Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 280

“So, you’re saying you wanted to brag about me, Senior?”

“That’s right. Otherwise, why would I talk about my debts in front of the principal, whom I’m meeting for the first time?”

“No, what I mean is…”

Hyun-sung was having trouble understanding.

Then, Kim Myung-shik spoke again.

“It might seem a bit far-fetched, but I wanted to express my gratitude to you in that way.”

“I understand what you’re saying, but still…”

Hyun-sung felt like he understood what Kim Myung-shik was trying to say. But he still wondered if it was necessary to go that far.

“Of course, you might not understand from your perspective, but I wanted to show the principal how great you are, even if it meant doing it that way. If it weren’t in front of the principal, I wouldn’t have gone that far.”

“You mean…”

“Yes, I did it because I wanted you to be recognized by the principal.”

“…”

Hyun-sung had nothing more to say.

He knew why Kim Myung-shik had gone to such lengths to do what he did.

From Kim Myung-shik’s perspective, Principal Park Sang-hyun held the highest position. Of course, that was true. Therefore, he thought that if Hyun-sung was recognized by such a person, it would be of great help to him, both overtly and covertly, during his school life.

At that moment, Principal Park Sang-hyun, who had been listening to the conversation, looked at Kim Myung-shik and said,

“So, you had such a deep intention?”

“It’s nothing much, but I wanted to help Hyun-sung in any way I could.”

“Haha, but if that’s the case, you’ve wasted your efforts.”

“Yes? What do you mean by that…”

Kim Myung-shik looked at Principal Park Sang-hyun, as if he didn’t understand.

Then, Principal Park Sang-hyun chuckled and continued,

“Hyun-sung has already been recognized and then some, apart from that incident.”

“Yes? Is that true?”

“Of course. You probably thought that way because you didn’t know what our Hyun-sung has done. Anyway, this friend can’t be compared to ordinary students.”

“Is it that much?”

Kim Myung-shik looked at Hyun-sung in amazement.

Then, Principal Park Sang-hyun spoke again.

“Let me tell you just one thing.”

“One thing?”

“That’s right. Have you been to the school restrooms?”

“I stopped by briefly before coming here. But why the restrooms all of a sudden…?”

“That’s Hyun-sung’s work.”

“Yes? What do you mean by that?”

Kim Myung-shik couldn’t understand what Principal Park Sang-hyun was saying.

Principal Park Sang-hyun continued,

“Just as I said. Hyun-sung made those restrooms.”

“I don’t understand what you’re saying.”

“That is to say…”

Principal Park Sang-hyun began to explain in detail how the restrooms were made. The longer the explanation, the more Kim Myung-shik tilted his head in disbelief. And finally, when Principal Park Sang-hyun’s explanation ended, Kim Myung-shik asked immediately.

“Is that really true?”

“That’s right. I thought it was impossible, but he did it.”

“How could he do a construction project that cost over ten million won…?”

“He attended the alumni association and persuaded the alumni directly. Don’t you think that’s amazing no matter how you look at it?”

“…”

Kim Myung-shik was speechless.

This is not something a student should do. The construction cost is one thing, but how could a student even think of doing such a project?

Then, Principal Park Sang-hyun spoke again.

“Do you know how great our Hyun-sung is now?”

“Haha, I didn’t realize Hyun-sung was such a great person. Now that you mention it, Principal, it seems I did something unnecessary.”

Kim Myung-shik burst out laughing.

Then, Hyun-sung, who was listening next to him, looked at Kim Myung-shik and said,

“Aren’t you going too far? Is it okay to make fun of someone like this with them standing right here?”

“Make fun of you? What are you talking about? I really didn’t know you were such a great person.”

Kim Myung-shik shook his head as he looked at Hyun-sung.

In a way, from the moment he first came to him, it wasn’t a typical case. Who would ask a graduated senior for a lecture in the capacity of a current student?

No, even before that, the very act of thinking about such a thing was already beyond the ordinary.

Kim Myung-shik looked at Principal Park Sang-hyun and continued,

“Anyway, Principal, you must be happy.”

“You can say that again. It seems I have good fortune in my later years. I had many worries because next year is my retirement, but thanks to Hyun-sung, I think I’ll be able to finish properly.”

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

At that moment.

Knock, knock.

At the sound of the knock, Principal Park Sang-hyun said in a friendly voice,

“Yes, come in.”

He naturally expected Han Ji-eun to enter. But the person who opened the door and came in was unexpectedly Lee Sun-woo, the class president of Class 2.

Hyun-sung could sense that something had happened.

“What’s wrong?”

At Hyun-sung’s urgent voice, Principal Park Sang-hyun and Kim Myung-shik’s gazes turned to Lee Sun-woo.

Then, Lee Sun-woo looked at Hyun-sung with a slightly embarrassed look.

“What’s wrong?”

Hyun-sung asked again.

Then, Lee Sun-woo immediately opened his mouth.

“It looks like we’ll have to move the classroom.”

“Move the classroom? What are you talking about?”

Hyun-sung couldn’t understand what Lee Sun-woo was saying for a moment. Originally, they were going to prepare the lecture in the auditorium, but they changed the date to Sunday and moved the location to the classroom. The reason for this was the judgment that not many people would attend.

But now Lee Sun-woo is saying that they might have to move the classroom again.

Then…

Hyun-sung seemed to understand what Lee Sun-woo meant.

Was that why?

