Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 349

349

Principal Park Sang-hyun was on the phone.

“Yes, I understand. I will do my best.”

-Thank you.

“Rather, I am grateful. I was already feeling regretful as next year is my retirement, but thanks to the Chairman, I will be able to fulfill my wish properly.”

-Haha, is that so? But the problem is that Mr. Kim is so stubborn, I’m not sure if it will work.

“I will kneel if I have to, so please don’t worry too much.”

-Kneel? Haha… Principal, your joke is too much.

“A joke? No. I’m serious that I will do that this time if he doesn’t grant my request. It’s absolutely not a joke.”

Park Sang-hyun shook his head violently from side to side while talking on the phone. He meant that it wasn’t a joke to that extent, but sincere.

Retirement is just around the corner. It’s the last of his 33 years of teaching. So, he thought it would be even more rewarding. As a final touch, one of his students was going to Korea University.

But a problem arose. He thought he would naturally go, but the person in question, not someone else, had no intention of going to Korea University.

He asked for the reason, but the reason was that he couldn’t explain it and just unconditionally hated it. No matter how much he tried to persuade him, it was useless.

In the meantime, he received a phone call. Surprisingly, it was from Nongshim headquarters. At first, he was puzzled, but after listening to the explanation, he could understand the reason. They wanted to take Hyun-sung to Nongshim headquarters as a special talent. To do so, Hyun-sung had to enter Korea University first. They had already signed a contract for a studio apartment.

But the problem was still the person himself.

So, the last method he found was to appeal to emotions. That’s why he said he would kneel as a last resort if it didn’t work. And that was his true intention.

Shin Chun-oh could feel it. That Principal Park Sang-hyun’s words were sincere.

Was that why?

His voice gained strength.

-Principal!

“Yes, Chairman. Please speak.”

-If it’s not too much to ask, may I order delivery?

“Delivery? No, why are you suddenly saying that?”

-I want to gift everyone with one chicken per person.

“Yes? One chicken per person?”

-Yes, that’s right. I was wondering if it would be okay to send chicken to all the students after class this Saturday.”

Park Sang-hyun forcibly held back his laughter. This was the first time in his 33 years of teaching. One chicken per person for all students. But the important thing was that he felt good thinking about it. He thought it was a happy moment to cherish such memories for the rest of his life.

Was that why?

He made jokes he had never made in his life.

“Can I ask for one for myself too?”

-Haha, yes, I understand. I’ll send you two specially. Then, please take good care of Hyun-sung. Goodbye.

“Yes, Chairman. Thank you.”

Click.

Park Sang-hyun hung up the phone and started laughing loudly.

“Haha, hahahaha…”

30 minutes later.

Knock knock.

“Did you call for me, Principal?”

“Come in, Hyun-sung. Sit over here!”

Park Sang-hyun greeted Hyun-sung happily. But his expression looked much brighter than usual.

Hyun-sung asked immediately.

“Did something happen?”

“Why? Does it look like it?”

“Yes, your complexion looks very good.”

“Haha, is that so? I was talking to a valuable person a little while ago, so I couldn’t help it…”

“A valuable person?”

“Ah, no. It’s someone you don’t know.”

Park Sang-hyun lied on purpose. He had to keep his conversation with Chairman Shin Chun-oh a secret for now.

“Ah, yes… But why did you call me?”

“It’s nothing special, I was just wondering how you’ve been doing these days.”

Hyun-sung tilted his head slightly. It was Principal, not someone else. Of course, he was close to Principal Park Sang-hyun, but not so close that he would ask about his daily life. Park Sang-hyun’s expression seemed to be hiding something, but he couldn’t ask the reason.

Park Sang-hyun opened his mouth again.

“Oh, by the way! Are you still teaching your friends after the restaurant closes?”

“Yes? Did you know?”

“Of course. I knew from the beginning. I’m the principal of this school, so I should know that much, shouldn’t I?”

“Ah, yes…”

Hyun-sung nodded slightly.

It was a bit unexpected. He had never brought up that story before, so he naturally thought he didn’t know. But he realized today that he had been pretending not to know.

“Those friends did quite well on the mock exam this time.”

It was a moment that clearly revealed Park Sang-hyun’s personality. He didn’t expect him to be concerned about the mock exam scores. He had been quietly watching everything from behind.

Hyun-sung said with a smile.

“I didn’t know you knew. I…”

“I pretended not to know because I was worried you might feel burdened. But now that there’s only a month left until the exam date, I don’t think I need to do that anymore. I wanted to thank you now, even though it’s late.”

“Ah, yes. Thank you.”

Hyun-sung bowed his head.

Then Park Sang-hyun shook his head and continued immediately.

“No, that’s not what you should say, it’s what I should say. Do you know how happy I am these days thanks to you?”

“Yes?”

“As you know, I don’t have many months left until retirement, right? But thanks to you, I’m going to finish well, so how can I not be grateful? At least 20 people will go to college. As a principal, where else can I have a happier moment than this? Don’t you think so?”

“Yes, that seems enough.”

It’s a huge difference compared to his past life. In his past life, a total of 6 people went to college, including junior colleges and vocational colleges. Of course, there was not much difference a year ago either. So, it’s perhaps natural for the principal to say that he’s happy.

‘Huh?’

