Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 515

517

Becoming a Building Owner After Regression

“That’s exactly it.”

“That?”

Hyeonseong tilted his head, not immediately understanding what Yooyeongseok meant by ‘that’.

Curious, Hyeonseong asked again immediately.

“Hey, what do you mean by that? ‘That’?”

“I’m talking about what you said earlier, sir. About wanting to feed the people who will be like family well.”

“Huh? What about it?”

“It was a first for me. Because my family wasn’t well-off, I’ve done all sorts of part-time jobs since high school, but you’re the first boss like you I’ve ever met. Ten out of ten, all the bosses, starting with the food…”

Yooyeongseok’s explanation grew longer.

Though the explanation was long, what he wanted to say was simple: all the bosses he had experienced so far were stingy when it came to feeding their employees.

In some cases, they didn’t even give meal times because they were busy.

As soon as Yooyeongseok finished speaking, Hyeonseong immediately continued.

“Well, that’s just some people.”

“I’m still young, so I don’t know if that’s just some people, but as far as I’m concerned, everyone I’ve met until now has been like that. So, the day I went to the buffet with you, I realized something new.”

“Realized?”

“Yes, I realized that there are bosses like you in the world.”

Yooyeongseok immediately continued.

“Until then, I thought all the adults in the world lived in such a cruel way. But after meeting you, I realized that wasn’t the case. So, from then on, I watched you closely…”

Yooyeongseok paused, glanced at Hyeonseong, and then continued.

“I realized it wasn’t an act.”

“An act?”

“Yes, at first, it was shocking, but I still thought it might be an act, just in case. But…”

“But?”

“I realized that you are definitely different from other people. And that conviction was confirmed today with this.”

Yooyeongseok took out his cell phone from his pocket and shook it. Of course, that cell phone was the one Hyeonseong had handed out at the store a little while ago.

Smirk.

Hyeonseong smiled lightly at his actions.

Then, Yooyeongseok’s words continued again.

“That was my reason. The reason I started to trust you.”

“So, that’s why you told me something today that you didn’t even mention during the interview?”

“Yes, that’s right. As soon as I got the phone, you were the first person I thought of. So, I came out of the store and called you.”

“……”

Hyeonseong nodded instead of saying anything else. Now, he seemed to know why Yooyeongseok had called him first as soon as he received the phone.

He had been looking at the world through tinted glasses.

He had no choice but to see only the dark side.

But this time, meeting Hyeonseong, he realized that wasn’t all there was.

A moment later.

Hyeonseong looked at Yooyeongseok and said kindly.

“Here, have a drink.”

“No, I’ll pour first this time.”

Yooyeongseok immediately grabbed the soju [Korean distilled rice liquor] bottle and began to pour soju with both hands. Then, as soon as the glass was full, he handed the soju bottle to Hyeonseong and said.

“Now, please give me a drink.”

“Okay, here, take it.”

Hyeonseong filled his glass with soju with a warm smile.

Clink!

After filling their glasses, the two clinked them together happily and then brought the deliciously grilled pork to their mouths.

Munch munch.

Yooyeongseok, who was eating the snack, suddenly said in a low voice.

“Actually, I’ve been feeling it since a while ago, but doesn’t it seem like something is missing from the meat here?”

“Huh? I don’t know…”

“In my opinion, if you add just half a spoonful more of Cheongyang chili powder [a very spicy Korean chili powder], it will get rid of the greasy taste and make it spicy, which I think would be good.”

Yooyeongseok tilted his head as if he was disappointed.

Seeing that, Hyeonseong smiled as if he was amused and immediately asked.

“Is that true?”

“That’s what I think. I may not know anything else, but I know the taste of food like a ghost.”

“Hmm… is that so?”

Hyeonseong immediately called the street stall owner, explained what Yooyeongseok had said a little while ago, and then ordered another plate of meat.

A moment later.

The street stall owner brought a plate of meat.

“Here it is. But won’t it be too spicy?”

“Well, I’m going to trust this friend.”

Hyeonseong’s gaze went straight to Yooyeongseok. Then, he jumped up from his seat and started grilling the meat over the charcoal fire with tongs.

