Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 212

The Great War (1)

“…… I can’t do it.”

“Oh, Ms. Shin, it’s not that hard……”

Park Hee-cheol looked at Shin Myung-soon with a pitiful expression.

Shin Myung-soon shook her head and said again.

“Chairman, I really can’t do it. Can’t you just call me like you do now? And why is that title so important?”

“You really can’t?”

“Yes, I really can’t……”

Shin Myung-soon shook her head once more.

Then, Park Hee-cheol sighed briefly and continued.

“Okay, I understand. I won’t force you any further. Like you said, what’s so important about that title anyway?”

“That’s right, I hate anything uncomfortable.”

“I’m sorry. I made an unreasonable request. I won’t do that again. So, please, get rid of that stiff expression.”

Park Hee-cheol looked at Shin Myung-soon and smiled slightly.

Then, Shin Myung-soon smiled as if nothing had happened and continued.

“Okay, I understand. By the way, what made you think of coming all the way here to Gyeongpo [a famous beach in Gangneung, South Korea]? I just thought we’d have a meal in the neighborhood……”

“Ah, that? I got some coaching from CEO Kim.”

“CEO Kim, you mean our boss?”

“Yes, CEO Kim came to see me last night. Do you know what he brought?”

“Huh? Brought what?”

Shin Myung-soon tilted her head and asked.

Then, Park Hee-cheol continued with a smile on his face.

“Well, he bought me long underwear, of all things.”

“Long underwear?”

“He said he did the monthly settlement yesterday and deliberately bought long underwear and came to see me.”

“How could he think of that at his age?”

Shin Myung-soon asked, amazed.

Then, Park Hee-cheol chuckled and continued.

“That’s what I’m saying. No one told him to do it, but he’s definitely not an ordinary guy.”

“I agree. The more I see our boss, the more I realize he’s the real deal.”

“I admit it. He may be young, but his actions are much more thoughtful than those of adults.”

At Park Hee-cheol’s words, Shin Myung-soon nodded and continued.

“I was very surprised this time too.”

“Why? What happened?”

“I received a bonus of a whopping 150,000 won [approximately $115 USD].”

“What? Is that even possible?”

Park Hee-cheol couldn’t help but be surprised. That amount is usually one person’s monthly salary.

Shin Myung-soon continued.

“I know, right? My salary is 1.5 million won [approximately $1150 USD]. But I received a bonus of 150,000 won. Of course, we had an agreement at the beginning.”

“Agreement?”

“Yes, he said he would share the profits. But honestly, I didn’t expect it. What boss shares profits with employees? I naturally thought it was ridiculous, but……”

“He kept that promise?”

Shin Myung-soon nodded.

Then, Park Hee-cheol asked again.

“Did he give the same amount to the other employees?”

“No, that’s not the case. Jisook received 50,000 won [approximately $38 USD]. So, he gave me 100,000 won [approximately $76 USD] more.”

“So, he shared the profits as promised from the beginning.”

“Yes, that’s right. It’s easy to say, but not just anyone can do that. But our boss did it.”

“He’s really amazing.”

The two nodded simultaneously as if they had made a promise.

Shin Myung-soon asked again.

“By the way, what did you mean when you said our boss coached you?”

“Ah, that. Well, he told me not to eat in the neighborhood, but to go somewhere far away if possible. He said you must be tired of the same daily routine, so get some fresh air.”

“Haha, our boss said that?”

“Yes, I was wondering where to go, but after hearing that, I thought of the sea. So, I came to the sea like this, and I don’t know if you like it.”

“I love it. It’s been a while since I’ve had sashimi and seen the sea like this. I feel like I’m getting some proper fresh air. To be honest, I’ve been feeling a bit stuffy lately.”

Shin Myung-soon stood facing the sea and took a deep breath. Park Hee-cheol, who was watching her, looked at Shin Myung-soon and said.

“Ms. Shin, tell me if you feel stuffy in the future. I may not be good at anything else, but I can always be your driver.”

“I don’t just want a driver.”

“Huh? What do you mean……”

“I need a friend who can talk to me like this today.”

Park Hee-cheol couldn’t believe his ears.

She clearly said friend just now. Does that mean she thinks of him that way?

Park Hee-cheol asked immediately.

“Ms. Shin, is that true?”

“Do you remember the day you bought me kalguksu [Korean noodle dish] last time?”

“Yes, I remember. That was the day you were crying.”

“That’s right, I was upset about the store that day and was crying. But you ordered two bowls of kimchi kalguksu and told me to eat one too.”

“I couldn’t offer any words of comfort that day. Instead, I thought that eating spicy kalguksu would make you feel a little better. That was the best I could do.”

“I felt it that day.”

“Yes?”

“That you are a warm person.”

Park Hee-cheol looked at Shin Myung-soon.

“Ms. Shin!”

“I’m only saying this now, but in fact, the rumors about you weren’t very good until then. So, I was wary of you.”

“Ah, I see.”

“But one day, the rumors started to change.”

