Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 368

368

A few days later.

I had just finished class and was leaving the lecture hall when Oh Jung-soo, who was walking ahead of me, suddenly turned around and grinned at Hyun-sung. Hyun-sung immediately asked,

“Why?”

“Look over there.”

Oh Jung-soo gestured with his eyes to the right side of the hallway. Hyun-sung’s gaze naturally followed.

Someone was there, smiling at Hyun-sung.

Smiling brightly.

It was Lee Hye-sun, the head of the German Language and Literature Department, who had flustered him with her boldness during the blind date a few days prior.

“Some people have it good. I’ll head out first. Good luck.”

Oh Jung-soo chuckled, lightly tapped Hyun-sung’s shoulder with the back of his hand, and disappeared.

Hyun-sung was dumbfounded.

In fact, this wasn’t the first time Lee Hye-sun had come looking for Hyun-sung. It had happened two days earlier, on Monday, the day after the blind date.

How she knew, he didn’t know, but she had been waiting for him after his class ended that day. However, he already had a prior engagement. The group from the study hall had a group English study session, so he had no choice but to turn her away, citing his prior commitment.

He didn’t bother explaining the reason in detail.

The reason was simple. He felt that doing so would be making a lame excuse, so he simply said he had a prior engagement.

But what was strange was her reaction. One might expect her to be offended and demand an explanation, but she didn’t do any of that. She simply said she understood and turned away as if it were nothing.

Naturally, he thought that was the end of it. But that was Hyun-sung’s mistake.

The next day, she appeared in front of the lecture hall again.

Unfortunately, he had a prior engagement in the city with his department friends that day as well. It was the department head, Kim Myung-woo’s, birthday. It was a gathering he couldn’t miss. He had no choice but to turn her away, citing his prior commitment. Of course, Lee Hye-sun didn’t ask for a reason that day either and quietly retreated.

Even though she had flustered him with her boldness at the blind date, he couldn’t help but feel uneasy after turning her away like that twice in a row. Moreover, he felt both sorry and grateful for her quiet departure without asking for any reasons.

If she had asked for the reason on the spot, Hyun-sung would have had no choice but to explain, even if it was a lame excuse. If that had happened, neither Hyun-sung, who was explaining, nor Lee Hye-sun, who was listening, would have felt comfortable.

And the result would have been obvious. The two of them would never have seen each other again.

Step, step.

Hyun-sung walked towards Lee Hye-sun.

“Have you eaten?”

They had agreed to speak casually from the first day she came looking for him, so he could speak without hesitation.

As soon as Hyun-sung finished speaking, Lee Hye-sun smiled brightly and said,

“No, but I guess you don’t have a prior engagement today?”

It’s said that the same words can have different meanings depending on how they’re said. Hyun-sung couldn’t possibly miss the emotion in her words, even though she was smiling as she spoke.

Hyun-sung chuckled and said,

“No, I don’t. But it sounds like there are thorns in your words.”

“Thorns? What thorns? Is there something pricking you?”

Lee Hye-sun continued, still not losing her smile.

When she first heard the name ‘Kim Hyun-sung’ at the blind date, it was simply curiosity. The reason she was curious was that his name was already in her head.

Top student overall.

Others might not be interested in the term ‘top student overall,’ but it was different for her. Her parents, as well as her alma mater, naturally expected her to go to Korea University. The reason was that her mock exam scores had always been high enough to get into Korea University.

However, she chose Kang Sang University instead of Korea University. The reason was her parents.

Only daughter.

There’s no one else. She’s alone.

But it wasn’t just because she was an only child. This year, her mother is 62 years old, and her father is 65 years old. In other words, they had her when they were both over 40. That’s why she couldn’t leave her elderly parents alone in Gangneung and go to Seoul by herself.

282 points.

That’s the score she received on the Kang Sang University entrance exam. Including the physical fitness test, it was 302 points. Naturally, she thought she would be the top student overall at Kang Sang University. But on the day of the acceptance announcement, she learned a surprising fact.

She was the runner-up. But what was even more surprising was the top student’s score. 330 points, including the physical fitness test.

And his name was Kim Hyun-sung.

And he showed up at the blind date. It was only natural that she would be curious.

She thought he would be a bookworm. Someone who only studied hard and was out of touch with the world. So she subtly tested him. But the result was unexpected. He wasn’t at all what she had expected. No, it was the opposite.

In particular, the way he held hands with his partner, Lee Eun-ji, at the end was like watching a scene from a movie.

That’s when it started. Simple curiosity turned into interest.

