Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 266

266

The next day, in the afternoon.

Hyun-sung visited the principal’s office.

Principal Park Sang-hyun greeted Hyun-sung warmly as he entered.

“Welcome, I was just about to call you.”

“You were looking for me? Why, what happened?”

“No, nothing like that. I just received a call from the police chief during lunch.”

“The police chief? Why?”

Hyun-sung tilted his head, puzzled.

Principal Park Sang-hyun continued immediately, “He was talking about you.”

“Me? What do you mean? I’ve never even met the police chief. Why would he be talking about me…?”

“I heard you caught a suspicious person who broke into Teacher Choi’s house last night?”

“Ah, that.”

Hyun-sung finally understood what Principal Park Sang-hyun was talking about.

Principal Park Sang-hyun looked at Hyun-sung and asked, “Can you explain what happened?”

“Ah, well, you see…”

Hyun-sung had no choice but to start explaining what had happened the previous night. As Hyun-sung’s explanation grew longer, Park Sang-hyun nodded and began to listen attentively. And when Hyun-sung’s explanation finally ended, he said immediately, “Haha, if you hadn’t been there at that time, Teacher Choi would have been in big trouble.”

“I think so too. Actually, the math teacher had been saying for days that a suspicious person kept loitering around her house.”

“Was there such a thing?”

“Yes, so I was worried too, and I happened to be in that neighborhood last night and encountered the suspicious person.”

Principal Park Sang-hyun nodded. Then he asked immediately, “But how did you end up there so late at night?”

“That’s…”

Hyun-sung had no choice but to start explaining again how he ended up going there. When Hyun-sung’s explanation was over, Principal Park Sang-hyun asked again, “You mean you went to take a staff member named Han Ji-eun, who works at the township office, home?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“You’re saying that person is a friend who will give a lecture at our school?”

“Yes, so we met at a cafe last night to talk, and it got late, so I went to take her home. But it just so happened that it was also where the math teacher lives, so that’s how it happened.”

Principal Park Sang-hyun nodded as if he understood.

“So that’s what happened. But how did you manage to get this friend, Han Ji-eun, to agree to do it? Giving a lecture isn’t an easy thing to do.”

“I told her about the reality that the high school seniors are currently experiencing. Then she gladly said she would give a lecture.”

“Haha, you’ve done a great job again. So, is that why you came to see me?”

“Yes, I wanted to report to you, Principal, and also I was curious about the alumni association news that you mentioned last time.”

When Hyun-sung’s words were finished, Principal Park Sang-hyun took out a white paper from his desk drawer and handed it to Hyun-sung.

“Okay, let’s have that friend, Han Ji-eun, give a lecture to the students soon. And take a look at this.”

“What is this?”

“Just look at it.”

Hyun-sung began to examine the A4 paper that Principal Park Sang-hyun had handed him. It listed the names, occupations, and contact information of alumni typed out.

Hyun-sung looked at Principal Park Sang-hyun and asked immediately, “Isn’t this a list of graduates?”

“That’s right. I received the list from the alumni president and spent several days organizing the people. I only picked out 20 people.”

“You mean you personally selected them from among all those graduates?”

“That’s right. I chose job fields that I thought would be realistically helpful to our students. As you can see there, there are soldiers and people who run bakeries. And a chef working at a hotel, and others…”

Principal Park Sang-hyun’s explanation continued.

Hyun-sung listened to Principal Park Sang-hyun’s explanation and was impressed.

*There aren’t just one or two hundred graduates, but thousands. But if what he’s saying is true, it means he personally checked all the information of those many graduates.*

*Is this even possible?*

Hyun-sung asked again, “You mean you checked all the information of those many graduates?”

“If I’m going to do it, I should do it right, shouldn’t I? As you know, I only have one year left until retirement.”

“Of course, I know that, but…”

“Now that I think about it, when I first heard what you said, I was honestly skeptical. But when I thought about it, I realized that there couldn’t be anything better for the students in reality.”

“Ah, yes…”

Hyun-sung nodded and waited for Principal Park Sang-hyun’s next words.

Then Principal Park Sang-hyun’s words continued immediately, “So I decided. Before I leave, I’m going to make sure to handle this matter properly for the high school seniors.”

“So that’s why you personally checked all the information of those many graduates?”

“That’s right. But while doing this, I realized once again how important a person’s heart is.”

“You mean…”

Hyun-sung felt like he knew what Principal Park Sang-hyun was talking about.

At that moment, Principal Park Sang-hyun continued immediately, “It was enjoyable.”

“…”

“Even though I was working all night, it was enjoyable. I was surprised at myself. That’s how much I realized that a person’s heart is important.”

“I’m just grateful that you said that. But have you contacted the people on that list yet?”

*In some ways, this is the most important part.*

*You can get the list from the alumni president at any time. The problem is how responsive the people on that list will be.*

At Hyun-sung’s question, Principal Park Sang-hyun’s expression suddenly darkened.

“That’s…”

“Why, what happened?”

“It’s not as easy as we thought.”

“Did they refuse to cooperate?”

“That’s right. They say they’re busy, but I don’t think they know how desperate our students are.”

A variable.

