Huilin finished the food. It was warm and simple, a stark contrast to the bitterness of the last few years. The kind lady then wrote a note on a piece of paper. "You can stay here."

The lady showed Huilin to a spare room. When Huilin stepped inside, she felt an instant connection. This room did not feel like cold blocks and pillars; the walls seemed to talk about love, and the ceiling felt like it showed all the beats of a vibrant heart. The lady told Huilin she could rest now and they would talk later.

Huiin entered the room and sat on the bed. She looked at the pictures hanging on the walls. There was a photo of a boy who looked about eighteen years old. Huilin went to the dresser, picked up the picture, and gazed at the boy's face.

The lady entered the room and saw Huilin holding the picture. Huilin was startled and quickly set the picture down. The lady smiled gently. She picked up the picture herself and said, "He is my son."

She introduced herself: "My name is Tong-Yoon, and I'm a sign language teacher." She then spoke about her son."His name is Do-Yoon. When he was nine, his father died in a car accident. Since then, Do-Yoon has suffered from nightmares."Tong-Yoon's heart ached seeing her son struggle, so she sent him to live with his grandparents. It was difficult to send him far away, but she couldn't stand watching him suffer.

"When Do-Yoon was fifteen, he returned and started living here again. He decorated his room just like this. Then he received a scholarship and went to study abroad. Once again, I became lonely,"Tong-Yoon finished, smiling sadly. "That's my whole story."

She then asked Huilin how old she was and what had happened to her. Huilin took the paper and wrote her reply: "I am 17 years old." She explained that she had lived with her granny, and after her death, she went to live with her mother.

Tong-Yoon then asked what happened to her voice. Huilin wrote: "After my granny died, I lost my voice due to some incidents."

Tong-Yoon felt great sadness for Huilin. She said that she would love to teach her sign language. Huilin felt a sharp pang of guilt. She had lived with this kind woman who was gentle and generous-a woman whose heart was already healing Huilin's own.

Author's Note: Oh, my dear flowers... the plot is beginning to beautifully untangle! 🌸 We finally meet Tong-Yoon, the kind sign language teacher, and get our very first glimpse of our mysterious male lead, Do-Yoon!

Huilin's heart is already starting to heal in this warm house, but that heavy guilt about her selective mutism is going to weigh so heavily on her. Do you think she will eventually find the courage to tell Tong-Yoon the truth?

Thank you so much for reading Chapter 3! If you loved this emotional turning point, please smash that Subscribe button 🔔, leave a Like ❤️, and share your thoughts in the comments below! Your support makes my heart bloom. ✨