Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 240

“Welcome, everyone.”

Seo Min-gyu, the head of the Senior Citizens Association, came to the entrance to greet Hyun-sung and his group.

Hyun-sung said,

“Hello, how have you been? Are all the elders here?”

“Hehe, don’t even mention it.”

“Why? Is something the matter?”

Hyun-sung asked, but Chairman Seo Min-gyu hesitated, looking troubled.

So Hyun-sung asked again.

“What’s wrong? Why can’t you tell me?”

“Well… there are over 90 people. What should we do about this?”

“I thought it was something serious. Don’t worry about that. I got the chairman’s call this morning and made more food.”

“Was that possible in such a short time?”

“Yes, fortunately, the chairman contacted me early, so it was possible. Up to 100 people is fine, so don’t worry.”

“Hehe, really… no matter how I think about it, it’s amazing. I can’t believe you prepared so much food in such a short time.”

Chairman Seo Min-gyu looked at the luggage on the cart with an unbelievable expression.

Then Hyun-sung said again,

“Let’s go inside now.”

“Shall we then…”

Just then,

Three people in suits were walking towards the Senior Citizens Center from a distance. They looked like they were saying, ‘I’m a public official.’

Hyun-sung’s gaze naturally turned to them.

At that moment, the surroundings suddenly became chaotic. The first to react was Chairman Seo Min-gyu.

Thud.

Chairman Seo Min-gyu hurried forward to greet the three people in suits.

“Mayor, you’ve arrived?”

Only then did Hyun-sung realize why the atmosphere had been so chaotic a moment ago. The mayor was, after all, the most important person in the countryside.

Hyun-sung hadn’t had a reason to see the mayor even in his past life, so he didn’t recognize him.

Then, Mayor Park Yoon-shik approached Hyun-sung.

“Are you the one?”

“Pardon?”

“I’m asking if you’re the student who prepared this event.”

“Ah, yes. It just happened that way.”

Mayor Park Yoon-shik nodded and lightly tapped Hyun-sung’s shoulder.

Then he continued,

“That’s really amazing. How did you come up with such an idea?”

“I didn’t do it alone. It happened while talking with the beauty salon owner. Anyway, we’re a bit busy, so we’ll go inside now.”

“Ah, is that so? Then just a quick photo…”

As soon as Mayor Park Yoon-shik finished speaking, a person with a camera approached the two of them. At first glance, it was clear he was a reporter.

Hyun-sung was dumbfounded at the sight.

But he couldn’t take any action in that situation.

Then the reporter looked at Hyun-sung and said,

“Just over here for a moment.”

The reporter made Hyun-sung stand next to the cart loaded with food. Hyun-sung was led by the reporter’s hand and stood next to the cart. Then, as if waiting, Mayor Park Yoon-shik approached Hyun-sung.

It was to take a picture.

Then the reporter looked at Hyun-sung and said,

“Student, don’t frown like that, smile. Like this… say ‘kimchi’ [a common phrase used to prompt a smile for photos in Korea].”

“…”

Hyun-sung had no reason to smile.

Then the reporter came closer and said in a small voice,

“I’ll take it quickly, so just smile once.”

“…”

Hyun-sung was dumbfounded and stared blankly at the reporter.

Then, Mayor Park Yoon-shik, who was next to him, gestured to the reporter. It was a signal to just take the picture.

Click.

The reporter judged that there was no other way and started taking pictures.

This time, Mayor Park Yoon-shik looked at Chairman Seo Min-gyu and called out.

“Chairman, come here. Let’s take a picture together.”

“Yes? Yes, I understand, Mayor.”

Chairman Seo Min-gyu quickly approached Hyun-sung.

Swoosh.

At that moment, Hyun-sung stepped back.

Then Mayor Park Yoon-shik looked at Hyun-sung and said,

“Why are you doing that?”

“I’m fine.”

“Don’t do that, just stand here and take a picture. This is all for you. It will be helpful later.”

Hyun-sung was dumbfounded and could only laugh in vain.

When Hyun-sung didn’t react at all, Mayor Park Yoon-shik called Hyun-sung again.

“Student, come over here quickly.”

“I don’t want to. I don’t know what you’re doing in front of the food. Can’t you see the elders waiting inside?”

“You’re still a student, so you don’t know, but when you do things like this, you take commemorative photos. So don’t do that and come over here quickly.”

Mayor Park Yoon-shik reached out to Hyun-sung.

But Hyun-sung had no intention of taking that hand.

Hyun-sung turned around and left the spot.

Then Mayor Park Yoon-shik, as if he couldn’t help it, gave up taking pictures and gestured to the reporter to stop.

At that moment, Kim Il-soo approached Hyun-sung.

“What’s going on here?”

“I know, right? I don’t know what these people are doing. We’ve done all the preparation, but they’re taking all the credit, so I’m speechless.”

“Are you just going to watch?”

“Of course not.”

Hyun-sung immediately called Han Myung-soo.

“Myung-soo, have the kids move the luggage from the cart into the Senior Citizens Center.”

“Now?”

“Yes, right now.”

“Yes, Senior [a term of respect used for someone older or more experienced].”

Han Myung-soo moved the cart and brought it in front of the Senior Citizens Center. Then Mayor Park Yoon-shik, who was taking pictures around the cart, and the other public officials just looked at Hyun-sung with bewildered expressions.

After a while.