Hyun-sung was momentarily embarrassed.

The gentle smile that Principal Park Sang-hyun had on his face just a moment ago was gone, and his expression had suddenly turned gloomy.

Then, before Hyun-sung could ask, Park Sang-hyun opened his mouth first.

“But you know… No matter how I think about it, this is not right.”

“Yes? What…”

“You!”

“…”

Hyun-sung couldn’t say anything at the suddenly changed appearance of Principal Park Sang-hyun. He just looked at Park Sang-hyun.

Park Sang-hyun’s words continued immediately.

“Don’t you know what I’m talking about?”

“…Yes, why are you suddenly like this?”

“Ko. Re. A. U.”

The three letters popped out of Park Sang-hyun’s mouth one by one.

Only then did Hyun-sung realize why Park Sang-hyun had called him.

“Isn’t that issue already over? I clearly…”

“Who says that? That it’s already over?”

Park Sang-hyun came out before Hyun-sung could finish speaking.

“Principal!”

Hyun-sung’s voice gained strength without him realizing it. He had had many conversations with Principal Park Sang-hyun until now, but today was the first time like this. It was like seeing a different person.

Park Sang-hyun’s words continued immediately.

“I don’t agree.”

“Principal! Now that word is…”

“Hyun-sung, as you know, this is my last time. As I finish my 33 years of teaching…”

Park Sang-hyun’s words continued.

At first, he thought it would end soon, but Park Sang-hyun’s words did not end even after 10 minutes.

The words were long, but the core of what he wanted to say was one thing. He wanted to finish well as it was his last time. That ending was for Hyun-sung to go to Korea University.

But a strange word came out at the end of that word.

“Make way.”

“Yes? Make way?”

“Yes, for the sake of the juniors.”

“…”

Hyun-sung couldn’t say anything. It was a completely different approach from what Park Sang-hyun had been talking about until now.

In fact, this is not the first time. Park Sang-hyun’s demands had continued as soon as the second semester started. Of course, those were not unreasonable demands either, so he had no choice but to listen while being troubled every time.

But the reason why he didn’t give up his will until the end was because there was definitely a place to go.

But this time, he couldn’t dare to say no firmly.

Way!

Park Sang-hyun said ‘way’ a little while ago.

He knows too well what that word means.

Hope!

What Park Sang-hyun is trying to say is to give hope to the remaining juniors. It’s about giving them hope that we can do it even in difficult circumstances, and confidence and possibility that we can do it.

“Huff!”

Hyun-sung took a breath without realizing it.

Then Park Sang-hyun’s words continued.

“There’s a week left. Please think seriously about it until then.”

“…”

“I’ll let go of my personal greed too. To be honest, until now, I thought it was a medal as I finished my teaching career, so I was greedy, but now I’m saying that I’ll let go of that greed.”

“…”

“I won’t force you either. You make the choice.”

Thump, thump.

Park Sang-hyun got up from his seat and lightly patted Hyun-sung on the shoulder after saying those words.

“…”

Hyun-sung couldn’t say anything.

***

A few days later.

Step, step.

Director Kim Young-woo hurried his steps.

Knock knock.

He opened the door before he could hear an answer from inside.

“What is it?”

Chairman Shin Chun-oh looked at Director Kim Young-woo, who was rushing in.

Then Director Kim Young-woo’s mouth opened immediately.

“It’s done!”

“Done? What are you talking about?”

“That guy, no, Hyun-sung finally said okay.”

“Is that really true?”

“Yes, I received a call from the principal a little while ago. He applied for the application today.”

Thump!

Chairman Shin Chun-oh slammed the table.

“Ah, that guy… You worked hard, Director Kim.”

“No. The principal found the right method rather than me.”

“Yes, what was the method that broke that stubbornness?”

“That’s…”

Director Kim Young-woo began to explain what he had heard from Park Sang-hyun. As Director Kim Young-woo’s explanation continued, Chairman Shin Chun-oh’s expression gradually filled with laughter. And finally, when Director Kim Young-woo’s explanation ended, Chairman Shin Chun-oh began to laugh loudly.

“Puhahaha…”

After a while.

Chairman Shin Chun-oh, who stopped laughing, looked at Director Kim Young-woo and asked.

“What happened to the chicken I talked about?”

“I’ve already finished the deposit. 650 chickens will be delivered to Seomyeong High School when the morning class ends tomorrow.”

“Yes, you worked hard. And what happened to the guys who tried to set fire last time?”

“I couldn’t charge them with attempted arson because I was dealing with it secretly from Hyun-sung. I just finished it with our guys warning them. But they said they put the store up for sale a few days ago.”

Chairman Shin Chun-oh tilted his head at Director Kim Young-woo’s words and asked.

“You’re saying you’re not going to do business?”

“Yes, it seems like their motivation has been completely broken this time. I told them to keep a close eye on it in case they don’t.”

“Yes, even a mouse bites a cat when cornered at the last minute. Don’t catch them too much and keep an eye on them.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Chairman Shin Chun-oh nodded, and Director Kim Young-woo bowed his head and greeted him before disappearing immediately.

The next day.

After the 4th period, a 1-ton truck entered Seomyeong High School.

Someone shouted.

“What is that?”

“Huh? That guy is the chicken store owner, right?”

“But what is that guy carrying on the truck now?”