Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 339

339

Nongshim headquarters in Shindaebang-dong.

“How is that friend doing these days, now that it’s vacation time?”

Chairman Shin Chun-oh asked, looking at his secretary, Kim Young-woo.

Kim Young-woo immediately responded.

“I hear he’s just studying from morning till late at night.”

“Studying?”

“Yes, that’s right. And he’s not doing it alone, but with a friend named Lee Soo-hyuk.”

“Well, he’s a senior in high school, so this summer vacation must be the most important time for him to prepare for college. But what are his grades like?”

“His last mock exam score was over 290 points. He’s a really amazing guy.”

“290 out of 320? With that score, he could easily get into Korea University, couldn’t he?”

Chairman Shin Chun-oh couldn’t help but be surprised.

Even the top students in Seoul don’t get that score easily. But how could he get such a score in the countryside without any private academies?

Kim Young-woo continued to explain.

“If he keeps going like this, I think he could even get 300 points.”

“Hehe, really…”

“And even now, it’s more like he’s teaching that student rather than studying together.”

“Teaching?”

“Yes, he said that friend asked for help.”

“So, he’s leaving the business to someone else and just studying with that friend?”

“Yes, but that’s also interesting.”

A smile spread across Kim Young-woo’s face.

Chairman Shin Chun-oh immediately asked.

“What’s so interesting about it?”

“Actually, there aren’t many customers during vacation, so he doesn’t need to hire part-time students, but he’s deliberately hiring them. Not just one, but two.”

“Of course, there must be a reason?”

“Yes, both of the working students are from underprivileged families without parents.”

“So, you mean he’s deliberately giving those students a chance to work. Anyway, that young man is definitely different from us ordinary people, no matter how I think about it. It’s amazing how he thinks like that at that age.”

A satisfied smile began to spread across Chairman Shin Chun-oh’s face.

At that moment, Kim Young-woo continued.

“That’s not all.”

“What else is there?”

“Didn’t I tell you that he was going to open a franchise?”

“Yes, you did. But why is that relevant?”

“When I looked into it, it wasn’t the kind of franchise we generally think of. That franchise opening also had a story behind it.”

“A story?”

“Yes, so…”

Kim Young-woo began to explain in detail about the franchise opening. As Kim Young-woo’s explanation continued at length, the smile on Chairman Shin Chun-oh’s face grew wider and wider. And finally, when Kim Young-woo’s explanation ended, Chairman Shin Chun-oh smiled and continued.

“So, in the end, he opened a franchise for a mother with two daughters without any conditions?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Hehe, really… So, how’s business?”

“It’s a hit.”

“A hit?”

“Yes, these days it’s vacation time, so there aren’t many customers, but usually, you have to wait at least 30 minutes to eat ramen. Usually, it makes at least 100,000 won a day.”

Clap clap clap.

Chairman Shin Chun-oh suddenly started clapping.

“Indeed, he’s a remarkable person. Amazing.”

“I agree. I’m really curious how he makes that sauce that students are so addicted to.”

“Isn’t that what you call skill?”

“So, I was wondering if we could find out the secret of that sauce…”

“Kim!”

Chairman Shin Chun-oh called out to Kim Young-woo in a loud voice before Kim Young-woo could finish speaking.

Kim Young-woo was surprised.

“Yes, Chairman!”

“Are you saying that seriously right now?”

“Yes? What…”

“Are you in your right mind? You have nothing better to do than to mess with something a young kid created?”

“Ah, yes. I was just… I’m sorry. I won’t do it again…”

“Enough, register that signboard or something so that no one else can use it. Anyway, that student probably didn’t think about that. And put the trademark ownership in that student’s name. Don’t have any unnecessary thoughts.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Kim Young-woo bowed his head and answered immediately.

Then, Chairman Shin Chun-oh spoke again.

“And prepare a large studio apartment near Korea University.”

“Yes? A studio apartment?”

