Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 364

364

“Pardon?”

“Who are you?”

“Professor, what are you talking about?”

“I’m asking who you are?”

Son Min-ho felt frustrated even as he asked.

A little while ago, he received a call from someone who claimed to be the secretary of the Nongshim Group Chairman. They discussed support for the Gosi Class [a study group preparing for high-level civil service exams] operations, and the last thing they mentioned was about Hyun-sung.

What they said was simple. They would provide all the necessary support for the Gosi Class operations. However, they had one request: Hyun-sung must never find out about this fact.

He asked for the reason, but they simply asked him to understand. They couldn’t reveal any more than that.

Even as he asks the question now, he wants to ask if there’s any relationship with Nongshim [a major South Korean food and beverage company], but he can’t ask that, so Son Min-ho is frustrated. He can’t even bring up the ‘Nong’ of Nongshim.

Hyun-sung was just as frustrated. He was suddenly asked who he was as soon as he came in, so he couldn’t help but feel frustrated.

Hyun-sung looked at Son Min-ho and asked again.

“Professor, why are you suddenly doing this? If you just ask me who I am for no reason, what am I supposed to say?”

“I’m the one who’s more frustrated because that’s the only way I can ask.”

“Pardon? What does that mean?”

“Never mind, forget it. I’d rather die than suffer this.”

“Professor…”

Hyun-sung simply looked at Son Min-ho, using that as his question. There was definitely something going on, but judging from his expression, he couldn’t ask any more, so he was just frustrated.

At that moment, Son Min-ho spoke again.

“Anyway, is the construction finished?”

“Yes, I just finished it a little while ago. The remaining space is made like a raised platform.”

“Raised platform?”

“Yes, it’s wide enough for about five people to lie down and sleep at the same time. Since we’ll be studying until late at night, we won’t be able to go home.”

“Hmm, I see. Good job. Anyway, there are no buses at that early hour, and we’ll need a place to sleep. So, is everything ready now?”

“Yes, all that’s left is to move in tomorrow.”

“Good work. After moving in tomorrow, let’s gather at the barbecue restaurant next to the school.”

“Barbecue restaurant?”

Hyun-sung chuckled at the mention of the barbecue restaurant and looked at Son Min-ho. The reason was simple: Son Min-ho hadn’t eaten a single meal at an outside restaurant while preparing for the launch of the Gosi Class with Hyun-sung for the past month. At most, they had eaten at the school cafeteria twice. But for such a person to suddenly tell them to gather at a barbecue restaurant, Hyun-sung couldn’t help but be a little puzzled.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“No? Ah, it’s nothing. I was just…”

“Hey, friend, don’t look at me like that. How much do you think a professor’s salary is? Later, when you get married and have to feed your wife and children… Ah, never mind. I don’t know what I’m talking about, sounding so pathetic.”

Son Min-ho scratched his head slightly, looking embarrassed, and then continued.

“Actually, we have a sponsor.”

“Pardon? A sponsor? What are you talking about?”

“Our Gosi Class has a sponsor. A sponsor who will take responsibility for the operating expenses and even the cost of the barbecue you guys eat.”

“Pardon? Does that make sense? The Gosi Class hasn’t even launched yet, and even if it did, who would sponsor a Gosi Class?”

This doesn’t make sense.

There are cases where universities operate Gosi Classes. But even so, it’s not common for an outside party to sponsor a Gosi Class.

But the important thing is that this unbelievable thing is happening now.

Out of curiosity, Hyun-sung immediately asked.

“Who is it?”

“Huh? That’s…”

“Why? Is there some reason?”

“I can’t say. They requested anonymity.”

“Pardon? Anonymity?”

“Yes. So, I can’t say.”

“Ah, I see…”

Hyun-sung couldn’t ask any more. There are cases like that sometimes. But doubts about the sponsorship itself still remained.

That’s why he couldn’t help but ask again.

“But how did that person know we were running a Gosi Class? It hasn’t even launched yet.”

“That’s what I’m saying. And frankly, what’s even more incomprehensible is that there’s no case where someone sponsors a Gosi Class just because a university is running it. But they sponsored us. This is impossible unless there’s a special relationship.”

“A special relationship? With whom?”

“But that’s…”

Son Min-ho was frustrated. He wanted to confirm it no matter what, but he couldn’t, so it was natural for him to be frustrated.

In the end, he said something absurd.

“Never mind!”

“Pardon? What is?”

“There’s something. Anyway, so…”

Son Min-ho paused for a moment, wondering what to say, and then continued.

“I have a favor to ask.”

“A favor? From me?”

“Yes, you need to make a start.”

“A start? What are you talking about?”

Hyun-sung couldn’t understand what Son Min-ho was saying right now. So, his gaze naturally turned to Son Min-ho.

Then Son Min-ho’s words immediately followed.

“I’m saying you should pass the Gosi exam.”

“Pass the Gosi exam?”

“Yes, you may or may not know, but no one from our school has ever passed the Gosi exam. It’s a sad thing in a way.”

Of course, Hyun-sung also knew this fact. Since the school’s opening, no one from Gangsang University had ever passed the Gosi exam. There was no one even when Hyun-sung graduated.

Not only the bar exam and the higher civil service exam, but also the certified public accountant exam. Later, after Hyun-sung graduated, there was one junior from the accounting department who passed the tax accountant exam. That’s how lacking they were.

