Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 270

Hyun-sung, who exited the restaurant first, settled the bill and waited outside the Chinese eatery.

Kim Myung-shik, belatedly realizing Hyun-sung’s departure, hurried out and called after him.

“Kim Hyun-sung, what are you doing?”

“I’m sorry. Please treat me to something even more expensive next time.”

“You rascal, what does that make me sound like?”

“Why do you say that? I was already touched when you brought me to the Chinese restaurant. That’s more than enough for me.”

It was the truth.

His heart had genuinely warmed the moment Kim Myung-shik suggested the Chinese restaurant. He would have been perfectly content with a quick drink at the bakery and a brief chat before parting ways.

But Kim Myung-shik had gone further.

And it didn’t stop there. Even after they arrived, Hyun-sung had mentioned wanting Jjambong [spicy Korean noodle soup with seafood], but Kim Myung-shik had also ordered Rajogi [stir-fried pork with vegetables in a savory sauce] and Gochujapchae [stir-fried glass noodles with vegetables and chili peppers].

Others might not see it the same way, but for Hyun-sung, it was a deeply touching gesture. It was something that would never have happened if Kim Myung-shik didn’t genuinely care about his junior colleague.

And he later came to understand that Kim Myung-shik had done his best for him, even while facing his own difficult financial situation.

Hyun-sung was referring to all of this now.

Kim Myung-shik replied,

“Still, this doesn’t feel right.”

“Today isn’t the only day, is it? There will be plenty of opportunities in the future. So please consider this your loss for today, senior.”

“You really…”

Kim Myung-shik’s voice trailed off. The bill was already paid. Continuing to argue about it would only make him feel more pathetic.

‘Okay, let’s just drop it. What good is petty pride in this situation? I can’t even manage my own affairs and I’m receiving help from young Hyun-sung. Why else would Hyun-sung have paid the bill? Acknowledge it, accept it, and start fresh from now on.’

Having resolved his internal conflict, Kim Myung-shik called out Hyun-sung’s name with newfound seriousness.

“Kim Hyun-sung!”

“Yes, senior.”

“I apologize for acting proud and stubborn. I might seem pathetic right now, but just watch me for a year. I won’t fall apart like this. And this is a shameless and absurd request, but I will gladly accept your help. Please help this incompetent senior just this once.”

Kim Myung-shik spoke his thoughts to Hyun-sung as if he had reached a firm decision.

Hyun-sung looked at Kim Myung-shik and nodded his head emphatically.

“Yes, senior. I believe in you. And I will support you.”

As soon as Hyun-sung finished speaking, Kim Myung-shik grasped Hyun-sung’s hand tightly.

“Thank you, Hyun-sung.”

“I’m also grateful. Thank you for telling me everything honestly, even though it wasn’t easy. And I’ll transfer the money to your account first thing Monday, so please take care of that private loan.”

“Okay, I understand. Once that’s settled, everything else will fall into place.”

“Then that’s good. Now, let’s head home quickly to see your mother. Lead the way, senior.”

Hyun-sung urged him forward.

Kim Myung-shik looked at Hyun-sung and asked in a hesitant voice.

“Um… I’m sorry, but why do you want to see my mother…?”

“You’ll understand when we get there. Hurry up and lead the way! Quickly!”

At Hyun-sung’s resolute tone, Kim Myung-shik didn’t press the matter further and started walking ahead.

The two arrived at Kim Myung-shik’s house.

After a brief greeting, Hyun-sung, upon entering the main room, addressed Kim Myung-shik’s mother, Oh Bok-ja.

“Mother, please lie down here comfortably.”

“Huh? What’s going on all of a sudden?”

Oh Bok-ja was clearly bewildered. She knew he was her son’s junior colleague, but she couldn’t help but be taken aback when he suddenly suggested giving her a medical examination like a doctor.

It wasn’t just Oh Bok-ja who was confused.

Kim Myung-shik and his father, Kim Dae-sun, who were observing Hyun-sung’s actions, were equally perplexed.

Kim Myung-shik turned to Hyun-sung and asked,

“What are you doing?”

“Just watch. I need to concentrate from now on, so I’m sorry, but please be quiet.”

Hyun-sung deliberately avoided giving any explanation.

He knew all too well that it wasn’t something easily understood, even with an explanation. Even Hyun-sung himself didn’t fully grasp it, so how could he expect others to?

Hyun-sung took Oh Bok-ja’s hand and slowly closed his eyes.

How much time had passed?

Hyun-sung opened his eyes and began to speak.

“You’ve had a significant portion of your stomach removed, haven’t you?”

“Oh, how did you…?”

Oh Bok-ja was utterly astonished. If what Hyun-sung said was true, it meant he could diagnose her simply by holding her hand.

Moreover, it wasn’t just a simple diagnosis; he could also discern the changes within her body.

How could such a thing be possible?

Then Hyun-sung spoke again.

“The illness has spread to your lungs and liver, hasn’t it?”

“Huh…”

Oh Bok-ja was so dumbfounded that she was speechless.

It matched the exact areas of metastasis that the hospital had identified.

Kim Myung-shik, who had been silently observing, finally spoke.

“Kim Hyun-sung, what’s going on here?”

“I don’t know either. Sometimes I have these abilities.”

“Is that real?”

“Yes, but it’s not like I can diagnose everyone. It varies. I think I’m just lucky today.”

Kim Myung-shik struggled to believe it, even though he was hearing it firsthand.

How could someone possibly know a patient’s condition simply by holding their hand, without any medical equipment?

Then Hyun-sung continued.

“I’m going to start treatment now.”

