right? Let’s go together.”

“Alright… I understand.”

We were told we would need to wait about an hour due to the number of patients ahead, so we had some drinks and desserts at the cafe on the first floor of the hospital.

While waiting, I explained to Song Do-yoon’s sister about the academy and the activities of the heroes.

The sister laughed and clapped her hands enthusiastically, clearly enjoying it.

Song Do-yoon’s mother also listened with great interest to my stories.

No matter who it is, stories shared by a former hero can be captivating.

“Professor, this is so interesting. Big sister talks all the time about how well you speak…”

“Shut up, Song Do-yun.”

“Ah, you always tell me to shut up. In my opinion, professor, even boring stories from you would be interesting. After all, good-looking people can even make old jokes work. Surely Big Sister also thinks so….”

“Ah, be quiet already.”

“Ouch..”

After our turn came, we got her mother checked and were given a thick bundle of medication, and then we returned home.

On the way back, I suggested we pop into a mart since I had noticed the state of their fridge earlier.

Song Do-yoon hesitated slightly, but I reassured her about the purpose of the operational budget card, after which she finally agreed with my suggestion.

With Song Do-yoon pushing her mother in the wheelchair, I pushed the cart, and her younger sister walked ahead, filling the cart with items they needed.

“Don’t be shy, just buy what you need.”

“In that case, I’ll go ahead and add them.”

“Hey, Song Do-yun! Don’t overdo it.”

“Professor said it was alright!”

As the sisters bickered, Song Do-yoon’s mother looked my way with a peculiar expression.

Though I recognized the meaning behind her gaze, I decided not to say anything and simply smiled.

“Wow, did we buy too much?”

As the items piled up at the checkout, the younger sister began checking my reactions nervously.

A mere twenty million won wasn’t a significant expense compared to a professor’s salary.

“I’m sorry… Should we take out a few things?”

“No, it’s fine. Thank your big sister. It’s all because she does such a good job.”

“Mom! The professor is buying these because he likes Big Sister!”

I never said anything like that, so how exactly did it turn into this?

“Song Do-yun, seriously shut up.”

“Professor said it himself!”

Though the sister seemed reluctant to go home yet, she refrained from saying anything further, intimidated by Song Do-yoon’s determination not to burden me further.

“Well, let’s head home now.”

As I was about to drive out of the parking lot, my cellphone suddenly rang.

Oh, she couldn’t wait, could she?

Since I had set up Bluetooth connectivity, I answered the call immediately, only for Yu Hye-won’s roar to echo throughout the car.

[Where in the world are you that you haven’t been in touch yet? We clearly agreed that you’d come over today!!]