Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 328

328

After parting with Hyun-sung, Park Hee-chul returned home and immediately took out a notebook from the drawer. He opened it right away.

“Hmm, here it is.”

The owner of the phone number Park Hee-chul found was his eldest son, Park Min-soo, who lived in the United States.

Without hesitation, he dialed the number.

– Hello.

“It’s your father.”

– Yes, Father. What’s going on?

“I know you’re busy, so I’ll get straight to the point. Do you know what day the Sunday after next is?”

– That issue is already settled. You’re turning sixty this year, Father. But now you’re saying you’re getting married again… I’ve told you before, but I can’t approve of this wedding.

“You’re still refusing to approve it, is that it?”

– Yes, I made it clear last time. And now having a stepmother is just exhausting for us.

“What? Exhausting?”

Park Hee-chul was dumbfounded. He couldn’t believe that his child would say that his parents getting married was exhausting. But what could he do? It was his responsibility that his child had turned out this way, so he could only feel bitter.

– So, let’s not talk about it anymore. If you’re going to talk about that, I have nothing more to say.

“Alright. It’s all my fault, so who can I blame? I have one last thing I want to say.”

– One thing? What is it?

“200 million won!”

– Huh? 200 million won? What are you talking about all of a sudden?

“Listen carefully to what I’m about to say. So…”

Park Hee-chul began to explain in detail what he had discussed with Hyun-sung earlier. He didn’t leave out the land story or the promise to give 200 million won in two years. When Park Hee-chul finished his explanation, Park Min-soo burst out laughing.

– Haha, Father, what are you doing right now?

“Why? Do you think your father is lying?”

– No, it’s just, does that even make sense? Promising 200 million won in two years if I attend the wedding, and even more absurd, saying that the current land will increase 100 times in two years. You’re asking me to believe that?

“Whether you believe it or not is up to you. But what’s clear is that I told you in advance. Don’t bother complaining later, because it won’t do you any good.”

– No, what kind of…

Park Hee-chul interrupted Park Min-soo before he could finish his sentence.

“Let me ask you one thing first.”

– Yes? What is it?

“Have I ever lied to you in my entire life? Especially when it comes to money.”

– Well… no. You’ve never broken a promise after saying you’d give something.

“That’s what I’m saying. Keep in mind that I’ve never lied to you in my life. And I’m going to make the same call to your younger brother, Beom-soo. Do you know what that means?”

– Are you saying you’re going to create competition between brothers?

“Speak properly, even if your mouth is crooked. It’s not competition, but giving a fair opportunity. So, the choice is up to each of you. And let me tell you one more thing, keep in mind that I might give it all to one person.”

– So, it’s competition after all. Fine. Then let me ask you just one thing.”

“Alright, what is it?”

– Where is that land?

“That land?”

– Yes, the land you said you invested in. I’d like to…

“So, what you’re saying is that you don’t trust your father’s words and want to check it out?”

– It’s not exactly like that…

“No, what do you mean it’s not? Forget it, I don’t want to tell you that much. I want to see your true feelings this time, so from now on, all decisions are up to you. And let me make it clear that from now on, you won’t get a single penny from me without any conditions. So, don’t complain later. I’ve said everything I wanted to say, so I’ll hang up now.”

– Father! Father…

Click.

Park Hee-chul coldly hung up the phone, even though he could hear his son calling him from the other end. He knew very well that there was no point in holding on to the phone any longer, as they would only repeat the same words.

“Hoo!”

Park Hee-chul let out a short breath after hanging up.

‘What is this feeling?’

A strange emotion seemed to be creeping up from a corner of his heart.

If there was one thing he regretted most in his life, it would be the issue of his children.

With the hope that they would succeed, he sent them to study abroad from a young age.

But looking back, that was a fatal mistake. Moreover, after liquidating all the remaining inheritance six years ago and dividing it between the two of them, they became complete strangers.

When they still had assets, they would come and visit at least once a year, but at some point, they stopped coming altogether.

After several years, he had no choice but to give up.

At first, he resented his children a lot.

But it was all his fault, so he couldn’t resent anyone. All that remained was regret.

‘Why did I do that?’

He thought everything was over.

But!

A miraculous thing happened.

It was his meeting with Hyun-sung.

As a result, he gained an enormous amount of money. Of course, it was two years later.

It wasn’t just a small amount, but a whopping 5 billion won. At first, he said he would only take 1 billion won, but Hyun-sung said there was no need and told him to take the entire 5 billion won.

Of course, the reason was that he had invested an additional 500 million won in Hyun-sung’s name. That money alone would later become 50 billion won, so he said that money was enough for him.

He had no choice but to agree.

5 billion won.

It was money he could never have touched in his entire life. If he had that money in his hands, what couldn’t he do in the world?

Among other things, the thing he wanted most was, of course, his children. Regret for his failed child-rearing.

They were children ruined by money anyway. They were guys who thought money was everything.

Money!

He ruined his children because of money, but that money is coming back.

He failed once, so he couldn’t make the same mistake again, could he? Then this is an opportunity.

Of course, he wouldn’t be able to change everything. But at least there would be no unconditional giving. If he could change even the smallest things from now on, then that would be enough.

“Hehe!”

Park Hee-chul’s expression had changed to one of confidence.

He started calling his second son in Japan again.

***

“Hoo…”

As soon as the call ended, Park Min-soo sighed deeply without realizing it.

Then his wife, Yoon Mi-young, who was watching him, asked.

“Was that your father?”

“Yeah.”

“But why are you sighing like that? What did your father say?”

