Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 252

252

“Cooking notes.”

“Cooking notes?”

“Yeah, I’ve been organizing them again since the new year. It’s something I’ve been keeping since elementary school, so the content is pretty lacking. So, I’ve been revising it and rewriting it in a new notebook these days.”

“Can I see it?”

Kim Il-soo smiled and nodded.

Hyun-sung then began to look through the notebook.

Shush.

Turning the first page, two Chinese characters were written on the front page.

– 信義 (Sin-ui: Trust/Faith)

Hyun-sung smiled and asked.

“What’s this?”

“It’s what I think is most important these days, so I wrote it down. From some point on, that word strangely attracted me.”

“It’s a good word.”

“They say that if you have even one friend in life with whom you can keep that trust, that person has lived a successful life, right?”

“That probably means it’s that difficult to keep trust.”

That was true.

It was something I desperately felt while living for over 50 years in my past life. There were many friends while graduating from middle school, high school, and university, but after graduating and starting social life, we naturally grew apart.

Even when we were in school, I thought we would be together for life. But reality was not like that.

When there was a difficult situation, it wasn’t easy to contact them. I was hesitant to contact them because of the burden of possibly burdening them.

They said a friend in need is a friend indeed. After living, I realized what that meant.

Fortunately, I had one such friend.

It was Lee Jung-woo.

A friend who I could contact anytime when I was happy, sad, or had a difficult time. Lee Jung-woo was that kind of friend.

Smirk.

At that time, Kim Il-soo laughed alone.

“What? What’s with that laugh?”

“I feel like I’ve already succeeded in life.”

“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

“You said that if you have a friend you can trust, you’ve lived a successful life. But if that’s the case, I already have such a friend. So, I’ve already succeeded. Don’t you think?”

Kim Il-soo looked at Hyun-sung and smiled.

Then Hyun-sung asked.

“Who?”

“Who else but you? Of course, you shouldn’t put words before actions, but my thoughts will never change. I will keep my faith and loyalty to you until I die. And I will never forget my gratitude either.”

“Jeez, do you have to confess like that in front of someone? It makes me embarrassed…….”

“Haha……, what, a confession?”

Kim Il-soo laughed as if he felt good.

Then Hyun-sung also laughed along with Kim Il-soo.

After a while.

Hyun-sung, who was looking at the notes Kim Il-soo had organized, said.

“Did your grandmother teach you all these dishes?”

“Of course, my grandmother taught me some, but these days I’m mostly organizing them by watching TV. The food you eat at home is inevitably limited.”

“I guess so. Anyway, it’s good to see you working so hard.”

“Who do I owe it all to? To be honest, I wouldn’t have been able to do anything without you. Being able to dream like this is, in a way, lucky for me.”

Kim Il-soo looked at Hyun-sung and smiled.

Then Hyun-sung patted Kim Il-soo on the shoulder and continued.

“I’m lucky to have met you too. So, let’s work hard in the future and make our dreams come true. Got it?”

“Of course. Fighting.”

Kim Il-soo shook his fist.

Hyun-sung nodded, looking at Kim Il-soo.

The next morning.

Ring ring.

“Hello.”

– Oppa [older brother], it’s me.

“Oh, Ji-yeon. What’s going on so early in the morning?”

The person who called was none other than his younger sister, Kim Ji-yeon.

– I’m calling you today because I have to go to school from tomorrow.

“Anyway, how’s the room?”

– The boiler is warm, and the view is so great because it’s on the 7th floor. I almost feel sorry for being in such a nice place by myself.

“What’s there to be sorry about? Don’t think like that. You doing well is helping your brother.”

– I’m really living the high life thanks to you, Oppa. Thank you so much.

“You’re saying all sorts of things. By the way, did you prepare something to eat?”

– Of course. I bought rice and all the side dishes. You don’t have to worry about anything.

“Okay, I got it. Anyway, don’t skip meals and take care of yourself.”

– Look who’s talking. Don’t worry about me and take care of yourself. By the way, you’re going to be busy from tomorrow since school starts, right?

“I guess so.”

– No matter how busy you are, eat well and don’t get sick.

“Okay, thank you for calling. Take care and have a good school life. Then see you later.”

– Okay, Oppa, take care too…….

“Bye!”

Click.

A smile spread across Hyun-sung’s face after hanging up the phone.

In my past life, Kim Ji-yeon would have been alone and depressed in Namyangju around this time. She is a younger sister who always remained in a corner of my heart with a sense of guilt.

Fortunately, I can take care of her like this in this life. That was the reason why a smile spread across Hyun-sung’s face.

It was a moment after hanging up the phone.

Ding-dong.

Someone came in as the store door opened.

“Hey, what brings you here at this hour?”

The person who opened the store door and came in was none other than Lee Jung-woo.

“Take this first.”

Lee Jung-woo handed a box of drinks to Hyun-sung. It was Bacchus [a popular Korean energy drink].

Hyun-sung immediately asked.

“Why Bacchus all of a sudden?”

“Isn’t the ramen shop opening at that intersection tomorrow? So, I brought this so you can drink it and cheer up.”

