Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 296

296

“It’s me.”

Hyun-sung felt the tension that had been stretched taut instantly release as he recognized the voice on the other end of the receiver. When the phone first rang, he had thought something had happened. And the first people who came to mind were naturally his parents. He figured the only people who would call at this late hour were his parents.

But the person who called was none other than Shin Young-hoon, the owner of the knife-cut noodle restaurant.

Hyun-sung answered the phone in a somewhat weak voice.

“Mr. Shin, what brings you here at this hour?”

“Is it too late to call?”

“No, it’s not. I was a little surprised because it’s late, but it’s not time for bed yet, so it’s okay. But since you called at this hour, I think something urgent must have happened. What’s wrong?”

“Could you come over for a moment?”

Hyun-sung tilted his head momentarily.

It was past midnight. But to be asked to come at this hour meant that something must have happened.

‘What could it be?’

After thinking for a moment, Hyun-sung nodded. He felt like he knew what it could be.

“Okay. I’ll be right there.”

“Yes? Ah, yes… Then I’ll be waiting.”

Hanging up the phone, Shin Young-hoon tilted his head without realizing it.

It was because of Hyun-sung’s attitude. To be honest, he had been half-doubtful even while making the call. He wondered if he would really come, calling at this late hour.

But Hyun-sung’s actions completely deviated from his expectations. He thought he would at least ask for the reason. But he didn’t even ask for the reason.

‘What is it?’

He couldn’t help but have doubts. He’s only nineteen years old. He must be at an age where he’s selfish. But his actions were the opposite. The more he thought about it, the more he couldn’t understand him.

A strange feeling came over Shin Young-hoon’s mind.

Hyun-sung, who had left the store, hurried his steps.

The reason Shin Young-hoon called him at this late hour was probably because of the knife-cut noodles. He had given him homework during the day.

Calling at this hour meant that he had just finished his homework.

The time he left Shin Young-hoon’s store during the day was a little after 5 p.m. And the current time was a little past 12 a.m., which meant that about 7 hours had passed.

That meant that he had been cooking knife-cut noodles, experiencing countless trial and errors, since then. And now, finally, the perfect knife-cut noodles were completed.

That’s why he called with a happy heart.

This is why Hyun-sung was running without even asking for a reason.

Passion.

He highly valued Shin Young-hoon’s passion for cooking proper knife-cut noodles, battling with them for a full 7 hours.

It was when Hyun-sung arrived at the knife-cut noodle restaurant.

“You’ve arrived?”

Shin Young-hoon came out to greet Hyun-sung.

“Did you come out to wait on purpose?”

“You came running here at this late hour, so I couldn’t possibly greet you from inside. I’m not that rude.”

“Haha, is that how it works? By the way, can’t you just speak comfortably now? I’m much younger anyway, and it makes me uncomfortable to hear it every time.”

“That won’t do. Even though you’re younger, you’re a proper building owner and landlord, so I can’t do that from the perspective of a tenant. I said that from the beginning, so don’t worry about it. I’m more comfortable with this.”

“Mr. Shin, you’re really something…”

Hyun-sung smiled helplessly.

Then Shin Young-hoon immediately asked.

“Aren’t you curious, by the way?”

“About what?”

“Why I told you to come.”

“Didn’t you finish your homework? So I came to check the homework. Am I wrong?”

“Haha, you’re quick to catch on. Well, shall we go inside then?”

Shin Young-hoon smiled and led Hyun-sung into the store.

Coming into the store, Shin Young-hoon told him to wait a moment and immediately disappeared into the kitchen.

Hyun-sung could definitely feel it. Shin Young-hoon he saw during the day and his current appearance were definitely different.

Confidence.

Confidence that he couldn’t see during the day seemed to be emanating from Shin Young-hoon’s entire body.

About 10 minutes passed.

Shin Young-hoon came out with knife-cut noodles on a tray.

“Please, try it!”

Even in Shin Young-hoon’s voice, he could feel a strength that he couldn’t feel during the day.

Hyun-sung first checked the color of the vegetables with his eyes. It was definitely different from the color of the vegetables he saw during the day.

“The color of the vegetables is properly alive?”

“At first, I thought there wouldn’t be much difference, but that wasn’t the case. I realized that there was definitely a difference depending on the cooking time. And the amazing thing is…”

Shin Young-hoon’s words grew longer. That meant that his passion was overflowing, so Hyun-sung felt good even while listening.

Slurp.

This time, he tasted the broth.

As expected, he could feel a deeper taste than when he boiled it with MSG [monosodium glutamate, a flavor enhancer].

“The broth is much better too. Now the broth is decent enough to eat. But making the broth with anchovy powder is a temporary measure. It’s not the proper way. Do you know what I mean?”

“Yes, I understand. I will make the broth as you said. I’m going to go to the market tomorrow to buy the ingredients.”

“If you make the broth properly, you’re more than halfway there. You must never try to flavor it with seasoning because it’s a hassle. You must not forget that the broth is the lifeblood. And I’ll say it again, you must never cheat while running a food business.”

“Yes, I understand. That will never happen again.”

