Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 157

Hyun-sung was dumbfounded. It was the kind of behavior you saw gangsters doing in TV shows and movies. And these kids thought it looked cool.

Hyun-sung looked at Han Myung-soo and asked,

“What about you?”

“Huh?”

“Did you want to try doing something like this too?”

“I just… because they were…”

“Han Myung-soo, get a grip. You’re the leader of the Lawn Clique, right? How can you just do whatever they want without thinking? You need to use your head!”

Han Myung-soo’s mind suddenly went blank.

He hadn’t expected Hyun-sung to react like this. He had just seen those scenes on TV, and when some friends asked if they should try it, he followed along without thinking.

But Hyun-sung was scolding him and telling him to use his head.

Then Hyun-sung continued,

“Myung-soo, I’m sorry to say this in this atmosphere, but I’ll just say one thing.”

“…Yes.”

“Have you ever heard the saying, ‘If you don’t live thoughtfully, you’ll think as you live’?”

Han Myung-soo shook his head.

Then Hyun-sung continued,

“Don’t get swept away by the atmosphere; create the atmosphere. And don’t take that position [as leader] too lightly.”

“Honestly, I don’t really understand what you mean.”

“Yeah, not right now, but think about it gradually. I’ve wanted to tell you this for a while, but it came to mind today, so I’m telling you now. Go home and think about it tonight.”

“…Yes, I understand.”

Han Myung-soo nodded.

Then Hyun-sung said again,

“Okay, everyone, I’m sorry for ruining the mood when I came to congratulate you. Let’s all go inside. I’ll make ramen soon.”

As soon as Hyun-sung finished speaking, the atmosphere was lively again, as if nothing had happened.

But one person didn’t seem to be.

Hyun-sung looked at Han Myung-soo, who was left alone, and said,

“Aren’t you going to eat ramen?”

“Is ramen important right now? What did you mean by what you said to me earlier?”

“What?”

“The saying, ‘If you don’t live thoughtfully, you’ll think as you live,’ that’s what I mean.”

Hyun-sung looked at Han Myung-soo. It was a somewhat unexpected sight. He had never seen such a serious look before.

Was that why?

Hyun-sung’s eyes, looking at Han Myung-soo, seemed more serious than before.

Hyun-sung looked at Han Myung-soo and asked,

“Did that saying bother you?”

“Yes, it’s strangely bothering me.”

“It’s just as it sounds. It means to live thoughtfully in everything you do. It’s the same with what happened a little while ago. If you had thought about it even a little, you wouldn’t have done that. That kind of gangster imitation.”

Han Myung-soo flinched. He had just done it without thinking, but he didn’t know it would make Hyun-sung feel so uncomfortable.

“…Yes.”

“Since we’re on the subject, let me ask you one more thing.”

“What…?”

“You don’t dream of becoming a gangster, do you?”

“Of course not…”

Han Myung-soo shook his head.

Then Hyun-sung continued,

“Then that’s enough. Don’t imitate them in the future. Habits are scary. If you keep imitating them, you’ll unknowingly go in that direction.”

“Yes, I understand.”

“Again, let’s always live thoughtfully. Otherwise, your life itself will be swayed here and there without direction. Got it?”

“Yes, honestly, I don’t know exactly what you mean yet, but I think I understand roughly. I’ll try to do better in the future.”

“Good boy, you’re still commendable. Now, let’s go inside to eat ramen.”

“Yes, Senior.”

Han Myung-soo bowed to Hyun-sung and disappeared into the main building.

Hyun-sung had a faint smile on his face as he watched Han Myung-soo’s retreating figure.

***

“Hoo.”

The business was safely closed.

54,600 won, today’s sales. Despite the school holiday, many students came, so I was able to exceed the target amount.

Of course, the number one contributor to today’s sales was none other than Lee Woo-jin. Who would have imagined that he would show up with 42 friends as soon as the door opened?

The promise that he would take responsibility for the business from the beginning was not an empty one.

Tuk, tuk.

Hyun-sung lightly touched the ramen box on the table with his hand.

It’s ramen to bring to Lee Woo-jin. He’s still a child, but Hyun-sung’s conscience wouldn’t allow him to just ignore his contribution.

Hyun-sung left the store and headed to Lee Woo-jin’s house at a brisk pace.

Arriving at Lee Woo-jin’s house, Hyun-sung called out loudly,

“Woo-jin-ah.”

“Oh? Hyung?”

Lee Woo-jin opened the door and greeted Hyun-sung happily. Soon after, Lee Woo-jin’s grandmother, Kim Soon-deok, also peeked out and greeted Hyun-sung.

“Did the student come?”

“Yes, Grandma.”

“Did you do well in business today?”

