Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 115

115

Principal Park Sang-hyun looked at Hyun-sung and asked.

“Is it possible?”
“We have to make it possible.”

“That sounds like you have another idea in mind. Do you have a good plan?”

“Yes, my idea is…”

Hyun-sung’s plan was simple.

First, the students themselves would start raising funds for the bathroom construction. Hyun-sung judged that seed money was necessary, even if the amount was uncertain.

Based on that, they would start their own revenue-generating business. Of course, the goal was to earn construction costs, but more importantly, it was to unite the hearts of all the students.

And then, they would convey that unified spirit to the alumni association as it is.

When Hyun-sung’s explanation was over, Principal Park Sang-hyun asked.

“Did you just say revenue-generating business?”

“Yes, but don’t think of it as something too grand. We’ll be selling tteokbokki [spicy stir-fried rice cakes] and fish cakes during lunchtime at school.”

“Are you saying we should do business inside the school?”

“It’s a special case, so please allow it for just a few days. We only need to do it until the day of the alumni association meeting anyway.”

Principal Park Sang-hyun nodded as if he understood and continued.

“Are you saying this is to impress the alumni?”

“I won’t deny it. Although it’s only for 3-4 days, it’s to show how desperate we are.”

“So, you’re going to move the hearts of the alumni by doing that, is that it?”

“Yes, that’s right. It’s a bit blatant, but I think this is the best way for now.”

Of course, it won’t be easy.

But if they didn’t do this, they wouldn’t even be able to think about bathroom construction, so it was an unavoidable choice for Hyun-sung.

Principal Park Sang-hyun asked again.

“You’re not planning to do all this alone, are you?”

“Do I look like I’ve lost my mind?”

“Haha, I suppose not? I was just asking in case.”

“Once I talk to the principal today and get permission, I plan to discuss it with the student council president of the third grade and proceed.”

It’s a matter of course.

After all, the school is also an organization. There is a hierarchy, and naturally, there is an order to things. Hyun-sung wouldn’t act like an immature fool on his own.

He has no intention of doing so, and he shouldn’t.

The student council should be the main body in carrying out the work, as it will be easier in many ways, including the public perception of the effort.

Principal Park Sang-hyun looked at Hyun-sung and asked again.

“I understand that’s how you’ll do it. So, what can I do to help?”

“Please let me meet the student council president. It seems that if the principal arranges a meeting rather than me going to him, my words will carry more weight.”

“Is that all? I will instruct someone to arrange a meeting in the counseling room after class today. And if you need my help in addition to that, feel free to tell me anytime. I will spare no support.”

“Thank you. If I need help during the process, I will let you know from time to time.”

When the class was over, three student council executives gathered in the counseling room.

The student council president, vice president, and treasurer.

Fortunately, the student affairs teacher had already conveyed the story to some extent, so it was much easier for Hyun-sung to explain.

At first, they didn’t say anything, perhaps because they were dumbfounded. But as Hyun-sung’s explanation grew longer, the three people naturally began to nod.

When Hyun-sung’s explanation was over, Shin Mi-sun, the treasurer, tilted her head and asked.

“How much is the construction cost?”

“At least ten million won [approximately $7,500 USD].”

Hoo.

At Hyun-sung’s words of ten million won, Shin Mi-sun, the treasurer, sighed briefly.

Then, she said again as if complaining.

“Can we really do it?”

“It won’t be easy. But what can we do if there’s no other way to do it like this?”

“That’s true, but… the amount is too big.”

As Shin Mi-sun continued to dampen the mood with negative comments, Na Min-soo, the president, stepped forward.

“Now that it’s come to this, let’s look at it positively. Anyway, the fact that you had this idea is amazing.”

When Na Min-soo said that, Lee Eun-young, the vice president next to him, also chimed in.

“Yeah, let’s just do it since we have nothing to lose anyway. By the way, you said your name is Hyun-sung, right?”

Lee Eun-young, the vice president, looked at Hyun-sung and asked.

“Yes, senior. I’m Kim Hyun-sung.”

“You’re really amazing too. What made you start such a big project?”

“It’s not what made me, but the most urgent thing was the bathroom situation. Many students wrote that in the survey, and I felt that way too. Especially the women’s bathroom…”

When the women’s bathroom came up, Shin Mi-sun, the treasurer, spoke up again.

“That’s right. That’s why I don’t even drink water at school.”

“I know, right? How can there be only seven bathrooms when there are so many students?”

“Tell me about it…”

Anyone could see that this didn’t make sense. But back then, no one was actively addressing it.

