Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 334

Even after another 10 minutes, the two hadn’t ended their call.

Hyun-sung switched the phone from his right hand to his left and continued speaking.

“Uncle, let’s do this.”

“How?”

“Half and half.”

“Half and half?”

“Yes, we have no choice. Neither you nor I are willing to budge, and at this rate, we’ll be up all night without a resolution. So, let’s split the cost. I don’t think there’s any other way. By the way, I never knew you were so stubborn.”

“Heh heh, young man, I should be saying that. A young person being so stubborn, when an elder has spoken to that extent, you should just pretend not to notice and listen… Anyway, alright. Let’s do as you say.”

Only then did a smile spread across Hyun-sung’s face.

And then, a faint smile began to spread across Lee Jung-woo’s face, who had been watching the whole time. But Lee Jung-woo’s eyes were red and swollen.

Just then, Park Hee-chul’s voice was heard again from over the phone.

“Hey there.”

“Yes, Uncle, what is it?”

“Thank you. I don’t know how grateful I am to have a friend like you by Jung-woo’s side. I hope that friendship lasts forever.”

“Of course. And I’m the one who’s grateful. Thank you for being such a reliable father.”

“Heh heh, really… And I’ll be visiting the store in a few days. There are things to discuss regarding the wedding. So, see you then.”

“Yes, I understand. I’ll see you then. Sleep well.”

It was then.

Lee Jung-woo, who was next to him, gestured and made a face asking to switch phones.

“Just a moment! Jung-woo wants to talk.”

Lee Jung-woo took the phone and immediately spoke.

“Hello?”

“Oh, Jung-woo.”

“Thank you. Thank you so much.”

Lee Jung-woo repeatedly bowed his head and said thank you.

Then, Park Hee-chul’s voice was heard from over the phone.

“Jung-woo!”

“Yes.”

“This father will make sure you walk straight, so don’t worry about anything and do whatever you want to do.”

“Yes, I will. Thank you. Fath…er!”

“Heh heh, alright. And thank you. Thank you for calling me father. I’ll hang up now. Let’s have dinner with your mother soon.”

“Yes…”

Click.

As the call ended, Lee Jung-woo bowed his head deeply towards the phone.

Hyun-sung chuckled as he looked at Lee Jung-woo.

A moment later.

Hyun-sung said, looking at Lee Jung-woo.

“Father?”

“Huh? Oh, that. It’s honestly awkward, but I thought it would be even harder if I didn’t try now.”

Thump.

Hyun-sung lightly tapped Lee Jung-woo’s shoulder and continued.

“Good job. How did you think of that? It couldn’t have been easy.”

“You told me to think from Mom’s perspective.”

“That’s true, but still, that’s amazing. Anyway, good job.”

“By the way, are you going to be okay?”

“What do you mean?”

Hyun-sung looked at Lee Jung-woo.

Then Lee Jung-woo immediately continued.

“The medical bills. I overheard it was 20 million, so half of that is 10 million won [approximately $7,500 USD]. How can you have so much money…”

“It’s only possible because it’s you.”

Hyun-sung said before Lee Jung-woo could finish.

Then Lee Jung-woo said again.

“What does that mean?”

“Why did you come running to me so late at night?”

“Because I wanted to tell you the good news first. I thought you would be happier than anyone else.”

“Exactly. I feel the same way. Just like you came running to me so late to tell me the good news, I feel the same way. So, don’t worry about the surgery costs. And I’m really glad I can do this for you, even if it’s just this.”

“This time? What does that mean? When else was there something?”

“Huh? Oh, it’s nothing. There’s just something. Anyway, don’t worry about that issue and just focus on the surgery. Just make sure you walk straight. Got it?”

As Hyun-sung finished speaking, Lee Jung-woo was silent for a moment, as if thinking about something.

And after a moment.

Lee Jung-woo slowly opened his mouth.

“Hyun-sung!”

“What? Why that voice all of a sudden…?”

Hyun-sung looked at him at Lee Jung-woo’s serious voice.

Then Lee Jung-woo swallowed once and spoke again.

“I shouldn’t be like this, but I’m getting greedy.”

“What does that mean?”

“I really want to walk properly. So, what I’m saying is…”

Lee Jung-woo paused for a moment and then continued.

“I’ll take it. No, I’ll definitely take your help. Others might call me shameless, but I don’t care. I’ll definitely take your help.”

“Good thinking. And no one will call you shameless, so don’t think about that and just focus on getting the surgery.”

“Okay, I understand. I was really scared. The thought of living like this for the rest of my life.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t even think about that. I should have…”

“What are you talking about? I don’t know how grateful I am to you right now. You freed me from the loan sharks, you gave me the goal of becoming a civil servant when I had no dreams, and now even the surgery. Where else in the world is there someone who gives everything so unilaterally? This is truly a miracle.”

“Alright! Good. Let’s really make a miracle. Get the surgery and walk straight without wavering. Do you have confidence?”

Hyun-sung’s voice was full of energy.

Then Lee Jung-woo clenched both fists and continued.

“Of course! I’ll definitely succeed in the surgery and show you how I can walk confidently in front of you. And I will never forget this favor for the rest of my life.”

“You brat, saying all sorts of things between friends. By the way, aren’t you hungry?”

“Huh? Now that I think about it, it’s already this late. Should we make some ramen?”

