Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 138

The next day, in the afternoon.

Hyunsung, Kim Ilsoo, and Lee Jungwoo took a bus to Hyunsung’s house.

The pretext was a team-building event, but the real reason was for Hyunsung to bring Kim Ilsoo home. It was because of Hyunsung’s younger sister, Kim Jiyun’s, sudden action that caused their mother to summon Kim Ilsoo.

The more he thought about it, the more absurd it seemed, but once his mother’s summons had been issued, Hyunsung couldn’t do anything about it.

The bus had passed the three-way intersection and traveled for about five minutes when Lee Jungwoo looked at Hyunsung and asked,

“Are we still far?”

“No, we just need to go a little further.”

The three of them got off the bus and walked towards Hyunsung’s house.

Then, Kim Ilsoo looked at Hyunsung and asked,

“Isn’t there a supermarket around here?”

“There’s a small corner store rather than a supermarket. Why do you ask?”

“You said it yourself last time, you shouldn’t go empty-handed when visiting elders.”

“You remember things like that well.”

It was something his father had always said since he was young: Never go to someone’s house empty-handed. Especially if there are elders at home, make sure to buy something to bring.

Perhaps that’s why Hyunsung always bought something when visiting someone’s house. Looking back, it seems like it was a good lesson.

Hyunsung led Kim Ilsoo to the corner store. Kim Ilsoo bought a box of soy milk and a few bags of snacks.

“Why the snacks?”

“Why are you asking when you already know?”

Then, Lee Jungwoo, who was next to them, chuckled and said,

“Are you going to give them to Jiyun?”

“You’re quick-witted when it comes to that.”

“Are you nervous right now?”

“You’re teasing me again. I’m a little nervous, to be honest.”

Hyunsung chuckled as he looked at Kim Ilsoo.

He could understand how he felt to some extent. After all, it was his first time going to his girlfriend’s house, so how could he not be nervous?

Then, Lee Jungwoo said,

“Oh, right! Last time I saw your parents, they both seemed to enjoy drinking, so we should buy some soju [Korean distilled rice liquor].”

“Do you have money?”

“My mom gave me some because I said I was going to a friend’s house. I’ll buy soju and ramen. We can put the ramen in the spicy fish stew later.”

“Good, ramen is a must in spicy fish stew.”

Kim Ilsoo chimed in from the side.

When they arrived home, Hyunsung’s mother welcomed Kim Ilsoo and Lee Jungwoo. His younger sister, Kim Jiyun, was already home.

“Hello, Mother.”

Lee Jungwoo greeted her first.

“Oh, welcome. You’re that student I saw last time. Have you been doing well?”

“Yes, Mother, have you been comfortable?”

“I’m always the same. By the way, your face looks much brighter than the last time I saw you.”

“Haha, is that so?”

Lee Jungwoo smiled awkwardly. Indeed, Lee Jungwoo’s expression had become much brighter compared to before.

This time, Kim Ilsoo greeted her.

“Nice to meet you for the first time. I’m Kim Ilsoo.”

“Welcome. You look so handsome. Nice to meet you.”

“Yes, nice to meet you too. And this.”

Kim Ilsoo handed the box of soy milk to his mother.

Then, Kim Jiyun, who was next to her, quickly took the soy milk and continued,

“Oh my! You even bought something like this. How did you even think of buying something like this?”

“Hyunsung taught me.”

“Huh? My brother?”

Kim Jiyun looked at Hyunsung.

Then, Hyunsung looked at Kim Jiyun and said,

“Don’t go around empty-handed either. Especially when you’re going to see elders, don’t go in empty-handed.”

“What’s with you? I’ve heard that much from Mom.”

“Then that’s good.”

Then, Lee Jungwoo handed the bag of soju to his mother.

“Mother, this is soju. I thought Father liked to drink last time I saw him.”

“Hoho, I like alcohol even more. Anyway, I’ll enjoy it, thank you.”

After finishing the greetings to some extent, Hyunsung looked at Kim Ilsoo and Lee Jungwoo and said,

“Hey, let’s quickly prepare for the stream fishing and go to the creek.”

“Okay, what should we prepare first?”

“We just need a casting net, a hoe, a crowbar, and a pot and seasonings. Jungwoo bought the ramen earlier, so we can take that.”

Then, Kim Jiyun suddenly chimed in.

“Oppa, should I go too?”

Hyunsung glanced at Kim Jiyun. Then he smiled.

Normally, she wouldn’t go even if he asked her to come along. But today, she was volunteering to go, so he couldn’t help but smile.

The reason was obvious.

“Do as you please.”

He wanted to tease her, but he decided to just let it go because he would only get annoyed if she got sulky.

“Oppa, what should I prepare?”

“Oppa will prepare the seasonings, so you just go to the chili field and pick a few chilies. Spicy chilies are a must in spicy fish stew.”

“Okay.”

As Kim Jiyun disappeared, Lee Jungwoo looked at Kim Ilsoo and asked,

“Are you happy?”

“You’re starting again. Are you going to keep teasing me?”

