Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 229

229

The next day.

Hyun-sung was watching TV in the store after closing.

*Ting-a-ling.*

Someone entered as the store door opened.

“Oh? Jung-woo, what brings you here so late?”

The person who came in was none other than Lee Jung-woo.

“I was just at home…….”

“Is something wrong?”

Lee Jung-woo had seemed increasingly troubled lately.

When Hyun-sung asked, Lee Jung-woo scratched his head and replied.

“Just…….”

“You’re not the type to come here this late for no reason. Tell me what’s going on.”

When Hyun-sung pressed him, Lee Jung-woo reluctantly opened his mouth.

“Actually, it’s because of my mom…….”

“Your mother? What about your mother?”

Hyun-sung tilted his head. He had thought the problem would be Lee Jung-woo’s own issue. But now that he said it was because of his mother, Hyun-sung was puzzled.

“It seems like my mom is seeing someone these days.”

“A man?”

“Yeah, I saw them a few days ago.”

“Could it be Mr. Park?”

Hyun-sung already knew about it. He had heard it directly from Park Hee-chul a while ago. He had been told that they decided to date after going to Gangneung [a coastal city in South Korea] last time.

Hyun-sung thought it was a good thing. Both of them were lonely, and Park Hee-chul was no longer the same as before, so Hyun-sung thought it wouldn’t be bad for Shin Myung-soon either.

Lee Jung-woo said.

“You knew about it?”

“Yeah, I heard about it from him a while ago. And I’d seen him often at the store before, so I had a rough idea. But why is that a problem?”

“I didn’t know, and I was taken aback when I suddenly found out, and…….”

Lee Jung-woo stopped talking in the middle.

Then Hyun-sung immediately asked.

“Is there a problem?”

“Well……, I don’t like my mom seeing someone else.”

“Huh?”

Hyun-sung looked at Lee Jung-woo. It was completely unexpected. Of course, he didn’t expect him to welcome it with open arms, but he didn’t expect him to oppose it so openly.

Hyun-sung looked at Lee Jung-woo and asked.

“What are you talking about?”

“She’s been living alone ever since my father passed away, and now she’s suddenly seeing someone again. I don’t like it.”

Lee Jung-woo shook his head vigorously.

Hyun-sung tilted his head as he watched him.

It didn’t make sense to Hyun-sung. If she had been living alone ever since her father passed away, as Lee Jung-woo said, wouldn’t it be better for her to meet someone else and live happily before it’s too late?

Hyun-sung looked at Lee Jung-woo and asked.

“Hey, what kind of talk is that?”

“Think about it. We’ve been living well together since Dad passed away. But now, all of a sudden…….”

“Can’t you think about it the other way around?”

“What do you mean?”

Lee Jung-woo looked at Hyun-sung, as if he didn’t understand.

Then Hyun-sung said.

“You said your mother took care of you all her life after your father passed away, right? So, wouldn’t it be better for her to meet a good person and live happily now?”

“Why are you saying that…….”

“Why are you only thinking about yourself? Have you ever thought about it from your mother’s perspective? And how long are you going to be with your mother? You’re going to be a senior next year, right?”

“…….”

Lee Jung-woo couldn’t say anything.

Then Hyun-sung continued.

“Why don’t you realize that you’ll have to leave your mother’s side in just one year? What are you going to do after that?”

“One year…….”

Lee Jung-woo felt a sense of blankness for a moment.

He hadn’t even thought about it. Like Hyun-sung said, he’s going to be a senior soon. And after a year, he’ll have to leave his mom’s side.

Then his mom will have no choice but to be alone.

Was he being too immature? He just didn’t like the fact that his mom was seeing someone else. Without any plan.

Lee Jung-woo looked at Hyun-sung.

“Hyun-sung, what should I do?”

“There’s nothing special you need to do. Just acknowledge your mother.”

“Acknowledge?”

“Yeah, it seems like your mother hasn’t told you yet, but that’s probably because she has a lot of concerns of her own.”

“…….”

Lee Jung-woo couldn’t say anything and just looked at Hyun-sung.

Then Hyun-sung continued.

“The important thing is your mother’s life. Even if you’re her son, I don’t think you should interfere with her life.”

“Mom’s life?”

“Yes, of course, your mother has her own life. If you didn’t know it because you were young, I hope you’ll acknowledge it from now on.”

“…….”

Lee Jung-woo was silent.

Hyun-sung looked at Lee Jung-woo and continued.

“Of course, you must be a little taken aback because it’s so sudden, but you’re not a child anymore. So, how about taking this opportunity to change your mind…….”

“Um……, I understand what you mean. Actually, I hadn’t thought about it that way. I just thought my mom would always be by my side, and I never thought I’d be separated from her.”

“Yeah, the important thing is the future, so you can think about it carefully from now on.”

“Okay, anyway, I came here after worrying alone, but I’m glad it’s resolved.”

“I’m glad if that’s the case.”

Lee Jung-woo smiled at Hyun-sung.

Then he immediately asked.

“But what kind of person is that man?”

“Well, how should I put it?”

“Tell me what you know. As far as I know, that man didn’t have a good reputation in the past.”

“He used to be like that. But he’s a completely different person these days.”

Lee Jung-woo tilted his head.

Because he knew that people don’t change easily.

“People don’t change that easily, do they?”

“Of course not. But that man had something happen to him.”

