Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 635

About 40 minutes after departing from Bupyeong.

The jeep carrying them was already passing the Sihwa Lake Seawall.

Just then.

Yoon Ji-soo suddenly exclaimed.

“The sea!”

The sea was visible to the right. The sight of the rainy sea was as beautiful as something seen on TV.

Yoon Ji-soo pointed to the sea and said, “Look over there.”

“It’s pretty, isn’t it?”

“It’s so pretty. I didn’t know there was a place like this near Incheon.”

Even living in Incheon, this is a place you wouldn’t know unless you deliberately sought it out. Hyeonseong had also learned about this place in the spring of 2002. Back then, while dating Yoon Ji-soo, who would later become his wife, he occasionally visited this place as a scenic driving route.

Yoon Ji-soo continued, “Is this the Sihwa Lake Seawall?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“I’ve only seen it on TV, but this is my first time coming here. It’s so nice, maybe because it’s raining.”

“It’s great for driving even on a clear day. The sea isn’t gray like today, but a vibrant blue.”

The feeling of driving here while looking at the blue sea on a clear day is unparalleled. Moreover, since the seawall stretches for 12 kilometers [7.5 miles] in a straight line, first-time visitors are often surprised by its length.

The jeep was already running along the middle of the seawall.

“But how long is this seawall? No matter how far we drive, the end doesn’t seem to appear.”

“It’s 12 kilometers [7.5 miles] in a straight line.”

“Wow! Is it that long?”

“It’s enormous. That’s why it took eight years to build.”

Yoon Ji-soo was busy looking at the sea, shaking her head from side to side in amazement. Watching her, Hyeonseong continued, “Ji-soo, shall we put on some music?”

“What kind of music?”

“There’s a song that’s perfect for this rain.”

“Then, shall we see your DJ skills? Hehe…….”

Yoon Ji-soo laughed lightly and looked at Hyeonseong. He smiled slightly and immediately turned on the music.

-Hee-ya~ Look at me~ You used to like me~

The song ‘Hee-ya’ by Boohwal began to fill the car. It was actually Yoon Ji-soo’s favorite song, so he had deliberately prepared it.

As expected, it had an immediate effect.

“Oh my! This song is…….”

Yoon Ji-soo covered her mouth with both hands and looked at Hyeonseong, her eyes subtly shaking.

Hyeonseong smiled slightly and said, “How is it? Was the DJ okay?”

“How did you know?”

“What?”

“This is my favorite song. On rainy days like today, I turn on the music alone and…….”

Yoon Ji-soo glanced at Hyeonseong while speaking, then continued, “If possible, can you turn up the volume a little more?”

“Of course.”

Hyeonseong immediately turned up the volume. The car was filled with music, transforming it into a concert hall. Hyeonseong couldn’t just sit still in this atmosphere.

He immediately started singing along.

Then a strange thing happened. Yoon Ji-soo, who was next to him, also started singing along right away.

The two began to sing loudly, as if the car was about to explode.

“Your white face is wet~~ Your cooling figure~~ Remains in my dreams every night~~”

How much time had passed?

The car became quiet again. Hyeonseong spoke first, “You sing well?”

“I’m embarrassed; I did it without realizing it…….”

“What’s there to be embarrassed about? It’s okay as long as it’s fun. Thanks to you, I feel good after loosening my throat for the first time in a while.”

“Hehe, actually, I had fun too.”

Yoon Ji-soo smiled, looking satisfied. A smile was already spreading on Hyeonseong’s face as he watched her.

About five minutes passed.

The jeep was already passing the Sihwa Seawall and heading towards Daebudo.

“Where are we going?”

“If we go for about ten more minutes, we’ll arrive at our destination: a cafe.”

“A cafe?”

“Yes, it’s a cafe called Lighthouse, and it’s a popular spot on rainy days like this.”

Yoon Ji-soo tilted her head, as if she didn’t understand, and asked, “Is there a cafe that opens at this early hour?”

“Yes, it’s open 24 hours.”

“24 hours?”

“Yes, it’s probably the only cafe that’s open 24 hours around here.”

Hyeonseong had also learned about it later in his previous life. The reason for using the name Lighthouse was because the lights never go out all night.

“It seems like they can stay afloat even if they’re open 24 hours, right?”

“Since it’s next to the sea, there are quite a few people who come to see the sea even at night. And on rainy days like today, it seems like many people come to see the sea from dawn, like us.”

“It’s amazing that there are people like us at this hour.”

“Right, but what’s even more amazing is their knife-cut noodles [kal-guksu, a popular Korean noodle dish].”

At the mention of knife-cut noodles, Yoon Ji-soo turned her head and looked at Hyeonseong. She immediately asked, “They sell knife-cut noodles at a cafe?”

“Yes, isn’t it amazing?”

“Does that make sense? What cafe sells knife-cut noodles……?”

“But the taste is amazing. There are even people who come just to eat the knife-cut noodles.”

Hyeonseong was also doubtful at first. They sell knife-cut noodles at a cafe, not somewhere else. But later, he found out that the reason they could stay open 24 hours was because of the knife-cut noodles.

That’s how delicious their knife-cut noodles were.

“Okay, we’re here.”

As Hyeonseong entered the parking lot, there were already several cars parked. Yoon Ji-soo immediately continued, “There really are people who come at this hour besides us.”

“See, I was right, wasn’t I? Okay, let’s go in.”

Hyeonseong took the lead, and Yoon Ji-soo followed behind, tilting her head.

A short time later.

