Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 263

263

The Next Day, Evening.

*Clang.*

The shop door opened, and someone walked in.

“You’ve arrived?”

Hyeonseong greeted the guest with a smile. The guest was none other than the female employee he had met at the community center yesterday.

“I always keep my promises. By the way, I think I’m a bit late. Are you closed for the day?”

“It’s alright. It’s easier to talk when there are no customers anyway.”

“Is that how it works?”

The female employee nodded.

Hyeonseong immediately continued.

“First, let me introduce myself. As you can see, I’m Kim Hyeonseong, running a ramen shop. I’m a senior in high school this year.”

“So, your name is Hyeonseong. I’ve heard a lot about this ramen shop. I was curious, and it’s nice to meet you like this. My name is Han Ji-eun. I’m…”

The female employee easily shared her name but hesitated to mention her age.

Hyeonseong quickly interjected.

“It’s okay; you don’t have to tell me your age. You’re older than me anyway, so I’ll just call you ‘Nuna’ [term for older sister used by males in Korean]. Is that alright?”

“Nuna?”

“Yes, I think it would be more comfortable for you too, don’t you think? And from now on, please speak casually.”

“Haha, are you always this easygoing?”

Han Ji-eun said with a light laugh.

Hyeonseong replied immediately.

“Actually, I don’t have an older sister, so I’ve always been envious of friends who do. So, there’s that reason too. And even though we only talked briefly yesterday, I felt comfortable with you.”

“Really? Okay. Then I’ll speak casually from now on, so don’t be too formal with me. It makes me feel awkward.”

“Alright, Nuna. Is this how it’s done?”

“Uh? Uh… okay. But it feels a bit strange to suddenly start speaking casually like this. Anyway, what’s the reason you called me here today?”

The reason Han Ji-eun came to the ramen shop was because Hyeonseong had invited her the day before. So, she was asking for the reason now.

Hyeonseong continued.

“I’ll explain the reason later, but first, you have to taste the ramen. You said you were curious about the ramen here yesterday, right?”

“Then shall we try the ramen first?”

“Wait a moment, I’ll cook it for you quickly.”

With those words, Hyeonseong disappeared into the kitchen.

A short while later.

Hyeonseong, having cooked the ramen, placed the pot in front of Han Ji-eun.

“Here you go, Nuna.”

“Oh, thanks. Hmm… the ramen smells good.”

Han Ji-eun had already grabbed her chopsticks.

Seeing this, Hyeonseong said with a smile.

“Nuna, were you very hungry?”

“No, it’s not that, but the smell of the ramen made me…”

“Go ahead and eat it.”

Before Hyeonseong could finish his sentence, Han Ji-eun began to eat the ramen.

*Slurp.*

“Wow!”

An exclamation immediately escaped Han Ji-eun’s lips.

“How’s the ramen?”

“Now I know why people are so amazed by the ramen here. It’s on a different level from the ramen I cook at home. What kind of seasoning do you use to make it taste like this?”

“Hehe, I’m glad you like it. Eat up.”

“Yeah, but did you make this seasoning yourself, Hyeonseong?”

Hyeonseong chuckled and nodded.

Han Ji-eun tilted her head in amazement and began to eat the ramen again.

A short while later.

Han Ji-eun, having finished the ramen, looked at Hyeonseong and said.

“I have a question. Can I ask?”

“What is it?”

“I can’t understand, no matter how much I think about it. How did you think of running a ramen shop while going to school?”

It was a question everyone asked at first. It meant that Hyeonseong’s situation was not typical.

“Well, that’s…”

Hyeonseong had no choice but to start explaining the situation when he first started the shop. As Hyeonseong’s explanation grew longer, Han Ji-eun’s expression changed strangely, as if she couldn’t believe it. And finally, when Hyeonseong’s explanation ended, Han Ji-eun looked at Hyeonseong and said.

“So, you’re saying that it was originally a spot you recommended to your friend’s mother, but she didn’t want it, so you had no choice but to do it?”

“Yes, that’s right. It wasn’t easy for me to run a shop while going to school either.”

“Of course, it wouldn’t be. But how did you know this place would be a hit?”

“That’s…”

Hyeonseong stopped talking.

Of course, it was possible because he had regressed [time travel]. But he couldn’t tell the truth about that.

Hyeonseong had no choice but to beat around the bush.

“I had a feeling.”

“A feeling?”

“Yes, even though the shop is located in an alley, I knew that this alley was the main route for students. And there were no ramen shops around here.”

“Hmm, I see.”

Han Ji-eun nodded and looked at Hyeonseong in amazement.

Then she said again.

“No matter how good you felt, I can’t understand how a student thought of running a business.”

“Isn’t the result what matters? I’m running a business perfectly fine now. Don’t you think?”

“Of course, that’s true. By the way, what about the taste? It wouldn’t have been easy to find this taste, would it?”

“I was lucky.”

Hyeonseong had no choice but to lie. It seemed like it would never end if he explained everything.

But that was just Hyeonseong’s opinion, and it couldn’t satisfy Han Ji-eun’s curiosity.

Han Ji-eun asked again.

“Did you just say you were lucky?”

“Yes.”

“You want me to believe that?”

“Of course, I made various seasonings at first. Then, at some point, the current seasoning came out.”

