Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 653

656

***

Vroom!

Hyun-sung stepped on the accelerator, leaving Han Ji-min behind. A faint smile played on his lips.

“What kind of trick are you pulling?”

A woman alone inviting a man into her house on the pretext of ramen?

Someone she barely knows, and exuding such a strange fragrance…

The situation was obvious to anyone.

“Am I crazy?”

Hyun-sung chuckled, watching Han Ji-min recede in the rearview mirror.

At that moment.

Alone, Yoon Ji-soo looked at the clock. Her expression seemed uneasy.

After a moment.

Yoon Ji-soo, who had been fiddling with her phone, started calling someone as if she couldn’t stand it any longer.

Beep, beep, beep…

The other party didn’t answer, even after several rings.

“What’s wrong?”

Yoon Ji-soo tilted her head and looked at the clock again. Her expression was even more anxious than before.

Just then.

Beep!

The phone rang.

Yoon Ji-soo immediately answered the phone.

“Hello!”

-Ji-soo, it’s me.

The moment she heard the other person’s voice, Yoon Ji-soo’s anxious expression instantly changed.

“Yes, Hyun-sung!”

-Did you call me a little while ago? I was driving, so I couldn’t answer right away.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you were driving.”

Thud.

Yoon Ji-soo tapped her head with her hand. It was self-reproach for not thinking he was driving due to her anxiety.

-It’s okay, but why?

“No, just…”

-Did you perhaps not trust me?

“It’s not that I didn’t trust you, but that girl is such a sly fox…”

-Chuckles.

“Why are you laughing?”

Yoon Ji-soo asked immediately when Hyun-sung laughed. Then, Hyun-sung’s voice was heard directly from the phone.

-What do you mean, it’s not? It sounds like you were anxious and called me…

“It’s not that…”

-It’s okay, that just means Ji-soo loves me that much.

“Ugh~ I don’t know. I don’t know why I did that either…”

Yoon Ji-soo was full of regret. She regretted calling him without being able to hold back at that moment.

-Ji-soo, don’t worry about anything. I only have Ji-soo, dead or alive.

“Anyway, did anything happen?”

-What could have happened? I was just telling her not to say nonsense about eating ramen before leaving.

“What? Ramen?”

Yoon Ji-soo’s voice involuntarily grew louder at the word ‘ramen.’ It was because she knew too well what that word meant.

“Did she really ask you to stay and eat ramen?”

-Yes, she did.

“And?”

-I told you a little while ago, I told her not to say nonsense.

“Really?”

-That’s why I’m going back now, isn’t it?

“Oh? That’s strange.”

Yoon Ji-soo tilted her head. It was because Hyun-sung’s actions were different from what she considered common sense.

-What’s strange?

“Usually, men don’t act that way in that situation, do they?”

-Well, wouldn’t that be different for each person? Not all men are like that.

“That’s true, but…”

Yoon Ji-soo still tilted her head as if she didn’t understand.

Just then, Hyun-sung’s voice was heard again.

-I don’t know what other men would do in that situation, but at least I’m not like that. I told you a little while ago, I only have Ji-soo. Even if I’m born again, I’ll only meet Ji-soo. Is that okay now?

“Um… I understand. I’m sorry.”

-What? What are you sorry for?

“My thinking was short. I thought Hyun-sung would naturally…”

-Naturally what?

“It’s nothing. Hyun-sung, I miss you, so come quickly. I’ll hang up now and leave quickly.”

Click.

Yoon Ji-soo quickly hung up the phone and started hitting her head with both hands while clenching her fists. It was self-reproach for not trusting Hyun-sung and being anxious even for a moment.

After a moment.

“This is not the time to be doing this…”

Yoon Ji-soo jumped up from her seat and went to the dressing table.

At that moment.

Han Ji-min, who had returned home alone after Hyun-sung left.

“What? Nonsense?”

She was just dumbfounded.

Yoon Ji-soo looked at the mirror in front of her. Face, body, there was nothing lacking.

“Hmm…”

After thinking for a moment, one corner of her lips twitched at some point.

“We’ll see.”

A strange smile began to spread across Han Ji-min’s face.

***

A few days later.

After finishing his morning exercise, Hyun-sung headed to the three-story building at the highest point of the village. Of course, that was where the cafe that his wife, Yoon Ji-soo, would be running was under construction.

“Welcome, Mr. Kim!”

As Hyun-sung entered the store, the equipment installer, Kim Dong-ho, greeted him happily. Then, Hyun-sung also greeted him with a welcoming voice.

“You’re working hard from early in the morning, Hyung [older brother or close male friend]!”

“What hard work…”

“But it seems like the construction is progressing faster than I thought?”

“It looks like it will be finished about two days earlier than expected.”

“I told you not to overdo it…”

Hyun-sung was smiling even though he said that. Why wouldn’t he be? The sooner the construction is finished, the sooner the cafe will open.

Hyun-sung took out an envelope from his inside pocket and handed it to Kim Dong-ho.

“Hyung, have dinner with the people you work with after work tonight.”

“You gave it to me last time, what again…”

“Last time was last time, and today is today.”

“Haha, how can I rest while working like this? Anyway, thank you, I’ll have a hearty dinner with this money tonight.”

An contractor speeding up the construction schedule?

That’s generally impossible. But the fact that it’s happening means there must be a good reason.

That was why Hyun-sung came here early this morning.

“I’ll be going then…”

“Why, are you leaving already?”

