🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 42
The Terminal Baby Doctor Doesn’t Hide That She’s a Genius
Biyu rubbed her reddened eyes roughly. Heuk Birang’s face twisted in frustration.
Heuk Birang felt his temper flare.
“…Hey! You said you were sleeping?!”
“I did.”
Biyu let out a big yawn.
Her face was perfectly calm, which only made Heuk Birang’s expression cloud over while Heuk Biwon’s grin deepened.
‘You only managed to fall asleep at dawn, and you’re acting like this, you little squirt.’
Still fuming, Heuk Birang recalled the events of the previous evening.
“Hyung, when’s she coming?”
“No idea~ We can’t eat until the head of the house shows up.”
“Ugh, I’m hungry though.”
“Aren’t you also waiting for your youngest uncle? I can see your leg bouncing.”
“N-No, I’m not!”
The day before, the two of them had been having a late dinner with Gye-won when they’d decided to wait for Biyu to arrive before eating. But she never came, so they ended up eating without her.
“Baek-bu! Baek-bu! Uncle!! Is anyone there? Haa, huuh, please help…!!”
“Wh-What the hell?!”
Biyu came running in tears. Her clothes were covered in dirt.
They were always telling her to take care of herself, yet here she was—completely neglecting her own body.
‘Was she crying?’
Her face, body, and hair were drenched—soaked with water and sweat.
When they calmed her down and went to Heuk Bihu’s place, they found him submerged in water. Apparently, it was to cool his fever.
By then, Biyu had regained her composure enough to ask for help.
“…This place is a wreck for someone who’s sick.”
Hearing that, Heuk Birang was roped in to help fix up the house.
The whole day flew by.
They could have just brought the sick Heuk Bihu to Heuk Biwon’s house, but—
‘That damned brother of mine will just swim back home like a salmon once he wakes up.’
The two of them knew all too well that Heuk Bihu would insist on returning to his own house and the big tree out front.
Heuk Birang clicked his tongue. He knew exactly why his brother was so stubborn—
Baek Arin.
He didn’t even remember her name, yet all he had left was that obsession and lingering attachment.
‘He can’t even remember his own daughter.’
Heuk Birang pouted.
Whether he liked his brother or not, there was no denying he felt a twinge of pity.
But still…
Sniff.
“Hey, what, are you crying?!”
“Who’s crying? It’s just a bit chilly.”
Before Heuk Birang could say anything, Heuk Biwon jumped in dramatically.
“Oh no, our dear head of the house says she’s cold! Uncle will go call Gye-won and bring in some firewood right away!”
“Baek-bu should do it! Baek-bu!”
“Aww, Baek-bu’s too tired. He’s already been moving around a lot.”
Heuk Birang’s chest tightened as he looked at the kid—remembering how she’d cried herself into a mess the night before.
It was lucky his brother had stepped in at the right moment, otherwise he might’ve blurted out something harsh—
Why do you have to suffer because of your shitty father?
It made him angry.
What had her dad ever done for her? Why was she treating him just because she thought he was pretty?
‘Not that I’m one to talk, lying around sleeping all the time.’
He grumbled.
“Hey, kid. Forget your lazy dad and take care of me instead. I’m much— ow!”
“What kind of garbage are you spouting, little brother.”
“Why’d you hit me? I was joking!”
Heuk Bihu didn’t know how good he had it—
A daughter who was cute, beautiful, and a genius, who adored him to death.
She was even staying up all night to nurse him.
And she was just as stubborn as her late mother.
‘My sister-in-law was a genius too. Are all geniuses this stubborn?’
Even now—look at her—crawling out instead of sleeping like she’s told.
‘Second brother, you deserve a beating.’
Judging by Heuk Biwon’s darkened expression behind his smile, he seemed to share the sentiment.
Heuk Birang thought smugly, Serves you right.
Heuk Bihu, may lightning strike you.
…And may it bring your memories back.
Heuk Bihu opened his eyes to pitch-black darkness. No matter where he looked, there was nothing.
