Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 332

332

“Mom?”

Opening the door, Lee Jung-woo was momentarily taken aback.

Truthfully, he had been talking to the photo of his father a little while ago, lost in the conversation, and had become emotional at the end.

Although he had no memory of his father, it didn’t mean he had no affection for him. Perhaps that was why he missed him and felt so attached.

That’s why his eyes couldn’t help but get a little moist.

“What’s going on?”

Lee Jung-woo asked, deliberately avoiding eye contact to hide his condition.

But his efforts were immediately nullified by Shin Myung-soon’s words.

“Were you crying?”

“Huh? Oh, well…”

“It’s okay. What’s wrong with that? A person who is emotionally dry is the most pitiful person. You should cry when you want to cry and laugh when you want to laugh to keep your heart healthy. If you keep holding it in, you’ll end up with a pain in your chest without even realizing it.”

Shin Myung-soon gently tapped her chest.

Her eyes were also moist.

Shin Myung-soon continued immediately.

“I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but I came to the door and heard your voice. So, I couldn’t help but listen. At first, I started listening out of curiosity, but later I couldn’t help but cry.”

“……”

“Son, thank you.”

“Yes? What did I do…”

“Thanks to you, Mom is so happy today. I didn’t know my son thought about me this much. Of course, I knew you were thoughtful, but I didn’t realize you cared about me this much. I’m really touched.”

When she came to the door a little while ago, she heard her son’s voice. She was about to turn away, but she heard the word ‘father,’ so she couldn’t help but listen for a moment.

The word ‘father’ has a special meaning to her son.

Since his father went to heaven when he was three years old, her son has no memories of his father. So, she naturally thought that his attachment to his father would be less than others.

But she realized a moment ago that it was just her misconception. Her son missed his father even more because he had no memories of him.

And then he said he would make more memories with his stepfather now. He didn’t forget to say that it would be difficult at first, but he would try harder. But the reason he had that mindset was for his mother.

How could she not cry in that situation?

Shin Myung-soon continued.

“It must have been hard, right?”

“Just a little…”

“No, it must have been very hard for my son. But I’m so grateful that you overcame it so bravely.”

“Actually, Hyun-sung helped me a lot. He’s the same age as me, but he acts like an old man, so he was a big help.”

“What? An old man? Hoho…”

Shin Myung-soon couldn’t help but laugh.

She always felt that he was precocious. But when she heard him called an old man, she thought that word suited him even better, so she couldn’t help but laugh.

As Shin Myung-soon laughed, Lee Jung-woo smiled and continued.

“Sometimes he’s like an older brother, and other times he’s like a…”

Lee Jung-woo couldn’t finish the last word. No matter how much of an old man he was, he couldn’t bring himself to call his friend ‘father.’

But Shin Myung-soon, who immediately understood the meaning, blurted out the next word.

“Father? Is that what you were going to say?”

“Hehe…”

“Is that right? Is Hyun-sung really like that?”

“Yes, it’s ridiculous, but sometimes I feel that way. It’s a sorry thing to say, but I had a really hard time when Mom and that man first met.”

“Really? I didn’t know…”

“I’m only saying this now, but I was serious in my own way. But the person who persuaded me and helped me understand at that time was Hyun-sung. If Hyun-sung hadn’t helped me then, I don’t know what would have happened to me.”

This is the first time she’s hearing this.

She tried to be careful, but she didn’t know that Lee Jung-woo was having such a hard time emotionally.

“If it was that hard, why didn’t you tell Mom?”

“It wasn’t as easy as it sounds. Because if I did, Mom would have a hard time again.”

“You were worried about Mom even in that situation?”

“Of course. My top priority is always Mom.”

“……”

Shin Myung-soon was momentarily speechless.

Top priority!

She knows the meaning of this word very well.

When Shin Myung-soon couldn’t speak easily, Lee Jung-woo opened his mouth again.

“Hyun-sung told me that Mom is not my possession.”

“……Possession?”

“Yes, he said that Mom has her own life as a mother. Even if I’m her son, I shouldn’t interfere with Mom’s life recklessly.”

“Hyun-sung said that?”

Shin Myung-soon tilted her head slightly. Of course, it’s not entirely wrong, but she didn’t think it was right to say it so bluntly.

After all, aren’t they mother and son?

It feels strange to call it interfering…….

Shin Myung-soon shook her head slightly again.

At that time, Lee Jung-woo nodded and continued.

“Yes, Mom. And he also said this.”

“What……”

“The time left for Mom to live alone is too harsh. As a woman. But honestly, I still don’t understand that. I don’t know what that means……, but if I think about it, I think I understand, but anyway, that was a bit difficult for me.”

“Harsh……?”

Shin Myung-soon shook her head without realizing it.

Even if you think about it briefly, she didn’t think it was something a high school student would say. But the strange thing is that she felt a sense of agreement with that word without realizing it.

Then Lee Jung-woo’s words continued again.

“And the decisive thing was the last word.”

“Last? What else did he say?”

“That I’m too selfish. That I’m not thinking about Mom, but only about myself. But when I thought about it, that was exactly right. Until then, I was only thinking from my own perspective, not from Mom’s perspective. I talked about it with Hyun-sung until late that night, and my thoughts changed a lot. That’s how we got to today. Anyway, Hyun-sung is that kind of person to me. He’s a friend, sometimes he’s like an older brother, and other times I feel like he’s a father……, anyway, he’s a grateful guy.”

As Lee Jung-woo’s long story ended, a faint smile was already spreading across Shin Myung-soon’s face.

That means Lee Jung-woo’s words are true.

In fact, if you think about it, not only her son but also she was greatly influenced by Hyun-sung.

