Chapter 424

On a holy December day, the rain fell steadily.

A woman dressed in a neat suit sat alone on a chair just outside the assembly hall.

Even as she tried to appreciate the endless rain, her heart was in turmoil.

The biggest hurdle of her doctoral thesis, the defense, had just ended.

Inside the presentation room, the committee members were conducting a voting session on the approval or disapproval of student Woo Heejin’s doctoral thesis.

Eventually, the door burst open.

The first to come out was her advisor, Professor Cheon Kyujin.

He was a figure revered among graduate students as a “semi-god.”

Getting into his lab, where even the top graduates often failed, was like picking stars from the sky.

Professor Cheon Kyujin extended his hand with a kind expression.

“Congratulations, Dr. Woo.”

In that moment, a mix of emotions surged within her.

Wiping away tears in her heart, Woo Heejin bowed her head.

She was Cheon Kyujin’s last student.

Perhaps the second to last.

* * *

“I briefly thought that you might not pass. You picked a rather strange topic.”

“Hahaha, professor, you must have had a hard time because of me. Ah, I’ll grill the meat.”

“No, no. You must be too tired from preparing your presentation. Just sit back and relax today.”

The beef sizzled deliciously on the grill.

Compared to other advisors who simply bought jajangmyeon from a Chinese restaurant, this was extravagant.

The umami of the two-star Hanwoo beef spread in her mouth.

“The first dinner we had together was here four years ago, and it still tastes great.”

“Has it already been four years? Time really flies.”

“Of course. Now, the lab feels more like my home.”

“In the first semester, it was Gyuchul and Hyunwoo. And finally, you, Heejin. Heejin will forever be our lab’s youngest member.”

“I’ve had a hard time being the youngest for four years.”

“Hahaha.”

All students under Professor Cheon received their PhDs and left the nest.

“By the way, I heard from the seniors that you’re planning to retire this time…”

“Yes, it’s scheduled.”

“Ah, so that was it. But isn’t it too early? There’s still quite some time until retirement.”

“I’m planning to focus on parenting.”

“Parenting? Ah, NaeMe?”

Professor Cheon answered while sipping warm tea instead of alcohol.

“I wanted to finish everything this year for you kids, so I didn’t even have time to see my daughter.”

“Last year, you were on sabbatical but were in the office almost every day. I’m really grateful for that. How is NaeMe doing?”

“She doesn’t show it, but she’s dying of boredom.”

“That’s right; she’s at an age where she should be playing around.”

“But once she starts running, I never know how far she’ll go. One time, I left her at a friend’s house in Gangwon-do, and that evening, I got an international call from Fukuoka. It was unbelievable.”

“Yikes! Really? She went all the way to Japan by herself? Wow, that’s amazing.”

“Even if I tell her we’re going to America tomorrow, it wouldn’t surprise me. So I need to prepare in advance.”

“I thought since NaeMe is so mature, raising her would be easy, but it seems like it’s not quite so. Ah! The meat is burning; I’ll eat this.”

Woo Heejin forcibly took the tongs from Professor Cheon to find her composure.

Meanwhile, Professor Cheon pondered what he would do next year.

His salary would decrease, but he had enough savings.

Above all, the income generated by his two daughters surpassed Professor Cheon’s by more than tenfold.

Saetbyeol was now entering her second year of high school, and NaeMe seemed to need homeschooling.

‘Last time, since she liked Japan, should I suggest we all go skiing there this winter?’

Just then, Woo Heejin, who was checking her phone, exclaimed, “Ah!”

“Professor! Was that joke about going to America for real?”

“What do you mean?”

[‘Controversy over private sanctions’ NaeMe returns to social media after two months… What does her passport photo mean?]

* * *

All the clothes were packed, along with toiletries, electronics, medications, and the passport.

“Should I just pack this much? I’ll buy whatever I lack when I get there. Ah, I should also take an umbrella and a nail clipper. What do you think, Saetbyeol? Think a bit.”

The date for leaving for America was set for three days later.

To board the private plane, there were quite complicated procedures at the White House, so a day or two wouldn’t be enough.

Saetbyeol wrapped her arms around my legs and wouldn’t let go.

“I still think it’s not just you going. Take me along! Me too!”

I simply ignored her and dragged her along on the floor as I walked.

“That was settled earlier. Why are you changing your words?”

In the midst of our scuffle, an alert indicated that Professor Cheon’s car had arrived in the parking lot.

I quickly tidied up the clothes strewn around the room and waited on the living room sofa.

Beep beep beep—

As soon as the entrance door opened, we bolted out like arrows.

“Welcome back!”

“Did you have a good trip?”

“Yes, I’m back. Did you have dinner?”

Professor Cheon took off his shoes and unwrapped his scarf.

A delicious smell of meat wafted from his suit.

“Yes. We managed well.”

“Dad, NaeMe is doing something weird again!”

“What do you mean something weird? That’s not the case, Dad.”

I held Professor Cheon’s hand to pull him away from Saetbyeol.

“NaeMe, I actually have something to discuss with you.”

Did he already know everything?

I froze in place.

