Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 357

357

“Did you say Makgeolli [Korean rice wine]?”

“Yes, Chairman. It’s truly absurd. How can he give up Korea University to go to Kang Sang University just to drink Makgeolli by the sea? It doesn’t make any sense.”

Chief Kim Young-woo was practically foaming at the mouth, seemingly unable to comprehend the situation.

On the other hand, Chairman Shin Chun-oh’s expression, sitting opposite him, was the complete opposite of Chief Kim Young-woo’s. He looked curious, his eyes sparkling as if anticipating the next episode of an interesting drama.

“So?”

“Yes? What do you mean, ‘so’? Aren’t you baffled, Chairman?”

“Whether I’m baffled or not, I’ll evaluate after hearing everything. He wouldn’t have gone down to Gangneung just for Makgeolli, would he? Tell me more details.”

“Of course. That’s…”

Chief Kim Young-woo began to explain in detail why Hyun-sung went down to Kang Sang University. As his explanation grew longer, a smile gradually spread across Chairman Shin Chun-oh’s face. And finally, when Chief Kim Young-woo’s explanation ended, Chairman Shin Chun-oh burst into laughter.

“Haha, hahahaha…”

“Chairman, I don’t think this is the time to be laughing.”

“Chief Kim.”

“Yes, Chairman.”

“What did I say last time?”

“Yes? What are you referring to…”

Chief Kim Young-woo tilted his head, as if he didn’t understand what Chairman Shin Chun-oh was talking about.

Then, Chairman Shin Chun-oh chuckled and continued.

“Didn’t I say that Kim Gun is not someone we can contain?”

“Ah, that’s right. I remember now.”

“I said that regardless of the size of the vessel, the shape of Kim Gun’s vessel itself is different from ordinary people like us.”

“Ah, yes. I think that’s true. Otherwise, how could he give up Korea University and go to Kang Sang University for such a reason?”

Chief Kim Young-woo’s expression was calmer than before.

At that moment, Chairman Shin Chun-oh spoke again.

“So, the reason Kim Gun went to Kang Sang University is because of its location?”

“Yes, that’s right. The beach is right outside the school.”

“And he likes the rainy sea?”

“To be more precise, he chose Kang Sang University because he likes drinking Makgeolli by the sea on rainy days. Even though Hyun-sung is unique, I was really dumbfounded when I heard that.”

“Haha, he’s really something. But you know, I’m kind of envious of Kim Gun.”

*Chomp.*

Chairman Shin Chun-oh smacked his lips as if he was disappointed.

Then, Chief Kim Young-woo nodded slightly and continued.

“He’s got the romance of a young man.”

“That’s what I’m saying. Listening to him reminds me of my school days. I used to drink a lot of Makgeolli back then.”

“That’s right. There were days when we skipped lectures and drank all day.”

“Hehe, there were days like that. And not only that, when it rained, we’d go to a friend’s place, make pancakes [Jeon], catch fish in the Han River, and make fish porridge.”

“Did you do that too, Chairman?”

Chief Kim Young-woo said with a smile on his face.

Before he knew it, Chairman Shin Chun-oh’s face was also full of a satisfied smile.

After a moment.

Chairman Shin Chun-oh spoke again.

“Those are all past memories. But it was romantic and really good back then. I never thought Kim Gun would enjoy that kind of romance. By the way, how long has Kim Gun been down in Gangneung?”

“It’s been a week as of today. The reason he went down early was for an interview with the dean. It may be different for each school, but that school always conducts an interview with the top student.”

“Hmm, that may also be a courtesy to the top student. Moreover, Kim Gun scored over 300 points, so it must have been even more special.”

“I think so. He even had lunch at a Korean restaurant after the interview.”

“That’s right, he gave up Korea University to go down there, so he deserves that kind of treatment. Yes… he deserves it.”

Chairman Shin Chun-oh nodded with satisfaction and smiled.

Then he immediately continued.

“Okay, that’s that, but it’s still February, so classes haven’t started yet. How is he spending his time these days?”

“Well, that’s a bit…”

Chief Kim Young-woo couldn’t finish his sentence for some reason.

Chairman Shin Chun-oh wouldn’t stay still.

“Why, is something wrong?”

“That’s… he drinks every day.”

“Drinks? What do you mean? Kim Gun is thorough when it comes to self-management. But such a friend drinks every day, did something happen?”

Chairman Shin Chun-oh stared intently at Chief Kim Young-woo with worried eyes.

How could he not worry? He had no choice but to send him down to Gangneung, but he was always curious about him. Of course, he had given up on the desire to bring him back to Seoul, but that didn’t mean he had given up on his feelings for him. No, perhaps because he was far away, his feelings were even more poignant.

