Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 305

305

“Girlfriend? What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

“I’m talking about the owner of the snack bar. That’s how it seemed to me, anyway. Am I wrong?”

“Haha, this guy…….”

Park Young-jin just laughed, as if he was dumbfounded.

Hyun-sung smiled slightly.

A moment later.

Park Young-jin looked at Hyun-sung and said,

“Your intuition is extraordinary.”

“Am I right?”

“Yes, since you’re both single, I thought it was a promising relationship, and they are seeing each other seriously. By the way, how could you tell?”

“Yes, I noticed it when the owner was talking earlier, just by looking at her eyes. And I figured she wouldn’t risk violating professional ethics [a set of principles governing conduct in a profession] unless it was a special relationship.”

“Haha, you’re an amazing guy. You picked up on that.”

Shin Mi-sook, who was listening to the conversation between the two, looked at Park Young-jin and said,

“So, there was a reason for that?”

“I have nothing to say to Ms. Shin. It was all my fault. As Mr. Kim here said, there is such a thing as professional ethics, but my personal greed got the better of me. I apologize again; I will only receive 50% of the brokerage fee this time.”

“To be honest, I was angry earlier, but after hearing the situation, I understand to some extent. Anyway, please find me a good spot.”

“Yes, I will do my best.”

After finishing speaking, Park Young-jin looked at Hyun-sung and continued.

“Still, no matter how I think about it, it’s amazing that you analyzed the movement of the commercial district just by looking at the key money [a large, non-refundable upfront payment] and monthly rent.”

“Anyone can do it if they think a little bit.”

“Don’t say that. If everyone could do that, what would I live on? I’m asking just in case, but can you also tell when the current monthly rent was set?”

“Isn’t it four years ago?”

“What makes you say that?”

“Didn’t you say that the housing site development started in front of the main gate three years ago? So, rumors would have already started spreading a year before that. As rumors started to spread, this commercial district would have started to crack little by little from then on. So, it’s logical that the monthly rent would have been highest four years ago, before the rumors started to spread.”

“…….”

Park Young-jin was silent for a while after Hyun-sung’s answer.

After a while.

Park Young-jin opened his mouth again.

“That’s really amazing. You’re right. The commercial district started to collapse at that time, and it’s come this far.”

“The problem is what happens from now on.”

“From now on? What does that mean?”

“It means there’s still hope.”

“Hope?”

Park Young-jin couldn’t help but tilt his head. The commercial district has already started to collapse, and most of the people who are still here are forced to endure because they are tied to their lease agreements.

In that situation, hope…….

Park Young-jin looked at Hyun-sung and asked.

“Did you say there’s hope now?”

“Yes, that’s right. In my opinion, the next year will be the last chance we have.”

“One year… are you saying that with the contract period in mind?”

“Yes, that’s right. Most of the people who are still here aren’t here because they want to be, but because they are tied to the contract period and have no choice. Isn’t that right?”

Hyun-sung looked at Park Young-jin and asked.

Then Park Young-jin nodded and answered immediately.

“You’re exactly right. They don’t say it to each other, but most of them are determined to leave this place as soon as the contract period is over.”

“What do you think is the reason for that?”

“Of course, the biggest reason is that business isn’t as good as it used to be, so they’re trying to leave.”

“Of course, that’s the biggest reason. But there’s another important reason.”

“Important reason? What is it?”

“It’s the monthly rent. The characteristic of the monthly rent is that once it goes up, it doesn’t come down. The current monthly rent here is probably the same as it was four years ago when business was good. Am I right?”

Hyun-sung looked at Park Young-jin again and asked.

Then Park Young-jin nodded and answered immediately.

“That’s right. That’s why the tenants are having a harder time.”

“That’s exactly it. The last spark of hope is the monthly rent.”

“That means…….”

“Yes, that’s right. The landlords have to take action. The landlords need to take action and adjust the monthly rent reasonably to match the current commercial district. If that doesn’t happen first, this place will collapse all at once in a year.”

Park Young-jin’s expression darkened.

It took him a little time to open his mouth.

Park Young-jin carefully opened his mouth again.

“Do you have any good ideas?”

“No.”

“No, don’t say that…….”

“It’s not that there’s a good way, but there’s only one way.”

“One way? What is it?”

It was the moment when Park Young-jin’s eyes were shining more than ever.

Hyun-sung’s words followed immediately.

“Gather the landlords in one place. And you have to tell them the current situation as it is and persuade them.”

“Is that possible?”

“Of course, it’s difficult. But someone has to do it if they want to survive together.”

“Someone…….”

Park Young-jin seemed to be lost in thought and said nothing.

Then Hyun-sung immediately continued.

“I don’t think it’s something to worry about.”

“That means…….”

“In my opinion, you’re the perfect person for the job. You know the current situation better than anyone else, and you’re the one who’s close to the landlords, aren’t you? So, what are you worrying about?”

“It’s not as easy as it sounds…….”

“Of course, it’s a difficult task. But there’s no time to hesitate any longer. There’s a time for everything. If you miss that time, all that’s left is regret. Then this place will become a ghost commercial district. Now is the right time to revive the last spark.”

“Hmm…….”

It was the moment when traces of worry were clearly revealed on Park Young-jin’s face.

Looking at Park Young-jin, Hyun-sung spoke again.

“And when I came in earlier, I saw a sign that said ‘Commercial District Prosperity Association’ at the entrance. Are you the president by any chance?”

