Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 238

238

A few days later.

It started snowing in the morning.

Since it was vacation, there were no morning customers. Fortunately, adult customers steadily visited during the day.

It seemed the broadcast was really paying off.

Hyunsung left the store to Kim Ilsoo and Lee Minwoo and went outside. Since it was vacation, Hyunsung wasn’t needed at the store.

Hyunsung headed to the bakery down the street.

When he arrived, Seo Inhye greeted him.

“Oppa, over here.”

“Yeah, you’re here early?”

“No, I just got here a little while ago. Am I pulling you away from the store?”

Seo Inhye asked, looking slightly worried.

Hyunsung waved it off. “No, it’s okay. It’s vacation, so Ilsoo and Minwoo can handle it. What’s up?”

“I’m going to Seoul with my mom for a week starting tomorrow. I won’t be able to see you during that time.”

“Why Seoul?”

“My aunt was hospitalized. So, I’m going with my mom to visit her.”

“What happened to your aunt?”

“I don’t know the details, but it seems like she had back surgery. I overheard my mom talking on the phone.”

Seo Inhye kept glancing outside as she spoke.

Hyunsung noticed. “Is someone out there?”

“Yeah, a little kid has been hanging around the store for a while.”

“A kid?”

Hyunsung turned his head and looked outside.

“Oh? That kid is…?”

The child looking inside was someone Hyunsung knew well. It was Lee Woojin, the son of the previous ramen shop owner.

“You know him?”

“Yeah, that’s Woojin, the son of the previous ramen shop owner.”

“His name is Woojin?”

“Yeah, but what’s he doing there?”

“Maybe he wants some bread? Otherwise, he wouldn’t be hanging around the bakery like that.”

Hyunsung turned his head again and looked outside.

Lee Woojin was still lingering around the bakery, unable to leave.

After thinking for a moment, Hyunsung stood up.

Seo Inhye asked, “What are you going to do?”

“I know the kid, so I should at least find out why. Wait a minute. I’ll be right back.”

Hyunsung went straight outside.

He walked up to Lee Woojin.

“Woojin, what are you doing here?”

“Oh? Hyung [older brother/male friend]? Why are you here?”

“Yeah, I came to meet someone. But what have you been up to?”

“Uh, that’s…”

Lee Woojin couldn’t answer properly.

Hyunsung asked again. “Do you want some bread?”

“……”

Lee Woojin didn’t answer. No answer meant yes.

Hyunsung knew what that meant.

He quickly grabbed Lee Woojin’s hand.

“Woojin, let’s go inside.”

Hyunsung took Lee Woojin’s hand and led him into the bakery.

Once inside, Hyunsung picked out a few pieces of bread, put them on a tray, and sat down at a table.

Then, he looked at Lee Woojin and said, “First, drink some cider and eat the bread slowly.”

“……”

Instead of answering, Lee Woojin looked at Seo Inhye.

Seo Inhye said, “Are you Woojin?”

“Yes, but who are you?”

“Me? Um… I’m Hyunsung oppa’s friend.”

“A friend? Hehe.”

Lee Woojin suddenly started laughing.

Hyunsung, who was next to him, asked, “What’s wrong? Lee Woojin, why are you laughing?”

“Hyung, be honest. Is this noona [term of endearment for an older sister or female friend] your girlfriend?”

“What? Girlfriend?”

“Yeah, I’m sure of it…”

Lee Woojin kept looking back and forth between Hyunsung and Seo Inhye and laughing.

Hyunsung asked again, “That’s how it looks to you?”

“Of course, how can such a pretty noona just be a friend?”

“What? Haha…”

Hyunsung burst out laughing without realizing it.

When Hyunsung laughed, Lee Woojin looked at Seo Inhye and said, “Noona, am I right?”

“Hehe, I don’t know what to say…”

“Noona, you’re pretty when you smile too.”

“What? This kid…, hehe.”

Seo Inhye couldn’t say anything properly because he said she was pretty.

Hyunsung looked at Lee Woojin and said, “Hey, Lee Woojin, stop teasing people and eat your bread.”

“Hyung, I’m not teasing right now…”

“Okay, okay. Just eat your bread.”

“Well, hyung is as handsome as this noona, so it might be natural for you two to be together.”

With those words, Lee Woojin started eating bread.

Seo Inhye looked at Lee Woojin and continued, “Woojin, you’re handsome too.”

“Hehe, really, noona?”

“Noona doesn’t lie.”

Lee Woojin smiled and looked at Hyunsung.

Hyunsung asked, “Why are you looking at me?”

“Hyung definitely has an eye for people. The more I look at this noona, the better she is.”

“……”

Hyunsung had nothing to say.

On the other hand, Seo Inhye, who was sitting across from him, had a bright smile on her face as if she was in a good mood.

A little later.

Lee Woojin, who was eating bread, left two pieces and looked at Hyunsung.

Hyunsung asked, “Why aren’t you eating?”

“Hyung, can I pack these and take them with me?”

“There’s no reason why you can’t, but they’ll get cold and won’t taste good if you take them home. Are you full?”

“That’s…”

Lee Woojin couldn’t answer properly.

Hyunsung asked again, “Is it for your grandmother?”

“Yeah, actually, my grandmother likes steamed buns too. So…”

Hyunsung smiled at Lee Woojin.

He was admirable for thinking of his grandmother even at his young age.

Hyunsung said again, “Woojin, don’t worry. I’ll buy you a warm one for your grandmother.”