“Well… it’s not my place to ask about that. Anyway, you’re amazing.”
Han Ji-eun looked at Hyeonseong and nodded.

Then Hyeonseong looked at Han Ji-eun and asked.

“Can I ask you something too?”

“Of course.”

“Is there a particular reason why you became a civil servant?”

“Should I be honest?”
Han Ji-eun said with a strange smile.

Hyeonseong replied immediately.

“Of course. And I don’t think you’re the type to lie. Don’t you think?”

“Well, I don’t know if it’s a good thing that you see me that way, but my answer is simple. I thought there was no better job than this in my current situation.”

“You’re saying it was the best option?”

“That’s right. At first, I was thinking of graduating from a local university, even if it was a local one, and getting a job at a regular company. But after seeing the seniors who graduated, I realized that it wouldn’t be easy for a woman.”

Hyeonseong nodded without realizing it.

It was something he had experienced directly in his past life.

Hyeonseong continued.

“You mean…?”

“Yeah, I took a leave of absence after one semester. Then I immediately ran to Noryangjin [area in Seoul famous for cram schools].”

“You ran to a cram school?”

“That’s right. I couldn’t afford to waste tuition money and spend four years in a difficult situation.”
Han Ji-eun looked up at the ceiling for a moment, as if reminiscing about the past.

Looking at Han Ji-eun, Hyeonseong asked.

“So, how long did it take you?”

“A year and a half. At first, I was preparing for the 7th grade exam [higher-level civil service exam], but that wasn’t as easy as I thought. So, I had no choice but to take the 9th grade exam [lower-level civil service exam]. That was all I was capable of.”

“Still, you’re amazing. You passed in a year and a half. There are many people who study for years and still don’t pass.”

“My plan from the beginning was two years. If I didn’t pass in two years, I was going to quit and get married.”

“Get married?”

Hyeonseong chuckled.

Han Ji-eun said with a smile.

“Why are you laughing?”

“No, it’s just. It’s not like getting married is a child’s play…”

“There was a man who was chasing after me, saying he would die without me back then.”

“Well, with your beauty, Nuna, I guess that could happen.”

“Haha, is that a compliment?”
Han Ji-eun looked at Hyeonseong with a smile.

Hyeonseong replied immediately.

“It’s not a compliment, it’s a fact. Don’t you think?”

“Are you teasing me, Nuna?”

“Who’s teasing who? It seems like you’re enjoying it.”

“Haha, you really…”

The two of them laughed without knowing who started first.

After a moment, Han Ji-eun opened her mouth again.

“Anyway, let’s talk about the main point now. You didn’t call me here to talk about this, did you?”

“Actually, I invited you here because I have a favor to ask.”

“A favor? What is it?”

“I was wondering if you could give a lecture at our school.”

Han Ji-eun tilted her head as soon as Hyeonseong finished speaking.

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

“Well, that’s…”

Hyeonseong began to explain the problems of the rural school and how difficult it would be for the current seniors to adapt to society if they graduated like this. As Hyeonseong’s explanation grew longer, Han Ji-eun nodded and showed agreement with Hyeonseong’s words. And finally, when Hyeonseong’s explanation ended, she asked immediately.

“So, you’re saying you want me to talk about my experiences?”

“Yes, that’s right. There’s no more valuable information for us than that.”

“I know what you mean, but…”
Han Ji-eun trailed off and looked troubled.

Hyeonseong asked immediately.

“Is there a problem?”

“Well… it’s not as easy as it sounds…”

Han Ji-eun, who had been confident a moment ago, suddenly became discouraged.

Hyeonseong asked again.

“What’s wrong?”

“Actually, I’ve never stood in a place like that before. And I’m the type who can’t speak well in front of a lot of people…”

“What? What are you talking about?”

“It’s true. That’s why I was the type who quietly went to school when I was in school. I’m much better now.”
Hyeonseong was dumbfounded. He couldn’t say anything for a moment at Han Ji-eun’s unexpected behavior.

Then Han Ji-eun slowly opened her mouth.

“I’m sorry I asked you for a favor.”

“Well, I don’t know what to say right now. I thought you were easygoing, Nuna, so I didn’t expect you to worry about that at all. This is really unexpected.”

“Instead…”
Han Ji-eun carefully opened her mouth.

Hyeonseong asked immediately.

“Instead of what?”

“I can’t go to school and stand in front of a lot of students, but I think I can do it here.”

“You mean here at the shop?”

“Yes, if there are any students who are interested in that, wouldn’t it be okay to explain it here? If I can do that, I want to help in any way I can…”
Han Ji-eun looked at Hyeonseong with an apologetic expression.

Hyeonseong said.

“Is it impossible to do it at school?”

“I don’t think I can do it no matter how much I think about it. What if I can’t even speak properly in front of the students if I say I’ll do it?”

“Of course, that shouldn’t happen. But the problem is the number of students. What if there are a lot of kids who are interested in the civil service exam?”

“Surely there won’t be that many?”
Han Ji-eun said, looking at Hyeonseong.

Hyeonseong shook his head and continued.

“You never know. It’s okay if there are only a few, as you expect, Nuna, but what if the opposite happens and the number increases?”

At Hyeonseong’s question, Han Ji-eun thought for a moment and then slowly opened her mouth.

“How about this method? I mean…”
Han Ji-eun began to explain her thoughts.