Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 356

356

The next day.

Hyun-sung headed to President Kang Sang-dae’s office for their scheduled meeting—a so-called meeting between the top student and the president.

[President’s Office]

Hyun-sung paused briefly outside the president’s office. He’d never been here in his previous life. As an average student, he had no reason to meet the president. Frankly, he didn’t even know what the president looked like.

Starting his college life with a meeting with the president felt surreal.

Back then, Kang Sang-dae wasn’t yet a comprehensive university; it was still a college. It would be another three years before it achieved university status. That’s why Kang Sang-dae held the title of president, not chancellor.

Knock, knock.

After knocking, a female employee greeted Hyun-sung.

“Welcome. You’re Kim Hyun-sung, right?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“The president is waiting for you. Please come in.”

The employee led Hyun-sung into the president’s office.

President Lee Hak-sung, who had been seated, rose as Hyun-sung entered and welcomed him warmly.

“Welcome, Hyun-sung!”

“Hello, President. I’m Kim Hyun-sung.”

“Yes, I recognize you from your picture. Come, have a seat.”

After Hyun-sung sat down, the female employee turned to Lee Hak-sung.

“President, how should I prepare the tea?”

“Oh? Just a moment. Hyun-sung, what would you like to drink? We have juice, coffee, anything you want.”

“I’ll have juice, please.”

“Okay, I understand. Please bring two glasses of juice.”

“Yes, sir. Right away.”

The employee quickly brought two glasses of juice and left. Lee Hak-sung turned to Hyun-sung.

“Hyun-sung, please, drink up.”

“Yes, President.”

Hyun-sung took a sip of juice. As he set the glass down, President Lee Hak-sung spoke again.

“Thank you!”

“Yes?”

Hyun-sung was taken aback. He hadn’t expected those words from President Lee Hak-sung. But it wasn’t just the words themselves that surprised him; it was the feeling behind them.

Sincerity!

It was just one word, “Thank you,” without any embellishment, but Hyun-sung was struck by the weight and genuineness he perceived.

Honestly, he hadn’t had high expectations entering the president’s office. He’d assumed it was a mere formality, a quick stop to kill time.

But that wasn’t the case.

He could tell that President Lee Hak-sung was speaking from the heart.

President Lee Hak-sung continued, “Thank you so much for choosing our school. It’s truly an honor.”

Sincerity deserves sincerity.

Hyun-sung responded with genuine feeling. “President, thank you for welcoming me so warmly!”

“No, we’re the ones who are grateful. You gave up Korea University to come here. What greater honor could there be? Oh, and please don’t feel bad that I know this. Your score was so high that I checked with your high school. They confirmed you were accepted into Korea University. That’s why I’m even more grateful.”

Lee Hak-sung took a sip of juice and cautiously began to speak, carefully choosing his words.

“So, if you don’t mind, may I ask you something?”

“Yes? Ah, yes, please do.”

Hyun-sung was briefly puzzled by Lee Hak-sung’s cautiousness, but he nodded, already suspecting the reason for it.

As expected.

The question he’d anticipated came right out.

“No matter how much I think about it, I can’t wrap my head around it. Is there a specific reason why you turned down Korea University and chose our school?”

“A specific reason?”

“Yes, a special reason. I can’t explain it otherwise. I’m sorry, but could you share that special reason with me?”

“Well…”

Hyun-sung had anticipated the question, but he still felt awkward being asked so directly.

Of course, Hyun-sung understood Lee Hak-sung’s perspective. If someone was accepted into Korea University but declined their spot to attend Kang Sang-dae, it would naturally raise questions.

But the problem was that explaining that special reason wasn’t easy.

The real reason he chose Kang Sang-dae was because of his connection to his past life.

Oh Jung-soo.

It was to meet Oh Jung-soo, who would be in the same class of ’88.

But he couldn’t exactly say, “I came to Kang Sang-dae because of my past life’s connection.”

Yet, he couldn’t avoid answering altogether.

Hyun-sung’s dilemma grew.

Slurp.

Hyun-sung took a sip of juice to buy himself some time.

As Hyun-sung remained silent, Lee Hak-sung spoke up.

“Is it something you’d rather not discuss?”

“It’s a bit…”

Hyun-sung was still hesitant. But he couldn’t dodge the question forever.

While it was true that he chose Kang Sang-dae because of his past life, it wasn’t as if he had no fondness for the school itself.

Above all, Kang Sang-dae’s greatest asset was its location.

Just a ten-minute drive to the blue sea. How many universities in Korea could boast that?

In fact, what he’d loved most about attending Kang Sang-dae in his previous life was its proximity to the ocean. Especially for someone who loved the sea as much as he did. On rainy days, he and his friends would head to a seaside bar for kimchi pancakes [savory pancakes with kimchi] and makgeolli [Korean rice wine]—nothing could be better.

Thinking about those times, a smile crept across his face.

Lee Hak-sung noticed and asked, “What’s that smile about?”

“Do you like makgeolli?”

“Makgeolli? Why makgeolli all of a sudden?”

“Have you ever had kimchi pancakes and makgeolli while watching the sea on a rainy day?”

“Isn’t that a basic luxury when you live in Gangneung?”

