Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 605

607

Several days later.

Hyun-sung had just finished his morning workout, showered, and entered the living room when his phone rang.

*Ting!*

It was 6:30 AM. A call at this hour could only mean something urgent. Hyun-sung answered immediately.

“Hello?”

“Boss, it’s me.”

The caller was Lee Myung-hoon, his employee.

“What’s going on so early?”

“I’m at St. Mary’s Hospital right now.”

“Hospital?”

The word ‘hospital’ made Hyun-sung’s voice rise involuntarily.

“Why are you at the hospital?”

“My mom suddenly… *sob*…”

Myung-hoon burst into tears before he could finish. Hyun-sung asked again,

“Hey, what happened? Don’t just cry, tell me what’s going on.”

“My mom suddenly got sick, so we came to the hospital, and…”

“And?”

“They said it’s a cerebral infarction [a type of stroke].”

“Cerebral infarction?”

Hyun-sung paused for a moment, then asked, “How serious is it?”

“They need to operate to know for sure, but it seems like there might be aftereffects… *sob*…”

Myung-hoon started crying again. Hyun-sung continued,

“Are you alone right now?”

“Yes.”

“Should I come over?”

“What about the store?”

“Is the store the problem right now? Don’t worry about that… Actually, I’ll head over there right now, so wait for me.”

*Click.*

Hyun-sung ended the call. He immediately changed his clothes and headed to St. Mary’s Hospital.

A short while later.

When Hyun-sung arrived at the hospital, Lee Myung-hoon was already waiting at the entrance.

“Boss!”

“Oh, you’re here. Your mother hasn’t come out yet, right?”

“No, she’s still in surgery.”

“You must be scared.”

“Honestly, this is the first time something like this has happened, so I’m still terrified.”

Hyun-sung could see the extent of his anxiety in his trembling eyes.

It was only natural. It was his mother, and it was a cerebral infarction; the fear was beyond words.

“Yeah, it must be. But they’re operating now, so don’t worry too much and let’s wait and see.”

“Thank you. I’m so grateful that you came right away, Boss. Honestly, I was so scared before I called.”

*Tap tap.*

Hyun-sung lightly patted Myung-hoon’s shoulder, offering comfort. Myung-hoon immediately spoke up.

“I was surprised, to be honest.”

“Of course, you’d be surprised that your mother is like that.”

“No, not that, I mean you, Boss.”

“Me? Why?”

Hyun-sung tilted his head, looking at Myung-hoon, asking for the reason.

Myung-hoon replied immediately.

“What boss in the world would rush over right away because an employee’s mother is having surgery? Especially at this early hour.”

“Well…”

“No, whatever you say, Boss, today’s actions will be an unforgettable memory for me.”

“…”

Hyun-sung didn’t have anything particular to say. He could only respond with a brief silence. Then, Myung-hoon asked again.

“I’m really curious, Boss, what made you think of coming right away at this early hour?”

“Isn’t it obvious?”

“Yes? Obvious?”

“Yeah, that’s what I think. It’s you, Myung-hoon, after all.”

That was the truth.

The moment he received the call, there was no room for hesitation. It wasn’t just anyone; the thought of Lee Myung-hoon struggling alone made his body move automatically.

“You mean it’s because it’s me?”

“Yeah, as soon as I got your call, my body moved without even thinking.”

“I don’t understand. How can you have such a heart?”

“I told you, it’s because it’s you. Do you still not understand what I’m saying?”

“I don’t really…”

Myung-hoon tilted his head slightly, as if he didn’t understand. Hyun-sung continued,

“Don’t overthink it.”

“It’s not about being complicated, I just don’t understand. That you did it because it’s me.”

“Do you remember what I said when I first hired you?”

“The first time?”

“Yeah, I definitely told you during the interview.”

“Um…”

After thinking for a moment, Myung-hoon spoke up as if he remembered.

“Are you talking about the word ‘family’?”

“Yeah, that’s right. That’s what I thought from the beginning, to think of the people I work with as family.”

“So, you’re saying you rushed over at this hour because you think of me as family?”

“Yeah, that’s right. I have to keep the promise I made.”

“Um…”

Myung-hoon was silent for a while, seemingly deep in thought. He opened his mouth again after some time.

“But you know, other people usually say those things too, right? The problem is that putting it into practice isn’t easy.”

“I don’t know about other people, but I’m going to try to do it.”

“I’m ashamed.”

“Huh? What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

Hyun-sung tilted his head. He didn’t understand why Myung-hoon suddenly said he was ashamed. He didn’t know what it meant.

Myung-hoon continued,

“If I were in your position, Boss, I don’t think I could have done what you did.”

“You never know.”

“No, honestly, I’m not confident. In that sense, your actions today will be remembered by me for a long time. And I want to thank you again.”

After speaking, Myung-hoon bowed his head to Hyun-sung. He wanted to express his feelings in that way.

Watching him, Hyun-sung spoke again.

“I’m even more grateful that you think that way.”