And that 모습 [Korean word for ‘appearance’ or ‘sight’] was quite natural again.

About five minutes passed.

Yooyeongseok put a well-cooked piece of meat on Hyeonseong’s plate and said in a confident voice.

“Sir, please try it!”

“Oh, okay.”

Munch munch.

Hyeonseong, who was eating the meat, couldn’t help but smile.

Then, Yooyeongseok immediately asked.

“Sir, am I right?”

“Yeah, it gets rid of the greasy taste compared to before, and the spiciness definitely makes me want soju. Hey, look at this guy.”

Hyeonseong smiled as if he was amused and immediately picked up the soju glass and drank it in one gulp. Then, he immediately called the street stall owner.

“Did you call me?”

“Would you like to try a piece of this well-cooked one here?”

“Me?”

The street stall owner looked at Hyeonseong as if he was slightly embarrassed.

Then, Hyeonseong smiled and immediately continued.

“I think it will help you, sir.”

“… Then, excuse me for a moment…”

Munch munch.

The street stall owner, who had hesitated for a moment, put a piece of meat in his mouth and slowly began to chew.

After a while.

“Oh?”

“How is it? Am I not lying?”

“Hehe, what’s going on?”

“That’s what I’m saying. I was wondering too, but it seems like this friend’s senses are a bit special. Now, I think the decision is up to you, sir.”

“Haha, I understand. I think I’ll have to show the taste to other customers as well, and if it’s okay, I’ll have to season it like this in the future. Anyway, thank you.”

As the street stall owner said goodbye and went back, Hyeonseong looked at Yooyeongseok and immediately asked.

“What happened?”

“Just by feeling.”

“By feeling?”

“Yes, I can just feel the taste when I eat it. What’s missing… And I told you I live alone, so I sometimes cook, and it’s not bad. Hehe…”

Yooyeongseok scratched his head slightly as if he was embarrassed while answering. It seemed like he was a little embarrassed by the current situation.

Hyeonseong looked at him and asked again.

“Do you like cooking?”

“I don’t know if I particularly like it, but I hardly ever eat ramen while living alone.”

“You don’t eat ramen? That means you eat rice, and if you eat rice, you need side dishes… Do you happen to know how to make side dishes?”

“I can make most of them roughly.”

“Most of them?”

It was the moment Hyeonseong’s eyes sparkled. That’s because he thought Yooyeongseok had a talent he hadn’t expected at all.

Hyeonseong asked again in a hurry.

“What’s the most recent side dish you made?”

“Kimchi.”

“Kimchi? You make kimchi?”

“I don’t make a lot, but I usually make it about once a week. I like fresh kimchi rather than fermented kimchi.”

“……”

Hyeonseong had nothing to say. No, he couldn’t say anything.

Even ordinary housewives hardly make kimchi once a week because it’s a hassle. But now, a mere twenty-year-old makes kimchi once a week while living alone?

Does that make sense?

But Yooyeongseok, who was sitting in front of him, was doing that absurd thing.

There is only one case like this.

A freak.

Yooyeongseok is different from others. However, the meaning of that freak is not a bad meaning.

Special.

He is different from other ordinary people.

Maybe that’s the special talent he has.

At this point, Hyeonseong had a question.

“Hey, Yooyeongseok.”

“Yes, sir.”

“What’s your dream?”

“Dream?”

“Yeah, what you want to do.”

“Well, um…”

Yooyeongseok was silent for a moment as if he was thinking about something.

Pour.

Hyeonseong poured soju into his glass and drank it all at once. Then, he picked up a piece of meat from the grill and brought it to his mouth.

As expected, the taste was definitely different from the first time he ate it. The taste was definitely different just by adding half a spoonful more of Cheongyang chili powder.

Of course, it was Yooyeongseok sitting in front of him who found that taste.

Hyeonseong chewed the meat and looked at Yooyeongseok.

It was then.

Yooyeongseok shook his head slightly from side to side and opened his mouth.

“I don’t know.”

“Huh? You don’t know?”

“Yes, I’ve never thought about wanting to do something until now.”

“Never until now?”