First of all, she was able to solve the problem of making a living thanks to Hyun-sung. When she was first kicked out by the landlord, she felt hopeless.

But the one who reached out to her at that time was young Hyun-sung.

At that time, she thought it was impossible, but Hyun-sung succeeded in making the ramen restaurant a success. Thanks to that, she got a stable job.

And now, she is even connected to a new spouse named Park Hee-cheol.

He also contributed greatly.

How could he have thought of that at such a young age…….

Shin Myung-soon was lost in thought for a moment.

“Is this coffee?”

Lee Jung-woo suddenly asked, looking at the two cups on the tray.

Then Shin Myung-soon smiled and immediately continued.

“Hoho, look at my mind. I came to have coffee with our Jung-woo, but I forgot while talking. It must be cold. Drink it quickly.”

“Hehe, is that so? I forgot that you brought coffee because I was talking to Mom like this for the first time in a while. The coffee that my mom makes is sweet and delicious.”

Lee Jung-woo said that and immediately started drinking coffee.

Slurp.

Then Shin Myung-soon also smiled and started drinking coffee.

A little later.

Shin Myung-soon put down her coffee cup and opened her mouth.

“Jung-woo, I have very good news.”

“Good news?”

“Yes, that’s right. Actually, I came to tell you that, but you were talking about something else, so I forgot.”

“What is it?”

Lee Jung-woo’s eyes sparkled at the word ‘good news.’

Then Shin Myung-soon immediately continued.

“I got a call a little while ago.”

“A call? From who?”

“From the chairman.”

“The chairman? Oh, that man. And then?”

“It looks like you’ll have surgery this winter vacation.”

Lee Jung-woo’s eyes widened at the word ‘surgery.’ She clearly said it was good news. But it’s only natural to be surprised when she suddenly talks about surgery.

Lee Jung-woo immediately asked.

“Surgery? Me?”

“Yes, that’s right. Actually……”

Shin Myung-soon began to explain in detail what she had heard from Park Hee-cheol a little while ago. As Shin Myung-soon’s explanation grew longer, Lee Jung-woo’s eyes began to widen. And finally, when Shin Myung-soon’s explanation ended, Lee Jung-woo immediately asked with an unbelievable expression.

“Is that true?”

“That’s right. I heard it from the chairman a little while ago.”

“So, if I have surgery, my leg length can be the same? If that happens, of course……”

“Yes, Jung-woo. You won’t have much trouble walking anymore. Of course, it won’t be 100%. And it’s said that the pelvis that was twisted because of the leg length can also be corrected. But the treatment period will be longer.”

“Anyway, the important thing is that I can walk straight, right?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“No way……”

There was already a different light in Lee Jung-woo’s eyes.

It was something he couldn’t have imagined.

He naturally thought that he would have to live his whole life as a disabled person. He didn’t say it, but that’s why he always felt inferior.

But he had to live, so he pretended to be calm and lived strong.

Because if he pretended to be weak, he would only make himself miserable.

But a moment ago, he heard unbelievable words.

That correction is possible. Of course, it’s not 100%, but it’s enough that it won’t be too uncomfortable to walk.

In fact, he has been feeling back pain lately. So, he went to the hospital a few days ago without telling his mom, and as expected, the cause was the difference in leg length.

Because the leg length is different, the pelvis has no choice but to be twisted, and that’s why the back has no choice but to be strained.

But the problem was the future.

It’s okay now because he’s still young, but the problem is that the pain will get worse as he gets older.

He expected it to some extent, but he couldn’t help but worry when he heard it directly from the doctor.

But the real problem was that there was no solution. With the medicine he knew, the technology to lengthen bones is still lacking in Korea.

Of course, it is possible to lengthen it forcibly, but the side effects are even greater.

But……, that’s possible…….

Lee Jung-woo asked carefully.

“Is that possible at Korea University Hospital?”

“The chairman said so. There’s a Dr. Choi there, and he’s going to start in earnest with polio patients in Korea while researching foreign cases this time. So, if you wait two or three more weeks, they’ll give you a definite answer. But it’s almost certain.”

“Did that man deliberately find out about Korea University Hospital for me?”

“Yes, that’s right. He went there a week ago. Mom found out a little while ago too.”

“I don’t know how to thank you……”

Lee Jung-woo’s eyes were stinging.

Of course, he’s going to marry his mom, but he was just amazed at how he could have thought of that.

He couldn’t help but feel grateful.

Then Shin Myung-soon opened her mouth again.

“Actually, he was going to tell you after getting a definite answer from Dr. Choi, but he said he told you in advance because of you today.”

“Because of me?”

“Yes, because you called him father earlier.”

“Oh, that……”

“Do you know what else the chairman said?”

Instead of answering, Lee Jung-woo stared at Shin Myung-soon. He was curious about what he said.

Then Shin Myung-soon smiled and continued.

“He said that because he’s my son, he’ll make sure he walks straight.”

“……”

Lee Jung-woo was speechless.

A drop.

At that time, a drop of tears flowed from Lee Jung-woo’s eyes.

Then Shin Myung-soon’s words continued again.

“Thank you. It wouldn’t have been easy, but thank you for calling me father.”

“……”

“And if we live happily, your deceased father will also be happy.”

“Yes, I think so too. I told my father a little while ago not to worry anymore. My father will definitely congratulate me too.”

“Yes, our Jung-woo has grown up now. Thank you, and I love you.”

Shin Myung-soon gently took Lee Jung-woo’s hand. Then Lee Jung-woo looked at Shin Myung-soon and nodded.

Then he quietly murmured.

“I love you too. Mom!”