Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 254

254

– Are you talking about money right now?

“Of course, isn’t Jisook doing this because of money anyway?”

– Are you saying that I’m hesitating because of money?

“Do we really need to spell it out between pros? Just a hint is enough. Stop beating around the bush and tell me. How much will it take?”

Pfft.

Kim Jisook couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity.

– So, money is still everything to you, Mr. Choi?

“Why are you acting like this is new? We both know how it is…”

– I understand. What more is there to say when you put it like that?

“Good thinking. Now, tell me.”

– Just give me a big one.

“A big one… how much are we talking about? Surely not ten thousand won…”

– Ten thousand won? How can someone so obsessed with money be so cheap? Are you kidding me right now?

“Then, surely… one hundred thousand won?”

– Is that too much? Isn’t that the kind of amount that makes stealing worthwhile?

Kim Jisook deliberately quoted a high price. She didn’t expect Choi Minsung to accept that amount anyway.

Choi Minsung covered the receiver with his palm and said to Min Doosik,

“She’s asking for one hundred thousand won?”

“What? One hundred thousand won? For just one seasoning sauce…”

“I can’t believe it either. She wasn’t like this before… it seems like she’s really become obsessed with money. What should we do?”

“Well, I’m too dumbfounded to decide…”

Min Doosik couldn’t make a decision easily.

Then, Choi Minsung continued,

“Should we try to haggle for half?”

“Do you think that will work?”

“Just a moment…”

Choi Minsung took his hand off the receiver and spoke again.

“Jisook, don’t you think one hundred thousand won is too much? How about half of that?”

– Why are you being like this when you only care about money?

“Isn’t one hundred thousand won too much for just one seasoning sauce? We need to be able to consider it, right?”

– That’s your problem, and I won’t budge without that money. So, you decide what to do.

“Haha, really… wait a moment.”

Choi Minsung covered the receiver with his palm again. Then, he looked at Min Doosik and said again,

“She won’t budge, what should we do?”

“Is it really impossible?”

“I think she’s doing this on purpose because she doesn’t want to give up the seasoning sauce.”

“Hmm… what should we do?”

Min Doosik covered his head as if he was in trouble.

Then, Choi Minsung, who was next to him, spoke again.

“We need to run the business properly, right?”

“Of course, but one hundred thousand won for one seasoning sauce is just too absurd.”

“But what can we do? I think the only way to make the ramen taste right is to do it that way.”

“So, we have no choice but to get the seasoning sauce at that price?”

Choi Minsung nodded.

Of course, one hundred thousand won for one seasoning sauce doesn’t make sense. But the important thing is that we need that seasoning sauce to do business in the future.

After thinking for a moment, Min Doosik nodded at Choi Minsung.

He’s saying he’ll get the seasoning sauce at that price.

Choi Minsung nodded as if he understood, then took his hand off the receiver and said,

“Alright, we’ll do as you say.”

– Really?

“But you must hand over the seasoning sauce to me by today.”

– Don’t worry about that. I’ll definitely hand it over to you as soon as business ends today.

“Alright. Then, let’s meet there at 8 o’clock. Goodbye…”

Click.

Choi Minsung hung up the phone and looked at Min Doosik.

“We’ve decided to receive the seasoning sauce at 8 PM tonight.”

“Can we trust that woman?”

“Don’t worry. Her husband is hospitalized, so she needs a lot of money. She’ll definitely bring it because she needs the money. By the way, if we have the seasoning sauce, can we find the taste?”

“Of course. Don’t worry about that. I have 10 years of restaurant experience.”

Min Doosik nodded confidently.

Hehe.

Kim Jisook, who hung up the phone, hummed with excitement.

Seasoning sauce?

I don’t care about it anyway. I’m not going to steal like before. I just need to tell the boss to bring it and get the money.

Of course, that seasoning sauce is fake. But they don’t know that the seasoning sauce is fake.

They’re just people who only care about money anyway.

I just need to respond to those people accordingly.

Kim Jisook left the house and headed to the ramen shop.

When she arrived at the shop, Hyunseong greeted Kim Jisook.

“You’re here a bit early today?”

“Yes, I came a little early because I have something to say to the boss.”

“What’s wrong? You look especially good today.”

“Haha, that’s right. I hit the jackpot this morning.”

Kim Jisook’s face was full of smiles.

Then, Hyunseong asked.

“What do you mean?”

“Actually, this morning…”

Kim Jisook began to explain what happened in the morning. After Kim Jisook’s explanation, Hyunseong laughed as if he was dumbfounded.

“Haha… so that guy called because he needed the seasoning sauce?”

“Yes, so I called out 100,000 won to see what he would do. But he accepted it. I really didn’t think he would accept that amount.”

“That means he’s desperate right now.”

That’s right.

If he wasn’t desperate, he wouldn’t pay 100,000 won for one seasoning sauce. That means the preparations for tomorrow’s opening are not going well.

Kim Jisook asked.

“Those people are looking for the seasoning sauce now when tomorrow is the opening, what are they going to do?”

“I don’t know. I don’t understand it.”

