Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 246

246

Inside the bus returning home after finalizing the contract.

Kim Ji-yeon looked at Hyun-sung and asked,

“Oppa, how could you sign a contract for 5 million won for just one room?”

“Because it’s you.”

“What does that mean?”

“It’s possible because it’s you, not anyone else.”

“Are you saying you paid that much money for that room because of me?”

Hyun-sung nodded.

Then Kim Ji-yeon asked again,

“Oppa, can I ask you just one thing?”

“What is it?”

“Didn’t you feel even a little bit like it was a waste?”

“Kim Ji-yeon, do you think that makes sense? It’s for my sister’s room, not someone else’s, why would I think it’s a waste?”

Hyun-sung’s voice rose slightly.

Then Kim Ji-yeon scratched her head and continued,

“No, it’s just such a large sum of money…….”

“It’s not about the money being a lot, but who you’re spending it on. Like I said last night, this oppa will definitely take responsibility for you, Ji-yeon.”

“Oppa, honestly, I’m so happy these days because of you. It feels like I have a magic lamp.”

“A magic lamp?”

“Yeah, you know, like in fairy tales. A magic lamp that grants any wish you make. And more than anything, what’s really great is that I can talk to you so comfortably like this. I love having an oppa who I can be friends with.”

Hyun-sung turned to Kim Ji-yeon, smiled, and immediately said,

“Oppa is happy to have you too.”

“But Oppa, there’s something I’m curious about…….”

“What is it?”

“What exactly happened during summer vacation? No matter how much I think about it, before and after summer vacation are so different.”

Hyun-sung chuckled at Kim Ji-yeon’s question.

That’s because he didn’t have anything special to say. If he had to find a reason, it would be that he regressed [time-traveled back to the past]. But he couldn’t explain that fact in any way, so Hyun-sung had no choice but to laugh.

When Hyun-sung laughed, Kim Ji-yeon said again,

“Don’t just laugh, answer me. What exactly happened?”

After thinking for a moment, Hyun-sung smiled and continued,

“Do you know the word ‘regression’?”

“Regression? That means going back again.”

Hyun-sung nodded and continued,

“What do you think it would be like if you went back to the past?”

“There’s no such thing.”

“I mean, if.”

Kim Ji-yeon seemed to think for a moment before opening her mouth.

“Um……, if that happened, wouldn’t I fix the things I regretted?”

“That’s exactly it.”

“Exactly what? What are you talking about?”

“Oppa is someone who regressed from the future.”

“Haha, now you’re even joking…….”

Kim Ji-yeon laughed as if she was dumbfounded.

Then Hyun-sung laughed too. Of course, he didn’t expect her to believe him. But as Hyun-sung, he was able to be confident in his own way because he was telling the truth.

“Okay? That’s my answer.”

“Anyway, you’re so unpredictable…… Okay, whatever. It doesn’t matter whether Oppa regressed or not. The current Oppa is the best for me. By the way, I rushed since morning, so I’m a little tired.”

“Want to get some sleep?”

“Yeah, Oppa, I’m sleepy. Can I lean on your shoulder…….”

Kim Ji-yeon fell asleep quickly because she was tired.

Hyun-sung smiled as he looked at the sleeping Kim Ji-yeon.

In his past life, Hyun-sung was too lacking. Especially towards his sister Kim Ji-yeon, he felt even more sorry. Not only when she was young, but even after she grew up, he never properly took care of her. So there was always regret in a corner of his heart.

But he was given another chance. This time it will be different. He doesn’t lack ability like in his past life, and he has plenty of ability now.

He will do his best this time, even for the part he lacked in his past life.

The bus carrying the two of them was already leaving Chuncheon.

How much time has passed?

“Ji-yeon.”

Hyun-sung called Kim Ji-yeon in a small voice.

“What? Are we already there?”

“Yeah, but how can you sleep so soundly?”

“I must have been very tired. And I didn’t know Oppa’s shoulder was so comfortable. I even had dreams while sleeping.”

“You…….”

Hyun-sung smiled as he looked at Kim Ji-yeon.

The two got off at the terminal.

Kim Ji-yeon spoke first.

“Oppa, you’re going to the store, right?”

“Yeah, if you don’t want to go home alone, should I take you home?”

“No, it’s okay. You have to finish up at the store, right? I’ll go home alone from here, so you go to the store.”

“I’ll get you a taxi, so take a taxi.”

“I can take the bus, why bother…….”

“Don’t do that, just do as I say.”

Hyun-sung immediately stopped a passing taxi.

Then Kim Ji-yeon smiled and said,

“I can’t stop you anyway. Okay, I’ll take a taxi. Oppa, thank you so much today. Then I’ll go.”

Kim Ji-yeon disappeared home in a taxi.

Hyun-sung couldn’t take his eyes off her until the taxi completely disappeared from sight.

When he arrived at the store, Kim Il-soo was waiting for Hyun-sung.

“You haven’t left work yet?”

“Yeah, I was going to leave after seeing you come. You said you were going to Chuncheon, so…….”

“Because of Ji-yeon?”

Kim Il-soo blushed slightly and nodded.

Hyun-sung chuckled at the sight.

Then Kim Il-soo immediately asked,

“Did you get Ji-yeon’s room?”

