They went out for dinner first, with Lee Deji insisting on treating everyone to celebrate Minjin’s return. 

They ended up at a samgyupsal restaurant, where Minjin found herself looking around, taking in the familiar atmosphere as she reacquainted herself with her surroundings.

A gentle smile formed on her lips as memories resurfaced—back in high school, they would often come to eat samgyupsal after long self-study sessions.

But her thoughts were interrupted by the sizzling sound of meat on the grill.

As she watched the meat cook, a hint of worry crossed her face. 

Now that she was back in Korea, she wondered if she could start eating meat again, knowing how much it was loved here.

Sitting beside her, Lee Deji placed a piece of grilled meat onto her plate. "Eat well, Minjin-ah."

Minjin forced a small smile as she stared at the meat. She admitted to herself that she occasionally had cheat days despite being vegan. But as she held her chopsticks, she was reminded of the reason she had chosen this lifestyle—it was because of her ex-husband.

The thought of him made her smirk slightly.

She grabbed a piece of lettuce, carefully picked up some side dishes and the meat, wrapping it neatly before putting it to her mouth.

The moment the flavors burst inside her mouth, her eyes widened in surprise. A wave of nostalgia washed over her—it felt so right.

A deep loneliness crept into her chest as she recalled all the moments she had missed about Korea, the ones she had pushed aside so that she would never feel regret.

She fought back tears as she chewed, quickly shifting her focus to the people around her. Looking at the familiar faces of those who had always mattered to her, she felt a sense of belonging. 

And finally, behind the tears, she smiled.

It truly felt good to be back.

###

When they arrived at Tae-sung’s house, he told Minjin to check out her room. She immediately followed him while pulling her baggage behind her.

As soon as she opened the door, her eyes widened in shock.

Everything looked the same as it had when she was younger.

Her hand instinctively flew to her lips. She quickly closed the door behind her and leaned against it. She couldn’t hold back her tears anymore. She pressed her hand firmly over her lips, trying to muffle her quiet sobs.

The light yellow walls, the sunflower-patterned bedcovers and pillowcase, the placement of her study table, and even the bookshelf—all of it resembled everything as if time had stood still.

She slowly walked to the bed and sat on the edge. Tilting her head upward, she tried to blink away the tears.

It suddenly dawned on her—Tae-sung had been waiting for her return all these years. For him, she was still the 20-year-old Minjin who had left Korea fifteen years ago.

A painful thought crossed her mind—her PTSD and coming back here only made her feel worse. The weight of regret pressed down on her, making everything feel even heavier.

Taking a deep breath, she wiped her damp cheeks, realizing she needed to seek help from a psychiatrist as soon as possible. But for now, she let her gaze wander around the room once more, and slowly, a faint smile found its way to her lips.

###

Minjin took her sleeping medication and rested peacefully in her room.

Before anyone else in the house had woken up, she quietly left early in the morning. 

Using a popular Korean app, she navigated the city on her own.

Despite the freezing temperature below zero degrees, she walked along the roadside. Cafés, eateries, and street food stalls were everywhere, and she noticed a large number of foreign nationals.

Stopping by a café, she ordered coffee and had breakfast while searching for the most well-known salon nearby. Once she found one, she headed straight there.

Upon entering, the staff greeted her warmly and politely, and she returned their kindness.

After being guided to a chair, a stylist asked about her desired look.

“I’d like to cut my hair to shoulder length and dye it blue,” Minjin said.

With her freshly dyed blue hair, Minjin left the salon and made her way to a store specializing in aesthetic glasses and sunglasses. She carefully browsed through the selection, trying on different frames until she settled on a pair of thick black cat-eye glasses that suited her face perfectly.

Next, she searched for sunglasses and picked out a round, vintage black pair—ideal for concealing her eyes in broad daylight.

After making her purchases, she immediately put on the sunglasses, feeling a newfound confidence with her bold new look. She strolled along the sidewalks without the fear of being recognized as Park Minjin.

Minjin hailed a taxi and instructed the driver to take her to Seoul National University Hospital.

As the car drove through the city, she pulled out her phone and searched for Kang Minjun, the neurosurgeon.

Several results appeared, and she clicked on his profile.

She read about his accomplishments—his exceptional academic history, from ranking first in Taejo High School’s entrance exam to consistently being the top student.

He had gained special admission to Seoul National University, where he graduated with Latin honors and once again ranked first in the national medical board exam.

Minjin continued reading, absorbing details about his groundbreaking research in neuroscience, which had been presented at international conferences and gained widespread recognition.

He was described as one of South Korea’s most influential neurosurgeons, renowned for his expertise and surgical precision.

A proud smile formed on her lips.

She returned to the search results and clicked on a few interview videos.

As she listened to his in-depth discussions on the brain and his cutting-edge research, a realization suddenly struck her.

Upon arriving at the hospital, she approached the reception desk and inquired about Minjun’s clinic and his availability for the day. The receptionist explained that consultations required an appointment. Still, Minjin persisted, stating that she only wanted to know his clinic’s location. After some hesitation, the receptionist finally provided the information.

Putting her sunglasses back on, Minjin made her way through the hospital hallways. When she reached the clinic, she stood at a distance, quietly observing patients coming and going.

An hour passed. Then two.

Her legs grew tired as she occasionally scrolled through her phone.

Nearly three hours later, the clinic door finally opened, and Minjun stepped out in his white coat.

Minjin quickly stood up, her eyes instinctively following him.

She began trailing behind him at a distance.

As he walked through the corridors, doctors and nurses bowed respectfully to him. Some female nurses exchanged excited whispers and giggled softly, stealing glances at him as he passed.

Minjin followed until he stopped in front of an elevator, where even patients politely bowed to him.

From a distance, she admired him in his white coat and thought he looked good in it. She also noticed his familiar neat black hair, but with fewer and shorter side bangs now. She stared at his face and realized that he still looked handsome, although she was only seeing the side of his face.

A smile tugged at her lips, accompanied by a slight wrinkle in her nose.

She continued watching him until he stepped inside the elevator.

Then, she turned away.

"Keeping this distance from him… it’s better for both of us." 

She muttered under her breath, but the smile lingered on her lips as she walked away.