Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 117

117

As if she had been anticipating the end of the day, the female employee promptly rose from her seat as soon as she received the instruction to leave.

No sooner had she departed than Director Yoo Seong-il turned his gaze towards Hyun-sung and inquired,

“What did you say a moment ago?”

“I said Shin Ramyun [a popular brand of instant noodles in Korea].”

Hyun-sung offered a subtle smile. It wasn’t overtly displayed, but he had noticed Director Yoo Seong-il’s immediate reaction upon hearing the name Shin Ramyun.

This confirmed that the new product’s name was being guarded with utmost secrecy, hence the hasty dismissal of the female employee.

Conversely, Director Yoo Seong-il’s demeanor had undergone a complete transformation.

‘Just what is this guy’ he wondered.

Director Yoo Seong-il was perplexed.

He double-checked, but the same answer echoed from Hyun-sung’s lips.

Director Yoo Seong-il unconsciously gnawed at his nails.

Then, he cautiously broached the subject.

“May I ask you something?”

“Of course.”

“Who are you?”

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

Hyun-sung deliberately amplified his voice, sensing the reason behind Director Yoo Seong-il’s peculiar behavior.

From Director Yoo Seong-il’s perspective, it was natural to be curious about how Hyun-sung had gained knowledge of Shin Ramyun’s existence.

As expected.

“Who are you to be discussing a product that hasn’t even been launched yet?”

“Ah, that.”

“Even our own employees are unaware of it, so how do you know the name…?”

Now, Hyun-sung found himself in a predicament. He needed to provide an explanation that Director Yoo Seong-il would find plausible.

“Well, you might not believe it, but…”

Hyun-sung resorted to the same tactic he had employed previously: a prophetic dream. It seemed to be the only way to convince Director Yoo Seong-il.

As Hyun-sung elaborated, Director Yoo Seong-il’s expression was a sight to behold.

Finally, upon the conclusion of Hyun-sung’s explanation, Director Yoo Seong-il emitted a profound sigh.

Hoo…

Then, as if momentarily at a loss for words, Director Yoo Seong-il remained silent.

“…”

After a brief pause.

Director Yoo Seong-il fixed his gaze on Hyun-sung and barely managed to speak.

“Did you just mention a prophetic dream?”

“Yes.”

“And you expect me to believe that?”

“Of course, it’s your prerogative to believe it or not, but as far as I’m concerned, it’s the truth.”

“Haa…”

A deep sigh escaped Director Yoo Seong-il’s lips.

Director Yoo Seong-il was grappling with frustration on multiple fronts.

Disbelief would halt the conversation, yet belief seemed absurd, leaving him in a quandary.

Then, Hyun-sung spoke once more.

“The advertisement will be released after Chuseok [Korean Thanksgiving], right?”

“Huh!”

“Am I mistaken?”

“Did that also appear in your dream?”

Director Yoo Seong-il was rendered speechless, utterly dumbfounded. With the revelation that even the TV commercial had manifested in his dream, what more could be said?

The crucial point was its accuracy.

“Shall I share one more detail?”

“What else is there?”

“October 2nd. That’s the D-day [release date]. Do you believe me now?”

“…”

Upon hearing Hyun-sung disclose the product release date, Director Yoo Seong-il appeared to have exhausted his words and fell silent.

“Okay. I’ll entertain your story for now.”

Director Yoo Seong-il, after a prolonged silence, reluctantly raised both hands in surrender. Then, he continued.

“So, you’re opening a ramen restaurant?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“And you require our new product, Shin Ramyun, for that purpose?”

“Yes.”

Hyun-sung nodded. Director Yoo Seong-il then posed another question.

“Do you happen to know what our new product tastes like?”

He knew it intimately. Having consumed Shin Ramyun extensively during his solitary college days, it had become a staple. Moreover, he had prepared and served it countless times to customers while managing the comic book cafe.

However, divulging the taste at this juncture was imprudent. Despite the prophetic dream, claiming to have tasted it in his dream was a stretch.

Yet, he wasn’t entirely devoid of a response.

“I know it’s spicy. The ‘Shin’ in Shin Ramyun signifies spiciness, so it’s only natural. That spiciness will be the defining concept of our store.”

“I’m unfamiliar with the taste, so I can’t comment, but that’s a plausible explanation. However, no matter how much I contemplate it, I struggle to comprehend.”

“Don’t dwell on understanding it. Simply acknowledge that I need Shin Ramyun, and you’ll sell more new products.”

That was his genuine sentiment.

He preferred to avoid overthinking.

In reality, mutual understanding was exceedingly difficult. From Director Yoo Seong-il’s perspective, he could never grasp Hyun-sung’s position, even if he were to die and be reborn.

Because it was knowledge inaccessible before regression.

