Another day passed and it became morning.

Ina helped her mother change from her patient gown into a surgical gown for the leg surgery scheduled at 9 AM.

Thus, her mother entered the operating room once again, and the surgery was a major one that lasted 5 hours.

Due to the two consecutive surgeries, her mother was very weak and in a lot of pain when she returned to the recovery room.

After returning to the hospital room, whenever her mother was in pain, all Ina could do was call the nurse to give her painkillers.

Following the nurse’s instructions to continue with ice packs, Ina and Juwon took turns applying them. Juwon took charge of all tasks requiring strength, such as lifting her mother who was wearing a back brace.

The two stayed close to her mother, providing devoted care, and several more days passed until the weekend arrived.

Her mother had somewhat regained her strength, which had been completely drained by the surgery, and was now able to speak well.

As her mother was exchanging various words with Ina, she beckoned Juwon, who was standing nearby, to come closer and held his hand tightly.

“I heard you came back straight from China because of me? I’m so sorry and grateful for making a busy person go through all this trouble… I don’t know what to say.”

Ina’s nose tingled at her mother’s words.

“It’s nothing, ma’am. Of course I had to come. And please speak comfortably now.”

Her mother looked up at Juwon with a smile, tears glistening in her eyes.

“How can I be so blessed… To have such a beautiful daughter like our Ina, and her boyfriend is so lovely too…”

Her mother’s voice choked up as she spoke, and she paused for a moment.

Feeling her hand tremble, Juwon held it tightly.

“Ma’am, I’m the one who’s blessed. I’m dating your beautiful daughter, born to such a wonderful person like you.”

Juwon’s sweet words made her mother smile, and Juwon smiled back.

At 5 PM, her aunt and Yeongmin came to the hospital.

“You’ve been through a lot this past week, haven’t you? Don’t worry about what’s left, just hurry up and go back, alright?”

Her aunt said, holding Juwon’s hands.

“It’s nothing, aunt. I should stay longer, but I’m sorry I have to go back. Instead, I’ll come down again right after work on Friday.”

“Oh my, there’s no need for that! Why come down again? Ina will stay for another week, and after that, Yeongmin and I will come and look after her, so don’t worry, alright?”

Her aunt said, patting Juwon’s shoulder.

Soon, as the train time approached, Juwon packed his clothes, and Ina also got up and put on her coat.

As Yeongmin stood up to accompany them to the train station, her aunt pulled him back and whispered so only he could hear.

“Hey, you clueless boy. Why are you trying to go to the train station, huh?”

“But I want to see elder brother off too…”

Yeongmin said, pouting, and her aunt pulled his arm again and said,

“My child, but sometimes you’re so tactless, aren’t you? Let them have a cozy time together, you just stay put here, alright?”

Yeongmin pouted again but reluctantly approached Juwon.

“Elder brother, travel safely and let’s see each other again soon. Okay?”

“Alright, I got it. Please take care of my mother-in-law in the meantime. Understood?”

“Yes, I’ll come right after work and help elder sister.”

“Alright, thank you.”

Juwon smiled at Yeongmin, then held the hand of Ina’s mother lying in bed and said goodbye.

“Ma’am, I’ll be going up now. Please stay strong and recover quickly. Alright?”

Ina’s mother nodded, holding Juwon’s hand at his words.

“Alright. You’ve been through so much. Travel safely.”

“Aunt, then I’ll be going now.”

After saying goodbye to her aunt as well, Juwon left the hospital room with Ina.

Yeongmin followed them to the hospital entrance, wagging his tail like a puppy following its owner.

A little later, the two arrived at the train station and walked towards the ticket gate, holding hands tightly.

“Honey, you’ve been through so much. I’m so grateful and sorry.”

As Ina looked up at Juwon and spoke, he looked down at her with affectionate eyes.

“It’s nothing, I’m really sorry I have to go back first. I wanted to take more days off, but there was too much work and I couldn’t. Instead, I’ll come right down after work on Friday.”

“No, you really don’t need to come, okay? We’ve passed the critical point now, so you don’t have to come down.”

“I’m coming down. I need to see your mother again and take you back up with me.”

“I can just take the train by myself.”

“No, I’m coming down, so keep that in mind. Okay?”

Ina reluctantly nodded.

“Travel safely and get a good night’s sleep tonight. Alright?”

“Okay, I got it.”

Juwon gave Ina a quick kiss on the lips before reluctantly moving his feet to enter the ticket gate.

After Juwon went up, Ina and her aunt took turns caring for the patient.

Yeongmin came to the hospital right after work every day, and her aunt came in the morning and left in the afternoon to prepare for her restaurant business.

On Thursday, they were able to go for a walk, carefully placing her mother, wearing a back brace, in a wheelchair.

Time passed like that, and Friday came again. At 6:20 PM, Juwon called.

– I just got off work and I’m leaving now. I think I’ll arrive a little after 11.

“I’m telling you, you really don’t have to come. You’ll be tired, how can you drive?”

