Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 287

287

“My brother?”

“That’s right. Su-hyeok says he feels like you’re his older brother sometimes. So, I’d like you to meet with Su-hyeok.”

“Haha, really…”

Hyeon-seong could only laugh.

Perhaps Su-hyeok’s feelings were natural. Even though they were friends, Hyeon-seong had lived for over 50 years.

Lee Man-soo continued.

“And just in case, I’m worried about what to do if Su-hyeok insists on moving out.”

“Surely he wouldn’t actually move out, would he?”

“Oh, yes, judging by the atmosphere when we talked the other day, he’s more than capable of doing that.”

“What will you do if he moves out?”

“He said he wants to live on his own.”

“Live on his own? Su-hyeok?”

Hyeon-seong chuckled. Of course, he could. But Hyeon-seong thought it wouldn’t be easy for someone as sheltered as Lee Su-hyeok.

“You think it’s absurd too, right?”

“Last time I saw him, he couldn’t even make ramen properly. How could he say he wants to live on his own…”

“That’s what I’m saying. Anyway, please meet Su-hyeok and persuade him no matter what.”

“I understand. I don’t know what’s best for Su-hyeok, but I’ll meet him and listen to what he has to say. I’ll go to his house after work today.”

Listening to Lee Su-hyeok’s story should be the priority. He wouldn’t just say he wants to move out for no reason.

Hyeon-seong left the Nonghyup [National Agricultural Cooperative Federation] and hesitated for a moment.

‘What should I do?’

The reason Hyeon-seong was hesitating was because of Shin Young-hoon, who ran the knife-cut noodle shop.

The fact that the rent was two weeks overdue clearly meant something was wrong. But what was strange was that there hadn’t been a single phone call.

Usually, in that situation, you’d at least call the landlord. He wasn’t young, and he didn’t seem like someone who didn’t know the proper etiquette… What could be the matter?

After a moment of thought, Hyeon-seong turned his steps toward the terminal where the knife-cut noodle shop was located. He figured that meeting Shin Young-hoon was the first step.

Stop.

Arriving in front of the knife-cut noodle shop, Hyeon-seong stopped. He didn’t feel like going into the shop.

He wondered if there might be some unspeakable reason.

From his past life as a business owner, the most uncomfortable thing was when the landlord showed up. Even though he hadn’t done anything wrong, it was just burdensome when the landlord appeared.

And in Shin Young-hoon’s case, the rent was overdue. If Hyeon-seong went into the shop in this situation, he would naturally feel burdened.

After a moment of thought, Hyeon-seong turned back. He decided to wait a few more days.

Just then.

“사장님! [Sajangnim – a Korean title roughly equivalent to ‘Boss’ or ‘Owner’]”

Someone called from behind. It was Shin Young-hoon, the owner of the knife-cut noodle shop.

“Oh? Hello.”

“What brings you here…”

“I was just passing by on my way to something. Is everything alright?”

Hyeon-seong deliberately asked as if nothing was wrong.

Shin Young-hoon scratched his head and continued.

“I was actually planning to come see you. If you have time, would you like to come in for a moment?”

“Now?”

“Yes, I have something to tell you…”

“Sure.”

Hyeon-seong followed Shin Young-hoon into the knife-cut noodle shop without showing any reaction.

Stepping into the shop, Hyeon-seong tilted his head. The reason was that there wasn’t a single customer inside.

Usually, around this time in the evening, there should be at least a few groups. But the fact that there wasn’t a single person clearly meant something was wrong.

But he couldn’t show it.

As Hyeon-seong sat down, Shin Young-hoon looked at him and said.

“Would you like a cup of tea?”

“No, thank you. I just had one. But what did you want to talk to me about?”

“Well…”

Shin Young-hoon couldn’t open his mouth easily.

Hyeon-seong glanced at Shin Young-hoon. He was full of enthusiasm and spirit when he first opened. But now, there was no trace of that enthusiasm and spirit.

It had only been three months. But why had he changed so much?

After a moment of thought, Hyeon-seong cautiously opened his mouth.

“Has something happened in the meantime?”

At Hyeon-seong’s question, Shin Young-hoon seemed to think for a moment before bowing his head to Hyeon-seong.

“First of all, I’m sorry.”

“Yes? What for?”

“The rent is very overdue. I should have at least called, but I couldn’t.”

“That’s not important, but…”

Hyeon-seong couldn’t finish his sentence.

Because Shin Young-hoon suddenly knelt down in front of Hyeon-seong.

“What’s going on?”

Hyeon-seong was startled and grabbed Shin Young-hoon’s shoulders. But Shin Young-hoon didn’t seem to have any intention of getting up.

Hyeon-seong was dumbfounded.

Shin Young-hoon was twenty-six years old this year. It didn’t make sense for him to kneel before a high school student.

Of course, Hyeon-seong was the landlord, but that wasn’t a reason for Shin Young-hoon to kneel before him.

Then what could be the reason?

Hyeon-seong called Shin Young-hoon in a hurried voice.

“Sajangnim, why are you doing this? What’s going on…”

“Please save me.”

“Yes? What do you mean?”

Strange words came out of Shin Young-hoon’s mouth.

Hyeon-seong couldn’t understand at all. Shin Young-hoon was asking to be saved. What did this mean?

