Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 374

374

“Bald?”

“Yeah, look closely at this part here. The angle is awkward, so it’s hard to see, but if you look closely, it’s definitely bald.”

The scene Hyun-sung pointed to wasn’t clear, but it filled the screen with a view suggesting baldness.

Lee Eun-ji’s gaze was fixed on one side of the screen. Then, she looked away from the screen and nodded.

“So, it turns out he was wearing a wig?”

“If we’re right that it’s the same person, then it’s confirmed that he wore a wig.”

“And the car number was only changed in the last two digits?”

“That’s right. In the end, the culprit completely changed the car and his appearance. So, the culprit’s real appearance is bald, not permed hair, and the car number isn’t Gangwon Bar 2488, but 2400.”

Hyun-sung’s gaze turned to Lee Seung-cheol.

“Mister, do you know this taxi, Gangwon Bar 2400? The person driving that taxi is probably bald and roughly in his early to mid-40s. If I’m right, I think you might know him…”

“…….”

Lee Seung-cheol closed his eyes tightly, not answering.

He hoped it wasn’t true. No, he wanted to believe it wasn’t.

The moment Hyun-sung said in front of the public telephone that the culprit was someone close, one person came to mind.

Choi Young-soo!

It was a winter day eight years ago. There were no customers that day, so he was looking at the sea from the second floor. That’s when one person caught his eye.

At first, he thought nothing of it and ignored him. But even after an hour, after two hours, that person was still walking along the cold beach.

After about three hours, he felt something was strange.

He grabbed three bottles of soju [Korean distilled rice liquor] and approached him.

The moment he saw his eyes, he was sure that his feeling was right. In his eyes, there was no attachment to the world.

When he handed him a bottle of soju, he emptied it in one gulp without saying a word.

He handed him another bottle.

He started drinking again without saying a word. After drinking almost a whole bottle, he opened his mouth.

His first words were that he couldn’t die because his mother was still alive. His story that started like that was endless.

That’s how their relationship began.

He started working at the sashimi restaurant from the next day and found stability. A year later, he was able to get a job at a taxi company. That’s how his life started again in Gangneung.

Because it was a special relationship, the two men were very close. Like a younger brother, like an older brother, that’s how their relationship was. Every Sunday, they would go to the bathhouse together and scrub each other’s backs.

That’s been their relationship for eight years.

[Gangwon Bar 2400]

The moment he heard the car number a little while ago, he couldn’t help but doubt his ears. He thought it could never happen, so he naturally assumed it wasn’t true. But that impossible thing seems to be…

But not yet. He can’t believe it until he sees it with his own eyes. No, he won’t believe it.

Lee Seung-cheol looked at Hyun-sung.

“Hyun-sung!”

“Yes, Mister. What is it?”

“Not yet. I can’t admit it until I see it with my own eyes. I don’t need two days. Just give me one more day. And even if that friend… No, it can’t be. That can’t be. Absolutely not.”

“…….”

Hyun-sung didn’t say anything. No, he couldn’t.

It seemed that Lee Seung-cheol already knew who the culprit was but couldn’t admit it. He didn’t know what the circumstances were, but he needed more time.

Silence.

Hyun-sung knew very well that sometimes a moment of silence was more helpful than words.

It was then.

“Meals are ready.”

Son Mi-jeong’s voice came from the kitchen.

***

At the same time.

Choi Young-soo got out of the taxi and went into the public telephone booth.

He was anxious for news about his mother in the hospital.

He’d heard that his mother’s condition had suddenly worsened since yesterday afternoon. He wanted to go there right away, but he couldn’t.

It was because of his mother’s medical expenses.

No matter how hard he worked, it wasn’t enough.

Moreover, the new drug he was using this time was five times more expensive than the existing drug. It was a huge burden, but it was a new drug that had already completed clinical trials, and its effect was said to be better than any drug so far.

It would be a lie if he said he wasn’t worried, but he had to endure it for his suffering mother.

Di-di-di-dick.

Choi Young-soo immediately started pressing the number buttons.

After a while.

Choi Young-soo’s face was as pale as a sheet of paper. It was a completely different expression from before.

From his mouth, the word ‘Mother’ escaped with difficulty.

“Mother…….”

Tears suddenly poured from Choi Young-soo’s eyes.

His mother had passed away at 9 o’clock a little while ago. The cause was a sudden septic shock due to weakened immunity; her organs failed before they could even treat it.

“Mother!”

Choi Young-soo collapsed on the spot.

How much time had passed?

His swollen eyes were already puffy.

The first thing Choi Young-soo saw when he got into the car with difficulty was a paper bag in the passenger seat. After thinking for a moment, Choi Young-soo turned the car around and started driving back the way he came.

Anyway, it’s money that he can’t use anymore. He can pay for his sins after holding his mother’s funeral, but he thought he should at least return this to its owner first. He thought that was the best he could do for now.

Who is Lee Seung-cheol?

He is a lifesaver. He is the person who gave him everything so that he could live again when he had given up on living.

He betrayed such a person.

Even if it was because of his mother’s medical expenses, that can’t be a justification.

Brrr!

Choi Young-soo stepped hard on the accelerator.

***

After finishing a late dinner, Hyun-sung was in Lee Hye-sun’s room with Lee Eun-ji.

Lee Eun-ji looked at Lee Hye-sun lying down and said.

“How are you feeling?”

“Yeah, I’m fine now. I just feel like I slept well. Anyway, you guys have suffered a lot because of me.”

“What do you mean, suffered…? Anyway, I’m really glad you came back safely like this without anything happening.”

After exchanging a few more words, they left Lee Hye-sun’s room.

