Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 319

319

“This student here is…”

“Kim Hyun-sung, right?”

Choi Sung-pil spoke before Park Young-jin could even finish his introduction.

Hyun-sung grinned. Since Choi Sung-pil had investigated him anyway, it wasn’t strange that he recognized him. He was just curious about what he would say.

However, Park Young-jin felt differently.

Of course, he had told Choi everything he knew about Hyun-sung last time, but he still hadn’t met him in person.

From Park Young-jin’s perspective, it was puzzling.

“How did you know?”

“I have my reasons.”

“Reasons? What reasons?”

“I recently looked into this student. You might say I did a background check.”

Hyun-sung’s brow furrowed at that moment.

Logically, conducting a background check on someone is not normal, regardless of the reason. Moreover, to openly boast about it in front of the person is not only far from basic etiquette but also unacceptable.

To do that, it would be one of two things.

Either he’s so clueless that he doesn’t know any better, or it’s a deliberate act to gauge the other person’s reaction.

It was unlikely to be the former. After all, Choi Sung-pil was a county councilman. Hyun-sung didn’t think he would have such a terrible personality.

That left the latter, meaning he was deliberately acting that way.

Of course, if that were the case, there would be a reason for it.

‘I see.’

Hyun-sung decided that there was no need to reveal his emotions until he knew the reason, so he casually crossed his arms and leaned back on the sofa.

‘Look at this guy?’

Choi Sung-pil was taken aback.

It was true that he had done a background check.

And he had learned one thing from it: Hyun-sung was remarkable. He wasn’t someone you’d typically find in the usual categories.

At first, he started looking into him simply to buy land. But the more he learned, the more he felt like he was peeling an onion. His abilities seemed endless.

He thought it was just a ramen shop, but it wasn’t. The average daily sales were 100,000 won [approximately $75 USD]. How could that be possible?

But that wasn’t the only surprising thing.

The school’s restroom renovation was also his work. And it was his idea to bring in a graduate to give lectures.

And the most surprising thing was his wealth.

It was unbelievable. It wasn’t like his parents were wealthy either.

He had created it all himself. And that was from the end of last summer vacation until now, less than a year.

And now he’s come to another neighborhood to revitalize the commercial district. And he’s getting the merchants to move.

The expressions on the faces of those who had given up were changing, and laughter began to flow.

And more than that.

The commercial district began to come alive. And most importantly, the look in the eyes of the merchants.

You can tell by looking at a person’s eyes.

You can tell how they live and what their current mindset is. But recently, the look in the eyes of the merchants had begun to change.

The expressions on people’s faces changed, they found their laughter again, and even the look in their eyes changed. Of course, the person who created all those changes was none other than the young Kim Hyun-sung, right in front of him.

The moment he first saw his face as he entered the real estate agency, he couldn’t help but be curious.

He already knew about his abilities from the background check.

But there was something he didn’t know about him.

That was his humanity.

Or perhaps it would be more accurate to say that he wanted to know the extent of his capacity.

He’s only a high school senior, nineteen years old. He was curious to know how great his capacity was compared to his outstanding abilities.

So he deliberately said something he knew he shouldn’t say.

But!

The result was astonishing.

At first, he seemed to be shaken for a moment. But that was only for a moment, and he immediately regained his composure, causing him to shake his head without realizing it.

Then Park Young-jin said with a dumbfounded expression.

“Did you just say background check?”

“There was a reason for it. I’ll tell you about it later…”

“You!”

Park Young-jin shouted before Choi Sung-pil could finish speaking.

This didn’t make sense.

People should have basic etiquette to observe. Even if it’s a young friend.

But what is Choi Sung-pil doing now?

The very act of investigating someone is not normal. But to say it so confidently in front of the person is absurd.

This isn’t just a matter of etiquette. It’s the most basic part of his personality. It’s the duty that people should keep.

But he’s ignoring it?

It was unacceptable. Especially to someone he valued so much.

Park Young-jin was about to speak again when.

“I’m okay.”

Hyun-sung intervened between the two.

Then Park Young-jin’s head snapped towards Hyun-sung.

“What?”

“I’m fine. Shouldn’t we hear more about it? I don’t think this old man would say such a thing without thinking… Right? Mister!”

Hyun-sung looked at Choi Sung-pil and deliberately emphasized the word ‘mister.’ Regardless of the reason, he was the one who had investigated him. He didn’t want to use the honorific ‘Councilman’ for such a person.

This time, it was Choi Sung-pil’s turn to speak.

Hyun-sung’s gaze towards Choi Sung-pil was saying just that.

But it wasn’t Choi Sung-pil who opened his mouth, but Park Young-jin.

“Are you really okay?”

“Of course, what’s not okay? There are all sorts of things that happen in life, this is nothing. And even if they do a background check, it’s not like I’ve committed any illegal or bad deeds, so what’s the big deal? I’m confident.”

Hyun-sung even spread his arms wide and joked.

Choi Sung-pil saw that.

He had nothing to say.

At first, he was just curious about what kind of person he was, since he had such outstanding abilities at a young age. So he deliberately mentioned the background check to test his character.

Of course, it was an amazing result. It would have been perfectly natural for him to get angry or say harsh words. After all, he was the one who had done wrong, whether intentionally or not. He was prepared for it anyway.