“That’s…”

Park Min-soo couldn’t speak easily. No matter how he thought about it, he couldn’t believe his father’s words. Suddenly calling and saying he would give 200 million won if he attended the wedding, does that even make sense?

When Park Min-soo didn’t say anything properly, Yoon Mi-young immediately asked.

“What is it?”

“No, I just can’t believe it no matter how I think about it. Well, my father…”

Park Min-soo began to explain to his wife, Yoon Mi-young, what he had talked about with his father earlier. As Park Min-soo’s explanation lengthened, Yoon Mi-young’s expression gradually changed. And finally, when Park Min-soo’s explanation ended, Yoon Mi-young immediately asked.

“200 million won?”

“Yeah, he says he’ll give you 200 million won if you attend your wedding. Does that make sense?”

“Could your father be lying to get us to come?”

“I didn’t think that at all at first…”

“Did he say anything else?”

“Yeah, well, he was talking about land.”

“Land? Did your father have land… You said last time that your father didn’t have any more land.”

“That’s true. He sold all the land he had, saying he would give us the inheritance in advance six years ago. At that time, all that was left was the family burial ground near the house.”

That’s right.

At that time, his father sold all the land he had as if he had made up his mind. He even disposed of the land he had invested in Gyeonggi Province. That was a few months after his mother passed away.

Yoon Mi-young asked again.

“You’re not talking about that family burial ground now, are you? Anyway, that family burial ground in the countryside won’t make any money.”

“Of course not.”

“Then what’s with the 200 million won?”

“He said he bought land last year. And he says that land will increase 100 times in two years.”

“100 times? Where is it?”

Park Min-soo shook his head and continued.

“He didn’t say.”

“Why? He said he’d give you 200 million won, but why is he keeping that a secret?”

“He says he wants to know our true feelings?”

“True feelings?”

“Yeah, that’s right. He wants to know if we believe his words or not. I think he’s lying to get us to attend the wedding.”

“Lying? Your father? I don’t think so. Has your father ever lied to you before?”

Yoon Mi-young tilted her head and asked.

Then Park Min-soo immediately continued.

“Of course, he hasn’t. But no matter how I think about it, this doesn’t make sense. Suddenly 200 million won, and he says it applies to my brother as well.”

“To your brother too? Then what? That’s a total of 400 million won.”

“That’s what I’m saying. He said he might give it all to one person if we don’t come.”

“Give it all? In the end, he wants you to come to the wedding. So, what are you going to do?”

“That’s what I’m worried about. It’s annoying to go, but I can’t take my eyes off the money. It’s not just a small amount of money. It’s a whopping 200 million won, 200 million won.”

“Hmm… First, check with your brother. See if your father really said the same thing.”

Yoon Mi-young’s eyes sparkled. Why wouldn’t they? It’s not just a small amount of money, but a whopping 200 million won at stake.

“Should I? Wait a minute…”

Park Min-soo immediately started calling his brother in Japan.

– Hello.

“Beom-soo, it’s me. What’s up? Did your father call you too?”

“Yeah, he called me 30 minutes ago. He told me to attend our father’s wedding the Sunday after next.”

– He said the same thing to me. But suddenly he said something strange. He said he’d give us 200 million won in two years if we attended the wedding. Did he say that to you too?

“Yeah, so what are you going to do?”

– I don’t know yet. But did our father have that much money? Didn’t he liquidate everything a few years ago and give it to us?

“That’s what I know too.”

– So what are you going to do, hyung [older brother]?

“I don’t know right now either. And didn’t he say anything else?”

Park Min-soo said that and looked at his wife, Yoon Mi-young. He was curious if his father had told his brother about the land too. Then Yoon Mi-young came closer to the phone.

– No, he didn’t say anything else, why? Is there something else?

“Ah, no. It’s nothing, I was just wondering. Alright. Give me a call if you decide what to do.”

– Alright, hyung.

Click.

As soon as he hung up the phone, Yoon Mi-young immediately asked.

“What did your brother say? Did your father talk about the land too?”

“Well, I don’t think so. I asked him just in case, but he said he didn’t say anything else.”

“Could your brother be lying?”

“Hmm… Well, I don’t think so. No, maybe I don’t know. That guy sometimes has a dark side.”

“That’s right. I haven’t seen him many times, but your brother’s eyes are a bit…”

“Anyway, what should we do? The amount is too big to ignore.”

“Didn’t you say you have a friend who does real estate? You said you’re close to him?”

“Ah, that’s right. Hyung-seok. I can ask that guy.”

Park Min-soo hurriedly started looking for a phone number in his notebook.

A short time later.

Park Min-soo found the phone number and immediately called.

– Hello.

“Hyung-seok, it’s me. Min-soo.”

– Yo, Min-soo. Where are you? Did you come to Korea?

“No, I’m here in America. I have a favor to ask you.”

– What is it? Do you have a good deal?

“Actually, my father bought land, and I need some information about it. Can you find out for me?”

– Of course, I have to do that much for you. And if your father bought land, it could be valuable information. Just tell me your father’s name and address. I’ll find out right away. Our team is fast at that kind of thing.”

“Okay, my father’s name is…”

Park Min-soo told him his father’s name and address. Then he exchanged a few more greetings and hung up the phone.

The call from Lee Hyung-seok came the next day in the afternoon.

– Min-soo, I found it.

“Already?”

– I told you yesterday, we work as a team.

“So, where is the land your father bought?”

– Ilsan.

“Ilsan?”

– Yeah, but that’s… strange.

“Strange? What? Maybe…?”

Park Min-soo’s eyes began to shine more than ever.