“Something happen? What is it?”

It was difficult for Hyun-sung to answer. Park Hee-chul had completely changed after going through a near-death experience.

But it was difficult to explain that to Lee Jung-woo.

But he couldn’t not say anything.

Hyun-sung had no choice but to start talking about Park Hee-chul.

“Actually…….”

As Hyun-sung’s story grew longer, Lee Jung-woo looked at Hyun-sung with a disbelieving expression. When Hyun-sung’s explanation finally ended, Lee Jung-woo immediately asked.

“So, you’re saying that man went through a near-death experience and became a completely different person?”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

“And the person who helped him overcome that near-death experience was you?”

Hyun-sung nodded.

Then Lee Jung-woo asked again.

“And that was possible because you saw it in a dream in advance?”

“Yeah, it’s true.”

Since Hyun-sung couldn’t tell him that he had regressed, he had no choice but to sell another dream [a Korean slang term for making up a story].

Then Lee Jung-woo chuckled and continued.

“You’re a really amazing guy.”

“By the way, do you want to meet him?”

“No. I don’t want to meet him first unless my mom introduces him to me later.”

“Okay, then have a meal with your mother later.”

Lee Jung-woo nodded.

A little later.

Hyun-sung was left alone after Lee Jung-woo left.

He called Park Hee-chul.

*Beep beep beep.*

Park Hee-chul answered the phone after a few rings.

– Hello.

“Mr. Park, it’s me.”

– What brings you here at this hour?

“What were you doing?”

– What else would I be doing at this hour? I was just watching TV. But what’s the matter?

“It’s nothing special, I’m calling because of your son.”

– Ah, you mean Myung-soon’s son?

“Yes, he came to the store a little while ago.”

– Why, what did he say?

Park Hee-chul asked cautiously. The part that had always bothered him was Shin Myung-soon’s son.

Hyun-sung continued.

“At first, he didn’t like the fact that his mother was seeing someone.”

– Did he say there was a special reason?

“I don’t think so, he just said he didn’t like it.”

– Well, he might say that because he’s sensitive at that age. So, what did you say?

“I told him that his mother has her own life. I said that even if he’s her child, he shouldn’t interfere with her life.”

– Haha, you said that?

Park Hee-chul couldn’t help but laugh.

The reason was simple. Hyun-sung is only eighteen years old. But what he said was too bold for someone his age.

Park Hee-chul immediately continued.

– So, what did that friend say?

“At first, he seemed to have a hard time understanding, but in the end, he said he understood. So, I was wondering if you could have a meal with him soon.”

– I’ve already talked about that with Myung-sook. We’ll set a date soon. Anyway, thank you for your concern.

“And if you have time tomorrow evening, can you come to the store?”

– You mean after closing tomorrow?

“Yes, there’s something I want to discuss with you.”

– Okay. I’ll go to your store when you close.

“Yes, then I’ll see you tomorrow evening. Goodbye…….”

*Click.*

Hyun-sung hung up the phone and got up from his seat and went into the inner room.

At that time.

Lee Jung-woo had just arrived home.

Shin Myung-soon, who was sitting on the floor, looked at Lee Jung-woo and said.

“Where have you been?”

“Yes, I went to see Hyun-sung. I had something to talk about.”

“So, did you have a good talk?”

“Yes, but were you waiting for me?”

“Yes, I have something to say to my son.”

“To me?”

Shin Myung-soon nodded.

Then Lee Jung-woo said.

“Let’s go into the room first because it’s cold.”

“Okay, let’s do that.”

The two went into the room.

Lee Jung-woo opened his mouth first.

“What is it that you were waiting for me outside in this cold weather?”

“That’s…….”

Shin Myung-soon couldn’t speak easily.

Then Lee Jung-woo smiled as if he had noticed.

“Is it because of that man?”

“Huh? You knew?”

“I saw you in front of the house a few days ago. I had a rough idea then.”

Shin Myung-soon scratched her head. Then she immediately continued.

“So, I was wondering if I should officially meet that man. What does my son think?”

“Actually, I went to see Hyun-sung because of that problem.”

“Is that true?”

“Yes, it was too difficult for me to handle alone…….”

Shin Myung-soon looked at Lee Jung-woo.

She had been spending time worrying about how to say it. But she felt sorry that he already knew and was worrying about it.

If her son is having such a hard time…….

Shin Myung-soon, who was thinking for a moment, said.

“Jung-woo, if it’s that hard, I won’t meet that man. So, don’t have a hard time.”

“What are you talking about? Mom.”

“How hard was it that you even went to see your friend? I didn’t know my son was having such a hard time.”

“Mom, actually, I didn’t like my mom meeting that man until I went to see Hyun-sung. But after talking to Hyun-sung, my mind changed.”

Shin Myung-soon tilted her head and asked.

“Huh? What are you talking about?”

“I’m grateful for you raising me so far. So, I hope you meet a good person and be happy in the future.”

“Are you serious?”

“Yes, Hyun-sung said that mom’s life is mom’s life. He said that even if I’m her child, I shouldn’t interfere with her life.”

“Hyun-sung said that?”

“Yes, I think that’s right after listening to him. So, don’t worry about anyone from now on and just think about yourself. And be happy.”

Lee Jung-woo smiled at Shin Myung-soon.

Then Shin Myung-soon smiled and took Lee Jung-woo’s hand.