“Yeah, I got it on a Jeonse basis [a long-term lease where a lump sum is paid instead of monthly rent]. I thought it would be better to go with Jeonse than paying monthly rent, so I did that.”

“You worked hard.”

“It’s something I should do as her brother anyway. By the way, how was business today?”

He asked about business first because it seemed like business had been a little slow lately.

Kim Il-soo said,

“Today was better than yesterday.”

“Really? That’s a relief. I was wondering what was going on because there were few customers these past few days, but I’m glad to hear that customers came today.”

“We need to start the school year soon……, honestly, like yesterday, I felt awkward being at the store.”

“I told you not to do that.”

“You tell me not to, but honestly, I feel a little bad when there are no customers. Min-woo was saying the same thing. He said he feels like he’s being a bother to you because there are no customers.”

“These guys are playing as a pair.”

“So, about that…….”

Kim Il-soo trailed off.

Then Hyun-sung immediately asked,

“What is it? Why are you stopping in the middle of your sentence?”

“Actually, I discussed it with Min-woo and came to the conclusion that we should reduce our salary by even just 10,000 won during the vacation.”

“What are you talking about?”

Hyun-sung couldn’t accept that.

How can they reduce their salary just because things are a little tough? Of course, he knows what the two are talking about. But Hyun-sung couldn’t do that at all.

Kim Il-soo said again,

“That’s what makes us comfortable.”

“Were you staying behind to say this?”

“…….”

“I guess I’m right since you can’t answer?”

“I thought it would be good for each other. It’s only for two months, so wouldn’t it be okay if you did that? That would make us feel more comfortable.”

Kim Il-soo is saying that he wants to lower his salary, not raise it.

He wondered if there could be another case like this in the world.

Hyun-sung looked at Kim Il-soo and opened his mouth again.

“That doesn’t make sense.”

“Really? It’s not okay?”

“Of course not. There’s no such thing in the world. Does it make sense to cut employees’ salaries just because business is bad for a while?”

“I’m not asking to raise it, but you’re saying it’s not okay to lower it?”

“Ask to raise it instead. Then I’ll listen to that.”

“…….”

Kim Il-soo had nothing to say.

Perhaps coming to the store during vacation was greedy in the first place. It was a result that was fully expected from the beginning.

But he couldn’t help but be greedy even though he knew it.

That’s because it would disrupt his plans.

But looking back, he realized that all of this was selfishness just for himself.

Kim Il-soo looked at Hyun-sung and said,

“I think I was only thinking about myself too much.”

“Don’t say that.”

“No, no matter how I think about it, working during vacation seems like it was too much from the beginning. Moreover, it doesn’t make sense for two people, not just one, including Min-woo, to make things difficult for you.”

“Hey, Kim Il-soo, what’s wrong with you today?”

It was hard for Hyun-sung to understand.

Of course, it’s true that business is tough during vacation. But it’s not so tough that Kim Il-soo is making such a fuss.

And he had already expected it to some extent when he made Kim Il-soo and Lee Min-woo work during vacation. But Hyun-sung couldn’t understand why he was talking so hard.

Hyun-sung looked at Kim Il-soo.

‘What is it?’

If it were the usual Kim Il-soo, he wouldn’t have talked so hard. That means something must have happened.

Hyun-sung looked at Kim Il-soo and asked,

“Did something happen today?”

“Something? Nothing happened…….”

“Tell me honestly. Do you think I don’t know you? You’re not the type to talk so sensitively unless something happened.”

“That’s…….”

Kim Il-soo trailed off.

Then Hyun-sung immediately said,

“Tell me what happened. That’s how I can solve it in some way. What happened while I was gone today?”

“Actually…….”

Kim Il-soo began to explain what happened during the day. When Kim Il-soo’s explanation was over, Hyun-sung immediately said,

“So you’re saying you heard Jung-woo’s mother and Kim Ji-sook’s aunt talking about worrying about the store?”

“Yeah. I didn’t want to hear it, but I ended up hearing it by accident. But everything they said was true.”

“So you talked to Min-woo again?”

“Yeah, honestly, I can’t help but worry. Moreover, Min-woo and I know very well that you’re being lenient with us because we’re your friends.”

Only then did Hyun-sung seem to understand why Kim Il-soo had reacted so sensitively a little while ago.

Hyun-sung said,

“Il-soo, now I know why you were so sensitive.”

“Honestly, I couldn’t help it from my point of view. The fact that the aunts are so worried means that the store is that much harder. Actually, I don’t know what you thought about working during vacation, but from my point of view, it was true that I was being a bother.”

“You, you’re so sensitive for your size…….”

“If you have a normal brain structure, not sensitive, anyone would have thought that.”

Hyun-sung nodded.

That’s because he could fully understand what Kim Il-soo was saying.

Hyun-sung said again,

“I know what you’re saying, but don’t think like that in the future.”

“Shouldn’t you do as I say instead?”

“That’s not it. Instead, I’ll gratefully accept the heart you have for me.”

“I’m so sorry, so…….”

Kim Il-soo still had a dark expression.

Then Hyun-sung’s words continued.

“Il-soo, thank you. I didn’t know you were thinking of me that much.”