“Didn’t that boss say he has over 10 years of restaurant experience?”

“That’s right. He definitely said that himself.”

Kim Jisook tilted her head and continued.

“But he’s preparing like this?”

“That’s what’s strange to me. I don’t understand how he can only prepare like this with 10 years of restaurant experience.”

“Could it be a lie?”

“Surely not. There are other things to lie about, why would he lie about that?”

Hyunseong shook his head.

He didn’t think Min Doosik would lie about that.

Kim Jisook said again.

“We’ll see about that, but what are we going to do about the seasoning sauce?”

“I’ll make it for you. You can take it with you when you leave work later. And use that money for the old man’s hospital bills.”

“Would that be okay?”

“It’s a good thing. You’re having a hard time because of the hospital bills, so it would be nice to help you out like this. Don’t worry about anything and use it comfortably.”

“I’ll use it because I need it, but I don’t feel good about it. No matter what the reason, it’s money I’m getting for lying to those people…”

Kim Jisook had a dark expression as if she felt uneasy.

Then, Hyunseong said.

“You don’t need to think like that. Didn’t they start it first anyway? You just did what they wanted.”

“Then I’ll trust what you say and do that.”

“Yes, you don’t need to feel any burden. I’ll say it again, but those people definitely started it first.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Kim Jisook nodded.

Then, Hyunseong headed straight to the kitchen. Then, he started making the seasoning sauce.

That night.

After finishing work, Kim Jisook left the shop and headed to Rose Tea Room.

When she arrived at Rose Tea Room, Choi Minsung was already waiting.

“Did you bring it?”

“Yes, but I’m telling you clearly, this is the last time.”

“Alright, we can’t use it anymore because it’s too expensive. Hand over the goods first.”

Kim Jisook shook her head.

She’s saying no.

Choi Minsung, who couldn’t possibly not know the meaning, smiled and took out a white envelope from his inside pocket.

“Can I ask you one thing before I give you the envelope?”

“What is it?”

“No matter how I think about it, I don’t understand this amount. Isn’t it too expensive?”

“Then forget it.”

Kim Jisook immediately got up from her seat.

Then, Choi Minsung said with a surprised expression.

“No, no. I was wrong. Here it is.”

Choi Minsung quickly handed the envelope to Kim Jisook.

Then, Kim Jisook said.

“Mr. Choi, please keep this one thing in mind. They wanted this deal first, not me. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

“Ah, I understand. So, please give me the seasoning sauce.”

“And please keep in mind that the amount was also agreed upon by them, not unilaterally forced by me.”

“Alright. I guess I touched your nerves with my unnecessary words. I’m sorry.”

Choi Minsung slightly bowed his head to Kim Jisook.

Then, Kim Jisook took the seasoning sauce out of her bag and handed it to Choi Minsung.

Thud.

Choi Minsung snatched the seasoning sauce from Kim Jisook’s hand as if he had been waiting.

Then, he looked at Kim Jisook and said.

“Kim Jisook, you’ve grown a lot.”

“What did you say?”

“People shouldn’t do that. How can you ask for 100,000 won for this one seasoning sauce? Isn’t that too much?”

“What is it? How petty. You’re saying this now that you’ve got the seasoning sauce?”

Kim Jisook was too disgusted to say anything more. Just a moment ago, he was desperate to get the seasoning sauce, but after receiving it, Choi Minsung’s attitude changed so drastically.

Choi Minsung continued.

“Let’s live with a conscience.”

“Is this the kind of person you are? You didn’t seem like this last time, why have you changed so much?”

“Why are you asking when you know?”

“What does that mean? What did I do…”

Kim Jisook tilted her head.

Then, Choi Minsung immediately continued.

“Who made Sangcheol *hyung* [older brother/respected male figure] leave this neighborhood?”

“Are you doing this because of Oh, the boss?”

Kim Jisook was dumbfounded.

Oh Sangcheol is someone who lost the trust of the neighborhood and was forced to leave.

But what does that have to do with her?

Kim Jisook immediately asked.

“What does that have to do with me that you’re doing this to me?”

“The people in that shop are all the same.”

“That shop?”

“Yes, that kid, Shin, and you, no one is free from the responsibility of chasing our *hyung* out.”

“So, you’re saying that Oh, the boss, ended up like that because of our shop? Ha! That’s absurd. How can you make such a far-fetched claim…”

Kim Jisook was so dumbfounded that she couldn’t speak.

Then, Choi Minsung said.

“I’ll definitely win this time.”

“Win? Ah, so that’s why you got a job at that new ramen shop again?”

“Just watch, this time…”

“Hmph! Do as you please. I have nothing more to say. Then, I’ll be going…”

Kim Jisook got up from her seat and left Rose Tea Room.

Choi Minsung was left alone.

“Just watch. I’ll definitely crush that little brat this time.”

Choi Minsung was muttering to himself, holding the seasoning sauce he had just received from Kim Jisook.

But there was something Choi Minsung didn’t know. That seasoning sauce was specially made by Hyunseong for Choi Minsung himself.