Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 282

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“It’s like that saying, ‘If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.'”

“Oh, now that you mention it, I think I’ve heard that somewhere before…”

“Do you understand what I mean?”

“Yeah, I think I get the gist.”

Lee Jung-woo nodded as if he understood.

Hyun-sung smiled and continued.

“I think you’ve probably found the answer you were looking for. What do you think?”

“Actually, I’ve been worrying about that problem since yesterday, and I think I’ve finally found the answer. But the problem is…”

“Problem? What other problem is there?”

“Well…”

Lee Jung-woo couldn’t easily continue.

Hyun-sung tilted his head, wondering why Lee Jung-woo was hesitating when there seemed to be no reason to.

Hyun-sung looked at Lee Jung-woo and asked, “You said a little while ago that you think you’ve found the answer. So what’s the problem?”

“It’s about the friends to study with… To gather those friends, someone has to step up, but there doesn’t seem to be anyone willing to do it.”

“What are you talking about?”

Hyun-sung couldn’t easily understand. Lee Jung-woo is the only one in the school preparing for the civil service exam right now.

And Lee Jung-woo is also the one who feels the need to study together. So, naturally, gathering friends to study with is also Lee Jung-woo’s responsibility. But listening to Lee Jung-woo now, it sounds like he’s hoping someone else will do it for him, so Hyun-sung couldn’t easily understand.

Hyun-sung looked at Lee Jung-woo and asked again, “What are you talking about? Isn’t that 당연히 [dangyeonhi – naturally] your job?”

“Mine?”

“Of course. Who else in our school is preparing for the civil service exam besides you?”

“That’s true, but how can I…”

Lee Jung-woo scratched his head and looked at Hyun-sung.

Hyun-sung asked as if it were obvious, “What’s wrong with you doing it?”

“You know how I am. How can I step forward like that?”

“What’s wrong with you?”

Hyun-sung’s voice suddenly grew louder. He couldn’t understand what Lee Jung-woo was saying.

At Hyun-sung’s attitude, Lee Jung-woo scratched his head, looking embarrassed, and couldn’t say anything.

Seeing that, Hyun-sung asked loudly again, “Lee Jung-woo, what’s the problem? Tell me.”

“Are you really asking because you don’t know?”

“Hey, do you think I’m joking right now? What is it that’s making things so difficult?”

Hyun-sung’s voice was tinged with annoyance. Lee Jung-woo had been acting incomprehensibly since a little while ago.

Lee Jung-woo slowly opened his mouth.

“Well…”

“There you go again. Stop doing that and just tell me! What’s the problem?”

“How can I, with my condition…”

“What? You’re…”

Hyun-sung was speechless with disbelief. Knowing that the reason Lee Jung-woo had been hesitating was because of his physical discomfort left Hyun-sung with nothing to say.

It was something he had never even considered.

Of course, it was true that he was physically uncomfortable, but he had never dreamed that he would be so withdrawn because of it.

Hyun-sung called Lee Jung-woo’s name.

“Hey, Lee Jung-woo!”

“… Huh.”

“Have you already forgotten?”

“Forgotten what?”

Lee Jung-woo looked at Hyun-sung as if he didn’t know what he was talking about.

Then Hyun-sung continued, “What did you say with your own mouth last time?”

“What did I say…?”

“You decided not to hide your disability anymore, right? Don’t you remember?”

“Ah, that…”

Lee Jung-woo nodded slightly as if he finally remembered.

Then Hyun-sung said again, “You clearly said it with your own mouth back then. That you wouldn’t hide it anymore and would accept it confidently. That you would live confidently without worrying about what others say. Am I wrong?”

“I felt that way then, but when it actually comes down to it…”

“You…”

Hyun-sung stopped himself from saying something. He wanted to say something, but he couldn’t bring himself to do it. He knew all too well that Lee Jung-woo was the one who was having the hardest time emotionally right now.

Sometimes, it’s better to just quietly wait for the other person to speak rather than rashly saying something.

“…”

Lee Jung-woo was also silent.

The silence between the two continued for a long time.

How much time had passed?

It was Lee Jung-woo who broke the silence first.

“Hyun-sung…!”

Lee Jung-woo’s voice trembled slightly.

Hyun-sung looked at Lee Jung-woo. It was a side of him he had never seen before. It probably meant that Lee Jung-woo’s inner conflict was severe.

An emotion that only the person involved could feel.

Perhaps Lee Jung-woo was struggling right now. A struggle to overcome his limitations within his own framework and mature one step further.

Was that why?

Lee Jung-woo’s voice trembled, but it somehow had strength in it.

Hyun-sung looked at Lee Jung-woo and said in a short but strong voice, “Yeah! Tell me!”

Lee Jung-woo paused for a moment, noticing that Hyun-sung’s voice was different from usual, and then carefully opened his mouth.

“… Can I do it?”

“Of course!”

Hyun-sung answered immediately without the slightest hesitation. There was no reason to hesitate. Of course, it was true that Lee Jung-woo was physically uncomfortable, but he didn’t think he should be restricted in his social life because of it.

Lee Jung-woo opened his mouth again.

“Won’t my friends look at me strangely?”