“So he can move in from February next year. And if possible, set up all the furniture and household goods.”

Kim Young-woo tilted his head and asked cautiously after Chairman Shin Chun-oh finished speaking.

“I’m sorry, but who…?”

“Who else could it be? It’s obvious.”

“…Are you perhaps saying that with Hyun-sung in mind?”

“Of course. Where else would he go with that score? Of course, he’ll come to Korea University. So, reserve a good room in advance. At least I should do that much for him, shouldn’t I?”

“Ah, yes. I understand what you mean. I’ll look into it right away tomorrow.”

Kim Young-woo had an uneasy feeling. That was because he thought that Hyun-sung might not go to Korea University.

Of course, judging by his grades alone, it’s right for him to go to Korea University. But no one can be sure about what people will do. If Hyun-sung goes to another school, the studio apartment he contracted will be useless. In other words, it’s just wasting money.

But the problem is that he can’t question Chairman Shin Chun-oh about it. Chairman Shin Chun-oh firmly believes that Hyun-sung will come to Korea University.

It’s what the chairman wants. He just has to do as he’s told.

That’s the conclusion Kim Young-woo finally came to.

At that time, Chairman Shin Chun-oh asked again.

“And what about that Ilsan [a district in Goyang, South Korea] thing you were told to look into?”

“I looked into it…”

“And?”

“There’s nothing to be found at all. No matter how many places I look, I can’t find any information that Ilsan is being developed.”

“Is that so? But why did that friend invest there…?”

“I agree. I’m also curious about that. Why did he go all the way there to buy land?”

“Hmm…”

Chairman Shin Chun-oh fell into thought for a moment.

But his 고민 [Korean word for ‘worry’ or ‘concern’] didn’t last long.

“Kim!”

“Yes, Chairman.”

“What did we say our mission was?”

“To watch over that student.”

“Yes, just keep that in mind. Wherever that friend bought land, that’s his choice. Let’s not judge by our standards. What’s clear is that if that friend bought land there, there must be a reason. I trust that friend. So, don’t even think about interfering with that friend’s choice. Do you understand what I mean?”

“Yes, Chairman. I will keep that in mind.”

“And one more thing!”

Chairman Shin Chun-oh raised his index finger and continued.

“It shouldn’t happen, but if anyone tries to harm that friend, then take care of it on your own. Preemptive action, then report. At least nothing should happen to that friend’s body.”

“Yes, I understand. I will pass it on.”

“And I want to have a meal with that friend before the vacation ends, so find out when his day off is. Come to think of it, it’s been almost a year since I met that friend.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Kim Young-woo bowed his head and greeted him before leaving the chairman’s office.

Chairman Shin Chun-oh, who was left alone, got up from his seat and headed to the window.

Then, after looking out for a long time, a faint smile began to spread across his face.

“The ramen tasted really good…”

***

“Last 5 minutes.”

“Oh, I know. I’ve almost solved it.”

Swish, swish.

Lee Soo-hyuk was busy solving the last problem.

Hyun-sung’s expression, watching the scene, nodded as if satisfied.

It’s been 25 days since he came to Lee Soo-hyuk’s house.

The method Hyun-sung chose after hearing Lee Soo-hyuk’s words ‘Save me’ the day before vacation was to go directly to Lee Soo-hyuk’s house himself.

The reason is simple. It was to understand Lee Soo-hyuk’s study habits. Hyun-sung judged that there must be a problem if his score didn’t improve even though he did his best.

The prediction was correct.

He found the problem with Lee Soo-hyuk in just one day of living together.

That was the limit of his concentration.

Two hours.

That was the time Lee Soo-hyuk could concentrate. After two hours, his concentration dropped and his posture deteriorated. So, no matter how long he sat at his desk, his efficiency couldn’t improve.

Now that he knew the problem, all that was left was the solution.

A habit is not created overnight. So, fixing that habit is impossible in the short term.