“Okay, wait a moment. I’ll make ramen quickly.”

Just as Hyun-sung was about to move towards the kitchen.

Thud.

Lee Jung-woo suddenly grabbed Hyun-sung’s shoulder.

“Hyun-sung, I’ll make the ramen today.”

“What? You?”

“Yeah, of course, I can’t make it as well as you, but I want to make it today. Can I use the kitchen for a bit?”

“Of course. Then shall I try the ramen that Jung-woo makes?”

“Okay, wait a moment.”

With those words, Lee Jung-woo disappeared into the kitchen.

Smile.

Hyun-sung’s face was full of a bright smile as he watched Lee Jung-woo making ramen in the kitchen.

It’s a relief.

If he gets the surgery this winter break, he won’t have to limp around by next summer at the latest.

It was something he couldn’t do in his past life. He was just so grateful to be able to help in this way.

***

A few days later.

“Why are you in such a hurry?”

Park Hee-chul asked Hyun-sung as he sat down in a chair.

“What do you mean?”

“About Jung-woo’s medical bills. I checked my bank account and 15 million won [approximately $11,250 USD] has already been deposited. But why 15 million won? We clearly agreed to split it half and half, didn’t we?”

“The rest is for rehabilitation therapy.”

“Rehabilitation therapy?”

“Yes, surgery is surgery, but it also involves correcting and lengthening the bones, so rehabilitation will take a considerable amount of time. And he’ll need to eat well too.”

“So you’ve already divided the rehabilitation costs and food expenses in advance?”

“I have to calculate properly.”

“Heh heh, well… who can stop you?”

Park Hee-chul looked at Hyun-sung and smiled pleasantly.

Then Hyun-sung immediately continued.

“And again, thank you so much for Jung-woo’s surgery. I don’t know how you came up with that idea, but it’s really amazing.”

“Because he’s my son.”

“Pardon?”

“Don’t you remember what you told me last year?”

“Me?”

“Yes, when I told you last year that I was officially dating Ms. Myung-soon, you told me to think of Jung-woo as my own son if things went well between us.”

“Ah, that.”

Only then did Hyun-sung vaguely remember. He had said that when Park Hee-chul said he would officially meet Shin Myung-soon last year.

The reason was simple.

In his past life, he had occasionally seen cases of remarriage. But each time, the problem was not the parties involved, but their children, which caused difficulties.

So what he said was to think of Jung-woo as his own child.

Park Hee-chul continued.

“I spent a long time thinking after setting the wedding date.”

“Thinking?”

“Yes, I wondered what a real father could do for Jung-woo.”

“Ah, yes…”

“No matter how much I thought about it, nothing really came to mind. Then one day, I remembered what you always told me.”

“Pardon?”

Hyun-sung tilted his head and looked at Park Hee-chul.

Then Park Hee-chul immediately continued.

“Put yourself in their shoes.”

“Put yourself in their shoes?”

“Yes, that’s what you said the most whenever you talked to me. So then I thought about becoming Jung-woo.”

“You thought from Jung-woo’s perspective?”

“That’s right. After worrying about it for days and nights as Jung-woo, I came to one conclusion.”

“That is…”

“That’s right. It’s his uncomfortable body.”

Hyun-sung nodded. At the same time, he felt sorry for Lee Jung-woo. After all, he hadn’t thought of that.

Park Hee-chul continued.

“So from then on, I went around looking for famous hospitals. I wondered if there was a way for Jung-woo to walk straight.”

“And the place you found was Korea University Hospital?”

“Yes, I met Dr. Choi there. In a way, I was lucky. One of Dr. Choi’s acquaintances had someone similar to Jung-woo, but that person committed suicide…”

“Suicide?”

“Yes, he fell one day and was severely injured. Of course, that wasn’t the reason he chose suicide, but it seems that it was the trigger. It seems that he had a hard time because he had been under that stress since he was young.”

“You can’t know that unless you’re the person himself.”

“That’s what I’m saying. So he said he started researching out of pity. Fortunately, it seems that the timing was right.”

Hyun-sung shook his head and continued.

“How can that be just luck? It’s because you thought so much about Jung-woo that your sincerity got through.”

“Why do you have to go that far…”

“No. This is not something anyone can do. Anyway, Jung-woo is able to walk straight thanks to you. That’s an undeniable fact.”

“Whatever the reason, I hope a good result comes out. And by the way, I finally got a call a few days ago.”

Hyun-sung tilted his head and asked.

“A call?”

“Yes, that’s right. It’s from my sons. They said they would attend the wedding.”

“Really?”

“That’s right. Haha…”

Park Hee-chul suddenly started laughing. But there was a strange playfulness in that laughter.

Hyun-sung looked at Park Hee-chul and asked.

“Is there a reason why you’re laughing…?”

“If they’re coming anyway, I told them to come 3 days earlier.”

“3 days earlier? If it’s 3 days earlier, it’s tomorrow, isn’t it?”

“That’s right. It’s tomorrow.”

Hyun-sung couldn’t help but tilt his head.

It was natural to wonder why he told his sons in the United States and Japan, who were not nearby, to come 3 days early, not even a day before.

Hyun-sung immediately asked.

“What’s the reason?”

“Reason? It’s simple. Hee hee…”

Park Hee-chul suddenly started making a strange laughing sound.