Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 260

That evening.

Hyun-sung was talking with Kim Il-soo after finishing up for the day.

Kim Il-soo asked,

“What’s up with that jerk, Chul-seung?”

“Well, it’s like this…”

Hyun-sung began to explain what had happened during the day to Kim Il-soo. As Hyun-sung’s explanation grew longer, Kim Il-soo wore a peculiar expression, as if he couldn’t believe it. And finally, as soon as Hyun-sung finished explaining, he immediately asked, as if he had been waiting for it.

“So, all of that was staged?”

“That’s what I’m saying. I was so dumbfounded…”

“Was it really necessary to go that far?”

“That’s what I’m saying. It would have been fine if he had just approached me normally, but I don’t know why he had to make such a fuss.”

It was a part that Hyun-sung couldn’t understand.

Then Kim Il-soo spoke again.

“He must have thought it was the right thing to do in his own way. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have done such a thing.”

“I guess so. On one hand, I feel sorry for him.”

“But no matter how I think about it, I can’t understand the knife. How can a guy who’s trying to become friends brandish a knife?”

“I told him that, and he said he did it for me.”

“For you?”

Kim Il-soo tilted his head. He thought it didn’t make sense logically.

Then Hyun-sung’s words followed immediately.

“He said it was his last bit of pride.”

“Last bit of pride? What does that mean?”

“It’s a bit ambiguous, but Chul-seung said he did his best. He said that’s how I could truly become the best in the third grade.”

“Heh heh.”

Kim Il-soo started laughing as soon as Hyun-sung finished speaking.

Then Hyun-sung immediately asked.

“What? Why are you laughing?”

“I’m laughing because Chul-seung’s actions are so cute. So, he’s saying he put on a show to make you the best in the third grade?”

“That’s right. He even said he dropped the knife on purpose. I was so dumbfounded when I heard that…”

“Well, it doesn’t seem like he dropped it on purpose, but anyway, it’s true that he put on a show, so it’s kind of cute. I can’t understand how he came up with that idea, but he’s definitely a strange guy.”

Kim Il-soo shook his head slightly, as if he was amazed.

Then Hyun-sung immediately continued.

“What’s clear is that he’s definitely not the guy I thought I knew.”

“Still, it’s a good thing. He tried to change in his own way. And the important thing is that he won’t be bullying kids anymore.”

“I guess so. Anyway, I’ll have to wait and see how much he changes, but I don’t think I’ll be bored in the future.”

“You’re saving another person.”

Kim Il-soo looked at Hyun-sung with a smile.

Then Hyun-sung smiled faintly.

The two men’s conversation ended there. Kim Il-soo left the store and headed home, and Hyun-sung got up from his seat and went into the inner room.

That’s how the day came to an end.

The next day.

Something happened.

Lee Chul-seung didn’t come to school.

At lunchtime, homeroom teacher Choi Ki-young called Hyun-sung.

Hyun-sung arrived at the faculty office.

“You called for me, teacher?”

“Yes, come in. Chul-seung still hasn’t come, has he?”

“No, sir. Hasn’t he called either?”

“No, he hasn’t. But I heard you two fought yesterday?”

Choi Ki-young glanced at Hyun-sung. He seemed to think that the reason Lee Chul-seung didn’t come to school was because of Hyun-sung.

It was a situation where he could be suspected, like a crow flying and a pear falling [a Korean idiom meaning being suspected without clear evidence].

Hyun-sung said.

“Of course, we argued, but I don’t think that’s why he didn’t come to school.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“We talked a lot after class. And he even came to the store and ate ramen, so I don’t think he didn’t come to school because of me.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, I’m sure of that. I think something must have happened at home.”

Choi Ki-young tilted his head and continued.

“Well, I don’t have a phone number for his house, so I can’t contact him and I don’t know what’s going on. It’s only been a few days since the third grade started, and he’s already absent…”

Choi Ki-young sighed, as if he was frustrated.

Then Hyun-sung said.

“Do you know anything about Chul-seung’s family situation?”

“According to his student record, he only has his mother.”

“Ah, I see.”

“I think I should go to Chul-seung’s house, but can I ask you a favor?”

“Are you telling me to go to his house?”

“I can’t do anything about today, but I’m worried that he won’t come tomorrow either. And I’m worried about what’s going on. I’m sorry, but can you go after class?”

Choi Ki-young looked at Hyun-sung carefully and said.

Then Hyun-sung nodded and continued.

“Yes, I understand. I’ll go to Chul-seung’s house after class.”

“Oh, don’t you have to go to work as soon as class is over?”

“Of course, but a friend comes first. I’ll go. I can ask Il-soo and Min-woo to take care of the store. Don’t worry about that.”

“Are you sure it’s okay?”

“Yes, it’s okay. I also had a conversation with Chul-seung yesterday, so I’ll go. I’ll ask Il-soo and Min-woo to take care of the store. Don’t worry about that.”

At Hyun-sung’s answer, Choi Ki-young nodded and expressed his gratitude.

Then he immediately called Hyun-sung’s name.

“Kim Hyun-sung.”

“Yes, tell me.”

“Please take care of me this year.”

“Yes? What do you mean?”

Hyun-sung looked at Choi Ki-young.

Then Choi Ki-young immediately continued.

“I heard a lot about you from Shin Min-ho, the previous homeroom teacher. He told me to consult with you if anything happened.”