Shin Young-hoon bowed his head several times as if making a pledge.

Hyun-sung tilted his head without realizing it.

It was because of Shin Young-hoon’s actions.

What should I say…

He felt a sense of unnaturalness in his appearance.

‘What is it?’

Everything has a limit. Exceeding that limit means that there is a problem in some way. People usually make exaggerated expressions when they have other intentions inside.

Shin Young-hoon’s actions looked like that now.

Shaking his head.

After thinking for a moment, Hyun-sung shook his head.

Instantly, he thought that this was not the case. Even at a glance, he thought that Shin Young-hoon would not have any other intentions towards him at this point.

“Why are you doing that?”

Shin Young-hoon asked immediately, perhaps because Hyun-sung’s expression was strange.

Then Hyun-sung immediately continued.

“Ah, no. I just had a different thought for a moment…”

“I was momentarily startled, wondering if there was something wrong with the food. Now, would you like to try the noodles?”

“Ah, yes…”

Slurrrp.

Hyun-sung immediately began to taste the noodles.

Phew!

Shin Young-hoon, who was watching the scene, sighed in relief inwardly. He realized later that he had unknowingly acted excessively a little while ago.

It was impatience.

The desire to find out the next menu from Hyun-sung as soon as possible was expressed as an excessive action without him realizing it.

Fortunately, Hyun-sung did not notice that fact.

Then Hyun-sung, who was eating knife-cut noodles, opened his mouth.

“8 points.”

“Yes? What do you mean by that?”

“I mean 8 out of 10 points.”

Only then did Shin Young-hoon understand what he meant, and there was no way he would stay still.

“What’s the problem?”

“Can I use the kitchen for a moment?”

“Yes? Ah, yes. Of course. As much as you want…”

At first, Shin Young-hoon couldn’t understand what Hyun-sung was saying. But it didn’t take even a second to understand Hyun-sung’s intentions. So he answered right away.

Hyun-sung meant that he would directly show why the remaining 2 points were lacking.

Hyun-sung got up from his seat and headed to the kitchen, and Shin Young-hoon followed right behind him. The reason Shin Young-hoon followed right behind him was to see Hyun-sung cooking in person.

The two didn’t say it explicitly, but they fully understood each other’s intentions.

After a while.

Hyun-sung came out of the kitchen with a bowl of knife-cut noodles.

“Taste it.”

The positions were reversed from before.

Hyun-sung was standing, and Shin Young-hoon was sitting and began to taste the knife-cut noodles.

Chew chew.

Shin Young-hoon put the noodles in his mouth and began to chew.

Hyun-sung asked.

“How is it?”

“It’s different.”

“What’s different?”

“The texture is different. The chewing sensation is definitely different. I think I know now what the 2-point difference you’re talking about is. You’re really amazing.”

Shin Young-hoon had no choice but to admit it.

Just a moment ago, when Hyun-sung said 8 out of 10 points, he had tilted his head. The reason was simple. It was a taste that he had cooked while battling with the fire for a full 7 hours, not just an hour or two.

He was that confident.

But Hyun-sung said that he was not satisfied. The difference was 2 points. He didn’t want to admit it, but he decided to watch a little more for now.

And he watched the process of him cooking knife-cut noodles from behind without missing a single detail.

There were two differences.

The first was the difference in the noodles. To be more precise, the thickness of the noodles was slightly thicker than the noodles he had pulled.

‘What’s the difference?’

Negative thoughts were greater than doubts. He thought there would be no difference. But he realized that that thought was due to his ignorance only after eating the noodles.

The subtle difference in the noodles was a divine move in enhancing the texture.

Hyun-sung asked again.

“Do you know the other difference too?”

“Yes.”

Shin Young-hoon nodded his head.

It was a part that he hadn’t even thought of.

That was the process of washing the noodles once in running water before putting them in the boiling broth. At first, he honestly didn’t know why that process was necessary. But after thinking a little more, he thought he knew the reason.

That was because of the potatoes.

Potatoes also have starch. And knife-cut noodles also have flour on them. Of course, the purpose of the flour is to prevent the noodles from sticking together.

The problem is when you just put these noodles with flour on them and boil them. Although subtle, the flour on the noodles results in an excess of starch.

Of course, ordinary people may not know the difference. But Hyun-sung was not going to tolerate even that subtle difference.

Slurp.

Shin Young-hoon tasted the broth with a spoon.

He nodded his head involuntarily. It was just an expectation. But when he actually tasted it, he felt like he knew why Hyun-sung washed the flour off the noodles before boiling them, even without explaining it.

He could definitely feel it.

“You’re amazing as expected.”

“Can you feel it?”

“I can definitely feel it, although it’s subtle. The broth tastes clean. At first, I didn’t know why you washed the noodles, but after eating them, I definitely know the reason. This was the last hidden 1 point of taste?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Hyun-sung nodded his head and smiled.

It was a moment that reminded him of Baek Jong-woon [a famous South Korean chef and TV personality].

Shin Young-hoon asked.

“Now, what’s the second menu?”

“Do you like mushrooms?”

“Mushrooms? Could it be that the second menu is…”