Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 367

367

Hyunsung and Eunji left the coffee shop.

Hyunsung spoke first.

“Let’s just drop the formalities, okay?”

“Yeah, sure. We’re friends anyway. And we already did, didn’t we?”

“Come to think of it, we did. But no matter how I think about it, isn’t it funny?”

Hyunsung said, thinking about what had happened at the coffee shop a little while ago.

Contrary to his expectations, Eunji said with a serious expression.

“No!”

“No? You don’t think that situation is funny?”

“Not at all. I was serious. It’s a matter of pride. No matter how greedy you are, how can you do that?”

“Greedy?”

“You saw it too, flirting openly from the start.”

“Flirting?”

Hyunsung tilted his head. He didn’t quite understand what Eunji meant by ‘flirting’.

Eunji continued immediately.

“When she asked for a handshake. It’s clearly a group meeting, how can you do that? That’s cheating. I only put up with it because it’s Hyesun. She’s my best friend.”

“Best friend?”

Hyunsung was a little puzzled. He couldn’t easily understand how best friends could have a pride battle over something like that.

“The closer you are, the more your pride gets hurt. That’s how we girls are.”

“Hmm…….”

He didn’t understand, but he thought it could be possible.

Hyunsung nodded and said immediately.

“Honestly, I don’t understand everything, but I think it could be possible. Anyway, should we have lunch? What do you want to eat?”

“Hmm… I want bibimbap [Korean mixed rice with meat and vegetables].”

“Instead of that, shall we go eat meat?”

He later found out that Eunji liked meat. Among them, she liked spicy marinated ribs the most.

In his past life, Hyunsung met Eunji again after being discharged from the military and returning to school. At that time, Hyunsung was a sophomore and Eunji was a senior in her final year.

They met by chance in the city and met a few more times after that. That’s when Hyunsung learned that Eunji liked meat.

Eunji continued.

“It’s expensive. What money does a student have?”

“I know a cheap place. It’s not far from here, so let’s go there.”

“Really? But don’t overdo it.”

Eunji was worried about Hyunsung’s financial situation.

Hyunsung came out of the alley and headed towards Dongmyeong Theater. It was located in a back alley, so it was difficult for people who didn’t know about it to find.

In his past life, he used to come here once in a while when he wanted to eat meat with his friends from school. Of course, the price of meat was cheaper than other places, but since it was still meat, it was more expensive than other foods, so he couldn’t help it when he was short on money.

After walking for about 10 minutes.

-Sizzling charcoal grill!

The restaurant Hyunsung was looking for appeared.

“Here it is.”

“Sizzling charcoal grill? The sign is perfect. Just looking at it makes my mouth water. But how did you know about this secluded place?”

“A senior at school told me. It’s 30% cheaper than other places. And the taste of the meat is amazing. Let’s go in quickly.”

Because it was Saturday, there were quite a few people even though it was daytime.

After taking a seat by the window, an employee approached.

“Four servings of spicy ribs, please.”

“Yes, I understand.”

As soon as the employee left, Eunji asked.

“What are spicy ribs?”

“Spicy ribs.”

“Ah… spicy ribs!”

Eunji nodded and asked in a small voice.

“But why four servings? Isn’t that too much?”

“Don’t say you want to eat more later. And if you order four servings, you get cold noodles as a service.”

“Hehe, really? Meat is best eaten with cold noodles. You know how to eat meat.”

Unlike before, Eunji smiled comfortably.

Hyunsung remembered the old days when he saw that.

After eating in a group, each person parted with their partner. [This refers to the group blind date they were on earlier.]

The next place Hyunsung and Eunji chose was a theater.

Back then, Hyunsung was ignorant about movies. Because he grew up in the countryside, he naturally didn’t have the opportunity to watch movies. And since there was no internet, there was no way to find out information about movies even if he wanted to.

So, he didn’t choose the movie to watch, but just watched what was playing at that time. It was probably a Chinese movie. He couldn’t remember the title or the content at all.

He just spent time watching the movie without really watching it.

Looking back now, he was too clumsy.

The meat he ordered then came out.

When he put the marinated ribs on the charcoal fire, the meat began to cook with a ‘sizzle’ sound. The visuals alone were enough to stimulate his appetite.

Was that why?

Gulp.

Eunji, who was sitting in front of him, swallowed hard without realizing it.

“Oh my! What did I just do?”

“Haha, what’s wrong with that?”

“No, it’s embarrassing. What is this in front of someone I just met? Hyunsung, don’t misunderstand, I’m not usually like this. No, what am I saying now…….”

Eunji suddenly started to stutter and talk nonsense.

Hyunsung looked at Eunji and asked.

“How about a shot of soju [Korean distilled rice liquor]?”

“Huh? From broad daylight?”

“With such good food, how can you leave out alcohol? Don’t you think?”

“Hehe, should we? Then let’s not drink too much, just a little.”

Eunji had an expression of subtle anticipation, perhaps because of the curiosity of drinking during the day.

Hyunsung quickly called an employee and ordered a bottle of soju.

Pour, pour.

Hyunsung poured soju into Eunji’s glass and then poured soju into his own glass.

Marinated ribs were already cooking deliciously on the charcoal fire.

“Eunji, let’s drink.”

“Yeah, but is this really the first time we’ve met?”

“Why, does it feel like we’ve met for 10 years?”

“That’s right. It’s not a joke, but it doesn’t feel like the first time, at least. It’s so comfortable that it’s amazing. I’m not usually the type to get close to anyone so quickly.”

Hyunsung smiled at Eunji.

