Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 180

180

“I think I’ve been living in a cage for too long.”

“That means…”

“I’m going to try to break out of that cage, even if I’m just starting now. Of course, it’ll be hard to change overnight, but I’m going to take it slow. So, I was wondering if you could help me out.”

Lee Soo-hyuk’s expression was quite serious. It was definitely a different vibe from the Lee Soo-hyuk he usually knew.

Hyun-sung looked at Lee Soo-hyuk and asked,

“So, you’re asking to wear an apron now?” [Meaning, you want to work here?]

“Yeah, I’m going to start here. I’m going to work here starting today. Is that okay?”

“You’re going to work here?”

“Yeah, and just so you know, don’t worry about the part-time pay. I won’t take it. I’m asking because I need the experience, so I can’t even accept payment.”

It was the confident Lee Soo-hyuk. Hyun-sung was rather taken aback.

“Hey, why the sudden change?”

“I told you. From now on, I’m going to get out of that cage myself. Until now, I thought that the world in that cage was everything, but now I know that’s not the case.”

Lee Soo-hyuk’s eyes were shining brighter than ever.

What could be the reason?

Until a few days ago, Lee Soo-hyuk was going to school without any problems. But suddenly, he said he wasn’t going to school and started acting differently.

And even a suicide attempt. Of course, there was a slight misunderstanding, but anyway, he was definitely different from the old Lee Soo-hyuk.

Hyun-sung looked at Lee Soo-hyuk and asked seriously.

“What’s the reason for all this?”

“Reason?”

“Yeah, you’ve been going to school without any issues so far. Besides the fact that you’re just frustrated with your mother, there must be a real, underlying reason, right?”

“……”

Lee Soo-hyuk was silent for a moment.

Hyun-sung didn’t press him and waited silently for Lee Soo-hyuk to gather his thoughts.

After a while.

Lee Soo-hyuk slowly opened his mouth.

“I!”

“What?”

“I wanted to find myself. I realized it one day, but I was gone. I move every day according to the schedule my mom made, so it’s like being a puppet. So I thought this wasn’t right.”

It was Lee Soo-hyuk showing an unexpected side.

He never thought he would be thinking like that. He always assumed there was no problem because he was always so quiet.

People are not always what they seem.

Hyun-sung asked again.

“So?”

“Actually, I’ve been so scared of my mom. So I couldn’t do anything until now. But I figured it out while talking to my mom on the roof that day.”

“What did you figure out?”

“Do you remember what you said to me the last time that day?”

Hyun-sung nodded.

Then Lee Soo-hyuk continued.

“You said that the world won’t change unless I change. So I took courage that day and told my mom how I really felt. And it actually changed things the way I wanted it to.”

Hyun-sung tilted his head. Of course, it was true that he said that. And somehow, he managed to stop tutoring for the time being as Lee Soo-hyuk wanted.

But what Hyun-sung didn’t understand was what that had to do with working part-time here.

Hyun-sung looked at Lee Soo-hyuk and asked.

“Hey, what does that have to do with working part-time?”

“I thought there was nothing more important than getting a lot of experience for me to change.”

It was a statement that Hyun-sung couldn’t easily grasp.

“What do you mean?”

“As you know, I’ve only lived in my mom’s cage. So I thought about working here. I don’t think there’s anything better than running a business to gain experience.”

“So, the words were complicated, but in the end, you just want to get a lot of experience?”

“That’s right. That’s it.”

Pfft.

Hyun-sung laughed without realizing it.

It was a pleasant laugh.

Although he had a quirky side, Lee Soo-hyuk’s desire to try new experiences was a side he had never seen before.

Hyun-sung looked at Lee Soo-hyuk and asked.

“Can you handle it?”

“Of course, it won’t be easy. And to be honest, I’m scared too. But I can’t live like a bird in a cage forever. So please help me!”

Lee Soo-hyuk’s voice was full of determination. That meant that his will was strong.

