012 Memory
“All right, all right~ Crayon Min, stop shouting~”
Yin Yunhui coaxed her like a child, while Liu Zhimin was exasperated:
“I am not Crayon Min!!!”
“Then tell me, what terrible thing did I do to you?”
Yin Yunhui propped his face in his hand, gazing at the particularly amusing Liu Zhimin with infinite affection.
Her sister was three years older than Yin Yunhui, which meant Doctor Liu was always busier with her studies than Yin Yunhui, and her grades weren’t that great, requiring more time in tutoring classes.
Therefore, Yin Yunhui wasn’t very close to Doctor Liu, but as a child, he was better friends with Liu Zhimin.
When he was young, Yin Yunhui didn’t care where his playmates came from; he only knew these kids could come to his house to play.
There was a certain charm to the idea of a servant girl and the young master growing up together.
That made sense, since Deputy Director Liu of Nursing was indeed personally promoted by their grandfather.
To secure her position as deputy director, grandfather had arranged for her to work at the then newly built Bundang hospital.
Liu Zhimin was speechless, suddenly unwilling to say more.
But her own sister decisively stabbed her in the back:
“Zhimin said her earliest memory was when Director Yin used to treat her like a doll, moving her around like a toy, and then…”
“Sister!”
Liu Zhimin was truly flustered, her cheeks visibly reddening. She stood up to stop her sister from continuing, her movements exaggerated and unmistakable.
“Oh~ so that’s how it was…”
Yin Yunhui seemed to remember and yet not remember at the same time, because Liu Zhimin was staring at him with a hateful glare.
“I don’t recall that happening.”
Yin Yunhui tilted his head, feigning confusion as if he truly didn’t know — his acting was flawless.
“Oppa, you better not remember, or else I’ll…”
Liu Zhimin made a fierce gesture at Yin Yunhui, which, in his eyes, was quite adorable.
Probably due to too many childish embarrassments, Liu Zhimin had given up trying to be fierce; her intense reaction lasted only a short while.
Sigh…
What’s wrong with this world?
Can it be a little kinder to me, the little baby?
Liu Zhimin quietly slipped aside, shedding silent tears of sorrow.
Just then, the restaurant began serving dishes, and Liu Zhimin chose to channel her grief into appetite.
Yin Yunhui genuinely didn’t remember clearly; the impression wasn’t deep because he had bullied Liu Zhimin many times in childhood — he was quite mean.
But the one thing that made Liu Zhimin so embarrassed she could hardly speak seemed to be that incident.
Yin Yunhui forced himself not to laugh out loud on the spot.
How old was Liu Zhimin then? It was normal not to have full control downstairs. It was just pee—what was the big deal? Who hasn’t wet the bed?
Even if it ended up on her, he didn’t mind at all — he was a magnanimous young master.
What was there to be embarrassed about?
Fearing Liu Zhimin might attack him right then, Yin Yunhui wisely chose silence and said:
---
“Honestly, I really don’t remember much from when I was little. The earliest I can recall is probably kindergarten or the start of elementary school? Those kids made fun of my name, calling me ‘Old Man **’ and other ugly nicknames. Though I fought back immediately, I still remember it clearly.”
“Yunhui oppa…”
Liu Zhimin, of course, knew Yin Yunhui’s real name and how much he cared about it. She looked up seriously and said:
“Your name is very beautiful!”
“Ah! Our Minmin has really grown up! She even comforts oppa now. I’m so touched. Here, eat more.”
Yin Yunhui’s showmanship flared up; his face full of tenderness and affection as he placed a piece of beef in Liu Zhimin’s bowl.
“Oppa…”
Liu Zhimin was deeply moved, her heart melting.
Until she noticed the smirk curling at Yin Yunhui’s lips and realized she had been tricked again!
Liu Zhimin angrily tore into the steak as if tearing into Yin Yunhui himself.
“Haha.”
Yin Yunhui shook his head with a smile.
He often read his ancestors’ diaries, especially those of the founder Jo, which was a challenging read with mixed Chinese characters and English, and little Korean.
