Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 127

127

After a moment of thought, Hyun-sung looked at Shin Myung-soon and said,

“Mother, how about you operate your business at my store starting next week?”

“What are you talking about?”

“The kitchen construction at my place is already finished anyway. I’m going to start my business on the 3rd of next month, so I think it would be fine for you to operate there until the end of this month.”

“That doesn’t make sense. I know you spent a lot of money on the kitchen construction, how can I use it first? I appreciate the thought, but I can’t do that.”

From Shin Myung-soon’s perspective, it was a natural reaction. But Hyun-sung’s thoughts were different. *It’s just a place to do business anyway*, he thought.

Of course, Hyun-sung wouldn’t yield to anyone else. But this is Lee Jung-woo’s mother. It’s possible *because* it’s Lee Jung-woo’s mother.

Who is Lee Jung-woo?

In his past life, even in that difficult situation, he broke into his savings to lend him money because he knew his friend needed it.

Hyun-sung thought that doing this much for Lee Jung-woo was nothing.

“Mother, what if I really mean it?”

“No, don’t say that. No matter how shameless a person is, that’s not right. How can I use that kitchen first?”

“I’m telling you I’m okay with it. And anyway, you’re going to be the one using that kitchen mostly in the future. Just think of it as using it a few days earlier.”

Hyun-sung’s insistence was firm.

At that time, Lee Jung-woo, who was listening from the side, joined the conversation.

“Hyun-sung, even *I* don’t think that’s right. I’m really grateful that you’re considering my mom’s situation, but no matter how I think about it, it’s not right.”

“Why are you doing this too? I’m telling you I’m really okay with it.”

“I’m so grateful just hearing it, but what’s not right is not right. Don’t be stubborn.”

There wasn’t a pushover among them.

The same was true for Hyun-sung. If he had felt even a little uncomfortable from the beginning, he wouldn’t have said anything. But that wasn’t the case; he was sincere. He thought there was no need to waste precious time when everything was already prepared.

Hyun-sung looked at Lee Jung-woo and said again.

“Jung-woo, I’m doing this because it’s you. I wouldn’t say this to anyone else, honestly. But I’m saying this because it’s you.”

“Hyun-sung, why are you really like this… this doesn’t make sense.”

“Should I say it again? It’s because it’s you.”

“Hey, you…”

Lee Jung-woo couldn’t say anything more.

He could hear that Hyun-sung’s words were sincere. No matter how he thought about it, it didn’t make sense, but since Hyun-sung said he wanted it, he had nothing to say.

This time, Shin Myung-soon stepped in.

“Hyun-sung!”

“Yes, Mother.”

“I see you’re not just saying empty words. I didn’t know you thought so much of our Jung-woo. Thank you, and let’s think about this a little more. I’ll think about it positively, so can you give me a little more time?”

“Yes, I understand. I’m saying this again, but I’m sincere, so I hope you understand my heart.”

Shin Myung-soon nodded and took Hyun-sung’s hand.

It was the moment when Shin Myung-soon’s warm touch was directly conveyed to Hyun-sung.

***

A few days later.

Two days had passed since Chuseok [Korean harvest festival].

On the afternoon of Chuseok, a village festival was held at the village hall. It was a village festival held with the money Park Hee-chul had donated to the village.

Everyone had a good time, and Park Hee-chul was the star of the day.

He was reborn as a new Park Hee-chul, not the Park Hee-chul of the past.

Park Hee-chul’s new appearance wasn’t just for that day.

His new appearance was also impressive at the alumni association.

When Lee Man-soo, the president of the alumni association, brought up the toilet issue as an agenda, Park Hee-chul was the first to donate. And it wasn’t just a small amount; he generously donated a whopping one million won [approximately $750 USD].

Park Hee-chul cut the first tape with one million won, and several other people followed suit, donating one million won each. Among them was Oh Sang-chul.

As a result, they exceeded the target of ten million won and raised twelve million five hundred thousand won, which was delivered to the school.

And today, Sunday afternoon.

It was while they were eating lunch and watching TV.

“Oppa [term used by younger women to address older brothers or male friends], over there…”

His younger sister, Kim Ji-yeon, pointed to the TV commercial and shouted.

On the TV screen, Gu Bong-seo was appearing in a Ssin Ramen commercial. “Hyun-sung, that’s the ramen, right?”

When his father asked, Hyun-sung smiled and nodded.

Then his younger sister, Kim Ji-yeon, shouted again.

“Wow! Ssin Ramen is really coming out. Oppa, it’s really coming out. That ramen that’s on Oppa’s sign.”

Excited, his younger sister Kim Ji-yeon repeated the same words several times.

It was a commercial that Hyun-sung hadn’t seen in a long time.

The last scene was Kang Bu-ja holding the ramen. Soon after, the 30-second commercial ended with the mention of ‘Olympic Official Ramen Ssin Ramen’.

At that time, his mother looked at Hyun-sung and asked.

“What’s going on?”

“Do you believe me now?”

“How can this be…”

When the Nongshim Ssin Ramen commercial actually came out on TV, everyone started looking at Hyun-sung with surprised eyes.

At that moment.

Hyun-sung’s family wasn’t the only ones surprised while watching TV.

Park Hee-chul, who was watching TV alone, was also surprised.

“No way!”

Park Hee-chul found it hard to believe even though he was seeing it with his own eyes.

When he first saw the sign Hyun-sung made, he had his doubts. Hyun-sung replaced his words by saying he would see later, but he didn’t believe those words.

No matter how much he dreamed, he never thought that even the name of the ramen would come out in his dream.

It was a scene he couldn’t believe even while seeing it.

Clang.

Park Hee-chul put the spoon he was eating with on the table.

