Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 154

He just kept bowing his head repeatedly.

After a while.

When Hyeonseong appeared with the kettle, people started to murmur here and there.

Then, Seo Min-gyu asked Hyeonseong.

“Is that makgeolli [Korean rice wine]?”

“Yes, Chairman. It’s a housewarming, so how can we miss the alcohol?”

“You’re a young friend who knows what’s what.”

“Well, then, I’ll pour everyone a glass of makgeolli before the ramen comes.”

As soon as Hyeonseong finished speaking, the expressions of the elders sitting in their seats were completely different from before.

He thought he had done well to prepare makgeolli.

At first, he was only going to prepare ramen. But after thinking about it, he concluded that it wasn’t the right thing to do.

He knew from experience that alcohol is sometimes necessary.

When Hyeonseong had filled all the glasses, Seo Min-gyu stood up and raised his glass high.

“Now, everyone, let’s all toast to this young friend’s success. I’ll lead the cheer, so please follow me in a loud voice.”

Seo Min-gyu stretched out his glass and shouted loudly.

“To the success of our young friend!”

“Cheers!”

“Cheers!”

“Cheers!”

The voices of the elders echoed powerfully.

In that way, the housewarming was passing safely amidst the elders’ enjoyment.

But there was something Hyeonseong didn’t know. The real housewarming hadn’t even started yet.

That afternoon.

As three men got off the bus, Choi Min-seong approached them.

Choi Min-seong first asked Lee Chun-sik.

“Are these the guys?”

“Yes, these are the friends I’ll be working with this time. They’re close friends of mine, so you don’t have to worry about anything. They’re as tight-lipped as they come, so there won’t be any trouble later.”

Lee Chun-sik briefly introduced Choi Hee-cheol and Ahn Yong-soo, whom he had brought, to Choi Min-seong.

Then, Choi Min-seong extended his hand, and Choi Hee-cheol and Ahn Yong-soo took turns shaking hands, bowing deeply to Choi Min-seong.

One might have frowned at the somewhat excessive behavior, but Choi Min-seong instead had a smile spreading across his face, as if satisfied.

After the greetings, Choi Min-seong said to Lee Chun-sik.

“Today is the first day, so take it easy. I’ll call you a few more times in the future. You know what I mean, right?”

“Yes, I understand. Don’t worry.”

“Come straight to this tea house when you’re done. Then I’ll tell you the daily wage and the next plan.”

“Yes, boss.”

Lee Chun-sik bowed to Choi Min-seong. Then he immediately gave Choi Hee-cheol and Ahn Yong-soo a look.

“Follow me.”

“Okay.”

The two men naturally followed Lee Chun-sik.

As the three men disappeared from sight, Choi Min-seong headed to Rose Tea House.

A man was waiting for Choi Min-seong inside the tea house.

He asked Choi Min-seong briefly.

“How did it go?”

The one who revealed his teeth in the light was none other than Oh Sang-cheol.

Choi Min-seong answered him.

“They just left. In about 10 minutes, that bastard will be in big trouble.”

It was the moment a smile spread across Oh Sang-cheol’s face.

Just then, Oh Cho-hee, the owner of Rose Tea House, who was sitting next to him, approached Oh Sang-cheol with a strange smile and called out to him.

“Oppa [term used by a younger woman to address an older brother or male friend], is something good happening?”

“Heh heh.”

Instead of answering, Oh Sang-cheol was just smiling in his own way, as if he was in a good mood. Then Oh Cho-hee spoke again in a coquettish voice.

“Don’t just smile, you have to order something. At this rate, I’ll end up sucking my thumb.”

“Huh? Ah, right. Bring me two sweet coffees.”

“Oppa!”

Oh Cho-hee glared at Oh Sang-cheol. Oh Sang-cheol couldn’t possibly not know what that meant. His lips twitched.

“Madam Oh, don’t you change the girls here?”

“What are you talking about? It’s only been six months since our girls came.”

“Isn’t six months the end in this business? I have to buy coffee for a girl I like, but this is just…”

Oh Sang-cheol blatantly expressed his dissatisfaction.

Then Oh Cho-hee chuckled and continued.

“You have me, oppa. Why are you being like this today?”

“Sigh, alright, alright. What can I say? Make two more cups.”

As soon as Oh Sang-cheol finished speaking, Oh Cho-hee got up and headed to the kitchen. As she got further away from Oh Sang-cheol, the smile she had at first quickly disappeared from her face.

‘Cheapskate.’

Lee Chun-sik, who had parted ways with Choi Min-seong, had a smile plastered on his face.

He couldn’t help but smile when he thought about the daily wage he would receive today.