Arriving on the third floor, Hyeonseong approached the window with a good view of the sea, pulled out a chair, and said, “Ji-soo, sit over here.”

“Oh my! Even the chair…… Thank you.”

As the two took their seats, an employee approached immediately. Hyeonseong immediately ordered, “Two knife-cut noodles, please. Oh, and please leave out the clams when you cook the knife-cut noodles.”

As the employee left, Yoon Ji-soo looked at Hyeonseong and immediately asked, “How did you know I don’t like shellfish?”

“I just sensed it.”

How could he not know? He had lived with her for 15 years.

But Yoon Ji-soo, who couldn’t know that, said again with an unbelievable expression, “That doesn’t make sense. We’ve only met for a few days…….”

“Are you talking about that again?”

“What?”

“That I have a special ability to know Ji-soo. I think I clearly said that when we ate bean sprout hangover soup [kongnamul gukbap, a Korean soup known for curing hangovers] a few days ago.”

“That’s…….”

Yoon Ji-soo had nothing to say. It was true that she had heard such a story when they ate bean sprout hangover soup a few days ago.

But no matter how much she thought about it, this didn’t make sense. Even if it was a coincidence at that time, how could he know that she didn’t like shellfish?

Yoon Ji-soo asked with a serious face, “Who are you?”

“Well, who am I?”

“Don’t joke around; this doesn’t make sense. How could you know that I don’t like shellfish…….”

“Shh!”

Hyeonseong brought his finger to his lips and cut off her words. Then he immediately continued, “What’s important now? Instead of that, look out the window.”

Hyeonseong pointed outside with his chin. Yoon Ji-soo naturally turned her gaze outside.

“Look at that sea. How beautiful the rainy scenery is…….”

“…….”

Yoon Ji-soo quietly began to look at the sea. Hyeonseong also stopped talking and began to look at the rainy sea.

The two quietly looked at the sea like that.

About five minutes passed.

Yoon Ji-soo turned her head and opened her mouth, “Thank you.”

“If we’re talking about being thankful, I’m more thankful. You came all the way here at this early hour.”

“No, I’m really thankful. If it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t have been able to come here. Actually, I…….”

Yoon Ji-soo hesitated, as if thinking for a moment, then continued, “I really wanted to come to the sea on a rainy day, but it wasn’t as easy as I thought. But like this today…….”

Yoon Ji-soo’s words trailed off. In fact, she had said similar words in her previous life. That was when she came here early in the morning like now. In terms of time, it was something that would happen four years from now.

In the end, he had brought forward four years of time.

When Yoon Ji-soo’s words ended, Hyeonseong said again, “Can I contact you again next time?”

“Next time?”

“Yes, next time it rains.”

“Well…….”

Yoon Ji-soo turned her head slightly and said. She seemed embarrassed to answer right away. But who is Hyeonseong? Wasn’t he her husband?

“Let’s meet at home next time.”

“Yes? Home?”

“Yes, at Ji-soo’s house. Or my house is fine too. But don’t worry, I’m not thinking bad thoughts. I’m just going to make kimchi pancakes [kimchi-jeon, a savory Korean pancake made with kimchi] on a rainy day…….”

“Kimchi pancakes?”

Yoon Ji-soo reacted immediately. Hyeonseong immediately continued, “Yes, kimchi pancakes. Don’t put anything else in it, just chop up some kimchi and make kimchi pancakes and eat them with makgeolli [Korean rice wine]. Isn’t that the best on a rainy day?”

It was something that his wife, Yoon Ji-soo, always prepared on rainy days. His wife also liked kimchi pancakes and makgeolli on rainy days.

“It’s really amazing.”

“What?”

“Kimchi pancakes are what I always make when I’m alone on rainy days.”

“Really? Then that’s great. Let’s make kimchi pancakes together next time.”

“Did you know I liked this in advance too?”

Too much is as bad as too little; they say to do everything in moderation.

Even if she was his wife in her previous life, they were clearly strangers now. If he said he knew again here, it seemed like it would have the opposite effect.

“No, I didn’t know this.”

“Really? That’s strange; you know everything else, but why not this…….”

“I don’t know; I didn’t sense it. Anyway, we’re meeting at home next time it rains. Okay?”

“Um…… I’ll see then.”

Hyeonseong chuckled. He already knew that this was her approval. It would be stranger if she said ‘yes’ in this situation.

Just then.

“Here are your knife-cut noodles.”

The employee came out with the knife-cut noodles. The knife-cut noodles were served in a large earthenware bowl, and the portion was generous.

Yoon Ji-soo, who saw the sight, said immediately, “Oh my! Why are there so many knife-cut noodles?”

“Try it first. You’ll probably want more even after eating this. The taste of this restaurant’s knife-cut noodles is no joke. Why else would they say that this cafe stays open because of the knife-cut noodles?”

“Ah, is that so.”

Yoon Ji-soo tilted her head and began to divide the noodles into empty bowls. Then she immediately handed the knife-cut noodles to Hyeonseong.

“Here, eat this.”

“Yes, thank you.”

Yoon Ji-soo put the knife noodles in an empty bowl again and brought it in front of her.

Hyeonseong was waiting until Yoon Ji-soo had put all the knife-cut noodles in. Yoon Ji-soo, who saw this, asked immediately, “Why aren’t you eating?”

“I’m going to eat with Ji-soo.”

There was something his wife didn’t like: eating first at the table. That was the reason why Hyeonseong was waiting without eating.

Was that why?

As expected, a smile immediately spread on her face.

“You must have been well-raised?”

“Someone told me that meals at the table are to be eaten together.”