Hyeon-seong said again.

“Get up first. This isn’t right. Why are you kneeling before me?”

“No. I can’t get up until you promise to help me.”

“Yes? What are you talking about?”

Shin Young-hoon was still saying strange things. A moment ago, he asked to be saved, and now he said he wouldn’t get up unless he helped him.

Then Shin Young-hoon spoke again.

“Please promise to help me.”

“No, what ability do I have to do this…”

“No. No matter how I think about it, you’re the only one who can help me.”

“What kind of… Yes, alright. If there’s anything I can do to help, I’ll be happy to help. So please get up from there.”

“You’ve definitely made a promise.”

“Yes, I understand. So please hurry…”

When Hyeon-seong said he understood twice, Shin Young-hoon finally got up. Hyeon-seong still looked troubled as he watched him.

Then Shin Young-hoon, who had gotten up, looked at Hyeon-seong and opened his mouth.

“People aren’t coming.”

“Yes? What do you mean? Tell me more.”

“Well, that is…”

Shin Young-hoon began to explain what had happened. As Shin Young-hoon’s explanation continued at length, Hyeon-seong nodded as if he understood what he meant. And finally, when Shin Young-hoon’s explanation ended, he immediately asked.

“So the conclusion is that business isn’t doing well, right?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Did you find the reason?”

“Well, that’s…”

Shin Young-hoon couldn’t speak properly and was just moving his lips.

Then Hyeon-seong immediately asked.

“You couldn’t find the reason?”

“No matter how I think about it, I can’t…”

Shin Young-hoon still couldn’t speak properly.

Seeing that, Hyeon-seong thought for a moment and then looked at Shin Young-hoon and asked again.

“Did you go to a cooking academy?”

“Not really, I was a cook in the military…”

“A cook?”

“Yes, I worked in the officers’ mess for three years. And as I was cooking, I thought it suited me. So I started this.”

Hyeon-seong was dumbfounded, but he couldn’t show it. He didn’t know that fact when he first came to open the knife-cut noodle shop.

After a moment of thought, Hyeon-seong looked at Shin Young-hoon and said.

“Give me a bowl of knife-cut noodles.”

“Yes?”

Shin Young-hoon stared blankly at Hyeon-seong’s sudden order.

Then Hyeon-seong immediately said.

“We need to find the cause, don’t we?”

Hyeon-seong’s thinking was simple.

After all, the life of a restaurant is its taste. Of course, there could be many reasons why business isn’t doing well, but Hyeon-seong judged that the biggest reason was the taste of the food.

“Ah! Yes…”

Shin Young-hoon immediately disappeared into the kitchen as if he knew why Hyeon-seong had ordered the knife-cut noodles.

After a while.

Shin Young-hoon came out with a bowl of knife-cut noodles on a tray.

“Here you go. Try it.”

“Yes.”

Hyeon-seong began to taste the knife-cut noodles that Shin Young-hoon had handed him.

Slurp.

Hyeon-seong’s expression changed subtly as he tasted the broth first.

Perhaps sensing that.

Shin Young-hoon cautiously asked.

“Why, is it strange?”

“Did you use MSG instead of broth?”

“Yes, it’s easy and the savory taste seems to be the best, so I’ve been using MSG instead of broth from the beginning. But you knew that right away after tasting it once?”

“…”

Hyeon-seong didn’t say anything.

He didn’t feel the need to answer. He felt like getting up and leaving right away.

But he decided to endure it one more time because of his promise to Shin Young-hoon a little while ago.

Hoo!

Hyeon-seong took a short, deep breath and picked up his chopsticks.

This time, he brought the noodles to his mouth.

Munch munch.

Hyeon-seong put down his chopsticks after eating the noodles for a moment.

Clang.

The sound of putting down the chopsticks was unusually loud.

Shin Young-hoon, startled by the sound, immediately asked.

“What’s wrong?”

“Sajangnim!”

Hyeon-seong’s voice was completely different from before.

Then Shin Young-hoon said in a nervous voice.

“Yes, tell me!”

“Whatever I say, don’t take it personally.”

“Of course. You’re saying it all for my sake.”

“Quit.”

“Yes? What do you mean? Quit…”

Shin Young-hoon stared at Hyeon-seong in disbelief.

Then Hyeon-seong said again.

“I’m saying quit if you’re going to do business like this. There’s no need to do business anymore.”

“No, what…”

Shin Young-hoon was in utter disbelief. Of course, he had asked for advice to get help, but he didn’t know he would say such harsh words.

Then Hyeon-seong said again.

“Why, are my words too absurd?”

“…”

“I’m more dumbfounded now. I can’t believe you’ve been doing business with these knife-cut noodles. How can you sell this for 500 won? I wouldn’t eat it even if you told me to eat it for free.”

“…”

Shin Young-hoon couldn’t say anything. He wondered if this was what it felt like to have his brain paralyzed. It was the most shocking thing he had ever heard in his life.

That’s when it happened.

Hyeon-seong jumped up from his seat.

“I’ll be going now. And don’t waste any more time and clean up the shop. You shouldn’t be in the food business.”

Hyeon-seong left the shop after saying that. No, he was about to.

“Sajangnim!”

The moment he took a step, Shin Young-hoon grabbed Hyeon-seong’s sleeve.