“Really? Then can I eat this now?”

“Of course. And if you’re not full, tell me, I’ll buy you more.”

As soon as Hyunsung finished speaking, Lee Woojin started eating the remaining bread. Hyunsung just felt a pang of sympathy as he watched him.

Some time later.

The two of them were left after Lee Woojin left the bakery.

Seo Inhye looked at Hyunsung and asked, “Does Woojin not have a mom or dad?”

“Yeah, his mother passed away a long time ago, and he doesn’t know where his father went.”

“His mom is one thing, but what happened to his dad?”

“I don’t know the details either. Woojin mentioned it briefly last time.”

It was unfortunate, but there was nothing Hyunsung could do. He couldn’t just say he would help unconditionally, and he just felt sorry for him.

Seo Inhye said again, “Is there no way to help?”

“Not really…”

“Should I go and clean for him? That’s all I can do right now…”

“Clean?”

“Yeah, it must be hard for his grandmother to clean alone. I’ll go once this time, and if it’s okay, I think it would be nice to go occasionally in the future. What do you think, oppa?”

Seo Inhye was proactive.

Hyunsung continued, “Are you sure you can do it?”

“Of course, volunteering isn’t a big deal. I think it starts with giving what I can. And since I grew up without a dad, I feel even more sorry for Woojin.”

“Then, should we stop by the supermarket and buy some food and even make dinner and come out?”

“That’s a good idea too. It’s a date for me anyway to be with oppa, so I think this kind of date will be memorable.”

Seo Inhye smiled and looked at Hyunsung.

Hyunsung just smiled as if he had nothing more to say.

The two of them left the bakery and headed to the supermarket.

When they arrived, Seo Inhye asked, “Oppa, what does Woojin like?”

“I don’t know what Woojin likes either, so shouldn’t we just pick something that can be a side dish?”

“Okay. I’ll pick it out.”

Seo Inhye started picking out things that could be side dishes, starting with canned goods, seaweed, and sausage.

The two of them bought food and left the supermarket, heading towards Lee Woojin’s house.

Seo Inhye spoke first.

“Oppa, I feel strangely good.”

“Really? Me too.”

“Actually, this is my first time experiencing this. I guess this is why people volunteer. I feel better than when I do something for myself. It’s a strange feeling.”

“Our Inhye has a very kind heart today?”

“Hehe, don’t say that so much…”

Seo Inhye blushed slightly as if she was embarrassed.

When they arrived at Lee Woojin’s house, Hyunsung called out to Lee Woojin in a loud voice.

“Woojin-ah [term of endearment].”

The door opened, and Lee Woojin greeted Hyunsung happily.

“Oh? What brings you here, hyung? My grandmother just enjoyed the steamed bun you bought me a little while ago.”

“Really? Is your grandmother in the room?”

“Yeah, come on in. Oh? The pretty noona came too?”

Lee Woojin’s expression brightened even more when he discovered Seo Inhye.

Hyunsung and Seo Inhye went into the room and greeted Lee Woojin’s grandmother, Kim Soondeok.

“Grandmother, I’m here.”

“Hello.”

Seo Inhye also bowed her head and greeted her from the side.

Then Lee Woojin looked at Kim Soondeok and said, “Grandmother, this noona is Hyunsung hyung’s girlfriend. Isn’t she pretty?”

“Hehe, yes. She’s pretty. Hyunsung, come in. And why did you buy so much bread and send it?”

“I bought plenty so you can warm it up in the rice cooker and eat it later.”

“I’m grateful, but I feel sorry for the student.”

“Don’t mention it. I’m fine, so just enjoy it.”

“Anyway, thank you every time.”

Then Lee Woojin looked at the plastic bag on the floor and asked, “Hyung, what’s this?”

“Woojin’s side dish. This pretty noona picked it out for you, so eat it well and grow up big.”

“Wow! Really?”

Lee Woojin smiled and started checking the plastic bag.

“Oh? There’s tuna and seaweed. This is sausage. It’s my favorite…”

Lee Woojin took out the things in the plastic bag one by one and liked it. Hyunsung’s expression wasn’t very bright as he watched him.

He was worried that this kind of behavior would be seen as sympathy and hurt Lee Woojin’s feelings.

He was relieved that Lee Woojin didn’t seem to be thinking that way.

Then Seo Inhye looked at Kim Soondeok and said, “Grandmother, we’re going to help you clean, would that be okay?”

“I haven’t been able to clean lately because my back hurts, so I’d be grateful if you could help.”

“Okay. Then we’ll do a big cleaning from now on, so grandmother, just stay still.”

As soon as Seo Inhye finished speaking, she looked at Hyunsung and said, “Oppa, sweep the main room with a broom first. I’ll wash the rag and wipe it.”

“Okay, I got it.”

The two started cleaning.

A little later.

The two finished cleaning.

Hyunsung looked at Seo Inhye and said, “Good job, Inhye.”

“What good job… I didn’t even know time was passing because I was with oppa, and it was done quickly.”

Then Kim Soondeok said, “Thank you, the house is clean thanks to you.”

“Grandmother, I’ll come and clean for you sometimes in the future. And today, I’ll stay a little longer and make dinner and leave.”

“Really?”

“Yes, Grandmother.”

Seo Inhye said with a smile.

Then Kim Soondeok continued, “It’s been a while since there have been so many people, so it feels like people are living. Thank you so much.”