Chapter 4
Chapter 4
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: Tearful Reunion
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The last day before being forcibly transported to the Huandan Continent.
The cold words he'd spat at Yang Seung-bon while leaving the house still haunted him.
'If only Dad wasn't around, we could all be happy.'
That was right.
To say it again, Su-hyeok was a terrible son.
That's why Yang Seung-bon was still watching him cautiously even now.
Worried his son might snap.
Looking for a careful chance to back away.
It made his heart ache.
'You bastard.'
A curse at himself slipped out.
Yang Seung-bon had tried his best too. He may not have succeeded, but he was the family head who'd strived to provide for his two kids. Yet Su-hyeok had fixated solely on their 'poverty' and resented and cursed his father for it.
'I'm the bastard.'
The emotions surging at the sight of his father turned into self-directed rage.
And birthed a massive wave of guilt.
He couldn't hold back the tears.
He wanted to stifle them coolly like his little sister Su-a, but they flowed freely anyway.
"Ah, does it hurt? My son... does it hurt a lot?"
Yang Seung-bon startled and asked.
Su-hyeok quickly shook his head.
Meeting those warm, tender eyes, he parted his lips.
'I'm sorry... I'm so sorry, Dad.'
No voice came out.
The words choked tight in his chest wouldn't budge, as if someone had clamped them shut by force.
Frustrated enough to pound his chest till it broke, but his father's firm grip on both hands held him back.
Gazing into Su-hyeok's eyes, tears began welling in Yang Seung-bon's too.
"It's okay. It's okay. Dad's really fine."
Then he started comforting Su-hyeok instead.
Releasing the hand that had gently stroked his head, he cautiously spread his arms and pulled his tear-streaked son into an embrace.
A small but sturdy father's embrace.
Why hadn't he realized it before?
That his father was human too—that he'd struggled just as much. Why hadn't he understood?
'I'm so sorry.'
The words jammed in his chest poured out as tears instead.
"You've had it rough, haven't you? My good boy. It's okay. Dad's okay."
The firm hand rubbing his back and the soft voice soothed Su-hyeok's heart.
He wept for a long while.
As much as Su-hyeok cried, Seung-bon cried too.
Su-a, returning late to the hospital room, secretly dabbed at fresh tears.
The mother who'd waited patiently through that ocean of tears, Han Jeong-hee, finally approached Su-hyeok's bedside.
Her eyes brimmed with the same warmth.
Her face radiated pure relief.
"No pain anywhere?"
"No."
"Your dad's overdoing it, isn't he?"
He shook his head silently.
"He worried so much. You know that, right?"
This time, he nodded.
Han Jeong-hee drew Su-hyeok into a gentle hug.
Small shoulders. A soft embrace scented with comfort.
Mother and father were alike yet different.
Both surprisingly strong of heart.
And they respected each other deeply.
They treasured their children and stood as pillars of support for one another.
Unlike Yang Seung-bon, though, Han Jeong-hee showed real outer strength too. Maybe because she'd cheered his dreams and shouldered the family in his place?
Or perhaps it just seemed that way because she was Mom. In Su-hyeok's memories, she'd never once shown weakness.
Thinking back, they were truly a wonderful family.
Poor, sure—but hardly lacking in natural blessings, right?
True to her resilient spirit, even now Han Jeong-hee shed no tears.
She offered a radiant smile over tears of joy or emotion.
A smile that screamed happiness to anyone watching.
With that bright face, she spoke to Su-hyeok.
"Thank you, my son. For waking up so healthy like this. Your dad probably feels the same, but this mom's satisfied with that. I'm just... so, so happy. So pleased. Right?"
"Ung..."
Natural babyish whining slipped out.
Counting time in the Huandan Continent, he was over forty—but who cared if it felt childish?
It was Mom's arms.
Staving off another wave of tears was effort enough.
And like her, he flashed his brightest smile.
"My boy smiles so nicely."
Han Jeong-hee praised him.
"That smile's just like his dad's."
Yang Seung-bon, watching their reunion, chimed in—earning a wave-off from Han Jeong-hee.
"Oh, you. Our son's way handsomer."
"Ah, obviously he is. But you're the prettiest. Su-a's got a long way to match you."
"Ohoho, such flattery. Well, doesn't feel bad."
"No flattery at all. When have you known me to lie?"