Director Yoo Seong-il automatically nodded in response to Hyun-sung’s words.

He was already under pressure to boost sales of the new product, a thought that caused his head to throb.

Thus, the answer was evident.

There was no need for hesitation.

The question was the magnitude of this friend’s order.

Pfft.

Director Yoo Seong-il emitted a hollow laugh involuntarily.

It was amusing that he harbored such expectations for a young individual. Yet, he couldn’t afford to dismiss it lightly.

‘Okay, let’s assess the situation first…’ he thought.

Director Yoo Seong-il cautiously inquired, laced with anticipation.

“…So, what quantity are you seeking?”

“Well, I’ll need to conduct business to ascertain the exact amount, but I’m considering an initial order of 100 boxes.”

“100 boxes?”

Director Yoo Seong-il couldn’t suppress his surprise.

He had anticipated a maximum of 50 boxes per month. However, that expectation was shattered. Hyun-sung stated that the initial quantity alone was 100 boxes, implying the potential for even larger orders in the future.

Director Yoo Seong-il glanced at Hyun-sung.

In this scenario, there were two possibilities.

Either he was an ignorant youth acting impulsively, or he was a genuine businessman.

Director Yoo Seong-il scrutinized Hyun-sung once more.

As expected, his age was a concern.

He was too young to be engaged in business.

‘No,’ he thought.

Director Yoo Seong-il’s head tilted to the side.

‘Yes, perhaps…’ he mused.

The realization that his perception was subjective flashed through his mind.

That’s right!

This individual was already exceptional.

The fact that he had launched a business as a student was already remarkable.

Perhaps he was more than he appeared…

Director Yoo Seong-il straightened his posture and reiterated.

“Did you say 100 boxes? And that’s not a monthly quantity, but an initial one?”

“Yes, that’s correct. Of course, I’ll need to conduct business to determine the precise amount, but my current expectation is that I’ll be placing an order approximately twice a month.”

“Twice, twice a month?”

Director Yoo Seong-il even stuttered. Even the primary customer, the supermarket, struggled to handle such a volume.

Furthermore, considering that ramen consumption was significantly lower compared to the metropolitan area, the quantity Hyun-sung mentioned was far from insignificant.

It was then that Director Yoo Seong-il erupted in laughter.

“Haha, hahaha…, this young CEO is no ordinary person. Oh! Have you eaten yet?”

Director Yoo Seong-il’s manner of speaking underwent a transformation.

Swoosh.

Hyun-sung handed a bag to Director Yoo Seong-il.

“This is the deposit.”

“Deposit?”

“I’m not ordering just one or two boxes, but 100, so I couldn’t arrive empty-handed.”

Director Yoo Seong-il was once again taken aback upon inspecting the deposit. The envelope contained 500,000 won in cash.

It was the moment when the anxieties he had harbored upon first encountering Hyun-sung vanished instantly. Whether it was the quantity or the payment, there were no shortcomings.

“I believe I’ve encountered a benefactor.”

“You’re welcome, aren’t we supposed to support each other? And from now on, please speak casually. We’ll be doing business for quite some time, so I’d feel uncomfortable otherwise.”

“But you’re strictly a CEO of a business partner, so would that be appropriate?”

“I’d prefer it that way. Instead, may I call you hyung [older brother or respected male figure]?”

“Hehe… well, I’m rather grateful. Then I’ll speak casually from this moment onward. No, I will. Haha…”

Director Yoo Seong-il burst into joyous laughter.

Hyun-sung reciprocated with a smile.

Then, Director Yoo Seong-il spoke again.

“I’ll take care of the promotional items.”

“Promotional items?”

“When a new product is launched, non-sale items are distributed in proportion to the quantity. The same applies to Shin Ramyun. I’ll send you 20 boxes along with the goods.”

“That many?”

“I have to take care of that much, don’t I, dongsaeng [younger brother or respected younger male figure]?”

“Yes, hyung!”

Hyun-sung responded with a smile.

He had learned through experience that cultivating rapport with sales staff was advantageous, a lesson reinforced during his tenure at the video store.

The transaction between the two men proceeded smoothly.

Both Hyun-sung and Director Yoo Seong-il appeared content, their faces beaming with smiles.

Hyun-sung initiated the farewell.

“Then I’ll trust you, hyung, and take my leave.”

“Okay. Don’t worry about the goods. Make sure you hit the jackpot, and see you later.”

The two shook hands and parted ways.

Director Yoo Seong-il remained alone after Hyun-sung’s departure.

Tap tap.

His index finger tapped incessantly on the desk, a habit he exhibited when preoccupied with something.

It was a matter that defied his comprehension, no matter how much he pondered it.

A prophetic dream?

He hadn’t simply dismissed it out of belief, but rather due to a lack of further questions to pose.