Chapter 3
The next day, David woke up to the soft glow of morning light filtering through the window. He glanced at his phone and saw the date: 25/10/20xx.
In the kitchen, he prepared breakfast while Lily sat at the table, doodling on a piece of paper with colorful crayons. The house still felt cluttered with boxes from their recent move, but the atmosphere was warm and filled with the scent of breakfast.
As he set the dishes on the table, David turned to Lily. "What should we unpack first today? Books or toys?"
Lily thought for a moment, her brows furrowing in concentration. "Toys! They'll miss me."
"Toys it is! Let's feed the army before the mission," David declared playfully.
"Yes, sir!" Lily giggled, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
---
After breakfast, they tackled the toy boxes together, laughter filling the air as they unearthed forgotten treasures. By early afternoon, David took Lily to the orphanage.
As they neared the gate, Lily spotted Joon playing with some other kids. She waved, and he waved back with a bright smile.
"You came back!" Joon exclaimed as they met.
"Told you I would!" Lily replied, her face lighting up.
"Wanna play with us?" Joon asked eagerly.
Lily nodded enthusiastically but remembered David's words from earlier: "No running."
As David watched her join the other kids, a warm smile spread across his face. Just then, the orphanage director approached him.
"It's always good to see new faces. The children really enjoy meeting visitors," the director said, extending a hand.
"Lily seems to have found a friend already," David replied, gesturing toward Joon and Lily, who were laughing together.
"That's wonderful! Some of the kids here really need that connection," the director remarked, nodding appreciatively.
---
As evening approached, the sun began to set, casting a golden hue over the playground. After a fun-filled day, the David took Lily back home. She was tired, her energy spent, and as soon as she hit the couch, she collapsed.
David joined her, listening as Lily excitedly recounted her day, sharing stories about her new friends. After dinner, she took her medication without fuss, and David helped her wash up before bed.
"Can we go back tomorrow?" Lily asked, her eyes starting to droop as she yawned.
"Of course," David replied softly. "Goodnight, Lily."
"Goodnight, Dad," she murmured sleepily, snuggling into her blanket.
David watched as her eyelids fluttered shut, a peaceful smile on her face as she drifted into a deep sleep. He quietly left her room, ready to turn in for the night himself.
As November began, Lily woke up excitedly. After freshening up, she stood in front of her closet, contemplating her outfit for her first day at daycare.
"What do you want to wear today, Lily? The yellow dress or the purple dress?" David asked, kneeling down to her level.
Lily eagerly grabbed the yellow dress. "This one! It's sunny like me!"
"Perfect choice—a sunny dress for a sunny girl," David said with a smile. "Now let's go eat; I made pancakes for you!"
---
After breakfast, David dressed in his professional attire, looking sharp and ready for the day. He took Lily's hand as they left for the daycare.
"Are you going to work now, Dad?" Lily asked, her eyes wide with curiosity.
"Yes, I'll be at the lab all day, but I'll pick you up after I finish my work," David replied.
"Can you bring me something?" she asked, her excitement bubbling.
"I'll see what I can find—maybe a new storybook," David promised.
---
They arrived at the Daejeo Daycare Center, which was buzzing with children. As Lily stepped inside, she felt a wave of nervousness wash over her. David noticed and knelt down, giving her a gentle hug.
"You'll be okay, sweetheart. Just remember, you're brave and kind."
He led Lily to her classroom and spoke with the teacher, explaining, "Lily has health issues, so please take extra care of her."
With a reassuring nod, the teacher welcomed Lily, who felt a little shy as the teacher introduced her to the other children.
Feeling apprehensive, Lily quietly made her way to a corner to play with some toys. Just a few minutes later, she spotted Joon waving at her from the crowd.
"Joon!" Lily exclaimed, her face lighting up.
"Let's go play with the blocks!" Joon suggested.
Seeing someone she recognized made her smile wider. "Let's go! Let's build a castle!"
---
Meanwhile, David arrived at Eon Research and Co., where he was greeted warmly by Jason.
"You don't have to come dressed up like this," Jason chuckled.
"It's my first day, so I wanted to make a good impression," David replied, adjusting his tie.
"How's the new place?" Jason inquired.
"It's good! Lily found new friends," David said, feeling a sense of relief.
"That's great to hear! Come, I'll introduce you to the company," Jason said, leading David through the halls.
Before they proceeded, Jason handed David a contract.
"Let's discuss the details first," he said.
David glanced over the contract and raised an eyebrow at the salary listed: 200,000,000 KRW per year, or about 167,000 dollars.
"This is too much!" he exclaimed, pointing at the figure.
Jason smiled, reassuring him. "You're worth it. Do you think they'd offer you this much if I did recommend you? Just sign it."
After a moment of contemplation, David signed. Jason then handed him another document.
"What's this?" David asked.
"A confidentiality agreement. Whatever you do in this company stays here, for life. It's mandatory," Jason explained.
David took a second to think before signing that as well.
"Now, let me show you what we're working on," Jason said, revealing a liquid that shimmered like gold. "This is what we're researching. It has the potential to change the world."
Throughout the day, Jason guided David through the company, explaining the various projects and technologies they were developing.
---
In the late afternoon, David arrived back at the daycare. As soon as he stepped out of the car, he spotted Lily waving excitedly at him. He walked over, kneeling to meet her eye level.
"How was your day?" he asked, smiling warmly.
"We built a big castle using blocks!" Lily beamed, her eyes sparkling with pride.
"Wow, that's super! Did you make friends?" David inquired.
"Yes! We played a lot!" she replied enthusiastically, recounting her day as they walked together.
As a surprise, David took Lily to a small pastry shop on the way home and bought her a delicious treat, which she devoured happily.
---
Later that evening, after dinner, they settled on the couch. David watched TV while Lily focused on her drawing.
After finishing her artwork, she held it up for David to see. "Look! This is our castle, and those are my friends!"
"Wow, it looks amazing! You're quite an artist," David complimented, genuinely impressed.
"Can I bring them home sometime to play?" Lily asked, her voice hopeful.
David thought for a moment before smiling. "Let's invite them over this weekend!"
Lily squealed with delight, clapping her hands.
---
After their fun evening, David gave Lily her medication and tucked her into bed. Once she fell asleep, he made his way to his own room, feeling grateful for the joy and progress each day brought.