*It’s something I hadn’t thought of.*

*I thought they would gladly help if I asked as a junior. But the reality is not like that.*

Hyun-sung looked at Principal Park Sang-hyun and asked immediately, “What should we do?”

“I know, it’s something I didn’t think of either. I didn’t expect such a problem to arise even when I was organizing the list.”

“How many people have you contacted?”

“Five people. But the answer I got was that they were all busy.”

“…”

Hyun-sung was speechless.

*The fact that five people gave the same answer means that it won’t be easy to expect answers from the remaining people.*

After thinking for a moment, Hyun-sung looked at Principal Park Sang-hyun and said, “Do you have another copy of this contact information?”

“Of course. I already made a copy to give to you. You can take the one you’re holding now. But do you have any good ideas?”

“I don’t think just calling will be enough.”

“You mean…”

“Yes, I think I’ll have to visit them in person. I’m going to visit them in person, explain our desperation, and ask for help.”

Principal Park Sang-hyun nodded and continued, “That would be a good idea, but can you do it alone?”

“Of course, I don’t have much time, but I’ll do my best.”

“It won’t be easy.”

“Of course. I didn’t know the situation would get this bad either. But we can’t back down like this, can we? Now that we’ve started, we have to see it through.”

Hyun-sung felt a sense of stubbornness.

At that time, Principal Park Sang-hyun asked again, “Is there anything I can do to help?”

“First of all, the start is important. In that sense, I would like you to hurry up with the lecture from Han Ji-eun, who works at the township office, as I mentioned earlier.”

“Okay. Tomorrow is the weekend, so how about next Wednesday?”

“Yes, that’s good. It won’t work during class time anyway, so let’s have them listen to the lecture in the auditorium after class…”

Hyun-sung had no choice but to stop in the middle of his sentence.

That’s because Principal Park Sang-hyun interrupted Hyun-sung’s words.

“No!”

“Yes? What do you mean?”

“I’ll arrange for them to listen to the lecture in the auditorium during the fifth period after lunch.”

“Is that possible?”

Hyun-sung couldn’t understand. It’s not a situation where the school can provide support. But he couldn’t understand how they could listen to a lecture during class.

At that time, Principal Park Sang-hyun’s words continued, “I can do that much at the principal’s discretion.”

“Really?”

“That’s right. Instead, I’ll make it voluntary. There will definitely be students who don’t want to.”

“Of course, that’s right. Friends who are aiming for college will definitely hate it.”

That’s right.

*Although it’s a small number, students who are aiming for college may think that time itself is a waste.*

Principal Park Sang-hyun said again, “Knowing that, ask the township office staff to give a lecture next Wednesday.”

“Yes, I understand. Thank you so much for helping me this much.”

“No, I’m the one who’s grateful. By the way, when are you planning to visit the seniors [alumni]?”

“Well, tomorrow is Saturday, so I’m going to go to Hongcheon downtown after class. I saw on the list that there’s a senior who runs a bakery in Hongcheon downtown.”

“That’s a good idea too. A baker is good too. If you work hard, it’s easy to support a family. When I see that, you have a really good sense of reality.”

“Is that so? Haha…”

Hyun-sung laughed lightly.

*That’s right. In the future, neighborhood bakeries will be almost wiped out by large chain stores, but even up to this point, running a bakery in the neighborhood was enough to support a family.*

Hyun-sung took the A4 paper and bowed to Principal Park Sang-hyun.

“Thank you for your hard work in preparing the list. From now on, I will try to visit the seniors [alumni] on this list if possible.”

“You’re going to have a lot of trouble?”

“Isn’t it something I started anyway? I will try to take responsibility and finish it to the end.”

“I hope your friends will know at least a little bit about that heart.”

Principal Park Sang-hyun looked at Hyun-sung with a slightly pitiful expression.

Then Hyun-sung smiled and continued, “Don’t look at me with such a pitiful expression.”

“I’m just impressed and feel sorry for you.”

“Everything will be fine. So don’t worry too much.”

“It’s not worry, it’s just that I feel sorry for you working so hard alone. But I have no way to help you more.”

“Don’t say that. The reason I can be so strong is because you are here, Principal.”

“Haha, thank you for thinking that way. Okay, then keep up the good work.”

“Yes, I understand. Then I’ll be going…”

Hyun-sung greeted and left the principal’s office.

Hyun-sung was just passing by the faculty office.

“Kim Hyun-sung!”

Someone called Hyun-sung from behind.

When he turned around, it was Choi Mi-yeon, the math teacher.

“Hello.”

“Oh, where have you been?”

“I had something to talk about with the principal, so I’m coming from there.”

“Ah, I see. By the way, are you free tomorrow?”

Choi Min-yeon asked with a smile.

Hyun-sung shook his head and said, “I’m going to be busy tomorrow because I have to go somewhere after class. But why?”

“I’m grateful for what happened yesterday. I was wondering if we could have a meal together…”

“Don’t worry about that. I’m just glad you’re safe.”

“Still, I’m so grateful…”

Choi Mi-yeon looked regretful.

Hyun-sung just smiled at Choi Mi-yeon.

Then Choi Mi-yeon suddenly asked urgently, as if she had thought of something, “Oh, did you hear the news?”