Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 50

The person who opened the real estate office door was none other than the loan shark, Park Hee-cheol.

Park Hee-cheol greeted Hyun-sung with a welcoming voice.

“What brings you here?”

“I have some business to take care of.”

“Business? Anyway, how have you been?”

“Yes, and you, Uncle?”

Rumor had it that he wasn’t the Park Hee-cheol of the past.

I even heard that he was receiving bank interest rates and donating to village festivals. And yesterday, I heard he delivered rice to people in need.

Park Hee-cheol was changing day by day.

Was that why?

Seeing Park Hee-cheol, I didn’t feel as much aversion as before. I guess it showed on my face.

Park Hee-cheol smiled and said,

“You welcoming me like this makes me feel like a child again! Heh.”

“Uncle, really…”

At that moment, Park In-soo, the owner of the real estate office, cut in, looking dumbfounded.

“No, what brings you here, Hyung [older brother/friend]? I’m completely forgotten.”

“Haha, is that how it is? Sorry, I met someone so precious.”

“Yes?”

Park In-soo looked at Hyun-sung.

If Park Hee-cheol’s words were true, the precious person was Hyun-sung sitting right in front of him.

Even with a quick thought, it was natural that he couldn’t understand.

Park In-soo asked again.

“No, I don’t understand what you’re saying.”

“Ah, I see. It’s a secret between me and Hyun-sung here, so even if you’re curious, Park, I’m sorry, but please bear with it. Anyway, what were you two doing?”

“This student said he’s going to sign a contract.”

“Contract?”

Park Hee-cheol looked at Hyun-sung at Park In-soo’s words about the contract. If it were the old days, it would have been an absurd situation, so he would have ignored it, but now it’s different.

Because his feelings for Hyun-sung are so different from before.

He wanted to ask what kind of contract it was right away, but regardless of age, this was a contract matter.

This wasn’t a place where he could step in with rash curiosity.

Park Hee-cheol looked at Park In-soo and said,

“I’m sorry about this. Then please proceed quickly.”

“Yes?”

Park In-soo’s face was filled with embarrassment.

He was already wondering if he should believe the words of such a young friend and write a contract.

Moreover, it wasn’t a contract between the landlord and the tenant, but a contract between the broker and the tenant, which didn’t make sense to anyone.

But now that even Park Hee-cheol was stepping in, it was even more absurd.

At that moment, Park Hee-cheol blinked at Park In-soo. Knowing the meaning, Park In-soo got up from the sofa.

It was to get the contract.

When you think about it, there’s nothing to lose anyway. Writing a contract is something he can do with his eyes closed, and there’s no law that says students can’t write contracts.

Of course, if it were the main contract, things would be different, but for now, Park In-soo’s thought was to just do as he was asked.

Besides, he said he would come back within a week, so there was some expectation that he might actually sign a contract on that day.

Park In-soo brought the contract and sat across from Hyun-sung.

“Okay, shall we write the contract?”

“Yes.”

Hyun-sung leaned forward and took an active stance.

Park In-soo wrote the contract in an organized manner. As expected of an expert, the speed was fast.

“Okay, read this and tell me if there’s anything you want to add.”

When Park In-soo handed over the contract, Hyun-sung began to carefully examine the contents.

After a while.

Hyun-sung put down the contract and looked at Park In-soo.

“As expected of an expert, there are no loopholes.”

“Thank you.”

“Um… I’m sorry, but I’d like to add one more clause.”

“Haha, is that so? Okay, what is that clause?”

Park In-soo looked at Hyun-sung with an interested look.

He had clearly written everything down without missing a single detail. There was nothing special, so there was nothing to add.

But since he said he would add a clause, Park In-soo was naturally curious.

And there was another person who was as curious as Park In-soo. It was Park Hee-cheol, who was standing behind Hyun-sung with his arms crossed.

At first, he watched out of curiosity, but the serious expression on Hyun-sung’s face turned that curiosity into curiosity. And finally, the word “clause” brought that curiosity to its peak.

At that time, Hyun-sung’s mouth opened.

“The content is that if the contract is violated, a penalty of 1 million won [approximately $750 USD] will be paid.”

“What, 1 million won?”

