Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 213

Returning home, Seo Inhye called out for her mother, Lee Sehee, as she entered the yard.

“Mom!”

Lee Sehee, who had been watching TV in her room, was startled by the voice. She threw open the door and greeted Seo Inhye.

“Inhye, what happened? Why are you home already?”

“I just came.”

“Why? Did something happen?”

Lee Sehee couldn’t help but worry. After all, Inhye had clearly stated she would be back in the evening when she left in the morning.

Seo Inhye entered the room and sat down in front of Lee Sehee.

“No, nothing happened. I came home early because of you, Mom.”

“What does that mean?”

“I couldn’t enjoy myself knowing you were feeling uncomfortable.”

“You don’t have to worry about that. I’m fine now. I won’t meet that man if you don’t like it.”

Lee Sehee said it as if it were nothing.

Seo Inhye’s expression shifted slightly as she continued.

“Actually, I talked to Hyunseong *oppa* [older brother or male friend] about that today.”

“What? You talked to Hyunseong about that?”

“Yeah, it was too much for me to handle alone, honestly. So, I asked *oppa* about it.”

“Still, that’s a bit…”

Lee Sehee’s face twisted.

It was, after all, a private matter. And not just any issue, but her own relationship problem. Of course, it wasn’t like she had committed a crime, but the fact that these young kids were openly talking about it like this wasn’t pleasant.

Seeing Lee Sehee’s dark expression, Seo Inhye quickly continued.

“Mom, we’re not gossiping or anything, so don’t feel bad. I was just trying to find a good solution.”

“Still, talking to Hyunseong about it… Anyway, why did you come home so early?”

“I’ve sorted out my feelings.”

“Sorted out your feelings?”

Lee Sehee tilted her head.

Seo Inhye immediately followed up.

“Talking to *oppa* made me realize how selfish I’ve been.”

“What did Hyunseong say to make you think that way?”

“He told me to think about it from your perspective, not just mine.”

“Hyunseong said that?”

Lee Sehee couldn’t help but be surprised.

He was only a high school sophomore. It was amazing that Hyunseong would say something like that.

To put oneself in another’s shoes.

She knew all too well how difficult it was for anyone to think from someone else’s perspective, not their own.

Yet, that was coming from Hyunseong, who was only a high school sophomore.

Seo Inhye said,

“So, I thought about it, and I realized I’ve been too selfish.”

“Selfish?”

“Yeah, I’ve only been thinking from my perspective. But when I thought about what it would be like if I were you, Mom, my thoughts changed.”

“Is that why you came home early today?”

“Yeah, I’m a woman too, and if I were in your position, I’d think it was too harsh.”

“Harsh?”

Lee Sehee flinched at the word harsh.

Seo Inhye continued.

“I mean, it’s not like you committed a crime, and Dad died in an accident. It doesn’t make sense that you have to live alone forever.”

“…”

“Mom, I was short-sighted. I didn’t know any better and only thought about my own desires.”

“…”

Lee Sehee was speechless.

Seo Inhye continued again.

“Mom, do whatever you want now. Don’t worry about what anyone thinks.”

“Inhye…”

“No one will say anything to you, not even me.”

“No, how did your thoughts change so suddenly?”

“It’s because of *oppa*. He said that.”

Seo Inhye’s eyes sparkled more than ever as she spoke.

Then Lee Sehee asked,

“What did Hyunseong say?”

“He said that the person who’s having the hardest time is you, Mom, no matter what anyone says. At that moment, I decided I couldn’t make you suffer anymore as a fellow woman.”

“Hmm…”

Lee Sehee was speechless.

To be honest, it would be a lie to say she hadn’t had a hard time. But more than anything, the most important thing was to win Seo Inhye’s approval.

If Seo Inhye opposed it to the end, she would have no choice but to give up. She didn’t have the confidence to meet him against Seo Inhye’s opposition.

Seo Inhye said,

“Mom, I’m sorry for everything.”

“No, I’m the one who should be sorry to my daughter. I made you worry for no reason…”

“But what kind of person is that *ajusshi* [middle-aged man]?”

“Huh? Well…”

Lee Sehee was speechless at Seo Inhye’s sudden question.

Then Seo Inhye continued.

“Is that *ajusshi* a good person?”

“He seems like it to me…”

“Introduce me to him soon. I should see him at least once.”

“Oh? O-okay.”

“Mom, relax. Why are you so nervous?”

“It’s too sudden. Actually… I’m very nervous right now.”

“Mom…”

Seo Inhye held Lee Sehee’s hand tightly.

The slight tremor was transmitted directly to her body.

Seo Inhye lowered her head, realizing how much her mother had suffered.

***

That evening.

Hyunseong was watching TV at the store.

*Ting-a-ling.*

The store door opened, and someone came in.

“Oh? Woojin.”

The person who opened the store door was none other than Lee Woojin, the son of the previous store owner.

“*Hyung* [older brother or male friend], where did you go this afternoon?”

“Oh, I went to Wonju for some business.”

“No wonder the door was locked when I came by this afternoon.”

“Why? What’s wrong?”

Lee Woojin would occasionally come by to talk when he had worries or something to say.

“*Hyung*, you said before that people should have dreams, right?”

“Yeah, I did.”

“So, I’ve been thinking about it for the past few days, but I still don’t know. Can you help me?”

“Sure, why not? Sit over here.”

Lee Woojin smiled happily and sat across from Hyunseong.

Hyunseong looked at Lee Woojin and asked,

“So, our Woojin wants to find a dream but can’t find it alone, is that it?”

“Yeah, actually, there are a few things I want to do, but I don’t know which one to choose.”

“First, why don’t you tell this *hyung* what those few things are?”

“There are three things. The first is to be a doctor.”