He thought it wasn’t the time to be leisurely eating.

After finishing lunch, Hyun-sung was watching TV at home. Hyun-sung wasn’t the only one watching TV.

The whole family was staring at the TV with the table still set.

Ring.

At that time, the phone rang.

The youngest, Kim Ji-yeon, quickly answered the phone.

“Hello.”

– Oh? Is that Ji-yeon?

“Il-soo oppa? You’re calling, what’s the matter?”

– It’s because of the commercial.

“Commercial? Ah, oppa saw it too. We’re also waiting in front of the TV for that commercial to come out.”

– Ji-yeon, I’m sorry, but is Hyun-sung next to you?

“Yeah, just a moment. I’ll switch you to Hyun-sung oppa.”

Kim Ji-yeon covered the receiver with her palm and called Hyun-sung.

Hyun-sung, who took the receiver, said.

“Il-soo, I switched the phone.”

– Hyun-sung, what’s going on?

“What do you mean, what’s going on? What did I say? I clearly said that the commercial would be on TV after Chuseok, right?”

– Of course, you did. But I didn’t think it would really come out like this…

“That’s why you should have believed this *hyung’s* [older brother/male friend] words usually. What are you going to do now?”

– What do you mean, what am I going to do?

Kim Il-soo asked back as if nothing was wrong. Then Hyun-sung smiled in disbelief and continued.

“Look at this guy, what did you say? If the commercial really comes out on TV, you’ll work for free, right?”

– Ah, right. I said that?

“Do you remember now?”

– That’s just something you say, you don’t really believe it so naively, right?

“What do you mean? Naively? Haha…”

Hyun-sung just laughed. Of course, he wasn’t confident that he would really receive it even if he said he would work for free. But it was true that he was subtly annoyed because he was coming out like this.

But there was nothing he could do about it.

At that time, Kim Il-soo continued.

– Hey, I got it. Just tell me whenever you need it. Do you think I can’t do that much for you?

“You, you should have said that earlier. Okay, see you tomorrow.”

– Yeah, anyway, I was so amazed that I called while watching TV. By the way, can you switch me to Ji-yeon for a moment?

“Oh, you’re quite something now.”

– Hehe, just for a moment.

“Okay, wait a moment.”

Hyun-sung gestured, and Kim Ji-yeon quickly took the phone as if she knew. Hyun-sung smiled as he watched her.

But there was one person whose eyes were shining especially brightly.

The owner of that gaze was none other than his mother.

When Kim Ji-yeon took the phone, his mother looked at Hyun-sung and asked immediately.

“What phone call is that?”

“It’s a friend. I had a bet with this guy.”

“Bet?”

“Yes, he said he would work for free for three months if Ssin Ramen really came out as a commercial.”

“And?”

“What?”

When Hyun-sung asked back, pretending not to know, his mother pointed her chin at Kim Ji-yeon, who was on the phone. It meant why are you switching the phone to your sister.

“My friend asked me to switch for a moment…”

“So, why is that friend asking our Ji-yeon to switch the phone?”

“That’s…”

Hyun-sung had nothing more to say.

But his mother wasn’t the kind of mother to stay still.

“Kim Hyun-sung!”

Her voice was already different from before. But it was difficult to say anything against it.

It was when his mother was about to call Hyun-sung again.

“Mom, why?”

His younger sister, Kim Ji-yeon, cut off the phone and sat next to Hyun-sung, calling her mother.

“What is it? You guys?”

“What, Mom?”

“Are you really going to keep doing this?”

His mother’s voice was slightly agitated, unlike usual.

It was a difficult situation for Hyun-sung because he knew what it meant.

At that time, Kim Ji-yeon continued.

“Mom, what are you curious about?”

“I’m curious about the truth. It doesn’t make sense. He’s your oppa’s friend, right? But why are you on the phone?”

“That’s…”

“You know what happens if you lie, right?”

It was Hyun-sung who was frustrated.

If he made a mistake, he would be hit with a whip by his mother even after being over 50 years old.

At that time, a savior appeared. No, he thought it was a savior. He found out later that it wasn’t a savior.

“They’re growing up and doing that, why are you asking so many questions about it? I can tell just by looking at it.”

“Hehe, that’s right.”

Hyun-sung naturally went along with his father’s opinion.

That was a mistake.

“Kim Hyun-sung!”

His mother’s voice got louder.

But the problem was his father. When his mother’s voice got even louder, he got up from his seat and slipped out of the room.

Irresponsible person.

He should have just not said anything if he was going to do that. The two of them were like mice in front of a cat.

“Kim Hyun-sung, Kim Ji-yeon, are you really not going to tell me?”

Hyun-sung looked at Kim Ji-yeon and gestured.

It was to tell the truth. Then Kim Ji-yeon shook her head violently from side to side.

He knew what that meant. But he knew too well that there was no point in holding out any longer. His mother, who couldn’t stand being curious, wouldn’t leave the two of them alone.

Hyun-sung knew that there was no point in worrying any further.

“He’s a friend.”

Hyun-sung ended up telling the truth.

But what was strange was his mother’s reaction. “Are you kidding me right now?”

“No, Mother, it’s the truth. He’s a friend.”

“Even this guy?”

At that time, Kim Ji-yeon, who was next to him, opened her mouth as if she had made up her mind.

“He’s a friend.”

“Yeah, I know he’s oppa’s friend. But what…”

It was Kim Ji-yeon who cut off her mother’s words in the middle.

“He’s my friend, my boyfriend, *boyfriend*, okay?”

“What…”

His mother was speechless for a moment as if she was dumbfounded.

After a while.

“Let’s see each other next week.”

“Yes?”

“Mom?”

As if promised, Hyun-sung and Kim Ji-yeon answered at the same time.