“Where are you going this time? America? Japan? Switzerland?”

“To America.”

“I heard you had lunch with the Secretary of State today. Is it related to him?”

I nodded slightly.

“I’d like to attend Phillips Academy for about two months.”

Professor Cheon remained silent.

As a heavy atmosphere settled, Saetbyeol quietly retreated from the conversation.

What a useless cat.

Professor Cheon knelt down to match my eye level.

His white hair, which was hard to see from below, became quite apparent.

Has he been suffering a lot lately?

‘It seems to have increased compared to when I last saw him.’

I leaned my face on his shoulder and opened my arms.

He lifted me up easily as if he was used to this situation.

I guess I must be pretty light.

Even though he supported my body with one arm, he was able to balance me quite stably.

“You said we should discuss things with Dad first when events like this happen.”

“I’m sorry. Can’t you approve it? Please?”

“Two months, you say?”

“Yes. Depending on the situation, I might stay longer, but…”

“Do you want to be independent, NaeMe?”

I shook my head vehemently, utterly denying it.

“Of course not. I want to see you and Saetbyeol every day.”

“Then why?”

“Well, first, Dad is busy with school work. Saetbyeol is now in her second year, so she has to prepare for the exam. I can adapt anywhere you put me, so you don’t need to worry too much.”

It was a bit of a sneaky tactic, but I hugged Dad again to keep him from saying anything further.

“Saetbyeol, you should come over and sit too.”

“Um, okay.”

Saetbyeol, who had been peeking through the door, quietly sat on the sofa.

“NaeMe wants to go to America. What do you think, Saetbyeol?”

“How can you send just my sister to America? I think that’s nonsense!”

“Saetbyeol thinks so, but what about you, NaeMe?”

“Don’t listen to her.”

“I want to support Saetbyeol’s opinion.”

“Why would you have me stuck in Korea? It’s already been two months of this nonsense.”

“That’s not what I meant. We could all go to America together.”

“Really?”

Saetbyeol’s eyes sparkled with joy, while I was left dumbfounded.

“What about classes? What about research? You won’t abandon the graduate students, right?”

“I’ll be retiring from my regular professorship in February. There won’t be any classes, and research can be put on hold. Heejin is the last to have left.”

“Heejin just got her PhD?”

“Today, actually.”

The news of Professor Cheon’s retirement hit me as the biggest shock.

“Dad, you still have seven years left until retirement. Is it because of me?”

“It’s nothing like that. I made this decision because I believe that family time is more precious than the hours spent at school.”

“In the end, you mean it’s because of me. What’s the difference? I’m sorry.”

I’d heard that parents give up their dreams for their children, but I never expected it would be Professor Cheon.

With my emotions in turmoil, I couldn’t lift my head for a while.

“It’s cute to see my little NaeMe being spoiled, but I have to tell you the truth. Honestly, I had planned to retire around this year anyway. That’s why I hadn’t taken any more graduate students after Heejin.”

Professor Cheon gently patted my back to console me.

“Is that true?”

“Of course.”

“Why? I heard adjunct professors get paid poorly and research budgets are small.”

“I’ve always wanted to go on a solo trip around the world someday. Places like America or Canada. Switzerland or the Netherlands, places with good air. So when NaeMe decided to go to America, it made me want to go too. What do you think, can you allow me?”

He should have explained that much earlier.

I almost shed a tear.

In the end, I couldn’t help but release a light laugh and embraced Dad once more.

I wished today could end with such joyful memories.

But of course, Professor Cheon had to add one more thing.

“Now that I see it, NaeMe seems to really enjoy being held. Isn’t that right, Saetbyeol?”

“Yes. Totally. Two hundred percent.”

“I just like heights.”

I always felt frustrated balancing my life at a child’s height.

I was used to looking down at others, but having to look up every day felt utterly disconcerting.

“Should I give you a piggyback ride?”

“What? Ah!”

Technically, piggyback rides are for babies.

Professor Cheon, unfazed, lifted me even higher and placed me on his shoulders.

Now I had risen to a level that nearly touched the ceiling.

He held my wrists so I wouldn’t fall backward.

I attained a view that easily exceeded two meters.

My head was almost brushing against the ceiling.

“NaeMe, do you enjoy the piggyback ride?”

I looked around briefly and shared my honest feelings.

“Well, it’s not as great as I thought.”

Being held was still much better.

* * *

[Next news. High-ranking mage NaeMe is in the spotlight for boarding the private plane of U.S. Secretary of State Murphy to visit America. The White House spokesperson stated that they are thoroughly preparing for NaeMe’s visit. Additionally, with her attendance at the World Human Rights Day event at the White House on the 10th and a meeting with President Newsom, some have raised concerns about it potentially being a case of talent poaching.]

“There’s nothing more to say about the controversy surrounding the state guest treatment. NaeMe has made tremendous contributions to humanity’s history, and she deserves the honors she receives. Furthermore, she has shown great interest in American Academy education systems. While residing in Massachusetts, we will be conducting research on dimensional descent magic together and will support her enable a more stable settlement in America.”

[Best Comments]

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