“Did the teacher say that?”

“Yes, but after seeing you today, I know why Shin said that. There was definitely a good reason.”

“Teacher, come on…”

Hyun-sung scratched his head, as if he was embarrassed.

Then Choi Ki-young spoke again.

“Then, please take care of Chul-seung.”

“Yes, I understand. I’ll go as soon as class is over. There won’t be anything wrong, so don’t worry too much.”

Hyun-sung left the faculty office after saying that.

It was then.

“Kim Hyun-sung.”

Someone called from behind.

It was Choi Mi-yeon, the math teacher.

Hyun-sung said in a welcoming voice.

“Hello, teacher!”

“Why are you in the faculty office?”

“The homeroom teacher called me for a moment. One of the kids in our class is absent today.”

“I see. By the way, how’s business these days? I know there’s another ramen shop that opened in Samgeori [a neighborhood], is there any impact?”

Choi Mi-yeon asked with a worried expression.

Then Hyun-sung said, as if it was okay.

“There was an impact at first, but as time went on, sales have returned to what they used to be.”

“I’m glad to hear that, I was worried.”

“Were you? Thank you for your concern. By the way, there’s a rumor going around that a strange guy is wandering around the neighborhood these days, are you okay?”

“I’m a little worried about that.”

Choi Mi-yeon’s expression turned dark for a moment.

Then Hyun-sung immediately asked.

“Why? Did something happen?”

“These days, I feel like someone keeps loitering around my house at 12 o’clock, so I’m anxious. A few days ago, they even knocked on the door.”

“Yes? Is that true?”

“So these days, I lock the door three times. But even so, I wake up in the middle of the night at 12 o’clock because I’m so anxious.”

“Did you install burglar bars on the windows?”

“Of course. But I can’t help but be anxious. I hope they catch whoever it is soon. It’s not just me, all the women who live around here are like that.”

From Choi Mi-yeon’s expression, it seemed that she had been under a lot of stress.

Hyun-sung asked.

“Are there any streetlights?”

“Of course not. So I talked to the class president about it a while ago, but it didn’t work.”

“Why?”

“They said there’s no support from the government.”

“So, in the end, each individual has to be careful?”

“That’s right.”

Choi Mi-yeon nodded weakly.

Hyun-sung was just as frustrated. Since there was no support from the government, there was nothing Hyun-sung could do.

Hyun-sung, who had parted ways with Choi Mi-yeon, headed to the classroom.

At that time.

Bang.

Min Doo-shik slammed the table with his fist.

“How can there be so few customers during lunchtime?”

“Why are you acting like this all of a sudden? There haven’t been any customers during lunchtime from the beginning, have there?”

Choi Min-sung, who was next to him, said.

Then Min Doo-shik spoke again.

“Are you proud of that?”

“Why are you doing this to me? What did I do wrong…”

“I’m not talking to anyone, I’m just frustrated with myself. In fact, there are no customers not only during the day but also when students leave school, so I couldn’t help it.”

Min Doo-shik was going crazy.

It had been ten days since he opened the store. It was okay at first. He thought he would hit the jackpot soon.

But after three days, customers started to leave, and after a week, he was barely selling 100 bowls a day.

At this rate, he concluded that it would be difficult to last even three months.

He had to find a way.

Min Doo-shik looked at Choi Min-sung and asked.

“Hyung [older brother/male friend], do you have any good ideas? I don’t think we can last three months at this rate.”

“I know. Customers left faster than I thought. In the end, it proves that taste is more important than price.”

“But there’s no other way now, is there?”

“In the end, the key is to figure out the taste of that sauce, but it’s frustrating because there’s no way to figure it out.”

Choi Min-sung pressed his temples with both hands, as if he had a headache.

Then Min Doo-shik opened his mouth again.

“About that sauce, can we get it one more time?”

“The sauce?”

“Yes, I don’t think there’s a solution unless we revive the taste of the ramen.”

“But the problem is, even if we get that sauce, it’s useless if we can’t figure out the secret to its taste like last time, right?”

Choi Min-sung’s expression was dark.

That’s because he had obtained the sauce last time, but he failed to find the secret of the sauce.

Min Doo-shik said.

“The reason we failed last time is because I think that sauce was fake.”

“Fake?”

“Yes, I’m sure that woman was playing tricks on us. Otherwise, there’s no way the ramen wouldn’t taste good even after boiling it more than ten times, right?”

“I’m actually suspicious of that too. If we boiled it that much, it should have tasted right at least once, but I ate it more than ten times and it didn’t taste like the ramen that kid made.”

Choi Min-sung tilted his head, as if he was suspicious.

Then Min Doo-shik opened his mouth again.

“Hyung, how about we get that sauce ourselves this time?”

“We ourselves?”

“Yes, what’s the point of asking that woman anyway? She’ll just play tricks on us again. It’s not like it’s just a penny or two, it costs 100,000 won each time.”

“Of course, but how can we get that sauce ourselves?”

Choi Min-sung looked at Min Doo-shik, as if he was curious.

Then Min Doo-shik’s lips seemed to curl severely to one side, and he continued.

“Leave it to me.”

“Are you saying you’re going to steal it?”

“It’s all or nothing.”

“Heh heh, you…”

Choi Min-sung just let out a hollow laugh, as if he had nothing to say.