“I’ve taken care of my business, so it’s better for me to disappear quickly to help you. What else would I do but nag if I stayed?”

“Haha, you’re something else…”

Hyun-sung knew very well that nagging while working would only backfire.

Hyun-sung, who came out, immediately made a phone call somewhere.

-Hello.

“Good morning! Ji-soo.”

-Yes, but where are you now?

“I stopped by the cafe construction site for a while.”

-How much progress has been made?

“It looks like the construction will be finished about two days earlier.”

-Two days?

Yoon Ji-soo’s voice suddenly grew louder. That’s because the construction period would only increase, not decrease.

-Is it really going to be finished two days earlier?

“Yes, that’s right. The foreman said it himself a little while ago. So, I think I’ll have to go to Gangneung next week first.”

-To tell your mom?

“Yes, that way I can prepare to open as soon as the construction is finished after I come back.”

-Yes, I understand. I’ll call my mom in advance today. By the way, come quickly. I made your favorite tofu stew.”

“Yes, I understand. I’ll go right away.”

Click.

Hyun-sung’s face was full of smiles after he hung up the phone. Then he started running towards Yoon Ji-soo’s house.

It was when he was almost at Yoon Ji-soo’s house.

Beep!

The phone rang.

“Who is it?”

Hyun-sung tilted his head and answered the phone.

“Hello.”

-Brother-in-law, it’s me.

The person who called was none other than Han Ji-min.

It was absurd for Hyun-sung. It was only a little after 7 o’clock now. What on earth could be the reason for her calling him at this early hour?

“Oh, yeah. What’s wrong?”

-I’m sick.

“You’re sick?”

Hyun-sung still couldn’t help but feel absurd. It’s one thing to be sick, but what is he supposed to do if she calls him at this early hour to tell him that?

Han Ji-min’s voice was heard again from the phone.

-Can you come now?

“Now?”

-Yes, I have to go to the hospital, but I can’t go alone, and I need my brother-in-law to…”

“…”

Hyun-sung couldn’t answer right away. It was a situation where he couldn’t do this or that. It felt strange to say he would go, and it didn’t feel right to ignore a sick person and say he wouldn’t go.

Just then.

Her voice was heard again.

-Brother-in-law, I don’t have the strength, so I’ll…”

Click.

The phone hung up. Hyun-sung was even more troubled. What is he supposed to do?

After thinking for a moment, Hyun-sung called somewhere again.

-Hello.

“Ji-soo, it’s me.”

The person Hyun-sung called was his wife, Yoon Ji-soo.

-Why are you calling instead of coming?

“That’s… I got a call. From Ji-min.”

-What? Why Ji-min?

“That’s…”

Hyun-sung began to explain to Yoon Ji-soo what he had talked about with Han Ji-min a little while ago. As soon as Hyun-sung’s explanation was over, Yoon Ji-soo’s voice was heard.

-So, you’re saying Ji-min is sick now?

“Yes, she must be very sick. She’s asking me to come right now, what should I do?”

-What’s wrong with her…”

“Her voice doesn’t sound like she’s lying…”

-I’m sorry, but I think Hyun-sung will have to go. I wish I could go with you, but I can’t right now.”

“Does she have anyone around her?”

-She came up from the countryside alone, so she probably doesn’t have anyone. And her friends will be getting ready for work at this hour.”

“Um…”

Hyun-sung was silent for a while, wondering what he was thinking. Then, Yoon Ji-soo’s voice was heard.

-Hyun-sung, what are you thinking?

“I’m thinking about it. What to do…”

-I think you should go first. She says she’s sick.”

“I guess I’ll have to?”

-She’s a pitiful kid if you look at her closely…”

“Okay, then I’ll go to Juan right away.”

Click.

Hyun-sung hung up the phone and started running to the parking lot. Now that he had decided to go, every minute and every second was urgent.

30 minutes later.

Hyun-sung, who arrived in Juan, immediately approached the building where Han Ji-min lived. She lived in the basement.

Knock knock.

The door opened as soon as he knocked.

“Brother-in-law…”

He could immediately tell from her voice that her body was not normal. The lively voice she usually had was nowhere to be found.

“Where does it hurt?”

“I don’t know, it started hurting since dawn…”

Han Ji-min stopped talking and grabbed her stomach and sat down. Her face was already soaked with sweat.

“Can you walk?”

“Ugh…”

Instead of answering, she shook her head and complained of pain.

After hesitating for a moment, Hyun-sung immediately called 119 [emergency services number in South Korea, similar to 911].

One hour later.

Han Ji-min was lying on an emergency room bed. Her expression seemed much more comfortable.

“Brother-in-law, what did the doctor say?”

“He said your intestines were twisted, that’s why it hurt so much.”

“No wonder… I thought I was going to die.”

“He said you can go home in about two hours after you get all this medicine. And be careful with food for the time being, especially don’t eat anything hard.”

Hyun-sung finished speaking and got up from his seat. Then Han Ji-min immediately called Hyun-sung.

“Brother-in-law, where are you going?”

“Huh? Outside for a bit. I’m going to make a phone call. Your sister must be very worried.”

“Can’t you just stay here?”

Han Ji-min grabbed Hyun-sung’s hand as she said that.

But that was only for a moment.

Swish.

Hyun-sung pushed her hand away and turned around. Then he immediately left the emergency room. Then Han Ji-min, who was watching the scene, opened her mouth with an absurd expression.

“Oh, really…”