Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 335

Park Hee-cheol’s laughter was short-lived.

From his mouth, which had just been filled with laughter, came words that surprised everyone.

“Because I want to play.”

“Yes? Play? What do you mean by that?”

“You asked why I called the kids three days early? This is my answer.”

“Yes?”

Hyeonseong’s voice involuntarily rose.

If Park Hee-cheol was telling the truth, the reason he summoned his two sons from the United States and Japan three days ahead of the wedding was simply to ‘play’.

Play?

What could that possibly entail?

Hyeonseong figured it couldn’t be the ordinary kind of ‘playing’ we all think of. He doubted Park Hee-cheol would call his children from across the globe for something so trivial.

So, what did Park Hee-cheol mean by ‘playing’?

Hyeonseong pondered for a moment but couldn’t make heads or tails of it. He couldn’t even begin to grasp Park Hee-cheol’s concept of ‘playing’.

Then, Park Hee-cheol spoke.

“Why are you racking your brain so hard?”

“Because I don’t understand.”

“So, what is it that you don’t understand?”

“Well, isn’t it obvious? I can’t imagine you calling your children from so far away just to play. I can’t help but feel frustrated because I don’t know the real reason.”

“Heh heh, look at this guy.”

Park Hee-cheol chuckled, as if dumbfounded.

Hyeonseong immediately pressed him.

“What exactly do you mean by playing?”

“That’s why it’s sometimes not good to be too complicated.”

“Yes? What does that mean…?”

“Why are you overthinking it? Just think simply. Is the word ‘play’ that difficult? I just want to play. I want to play with my kids. Just simply. Is that clear now?”

“Yes? Does that mean…?”

Only then did Hyeonseong realize he had been taking things far too seriously. Park Hee-cheol simply wanted to spend time with his two sons.

Once that realization dawned on him, Hyeonseong couldn’t help but feel a little deflated.

Then, Park Hee-cheol continued.

“I think I mentioned it last time, didn’t I? That I wanted to make memories with my children.”

“Ah, yes, I remember. You said you wanted to go to the bathhouse, go fishing, and drink soju [Korean rice wine], right?”

“Yes, that’s right. Back then, I said I wanted to live with them for 100 days after two years and create those memories, but when I heard they were coming this time, I got greedy.”

“So, you’re saying you told them to come three days early?”

“Heh heh…, that’s right.”

Park Hee-cheol said, making that strange, chuckling sound again.

Hyeonseong immediately asked.

“Why are you making those strange noises? You’ve never done that before.”

“I don’t know why, but I just can’t help it….”

“What is it?”

“It’s embarrassing to admit in front of you, but honestly, I’m nervous. Like I said before, I’ve barely made any memories with my children. Of course, I realized later that it was my fault. But now that I’m actually about to make those memories, I can’t help but laugh strangely. I hope you understand.”

“No, …”

Hyeonseong quickly covered his mouth, stopping himself from saying something.

He understood Park Hee-cheol’s situation better than anyone. What words were even appropriate in this moment?

How else could he be acting like that at his age?

Hyeonseong looked at Park Hee-cheol and nodded to convey his understanding.

Park Hee-cheol smiled awkwardly in response.

“Thank you. I’m glad you understand.”

“You’re welcome, but….”

Hyeonseong had a question.

Would his two sons actually go along with Park Hee-cheol’s wishes? The fact that they were even attending the wedding was surprising enough.

According to Park Hee-cheol, his two sons hadn’t shown their faces for years after he distributed the inheritance in advance. In fact, hadn’t they stopped answering the phone, let alone visit?

He couldn’t help but wonder if they would really come three days early just because Park Hee-cheol asked them to.

Hyeonseong asked directly.

“So, what did your sons say?”

“What do you mean, what did they say? Of course, they said they would come.”

“Yes? Of course?”

Hyeonseong tilted his head, puzzled. It defied common sense.