“I’m not teasing you, I’m just jealous. By the way, what does Jiyun like about Ilsoo?”

Then, Hyunsung, who was next to them, responded to Lee Jungwoo’s words.

“She says he’s cute.”

“What’s cute? Ilsoo?”

Lee Jungwoo stared at Kim Ilsoo’s face as if he was dumbfounded.

Then, Kim Ilsoo smiled and casually said,

“Take a closer look!”

“…….”

The four of them went to the creek and started catching fish.

Hyunsung held the casting net, Kim Ilsoo held the crowbar, and Lee Jungwoo held the kettle and hoe to put the fish in. Kim Jiyun was starting a fire to prepare for the spicy fish stew.

“Hey, the fish are going that way.”

“Where?”

“Not that way, that way…….”

Indeed, there’s no better activity than this in the summer.

In his past life, he used to play like this with his friends in the summer. Only after time passed and he got older did he miss those times and long for those memories.

As expected, Kim Ilsoo’s strength was helpful in catching fish in many ways. He could move most rocks with his strength, so there was almost no need for a crowbar.

Finally, there was a large rock that Kim Ilsoo couldn’t move with his strength alone.

He had to use a crowbar for this rock anyway.

Hyunsung held the casting net, and Kim Ilsoo stuck the crowbar into the crevice of the rock. Then, he used all his strength to pry the rock open.

“Eatcha!”

“A little more.”

“Eatcha! Eatcha!”

It was then.

Lee Jungwoo shouted.

“It, it went in there. Lift the casting net!”

Hyunsung lifted the casting net in response to Lee Jungwoo’s shout. Then, there was a catfish as big as an arm inside.

“Wow! Look at this catfish.”

“It’s really big.”

How much time had passed?

Lee Jungwoo shook the kettle filled with fish and said,

“Hey, this should be enough.”

“Then let’s stop catching fish and go make spicy fish stew.”

The three of them stopped catching fish and walked towards where Kim Jiyun was.

Kim Jiyun had been boiling water in a pot since earlier.

“Did you catch a lot?”

“Yeah, this should be enough.”

Kim Jiyun checked the kettle and shouted again.

“Wow! You caught a lot.”

“Do you think this is enough?”

“Are we going to eat all of this?”

Instead of answering, Hyunsung looked at Kim Ilsoo. Kim Jiyun, who couldn’t possibly not know what that meant, pouted.

“Hmph! Is Ilsoo oppa [term used by females to address older male friends or brothers] a pig?”

“He’s not a pig, but he eats a lot. You’ll see later.”

“Stop teasing me.”

“Okay, okay. I won’t tease you anymore, so put in the seasonings.”

As Kim Jiyun put in the seasonings, Kim Ilsoo coated the cleaned fish with flour and put it in the pot.

After a while.

“Shall we taste it?”

Kim Ilsoo opened the lid of the pot and tasted it.

A big guy cooking looked quite good.

Hyunsung looked at Lee Jungwoo next to him and asked,

“That guy looks pretty good, doesn’t he?”

“What?”

“I mean, cooking.”

“Come to think of it, he does. Maybe it’s because he’s big, but if he wore the right clothes, we could call him a chef.”

The important thing is that Kim Ilsoo likes to cook. He had felt that when he went to his house the other day. People are happiest when they do what they like.

He hadn’t seen him many times, but Kim Ilsoo seemed happiest when he was cooking.

It was the same today. No one told him to, but he was taking the initiative to make spicy fish stew. That’s how much he likes it.

Then, Lee Jungwoo looked at Kim Ilsoo and asked,

“How is it?”

“The seasoning is right, and I think we can just put in the ramen and boil it.”

Kim Ilsoo started putting the ramen in the spicy fish stew.

After a while.

“How is it?”

Kim Ilsoo looked at Lee Jungwoo and asked.

“Wow! It’s amazing. Ilsoo, don’t think about anything else and become a chef in the future.”

“You mean it’s delicious.”

“It’s the best spicy fish stew I’ve ever had.”

Then, Kim Jiyun looked at Kim Ilsoo and said,

“Oppa, give me a little too.”

“You said you couldn’t eat spicy fish stew earlier?”

“No, I’m just going to try a little because Jungwoo oppa is eating so deliciously. Actually, it’s not that I can’t eat it, it’s that I didn’t eat it.”

Kim Ilsoo scooped half a ladle into a bowl, and Kim Jiyun took a small spoonful and brought it to her mouth.

Slurp.

Kim Jiyun’s eyes suddenly widened as she looked at Kim Ilsoo.

“Oppa, it’s amazing!”

“Is it that good?”

“Yeah, it doesn’t smell fishy and it’s really delicious. Give me a bowl too.”

A long arc was drawn on Kim Ilsoo’s lips.

People who cook say that the greatest reward is when someone enjoys the food they make. So, Kim Ilsoo is in the best mood right now.

Slurp.

Hyunsung also tasted the soup with a spoon.

He could understand why Lee Jungwoo and Kim Jiyun were making such a fuss and saying it was delicious.

The spicy fish stew was indeed excellent.