Son Min-ho’s words continued again.

“It can’t go on like this anymore.”

“Pardon?”

“I’m saying we can’t keep putting it off. If someone doesn’t make a start now, our school’s future will be bleak. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

Son Min-ho’s expression became quite serious.

It wasn’t the Son Min-ho he knew from his past life. Back then, he thought he looked down on students because he was from Korea University. But now, he couldn’t find any such appearance in him. Rather, he could feel that he was sincerely worried about this school.

In the end, the conclusion is that Son Min-ho’s looking down on the students in his past life was not a problem with his personality, but rather the students themselves provided the cause for him to be that way.

Fortunately, that misunderstanding has now been resolved.

Was that why?

The look in Hyun-sung’s eyes as he looked at Son Min-ho had changed.

At that moment, Son Min-ho spoke again.

“Can you do it while you’re still in school?”

“Pardon?”

“I’m asking if you can pass the certified public accountant exam before you graduate.”

“Well, that’s…”

“You can do it. No, you must do it. Not only for yourself but also for the future of this school!”

Son Min-ho even used the word ‘must’ at the end. It was a moment when his earnestness was more evident than ever.

This was also a part that Hyun-sung had resolved since creating the Gosi Class. He would not make the same mistakes as in his past life this time.

In his past life, he had studied for three more years after graduating. But in the end, he couldn’t overcome that limit and had to give up. He was endlessly sorry to his parents, who had supported him all that time, but he thought he would become a failure in life if he continued to insist, so he chose a new path.

Only after a lot of time had passed did he realize how lacking he was back then.

Hyun-sung looked at Son Min-ho and said as if making a pledge.

“I won’t make the same mistakes!”

“Huh? The same mistakes? What do you mean?”

“There’s something. And I promise you. I will definitely pass as you said, Professor. And in the shortest amount of time.”

“The shortest amount of time? That makes me think it might be shorter than I’m thinking… Am I right?”

“Yes, that’s right. First of all, I’ll apply for the exam in January next year.”

Anyway, they are all subjects he had learned in his past life. Of course, they are very old memories, but it will take three months to regain those memories. After that, it’s just repetition anyway.

The first exam is in February next year, and the second exam is in June. There is plenty of time left. He has already mastered the knack for studying, and Hyun-sung judged that there was nothing he couldn’t do.

But that was just Hyun-sung’s thought.

Son Min-ho looked at Hyun-sung as if he was dumbfounded.

“Did you just say January next year?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“It’s not just about having significance in applying for the exam, is it?”

“Of course. I will finish preparing by then.”

“Huh…!”

Son Min-ho was speechless.

Does this make sense? Of course, he knows that Hyun-sung is talented. But that’s only up to the high school level. To take the certified public accountant exam, you basically have to study more than one or two subjects.

Business administration and economics are basic, and you also have to study commercial law, tax law, and accounting. No matter how quickly you learn, it takes at least three years. But to say that you will prepare for it in one year… this doesn’t make sense.

Son Min-ho looked at Hyun-sung and asked.

“Do you happen to know the exam subjects? There’s no way, but I’m just saying in case.”

Son Min-ho was curious if Hyun-sung knew the exam subjects properly. That’s because if he knew the exam subjects properly, he wouldn’t say that he would prepare everything in one year.

Then Hyun-sung’s answer immediately followed.

“Of course. The first subject is business administration. The exam time is 110 minutes, and the score is 100 points. And the second subject is principles of economics…”

Hyun-sung’s explanation continued at length.

He had started taking the exam from his fourth year in his past life, so he had taken the first exam four times. So, it was natural for the exam subjects, scores, and exam times to come out of his mouth.

Hyun-sung started explaining the second exam as well.

“The second exam is held over two days, and the first day is tax law, financial management, and auditing. The scores are 100 points each. And the second day is cost accounting and financial accounting. Financial accounting has a score of 150 points. That’s all.”

“…”

When Hyun-sung’s explanation ended, Son Min-ho was silent.

After a while.

Son Min-ho quietly opened his mouth again.

“You’re going to prepare all that in one year?”

“Yes.”

“You’re going to do advanced learning?”

“Yes.”

In fact, if you think about it, it’s not advanced learning but just review. Anyway, there are no unfamiliar terms. Anyway, he had done it for three more years after graduating, so if he studied, he would be able to regain some of his old memories.

In the end, it’s a battle of time. How much time you invest, but fortunately, there is a lot of time left in the first year. In his past life, he was busy playing, but at least now, that won’t happen.

Son Min-ho’s words continued again.

“Come anytime.”

“Pardon?”

“I’m saying come anytime if you don’t know something while studying. I will also spend that time with you.”

“Thank you.”

“No, if we’re talking about being grateful, I’m more grateful. I said it on the first day, but I was tired and was about to give up. But you appeared like this. Anyway, it feels like my stopped heart is beating again.”

It was then.

Grumble.

A primal sound came from Son Min-ho’s stomach.

“Professor, haven’t you eaten yet?”

“Would you believe me if I said I was waiting?”

“Haha, really?”

“Let’s go quickly.”

Son Min-ho smiled and got up from his seat. Then Hyun-sung followed him.

The two people came out of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences.

Son Min-ho, who was walking ahead, turned to the right.

Then Hyun-sung immediately asked.

“Professor, where are you going?”