Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 203

203

A few days later.

Assistant Director Yoon Se-young looked at writer Kim Si-hyun and said,

“Writer, can you imagine it?”

“Imagine what?”

“That student. I can’t believe a high school student is running a business.”

“I know, right? I honestly wouldn’t believe it if I hadn’t seen it myself. By the way, are we almost there yet?”

“We’re almost there. See that alley over there? The ramen shop is inside.”

The two got out of the car and walked towards the alley.

Kim Si-hyun spoke first.

“Seriously, why is a shop located in a place like this?”

“I know, it’s not even on a main street; it’s too hidden in an alley.”

“It’s amazing that business is even possible in a place like this.”

“I know, right? We’ll find out when we get there. Let’s go.”

The moment the two arrived at the entrance of the alley,

Kim Si-hyun called out to Yoon Se-young in a surprised voice.

“Assistant Director, surely not, right?”

“Well, I think that ‘surely not’ is probably right.”

An astonishing sight unfolded before their eyes. It was a line. At least 50 students were waiting in line.

Kim Si-hyun tilted her head and asked again,

“It’s this popular?”

“It’s more than I expected. Of course, I heard about it from my nephew, but I didn’t know it would be this crowded.”

“Anyway, we have to stand in line too, right?”

“Since we have to go in disguised as customers anyway, we should do that first.”

The reason the two of them came here today was to find out if this shop really deserves to be called a ‘mat-jib’ [a famous, must-visit restaurant]. Therefore, they had no choice but to stand in line like ordinary people.

One hour later.

Kim Si-hyun said,

“Is it finally our turn now?”

“Haha, I guess so. I’ve never stood in line for ramen in my life.”

“Who has? Anyway, I’m really curious about the taste of the ramen.”

“Let’s go in.”

*Clang.*

As the two entered the shop, Hyun-sung greeted them warmly.

“Welcome. Two of you?”

“Yes.”

“Please, sit over here.”

Yoon Se-young and Kim Si-hyun took their seats as Hyun-sung directed.

Then, Kim Si-hyun looked at Hyun-sung and asked cautiously,

“Are you the owner?”

“Yes, I am. But you don’t seem to be from around here?”

“Hehe, does it show?”

Kim Si-hyun asked with a smile.

Then Hyun-sung smiled and continued,

“I just get that feeling. And people around here don’t usually come at this time.”

“Why?”

“During the students’ dismissal time, the waiting time is longer, so they avoid that time.”

“Ah, that makes sense. We waited for an hour.”

“I hope it’s worth the wait. I don’t know if the ramen will be good.”

Hyun-sung responded without losing his smile.

Then Kim Si-hyun said with a smile,

“Hehe, if it’s not good, you’re responsible, Mr. Owner.”

“Okay, I won’t charge you if it’s not good. Would that be okay?”

“Is that confidence?”

“Rather than confidence, it’s pride. Although people tend to think of ramen as just ramen, we always strive to create the best ramen.”

“As expected, the owner of a popular place is different.”

Kim Si-hyun and Yoon Se-young nodded simultaneously as if they had agreed beforehand.

Then Hyun-sung said again,

“How would you like your ramen?”

Yoon Se-young, who was looking at the menu for a moment at Hyun-sung’s question, asked,

“What kind of ramen is the hangover ramen written as a new menu?”

“It’s a new menu we created at our shop, ramen boiled with bean sprouts. It’s the most popular ramen these days, not only among adults but also among students. Especially popular with female students.”

“Female students eat hangover ramen?”

Yoon Se-young asked again as if surprised.

Then Hyun-sung said with a smile,

“There’s a rumor that bean sprouts are good for diet and skin care, so it’s very popular among female students.”

“Oh, really? I didn’t know bean sprouts had such ingredients.”

“I only found out later. Anyway, how about the ramen?”

“Hehe, I’ll definitely have the hangover ramen.”

Kim Si-hyun answered with a smile.

Then Yoon Se-young nodded and said,

“Two of the same, please.”

“Yes, please wait a moment.”

As Hyun-sung disappeared towards the kitchen, Yoon Se-young looked at Kim Si-hyun and asked,

“Feeling good, right?”

“I know, the owner is young, but he doesn’t act like a kid. I honestly thought the shop would be chaotic, but it’s not at all. His customer service is so natural and friendly, and above all…”

Kim Si-hyun stopped talking in the middle.

Then Yoon Se-young asked immediately,

“Why are you stopping?”

“It’s embarrassing to say it myself.”

“Oh, what could our writer Si-hyun be embarrassed about?”

“Hehe, it’s just that he’s good-looking…”

Only then did Yoon Se-young understand what she meant and looked at Kim Si-hyun and smiled.

“Haha, seeing you like this, Writer, you’re really…”

“Really what? Don’t look at me with strange eyes. I’m just saying that; there’s no other meaning.”

“Who’s saying anything? Haha…”

Yoon Se-young looked at Kim Si-hyun with amusement and smiled. Then Kim Si-hyun glared at Yoon Se-young.

That’s when it happened.

“Ramen is here.”

Hyun-sung came to the two of them with the ramen.

Then Yoon Se-young scanned Hyun-sung’s face once. Then she smiled and said,

“You must be happy, Mr. Owner.”

“Yes? What do you mean all of a sudden?”

“You’re quite the looker. I know why there are so many female students here. You know, you have to be good-looking to do anything.”

“Haha, you’re saying all sorts of things, ma’am. You must be happy to be with such a beautiful woman.”

Kim Si-hyun’s eyes widened at Hyun-sung’s words.

“Oh my! Mr. Owner, a beautiful woman?”

“I thought a Cinderella princess was coming in when you first came in.”