Hyun-sung looked at Lee Soo-hyuk and said.

“Then let me ask you just one thing.”

“What is it?”

“If you work here, you’ll lose study time. Even so, are you confident that your test scores won’t drop?”

The reason for asking this question was because of Lee Soo-hyuk’s mother, Yoo Soo-min. She doesn’t allow even the slightest dip in test scores.

“Of course. That was the promise I made to my mom on the roof. Instead of doing what I want, the condition is to maintain my school grades no matter what.”

“Okay, if you’re prepared for that, I won’t stop you anymore. But I also have a condition.”

“Condition?”

“Yeah, I can’t just accept you without any conditions just because I’m hiring one more person. It’s only natural. I can’t just accept it without any conditions just because you’re a friend.”

“What’s the condition?”

“Once you start, you have to work for at least three months, no matter what.”

“Three months?”

“Yeah, don’t start this as a joke. Of course, it’s a part-time job, but it’s still a job. And here, you have to work as a team, not alone, and if you come in for a day or two and then quit, other people will have a hard time. Do you understand what I mean?”

“I know, I have to commit to that much.”

Lee Soo-hyuk nodded as if he understood.

Then Hyun-sung said again.

“And about the part-time pay, you said you don’t need it, but that’s not going to happen. I’ll definitely calculate and give you the part-time pay. I’ll take care of that.”

“No, I asked you because I needed the experience, but if I get paid for it, I’ll feel too bad.”

“Hey, that’s nonsense. That’s it. You can come in by 7 tomorrow. Students will be flocking in soon. Let’s get ready.”

Hyun-sung finished speaking and went into the kitchen, took out an apron, and handed it to Lee Soo-hyuk.

“Soo-hyuk, here.”

“Hyun-sung, thank you. I owe you a lot in many ways this time, both on the roof and today.”

“You son of a b*tch, you’re saying all sorts of things. Anyway, you have to be really careful because you’re handling hot food. Safety is the first and second thing, got it?”

“Yeah, I got it. I’ll be careful. But I’m 은근 [eungeun – subtly/secretly] nervous.”

Hyun-sung smiled at Lee Soo-hyuk.

It was then.

Ding-dong.

Two students came in as the store door opened. Hyun-sung gestured at Lee Soo-hyuk, signaling him to greet the guests.

Lee Soo-hyuk, who understood, opened his mouth.

“Welcome……”

Lee Soo-hyuk’s words stopped there.

He was so nervous because it was his first time that he couldn’t say any more greetings.

Thump.

Hyun-sung lightly hit Lee Soo-hyuk on the shoulder.

“Are you nervous?”

“I can’t speak. What should I do?”

“It’s okay. Everyone is like that at first. Open your mouth wide and do it with energy. Try again.”

Lee Soo-hyuk moved his lips a few times and then opened his mouth wide as if he had made up his mind.

“Welcome!”

Hyun-sung smiled again as he looked at Lee Soo-hyuk.

Lee Soo-hyuk was in charge of the inner hall. At first, Lee Soo-hyuk couldn’t even speak properly because he was shy, but as time passed, his voice became quite loud.

Lee Soo-hyuk was adapting quickly for his first day.

About an hour later, Lee Soo-hyuk, who seemed to be doing well without any problems, caused an accident.

Crash, bang.

The sound of something falling was heard from the inner hall.

Hyun-sung immediately realized it was an accident.

“What’s going on?”

Hyun-sung ran into the inner hall.

Ramen fragments were scattered everywhere as if a bomb had hit the place.

“Hy, Hyun-sung……”

Lee Soo-hyuk was on the floor, not knowing what to do.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m okay, but these ramens……”

“Is ramen the problem now? Are you hurt anywhere?”

Hyun-sung picked up Lee Soo-hyuk from the floor and checked him over. Fortunately, he didn’t seem to be hurt or burned anywhere.