“Treatment?”

“Yes, I can’t guarantee that it will definitely work, but I will do my best. So from now on, please be quiet…”

“Oh? Oh…, okay, I understand.”

Kim Myung-shik instinctively covered his mouth.

Hyun-sung took Oh Bok-ja’s hand again and slowly closed his eyes.

He began to channel his energy into Oh Bok-ja’s body through his hands.

How much time had passed?

Sweat started to form on Hyun-sung’s forehead.

But Hyun-sung didn’t stop the flow of energy.

“Hoo!”

Hyun-sung’s treatment continued as he regulated his breathing.

After about 30 more minutes, sweat was pouring from Hyun-sung’s entire body. Ten more minutes passed in the same manner.

“Hoo!”

Hyun-sung took a deep breath and opened his eyes.

“That’s it for today.”

“……”

Oh Bok-ja was speechless.

It had been a truly mysterious experience.

At first, she had wondered what was happening. It didn’t make any sense to her, no matter how she tried to rationalize it.

But that feeling was fleeting, and she soon felt a strange change in her body.

At some point, a warm energy began to flow into her.

The warm energy spread throughout her body, as if it were disinfecting every corner.

Then, the energy divided into two and began to concentrate in specific areas.

She wasn’t certain, but she felt that it was probably in the liver and lung areas – the exact locations where the hospital had identified metastasis.

But what was even more surprising was what happened next.

The warm energy that had divided into two began to grow hotter and hotter. The heat was almost unbearable, as if it were burning away the cancer cells.

The surprises didn’t end there.

The intense heat suddenly vanished, as if it had never existed. Then, the pain in her body disappeared, and she felt as comfortable as if she were being held in her mother’s arms.

Hyun-sung looked at Oh Bok-ja, who was lying down, and asked,

“Mother, how are you feeling?”

“Huh? Th, that’s so comfortable. I was in pain until a little while ago, but now it’s like a lie, there’s no pain.”

Oh Bok-ja could hardly believe the words coming out of her own mouth.

Kim Myung-shik, who was watching the scene, asked,

“Mother, are you really okay?”

“Yes, I’m telling you. I was in pain here until a little while ago, but now I’m fine. What on earth is going on?”

Kim Myung-shik turned to Hyun-sung and asked,

“Kim Hyun-sung, what on earth is going on?”

“As I said before, I have no explanation. It’s an ability that I developed one day. I still find it amazing, even when I think about it.”

“No, how…?”

Kim Myung-shik couldn’t believe what he was witnessing.

It was then.

Kim Dae-sun, Kim Myung-shik’s father, who had been quiet until now, approached Hyun-sung, grasped his hand tightly, and said,

“Student, thank you so much. You saved my wife. I don’t know how to repay this favor.”

“I can’t be certain yet. I think she’ll need additional treatment at the hospital to know for sure.”

“No, the person who was just complaining about the pain is now lying down so comfortably. Isn’t that enough of an indication?”

“Anyway, I was fortunate. And I’ll come again once a week in the future. I don’t know when the treatment will end, but I’ll do my best.”

In the case of Chairman Shin Chun-oh of Nongshim [a large Korean food company], he was able to complete the treatment quickly because it was in the early stages.

But Oh Bok-ja’s case was different.

This was because the illness had already spread to the surrounding organs.

Kim Myung-shik asked,

“Does that mean that my mother’s illness can be cured?”

“I can’t guarantee it, but I will do my best.”

“Have you had this kind of experience before?”

“That person was in the early stages, so I was able to treat them quickly.”

Kim Myung-shik couldn’t believe his ears.

If what Hyun-sung said was true, it meant that this wasn’t the first time. How could such a thing be possible?

“Does that mean that the person, whoever they are, has been cured?”

“Yes.”

“……”

Kim Myung-shik was speechless.

It was then.

Kim Dae-sun offered something to Hyun-sung.

“Student, this isn’t much, but please accept this.”

“What is this?”

“It’s all I have right now.”

What Kim Dae-sun handed over was money – three 10,000 won [approximately $7.50 USD] bills.

Seeing this, Hyun-sung said,

“I can’t accept this. Instead, I will gratefully accept your heartfelt gratitude, father.”

“No, please accept it. I’m begging you. I think my heart will be more at ease that way.”

“Father, if I accept this, I won’t be able to come next time. Would you still be okay with that?”

“No, that’s…”

Kim Dae-sun was caught in a dilemma.

Hyun-sung spoke again.

“Father, please just give me a glass of cold water instead. I’m sweating…”

Before Hyun-sung could even finish his sentence, Kim Dae-sun rushed towards the refrigerator.

A little later.

Hyun-sung looked at Oh Bok-ja and said,

“Then I’ll be going now.”

“Student, thank you so much. Thanks to you, I have hope again.”

“Yes, cheer up and eat well. I’ll come again next week.”

“Okay, thank you. Thank you so much.”

Oh Bok-ja grasped Hyun-sung’s hand and thanked him repeatedly.

The two men left the house.

Kim Myung-shik looked at Hyun-sung and said,

“How can I ever repay this favor?”

“You’re overthinking it. Isn’t this all just fate?”

“Fate?”

“Yes, I think so. For some reason, I felt a strong urge to come and see you, senior.”

At Hyun-sung’s words, Kim Myung-shik smiled.

“I’m glad to have met such a benefactor, but I worry that I’m just burdening you for no reason.”

“What kind of…”

It was then.

Kim Myung-shik hurriedly interrupted Hyun-sung.

“Oh, don’t you have something you’ve forgotten to give me?”

“Yes? What…?”