“That’s my reason.”

Hyun-sung smiled. It was perhaps the most cherished memory of his college days—romance and memories he could never replicate anywhere else.

Lee Hak-sung didn’t understand. “Reason? What reason?”

“The special reason I came to Kang Sang-dae.”

“What?”

Lee Hak-sung couldn’t believe his ears.

Was that it? The reason he gave up Korea University was to drink makgeolli at the beach on a rainy day?

Lee Hak-sung asked again, “Is that really true?”

“Yes, that’s right. I didn’t think I could find that kind of romance at Korea University. But wouldn’t it be possible here at Kang Sang-dae?”

“Of course, but how could you…”

Lee Hak-sung shook his head, still bewildered.

Hyun-sung continued, “Honestly, how many schools like this are there in Korea? Don’t you think so?”

“Of course, but…”

“I personally love the sea. And rainy days too. Where could be better than here?”

“So, you’re saying you chose Kang Sang-dae to eat makgeolli while watching the sea on a rainy day?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Huh, really…”

Lee Hak-sung stared at Hyun-sung, dumbfounded. Hyun-sung smiled inwardly. He couldn’t reveal his past life connection, so he offered another reason—one that wasn’t entirely false.

After a moment, Lee Hak-sung said, “It’s a bit absurd, but I envy you for making that choice.”

“Haha, is that so?”

“Why wouldn’t I? In this day and age, who would think like that? Everyone is desperate to go to Korea University, but you came here because you like the sea. But you know what? After listening to you, I have one question: why did you apply to Korea University in the first place? Can you explain that reason too?”

Hyun-sung nodded. “There were two reasons.”

“Two?”

“Yes, the first was because of the principal. It was his last.”

“Last?”

“Yes, retirement. He retired this spring. The principal…”

Hyun-sung began to explain about Principal Park Sang-hyun. As Hyun-sung spoke, Lee Hak-sung nodded and began to smile. When Hyun-sung finished, Lee Hak-sung said, “So, in the end, you fulfilled the principal’s last wish.”

“Not exactly a wish…”

“No, what could be more valuable than that from the principal’s point of view? The principal received a great gift at the end. Anyway, what’s the second reason?”

“It’s the juniors.”

“Juniors?”

Lee Hak-sung stared at Hyun-sung, prompting him to explain.

Hyun-sung continued, “I wanted to give them hope.”

“Hope?”

“Yes, the hope that even a rural school can achieve great things.”

“That’s right!”

Clap!

Lee Hak-sung slapped his knee.

He smiled. “Haha, so in the end, you caught all three rabbits? [achieved three goals at once]”

“Three?”

“Yes! First, you passed Korea University, giving the principal a final gift. Second, you gave hope to the juniors. And finally, you’re sitting here with the title of top student on a campus with a view of the sea. You caught all three rabbits.”

“Ah, yes… That’s how it turns out.”

Hyun-sung smiled and nodded.

Lee Hak-sung spoke again. “I feel good.”

“Yes?”

“Honestly, I was curious about what kind of person a student who scored over 300 points would be. Now that I’ve met you, I’m glad you’re someone who appreciates romance.”

“Haha, romance?”

“Yes, isn’t eating kimchi pancakes and makgeolli on a rainy day at the beach romantic enough? So, can you make a promise with me?”

“A promise?”

“Yes, nothing big. Let’s have a drink of makgeolli together on a rainy day.”

“Yes?”

Hyun-sung was surprised. The president of a university was asking him to drink makgeolli! He barely knew the president in his previous life. But makgeolli…?

Lee Hak-sung continued, “I won’t set a specific date. Instead, let’s make it a rainy Sunday. I can’t do weekdays because of classes.”

“Not a fixed date, but a rainy Sunday?”

“Yes, you may or may not know, but there’s a glass house in Gyeongpo-dae [Gyeongpo Pavilion]. Let’s meet there.”

Of course, Hyun-sung knew it well. It was a cafe and bar. Later, it would become a raw fish restaurant [횟집], but at the time, it was a popular meeting spot.

“What time would you like to set?”

“I won’t set one.”

“Yes? What do you mean?”

“I don’t need to because I don’t know when it will rain. It could be morning, lunch, dinner, or night. Let’s just meet when it rains. How about that?”

“So, we don’t set a date or a time, but just meet on a rainy Sunday?”

“Yes, doesn’t it sound fun?”

Lee Hak-sung seemed mischievous.

Hyun-sung looked at Lee Hak-sung. “What if someone has other commitments and can’t make it?”

“That’s fine. Wouldn’t that be fate?”

“Fate?”

“Yes, you can’t force everything. But don’t feel pressured. And there will be more than one or two rainy Sundays.”

“You mean…”

“Don’t feel pressured. Just think of me as a drinking buddy for a rainy Sunday. You gave up Korea University to come here, so shouldn’t I be that kind of drinking buddy? A glass of makgeolli on a rainy day—just thinking about it makes me happy.”

Lee Hak-sung was beaming.

Hyun-sung looked at Lee Hak-sung and nodded. “Yes, let’s do that.”

It was the moment their relationship began anew with the promise of a glass of makgeolli.