“Yes, Grandma. I did well in business thanks to Woo-jin. So I brought ramen to thank him.”

Lee Woo-jin checked the ramen box and clapped his hands in delight.

“Hyung, are you really giving this to us?”

“Of course, I did well in business today thanks to Woo-jin. Our sales manager worked hard, so this is nothing.”

“Hehe, thank you, Hyung. You’ve really become a person.”

“What? A person? Haha…”

Hyun-sung couldn’t help but laugh at Lee Woo-jin’s absurd words.

Then Kim Soon-deok called Lee Woo-jin.

“Woo-jin-ah, you shouldn’t say that to Hyung.”

“Huh? I really thought so, so I said it. Did I do something wrong…?”

“…”

Both of them were speechless at Lee Woo-jin’s honest expression of his feelings.

Then Lee Woo-jin said again,

“Hyung, can you cook this for us now?”

“Now?”

“Yeah, of course I can cook it myself, but I think it would be much more delicious if Hyung cooked it. Actually, I felt sorry for my grandmother for eating it alone during the day. So, can you cook it for our grandmother now?”

Hyun-sung looked at Lee Woo-jin and chuckled.

“Were you bothered by that?”

“Yeah, I felt sorry for my grandmother for eating something delicious alone.”

Then Kim Soon-deok, who was listening next to him, called Lee Woo-jin.

“Woo-jin-ah, come here.”

“Grandma, why?”

Kim Soon-deok hugged Lee Woo-jin and stroked his back, continuing,

“Did you think of this grandma while eating ramen?”

“Of course. I felt so sorry for eating something delicious alone.”

“Oh, my baby.”

Kim Soon-deok smiled as she stroked Lee Woo-jin’s back.

Hyun-sung watched the scene and jumped up from his seat.

“Wait a minute. I’ll make ramen for you soon.”

“Oh my, I don’t know if I’m just causing the student trouble.”

“Grandma, don’t say that. I don’t mind this kind of trouble at all. Still, Woo-jin has a good heart.”

“That’s what I’m saying. I didn’t know he would think of this grandma while eating ramen.”

Hyun-sung went into the kitchen and started cooking ramen.

After a while.

“Grandma, try it.”

As Hyun-sung spoke, Lee Woo-jin urged him along.

“Grandma, eat it quickly. The Shin Ramyun [a popular brand of instant noodles] tastes amazing.”

“Amazing?”

“Of course, it’s so delicious. This is the first time I’ve ever eaten such delicious ramen in my life.”

Hyun-sung smiled as he looked at Lee Woo-jin.

When I first saw him, I was worried. I was worried about how great the loss would be for him to lose his mother at such a young age.

But as time went by, I realized that the worry was just my own. Of course, I can’t know everything in his heart yet, but at least I haven’t seen that shadow yet.

“It’s delicious.”

Kim Soon-deok said for the first time after tasting the ramen. Then Lee Woo-jin immediately followed suit.

“See, Grandma? Am I right?”

“Yes, our Woo-jin is right. This grandma has never eaten such delicious ramen in her life. Hoho…”

Kim Soon-deok smiled and looked at Hyun-sung. Then she nodded. It was a sign of gratitude.

Then Hyun-sung smiled and continued,

“Woo-jin, you eat quickly too. I cooked three, so eat a lot.”

“Why aren’t you eating, Hyung?”

“I had dinner late, so I don’t feel like it. So you eat a lot.”

“Tch! Who didn’t eat dinner?”

Tak.

Lee Woo-jin put his chopsticks down on the table. Hyun-sung was just dumbfounded by the sight.

“Why?”

“I won’t eat if Hyung doesn’t eat.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

Hyun-sung was at a loss because of Lee Woo-jin’s stubbornness.

Then Kim Soon-deok looked at Hyun-sung.

“Why don’t you eat even one bite?”

“Yes? I just had…”

“He doesn’t usually do this, but whenever he eats something, he always tries not to eat alone. Maybe…”

Kim Soon-deok’s words stopped there.

I think I knew what she meant without having to say it.

He’s lonely, unlike what he seems. Especially in front of food.

Hyun-sung looked at Lee Woo-jin, who was sulking.

I just felt sorry because it was a part I hadn’t thought of.

“Woo-jin, then shall we eat together?”

“Really?”

Hyun-sung nodded as he looked at Lee Woo-jin, who quickly turned back to his cheerful self.

Then Lee Woo-jin’s face was full of smiles.

I didn’t know he had such a side because he’s usually so bright. After all, the absence of parents is bound to show up somewhere.

Well, he’s only ten years old now.

Hyun-sung looked at Lee Woo-jin, who was eating ramen as if nothing had happened next to him. Then he chuckled and started eating ramen.

