Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 170

170

Hyun-sung asked immediately after Lee Se-hee’s explanation.

“Wait, are you saying you first met him when you were in the 8th grade?”

“Yes.”

“And he was a sophomore in high school?”

“That’s right.”

Hyun-sung couldn’t help but be surprised by Lee Se-hee’s words.

The two met during their school days, and they got married the year Lee Se-hee graduated from high school. And that year, the man went straight to the military.

Coincidentally, the two met at the same age as Seo In-hye and Hyun-sung are now.

Hyun-sung asked again.

“So, you’re doing this to me because you’re afraid In-hye will end up like you?”

“There’s a saying that daughters take after their mothers, isn’t there? In-hye’s actions now are exactly like my old self.”

“Ah… I see.”

Only then did Hyun-sung understand why Lee Se-hee was wary of him, even to the point of saying ridiculous things.

Then, Lee Se-hee continued.

“And a woman should meet someone who likes her more than someone she likes.”

“Excuse me? What do you mean by that?”

“I understood why after living my life.”

“Are you perhaps saying that you…?”

Lee Se-hee nodded.

“I was the one who chased after him first. At first, I thought it wouldn’t matter, but after living my life, I understood why that saying came about.”

“So, you’re trying to…?”

“That’s right. Like mother, like daughter, In-hye was chasing after Hyun-sung all by herself, just as I expected.”

“No, even so…”

“Of course, from Hyun-sung’s perspective, it’s absurd and ridiculous, but I couldn’t help it. I know it better than anyone because I experienced it myself. Maybe when you grow up and get older, you’ll understand how I feel now.”

Sigh!

A low sigh escaped from Hyun-sung’s mouth without him realizing it.

At first, he was just dumbfounded. It wasn’t something you would say to a student who was only a sophomore in high school.

But after hearing Lee Se-hee’s story, his thoughts changed.

He didn’t know what Lee Se-hee’s married life was like, but he could guess that it wasn’t very happy. And if her daughter was following in her footsteps, what mother could just stand by and watch?

Hyun-sung said to Lee Se-hee.

“What do you want me to do?”

“Does that mean you understand what I’m saying now?”

“Of course, when I didn’t know anything at first, I was just dumbfounded. No matter how I thought about it, I didn’t think it was something you should say to a student. But after hearing you, I understand to some extent, though not entirely.”

“Thank you. Thank you for understanding, even if it’s just a little.”

Lee Se-hee’s expression seemed more stable than before.

Hyun-sung asked again.

“What do you want me to do?”

“Don’t meet her.”

“Excuse me?”

“Fortunately, you don’t have any feelings for our In-hye, so that’s good. Just don’t meet her, cleanly.”

Lee Se-hee’s answer was firm.

Hyun-sung glanced at Lee Se-hee.

Of course, it was an answer he had expected to some extent. But he didn’t expect her to come on this strong.

Hyun-sung asked immediately.

“What about In-hye?”

“In-hye will be fine soon enough.”

“Do you really think so?”

“Everything is medicine over time anyway. So, just don’t meet our In-hye, as I said.”

Lee Se-hee was still firm.

Hyun-sung shook his head from side to side.

Of course, he understood Lee Se-hee’s position, but he didn’t think this was right.

“I can’t agree.”

“What?”

“I mean, I can’t agree with what you’re saying. In-hye is only in the 8th grade now. Anyone can see that it’s the most sensitive time. It’s not right to do this to her suddenly.”

“No, student…”

Lee Se-hee just looked at Hyun-sung without saying anything.

Then, Hyun-sung continued.

“Have you already forgotten?”

“…?”

“I’m talking about what happened a few days ago. She ran away from home because of the school issue. Isn’t this too much for a child like that right now? How are you going to handle the aftermath?”

Hyun-sung said with a serious face.

Then, Lee Se-hee just looked at Hyun-sung as if she had nothing to say.

Hyun-sung continued.

“Of course, I understand how you feel, but this isn’t the way to do it. What if In-hye runs away again if you do something wrong?”

“That’s…”

“Can you guarantee she won’t? I don’t think so. She’s at a very sensitive age right now, so there’s no telling where she’ll go. It’s never too early to regret it.”

