Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 299

299

“President, that’s not it…”

Only after Hyun-sung’s lengthy explanation did Chairman Seo Min-gyu of the Senior Citizens Association give his approval.

– Alright. Then I’ll trust CEO Kim and wait a moment.

“Yes, President. I’ll see you in a bit.”

Click.

Hyun-sung first checked Shin Young-hoon’s expression after hanging up.

Shin Young-hoon had made a big decision to invite the elders from the Senior Citizens Center. But the response he received was absurd and nonsensical.

‘It doesn’t taste good, so I can’t go.’

The invitation naturally meant offering a free meal. But what does it mean to refuse such an invitation?

In other words, they wouldn’t eat it even if it were free.

How would the person who extended the invitation feel?

No doubt they would feel quite unpleasant and have their pride hurt.

“…Are you okay?”

Hyun-sung asked cautiously.

“About what?”

Shin Young-hoon asked back as if nothing was wrong. Hyun-sung couldn’t help but be surprised. He had expected Shin Young-hoon to be upset, but his reaction was surprisingly calm.

“Really, are you okay?”

“Why? Did you think I would get angry?”

“Honestly, a little…”

“Instead of anger, it makes me more determined.”

“Determined?”

Hyun-sung couldn’t help but be surprised once again at Shin Young-hoon’s unexpected words. Shin Young-hoon said he was determined. That meant instead of being hurt or breaking down from the other party’s disregard, he would work even harder to show them his skills.

Was that why?

Hyun-sung saw Shin Young-hoon differently.

At that moment, Shin Young-hoon looked at Hyun-sung and said,

“I’ll make sure the Senior Citizens Association president never says those words again. I’ll show them what I’m made of this time.”

“Haha, CEO Shin, that’s great. Of course, you should. I was worried for nothing.”

“No, honestly, I was very upset at first. But when I thought about it, I felt pathetic. How bad must my food be for them to refuse a free meal? That made me feel determined.”

“Good. Let’s show the elders at the Senior Citizens Center what you’re capable of this time. So that they never say those words again.”

“Of course. Then I’ll go out and buy a portable gas stove.”

With those words, Shin Young-hoon disappeared from the restaurant.

Smirk.

Hyun-sung smiled involuntarily as he watched Shin Young-hoon’s retreating figure.

To be honest, he was dumbfounded when he first heard that Chairman Seo Min-gyu couldn’t come. He never imagined such a thing would happen.

That meant there was a problem with Shin Young-hoon’s food.

Fortunately, Shin Young-hoon didn’t get hurt or break down after hearing those words, but instead became more determined to work harder.

Hyun-sung headed to the kitchen in a good mood.

30 minutes later.

“Is everything ready now?”

Shin Young-hoon asked Hyun-sung with a nervous voice. Shin Young-hoon’s expression was like a student nervous before taking an exam.

Hyun-sung smiled at Shin Young-hoon’s appearance.

“CEO, you look good.”

“Me? How so?”

“You look like a student taking an exam right now.”

“To be honest, I’m very nervous. I wasn’t this nervous even when I first opened, but I don’t know why I’m so nervous today.”

Shin Young-hoon himself found it strange.

He wasn’t this nervous when he first opened three months ago. Rather, he was full of confidence at that time.

He had no fear when making food. But today, even with Hyun-sung helping him, he was cautious and paid more attention to the food.

Shin Young-hoon said to Hyun-sung,

“It’s strange.”

“Yes? What is?”

“The feeling is very different from when I opened three months ago. Back then, I was confident even when I did it alone, but today, even with you helping me, I’m cautious about everything and scared.”

“I think that’s even better.”

“Yes? What does that mean?”

“You’re finally afraid of the customers. Isn’t that a good thing in a way?”

“You mean…”

Shin Young-hoon seemed to understand what Hyun-sung was saying.

In fact, when he first opened, he had no fear of customers at all. He only had the simplistic thought that if he made it, the customers would eat it.

He didn’t even reflect on the fact that customers were leaving food behind. The fact that customers were leaving food meant there was a problem with his food, but he completely ignored that part.

Ignorance is bliss, as they say.

He realized he was exactly like that.

As a result, he crashed and burned in just three months.

Hyun-sung continued,

“You’re scared of the customers now, right?”

“I’m very scared. After experiencing these three months, I can’t help but think I was very ignorant. I’m ashamed of how recklessly I ran the business when I think about it now.”

“It’s good that you realized that. Now, the important thing is the future. Think of the past as an experience and never make such mistakes again. Just remember that not being afraid of customers while running a restaurant is like driving with your eyes closed.”

“Yes, I understand what you mean. I will never make such mistakes again. I’ve learned a lot from you this time. But how do you know so much at such a young age…?”

Shin Young-hoon couldn’t finish his sentence.

Because the store door opened.

Creak.

The person who opened the door was, as expected, Chairman Seo Min-gyu and the elders from the Senior Citizens Center.

He should greet them, but Hyun-sung deliberately stepped back slightly. He wanted Shin Young-hoon to take the lead since he was the owner here.

Perhaps his thoughts were conveyed.

As Hyun-sung stepped back, Shin Young-hoon stepped forward.

“Welcome, elders!”

“Thank you for inviting us old folks. So, you’ve added a new menu?”

“Elders, please speak comfortably. I feel uncomfortable listening to you.”

“Alright. Was it CEO Shin?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Shin Young-hoon bowed his head and answered.

Then Chairman Seo Min-gyu immediately continued,

“Anyway, thank you. By the way, you said you made a new menu?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

After the two exchanged greetings, Hyun-sung bowed his head towards Seo Min-gyu.