– I’m not tired at all. I’m curious about how much your mother has improved, and I miss you too much.

Ina’s heart fluttered at the words “I miss you.”

In fact, Ina missed Juwon terribly too.

“Then don’t leave now, get a good night’s sleep at home and leave tomorrow morning. I think that would be better.”

– No. I want to see you quickly.

“…”

When Ina didn’t respond, Juwon chuckled and said,

– Then I’m leaving now, so wait for me. Okay?

“…Okay. I got it. Drive safely then.”

Ina’s cheeks turned red after hanging up the phone.

After 8 PM, her aunt tapped Ina’s thigh and said,

“Hey, I’ll stay with your mother tonight, so you go home. This man will be very tired after driving, so tell him to go straight home and sleep. You can come to the hospital together tomorrow morning. Understood?”

“No, you must be tired too.”

“I took a nap before coming out, so it’s fine. If I get sleepy later, I can just lie down here and sleep, so hurry up and go. Alright?”

“Yes, Ina. This man will be tired, so hurry home, tidy up a bit, and prepare the bed.”

At her mother’s words, her aunt and Ina looked at her mother simultaneously.

Seeing their gaze, her mother looked at them strangely.

“Why are you both looking at me like that?”

Then her aunt started giggling.

“Oh my, Ina. Your mother is so funny, isn’t she? She scolded me for calling him ‘this man’, but now she’s calling him that too?”

At her aunt’s words, her mother spoke with an embarrassed expression.

“Ah, it’s just because you keep saying ‘this man, this man’ that it stuck in my mouth too.”

Then her aunt looked at her mother sideways and smirked.

“Oh my, how funny. Hey, you should be honest with your feelings now too, shouldn’t you? Don’t you think our son-in-law is the best after experiencing this?”

When her mother closed her eyes, saying she was suddenly sleepy, her aunt giggled again.

“Oh, aunt. Stop it already.”

Ina tapped her aunt, feeling embarrassed.

A moment later, Ina reluctantly packed her bag and went home at her aunt’s continued urging.

After going home, she did some light cleaning with Yeongmin and prepared the bed with thick blankets.

Just after 11 PM, Juwon called to say he had passed the Yeosu tollgate.

And about 20 minutes later, the intercom rang, and Yeongmin opened the door and rushed down to the first floor to greet him.

Soon after, Yeongmin appeared with a big grin, arm in arm with Juwon.

“You’re here?”

Ina greeted Juwon with an affectionate expression.

“Yes, I’m here.”

Juwon gently detached Yeongmin and pulled Ina into a hug.

“I missed you.”

Juwon tightened his arms around Ina, not caring that Yeongmin was beside them.

Feeling embarrassed, Ina quickly pulled away and looked up at Juwon, saying,

“You must be exhausted after driving right after work?”

“No, I’m fine. I’m not tired. How is your mother doing?”

“She’s much better. Since Thursday, she’s been taking short walks in a wheelchair, and they say she can be discharged next week after removing the stitches, depending on her condition.”

“Really? That’s such a relief.”

Ina smiled as she watched Juwon’s relieved expression.

“You must be tired, so go wash up and sleep quickly. We can go to the hospital after breakfast tomorrow.”

“Okay, I got it.”

Yeongmin quickly went to the room and brought out clothes for Juwon to wear.

“Elder brother, hurry and wash up. Let’s sleep.”

Juwon took the clothes and went into the bathroom.

A moment later, when Juwon came out after washing, Ina quickly urged him to sleep, and Juwon went into the room with Yeongmin, giving a regretful look.

The next morning, the three of them got up early, had breakfast, and headed straight to the hospital.

“Oh my, why did you come down again when you must be tired?”

Her aunt said this but patted Juwon’s back with a pleased expression.

“It’s nothing, aunt. Of course I had to come down.”

“Aunt, you must be tired, so hurry home and rest. We’ll look after mom.”

At Ina’s words, Yeongmin gathered his mother’s bag and coat, saying,

“Yes, mom. Hurry home and take a nap. Don’t worry about aunt.”

As her aunt put on her coat, she said to Ina and Juwon,

“Then I’ll be at home, so bring your mother home safely tomorrow, alright?”

“Yes, aunt. Don’t worry and go. We’ll complete mom’s discharge procedures well and come.”

“Alright, I got it.”

As Yeongmin left the room with his mother, Juwon moved closer to Ina’s mother.

Then he held both her hands tightly and said with a smile,

“Ma’am, your complexion looks much better than last week.”

“Oh my, really… I’m so sorry I don’t know what to say. You must be tired, why did you come down again? You didn’t have to…”

“No, ma’am. I was curious about your condition and I came down to go back up with Ina tomorrow.”

Her mother stroked Juwon’s hands and smiled.

“I see. I’m so grateful I don’t know what to say.”

“No, ma’am. Please stop saying you’re grateful for something I should naturally do. I’m really grateful that your complexion has improved more than I expected.”

Her mother looked up at Juwon with a grateful and touched expression.