“It just happened that way.”

“Then you know that you have some responsibility, right?”

“My responsibility?”

“Of course. Although it’s a minor example, if you look at your actions a little while ago, you can’t say that you don’t have any responsibility, right?”

“Are you talking about the snack bar?”

“Yes, that’s right. Even the president of the Commercial District Prosperity Association was trying to hand over that store to someone else because of a special relationship, right?”

“Um…….”

Park Young-jin couldn’t say anything, as if he had nothing to say.

Then Hyun-sung’s words followed immediately.

“That’s the worst thing.”

“Huh? …….”

“The mentality of ‘It’s okay as long as it’s not me’ is the worst thing. The moment that mentality becomes prevalent in a community, it’s only a matter of time before that community collapses.”

“Listening to you, I made a very big mistake.”

Park Young-jin nodded.

Then Hyun-sung’s words continued again.

“It’s not too late now. Please seize this last chance.”

“Haha, I met a great person today. Mr. Kim, thank you in many ways.”

“No, I don’t know if I’ve been rude by overstepping my bounds.”

“No, to be honest, I was giving up on this place. I thought there was no hope. But after listening to you, I don’t think it’s over yet. So, what I’m saying is…….”

Park Young-jin stopped talking and carefully looked at Hyun-sung.

Then Hyun-sung immediately asked.

“Do you have anything to say to me?”

“It’s a bit of a difficult thing to say…….”

“What are you being so careful about?”

“Please help me.”

“Yes? What do you mean?”

Hyun-sung tilted his head. Even at first glance, he thought there was nothing he could do to help Park Young-jin in this situation.

But Park Young-jin’s thoughts seemed to be different.

“I’ll gather the people. So, please persuade them.”

“No, Mr. President. What are you…….”

Hyun-sung was speechless because he was so dumbfounded.

Does this make sense?

Anyway, he is a third party. Of course, the conversation came this far by accident, but no matter how he thought about it, it didn’t make sense for him to step up in this situation.

Hyun-sung looked at Park Young-jin.

Then Park Young-jin immediately continued.

“Persuade the landlords in this neighborhood just like you persuaded me now.”

“That’s not right. How can I…….”

“Why can’t you? I think you’re qualified enough.”

“Qualified?”

“Yes, qualified.”

“Aren’t you being too unreasonable? Ask a passerby. I’m a senior in high school now. How can I stand in front of those elders… this doesn’t make sense.”

Hyun-sung shook his head.

Then Park Young-jin smiled at Hyun-sung.

“You said you’re a senior in high school, right?”

“Yes, of course.”

“It wouldn’t be easy for a senior in high school to stand in front of adults and persuade them, right?”

“Of course. Standing in front of elders itself doesn’t make sense.”

“But do you know that?”

“Yes? What are you talking about?”

Hyun-sung tilted his head and asked.

Then Park Young-jin spoke again.

“When you live in the world, there are exceptions.”

“Exceptions?”

“Yes, in normal cases, it’s definitely nonsense, but in exceptional cases, things change. As you said, it’s definitely nonsense for an ordinary senior in high school. But if it’s you, things change. A special case of exception arises. Do you know what I mean?”

“That’s unreasonable.”

“Unreasonable?”

“Yes, I’m just an ordinary high school student. It’s just that I started a business first by chance…….”

Hyun-sung’s words ended there.

The reason was that Park Young-jin said the name of someone Hyun-sung knew very well.

“You know Park Hee-cheol, right?”

“Yes? Who?”

“I’m talking about Hee-cheol. I’m talking about Park Hee-cheol, a loan shark who lives in your neighborhood.”

“No, how do you know him?”

“He’s my old friend. When I first saw you, I didn’t know who you were, but when I found out who you were, I immediately thought of Hee-cheol. Do you know why?”

“Well, I don’t know…….”

Park Young-jin smiled once again and immediately continued.

“Do you know Hee-cheol’s past?”

“Past?”

“Yes, that friend used to be a very vicious loan shark who only knew money. There are many people in this neighborhood who have been harmed by that friend.”

“Oh, is that so?”

Of course, it was a fact that he knew very well. In his previous life, his father was directly harmed, not someone else. But he couldn’t pretend to know that in this situation.

Park Young-jin’s words continued.

“But one day, this friend appeared completely different. Even later, he didn’t even receive interest from the people in this neighborhood.”

Of course, he knew about it.

When Hyun-sung nodded, Park Young-jin spoke again.

“So, one day I asked him. How can a person change so suddenly like this? Then do you know what that friend said?”

“Well, that’s…….”

“He said your name, Kim Hyun-sung. He said that you changed him like this. And he didn’t leave out these words either. From now on, you are his sky. So, are you still going to say that you’re an ordinary senior in high school?”

“…….”

Hyun-sung had nothing to say.

Park Young-jin’s words continued again.

“You’re the one who turned the money-grubbing Park Hee-cheol, who only knew money, into a human being. If that’s you, wouldn’t you be able to persuade the landlords here? I respectfully ask you again. Please help me.”

It was Hyun-sung who was in trouble.

Hee-cheol’s case is separate from this. In the case of Park Hee-cheol, there were circumstances, but meeting with the landlords is a completely different matter.

It was when Hyun-sung couldn’t make a decision and was worrying.

Creak.

An old woman came in as the door opened.