Hyun-sung spoke quickly.

“Is the classroom too small?”

“Yeah, the classroom is too small now, and there’s no place to sit. We need to move to the auditorium quickly.”

“Is that for real?”

An unbelievable thing had happened. He had expected that at most 20 or 30 people would come. But the fact that there are no seats means that there are at least 50 people.

Hyun-sung couldn’t help but be surprised.

And at that moment, there was another person who was surprised.

It was Principal Park Sang-hyun. He had been worried that there might be few students attending the lecture.

Therefore, he was the most sensitive to the current situation.

Was that why?

Principal Park Sang-hyun looked at Lee Sun-woo and asked immediately.

“How many people came?”

“There are at least over 100 people now.”

“100 people?”

“Yes, and they keep coming. But something strange happened.”

“Something strange?”

Principal Park Sang-hyun tilted his head. He couldn’t understand Lee Sun-woo’s words at first glance. He didn’t think that he was expressing it as a strange thing simply because there were many students.

Principal Park Sang-hyun asked again in a hurry before Lee Sun-woo could answer.

“Something strange, what do you mean?”

“The underclassmen started coming.”

“Underclassmen? Does that mean it’s not just the third graders?”

“Yes, that’s right. Not only are there second-year students, but even first-year students are coming.”

Principal Park Sang-hyun couldn’t help but be surprised at Lee Sun-woo’s words.

At first, he was worried that not many people would come. Until a little while ago, that feeling hadn’t changed.

But now, not only third graders but also second-year students are saying they will listen to the lecture.

Moreover, even first-year students have come.

Principal Park Sang-hyun looked at Hyun-sung.

At that moment, the eyes of the two people met.

Principal Park Sang-hyun was about to say something.

Whoosh.

Hyun-sung’s actions were faster.

“Let’s go!”

Hyun-sung left those words to Lee Sun-woo and left the principal’s office.

Hyun-sung arrived at the classroom.

Of course, he had heard the news from Lee Sun-woo a little while ago, so he had expected it to some extent. But when Hyun-sung arrived at the classroom, he couldn’t help but be surprised.

That’s because the number of students gathered far exceeded Hyun-sung’s expectations.

He had expected about 100 people at most. But the number of students visible to the eye seemed to be well over 200 at first glance.

If there was a teacher, they wouldn’t be so flustered.

But no teacher was to be seen anywhere. The reason is simple. Principal Park Sang-hyun had given instructions in advance to prevent them from coming out.

Since it was not organized at the school level, the teachers were prevented from coming to work.

Hyun-sung shouted loudly to the gathered students.

“To the auditorium!”

As Hyun-sung’s voice echoed, the gathered students began to leave all at once like a receding tide.

Then, Kim Il-soo approached Hyun-sung.

“What’s going on?”

“I don’t know. I really didn’t expect so many people to come.”

“But what’s with the first and second graders?”

“Doesn’t that mean they’re desperate in their own way?”

“Still…”

Kim Il-soo shook his head as if he didn’t understand.

Then, Hyun-sung said.

“They’re also anxious. As you know, where can you go after graduating from high school here? So when they heard that there would be a lecture like this, they were tempted.”

“I guess so…”

Kim Il-soo nodded as if he understood.

Looking at Kim Il-soo, Hyun-sung continued.

“Go and take care of the first and second graders. I have to go back to the principal’s office for a while.”

“Okay, I got it. Then keep up the good work.”

Kim Il-soo immediately turned to the auditorium.

Hyun-sung arrived at the principal’s office again.

“How did it go?”

Principal Park Sang-hyun asked as if he had been waiting.

“I moved the location to the auditorium.”

“How many people came?”

“At first glance, it seemed to be over 200 people. There are still about 20 minutes left before the lecture starts, so I don’t know how many more people will come, but I think there will be 250 people.”

“250 people?”

“Yes, that should be enough. Are you satisfied now?”

Hyun-sung smiled at Principal Park Sang-hyun.

At that moment.

Knock, knock.

The person who opened the door and came in was Han Ji-eun, who works at the township office.

“Welcome, Sis.”

Hyun-sung greeted Han Ji-eun happily. Then he immediately introduced Han Ji-eun to Principal Park Sang-hyun.

“Principal, this is Han Ji-eun.”

As Hyun-sung’s introduction ended, Han Ji-eun approached Principal Park Sang-hyun.

“Hello, Principal. I’m Han Ji-eun.”

“Welcome. I’ve heard a lot about Han Ji-eun from Hyun-sung here. Thank you so much for taking the time to come.”

“I don’t know if it will be helpful.”

“What are you talking about… the students are waiting.”

As the two people finished their greetings, Hyun-sung introduced Han Ji-eun to Kim Myung-shik as well. Then the two people greeted each other.

But the strange thing was Han Ji-eun’s expression.

Until she first entered the principal’s office, there was nothing wrong. But a little while ago, her facial expression began to change.

Hyun-sung asked carefully.

“Sis, what’s wrong? You don’t look so good.”

“That’s…”

Han Ji-eun couldn’t speak easily.

Then, Hyun-sung asked again.

“What’s wrong all of a sudden?”

“I don’t think I can give a lecture in this condition, what should I do…?”

Han Ji-eun kept patting her chest with one hand for some reason.

Seeing that, Hyun-sung took something out of his pocket and handed it to Han Ji-eun as if he had expected it.

“Sis, eat this.”

“Huh? How did you know…?”