Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 159

If it’s not a house, it must be a restaurant. There are a few restaurants around here, but they aren’t exactly close. Besides, Hyun-sung’s place is tucked away in an alley.

This was trash that wouldn’t be there unless someone deliberately dumped it.

Who in their right mind would come all the way here just to dump trash? No one sane would do that.

Besides, it wasn’t even the time when they used designated trash bags. Back then, you could just put it in any bag, and the sanitation workers would take care of it. There’s no reason to dump it in front of someone else’s restaurant like this.

Hyun-sung started moving the trash bag to the main street.

If he left it here for too long, the smell could seep into the ground and potentially disrupt business. The unique odor from food waste could be detrimental to his operations.

Even after cleaning up the trash, the peculiar smell lingered.

Hyun-sung had no choice but to go into the kitchen, connect the hose to the faucet, and start washing the front of the restaurant with water.

Water alone couldn’t remove the smell, so he ended up using detergent to finally get rid of the foul odor.

The problem was what lay ahead.

If this was indeed someone’s deliberate act, it would likely be repeated every day.

This had never happened before. Yesterday was his first opening day, and today was only the second. Yet, as if waiting for this moment, someone dumped trash.

There are a few other restaurants nearby, but Hyun-sung’s is the only one that sells ramen exclusively.

‘But why?’

Moreover, Hyun-sung’s main customer base is students. It’s clearly different from other places.

Why would anyone feel the need to be wary of Hyun-sung?

Simple jealousy?

Or some other reason…….

He pondered various possibilities, but he couldn’t grasp the reason for the life of him.

“Well, let’s keep an eye on it for now.”

If this was truly a deliberate act, it wouldn’t end with just this one time. It was unsettling, but there was nothing he could do for now.

If the feared situation really occurred, he would have no choice but to stay up all night to catch the culprit.

As Hyun-sung finished cleaning and disappeared into the inner quarters, a dark figure appeared in the distance.

“Heh heh. Let’s see who wins.”

The dark figure passed by Hyun-sung’s store, grinned, and disappeared into the alley.

***

6:30 AM.

Shin Myung-soon, arriving in front of the store, tilted her head.

“Washing with water from the morning…….”

It was clear to anyone that the area had been washed with water.

The only person who would clean this early in the morning was one person. Of course, it would be the owner here, Kim Hyun-sung.

The reason for her tilting her head was simple.

Of course, he’s the owner, but he’s just a high school sophomore. He’s at an age where he’d be struggling to get out of bed in the morning. The fact that he’s being so diligent as to clean this early in the morning was hard for Shin Myung-soon to understand.

Shin Myung-soon opened the store door and greeted Hyun-sung.

“Hello, boss?”

“Yes, you’re here? But that honorific is still uncomfortable. Isn’t there a better way?”

“Don’t worry. It’ll become natural after about a week. People’s adaptability is faster than you think.”

“I don’t particularly want to adapt, though.”

Hyun-sung knew Shin Myung-soon’s intentions, so he didn’t refuse at first. But after just one day yesterday, there were more than a few inconveniences.

Shin Myung-soon continued.

“Still, there’s no helping it. I’m right about this. Even if it’s a little uncomfortable right now, it’s a time the boss has to endure for the future.”

“Do I have to…….”

Hyun-sung wanted to say more, but he couldn’t because of Shin Myung-soon’s strong tone.

Then, Shin Myung-soon looked at Hyun-sung and asked again.

“Did you wash with water this morning?”

“Ah, that. Don’t even mention it. I was cleaning up trash since dawn, and I thought I was going to die without even getting my morning exercise.”

“Trash?”

“Well, early this morning…….”

Hyun-sung began to explain to Shin Myung-soon what had happened in the early morning. As Hyun-sung’s explanation ended, Shin Myung-soon asked back with a dumbfounded expression.

“No, what kind of crazy person dumps trash in front of someone else’s store?” “That’s what I’m saying. I can’t understand it no matter how much I think about it. But the problem is what’s ahead.”

“Surely that kind of thing won’t happen again?” “The way I see it, it doesn’t seem like it’ll end with just once. If someone did it maliciously, I think they’ll probably do it again.”