The atmosphere was so different from his past life. Back then, it was uncomfortable and awkward, like wearing clothes that didn’t fit. But today, it wasn’t like that at all. It was comfortable, like wearing everyday clothes that he always wore.

Hyunsung raised his soju glass.

“In that sense, shall we toast?”

“Yeah, I like it.”

Eunji smiled brightly and held out her soju glass.

Then Hyunsung also smiled and held out his glass to Eunji’s soju glass.

“Nice to meet you, Eunji!”

“Yeah, nice to meet you too!”

Clink.

The two people’s glasses collided in the air with a cheerful sound.

“Wow~~!”

Eunji, who took a sip of alcohol and ate a piece of meat, looked at Hyunsung and exclaimed.

Then Hyunsung smiled and asked.

“How is it?”

“Awesome!”

“That much?”

“Yeah, without exaggeration, it’s the best meat I’ve ever eaten in my life. How can it taste like this? This is really art!”

Eunji’s reaction was better than expected.

Hyunsung picked up the meat with tongs and moved it in front of her for Eunji. Then a strange word popped out of her mouth.

“Are you a player?”

“What?”

“Are you a player?”

Snicker.

Hyunsung couldn’t help but laugh. At first, he didn’t know what she was talking about, but the second time, he immediately understood what she meant.

The reason he laughed was one. The meaning of the ‘player’ that Eunji said and his current feelings were completely different.

That’s because his current appearance is the same as Eunji’s, a freshman, but his inner self is not. Anyway, Hyunsung has lived over 50 years. Eunji, who is just twenty years old, could not be felt as a woman in Hyunsung’s eyes.

But that’s just Hyunsung’s thought.

When Hyunsung laughed, Eunji asked again.

“Right? A player.”

“Well, I don’t know what to answer with my own mouth, but why did you think that?”

“It’s too natural?”

“What is?”

“The way you give me meat. This is not a skill you’ve done once or twice.”

Snicker.

Hyunsung had no choice but to laugh once again.

Of course, that’s right. It’s a habit he always took care of when eating meat with his wife, Yoon Jisu, in his past life. Not only meat, but also when eating fish and grilled shellfish.

Perhaps that’s why he took care of her like a habit without thinking a little while ago.

Eunji asked again.

“But why are you just laughing? If it’s yes, it’s yes, if it’s no, it’s no, you have to say something, right?”

“Do I have to…….”

“Humph! What, you don’t want to say it?”

“What answer do you want to hear?”

“An honest answer.”

Eunji stared at Hyunsung.

Hyunsung could see her looking at her. She would never back down until she heard the answer.

After living in the world to some extent, he knew that sometimes lies are necessary in life. Of course, that’s even more true if it’s a lie of good will.

Hyunsung opened his mouth naturally.

“My mother told me.”

“Mother? What?”

“When a man eats meat with a woman, it’s basic to grill the meat and it’s polite to take care of the woman so that she can eat the meat well.”

“Really?”

Hyunsung nodded instead of answering.

Then Eunji suddenly smiled and immediately continued.

“Hehe, that’s what it was. Your mother is at the level of Shin Saimdang [a famous Korean historical figure, often seen as the ideal mother and a symbol of good education].”

“Shin Saimdang?”

“Yes, your mother is a very great person. She not only taught her son to study well, but also taught him manners properly. Hyunsung, give me some more meat.”

Eunji was already done with the meat in front of her while she was talking. Her expression was definitely different from before.

How much time has passed?

“I really ate all four servings.”

Eunji put down her chopsticks and made a satisfied expression.

Hyunsung looked at Eunji and asked.

“Are you not full?”

“Are you cursing me now?”

“Not at all, I’m just saying in case. Eat some more if you’re not full.”

“No, even if I like meat, I can’t eat any more. Anyway, thanks to you, I ate really well today. I’ve lived in Gangneung and I didn’t even know there was a place like this.”

“The price is the price, but the chewy texture of the meat, the spicy seasoning, and the charcoal fire give it a proper fire taste, so the taste of the meat is the best.”

No matter how much he wanted to, even after graduating, if he had something to do in Gangneung, he would always stop by here even if he couldn’t go anywhere else. But this place will also disappear later due to development. When he came back a few years later and took a wasted trip, he couldn’t express his disappointment in words.

Perhaps that’s why the meat he ate today felt particularly delicious.

“Where shall we go now?”

Hyunsung woke up from his old memories and asked.

Then Eunji said with a smiling face.

“Round two?”

“Yeah, it’s a shame to break up like this, right?”

“How about the sea?”

“The sea?”

“Yeah, not a place where everyone goes, but a place I often go to. There aren’t many people there and it’s quiet, so I like it. Do you know Anmok Beach?”

Of course, he knows the place. If you go down south from Gyeongpo Beach, there is a small Anmok Port, and it is a quiet beach because it is not a well-known place. The road is right next to the sea, so there is no better place to see the sea on a rainy day.

But this place will also become famous as a coffee street later, and the small port will be changed to Gangneung Port, and a passenger terminal will be built.

“I don’t know, is there such a place?”

“Yeah, it’s great to drink coffee from a vending machine while looking at the sea.”

“Really? Then let’s go there.”

A smile spread across Hyunsung’s face. It was one of the places he wanted to visit again anyway.

Then an unexpected word came out of Eunji’s mouth.

“And what are you doing tomorrow?”

“Huh? Why?”

“Do you ask because you don’t know?”

“Huh? What does that…….”

Hyunsung tilted his head.

Then Eunji smiled and immediately continued.

“You weren’t a player.”