He was told he would receive a whopping 10,000 won [approximately $7.50 USD].

But the important thing wasn’t the amount he was receiving. It was that the job was too insignificant compared to the amount he was getting paid.

All he had to do was cause a ruckus while eating ramen and then leave. And it wouldn’t take long either. At most, about an hour.

Was that why?

Not to mention Lee Chun-sik, but there was no tension to be found anywhere on the faces of Choi Hee-cheol and Ahn Yong-soo, who were following him.

Then Choi Hee-cheol looked at Lee Chun-sik and asked.

“We just have to eat ramen, right?”

“That’s right. I’ll take care of the rest, so you two just eat ramen and move when the atmosphere is right.”

“Okay, that’s nothing. But I heard the boss is young?”

“I heard he’s a high school sophomore, but we’ll see when we get there. I don’t know what kind of guy he is, but he must be a troublemaker. Otherwise, how can this make sense?”

Lee Chun-sik was dumbfounded when he first heard from Choi Min-seong that the ramen shop owner was a high school student. It didn’t make sense logically.

No matter who looked at it, it didn’t make sense.

But the important thing was that it was true.

Curiosity washed over him.

What kind of guy is he to be able to run a business at that age…?

Then Ahn Yong-soo looked at Lee Chun-sik and said again.

“Hey, aren’t we being too pathetic?”

“What are you talking about now, you bastard?”

“No, think about it. We’re 25 years old, and we’re going to a ramen shop run by a high school sophomore. And we’re going to ruin a business run by a kid…”

Ahn Yong-soo felt pathetic even as he was speaking.

Of course, he came along because he had nothing to do, but he couldn’t help but feel uneasy.

Lee Chun-sik glanced at Ahn Yong-soo and continued.

“You’re not hungry enough yet, are you?”

“Tch.”

Ahn Yong-soo closed his mouth as if he had nothing to say.

Just then, the alley that Choi Min-seong had mentioned came into view. Then Lee Chun-sik looked at Choi Hee-cheol and Ahn Yong-soo and continued.

“Everyone, get your act together. This kind of work doesn’t come along all the time.”

“Okay.”

Choi Hee-cheol answered, and Ahn Yong-soo nodded as if he understood.

At that time.

Hyeonseong was busy welcoming guests.

The guests were none other than elementary school first and second graders. And not just one or two, but 30 at once.

He thought there wouldn’t be many students because it was a school holiday. But his expectations were completely wrong.

The strange thing was that all the students were in the lower grades. Of course, it was revealed later that it was Lee Woo-jin’s marketing skills.

He was dumbfounded, but he had to admit Lee Woo-jin’s marketing skills.

When he said he would take responsibility for marketing, he wasn’t just saying it.

Clang.

The store door opened and three men came in.

“Welcome.”

Hyeonseong greeted them happily.

Lee Chun-sik, Choi Hee-cheol, and Ahn Yong-soo, who had entered the store, roughly scanned the inside and sat down at the table across from the kitchen.

Hyeonseong approached and said.

“Customers, what can I get for you?”

Instead of answering, Lee Chun-sik stared intently at Hyeonseong. Then he asked.

“Are you the owner here?”

“Excuse me?”

At that moment, Hyeonseong couldn’t help but be taken aback. Judging by his age, he was definitely older than him. But he didn’t expect him to come out with such blunt language.

And more importantly, it was the look in his eyes.

It was as if he knew in advance and came to confirm.

Lee Chun-sik asked again.

“You’re the owner here, right?”

“Yes, I am… But do you happen to know me?”

“Of course not. But I heard rumors that the owner here is a student. So I asked to confirm. Are you upset?”

Of course, he couldn’t be happy.

But he couldn’t show it in front of them. In their eyes, Hyeonseong would only look like a high school student anyway.

It was absurd, but he had no choice but to endure it.

Hyeonseong answered with a smile.

“No, I was just a little surprised.”

“I’ve confirmed it, so give us some ramen.”

“Yes, I understand. How spicy would you like it?”

“Do you have a level 4?”

“Level 3 is spicy enough. Anything spicier is bad for your stomach, so we don’t sell it in our restaurant.”

“No. Give it to me.”

“Excuse me?”

Hyeonseong couldn’t believe his ears. Usually, if he explained it to this extent, they would order level 3 on the menu.

But now, this person was ordering something that wasn’t on the menu, as if he was deliberately picking a fight.

‘What’s with this guy?’

It was the moment a question arose in Hyeonseong’s mind.

“Just give me level 4.”

Lee Chun-sik urged him once more.

It’s not like he can’t make it anyway. He just needs to add another spoonful of chili powder. Making it is surprisingly easy. The problem is that the spiciness is no joke.