Shin Myung-soon’s expression instantly crumpled.

*Clang.*

Kim Ji-sook came in as the store door opened.

“Hello, boss? Sis, hello……, no, why does your expression look like that from the morning? What’s wrong?”

Kim Ji-sook asked, looking at Shin Myung-soon’s distorted expression.

Then, Shin Myung-soon immediately opened her mouth.

“Some crazy person dumped trash…….”

Shin Myung-soon began to explain to Kim Ji-sook exactly what she had heard from Hyun-sung earlier. Then, Kim Ji-sook’s expression quickly began to distort as well.

“Is it true, boss?”

Kim Ji-sook asked, looking at Hyun-sung.

“Yes, so I have a headache. It seems like I’ll have to pick a day and stay up all night soon.”

“In the end, you’re saying someone is deliberately doing that?”

“If that’s not the case, there’s no way trash that didn’t exist would suddenly pile up in front of the store, right?”

“I guess so, but who on earth……?”

“I don’t know who it is, but a long tail is bound to get caught. I’ll have to watch it for a few more days. But if it really doesn’t work out, I’ll have to stay up all night to catch the culprit.”

Kim Ji-sook nodded.

Then, Hyun-sung immediately continued as if it were nothing.

“I’ll take care of that problem, so you don’t have to worry about it. Anyway, how’s your body? You must have been very tired from doing the dishes yesterday…….”

“No, I actually liked it because time went by faster since I was busy. And sis did all the hard work. Boiling all that ramen in front of the hot fire.”

Kim Ji-sook looked at Shin Myung-soon.

Then, Shin Myung-soon continued.

“Of course, it was the first time in my life that I had boiled so much ramen, but it was a really exciting day for once. I understood why the boss insisted on just ramen, putting everything else aside.”

Hyun-sung smiled at Shin Myung-soon’s words.

It was the day before they started 영업 [business operations].

There was a dilemma.

The cause of the dilemma was none other than fish cakes. Should he sell fish cakes together? Or should he only sell ramen? That was the question.

The reason he was 고민 [agonizing] was because Shin Myung-soon’s fish cake sales were higher than he had expected. So, honestly, he couldn’t help but 고민 [worry].

Hyun-sung ultimately decided not to sell fish cakes. Of course, it wasn’t that he had no 욕심 [greed]. But the reason he didn’t give up his 고집 [stubbornness] until the end was because of his 초심 [original intention] to focus on one thing.

Of course, selling fish cakes together would help with 매출 [sales]. But Hyun-sung judged that time and energy would inevitably be 분산 [scattered] as much.

He didn’t want to lose his 초심 [initial resolve] because of 욕심 [greed].

Then, Shin Myung-soon looked at Hyun-sung and said.

“Of course, it’s only been a day, but I think the boss’s words were right. I wanted to sell fish cakes together out of my 욕심 [desire], but after boiling ramen for a day yesterday, I couldn’t find the time.”

“Of course, I’ll know for sure after a few more days, but I think I made the right choice to choose only ramen.”

“It couldn’t have been easy to give up fish cakes, but the boss’s 결단력 [decisiveness] is amazing.”

“Well, Mom too……, I just didn’t want to make a mistake because of 욕심 [greed].”

Perhaps it was thanks to his life experience. This time, he seemed to have avoided losing more because of 욕심 [greed].

Looking at the clock, it was just past 7 o’clock.

*Clang.*

Someone came in as the store door opened.

“Oh? Mister?”

The person who opened the door and came in was none other than Park Hee-chul.

“It’s right that you open at 7, right?”

“Yes, but what brings you here so early in the morning?”

“I’ll talk to you separately later, and hello? Madam Shin, it’s nice to see you again.”

Park Hee-chul bowed to Shin Myung-soon. Then, Shin Myung-soon bowed and accepted Park Hee-chul’s greeting.

“Welcome, Chairman. But so early, surely you didn’t come to eat ramen…….”

“No. I came early because I wanted to eat ramen and talk to Manager Kim here. So, please make me a spicy bowl. But take your time because I have something to talk about with Manager Kim here.”