The time left until the college entrance exam was only 4 months. There was no choice.

Instead of changing the habit, it was to make the most of the habit.

So, the method he chose was to study for 2 hours and rest for 30 minutes. First of all, he meticulously divided 24 hours. Sleeping time, eating time, study time, and even rest time, he made a thorough plan without even an inch of error. Of course, he didn’t forget regular exercise time. Because the end is a fight against physical strength.

It took a few days to adjust at first, but Lee Soo-hyuk’s will was strong, so he was able to find his normal condition in just four days.

Tak!

Lee Soo-hyuk put down his pen and exhaled all the breath he had been holding in.

“Hoo!”

“Are you done?”

“Yeah, you were right. Math was all about repetition. As I kept repeating similar types, I was able to solve them automatically later.”

Lee Soo-hyuk’s weakest subject was math.

On the other hand, Hyun-sung’s most confident subject was math.

Hyun-sung’s way of studying math was simple.

Infinite repetition.

Other subjects were the same, but especially math, you shouldn’t try to be clever.

He knew from experience that if you solve a problem once or twice and think you know the trick, you’ll fail 100% in the actual battle.

It was in the second year of middle school in his previous life.

The day before the math test, he didn’t solve the problems by hand, but only with his eyes. He even looked at the textbook problem solving.

He thought he could solve it. He was more confident than anyone else in math, so he thought it would be enough to study that much.

But the test results the next day were beyond imagination. He usually only missed one or two questions, but that day he couldn’t even pass 60 points.

It was shocking. In the end, he cried all night that night.

What he realized at that time was that if you try to be clever in math, you’ll fail. Since that day, he has been solving problems repeatedly to the point of being ignorant.

“Let’s see.”

Hyun-sung began to match the problems Lee Soo-hyuk solved with the answers.

After a while.

An exclamation came out of Hyun-sung’s mouth.

“Oh! Lee Soo-hyuk!”

“Why? How many did I get wrong?”

Lee Soo-hyuk looked at Hyun-sung as if curious.

Then Hyun-sung shook his head from side to side and continued.

“None.”

“None?”

“Yeah, there’s nothing wrong. It’s 100 points!”

“Really?”

“Yeah, you idiot! You kept the time exactly, how many problems did you solve?”

“You said it. Math is about studying in a simple and ignorant way. Only infinite repetition. The hand should move automatically, not thinking about it when you see the problem.”

“So?”

“What do you mean so? I just solved problems ignorantly. Look at this.”

On one side of Lee Soo-hyuk’s desk, there were three math problem books piled up. Just looking at the condition of the problem books, you could tell how hard Lee Soo-hyuk had been solving problems.

Tok tok.

Hyun-sung lightly tapped Lee Soo-hyuk’s shoulder and continued.

“Thank you. It wouldn’t have been easy, but thank you for following my lead.”

“I’m really thankful. If it wasn’t for you, I would have collapsed. Now I think I can do it too.”

“Of course, you didn’t lack skills from the beginning. You just lacked a little bit of studying skills. So, from now on, you can study in this way according to your habits.”

“Okay, I got it. I feel like I can live now. I really felt like I was going to die the day before vacation. How desperate would I have been to ask you to save me? But I have one question?”

Lee Soo-hyuk looked at Hyun-sung and asked.

Then Hyun-sung immediately asked.

“What is it?”

“That day. The day I asked you to save me.”

“Why that day?”

“How did you say okay at once? It wouldn’t have been easy?”

“Your eyes were so desperate. But how could I refuse there? It was the first time I had seen that kind of look.”

“Because I was really desperate. Because I didn’t want to collapse like this.”

“Okay, that’s enough. You’ll definitely be able to go to Yonsei University. Let’s endure just 4 more months like now. Okay?”

Hyun-sung held out his fist.

Then Lee Soo-hyuk bumped his fist and nodded.

“Okay! I’m definitely going to Yonsei University.”