But the important thing now is that the customer wants it. There’s no need to hesitate any longer.

Hyeonseong looked at Lee Chun-sik and asked.

“Are you sure you’ll be okay?”

“Just give it to me.”

“The other two are the same, right?”

When Hyeonseong asked, Choi Hee-cheol and Ahn Yong-soo also nodded.

After confirming the order, Hyeonseong headed to the kitchen.

“Mom, three level 4s.”

“Level 4?”

Hyeonseong nodded.

Then Shin Myeong-soon asked again, as if uneasy.

“Will it be okay?”

“Just give it to me. There’s no other way since they want it.”

“I guess so…”

Shin Myeong-soon turned around with an uneasy feeling. She was worried, but there was nothing she could say in this situation.

After a while.

“Here’s your ramen. Be careful of the pot, it’s hot. Enjoy your meal.”

Hyeonseong put three pots of ramen on the table and stepped back.

Just for a moment.

Clang.

Lee Chun-sik put down his spoon and raised his hand.

“Hey!”

Hyeonseong immediately approached him.

“What’s wrong?”

“Are you telling me to eat this?”

“Why, is there a problem?”

“It’s too spicy to eat. How can a person eat this?”

“Excuse me?”

Hyeonseong was so dumbfounded that he couldn’t speak. He had clearly talked about it repeatedly before ordering. But he had no choice but to give it to him because he insisted until the end.

But what was he supposed to do if he said it was spicy now?

Hyeonseong said to Lee Chun-sik.

“I clearly told you. I asked if you would be okay because it was very spicy, and I even confirmed it, didn’t I?”

“Are you trying to argue with me?”

“I’m not trying to argue, I’m just telling you the truth. Am I wrong?”

Then Lee Chun-sik said.

“I’ll pay for it.”

“What did you say?”

“Yeah, so I’m saying I’ll pay for this ramen. I’ll pay for it. So bring it back. This time, level 3.”

“…”

Hyeonseong was speechless for a moment.

It was because the other person said something he had never expected.

If this is the case, the story changes.

Saying that he will pay for the ramen means that he admits his mistake. It means that he will take responsibility for his choice being wrong.

Hyeonseong glanced at Lee Chun-sik.

Too peaceful eyes as if nothing happened, and even the expression that is showing composure.

It was the moment a bitter smile spread across Hyeonseong’s face.

Whatever the reason, he has lived for more than 50 years. It means that he can know the other person’s intentions to some extent from his expression.

Intentional!

It was the conclusion Hyeonseong came to. It means that these guys in front of him came here with a plan from the beginning.

He knew something was strange from the first time he ordered.

It’s his mistake.

He should have known from the beginning when he ordered level 4, which wasn’t even on the menu. From the beginning, these guys weren’t interested in ramen.

But they order ramen? And then they say they’ll pay for it and order ramen again?

Then…

The reason is obvious, isn’t it?

Provocation.

It means that these guys are deliberately trying to provoke Hyeonseong and want Hyeonseong to explode. It means that they are trying to touch Hyeonseong’s pride.

He doesn’t know why, but it means that these guys’ purpose is Hyeonseong.

Heh.

It was the moment a smile spread across Hyeonseong’s face once again.

Now that he has grasped the other person’s purpose, Hyeonseong will not be defeated.

“Yes, I understand. I’ll bring you level 3 again.”

Hyeonseong answered loudly and moved his steps to the kitchen.

As expected, they will refuse this ramen as well. But the important thing is that they will also pay for that ramen.

After all, the purpose is not ramen, but Hyeonseong.

After a while.

“Here, level 3 ramen is out.”

Hyeonseong examined Lee Chun-sik’s expression. As expected, there was still no agitation.

Then Lee Chun-sik looked at Hyeonseong and said.

“Again!”

“Yes. What level would you like this time?”

Hyeonseong received Lee Chun-sik’s words as if he had been waiting.

Then Lee Chun-sik hesitated for a moment and continued.

“Huh? Uh, level 2…”

“Yes, I understand. Please wait a moment and I’ll bring it to you soon.”

As Hyeonseong disappeared, Choi Hee-cheol looked at Lee Chun-sik and asked.

“Hey, what are you doing?”

“I mean, this isn’t it…”

Lee Chun-sik was dumbfounded. The original plan wasn’t this. If they told him to bring the ramen back, the little boss here should get angry and attack them.

Even if that’s not the case, he should at least be annoyed. Only then can they take action afterwards.

That was the script.

Lee Chun-sik muttered as he looked at Hyeonseong, who had disappeared into the kitchen.

“What’s with that bastard…”

155

Becoming a Building Owner After Regression