Yonsei University had published a 600-page Korean version of the “Jo Diaries,” an important historical document.
Could the diarist have been a decent person? But the Yin family had this habit, including Yin Yunhui himself.
Having been bullied as a child because of his name, Yin Yunhui agreed wholeheartedly with his ancestor’s sharp criticism of the peninsula’s people in the “Jo Diaries.”
In summary… the peninsula’s people were no good.
What the family ancestor said had to be right—absolutely right!
“Director Yin, do you know what my earliest memory is?”
Doctor Liu suddenly asked. Yin Yunhui was helpless:
“Sister, why don’t you call me by name anymore? Sometimes Zhimin even calls me by my name.”
“Hm? What’s that got to do with me?”
Liu Zhimin looked up, frowning, her face puckered in a pitiful expression.
The baby was innocent after all~
“I’m working now, so I have to address you formally as Director.”
“All right, all right, Doctor Liu, go ahead. I’m curious too.”
Yin Yunhui shrugged, leaving it up to her.
“I remember clearly that day when Dad took me to the hospital to visit Mom. The whole family was happy and laughing, when suddenly Mom showed signs of labor. The doctor hurried Mom into the delivery room…”
As she spoke, Doctor Liu locked eyes with Yin Yunhui, who returned her gaze candidly.
“What! It was the day I was born! Sister, you’re so good at being sentimental! I’m really about to cry.”
Liu Zhimin, unaware of the truth, was genuinely touched this time.
Her sister’s earliest memory was her own birth.
“Yes, although it was very cold that day, I was so happy.”
---
Doctor Liu spoke gently to her sister, but Liu Zhimin sensed something was off:
“Sister, aren’t you mistaken? How could it have been cold? I was born in the warm spring.”
“Maybe you’re right. Infantile amnesia can cause memory distortions. Probably I had an impression of cold weather and got it mixed up.”
Doctor Liu explained calmly while Yin Yunhui lowered his head to eat.
She had truly realized the problem.
Who was born in the bitter cold of winter?
Sure enough, she was a doctor…
After the meal, Yin Yunhui picked up his helmet, intending to pay and leave immediately. Doctor Liu hurried after him:
“You promised to treat your little sister. How can I let Director Yin pay?”
“Sister, there’s no need for formalities. Since it was your promise to Zhimin, I won’t argue.”
After Doctor Liu paid, she looked back and saw Yin Yunhui had already left the restaurant and gotten on the scooter parked by the door. Though he hadn’t left, he seemed to be waiting for her, so she followed again.
“Director Yin…”
“Doctor Liu.”
Yin Yunhui interrupted her:
“I get a physical exam every year at our family hospital. Since last year, you’ve been in charge of it. I know you secretly used the hospital’s equipment for testing, so surely you’ve seen the results, right?”
Doctor Liu was stunned. She had thought her secret actions went unnoticed. It turned out Director Yin had known all along, which was awkward.
“So tell me, do we have a blood relation?”
“…No.”
Doctor Liu bit her lip, her face pale.
Yin Yunhui closed his helmet’s visor, and the built-in speaker emitted a mechanical voice:
“For your mother’s sake, Doctor Liu, this is a one-time exception.”
Doctor Liu’s mind went blank as the BMW R roared away. She knew Director Yin’s character well; “one-time exception” did not mean “I forgive you.”
She was already considering resigning voluntarily.
“Sister? What did Yunhui oppa say to you? Why did he leave without saying goodbye to me?”
Liu Zhimin had expected the two to come back for her but, after waiting a while and hearing the scooter leave, she hurried out.
“Nothing. Director Yin is very busy.”
“Oh~ the same excuse again. Sigh, it feels like Yunhui oppa doesn’t like me as much since we grew up.”
Liu Zhimin felt a faint sadness.
She loved having Yin Yunhui as her brother — it was a different feeling from her sister. She loved being the youngest spoiled and doted on by her older siblings.
In truth, Liu Zhimin had already been spoiled rotten.
“Our Minmin is the cutest. Director Yin will always like you.”
“Wow, he better!”