But this kid didn’t show any of those reactions.

At first, he seemed to be shaken for a moment, but then he immediately crossed his arms and looked at him leisurely, as if nothing had happened.

It was as if he was watching to see how far he would go.

But the problem was what came next.

Suddenly, he interrupted the conversation between him and Park Young-jin and started joking that he was okay.

And not only that.

He emphasized the title ‘mister’ twice, as if he wanted him to hear it.

The meaning of words can change depending on how the person says them, even if they are the same words.

The word ‘mister’ is the same.

Generally, there’s nothing wrong with the word. No, it’s a word that feels affectionate if you call it kindly.

But the ‘mister’ that this kid called out a little while ago didn’t feel affectionate, but rather gave him the feeling that he was being made fun of.

When he first came in, Park Young-jin clearly said ‘Councilman Choi.’ So this kid would have vaguely known who he was.

Then the title is set. ‘Councilman.’

But even so, this kid called him ‘mister’ twice as if he had made up his mind.

What does that mean?

It means he doesn’t want to call him ‘Councilman.’ No, it’s not that he doesn’t want to call him, but that he won’t call him.

In a word, it’s ‘go screw yourself.’

He was neatly outsmarted. As a price for doing a background check.

Choi Sung-pil suddenly started laughing loudly.

“Haha, hahahaha…”

A moment later.

Choi Sung-pil, who had been laughing for a while, stopped laughing and approached Hyun-sung.

“Did you say Kim Hyun-sung?”

“Yes.”

“Haha, I was very rude at our first meeting. Let me formally introduce myself. I’m Choi Sung-pil. I look forward to working with you.”

“I’m Kim Hyun-sung.”

Hyun-sung lightly took Choi Sung-pil’s outstretched hand.

Park Young-jin, who was watching the scene, looked at Choi Sung-pil and asked.

“What’s going on?”

“What do you mean?”

“Since the person involved says it’s okay, I won’t say anything more, but why was Councilman Choi interested in President Kim here?”

“Ah, that. That’s because…”

Choi Sung-pil began to explain why he had investigated Hyun-sung. As Choi Sung-pil’s explanation continued, Park Young-jin nodded as if he understood. And finally, when Choi Sung-pil’s explanation was over, Park Young-jin immediately asked.

“You’re going to buy land from President Kim?”

“Yes, I’m trying to buy land on the mountainside. But President Kim here has no intention of selling it at all.”

“Then that’s it. If the person who owns it doesn’t want to sell, what more is there to say?”

“That’s true, but… I really need that land. But President Kim won’t even meet me. So I was thinking of visiting his store, but I happened to meet him here today.”

Park Young-jin glanced at Hyun-sung. Then he immediately continued.

“Should I leave you two alone to talk?”

“No, there’s no need for that. And this is a real estate agency, so we can talk about land as much as we want.”

“Haha, is that so? Did you hear that? Councilman Choi, then tell us about it.”

This time, Park Young-jin’s gaze turned to Choi Sung-pil.

Then Choi Sung-pil smiled and looked at Hyun-sung and opened his mouth.

“About that land…”

“Wait a minute!”

Hyun-sung interrupted before Choi Sung-pil could finish speaking.

Then Choi Sung-pil looked at Hyun-sung, slightly embarrassed.

“Huh? Why? Do you have something else to say?”

“I think you have something to say to me first. I’d like to hear that first.”

“First?”

Choi Sung-pil tilted his head. Even at a glance, he couldn’t understand what Hyun-sung was talking about. Inevitably, he glanced at Park Young-jin. He was asking for help. Then Park Young-jin shook his head from side to side as if he didn’t know either.

Choi Sung-pil turned his gaze back to Hyun-sung and asked cautiously.

“…I’m sorry, but I don’t understand what President Kim is saying right now. So I’d appreciate it if you could tell me what you mean.”

“Do you really not know?”

“Huh? Uh, yeah. So you…”

“I’m disappointed.”

Choi Sung-pil was in a difficult situation. He asked Park Young-jin for help again, but this time he avoided his gaze altogether.

In the end, he had to figure it out himself, but no matter how much he thought about it, he couldn’t figure out why Hyun-sung was doing this, so he was frustrated.

At that time.

‘Could it be…?’

Suddenly, an idea came to his mind. It was about the background check that he had mentioned a little while ago.

Doing a background check is definitely wrong, regardless of the reason. He had clearly explained the circumstances of the background check a little while ago. But there was one thing missing at that time.

Apology.

He had never apologized. People should naturally apologize if they have done something wrong. Even if the other person is young.

Choi Sung-pil, having sorted out his thoughts, looked at Hyun-sung and opened his mouth.

“I’m sorry. I sincerely apologize.”

“I’m sorry, but what are you sorry for?”

“Regardless of the reason, I sincerely apologize for doing a background check on you.”

“Ah, yes. And?”

“And?”

Choi Sung-pil was going crazy. He had been thinking for a long time and finally found the apology for the background check. But that wasn’t all, and he was asking for something else, so he was going crazy.

Just as Choi Sung-pil was about to fall into contemplation again.

Hyun-sung spoke again.