“Hehe, Mr. Owner, you’re too much…”

A smile was already all over Kim Si-hyun’s face. Then Yoon Se-young, who was sitting on the opposite side, laughed in disbelief.

As Hyun-sung disappeared back to the kitchen, Yoon Se-young said,

“Princess, shall we eat ramen?”

“Hehe, are you teasing me now?”

“So, you don’t like it?”

“Hehe, no. I know you’re teasing me, but I feel good. Isn’t the owner here subtly charming?”

“Writer, what’s wrong with you? He’s a minor… Let’s stop and eat ramen.”

“Yes, yes…”

The two giggled and started eating ramen.

A little later.

“Oh my!”

Kim Si-hyun was the first to react.

Yoon Se-young, seeing her reaction, asked,

“How is it?”

“How can ramen taste like this?”

“I was also thinking it was amazing while eating. It’s as good as any hangover soup. It was worth the wait.”

“Is it good enough to be on TV?”

“Of course. At first, I was a little hesitant because it was ramen, but when I actually tasted it, those thoughts disappeared.”

As the two were smiling with satisfaction, Hyun-sung approached.

“Is the ramen to your liking?”

“Mr. Owner, it’s the best.”

Kim Si-hyun said, raising her thumb.

Then Hyun-sung smiled and asked again,

“May I ask what you liked about it?”

“First of all, it was refreshing because it contained bean sprouts. The taste was better than most hangover soups. And the aftertaste was spicy and what should I say, savory? Anyway, I’ve eaten ramen countless times, but it was the best, so amazing that ramen could taste like this.”

“I don’t know how to thank you for evaluating the taste so highly. Anyway, I’m glad to hear that it suits your taste, even though you seem to have come from far away.”

Hyun-sung bowed slightly to express his gratitude.

Then Yoon Se-young asked this time,

“Do you use any other seasoning besides ramen soup?”

“Yes, of course. You can’t make this taste with just ramen soup.”

“Ah, I thought so. I thought the deep taste was unique, but there was a reason. But who made the seasoning sauce…”

“I did.”

“Yes?”

Yoon Se-young doubted her ears.

How could this be possible? He’s only a sophomore in high school. But how can he make the seasoning sauce? It was an incomprehensible part in terms of common sense.

Yoon Se-young asked again,

“Is that true?”

“Why is it strange?”

“Honestly, I don’t understand. I thought the kitchen lady made it.”

“It just happened that way.”

Hyun-sung had nothing special to say about that part either. It was because he followed Baek Jong-woon’s recipe from his previous life.

Then Kim Si-hyun asked again as if curious,

“Does the seasoning sauce contain any special ingredients?”

“You can’t call it a seasoning sauce without it, right? But can I ask you one thing?”

“Of course.”

“Where are you from?”

“We’re from Seoul. But why?”

Hyun-sung shook his head from side to side. Then he continued,

“That’s not what I asked.”

“Yes? What do you mean?”

“I asked what you came here for. I don’t think you just came to eat ramen.”

As Hyun-sung’s words ended, Yoon Se-young and Kim Si-hyun looked at each other. It was to decide how to say it in this situation.

After looking at each other for a moment, the two nodded simultaneously as if they had agreed.

Yoon Se-young smiled at Hyun-sung.

“You’re very observant, Mr. Owner?”

“Yes? Does that mean you have another purpose?”

As Hyun-sung’s words ended, Yoon Se-young took out a business card from her wallet and handed it to Hyun-sung.

Hyun-sung, who checked the business card, asked,

“Are you from KBC Broadcasting Station?”

“Yes, that’s right. Do you know ‘Nationwide Famous Restaurant Tour’?”

“Of course. Isn’t it on every Thursday at 8 o’clock? I also like the program, so I watch it every week.”

“Oh, I see. I’m in charge of the assistant director of that show. And this is the writer.”

Yoon Se-young pointed to Kim Si-hyun with her hand.

Then Kim Si-hyun bowed her head lightly at Hyun-sung.

“I’m writer Kim Si-hyun. Nice to meet you.”

“Ah, yes. But how did the broadcasting station come here?”

“Actually, we received a tip.”

“A tip?”

Hyun-sung tilted his head. It hasn’t been a month since it opened. Of course, it is true that the business is doing well to some extent.

But that doesn’t mean it’s good enough to be on TV.

Then Yoon Se-young looked at Hyun-sung and asked,

“Do you know Mr. Lee Il-woo, the head of the department?”

“Well, I don’t know who it is just by the name.”

“He’s in the planning department at Nongshim headquarters, and he gave our director a special call.”

“Ah… that person?”

Hyun-sung remembered then. He had come to the store once with Director Yoo Seong-il in the past. It was probably the day after he received the ramen supply.

As Hyun-sung nodded, Yoon Se-young said again,

“Do you remember now?”

“I met him once before opening. But how did he know and give a tip?”

“I don’t know about that; I just came down like this because the director told me to go and check it out first.”

“Check it out?”

“Yes, of course. Sometimes, there are people who give tips through acquaintances for advertising purposes.”

Hyun-sung nodded.

It was a plausible story.

He had even heard that there were people who demanded money for advertising purposes in the middle.

Hyun-sung looked at Yoon Se-young and asked,

“So, is our shop verified?”

At Hyun-sung’s question, Kim Si-hyun and Yoon Se-young exchanged glances for a moment. Then Yoon Se-young opened her mouth.

“Of course, it’s passed.”

“…”

Hyun-sung didn’t say anything.

Then Kim Si-hyun looked at Hyun-sung as if curious and asked,

“Why, is there any problem?”

“What should I do? You came from far away… I don’t like it.”

“Yes? What…”

Kim Si-hyun and Yoon Se-young could only look at each other, speechless.