The first thing he worried about while running was the risk of burns because it was hot ramen. But fortunately, that didn’t happen.

Fumble, fumble.

Lee Soo-hyuk started picking up the noodles that had fallen on the floor with his hands.

Then Hyun-sung said.

“Hey, I’ll do that, so you go wash up quickly.”

“No, I caused the accident, so I have to clean it up. I’m sorry, Hyun-sung. I should have been more careful, but I was in a hurry……”

“What are you sorry about? It’s not like you did it on purpose. You just made a mistake because you were in a hurry. And it’s okay because you’re not hurt anywhere. We can just boil the ramen again.”

After a while.

Lee Soo-hyuk headed to the bathroom.

Creak.

He turned on the tap, washed his hands, and then washed his face. Then he raised his head and looked at himself in the mirror.

“Sigh.”

It was pathetic.

Being in a hurry was the root cause.

He wanted to be recognized quickly, as if to show off. At first, he couldn’t even say hello properly, but he quickly solved that problem.

The first time was difficult, but after doing it a few times, the greeting naturally came out.

The next problem was taking orders. Since he was shy, it wasn’t easy at first. Moreover, it was never easy to take orders in front of female students of the same age. But that problem was also a matter of time.

But the real problem was the next one.

After about an hour, he felt that he wanted to bring ramen to the guests faster, perhaps because he was somewhat relieved. If he did that, he thought that the other staff and even Hyun-sung would praise him for adapting quickly.

But that was the problem.

It’s something he’s never done before. But he didn’t know his limits and put six ramens on a tray and made a fuss, so there was no way an accident wouldn’t happen.

He just tripped.

‘Why did I do that?’

By the time he regretted it, he was already rolling on the floor.

What for…….

Was there any need to rush?

Lee Soo-hyuk, who was in a moment of contemplation, slowly nodded his head.

Greed.

In the end, it was the result of unnecessary greed. Today was the first day, so he would have been praised for doing well even if he didn’t make a mistake, but it was the price of 과욕 [gwah-yok – excessive desire/greed] that he wanted to be recognized a little faster.

Lee Soo-hyuk came out of the bathroom and headed to the kitchen.

Then he bowed his head to Shin Myung-soon and Kim Ji-sook.

“I’m sorry. I made things difficult for you because I was greedy. I’ll be more careful next time.”

When Lee Soo-hyuk finished speaking, Shin Myung-soon said.

“It’s okay as long as you’re not hurt. Everyone makes mistakes at first, so don’t worry too much.”

“Yes, I understand. Thank you.”

This time, Kim Ji-sook said.

“Still, it’s a relief that it’s over. And thank the boss. If it were another boss, he would have deducted the ramen price from his salary first. Even if you’re friends, you should be thankful for what you’re thankful for. And also, don’t forget to use 존댓말 [jondaetmal – honorific/polite language] to the boss in this restaurant.”

“I understand. But what is 존댓말?”

“So…….”

Kim Ji-sook began to explain why he had to use 존댓말 to Hyun-sung. When Kim Ji-sook’s explanation was over, Lee Soo-hyuk nodded as if he understood.

“Ah, I see. I understand what you mean. I think that’s right after listening to it.”

Lee Soo-hyuk came out of the kitchen and approached Hyun-sung.

“Boss, thank you. I’ll be more careful next time.”

“Why suddenly 존댓말?”

“I heard from the staff that I have to use 존댓말 in the restaurant. I think that’s right after thinking about it.”

“Anyway……, I know, and you really have to be careful. Be more careful because it’s hot food.”

“Yes, boss.”

It was then.

Ding-dong.

Three students came in as the store door opened.

“Welcome! This way.”

Lee Soo-hyuk greeted loudly faster than Hyun-sung and took the guests to the inner hall. It was Lee Soo-hyuk who couldn’t even greet properly just an hour ago.

Hyun-sung smiled as he looked at Lee Soo-hyuk’s disappearing back.