Park Hee-cheol nodded.

That was probably after he met Hyunseong. When he changed the loan interest to bank interest, people’s evaluations started to change little by little.

“I see. To be honest, I did a lot of bad things before.”

“So, what happened at that time? People don’t just change suddenly, do they?”

“That’s, well……”

Park Hee-cheol began to briefly explain what happened with Hyunseong. As Park Hee-cheol’s explanation ended, a faint smile spread across Shin Myung-soon’s lips.

“So, you’re saying that the person who changed you is our boss?”

“That’s right. He completely changed my life. If it weren’t for CEO Kim, I would have already been dead.”

“And that was because of a prophetic dream?”

“Yes, that’s right. Honestly, I still can’t believe it, but it’s true. I’m a living witness.”

Shin Myung-soon nodded.

Shin Myung-soon herself has no choice but to believe in Hyunseong’s prophetic dreams.

Because she experienced it herself.

Hyunseong was the first person to recommend the current ramen shop location to her.

The reason was his conviction that the place would be a hit.

But what was absurd was the basis for that.

Not for any other reason, but because he had seen it in a dream. In other words, he claimed to have prophetic dreams.

Of course, she didn’t believe it. No, she couldn’t believe it.

Who in their right mind would believe someone who says they have prophetic dreams?

Naturally, she had no choice but to refuse the ramen shop location.

Then, Hyunseong opened a ramen shop himself in that location.

But an unbelievable thing happened. As if to prove his prophetic dream, the ramen shop became a huge success.

It was a commercial district where there was no answer. The store had been closed for two years, and it was located in an alley, making it difficult for people to access.

Nevertheless, it became a hit.

Hyunseong proved his prophetic dream to her himself.

Shin Myung-soon said.

“You had such a reason.”

“After tasting death once, the world looked different. From then on, I thought I shouldn’t live like this.”

“Ah, yes……”

Shin Myung-soon nodded.

Now she seemed to know why Park Hee-cheol had suddenly changed. She thought it was too sudden for a person to change so drastically. There was a reason after all.

Park Hee-cheol looked at Shin Myung-soon.

“Ms. Shin.”

“Yes?”

“I don’t want much. Can you be a friend who can look at the sea together when we feel stuffy like this, sometimes eat together, and sometimes have a drink and talk?”

“……Friend?”

“Yes!”

Park Hee-cheol nodded.

Then, Shin Myung-soon seemed to think for a moment, then looked at Park Hee-cheol and smiled.

“Chairman, did you just say friend?”

“Yes, Ms. Shin.”

“I don’t like that kind of friend.”

“Yes?”

Park Hee-cheol was startled.

The reason is simple. The answer was completely different from the atmosphere Shin Myung-soon had shown a moment ago.

Then, Shin Myung-soon continued.

“Why are you so surprised?”

“No, that’s……”

“Chairman, really……, is there any need to beat around the bush like that?”

“Yes? What do you mean?”

Park Hee-cheol tilted his head as if he didn’t know what Shin Myung-soon was talking about.

Then, Shin Myung-soon chuckled once again. Then she continued right away.

“Chairman, today is the first day.”

“Yes? What do you mean……”

“I’m saying let’s officially date. We’re not young, and is there any need to hide our feelings at this age? Actually, I’ve been thinking a lot while following you to Gangneung today. Surely you didn’t think I came this far without any thoughts, did you?”

“Th, that’s……”

Park Hee-cheol was so flustered that he couldn’t even speak properly.

What is going on?

He spoke indirectly because he was worried that she might feel burdened. But rather, she says there’s no need to hide her feelings.

That means Shin Myung-soon also had some feelings for him.

Park Hee-cheol looked at Shin Myung-soon again.

“Ms. Shin!”

“But there’s a condition.”

“Condition? Just tell me anything.”

“Let’s go slowly. Don’t rush too much, do you know what I mean?”

“Yes! Ms. Shin!”

Park Hee-cheol felt like he was about to cry. Last night, Hyunseong’s advice that age is just a number gave him courage.

And today, he confessed with difficulty to be her friend. But rather, Shin Myung-soon is suggesting to officially date, saying that there is no need to hide her feelings.

‘Could it be a dream?’

Park Hee-cheol pinched his thigh.

It hurts.

Then at least it’s not a dream.

Then Shin Myung-soon said.

“What are you thinking so hard about?”

“Ms. Shin, is this not a dream right now?”

“Yes, Chairman.”

“How can this happen to me?”

Park Hee-cheol was still out of his mind.

It was then.

Something slipped into Park Hee-cheol’s side.

It was Shin Myung-soon’s hand.

“Oh?”

“Oppa [term used by females to address older males they are close to], let’s go get some coffee.”

“O, Oppa?”

“I’m embarrassed too, so let’s just pretend we didn’t say anything.”

“Haha, hahahaha……”

Park Hee-cheol suddenly started laughing with a face as if he had gained the whole world.

After a while.

The two walked side by side out of Gyeongpo Beach and headed to a coffee shop.