Yooyeongseok nodded instead of answering. Then, he picked up the glass in front of him and poured the remaining alcohol into it at once.

He opened his mouth immediately without even eating a snack.

“Sir, do you know what my wish was when I was in school?”

“Wish? I don’t know…”

“It was to be independent. I really hated my house. My mom and dad fought every day…”

Yooyeongseok’s words grew longer.

Starting with the story about his parents, he continued to explain how he had lived and how he was living now.

Pour.

As soon as Yooyeongseok finished speaking, Hyeonseong picked up the soju bottle and poured soju into his empty glass. Then, he poured alcohol into his own glass and picked up the soju glass.

“First of all, thank you for telling me a difficult story like this, and let’s talk more from now on. Here, drink.”

“Yes, thank you, sir.”

The two lightly clinked their glasses and then emptied them.

A moment later.

Hyeonseong asked first.

“So, you left home as soon as you graduated?”

“Yes, so I worked part-time while I was in high school to save money. Anyway, I needed money to get a room to be independent.”

“So, you got the basement room now?”

“Yes, I don’t know what others think, but it’s like heaven to me. Although it smells like mold and sometimes strange bugs come out, it’s much happier than my house.”

Hyeonseong nodded and continued.

“Yeah, it doesn’t matter because other people’s eyes aren’t important anyway. And most of all, it’s okay as long as you’re happy.”

“That’s right, I think so too. And now I have hope too.”

“Hope?”

“Yes, it’s about the salary. I worked in two places before meeting you, sir, but they didn’t give me a proper salary. But now, I don’t think I have to worry about that.”

A smile was already spreading on Yooyeongseok’s face. It was definitely different from when he was talking about his parents or his upbringing a little while ago.

Hyeonseong asked again.

“Okay, what are you going to do with that salary?”

“I’m going to save all but 100,000 won [approximately $75 USD]. Anyway, I have to go to the army in six months, so I’m going to save as much as possible until then.”

“What’s next?”

“I don’t know yet. I’ll think about it after I get out of the army. First of all, my goal is to save 10 million won before I go to the army.”

“Did you say 10 million won now?”

“Yes, but I don’t know if I can say this… Myeonghoonhyung [Korean honorific for ‘older brother’ or ‘close male friend’] mentioned the salary a little bit yesterday. But that’s…”

“What did Myeonghoon say?”

Hyeonseong asked first before Yooyeongseok could finish his sentence because he was in a hurry.

Then, Yooyeongseok hesitated for a moment and slowly opened his mouth.

“After talking to you, sir, he said it would be at least 2 million…”

“2 million? Myeonghoon said that?”

“Uh, uh, am I making a mistake right now? I feel like…”

“No, no, it’s not like that. So, you don’t have to worry about that, I was just curious about what Myeonghoon said.”

Hyeonseong smiled slightly and then continued.

“So, your goal right now is to save 10 million won before you go to the army, right?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Yooyeongseok, what if… what if that goal was several times higher?”

“What? Several times? What do you mean?”

“I said what if. What if that happened?”

“Uh… then, to be honest, there is one thing I want to do…”

It was the moment Yooyeongseok’s eyes sparkled.

Then, he opened his mouth again.

“That’s… business.”

“Business? What kind of business?”

“Hehe…”

Yooyeongseok was smiling shyly without saying anything.

Then, Hyeonseong immediately asked.

“What is it?”

“I told you earlier, I can tell right away what’s missing when I eat food. So, if I could, I’d like to do a food business…”

“Oh~~ really! That’s it! A side dish store!”

“A side dish store?”

“Yeah, I think that’s perfect for you. You start after you get out of the army. What do you think?”

“If only that could happen, I wouldn’t want anything more… But the problem is money…”

It was the moment Yooyeongseok’s gaze turned to Hyeonseong.

Then, Hyeonseong smiled and immediately continued.

“I think your six-month salary will be enough?”

“What? Is that true?”

“Yeah, you said you trust me, right?”

“Of course.”

“Then good. You said you didn’t have a chance to dream until now, but from now on, trust me and dream.”

“……”

Instead of answering, Yooyeongseok began to look at Hyeonseong. His eyes were already turning red.