Hyun-sung, who had entered the Senior Citizens Center, looked at Yoon Ji-young, the owner of the beauty salon, and asked.

“Is the haircutting all done?”

“Not yet. More elders came than expected, so I think we’ll have to finish after lunch. By the way, how was the food prepared?”

“Fortunately, the chairman contacted me early in the morning, so I was able to make additional amounts.”

Owner Yoon Ji-young nodded as if relieved and then opened her mouth again.

“But who are those people outside?”

“They’re the mayor and the town hall employees. I met them for the first time today too.”

“But what’s with all the fuss about taking pictures?”

“Who knows? They even called a reporter.”

“You can’t stop public officials.”

“Not all of them are like that, but there are some who are particularly obvious. So I’m going to make those people work this time.”

Hyun-sung chuckled.

Then owner Yoon Ji-young immediately asked.

“You’re going to make those people work?”

“Yes, I’m going to have them carry ramen or something.”

“Is that possible?”

“I have to make it possible. You’ll see.”

Hyun-sung smiled as he looked at Mayor Park Yoon-shik and the public officials next to him outside, wondering what he was thinking.

After a while.

Kim Il-soo approached Hyun-sung.

“When should we start boiling the ramen?”

“We can start boiling it when we start setting up the food. As I always say, be careful since it’s hot food.”

“Of course. But shouldn’t we set up a separate table for the mayor, whether we like him or not?”

“There’s no need for that. They’ll eat after the elders are done anyway.”

“What do you mean?”

“Today, the mayor will be serving ramen.”

“The mayor is serving ramen? Is that even possible?”

“Why wouldn’t it be possible? If he came to the Senior Citizens Center, he should do some volunteer work for the elders.”

Kim Il-soo tilted his head, looking at Hyun-sung as if he didn’t understand.

Then Hyun-sung chuckled.

At that moment, Han Myung-soo walked towards Hyun-sung.

Hyun-sung asked first.

“Is the preparation finished?”

“Yes, all that’s left is to put the food on the plates and carry them.”

“Okay, I’m going to go outside for a bit and come back, so start with the kids first. There’s enough food, so don’t put too little on the plates.”

“Yes, I understand.”

As Han Myung-soo disappeared, Hyun-sung looked at Kim Il-soo and said,

“You can start boiling the ramen now. I’m going out to have an interview with the mayor.”

“Interview?”

“You need to talk to them to give them work, right?”

“Hehe, okay. Try to coax him well.”

Kim Il-soo smiled and looked at Hyun-sung. Then Hyun-sung also smiled and started walking.

Hyun-sung, who came outside, walked straight to Mayor Park Yoon-shik.

“Mayor, what are you doing here?”

“Why, is the preparation already done?”

“We’ve just started putting the food on the plates. We’ll start boiling the hangover ramen soon.”

“Oh! Am I finally going to try that famous hangover ramen today?”

“You haven’t tried it yet?”

“I wanted to eat it, but I couldn’t go even once because of my position.”

Mayor Park Yoon-shik says he can’t even eat ramen properly because of his position. It was hard for Hyun-sung to understand, but he couldn’t show it.

Anyway, the important thing was that Mayor Park Yoon-shik valued his position.

Hyun-sung’s words continued.

“Mayor, you need to take more pictures, right?”

“Pictures?”

“Yes, since you called a reporter, you should take more proper pictures, right?”

“It would be nice to take them, but… do you have any good ideas?”

Mayor Park Yoon-shik looked at Hyun-sung and asked.

Then Hyun-sung nodded and said confidently.

“Of course.”

“What is it?”

“It’s this.”

Hyun-sung showed the apron he was holding. He had brought it while coming out of the ramen shop.

When he showed the apron, Mayor Park Yoon-shik looked at Hyun-sung with a dumbfounded expression.

“Are you telling me to wear this now?”

“Of course. Take off your suit and take pictures wearing this.”

“Does that make sense for the mayor’s position?”

“You should wear it even more because you’re the mayor, right?”

“Hehe, this guy…”

Mayor Park Yoon-shik laughed as if he was dumbfounded.

Then Hyun-sung said again.

“If you wear this and actually carry ramen while taking pictures, it will come out more amazing than any picture you’ve taken so far.”

“What? Are you telling me to serve ramen now?”

“You need to do that to get a proper picture. If you’re going to take a picture, it’s better to take it properly, right?”

“That’s true, but how can I…”

Mayor Park Yoon-shik still had a hesitant expression.

Hyun-sung chuckled inwardly at the sight. The fact that he was hesitating now meant that he would come over if he persuaded him a little more.

Hyun-sung then said to the reporter next to him.

“What do you think if the mayor wears this apron and takes pictures?”

“Of course, it’s much better than taking pictures without wearing it. If you’re going to put it in the newspaper, you need that kind of picture.”

“It would be perfect if you took pictures with a tray, right?”

“Of course. If you’re going to direct it, you should do that much…”

The reporter stopped talking and looked at Mayor Park Yoon-shik.

Then Hyun-sung looked at Mayor Park Yoon-shik and said,

“Did you hear that?”

“Hehe, really…”

“You need to be properly featured in the newspaper, right? There won’t be many opportunities like this. What are you going to do?”

“If that’s the case… give me that apron.”

Mayor Park Yoon-shik took off his top and started wearing the apron.

Seeing that, a smile began to spread on Hyun-sung’s face.