By Zephyria 
“Please, be careful with your words and actions once we get home. Refrain from that lounging attitude and way of speaking, and until you’ve grasped the situation, do not let your tongue run loose. If a topic comes up that you don’t know about, just remain silent. Spare your words as much as possible and do not give them any reason to find fault with you.”
The man who would henceforth be my father, who had come to pick me up for discharge, gave me these warnings. He still looked skeptical about whether taking me home was the right choice. I nodded with a smile, trying to look as trustworthy as possible, but Father continued to stare at me with a dubious expression.
“I told you it’s fine. You’re just telling me to keep my mouth shut, read the room, and figure out the situation, right? I’m actually incredibly good at that. My intuition is top-notch. When it comes to reading the room, it’s me; when it comes to me, it’s reading the room. There’s absolutely nothing to worry about.”
“Stop acting so rashly.”
“Yes, yes. I understand.”
The caregiver had neatly packed my belongings and sent them down first, so I changed out of my patient clothes into regular clothes and threw on a coat.
I hummed a little tune as I rode the elevator down with Father. It was the first day of my daily life in this changed body. I felt quite good, filled with anticipation for the life that lay ahead of me.
“For the time being, do not go out and stay only at home. Since you remember nothing anyway, you probably won’t have a reason to leave. You are aware that the semester starts in a month, aren’t you? It would be good if your memory returned by then, but looking at your current state, that seems unlikely, so we will have to think about that part gradually.”
“Ah, right. I heard I’m going to college now? What do they teach there? I don’t remember a single thing.”
College? I hadn’t even attended middle school, let alone high school. This was bleak. I couldn’t even guess what they taught in college right now. It was a hurdle from the very start.
“Your major is Modern Art. It would be best to look up the university curriculum in advance. The studio is in the annex, so ask an employee to guide you later.”
Art. Father said he was a museum director, so perhaps that influenced him. The other guys called ‘Hyung’ are doctors, so why did only this one veer off into art? The children of the first wife are doctors to inherit the hospital, and since Cha Soo-kyung was the child of the second wife, did they push him into art entirely? Or did he have an immense talent for it?
Since I didn’t know the previous circumstances, I couldn’t guess why Cha Soo-kyung had majored in art. Moreover, since I’d never even drawn a single apple, I was immediately worried. With zero knowledge of theory or practical skills, I was concerned about how I’d keep up with college classes.
“I have selected a person who can keep their mouth shut, so if there is anything uncomfortable or anything you need, you can handle it through them. They also serve as your driver, so always accompany them whenever you go somewhere. Do not reveal to other family members or employees at home that your memory is unstable as much as possible. Do not show your weakness. Just think of them as… a ruined family, like you said. Assume that if you reveal a weakness, they will tear you apart.”
“Wow, what is this, a jungle? Family life is so desolate.”
“Cha Soo-kyung! Listen to me seriously.”
Father grabbed my shoulders to meet my eyes and continued with a grave expression.
“I do not wish for you to suffer any further misfortune here. While I dislike my child being ignored, I dislike the idea of them being cast out even more. Therefore, it would be best to keep this father’s words in mind.”
“…Alright. I’ll take it seriously and be careful. I told you not to worry too much. Now you finally sound like a father. I’ll do well.”
“I certainly hope so.”
With a deep sigh, Father let me go. As we stepped out of the hospital building, a car was waiting right in front. Father’s secretary, whom I had seen once before, opened the door of a car that had been maintained to a mirror-like shine, and I climbed into the backseat with Father.
“I must return to the museum after dropping you home. I am taking you back because they say seeing the things you used in the place you lived might trigger your memories, but I do not know if this is truly the right move.”
“Well, it’s not an impossible possibility. Wouldn’t it be better to try various things anyway?”
Though there was no way my memories would return. I might be Cha Soo-kyung, but the one inside this body is Min Jae-hee; there’s no way seeing things Cha Soo-kyung used in Cha Soo-kyung’s room would bring back Cha Soo-kyung’s memories.
“That a person’s personality could change one hundred and eighty degrees just because their memories vanished is truly… hard to believe. It is as if you are a different person. So unfamiliar… I am at a loss as to what to do. I hope this ordeal is resolved without any problems, but the possibility of that is slim.”
“You’re being too pessimistic. Isn’t it better now that my personality has changed? Honestly, my old personality was too stifling. From a parent’s perspective, I think the current me is better than the old one.”
“That is not the case at all.”
Was there a need to deny it so firmly? I puffed out my cheeks in dissatisfaction, but Father ignored me.
“Your attendant will be waiting at home. He will always be near you, so if anything happens, tell him, and if it is something he cannot resolve, contact me. Here is your phone. All the necessary contacts are saved in there.”
Father took a phone out of his pocket and handed it to me. The latest model was pristine, without a single scratch, as if it were brand new. I checked the contacts on the phone I received from Father.
There were six saved numbers in total: Chairman Cha Hwan-gyu, Hospital Director Cha Gang-baek, Museum Director Seo Jin-yeong, Cha Baek-joo, Cha Dong-hu, Lee Kyung-jin.