"Enough already. Su-hyeok just woke up."
"So what? We're family. Not like we're strangers."
Su-hyeok nodded along to his parents' familiar, cherished banter—the picture of a happy couple.
We're family anyway.
Those words hit so good, his grin stretched even wider.
"You can keep going. Su-a might get pouty, though."
Yang Seung-bon shot Su-a an "uh-oh" look at Su-hyeok's words, but too late.
"You get it, right, sweetie? Dad's a sunflower—always facing Mom. You know."
Su-a said nothing.
Just wore a subtle smile.
"You're not teasing Dad, are you?"
Flustered, Yang Seung-bon tried sounding stern.
But Su-a stayed silent.
Unable to hide the cold sweat beading on his brow, Yang Seung-bon glanced between Han Jeong-hee and Su-a before venturing carefully.
"Then... both of you are the prettiest?"
"That's the worst answer."
Han Jeong-hee burst out laughing and ribbed him.
"Women's hearts are just too tricky."
"Oh please, you've got more sensitivity than me. Just hard to read."
"Dad's dumb sometimes."
Shoulders slumping under the duo's onslaught, Yang Seung-bon looked utterly defeated.
"I'm Team Dad. Whichever he picks, you'll both fake-pout anyway."
Su-hyeok jumped to his defense.
The stunned mother-daughter pair gawked at him.
Before he'd passed out, father-son teamwork like this was unthinkable.
"Why the stares? I'm serious."
"No, it's just..."
Su-hyeok beamed at flustered Su-a.
"Son backing Dad? Totally natural."
"Damn right it is."
Yang Seung-bon's deflated posture puffed right up.
The mother and daughter swapped looks, then smiled.
"Fine. We surrender this round."
"Honestly, feels like we overdid it.
Of course Mom's Dad's number one. I'll take number two."
In moments, the cheerful truce had the whole family laughing.
"Puhaha!"
"Mom, Dad—this is a hospital room."
Su-a cautioned the family gently.
"Heh."
The big laughs tapered off, but their exchanged glances brimmed with trust.
Su-hyeok knew for sure.
'Came back right.'
Nothing mattered more to him.
Days after that tearful, joyful reunion brought a few developments. Top was physical recovery. The internal energy healing process yielded hospital-shocking results. He moved like no rehab was needed.
Next: visitors for Su-hyeok.
No friends or girlfriend, sadly. Word hadn't reached his few pals yet, and the ex from just before the Huandan trip? Not worth a thought.
Even relatives skipped visits, settling for phone check-ins. "Too busy," they claimed—laughable.
Seoul kin might've at least dropped by. Su-hyeok wasn't fazed, though. He was used to it. For some reason, his family had always felt oddly detached from both sides' relatives.
Rumor had it both families opposed hard—practically a modern Romeo and Juliet.
Anyway, the crowds weren't close ones.
More like folks he'd rather dodge.
Reporters.
Post-Portal Impact, they hounded the rare recovery case for interviews left and right. Annoying as hell, but Su-hyeok gave rote answers anyway.
Sudden dizziness. Blacked out. Faint family voices now and then. Gonna live diligently from here.
Reporters cling harder to refusals—so bland responses thinned their visits fast.
A week later.
Su-hyeok breezed through discharge.
Hospital wanted bloodwork and tests before letting him go.
Intrigued by the unprecedented case, naturally.
Fishy offer, but half the bill refunded? He nodded pronto.
'Won't detect shit anyway.'
Hospital stay taught him: modern tech can't sense qi or internal energy. Just guinea-pig vibes and hassle—but easing family strain? Worth it.
That refund chunk could anchor them awhile.
"Seriously wild. Looks totally normal."
Heading home post-discharge.
Su-a eyed him like a zoo oddity.
Made sense.
Five years flat on his back.
Normal folks couldn't walk right.
Hell, hospital begged for research and dangled refunds.
"Always been a corpse minus the health, right?"
Su-hyeok hummed cheerily.
Swinging arms, striding with pep.
Su-a hurried after, grinning.
For her, a hale-and-hearty bro awake? Pure bliss.
Yang Seung-bon and Han Jeong-hee skipped discharge.
First day, they bolted mid-work—but can't do that often.
Refund or not, living stayed tight.
"How much debt we got?"
Sudden question to Su-a.
She flashed brief panic, then shook her head like clueless.