Hyeonseong pressed again.

“No, what do you mean? I heard they haven’t set foot in Korea in years, so it’s amazing that they’re coming to the wedding, but they’re coming three days early… and it’s natural? I don’t understand.”

“It seems like these guys smelled something.”

“Smelled?”

“Yes, the smell of money. Do you know what the eldest said?”

“Well, what did he say?”

“He was asking about the land in Ilsan [a city in South Korea]. I was dumbfounded. Heh heh….”

Park Hee-cheol laughed hollowly.

Hyeonseong immediately asked.

“Did you mention it first, by any chance?”

“If I had mentioned it, I wouldn’t be so dumbfounded.”

“Then how, perhaps….”

“That’s right. It seems like this guy has done some digging. I said I would give 200 million won [Korean currency, approximately $150,000 USD] if they attended the wedding, so they must have gotten curious.”

“So, they investigated you? Is that it?”

Park Hee-cheol nodded and continued.

“It’s absurd, but that must be it. Otherwise, how would the topic of the land in Ilsan come up?”

“No, how….”

Hyeonseong couldn’t understand, no matter how hard he tried.

Regardless of the reason, a child investigating his own father?

It was unheard of. How could such a thing happen?

“That’s just the kind of guys they are.”

“What about your youngest son?”

Park Hee-cheol shook his head and continued.

“Who can I blame? I raised them that way. At first, I was so shocked I couldn’t say anything, but now that it’s come to this, I’ve changed my mind.”

“Changed your mind?”

“Yes, they’re the kind of guys who wouldn’t hesitate to investigate their father for their own gain. Then I have to change my approach too, don’t I?”

A sneer even appeared on Park Hee-cheol’s lips. It was clear that he was deeply shocked, and his feelings had definitely shifted.

How could they not?

He had been investigated by his own children.

Hyeonseong waited for Park Hee-cheol to continue before asking anything. Whatever the reason, Park Hee-cheol was clearly not in a good place.

But then, Park Hee-cheol said something unexpected.

“It’s actually fortunate.”

“Yes? Fortunate?”

“Yes, now that it’s come to this, I’m thinking of correcting these guys’ bad habits.”

“Is that even possible?”

“Do you like fishing by any chance?”

“Yes? Why suddenly fishing?”

Hyeonseong stared at Park Hee-cheol, surprised by the sudden change of topic.

Park Hee-cheol continued.

“If you look at a fishing hook, there’s something called a barb. It’s a small, thorn-like hook that prevents the fish from escaping once it bites.”

“Yes, I know.”

“These guys are exactly like that. They’ve already taken the bait.”

“Are you saying that your sons already know the potential value of the land in Ilsan?”

“You’re quick on the uptake, as expected. That’s right. No, to be more precise, I mentioned it myself. When they first brought up the land, I told them it would increase 100 times in two years.”

“Do they believe that? No one would believe that.”

That was true.

He had said they investigated Park Hee-cheol. So, they would have looked into the value of the land in Ilsan.

But as of now, he was the only one who knew the true potential of the land. Even real estate experts were unaware. The announcement of the new city in Ilsan was such an unexpected event that no one could have predicted it.

Park Hee-cheol continued.

“It’s because of you.”

“Yes? What did I do…?”

“It’s because of the land you bought.”

“No, did they even investigate me?”

Hyeonseong’s voice rose in surprise.

Park Hee-cheol waved his hand dismissively and continued.

“It’s not that, but they said you naturally came up while they were digging into me. Didn’t we move together back then?”

“Ah, yes…. But how does the land I bought have anything to do with it being because of me?”

“It’s because of the amount. It’s a whopping 500 million won [approximately $375,000 USD], isn’t it? They must have found nothing special when they investigated me. So, they were going to ignore it, but then your 500 million won land purchase came up. The amount was too significant to ignore. And then I said it would increase 100 times, so wouldn’t they naturally be worried?”

