When I Loved You - CH 174

4 years later…

Yiyoung scrubbed her hands, making sure to wash them multiple times before taking out a hand cream and massaging it into her hands.

“Going home?” someone asked.

Yiyoung raised her head to find Jaehee, and greeted her with a smile. “Yeah.”

“You worked hard today.”

“Have a good night, Jaehee.”

After switching shifts with her, Yiyoung grabbed her and left the hospital. It was busy, filled with patients and their guardians from all over the country. It was a place that contained people’s joy and sorrow, but it always provided the patients with hope.

When Yiyoung stepped out, the bright sun peeked through the leaves, the sunlight hugging their green. A smile automatically bloomed on her, and she started walking faster. It was always a joy to see her child. Just imagining Jiyoon call her ‘mom’ with that innocent laughter lacing her pure voice made Yiyoung laugh.

Yiyoung earnestly walked toward the childcare center on the hospital grounds. Right after Muyeol found out that Yiyoung was pregnant, he upgraded the hospital’s employee welfare system, his eyes now able to see things he couldn’t before.

S hospital and all the companies under the S Corporation were known as people’s dream workplace now. Things couldn’t be perfect in this world, but the employees always looked forward to a better future brought about by the person who always tried to fill in the gaps.

Yiyoung reached the childcare center and pressed a bell.

“Hello,” greeted a voice.

“Hi, teacher. This is Jiyoon’s mother.”

“Welcome, doctor.”

The door opened, and Yiyoung headed inside so quickly that it seemed like she was flying. After a moment’s worth of waiting, she heard Jiyoon’s voice.

“Mommy!”

Yiyoung quickly crouched, hugging Jiyoon as she ran into her embrace. Yiyoung could feel the warmth of the same green-tinted sunlight on Jiyoon. She kissed her child on the head and lifted her with one arm.

“Jiyoon had a good lunch today,” said the teacher, “She finished it all, and didn’t even leave the carrots.”

Yiyoung widened her eyes on purpose. “Really? She finished her lunch?”

“Yes, doctor.”

Jiyoon put both her hands on Yiyoung’s cheeks and turned her head toward her. “The carrots were too mushy! I didn’t like it, but I still ate all of it.”

“You did?”

“Yeah! But next time, I don’t want to eat them. Because this time I had them all, next time, I don’t want to. Daddy said I can do that!”

Yiyoung laughed and loudly kissed her daughter’s lovely cheek.

“Yeah, you don’t have to force yourself to eat something you don’t like. But Jiyoon… Wouldn’t there be a reason as to why mommy keeps giving you carrots to eat?” Muyeol had tried to explain to Jiyoon.

And it was then when Jiyoon came up with the idea that if she ate something she didn’t like one day, she didn’t have to eat it the next day.

“Thank you for today, teacher,” said Yiyoung.

“Not a problem.”

“Then, I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Teacher, I will see you tomorrow!” Jiyoon said loudly.

Yiyoung left the childcare center with Jiyoon in her arms. “What do you want to do when we get home?”

“Origami!”

“Mommy isn’t really good at that.”

“I will teach you.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. Today, I did…”

The mother and daughter kept chatting, their heads resting against each other as Yiyoung walked.

As they neared the cars, Jiyoon suddenly shouted, “Daddy!”

“What? Daddy?” Yiyoung sputtered. Muyeol was on a business trip, and he was only supposed to have arrived tonight!

“Daddy!”

“Jiyoon!” It really was Muyeol. He looked wild, a beard growing on his face from being unable to shave on the trip.