“So, you deliberately brought this at this hour?”

“Yeah, I want to help in any way I can, but this is all I can do. I’m sorry.”

Lee Jung-woo looked at Hyun-sung with apologetic eyes.

Then Hyun-sung said.

“Hey, what are you talking about? And why are you thinking like that? What’s wrong with you?”

“Honestly, isn’t that the case? Even in this situation, there’s nothing I can do for you.”

“What are you talking about? Did something happen to you?”

Hyun-sung tilted his head.

It was because it wasn’t the confident appearance that Lee Jung-woo usually showed.

Lee Jung-woo said.

“It’s nothing, but I just hate myself so much at times like this.”

“Hey, Lee Jung-woo. What’s really wrong with you? Where did your confident self go? You’re not usually like this.”

“Sigh. I know, right? Today, as I was leaving the house, I suddenly thought that even though my friend is in a difficult situation, all I can do is buy him a box of Bacchus. I felt so pathetic.”

Hyun-sung grabbed Lee Jung-woo’s hand and continued.

“Man, how can you say that when you’re such a precious friend to me? And what’s pathetic about you? Where else can you find someone who lives as hard as you do?”

“That’s because you helped me a lot, so I was able to live this much.”

“That’s not true. No matter how much I help, it’s impossible if your spirit is rotten. In my eyes, your mental strength is stronger than anyone else’s. That’s why I think you’ve been able to live with such a confident attitude until now.”

“That’s because I have to live…….”

Lee Jung-woo looked at Hyun-sung and bit his lower lip.

Seeing that, Hyun-sung continued again.

“That’s right. The important thing is that you have to live in the future too. And that time is much longer than the time you’ve lived so far.”

“…….”

“There’s no point in you being pessimistic about yourself like this right now. It only makes things harder for yourself. You have to acknowledge what you need to acknowledge and become tougher to live in this world. Because, like you said, you have to live.”

“…….”

Lee Jung-woo listened to Hyun-sung’s words without saying anything.

Then Hyun-sung continued again.

“Do you know how cold this world is?”

“…….”

“Do you think people in the world will care if your body is uncomfortable? Absolutely not. Rather, they will try to get ahead by taking advantage of that discomfort.”

“I guess so…….”

“So, you have to become tougher. When others put in an hour of effort, you have to put in two hours, and when others sleep for eight hours, you have to sleep for four hours and live tenaciously to keep up with those people. You can never be as weak as you are today.”

“Sigh!”

Lee Jung-woo sighed deeply as Hyun-sung finished speaking.

Then Hyun-sung continued again.

“Lee Jung-woo, I’m sorry, but let me say one thing while we’re on the subject. Don’t take it the wrong way.”

“…… Okay.”

“I don’t know what kind of heart you showed this weak side of you with today, but I think having that kind of heart is a luxury right now.”

“A luxury?”

“Yeah, no matter what you say, I’m okay. But the people in the world are not like that. Your weak side is not compassion, but rather becomes your weakness.”

“Hmm…….”

Lee Jung-woo couldn’t answer easily.

Then Hyun-sung said again.

“I’m sorry to say this, but that’s the reality. That’s why I’m telling you to become tougher.”

“It’s scary.”

“Of course. The world is a jungle. If you’re weak, you’re not taken care of, but eaten. But what happened? You’re so different from your usual self.”

“Actually, I ran into a kid on my way out of the house a little while ago.”

“A kid?”

Hyun-sung tilted his head and asked.

Then Lee Jung-woo nodded and said.

“Yeah, and that kid was making fun of me.”

“What did he say?”

“He called me a cripple.”

“What? What bastard!”

Hyun-sung’s voice grew louder without him realizing it.

Then Lee Jung-woo chuckled and said.

“Why are you getting so worked up about it? It’s true anyway.”

“Even so, what kind of rude bastard would say that? How old is that kid?”

“Haha…….”

Lee Jung-woo suddenly started laughing instead of answering.

Then Hyun-sung looked at Lee Jung-woo with a dumbfounded expression.

“You’re laughing in this situation?”

“Well…….”

“Well, what?”

“I think he was about five years old.”

“Huh…….”

Hyun-sung was speechless with disbelief.

Then Lee Jung-woo said.

“I’m laughing now, but at that moment, I really felt so pathetic and wanted to die.”

“Still, how can you be like that because of such a kid…….”

“It’s not about the kid, it’s that I couldn’t stand someone making fun of me. I hated the fact that my appearance was a joke to others. But after hearing you say ‘luxury’ a little while ago, I started to look back at myself.”

“Hmm…….”

When Hyun-sung was silent, Lee Jung-woo continued again.

“Actually, until now, I didn’t want to admit that I had a disability. But I realized today that it was just my stubbornness. After hearing your words, I can finally see myself properly.”

“…….”

“Rather, now that I admit the fact that I have a disability, a sense of determination rises from within. Until now, I wanted to hide it, but now I know that there’s no need to do that. Like you said, the thought that I need to sleep less and study more arises from here.”

Lee Jung-woo tapped his chest.

Looking at Lee Jung-woo, Hyun-sung continued.