“Ah, yes, I understand. And this is a younger colleague who works with me.”

Shin Myung-soon introduced Kim Ji-sook to Park Hee-chul.

Then, Kim Ji-sook bowed first and greeted him.

“Hello, Chairman. I’ve heard a lot about you. My name is Kim Ji-sook. I’m like your youngest sibling, so please feel free to speak comfortably.”

“Ji-sook, you said? Nice to meet you. Then, I’ll see you occasionally.”

After finishing the greetings, Park Hee-chul looked at Hyun-sung and said.

“Let’s talk for a bit.”

“Yes.”

The two sat down at a table in the hall.

As soon as they sat down, Park Hee-chul asked first.

“How much did you make yesterday?”

Hyun-sung chuckled.

That must be the reason Park Hee-chul came here early in the morning.

“Are you that curious?”

“My friend, are you even saying that? I couldn’t come even though I wanted to because I was late coming from Seoul yesterday, do you know how curious I was all night?”

“If you were that curious, why didn’t you call me in the 새벽 [early morning]?”

“No matter how urgent it is, that’s not right. How can I do that just to take care of my 욕심 [selfish desires]?”

Indeed, he was not the Park Hee-chul of the past.

Looking at such Park Hee-chul, Hyun-sung spread out five fingers.

“It was over 50,000 won.”

“Really?”

“Yes, I was 은근히 [secretly] worried because it was also National Foundation Day, so school was closed. But thankfully, a lot of students visited. Especially elementary school students.”

“Whew! That’s a relief. I didn’t even know that and was just worrying alone all day.”

Park Hee-chul’s expression had changed to a comfortable one, unlike when he first came in. Looking at that 모습 [appearance], Hyun-sung looked at Park Hee-chul and asked.

“Are you relieved now?”

“Honestly, you kept saying that this 자리 [location] would be a 대박 [jackpot], but do you know how 불안 [anxious] I was from my perspective?”

Indeed, Park Hee-chul was clearly showing how difficult it is for people to believe without seeing. Hyun-sung thought that Park Hee-chul, if no one else, would believe his words.

Hyun-sung continued, looking at Park Hee-chul.

“Is it done now?”

“Of course, I’ll have to watch it more to know for sure, but I’m a little relieved for now. To be honest, I couldn’t even tell you and was just groaning alone inside. Of course, that doesn’t mean I didn’t believe you at all, so don’t be too 서운 [disappointed].”

“It’s okay. Isn’t it meaningless to talk about it anyway?”

“Why are you being so 꽁하게 [sulky]? But please know this one thing. I did everything I had to do while I was 불안 [anxious].”

Hyun-sung tilted his head.

“What you had to do?”

“Yes, do you know why I went to Seoul yesterday?”

“Well, I…….”

“To make 현금 [cash]. I had a few big 거래처 [clients]. They said I didn’t have to give them 이자 [interest], but they told me to come up right away yesterday. Otherwise, it would only be possible in 6 months.”

“현금 [Cash]?”

“You said a few days ago. The sooner, the better, the more, the better.”

Hyun-sung looked at Park Hee-chul.

If Park Hee-chul’s words were true, it meant that he had given up 이자 [interest] 수익 [profit] and 회수 [recovered] 현금 [cash]. Of course, the 이자 [interest] part he gave up wouldn’t be a small amount either.

“Are you saying that now?”

“I’m saying that all the 현금 [cash] will be prepared faster than I thought. Of course, I decided not to urge the 어려운 [difficult] people anymore.”

“I see. You’re saying you’ve already prepared almost everything?”

“To be honest, I’m still 불안 [anxious], that’s the truth. It must be human nature. But since I’ve decided to only look at you, I decided to hurry because I thought it would be a waste of time to drag it out any longer.”

Hyun-sung nodded slowly.

If this is the case, the situation will inevitably change. Hyun-sung 예상 [estimated] that all preparations would be finished at the earliest by the end of the year, that is, December.

At this rate, all preparations will be completed within the next 1 or 2 weeks. In terms of dates, it’s more than a month and a half earlier than 예상 [expected].