Or perhaps, they knew it, but they were giving up because they felt there was no other way.

Anyway, the bathroom problem was definitely the most urgent issue that everyone agreed on.

In the end, they decided to announce this fact tomorrow and collect construction funds from the students by the end of this week. Of course, voluntary participation was a prerequisite.

Now, the die has been cast.

The result will come out in some way. Even if the result doesn’t meet expectations, it will be better than not doing anything.

Of course, it would be nice if the result was good and they reached the target amount, but if not, they are thinking about the next best thing.

At that time.

Kim Ji-yeon was meeting Han Myung-soo and Kim Tae-jin of the Turf Field faction.

Hoo!

Kim Ji-yeon’s thin sigh echoed loudly in the classroom.

“Suddenly, I have to be in the top 10? What does that even mean?”

“Don’t ask why, that’s just how it is. I don’t think it’s possible, but what can we do?”

Kim Tae-jin was also frustrated.

However, he couldn’t tell Kim Ji-yeon that Hyun-sung had said that. This is because Kim Ji-yeon doesn’t know from the beginning that Hyun-sung is involved in this.

The reason was simple.

Han Myung-soo and Kim Tae-jin kept this a secret. They thought that if they told the truth, Kim Ji-yeon would not listen to their request.

“What about you?”

Kim Ji-yeon looked at Han Myung-soo this time and asked.

Then Han Myung-soo scratched his head and answered.

“I’m the same.”

“You just have to go up 10 places, right?”

Han Myung-soo nodded.

Then Kim Ji-yeon looked at Kim Tae-jin this time and asked again.

“Why are your conditions different? What happened?”

“That’s…”

After hesitating for a moment, Kim Tae-jin began to explain to Kim Ji-yeon what had happened in the morning. As Kim Tae-jin’s explanation was almost over, laughter burst out from Kim Ji-yeon’s mouth.

“Pfft, so it’s because of the high IQ, is that it?”

“Yeah. It’s all because of him, though.”

Kim Tae-jin said, looking at Han Myung-soo next to him.

Then Kim Ji-yeon looked at Kim Tae-jin with a surprised expression and continued.

“Is your IQ really 148?”

“Is that so high?”

“Of course. Usually, people say that an IQ over 135 is high. But 148 is no joke. Hey, what’s yours?”

Kim Ji-yeon asked Han Myung-soo about his IQ this time.

Then Han Myung-soo shook his head from side to side.

“I don’t know.”

“What do you mean you don’t know? You took the test in the first semester.”

Kim Ji-yeon asked again, but Han Myung-soo just shook his head as if he didn’t know until the end.

Then Kim Tae-jin next to him chuckled.

Kim Ji-yeon, who couldn’t understand the meaning, looked at Kim Tae-jin and asked.

“Myung-soo, isn’t it over 100?”

“You’re dead, you.”

The one who answered Kim Ji-yeon’s question was not Kim Tae-jin but Han Myung-soo.

At some point, Han Myung-soo was shaking his fist at Kim Tae-jin’s face. Then Kim Tae-jin couldn’t say anything and just laughed even louder.

It was then.

Creak.

Someone came in as the classroom door opened.

It was Seo In-hye.

“What’s so funny?”

“Because of IQ.”

“IQ?”

When the IQ story came out of Seo In-hye’s mouth, Han Myung-soo grabbed Kim Tae-jin’s wrist and left the classroom.

Seo In-hye, who was watching the scene, asked again.

“Why is he like that?”

“I guess he’s shy in front of someone he likes?”

“How cheesy…”

The two people laughed lightly and just looked at the back door where Han Myung-soo disappeared.

Hyun-sung, who had finished talking with the third-year seniors, headed back to the classroom.

“Are you done now?”

Kim Il-soo greeted Hyun-sung.

“Yeah.”

“Did the talk go well?”

“They already knew roughly. So it was easy to talk, but it doesn’t seem easy to actually do it.”

Kim Il-soo nodded as if he had expected it to some extent.

Then he continued.

“Later, about selling fish cakes and tteokbokki…”

“We’ll start collecting donations from tomorrow until this week, and we’ll start selling them from Monday next week. I don’t know how much we’ll sell, but we’ll have to sell hard.”

“Can I help you with that too?”

“You? Come to think of it, you like to cook, right?”

“Cooking is the only thing I’m confident in…”

Kim Il-soo couldn’t finish his words as if he was embarrassed. Then Hyun-sung, who saw the scene, immediately seized on Kim Il-soo’s words.

“Can you really help me?”