In that situation, hearing that he was drinking every day, he couldn’t help but worry.

Chief Kim Young-woo continued.

“I don’t think that’s the case.”

“That’s not the case? What do you mean?”

“He’s not drinking with a lot of people, but only with one person.”

“One person? Who is it?”

“It’s the son of the owner of his boarding house. He’s a senior this year.”

“Hmm…?”

Chairman Shin Chun-oh tilted his head when Chief Kim Young-woo finished speaking. That’s because it’s hard to understand even if you think about it briefly.

It’s only been a week since he went down to Gangneung.

Of course, he can have a drink or two. It’s something that can happen. But that’s not the case, he’s been drinking all week. Even with only one person, so Chairman Shin Chun-oh couldn’t understand.

Chief Kim Young-woo’s explanation continued again.

“It’s not like the two of them are drinking a lot.”

“What do you mean by that? They’re not of the opposite sex, and they’re sitting together without drinking, so what are they doing? Do you understand that, Chief Kim?”

“I find it strange too. But the funny thing is that the two of them mainly talk a lot.”

“Talk? What kind of talk?”

“I’m sorry, but I haven’t found out that much yet. However, one thing is certain.”

“One thing? What is it?”

Chairman Shin Chun-oh’s voice suddenly grew louder. It was a moment that showed how strong his affection for Hyun-sung was.

Was that why?

Chief Kim Young-woo’s voice also gained strength.

“Friendship!”

“Friendship?”

“Yes, the relationship between the two has become very close. Anyone who sees them would say that the two have a strong relationship as if they have known each other for a long time.”

“That’s…”

Chairman Shin Chun-oh still found it hard to understand.

Generally, it takes a certain amount of time for a person to become close to another person. Moreover, it would be even more so for a freshman who just entered and a senior in their fourth year who are not the same age. He doesn’t know if he’s been to the military, but there can be a difference of at least 3 years and up to 6 years.

Of course, age difference is not important in meeting people, but it is also true that it cannot be ignored.

However, Chairman Shin Chun-oh couldn’t understand because the two became so close in just one week, as if they had known each other for a long time, to the point where all of that was meaningless.

At that time, Chief Kim Young-woo’s words continued again.

“It’s really amazing. It’s not between people of the opposite sex, but in such a short time…”

“What’s the purpose?”

Chairman Shin Chun-oh tilted his head and asked before Chief Kim Young-woo could finish speaking.

Then, Chief Kim Young-woo looked at Chairman Shin Chun-oh.

“Yes? Purpose?”

“Yes, when a person does something that is not logically understandable, there is only one reason.”

“One reason is…”

“Yes, it’s purpose. If there is no purpose, you can’t do that. Moreover, it’s not just anyone, it’s Kim Gun.”

Chief Kim Young-woo had no choice but to nod.

In fact, he has known Hyun-sung for two years now.

Generally, it takes a certain amount of time to figure out what kind of person that person is. In that sense, two years may be short, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that it is.

Anyway, based on what he has observed for two years, he can be sure of at least one thing. That is, he doesn’t do anything without a reason.

Then, the conclusion is that he acted with some purpose, as Chairman Shin Chun-oh said this time as well.

Chief Kim Young-woo looked at Chairman Shin Chun-oh and said.

“Listening to you, Chairman, that’s really the case. Then what is that purpose?”

“That’s what I’m saying.”

“There’s no reason to approach Min-seok.”

“Is that friend’s name Min-seok?”

“Yes, that’s right. It’s Park Min-seok.”

“Hmm…”

Chairman Shin Chun-oh seemed to think for a moment and then immediately called Chief Kim Young-woo.

“Chief Kim.”

“Yes, Chairman.”

“There must be a reason why Kim Gun approached Min-seok. From now on, focus on finding that reason.”

“Yes, I understand. I will issue that instruction.”

Chief Kim Young-woo bowed to Chairman Shin Chun-oh.

Then, Chairman Shin Chun-oh also nodded with a serious expression.

The two of them didn’t know why Hyun-sung was trying to become close to Park Min-seok, so it was natural that they would become serious.

***

A pub in Gyeongpo [area in Gangneung].

Outside, it was already getting dark and the streetlights were on.

“What? When did it get dark?”

Park Min-seok said, looking outside.

Then, Hyun-sung, who was sitting opposite him, nodded and immediately responded.

“That’s right, the streetlights are already on. We left home after lunch, so it’s been 5 hours since we came here.”

“Really?”

“Yes, we probably arrived here a little after 2 o’clock. But it’s past 7 o’clock now. Time really flies.”

Hyun-sung said, checking his watch.

Then, Park Min-seok smiled slightly and immediately continued.

“Hehe…, time really flies. But isn’t it strange?”

