Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 692

A Few Days Later.

Knock knock! Bang bang!

Hyun-sung and Yoon Tae-ho, the construction contractor, stood at the site where the buildings were being demolished.

Finally, the commercial building construction was starting today.

The first step was to dismantle the existing buildings.

Hyun-sung asked Yoon Tae-ho,

“How long will the demolition take?”

“My current estimate is about a month.”

Hyun-sung looked at Yoon Tae-ho with surprised eyes at the word ‘one month.’ This was because the date he mentioned was much shorter than Hyun-sung had expected.

“Are you saying you’ll demolish all these buildings in just one month? I thought it would take at least three months.”

There were as many as 70 buildings. Therefore, Hyun-sung had expected it to take at least that long.

“Normally, it would take that long.”

“But?”

“As I mentioned a few days ago, we’re proceeding with the construction on a contract basis, right?”

“Of course, you did.”

Hyun-sung had clearly heard it. He had clearly said that he would proceed with all the construction on a contract basis.

“That’s why it’s possible. As you can see now, 20 excavators have been deployed. Of course, the excavators were hired by the demolition company. Usually, they don’t deploy this many.”

“Are you saying?”

“It’s more profitable for the demolition company to finish quickly, so they’ve deployed all the equipment they can. That’s how scary contract work is. The excavator operators would also have taken on this work on a contract basis.”

Yoon Tae-ho smiled slightly and continued,

“Just watch. Those many excavators will be running at full capacity all day long without a break.”

“So, in the end, those operators also know that time is money, right?”

“Of course. They also know that the sooner the demolition work is finished, the more profitable it is for them.”

Hyun-sung looked at the excavators demolishing the buildings from all directions.

As Yoon Tae-ho said, they were moving without a break. He could see that it was definitely different from what he usually saw on construction sites.

“Maybe, the demolition work might be finished even before a month is up.”

“Really?”

Hyun-sung tilted his head.

Just a moment ago, Yoon Tae-ho had clearly said that it usually takes about three months for the construction. He said that it was only possible to finish the construction in one month because the construction was being done on a contract basis.

But now he was saying that the construction might be finished even before a month was up, so Hyun-sung couldn’t believe it.

“Hehe, you’ll see. You’ll see why I’m saying this.”

Yoon Tae-ho’s expression was full of confidence.

That evening, Hyun-sung realized that it wasn’t a lie and that it might be possible.

Their usual quitting time was 6 PM. But even though it was 6 PM, no one was leaving.

They ended up working two more hours and left at 8 PM.

It was midsummer, so the days were long, and they worked until that time. It was a sight that couldn’t be seen on other construction sites.

“How is it? It seems like what I said earlier wasn’t just empty words, right?”

Yoon Tae-ho smiled and said to Hyun-sung.

He seemed to have known the current situation from the beginning.

It was the moment when he could see with his own eyes why he had mentioned the contract system from the beginning.

Hyun-sung had no choice but to nod.

“Money is indeed scary.”

“Those people must have worked at least three times more than usual today. Of course, they’ll be earning that much more as well. This is the power of the contract system.”

“Yes, now I can see for sure why the president said he would proceed with the construction on a contract basis.”

Hyun-sung had no choice but to admit it.

A significant portion of the buildings he had seen in the morning had been demolished.

At this rate, Hyun-sung thought that the building demolition work might be finished in less than a month, as Yoon Tae-ho had said.

Was that why?

A smile began to spread across Hyun-sung’s face.

The sooner, the better for Hyun-sung.

Hyun-sung took out two one million won bills from his wallet and handed them to Yoon Tae-ho.

“Use this to buy those people who worked hard today some meat.”

“Haha, thank you. As expected, you’re definitely different from other people. Other construction owners don’t do this. I guess that’s why Chairman Shin told you not to understand, but to memorize it?”

“Yes? What do you mean by that? Memorize?”

“There’s something like that. Well, I’ll be going now…….”

Yoon Tae-ho smiled and left Hyun-sung’s side, walking towards the place where the excavator and dump truck drivers were gathered.

***

Hyun-sung returned to the office after parting with Yoon Tae-ho.

“You’re here, President?”

As soon as Hyun-sung entered the office, Lee Sang-hyuk jumped up from his seat and greeted him. Then, Hyun-sung said with a surprised expression.

“What? It’s past 8 o’clock, why haven’t you left yet?”

In Lee Sang-hyuk’s case, his quitting time was 6 PM. That’s why Hyun-sung said that because he was still in the office.

Lee Sang-hyuk smiled and replied.

“I was waiting for you, President.”

“For me? Why, is there something wrong?”

“Hehe, well…….”

Lee Sang-hyuk was just smiling and couldn’t continue speaking properly.

Hyun-sung asked again.

“What’s wrong? Why are you just smiling and can’t speak?”

“I was thinking of buying you dinner today, President.”

“Dinner?”

Hyun-sung tilted his head slightly at the word ‘dinner.’ The reason was that him buying dinner meant there was something special, but he didn’t know what that special reason was.

Then, a thought flashed through Hyun-sung’s mind.

“Is it your birthday today?”

“No, it’s not.”

“Oh? It’s not that either? Then what is it? Why are you saying you’ll buy me dinner?”

“Just because.”

“Just because?”

“Yes, I just wanted to treat you to a meal because I’m so grateful to you, President.”

Lee Sang-hyuk scratched his head as if he was embarrassed. But that look was quite cute.