“Just tell me what to do. I can make as much fish cake and tteokbokki as you want.”

“I was worried anyway, but that’s good. Can you make the broth as a base?”

“Hey, don’t worry. I can do that with my left hand.”

Kim Il-soo was showing confidence by even bluffing. Hyun-sung, who was watching the scene, smiled with a pleased expression.

It was a moment when he needed someone anyway.

However, he couldn’t ask just anyone. He needed someone who had a sense of cooking to some extent.

Tuk, tuk.

Hyun-sung lightly tapped Kim Il-soo on the shoulder.

It was an expression of gratitude.

At that time, one thought flashed through Hyun-sung’s mind.

Hyun-sung called Kim Il-soo.

“Il-soo!”

“Dude, why are you calling someone else’s name so seriously all of a sudden?”

“Would you like to work part-time?”

“Part-time job? What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

Kim Il-soo looked at Hyun-sung in surprise at the word part-time job. That’s because part-time jobs in the countryside were as rare as hen’s teeth.

Especially for high school students.

Hyun-sung looked at Kim Il-soo and continued.

“If you have the opportunity, would you be willing to do it?”

“Is that even a question? Is there really one?”

“Of course. I’m not the kind of guy who would talk nonsense to you.”

Kim Il-soo looked straight at Hyun-sung.

Then he asked with a really curious look.

“Where is it?”

“My store. It’s going to open a few days after Chuseok [Korean Thanksgiving] next week.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about…”

Kim Il-soo made an unpleasant expression as if he was disappointed. Then Hyun-sung, who saw the scene, got angry.

“Hey, what’s with that expression?”

“I have to see it open to know. I don’t think it’s a problem to decide in advance. And if…”

Kim Il-soo stopped talking. He was too hesitant to tell Hyun-sung his doubts.

However, Hyun-sung, who couldn’t read his mind, immediately continued.

“You don’t trust me, do you?”

“No, it’s not that, but I’m worried…”

“Okay, in the end, you don’t trust me either.”

Hyun-sung wasn’t feeling well because even Kim Il-soo, whom he trusted, couldn’t trust him. However, he was in a position where he couldn’t say anything about it.

He had no choice but to admit it.

Hyun-sung looked at Kim Il-soo and said again.

“So, are you going to do it or not?”

“Do you really need someone?”

“It seems that customers will flock to the store when classes end. If that happens, two people will not be enough. However, it’s hard to justify hiring more people just for that peak time.”

As Hyun-sung spoke seriously, Kim Il-soo also engaged in the conversation with a different expression than before.

“What exactly is the opening date?”

“October 3rd next month, National Foundation Day [a South Korean national holiday].”

“What, there’s not much time left. But why that day? That’s a holiday; students don’t come to school.”

“Shin Ramyun [a popular brand of instant noodles] will be released on the 2nd. So I set it for the next day.”

Kim Il-soo shook his head from side to side.

He couldn’t believe Hyun-sung’s words again. Then Hyun-sung said again.

“Why can’t this guy believe people’s words like this?”

“Hoo!”

When Hyun-sung exclaimed, Kim Il-soo answered with a sigh. Then Hyun-sung’s words continued again.

“Just wait until Chuseok passes.”

“If I wait?”

“After Chuseok, the advertisement will be on TV from then on.”

“That’s what I’m talking about again.”

Kim Il-soo was still negative. Hyun-sung, who was watching the scene, closed his mouth. He knows well that saying more doesn’t make sense.

It’s a problem that has to pass over time. When that time comes, there will be no need for these words anymore.

Then Kim Il-soo looked at Hyun-sung and said.

“If, like you said, the Shin Ramyun advertisement starts to come out on TV after Chuseok, I’ll work at your store for free.”

“Really?”

“I’m really doing free service.”

“Call! [Deal!]”

Hyun-sung had nothing to lose. There is no rent for 3 months anyway. Besides, Kim Il-soo said he would work for free, so there was no reason to refuse.

Hyun-sung was benefiting from the regression in many ways.

“This.”

Kim Il-soo handed something over when he was about to leave the classroom.

“Did you use it all?”

“Don’t even mention it, I thought my head was going to explode. Give it to Ji-yeon.”

Kim Il-soo had a flower letter envelope [a decorative envelope for love letters] in his hand. Hyun-sung couldn’t help but burst into laughter when he saw the scene.

Then Kim Il-soo scratched his head and smiled shyly.

Then he said.

“Don’t open it first.”

Hyun-sung laughed once again instead of answering.

“Haha, hahahaha…”