To be honest, Hyun-sung hadn’t lived like this in his past life. He was always so busy that he was too preoccupied with taking care of himself to look around.

But now it’s different from then, so he can at least look after those around him.

Hyun-sung moved towards the coffee vending machine. He pulled out two cups of coffee and handed one to Myung-hoon.

“Here, have a warm cup of coffee. It’ll calm you down a bit. And don’t worry too much about your mother. Let’s wait until the results come out.”

“Yes, Boss.”

Myung-hoon’s expression seemed a little better than before. The two of them, with coffee in hand, walked back into the hospital.

How much time had passed?

The time was already past 9 AM.

“Boss, I’ll stay here alone now. So you can go to the store.”

“No, I’ll wait and see your mother come out of the operating room.”

“What about the store?”

“The store isn’t the problem right now. And anyway, Brother Soon-chul will open the store, so don’t worry.”

“Still…”

Myung-hoon still looked worried, unable to hide his anxiety. This was because Myung-hoon knew very well that the most people came to the free sharing store when it opened in the morning.

Time passed, and it was almost 11 AM.

“Family of Yoon So-hee?”

A doctor in blue surgical scrubs walked towards them. Myung-hoon jumped up from his seat and approached the doctor.

“How is my mother?”

“The surgery went well. And fortunately, the patient came to the hospital quickly, so the surgery results should be good.”

“Is that really true?”

“Of course, we’ll have to monitor the progress a bit more, but for now, you don’t have to worry too much about aftereffects.”

“Thank you, thank you.”

Myung-hoon bowed his head to the doctor several times. His eyes were already red.

At that moment.

*Creak!*

The operating room door opened, and a stretcher was wheeled out. It was Myung-hoon’s mother, Yoon So-hee.

30 minutes later.

The two of them came out of the ward.

Hyun-sung spoke first.

“It’s a great relief that your mother is okay.”

“I agree. The surgery went well, and they said there won’t be many aftereffects, so I feel a little relieved now.”

“She’ll feel better after a nap.”

“By the way, Boss, have you had breakfast?”

“I can go to the store and eat now, but what about you? You haven’t eaten breakfast, have you?”

“I’m so out of it right now that I don’t even know if I’m hungry. I’ll eat something after I see my mom wake up, so don’t worry about me. Anyway, it’s getting late. I should stop…”

“Okay, I understand. I know you’re worried, but don’t worry. And don’t come to the store for the time being, and take good care of your mother.”

“Yes? Are you saying I shouldn’t come to the store for the time being?”

Myung-hoon looked directly at Hyun-sung’s face. Of course, he hadn’t thought about being absent for several days, even if it was just for a day or two.

“Yeah, there’s no one else to be at the hospital besides you, right?”

“Of course, that’s true, but…”

“So, don’t worry about the store and take good care of your mother. You can come to the store when your mother is discharged.”

“I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t say that, just take good care of your mother. And take this.”

Hyun-sung took out a card from his wallet and handed it to Myung-hoon.

“No, isn’t this a card [credit or debit card]?”

“Yeah, use it while you’re in the hospital. Get your mother all the tests she needs and buy her delicious food.”

“…”

Myung-hoon was momentarily speechless.

Was this real? What company in the world would take responsibility for an individual’s hospital expenses? This was something he couldn’t understand no matter how much he thought about it.

“Boss, this doesn’t happen.”

“Happen?”

“Yes, no matter how much I think about it, this can’t happen.”

“Who says so?”

“Yes? That’s…”

Myung-hoon was momentarily flustered. He said that this was an impossible situation no matter how much he thought about it, but instead, he was asked, ‘Who says so?’

“Who makes that ‘situation’?”

“Yes? That’s…”

“Anyway, that ‘situation’ is created by people’s relationships, right? Isn’t it?”

“That’s true, but…”

“Then, about that ‘situation,’ wouldn’t it be okay if I made it?”

“Yes?”

Myung-hoon was flustered again. He said that such a situation was impossible, so now Hyun-sung himself was saying that he would create the situation himself.

If this is the case, the story changes. Who would dare to say no to someone who has the authority and ability to do so?

“What do you think? If I’m going to create such a situation, huh?”

“That’s…”

“Why can’t you speak?”

“Honestly, there’s no way to stop it. You have all the authority and ability, Boss.”

“Okay, then take this card.”

Hyun-sung handed the card to Myung-hoon again. After hesitating for a moment, Myung-hoon took the card with both hands and continued.

“I’ll take it since you’re giving it to me.”

“And use it.”

“…”

“Use it, Myung-hoon!”

“… Yes, I understand.”

Myung-hoon bowed his head to Hyun-sung.

Hyun-sung lightly patted his shoulder a few times and then walked away.

Bearing the personal hospital expenses of an employee.

It may be absurd. But it is possible because it is Hyun-sung who has regressed [reincarnated or traveled back in time]. After all, the purpose of earning money is to spend it.

Especially if it’s worth it.

Hyun-sung left the hospital and headed to the parking lot in a good mood. Hyun-sung’s thought was that it’s okay to feel good even after spending money.