“So, they believe what you’re saying now?”

“Of course, they don’t believe it 100%. But the amount is too big to ignore. If it really does increase 100 times as I said, then the current 500 million becomes 50 billion [approximately $37.5 million USD].”

“So, they can’t completely believe it, but they can’t dismiss it entirely because of the ‘what if’?”

“That’s right. If they ignored it and it really did become 50 billion, they’d have no one to blame but themselves, so they’re planning to wait and see.”

Park Hee-cheol’s face relaxed. He seemed confident now.

Looking at him, Hyeonseong said.

“That two-year timeframe must be a factor too, right?”

“Of course, it’s only two years anyway. If the period was longer, they wouldn’t be able to wait, but since it’s just two years, they’re willing to wait and see.”

“So, they said they would attend the wedding for now?”

“That’s right. When they said they would attend the wedding, they had already taken the bait. They’re so hooked that they can’t escape anymore.”

“And you knew that, got greedy, and forced them to come three days earlier?”

“Time is on my side now anyway. Once they’ve taken the bait, they can’t run away and they’ll have no choice but to follow my lead. Isn’t that right? Haha….”

Park Hee-cheol laughed loudly, clearly in a good mood.

Only then did Hyeonseong understand why Park Hee-cheol had been so sure his two sons would come.

He had said they only cared about money.

With the prospect of 50 billion won dangling in front of them, how could they resist?

Hyeonseong smiled and asked.

“Are you confident?”

“Of course, it won’t be easy. But with time and money on my side, there’s nothing I can’t do. Anyway, I’m not going to make the same mistakes as before. I’m not asking for much, just the basic duties between parents and children, so surely they’ll at least do that much?”

“Well, what constitutes ‘basic’ will vary depending on your perspective. Anyway, your sons are coming tomorrow, so I wish you good luck.”

“Okay, anyway, the fact that I got this opportunity again is thanks to you. Thank you.”

Park Hee-cheol smiled at Hyeonseong.

Hyeonseong continued.

“By the way, have you decided on your honeymoon destination?”

“Don’t even mention it. I’ve been arguing with Myeongsun [Shin Myeongsun, Park Hee-cheol’s wife] about that for days.”

“Why?”

“Well, Myeongsun wants to go for only two nights and three days because of you.”

“No, what do you mean? I clearly gave you a 15-day vacation?”

“That’s what I’m saying. But she’s stubbornly insisting. She says she can’t leave the kitchen empty for that long. She says you’ll have a hard time and it’s not possible.”

“Mother is really….”

Tsk.

Hyeonseong stopped talking. He knew why Shin Myeongsun was doing that. That’s how attached she was to the restaurant.

“So, what did you decide to do?”

“I begged and pleaded and we decided to go for four nights and five days. I’ll go check on the restaurant in a week. What can I do? I have no choice but to give in.”

“I’m sorry. It’s all because of me.”

“Sorry for what? Don’t say that. It’s because you’re always so good to Myeongsun. Now that I think about it, thank you so much for always treating our Myeongsun better than her own mother.”

“You’re saying too much. Then is the wedding preparation all done now?”

“That’s about it. But now that I’m getting married in three days, I’m getting nervous.”

Park Hee-cheol tapped his chest lightly.

Hyeonseong immediately said.

“Enjoy the excitement. And have a good time with your sons tomorrow.”

“Ah! That’s right. Those guys are coming before the wedding. Okay, I’ll be determined for two days and make sure to establish some military discipline with them.”

“Military discipline? No, didn’t you say you were going to play with them earlier?”

“Playing comes later. First, I have to establish military discipline. I have a few things I’m upset about with those guys. Military discipline is always established at the beginning. Even though I look like this, I was an assistant instructor in the military. Heh heh….”

That strange laughter flowed out of Park Hee-cheol’s mouth again.

Hyeonseong smiled at Park Hee-cheol.