“Which bastard would?”

“Huh? …”

Lee Jung-woo looked at Hyun-sung and was speechless for a moment when a curse suddenly came out of Hyun-sung’s mouth.

Then Hyun-sung said again, “Hey, Lee Jung-woo. Do you know what?”

“…?”

“The other friends aren’t as interested in your disability as you think. They don’t care what you do. Do you understand what I mean?”

“… Really?”

Lee Jung-woo cautiously asked back, as if he couldn’t believe Hyun-sung’s words.

Then Hyun-sung nodded and continued, “That’s right. You’re the only one who’s conscious of others and acting like this when no one else cares.”

“…”

“Don’t you feel a little wronged?”

“So, you’re saying that no one cares about my disability?”

“Why do you keep making me repeat the same thing? Are people crazy? They’re too busy trying to make a living to care about someone else’s disability.”

“…”

Lee Jung-woo was silent for a moment, wondering what he was thinking.

Then Hyun-sung said immediately, “It might not be the best time to say this, but I’ll just say one thing.”

“Yeah, what is it?”

“The world is a jungle. It’s not just in the animal kingdom, it’s the same for us humans. If you’re weak, you’ll be eaten.”

“I guess so…”

Lee Jung-woo said in a small voice, as if acknowledging it.

Then Hyun-sung continued, “But the good thing is that humans are different from the animal kingdom.”

“What do you mean?”

“Fortunately, the standard of strength isn’t just physical. Do you understand why I’m saying this?”

At Hyun-sung’s question, Lee Jung-woo nodded as if he understood.

Then Hyun-sung immediately continued, “I think I’ve said this before, but I’ll say it one more time. You can’t be this weak. You can’t forget that the weaker you are, the more people will try to take away your rice bowl [livelihood], not feel sorry for you.”

“…”

“To survive in this harsh world, you have to be several times stronger than you are now. And you can’t forget that the most terrifying thing isn’t physical disability, but mental disability.”

“Mental disability?”

“Yes, physical disability can be overcome, but mental disability can ruin a person’s entire life. You have to remember that. That’s how important the mind is.”

When Hyun-sung finished speaking, Lee Jung-woo nodded and continued, “I think so too.”

“So, don’t say weak things like you did earlier. And don’t be too conscious of what others think. If you think you’re right, step forward boldly. Got it?”

“Yeah, I understand what you mean. But…”

Lee Jung-woo started to say something but stopped.

Then Hyun-sung immediately asked, “What is it? Why do you keep starting to say something and then stopping?”

“I don’t know how to gather the kids to study together. Is there any good way?”

Hyun-sung looked at Lee Jung-woo and smiled.

Then he asked, “Have you decided to do it?”

“You said a little while ago that if I think it’s right, I should step forward without worrying about what others think. Honestly, I don’t know if I can do it well, but I’m going to try anyway.”

“Good thinking. You’re finally back to being my friend Lee Jung-woo.”

“I was honestly scared and didn’t have confidence earlier. But after listening to you, I got fired up.”

“Fired up?”

Hyun-sung looked at Lee Jung-woo.

Then Lee Jung-woo immediately continued, “Yeah, you said a little while ago that the weaker I am, the more people will try to take away my rice bowl [livelihood], not feel sorry for me.”

“Because that’s the truth.”
“After hearing that, I woke up.”

Hyun-sung looked at Lee Jung-woo and smiled.

It was a relief. He was almost angry at Lee Jung-woo’s weakness earlier. He knew it wasn’t right, but there was no way to help him right away.

Lee Jung-woo asked again, “Anyway, how should I gather the kids?”

“Wouldn’t there be two ways?”

“Two ways?”

“Yeah, one is that you go around to each class and explain and recruit people.”

Lee Jung-woo shook his head and said, “I don’t think so. I don’t have the confidence to do that. Then what’s the other way?”

“That’s to use the bulletin board.”

“Bulletin board?”

“Yeah, you write what you want to say on the school bulletin board. Then students will see it and gather if they’re interested.”

When Hyun-sung finished speaking, Lee Jung-woo thought for a moment and then nodded and continued, “You’re so smart, Hyun-sung. That’s a good way to do it. It’s a great idea.”

Lee Jung-woo was much brighter than before. Hyun-sung, who was looking at Lee Jung-woo, quietly called his name.

“Jung-woo!”

“Huh? Why are you suddenly calling my name so affectionately?”

“I don’t know if I should say this, but I’m thinking of trusting you and trying something. Would that be okay?”

“What is it that you’re being so careful about?”

Lee Jung-woo tilted his head.

Then Hyun-sung carefully opened his mouth.

“Have you ever thought about being grateful for your body?”

“What are you talking about?”

Lee Jung-woo stared at Hyun-sung as if he didn’t know what he was talking about. The most resentful thing he had ever felt was about his uncomfortable leg.

But suddenly asking if he had ever been grateful for his body was absurd to Lee Jung-woo.

But what was even stranger was Hyun-sung’s expression.

His expression didn’t change at all, as if he had expected Lee Jung-woo’s answer.

Then Hyun-sung opened his mouth again.

“Jung-woo…”