Park In-soo was momentarily dumbfounded. The audacity was audacious, but the contract fee was 0 won, and the penalty was 1 million won…

There is no such case.

It was the moment when Park In-soo’s eyes narrowed.

“Don’t you think you’re playing too much?”

“Playing?”

“Ask the people passing by. Does it make sense that the contract fee is 0 won and the penalty is 1 million won? Of course, I have nothing to lose. But to anyone, this is nothing more than making fun of adults.”

Park In-soo’s voice was quite agitated.

It’s a natural reaction in common sense.

Everything has a limit. A certain limit that is generally recognized and accepted.

From Park In-soo’s point of view, he judged that Hyun-sung had now crossed that line.

When Park In-soo got angry, Hyun-sung didn’t say anything and just listened. In fact, writing a contract without a contract fee is an absurd case in itself.

What’s more?

A contract between a broker and a tenant, not a landlord, was nowhere to be found.

But Hyun-sung couldn’t help it. If someone were to sign a contract right after this time, he would miss the first opportunity he had gained since returning.

So, even though he knew it wasn’t the case, he pushed ahead.

The penalty is the same context.

Hyun-sung judged that Park In-soo could feel conflicted at any time if someone said they would sign a contract right away.

The possibility of signing a contract with another person was open at any time due to the lack of a contract fee and the anxiety of being a young student. Hyun-sung mentioned the penalty to eliminate that possibility altogether.

Hyun-sung looked at Park In-soo and said,

“Can I ask you something?”

Park In-soo looked at Hyun-sung.

Even though he had spoken so fiercely, he listened to the end without shaking at all, and when he was finished, he asked if he could ask a question.

It would be difficult for even an average adult to show such calm behavior.

Park In-soo was curious about Hyun-sung’s next words.

“Okay, what is it?”

“What if, I mean, what if someone comes to contract that shopping district after I leave?”

“Does that make sense? Why would a store that hasn’t left for two years suddenly leave?”

“That’s why I said what if.”

Park In-soo felt a sense of unease at that moment.

Because of Hyun-sung’s unchanging calm voice. He felt as if he were facing someone who had seen it all, and he was unknowingly intimidated.

“Of course, I have to refuse because my contract with you takes precedence.”

“Really?”

“Of course! Isn’t trust our lifeblood?”

“Even without a contract fee or a penalty?”

“…Then.”

Gulp.

Park Hee-cheol, who was watching from behind Hyun-sung, had a dry mouth. At first, he was just curious.

But as time went on, he couldn’t help but be surprised by Hyun-sung’s persistent and serious appearance.

At that time, Hyun-sung’s words continued again.

“I don’t think so. There is no contract fee, no penalty, and I’m a young student. You must be anxious. But I don’t think the president can refuse without any hesitation.”

“Huh… do you think so?”

“If I were the president, I would feel that way.”

“Hmm…”

Park In-soo had no choice but to admit it.

That’s right.

If such a situation really happened, it would be difficult for anyone to refuse firmly.

Park In-soo nodded.

Then there is only one thing left.

Ability to pay.

He’s a young student.

The result is obvious without asking. A contract without the ability to pay…

Does it have meaning?

Park In-soo was getting more and more thoughts.

At that time, Hyun-sung’s mouth opened.

“I honestly don’t have 1 million won. But I will definitely come to sign the contract within a week.”

Heo [gasp]!

Park In-soo felt like he had been hit in the back of the head.

He doesn’t have it.

That was a part that he had fully expected without saying it.

What made Park In-soo feel absurd was Hyun-sung’s audacity.

He doesn’t have the ability to pay, and he proudly reveals it with his own mouth?

There are two cases like this.

Either he’s a nobody, or he really has something.

Um…

What’s real is nonsense.

No matter how much he thought about it, this wasn’t it. The more he thought about it, the more angry he became that he had been played by such a young kid.

Whoa!

It was the moment when Park In-soo’s mouth, who had exhaled briefly, opened.

“I guarantee it!”

Two people, Hyun-sung and Park In-soo, turned their eyes to the source of the sound.

Then Park Hee-cheol, who had been standing still, moved his feet and continued to speak.

“President Park, add one more line to that contract.”

“Yes?”

“I’ll guarantee it.”