Why the hell are family names saved like this? It’s easy to identify, but it’s too desolate. Anyone looking would think they’re just acquaintances.
“Cha Baek-joo and Cha Dong-hu—since they’re Chas, are they my Hyungs? Who is Lee Kyung-jin?”
“Cha Baek-joo is the first, Cha Dong-hu is the second. Lee Kyung-jin is the attendant who will be in charge of you from now on.”
“No, how am I supposed to know if they’re saved like this? Seriously no sense of style.”
With unfamiliar finger movements, I struggled to edit the names to: Chairman Cha Hwan-gyu Grandfather, Hospital Director Cha Gang-baek Father 1, Museum Director Seo Jin-yeong Father 2, Cha Baek-joo Eldest Hyung, Cha Dong-hu Second Hyung, Lee Kyung-jin Attendant. Watching this, Father clicked his tongue softly.
“I suppose a lack of sense is genetic.”
“It can’t be helped. I have to do it this way to recognize them. Oh, and I remember having a driver. Is this Lee Kyung-jin person that driver?”
“I let him go. Such an unfortunate incident occurred; he must take responsibility.”
Being an attendant is a truly thankless job. Cha Soo-kyung was the one who jumped to die, so why does the attendant have to take responsibility? Of course, that man was away from his post that day, but who knows if there was an unavoidable emergency? He might have had a sudden biological urge.
Hiding my bitter feelings, I just fiddled with the phone in my hand, and silence filled the car.
After a quiet journey, we arrived in a neighborhood where grand, sprawling houses were scattered here and there. The houses were far apart, and the interiors were hidden by high walls; judging by the occasional glimpse of a building’s edge, there was a high probability of football-field-sized lawns or gardens beyond the walls. The alleys were wide and clean, and no pedestrians were in sight.
The car stopped in front of a massive main gate. Father glanced at me as I sat there blankly.
“Get out.”
“What, we’re here? This is the house? Wow, the walls are so high I can’t even see the house. Do we just park the car here?”
“That is not for you to worry about, so hurry up and get out. I’ll take you to your room and then I must leave.”
Since he told me to get out, I had to. I slowly climbed out of the car through the door opened by the secretary. Father, who stepped out after me, pressed the bell to announce our arrival, and passing through the automatically opening gate, I was finally able to see beyond the high walls.
Passing through the gate didn’t mean we were at the house immediately. We had to climb high stairs and then cross a wide grassy garden. The path to the house felt like it took an eternity. The house we finally reached consisted of one large building and two smaller buildings on either side, totaling three.
I assume we’re going into the large building.
As I hesitated and slowed my pace, Father overtook me and headed toward the large building as expected. Upon entering the building, employees standing in a line greeted Father and me.
“Secretary Yoon will bring your luggage up. Sort through it yourself and throw away what needs to be thrown away. Soo-kyung, come this way.”
Speaking in a more composed and refined manner, Father led me up the stairs inside the building. The spacious building had many winding corridors, rooms, and doors. I felt like it would take a full week just to figure out what each place was used for.
Turning left after going up the stairs, I saw a separate living room and three bedroom doors.
“This is your space. Over there is your room, next to it is the bathroom, and this side is the guest room. This drawing room is also for your use. The other side of the stairs is the space used by the second son, so as long as you don’t cross over there, you won’t particularly run into him. The person sitting there is Mr. Lee Kyung-jin, whom I mentioned earlier.”
The man sitting on the living room sofa stood up and approached. After bowing his head in greeting, the man stood in a straight posture and gazed at me. He was definitely a face I had never seen before, not the man who had previously been by Cha Soo-kyung’s side.
“Soo-kyung will not be going out for the time being. Still, remain by his side at all times. You may use the guest room, but do not take your eyes off Soo-kyung.”
“Understood.”
“Hey, if you put it like that, it makes me feel like I’m being surveilled.”
“Cha Soo-kyung.”
As if this wasn’t the time to interrupt, Father called my name in a firm voice.
Hmm, now is the timing to stay quiet.
I shut my mouth and nodded to show I understood. Only then, with a slightly satisfied expression, Father led me and opened the door to the place he called my room.
“When the Hospital Director comes in the evening, you will have dinner together. I will also return before then. Since there is plenty of time until then, you should have enough time to look around, right?”
“Of course. Plenty.”
“That way of speaking is not good, but you should correct that gradually as well. Wash up and get some rest. I must head to the museum. You can stay well on your own, can’t you?”
The word ‘well’ seemed to have an unusual amount of emphasis, but I nodded confidently for now. Father looked closely at my face as if trying to verify something, then turned around and went back down the stairs, leaving me to stare blankly at the man called the attendant standing beside me.
“I will be waiting here. Please call me when you need me.”
This guy must have a hard time too. Getting paid while playing around is physically comfortable, but the mind must be just as uncomfortable. Understanding all too well that making a living is no easy task, I quietly nodded and entered the room.
Now it is time to begin the exploration. To find the treasures that might be hidden in Cha Soo-kyung’s room.