“Yes? What is it?”

“Time, I mean. It’s not just a day or two, but we’ve been meeting like this for a whole week, and I’m not bored.”

“Is that so for you too, hyung [older brother/male friend]? I also feel comfortable and good when I’m with hyung. It’s like we’ve known each other for a long time.”

“That’s why it’s strange. I take after my mom and I’m not the type to get close to just anyone. But strangely, I felt comfortable with you from the first day.”

“I guess this is what they call fate.”

“Fate…, haha, hahahaha…”

Park Min-seok laughed loudly as if he was in a good mood.

On the other hand, Hyun-sung couldn’t laugh. In fact, he had approached Park Min-seok from the beginning to become close to him on purpose. The reason was that he didn’t know when Park Min-seok would go on a graduation trip after the semester started.

If he didn’t know, he couldn’t help it, but knowing that Park Min-seok would lose his life in an accident, the first thing he had to do to prevent the accident was to become close to him. He thought that he would be able to find a way to prevent the accident in some way.

An intentional meeting.

Of course, it wasn’t easy. It’s natural to need a certain amount of time to make friends with ordinary people. But Hyun-sung didn’t have that much time.

That’s because there were only a few days left until the semester started. That’s why Hyun-sung had no choice but to push himself. To be honest, it wasn’t easy to keep meeting with one person for a week. That’s probably why Hyun-sung couldn’t laugh easily now.

But fortunately, effort doesn’t betray you, and as a result of his efforts for a week, he achieved his goal. Now he can talk about anything comfortably.

From now on, he will be able to talk about the graduation trip naturally.

“Hoo!”

Hyun-sung sighed in relief without realizing it.

Then, Park Min-seok stared at Hyun-sung and immediately asked.

“What? What’s that sigh?”

“Ah, it’s nothing. I was just thinking about something else for a moment, and I didn’t realize it…”

“Really? I thought there was something wrong with me.”

“Hyung, how can that be? We’ve been having so much fun so far. Hyung, let’s have the last drink and get up. My mother told me to come home for dinner earlier.”

Hyun-sung picked up the glass in front of him.

But what was strange was Park Min-seok’s attitude. He thought he would pick up the glass right away, but that wasn’t the case, and his gaze was fixed on one place.

The end of that gaze happened to be Hyun-sung’s own face.

“Hyung, why? Is there something on my face?”

“Let’s know the reason.”

“Yes? What do you mean? Reason, what reason?”

Hyun-sung was momentarily flustered. To be honest, he had been asking Park Min-seok for favors and making drinking parties for a week, but he couldn’t help but feel uneasy. He tried his best to make the drinking parties as natural as possible, but it wasn’t as easy as it sounded. But so far, Park Min-seok had never mentioned that part, so he thought he was just going to let it go.

But now that he said, ‘Let’s know the reason,’ Hyun-sung couldn’t help but be flustered.

Park Min-seok spoke again.

“Tell me now.”

“Yes? What?”

“There’s no reason to call me out for a week, buy me drinks, act cute, etc. This isn’t normal, is it? Isn’t it?”

“Haha, hyung…”

Hyun-sung, who was embarrassed, couldn’t help but laugh.

But he could tell from Park Min-seok’s eyes that he couldn’t just gloss over it like that.

After a moment of thought.

But who is Hyun-sung again?

Hyun-sung knew that being confident is the best policy in times like this.

“Did you say reason now?”

“Yes, no matter how I think about it, there’s no way you would do this without any reason.”

“Of course!”

Hyun-sung’s voice gained strength.

Then, Park Min-seok leaned his head back and looked at Hyun-sung. It was an action that came from curiosity about what he would say.

“What did hyung say on the first day? You clearly said that you were surprised that I looked so much like hyung, right?”

“I did.”

“I felt the same way. That’s why I was curious about what kind of person hyung was. I’m the type to see things through once I get hooked on something. Hyung will be busy when the semester starts tomorrow, so there’s no time before the semester starts. That’s why I had no choice but to…”

Hyun-sung continued to explain the reason in a confident voice. Park Min-seok just nodded while Hyun-sung was talking and didn’t say anything. And finally, when Hyun-sung’s explanation was over, he threw out a word.

“Is that all?”

“Yes…”

Hyun-sung answered with a playful tone on purpose.

Then, Park Min-seok chuckled and said.

“I was the only one who was serious.”

“Hyung, come on…, is it okay now?”

“Well, what other reason would you have? Let’s have the last drink and get up.”

*Clink!*

The two people’s glasses collided in the air and then disappeared into their respective mouths. Then they smiled at each other.

Park Min-seok smiled because he was embarrassed, and Hyun-sung could smile leisurely because he had achieved his goal.