In the small room, the sound of the three people eating ramen echoed more warmly than ever before.

***

Oh Sang-cheol, who was listening to Choi Min-sung’s explanation, widened his eyes and asked again,

“Is it true that it exceeded 50,000 won?”

“Yes, that’s what the woman said for sure. To be exact, it’s 54,600 won.”

“But can we trust that woman? Aren’t we barking up the wrong tree?”

“It’s definitely true. Her husband is hospitalized for a long time, so she’s short on money. She’ll listen to us for a while because she needs money.”

“What did you say her name was?”

“Kim Ji-sook. She’s 43 years old this year, and her husband has been hospitalized for several years. In some ways, she’s a woman whose age and appearance are a waste.”

Sss!

Oh Sang-cheol was already smacking his lips at Choi Min-sung’s explanation.

Choi Min-sung continued,

“And he said he didn’t receive any money from the elderly who came from the senior center today.”

“You mean the old people from the senior center?”

“Yes, he said he invited them in advance.”

“Did those old people go there to eat that bowl of ramen?”

“But when I found out, the kid had already prepared makgeolli [Korean rice wine]. So the old people went back in a very satisfied state.”

Oh Sang-cheol’s deep wrinkles twitched even more.

He didn’t even give a rice cake to the senior center when he opened a few days ago. He judged that even if he gave it, no one would come to the restaurant to eat.

Of course, he doesn’t regret it. But what’s bothering him is that word of mouth is scary in a small town.

The problem is that kid. The old people won’t stay still. They will compare that kid and himself in some way and talk about it.

Sure enough, after that, the rumors of Oh Sang-cheol and Hyun-sung spread to the village in extremes. Oh Sang-cheol regrets it later, but it was already too late to turn back time.

Oh Sang-cheol looked at Choi Min-sung and asked again,

“What did he say about the customer base?”

“He said it was mostly students.”

“Students? Isn’t today a holiday, so there’s no school?”

“That’s what I’m saying. But the strange thing is that when they come, they don’t come in one or two, but in 30 or 40 people.”

Oh Sang-cheol couldn’t understand.

Today is definitely a school holiday. They might go in groups on weekdays, but today is definitely a school holiday, so how can that be?

That means it’s impossible unless someone deliberately made an appointment in advance.

‘Who on earth is doing that…’

Oh Sang-cheol couldn’t understand that Lee Woo-jin, the son of the former owner, was at the center of it.

Oh Sang-cheol asked again,

“Then that means at least 200 people came and went today.”

“That’s right. He said 20 people came from the senior center, so at 300 won per bowl, at least 200 people must have come to get that sales.”

“200 people…”

Oh Sang-cheol was dumbfounded. Less than 60 people came to his restaurant today.

Of course, even if there is a difference in the unit price, this doesn’t make sense. The important thing is that he is also behind in total sales.

Then Choi Min-sung continued,

“If it’s like this on a day when there’s no school, what about tomorrow?”

“I don’t know, I’m afraid of that right now. What’s the reason for this difference?”

“Um… I think we need to find a way for students to come. Adults come to Hyung’s store anyway, but the problem is that students don’t come too much.”

“In the end, do I have to lower the ramen price…”

It was the moment when strange thoughts began to enter Oh Sang-cheol’s head.

***

Hyun-sung returned to the store.

His expression with his arms crossed had a strange aura.

It was a little while ago.

It was when Hyun-sung was about to leave Lee Woo-jin’s house.

– Hyung, look forward to tomorrow too.

That’s what Lee Woo-jin said to Hyun-sung.

Hyun-sung couldn’t not know what that meant. In the past, he would have had no expectations and would have listened to it with one ear and let it flow out with the other.

But he can’t do that now. He has already confirmed Lee Woo-jin’s ability.

Today alone, Lee Woo-jin brought more than 70 students.

It doesn’t make sense logically. But Lee Woo-jin, who is 10 years old, is doing that impossible thing.

Hoo!

A short sigh flowed out of Hyun-sung’s mouth involuntarily.

‘Is it okay to leave it like this?’

Hyun-sung couldn’t just be happy. If he had no thoughts, he would have enjoyed this situation and would have been busy trying to increase sales.

But Hyun-sung’s years of life are by no means short.

The problem is Lee Woo-jin.

Is it okay to leave it alone like this?

He’s still too young. It means that his judgment can be shaken by heroism.

I could already feel it in his eyes. It’s like a determined will to run a real business.

It’s not something to be happy about for young Lee Woo-jin.

“Okay! Before it’s too late…”

It was when I thought that a serious conversation with Lee Woo-jin would be necessary at the right opportunity.

Knock knock.

Someone knocked on the store door.

“Who is it at this hour…?”

158

Returning to the Building Owner