Hyun-sung couldn’t accept it.

No matter how he thought about it, he didn’t think it was right.

Seo In-hye ran away from home just because she couldn’t go to the school she wanted. He didn’t think it made sense to cut off someone’s relationship like this at such a sensitive time when you don’t know where they’ll go.

After a moment of silence, Lee Se-hee slowly opened her mouth.

“It’s never too early to regret it, you said?”

“It means it’s already useless. No one knows what will happen or how things will turn out. Isn’t life a work in progress?”

“A work in progress?”

“There’s no practice.”

If there was practice in life, no one would regret or make mistakes. Of course, that’s why it’s more fun to live, because you don’t know what will happen.

Then, Lee Se-hee asked.

“How old are you now?”

“Excuse me? Why are you asking that all of a sudden?”

“No, it just doesn’t seem like something a sophomore in high school would say.”

“Ah… yes. I was wondering what you were talking about. That’s why I sometimes get called an old soul. Hehe…”

Hyun-sung laughed it off lightly.

Hyun-sung had lived at least 10 years longer than Lee Se-hee. So, it was true that she looked like his youngest sibling.

Then, Lee Se-hee said again.

“After listening to you, I think I was too short-sighted. Then, what should we do with our In-hye?”

“Just leave her alone.”

“Just?”

“Yes, I think it’s best to just leave In-hye alone. She’s good at studying and takes care of herself, so she’s more likely to become twisted if you mess with her.”

Hyun-sung continued.

“And what you’re thinking will never happen.”

“Are you saying that our In-hye and you will never date? Is that what you mean?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“How can you be so sure? You never know what will happen in life. Especially in relationships.”

From Lee Se-hee’s perspective, who didn’t know that Hyun-sung had regressed, it was a natural reaction.

However, Hyun-sung couldn’t explain it any further.

“Whether you believe it or not is up to you, but what I can tell you now is that it will never happen.”

“So, how am I supposed to believe that?”

“I’m frustrated too. That I can’t explain the reason.”

Lee Se-hee tilted her head as if she didn’t understand what he was saying.

“No, what does that mean? Are you saying that there’s a clear reason why you can’t date our In-hye?”

“Yes.”

“But you can’t explain the reason?”

“Yes.”

Hyun-sung nodded.

Hyun-sung was frustrated as well.

He was frustrated that he couldn’t say that he had regressed, and more than anything, that he had a wife, Yoon Ji-soo.

Then, Kim Se-hee said.

“Tell me.”

“Excuse me?”

“The reason. I can’t imagine it at all, but I’m curious what the reason is that you can’t date our In-hye.”

“No, I can’t tell you. You wouldn’t understand even if I told you. Just know that’s how it is.”

Hyun-sung couldn’t help it.

But that was just Hyun-sung’s opinion.

Lee Se-hee’s position was different.

“This isn’t right. I wouldn’t have said anything if you hadn’t said anything at all, but you can’t play with people like this. Don’t you think so?”

“Excuse me?”

“It’s one thing to play with people, but this isn’t it. You shouldn’t have said that in the first place. How can you end it like this after saying it? Whether I understand it or not is my problem, just tell me.”

The atmosphere was turning strange.

It was Hyun-sung’s responsibility to be embarrassed.

He knew Lee Se-hee’s position, but he couldn’t say anything.

“What are you doing?”

Lee Se-hee looked at Hyun-sung and urged him again.

Then, Hyun-sung’s mouth opened like a goldfish.

“That’s…”

But that was it. He had nothing to say.

What was he going to say?

Was he going to say he had regressed, or was he going to talk about his wife, Yoon Ji-soo?

But that was just Hyun-sung’s situation, and Lee Se-hee, who was sitting in front of him, was going crazy with frustration.

“What’s that? What can’t you say?”

“Because it’s nonsense.”

“So, what is that nonsense?”

Lee Se-hee’s voice grew louder.

Hyun-sung suddenly became a wimp in front of Lee Se-hee.

He couldn’t do this or that.

“Are you really going to do this?”

“I… that’s…”