“Have you arrived, President?”

“Oh, yes. But how is CEO Kim here today? What about the ramen shop?”

“There’s a story behind that. Anyway, please sit this way.”

As Hyun-sung gestured, Seo Min-gyu and the elders turned their gaze towards the table.

“What is all this?”

That was the first thing Seo Min-gyu said as soon as he saw the table.

Then Hyun-sung winked at Shin Young-hoon. Telling him to explain the menu quickly.

Shin Young-hoon nodded and stepped forward.

“This is the new menu that will be introduced in the future.”

“Hehe, it doesn’t look like a simple knife-cut noodle soup. CEO Shin, can you explain it?”

“First, the name of this menu is…”

Shin Young-hoon began to explain in detail, starting with the name of the menu and how to eat it. As Shin Young-hoon’s explanation continued, the elders wore surprised expressions as if they were amazed. And finally, when Shin Young-hoon’s explanation ended, one of the elders immediately asked.

“So, you eat this meat first and then boil the knife-cut noodles later?”

“Yes, elder. It tastes much better if you eat the meat with these vegetables and mushrooms. And this meat is pork belly, so it’s soft and won’t be uncomfortable to eat at all.”

“Hehe, I’ve lived 70 years and it’s the first time I’ve eaten meat like this. So this meat is thinly sliced pork belly?”

“Yes, that’s right. It’ll be much easier to eat since it’s thin.”

“Thinly sliced pork belly… Hehe, really…”

The elders dipped the thinly sliced pork belly in the broth and began to eat it as Shin Young-hoon had taught them a little while ago, with curious expressions.

After a while.

The first to speak was Chairman Seo Min-gyu.

“Everyone, how does it taste?”

“I really didn’t know pork belly could be this soft.”

“And how savory is it?”

“The vegetables and mushrooms taste amazing when you dip them in this sauce. By the way, has this dish always existed? I’ve never eaten pork belly like this in my 70 years.”

“It’s a different taste from grilling pork belly. Hehe, really…”

The reaction to the thinly sliced pork belly shabu-shabu was all praise.

Was that why? A smile spread across Shin Young-hoon’s face.

Tap.

Hyun-sung gently tapped Shin Young-hoon’s shoulder and pointed to the soju [Korean distilled rice liquor] bottle.

Shin Young-hoon, who couldn’t possibly not know what that meant, smiled and approached Seo Min-gyu with the soju bottle.

“Elder, have a drink.”

“Hehe, CEO Shin. Let me apologize first. I made a mistake earlier. I didn’t know you had prepared such a wonderful dish and said I wouldn’t come, so how upset must you have been?”

“No, I’ve been lacking a lot so far. But I will work hard to make sure you are not disappointed in the future. Please watch over me.”

“Alright, I’ll cheer you on. And I don’t know if it will help, but we old folks will try to spread the word about this taste.”

“Thank you.”

Shin Young-hoon bowed his head deeply.

As Shin Young-hoon went around pouring drinks for the elders, Seo Min-gyu stood up from his seat.

“Alright, everyone. Let’s all toast together so that our CEO Shin here hits the jackpot [becomes very successful].”

With those words, Seo Min-gyu raised his glass high. Then he said in a loud voice.

“For the jackpot of our CEO Shin!”

“Cheers!”

“Cheers!”

Everyone shouted ‘Cheers’ here and there and clinked glasses.

Shin Young-hoon felt a strange feeling as he watched that scene.

It was something he never expected.

When he first started the store, he was conceited about becoming a CEO at a young age, and it was true that he looked down on people.

But that was only for a moment.

As time passed and customers began to decrease, he realized it.

He knew that it was a disaster to be greedy without being properly prepared, but it was too late to turn back.

He endured that time for three months.

Knowing that enduring any longer would be self-destruction, he reached out to Hyun-sung with the feeling that it was his last chance. Whether it was the help of heaven, Hyun-sung grabbed the hand he extended.

As a result, a menu was created that he had never even thought of. And the people who didn’t even catch his eye at first are now toasting for him like this.

Now, he can’t help but think that each and every one of these people is precious.

Shin Young-hoon bowed 90 degrees to the elders.

“Elders, thank you. Thank you so much.”

After a while.

After eating all the knife-cut noodles, Seo Min-gyu called Shin Young-hoon.

“CEO Shin.”

“Yes, elder!”

“You’ve worked hard. Congratulations in advance.”

“Yes? What do you mean…?”

Shin Young-hoon tilted his head. The reason was that he couldn’t understand what Seo Min-gyu was saying now.

Seo Min-gyu continued,

“It’s a jackpot.”

“Yes? Ah, yes. Thank you.”

Shin Young-hoon finally understood what Seo Min-gyu was saying.

Then Seo Min-gyu asked again.

“And how much are you planning to charge for this thinly sliced pork belly shabu-shabu mushroom knife-cut noodle soup?”

“…9,900 won.”

Shin Young-hoon answered cautiously.

Then Seo Min-gyu’s mouth dropped open.

“Is that all? I think you could charge 15,000 won, hehe… less than 10,000 won?”

Shin Young-hoon felt like shouting for joy right away. The reason was simple. It was because of the price. He was worried that someone might say it was too expensive. But instead, he heard the words ‘is that all?’

Shin Young-hoon looked at Hyun-sung.

Then Hyun-sung smiled and nodded. As if telling him not to worry about anything.

Shin Young-hoon slightly bowed his head towards Hyun-sung.