‘Looks like my head.’
Yes, his idiotic head that remembered nothing must look something like this.
He crossed his arms and thought.
This wasn’t the first time he’d dreamed like this, so he remained calm.
If he just waited, he’d wake up. That’s how it had always been.
But this time…
He narrowed his eyes.
Something was taking shape before him.
When he blinked, the scene unfolded—
“Dad! Look, my cough—it’s gone!”
Ah. This was the father and son he’d seen earlier today—Tak Min-jae and Tak Un-deok.
The boy was overjoyed after recovering.
A miracle Biyu had performed.
“My leg doesn’t hurt as much either! Dad, do you think I can finally run? And the wind—!”
“Min-jae… hic, your father finally gets to see you smiling freely…”
Heuk Bihu stared at Tak Un-deok’s tearful eyes, puzzled.
Was it really possible to be that happy? Why? Just because it was his kid?
He knew he hadn’t lost his emotions—only his memories.
But people tended to forget—
Emotions came from the chain of memories, each triggering the next.
Even though it had nothing to do with him, he couldn’t take his eyes off Tak Un-deok’s face.
A headache throbbed as he pressed his temple.
Then, from the corner of his eye, he noticed his daughter’s expression—
…Like she was envious.
Why look like that? Was it because he wasn’t much of a father? That, he could admit.
But surely, she’d had her mother for a while?
He knew he’d had a wife, and that she was dead. He just couldn’t feel it.
She must have cared for Biyu for at least a short while.
Tak Un-deok bowed deeply.
“Thank you. Thank you so much… I would’ve given my life for this child…”
Heuk Bihu was honestly curious.
What did it feel like to have emotions worth giving your life for?
Wasn’t a person’s own life the most important thing?
He wished someone would tell him.
What did it mean to treasure something enough to stake your life on it?
One thing was certain—
Biyu’s bitter expression while looking at Tak Un-deok twisted his mood just a little.
‘Why make that kind of face.’
In every way, he was better than Tak Un-deok—
For one, he was younger. Stronger. As for money… there had to be valuables lying around the house somewhere.
Clicking his tongue, he turned his head.
The scene went black, then shifted to somewhere else.
“Waaah! Waaaah!”
“It’s a girl! It’s a girl, Lord Bihu!”
He slowly opened his eyes wide.
…A daughter?
In his arms was a tiny, wrinkled baby—red and ugly, yet the most beautiful thing in the world.
When had this happened?
His chest tightened, and a sharp ache stabbed through it.
“…See? I told you it was a girl.”
The moment he heard that weak voice, for some reason, he felt tears slide down his cheeks.
He didn’t know why.
Then, the noisy voices around him faded, and the baby in his arms vanished.
He reached out desperately, but couldn’t catch her—she crumbled away like sand.
A wave of emptiness and disappointment washed over him.
‘Back to reality…’
He wished with all his heart that he could return without forgetting any of it.
‘You’ve proven your ability, right?’
And maybe—just maybe—this time he could.
Perhaps he wouldn’t lose the fragments that had just surfaced in the empty void.
‘Enough to stake your life on.’
He thought of Tak Un-deok again—his reddened eyes, that look full of desperation and gratitude.
Once again, he wondered—
What did that feel like?
Heuk Bihu closed his eyes slowly.
After he disappeared completely from the black space,
The space moved on its own—
As if it knew its master was gone.
Mockingly, it created another scene—
Shhhhhh—
Rain poured down as if holes had been punched in the sky.
Before a massive old mansion, someone knelt neatly on the wide stone ground.
The rain pelted Heuk Bihu mercilessly.
He bowed his head low, silently enduring the humiliation.
His red eyes were hidden behind closed lids.
“…Please, spare only the child.”
At the top of the stairs stood a woman holding a long umbrella.
Beneath it, her lips curved in a cold, amused smile.
“What will you wager?”
The man answered evenly.
“My life.”
The next day, her father woke up.
Whether it was thanks to her devoted care or the improved environment,
His face looked far more refreshed than before.