Then, Son Mi-jeong, who was waiting outside, handed a paper bag to Hyun-sung.

“I don’t have much to give you, so here’s this…”

“What is this?”

“I heard you’re living on your own. I don’t know if it will suit your taste, but I put some kimchi [fermented cabbage] and side dishes in it.”

“I tried it when I ate dinner earlier, and the side dishes were delicious. I was running out of side dishes anyway, so I’ll enjoy it.”

“I’m glad it suited your taste. Thank you so much today. Thanks to Hyun-sung being here, we were able to get through it. And thank you so much, Eun-ji.”

Son Mi-jeong conveyed her gratitude several times. Lee Seung-cheol also expressed his gratitude in the same way. It was when Son Mi-jeong finished greeting them, saying that she would invite the two of them over in a few days.

Ding-dong!

Suddenly, the doorbell rang, as if someone had arrived.

Son Mi-jeong quickly approached the front door and asked.

“Who is it?”

“Sister-in-law, it’s Choi Young-soo. Please open the door for a moment.”

Son Mi-jeong tilted her head and turned to look at Lee Seung-cheol. Then, Lee Seung-cheol seemed to think for a moment and nodded.

But what was strange was Lee Seung-cheol’s expression.

Even at a glance, his eyes were full of tension. It was a completely different expression from before.

It was then.

Thump.

The front door opened, and Choi Young-soo came in.

“Huh?”

Hyun-sung momentarily covered his mouth because he thought he might blurt something out if he didn’t.

But at that moment, Hyun-sung wasn’t the only one surprised. Son Mi-jeong and Lee Eun-ji were the same.

The three people’s gazes were focused on one place: Choi Young-soo’s hand, as he came in. He was holding a familiar object.

A black paper bag.

It was the very paper bag that Lee Seung-cheol had handed to the taxi driver two hours ago.

But at that moment, there was one person who had his mouth tightly shut.

It was Lee Seung-cheol.

It was the moment when Choi Young-soo and Lee Seung-cheol’s eyes briefly met.

Thud!

Choi Young-soo knelt down.

“Hyung [term for older brother or close male friend]! I have committed a sin worthy of death.”

“…….”

Lee Seung-cheol couldn’t say anything.

He believed until the end that it wasn’t true. No, he hoped it wasn’t. Even when he checked the car number earlier, he believed that someone else was driving.

But was all of this just his own wishful thinking?

No. That can’t be.

There are at least moral principles that people should keep while living.

Heavenly duty and human duty.

Heavenly duty, such as the bond between parents and children, which is connected by fate, and human duty, which is connected by worldly ties.

As a human being, one must at least keep these two things.

Choi Young-soo!

Was he not that kind of person after all…?

That can’t be.

Then, listening to his story comes first.

After thinking for a while, Lee Seung-cheol looked at Choi Young-soo and opened his mouth.

“Get up!”

After a while.

The two men were sitting face to face in the living room.

Lee Seung-cheol called Choi Young-soo in a low voice.

“Choi Young-soo!”

“Yes, Hyung!”

“Am I dreaming right now?”

“Even if I had ten mouths, I have nothing to say. I have committed a sin worthy of death.”

“No, no. This can’t be. This can’t be happening. How can a person live and…”

Lee Seung-cheol was repeating the same words as if he couldn’t believe it. He did that several times.

Then, he looked at Choi Young-soo and said again.

“What’s the reason?”

“What does the reason matter? I’ve already done something that I shouldn’t have done as a person…”

“No, I need to know the reason. Otherwise, I feel like my life has been stolen, and I can’t accept it. Not for you, but for me, I need to know the reason.”

After thinking for a moment, Choi Young-soo slowly opened his mouth.

“Actually …….”

Choi Young-soo’s explanation continued for a long time. The story started four years ago when he first kidnapped Lee Hye-sun.

After about 10 minutes, his explanation ended. Then, Lee Seung-cheol immediately asked.

“So, you decided to use the new drug this time?”

“Yes.”

“And that drug is five times more expensive than the existing drug?”

“Yes.”

“So, you had no choice but to kidnap our Hye-sun again this time?”

“…….”

Choi Young-soo nodded instead of speaking.

Then, Lee Seung-cheol asked again.

“But why are you here now? Shouldn’t you be running to the hospital right now?”

“…….”

“Hey, answer me. It doesn’t make sense. Huh?”

“……It’s not needed anymore.”

“Not needed anymore? What do you mean by that? Not needed anymore…?”

“My mother just a little while ago…”

Thud!

Tears started flowing from Choi Young-soo’s eyes.

Lee Seung-cheol, who was looking at him, stood up from his seat without realizing it.

Then, he immediately looked at Choi Young-soo and opened his mouth.

“Don’t tell me… No, right?”

“…….”

“Tell me. Quickly! What happened to your mother?”

“She passed away at 9 o’clock a little while ago…”

“…….”

After a while.

Lee Seung-cheol handed the paper bag to Choi Young-soo and said.

“Take this and go.”

“No, Hyung…….”

“Don’t say anything else and go quickly. Go and take care of your mother first. Your mother is the priority now. Our story can wait.”

“Hyung……!”

Bowing.

Choi Young-soo started bowing deeply to Lee Seung-cheol.

Lee Seung-cheol’s expression had completely changed from when Choi Young-soo opened the front door and came in.

Hyun-sung nodded as he looked at him. He seemed to know now why Lee Seung-cheol was so determined to check with his own eyes.

Lee Seung-cheol had not abandoned his belief in Choi Young-soo until the end. He said that there must have been a reason for it before judging.

“Thank you!”

Lee Seung-cheol said quietly to Choi Young-soo, who was getting up after finishing his deep bow.