Hyun-sung, who was looking at him, nodded and said.

“Okay! Then of course we have to eat. It’s not just anyone, it’s our Sang-hyuk who’s buying dinner. Just wait a moment, let me finish organizing things and we’ll go out right away.”

Hyun-sung walked to his seat with a happy expression.

It was then.

Something caught Hyun-sung’s eye as he walked towards his desk. It was the civil service exam book spread out on Lee Sang-hyuk’s desk.

Hyun-sung asked immediately.

“Were you studying?”

“Hehe, yes.”

Lee Sang-hyuk scratched his head slightly, answering shyly.

Hyun-sung asked again.

“Is studying going well?”

“It’s a bit strange to say this, but I study best in the office.”

“Is that true?”

It was an unexpected answer for Hyun-sung. The reason was that he thought that if he studied at home after work, he would be able to concentrate better and his efficiency would increase.

“Yes, I actually find that strange too. I thought I would study better at home, but I actually concentrate better when I study in the office. I think this office is just right for me.”

“Is that so…….”

Hyun-sung was lost in thought for a moment while organizing his desk.

After a while.

Hyun-sung, who had finished thinking, looked up at Lee Sang-hyuk. Then he continued immediately.

“Sang-hyuk, are you thinking of moving?”

“Moving? Where to?”

“Don’t ask that. I’m just asking if you can move from where you are now. I remember you said you couldn’t move from there because you were thinking of your grandmother.”

Last time, when the submersible pump broke down and flooded, he had asked if he should move.

At that time, he said that the reason the monthly rent was cheap was also a reason, but more than that, he couldn’t leave that place because of the memories with his grandmother.

Hyun-sung was talking about that now.

“Um, well…….”

Lee Sang-hyuk couldn’t answer right away. Then, Hyun-sung asked again.

“Why, do you still feel like you can’t leave that place because of the memories with your grandmother?”

“Well…….”

Lee Sang-hyuk couldn’t answer right away this time either. Then, he seemed to be thinking for a moment, and then he answered with difficulty as if he had made up his mind.

“…… It’s fifty-fifty now.”

“Fifty-fifty?”

Hyun-sung’s eyes sparkled.

Fifty-fifty meant that, unlike at first, he had some intention of moving.

“Yes, I said that at first because it hadn’t been long since my grandmother passed away, but my thoughts have changed a bit these days.”

“Changed? How?”

Hyun-sung finished organizing his desk and got up from his seat and asked.

“If I have the means, I want to get out of the basement. When I think about it, my late grandmother might want that too. She wouldn’t want her only grandson to live in a smelly basement.”

“Sang-hyuk, let’s go out first. Let’s talk about the next thing while eating dinner. It seems like the conversation will be long.”

A smile was spreading across Hyun-sung’s face as he said that.

In fact, he wanted to recommend him to move last time when his room was flooded. But he couldn’t talk about moving anymore because he said he couldn’t leave that place because of the memories with his grandmother.

But this time, he was smiling involuntarily because he realized that his thoughts had changed and that he could move this time.

The two left the office and headed to a nearby restaurant.

A short time later.

The two arrived at the restaurant.

“President, we can go to a meat restaurant instead of here, you know?”

Lee Sang-hyuk said as he sat down at the restaurant.

Lee Sang-hyuk had said as he was leaving the office a little while ago.

He said that we should go to a meat restaurant and eat beef today. It seemed like he had made up his mind today.

But Hyun-sung, who knew his situation well, couldn’t do that. So, the place he chose was this stew restaurant.

“No, I want to eat stew today.”

“Are you doing that because of me?”

“It’s not like that. I really want to eat stew today. Let’s eat beef next time.”

“…… Yes, President.”

Lee Sang-hyuk nodded.

Of course, he knew. He knew that the reason Hyun-sung chose this place was because of his financial situation.

If he ate beef, at least two months’ worth of rent would be gone.

There was no way Hyun-sung wouldn’t know that.

Lee Sang-hyuk had no choice but to order stew.

“Auntie, two servings of stew here.”

A short time later, as the stew was being set up, Lee Sang-hyuk looked at Hyun-sung and said.

“President, I’ll definitely buy you beef after I pass the civil service exam and get my first paycheck.”

“Lee Sang-hyuk, why don’t you believe me? I really wanted to eat stew today, that’s why I came here.”

Snort.

Lee Sang-hyuk smiled at Hyun-sung and said again.

“I’m not that clueless.”

“You really…….”

“Anyway, thank you always. You told me last time, President? That poverty isn’t something to be ashamed of, it’s just a little inconvenient. So, even if it’s inconvenient right now, I should be patient and work hard to succeed.”

Lee Sang-hyuk’s words continued again.

“I’m going to study hard. So, I’m going to succeed. So, I’m going to be someone who can buy you beef anytime in the future, President.”

“You’re going to get indigestion from eating that beef, you rascal.”

Hyun-sung looked at Lee Sang-hyuk and laughed lightly. Then, Lee Sang-hyuk also smiled and said.

“Hehe, is that so?”

“No, I’m just kidding, I want to eat beef as soon as possible, so pass the civil service exam quickly.”

“Yes, I’ll work hard.”

“Okay, I got it. Let’s eat stew now.”

The two began to eat stew.

How much time had passed?

Hyun-sung called out the name of Lee Sang-hyuk, who was sitting across from him.

“Sang-hyuk.”