Lee Woojin looked at Hyunseong with bright eyes.

Then Hyunseong asked again,

“Why do you want to be a doctor?”

“To make a lot of money.”

“Money?”

Hyunseong was momentarily dumbfounded. Usually, when a child says they want to be a doctor, they say it’s to treat sick people. But this kid was saying it was for money, so Hyunseong couldn’t help but be taken aback.

Hyunseong immediately asked,

“What do you want to do with a lot of money, Woojin?”

“I want to help poor people so that no one dies because they don’t have money like my mom did.”

“Ah… I see.”

It was an unexpected answer. Hyunseong didn’t really have anything to say.

Lee Woojin continued.

“My grandma said that Mom could have lived if she had surgery.”

“I see. So, Woojin is very upset.”

“Yeah, it hurts here whenever I think about it.”

Lee Woojin patted his chest.

Hyunseong watched him and gently patted Lee Woojin’s shoulder.

“Woojin, don’t keep thinking about that anymore. Your mom will be sad in heaven too.”

“Really?”

“Of course, Mom would like it best if Woojin didn’t think about that and went to school cheerfully and studied hard.”

“I think so too. So, I try not to think about it, but it’s not easy.”

Lee Woojin was quite serious.

Hyunseong looked at Lee Woojin and said again,

“It’s important to try. So, from now on, remember only the good memories of Mom, not the painful ones.”

“Good memories?”

“Yeah, when did Woojin have the most fun with Mom?”

“Hmm… I think it was when I made *kimbap* [Korean seaweed rice rolls] with Mom.”

A smile was already spreading across Lee Woojin’s face.

Just thinking about that time made Lee Woojin feel good.

Hyunseong said again,

“Then from now on, Woojin will only think about making *kimbap* with Mom.”

“Okay, I got it. It really feels good to think about that, just like you said, *hyung*.”

Lee Woojin’s face was much brighter than before.

Hyunseong continued.

“Then, shall we hear what Woojin’s second dream is this time?”

“The second is to be a police officer.”

“Is there a special reason for that too?”

Lee Woojin nodded instead of answering. But his expression was dark, in contrast to the smiling face he had shown a little while ago.

Hyunseong asked again,

“What’s that special reason?”

“Dad.”

“Dad? What does that mean?”

“I’m going to find Dad.”

This was something Hyunseong didn’t know either.

“Where is Dad?”

“I don’t know either. So, if I become a police officer, I’m going to find Dad first.”

“Doesn’t your grandma know either?”

“No, Dad disappeared a few months after Mom passed away. So, I ended up living with Grandma.”

“Woojin must be very upset.”

“So, after I find Dad, I’m going to scold him.”

“What?”

Hyunseong couldn’t believe his ears. Usually, people look for someone because they miss them. But Lee Woojin wasn’t saying that; he was saying he was going to scold him.

That meant he had a lot of pent-up feelings in his heart, even at a young age.

Hyunseong couldn’t help but feel sorry for Lee Woojin.

Then Lee Woojin said again,

“And I’m definitely going to ask him.”

“Ask Dad?”

“Yeah, why did he run away and leave me behind?”

“…”

Hyunseong was speechless.

When Hyunseong didn’t say anything, Lee Woojin said,

“*Hyung*, do you know what my third dream is?”

“Oh, there’s one left. Okay, what’s the last one?”

“That’s…”

Lee Woojin couldn’t finish his sentence.

Then Hyunseong immediately asked,

“What is it? Why can’t you say it?”

“That’s… to do business like *hyung*.”

“What? Business?”

“Yeah, you’re the person I envy the most these days.”

*Pfft.*

Hyunseong couldn’t help but laugh in disbelief.

“You envy me?”

“Yeah, you have no idea how many kids at school envy you these days.”

“Why?”

“You should know better than anyone else.”

Lee Woojin’s strangely turning eyes were cute, but they were starting to feel a bit creepy.

After a while,

Hyunseong said,

“So, to sum up your dreams, it’s to be a doctor, a police officer, and to do business, is that right?”

“Yeah, which one do you think is the best?”

“Hmm… well, this is a very difficult question.”

“Right? That’s why I’ve been worrying these days.”

Lee Woojin seemed quite serious.

Looking at Lee Woojin, Hyunseong said,

“Woojin, before that, let me ask you something first.”

“What is it?”

“If I decide for you, will you decide that way?”

“I’ll listen first.”

“What kind of answer is that?”

“It’s my dream, so it’s right for me to make the final decision.”

“…”

Hyunseong was speechless.

Then Lee Woojin said,

“*Hyung*, I just decided on my dream.”

“What is it?”

“That’s… I’ll go with the third dream.”

“The third one is business?”

“Yeah, being a doctor seems too tiring. I’d have to see patients all day.”

“Really? Then why don’t you like the second one, being a police officer?”

“I saw on TV the other day that they got stabbed while fighting bad guys. I hate fighting the most.”

Lee Woojin shook his head.

Hyunseong couldn’t help but ask again,

“Then, does business look easy?”

“Not really, but my grandma said something the other day.”

“What did she say?”

“If you’re good at business, business is the best. And when I look at *hyung*, it seems like that’s true. So, I decided on that.”

“…”

Hyunseong didn’t have anything else to say because it wasn’t particularly wrong.

Then Lee Woojin asked again,

“By the way, what’s your dream, *hyung*? Surely your dream isn’t to sell ramen?”

“You’re curious about my dream?”

“Yeah.”

“My dream is to be a building owner!”

*Chuckle.*

Lee Woojin suddenly started laughing.

Then Hyunseong looked at Lee Woojin and said,

“You’ll know when you grow up. That the building owner is above the creator.”

Hyunseong chuckled as he said that.