***

Hyun-sung and Park Hee-cheol, who came out of the real estate office, headed to a nearby Chinese restaurant.

When they arrived at the Chinese restaurant, the owner of the Chinese restaurant opened the door and greeted Park Hee-cheol.

“It’s been a while, Hyung.”

“I’ve been a little busy.”

“Your face looks much better than last time. Did something good happen?”

“Something good? Of course, there was. Hehe…”

Park Hee-cheol smiled and talked to the owner of the Chinese restaurant, and suddenly started introducing Hyun-sung.

“I brought a precious guest today.”

“Ah, is that so? This student here. Maybe a grandson…”

“Hehe, grandson? No, he’s a more precious friend than that. Please take care of him if he comes in the future.”

“Yes? Ah, I see. I understand. I don’t know the circumstances, but I’ll definitely remember it.”

As expected, the owner of the Chinese restaurant responded immediately because he was doing business.

It was only Hyun-sung who felt awkward.

The two people who came into the room.

Park Hee-cheol looked at Hyun-sung and asked.

“What are you going to eat?”

“Jjamppong [spicy seafood noodle soup].”

“Do you need anything else?”

“No, that’s enough.”

It was the moment when I suddenly thought of my military comrade, Kim Dong-soo. Kim Dong-soo said that you shouldn’t eat jajangmyeon [black bean noodles] or jjamppong when you get something to eat.

Park Hee-cheol called the president, ordered two jjamppongs and sweet and sour pork, and then looked at Hyun-sung and asked.

“Where did that guts come from?”

“Guts?”

“I’m talking about the penalty.”

“It’s not guts, it’s because I was so desperate. I had to get that shopping district at least that way.”

Park Hee-cheol couldn’t understand Hyun-sung’s words.

The shopping district that Hyun-sung is talking about now is well known to him. Two years ago, the female president who ran the restaurant suddenly collapsed, and unfortunately, that was the end.

She was only a little over 40 years old, and she had an acute myocardial infarction [heart attack]. She had good taste, so she had quite a few regulars, and he also stopped by occasionally on market days.

But the problem is after that. As rumors spread that people had died in the store, no one paid attention to the store. It’s already been two years. Rumors were that scary in a small rural town.

But it was natural that he couldn’t understand Hyun-sung, who was signing a contract with a clause that added an absurd penalty of 1 million won to such a store.

Park Hee-cheol asked again.

“Can I ask the desperate reason?”

“I think I’ll regret it for the rest of my life if I miss it.”

“That sounds like there’s a special reason for that place now, am I right?”

“It’s a popping place [a place that will become very successful].”

Park Hee-cheol was even more dumbfounded by Hyun-sung’s answer.

The word “popping” must mean jackpot, but in that alley, and in that place where the rumors are ominous, it’s a jackpot, which doesn’t make sense at all.

“Hmm… I’m sorry, but I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

That will be.

This is a case that doesn’t make sense to anyone. Hyun-sung can only say that because he has lived in advance.

But he had to seek understanding from Park Hee-cheol, even for the sake of etiquette.

The reason is that this contract would not have been possible without Park Hee-cheol. Who would listen to a young student coming and saying absurd things?

Hyun-sung knew too well that the world was not that easy.

Hyun-sung looked at Park Hee-cheol.

Whatever the reason, it’s a new relationship that I met after returning. I knew that life was precious, so I saved him first. But fortunately, according to rumors, he seemed to be living a different life than in the past.

And today, I got help at a crucial moment.

Hyun-sung looked at Park Hee-cheol and opened his mouth.

“I had a dream.”

“What? Dream? What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

“You may find it hard to believe, but…”

Hyun-sung began to explain to Park Hee-cheol about the store’s jackpot in his previous life. Of course, he didn’t forget to say that he saw it in a dream.

I had no choice but to turn it into a dream. I thought it would be easier to explain with a dream than with the word “regression.”

When Hyun-sung finished speaking, Park Hee-cheol couldn’t say anything for a while and just looked at the ceiling.

After a while.

Whoa!

Park Hee-cheol, who even sighed, looked at Hyun-sung and said.

“Are you telling me to believe that now?”

“You will believe it.”

“How are you so sure?”

“Because you are a living witness.”

“What kind of dog is eating grass again?” [What nonsense are you spouting?]