As soon as Monday came, she found out his class schedule and waited in front of the lecture hall at the end of his class. But the answer she got was that he had a prior engagement.

At first, she was simply dumbfounded. She had mustered up the courage to come looking for him, but she had been rejected.

She tried to accept it. No, she wanted to accept it. So she didn’t ask any more about the prior engagement.

Pride?

No, she was just stubborn.

So she went to see him again the next day. But she was rejected again.

She wanted to cry. But she held it in.

And today, she came to see him for the third time. That’s why her words seemed to be mixed with emotion.

Hyun-sung continued.

“Why would I be pricked? The first day, I had an English study session at the study hall, and the second day, it was our department head’s birthday.”

Hyun-sung deliberately talked about his prior engagements without being asked. He didn’t know why, but it was a sign of gratitude for her not asking at the time.

Perhaps Hyun-sung’s feelings were conveyed.

He could tell that Lee Hye-sun’s expression had changed from before.

Hyun-sung looked at Lee Hye-sun and said,

“Let’s go eat.”

“Okay!”

Not only her expression but also her voice was definitely different from before.

Hyun-sung came down from the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences and headed towards the student union building.

It was to go to the school cafeteria.

Then, Lee Hye-sun’s sulky voice was heard from behind.

“What? Are we going to the school cafeteria now?”

“Yeah, why? Don’t you like it here?”

“You’re not putting in enough effort. It’s our first time eating together.”

“They’re serving tonkatsu [Japanese pork cutlet] today…”

Even as he spoke, Hyun-sung couldn’t help but think he was funny. He knew exactly what Lee Hye-sun was saying, but he wondered what he was doing, making excuses with ‘tonkatsu’.

That’s when it happened.

“Follow me!”

Lee Hye-sun, who was following behind, changed direction and said in a firm voice as she walked away.

“Huh…?”

Lee Hye-sun was already walking far ahead.

Hyun-sung could only stare blankly at her as she disappeared without giving him a chance to speak.

“What are you doing? Aren’t you coming?”

“Huh? Oh…”

Hyun-sung had no choice but to follow Lee Hye-sun, who was walking away. His steps couldn’t help but be slow.

At that moment, a taxi was pulling up in front of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.

“Come quickly!”

With those words, Lee Hye-sun started running towards the taxi.

Then, she raised her hand and immediately caught the taxi.

It was Hyun-sung who was in trouble.

The distance between the two had become much greater than before because Lee Hye-sun had run to catch the taxi. It was more than 40 meters away, even at a rough estimate.

Logically, he should be running now. But for some reason, he felt like his pride would be hurt if he did, so he had no choice but to walk a little faster.

“Aren’t you going to run?”

Lee Hye-sun’s voice was heard from afar.

“I can’t run! No, I won’t run!”

Hyun-sung was being unnecessarily proud of something so trivial.

But that was just words. Hyun-sung’s body started running at some point.

As soon as he got into the taxi, Lee Hye-sun looked at the taxi driver and said,

“Please take us to Gyeongpo [a famous beach in Gangneung].”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Hyun-sung quickly looked at the taxi driver. His voice sounded familiar for some reason.

“Huh? Mister!”

The taxi driver was none other than Han Gwang-hyun. The driver who had taken him to Seo Myeon [area in Busan] two years ago. And the same driver he had met at Gangneung Medical Center last summer.

That’s why Hyun-sung’s voice was full of joy.

Han Gwang-hyun seemed to feel the same way, as his voice was also very bright.

“Huh? Who is this? Isn’t it Hyun-sung?”

“Have you been well?”

“I’m the same as always. But did you come to this school?”

“Yes, I came here because I like the sea. But it’s even more nice to see you here like this.”

“You can say that again. By the way, I didn’t even get to thank you last year. What money did you have to pay for my hospital bill? I didn’t know your contact information, so I couldn’t even say thank you. It’s late, but I want to say thank you now. Thanks to you, I received good hospital treatment and was discharged.”

That’s when it happened.

Lee Hye-sun, who was sitting next to him, joined the conversation.

“How do you know our Hyun-sung?”

“Our Hyun-sung? Oh, is she your girlfriend?”

“Yes? Girlfriend? Hoho… Yes, that’s right. How do we look together?”

“You two look great together, like a handsome man and a beautiful woman.”

Lee Hye-sun turned her head to look at Hyun-sung as if she found Han Gwang-hyun’s answer amusing. Then, she slightly pouted her lips and smiled.

“…”

Hyun-sung couldn’t say anything and just slightly shook his head.

Then, Lee Hye-sun opened her mouth again.

“Mister, do you know that our Hyun-sung came in first place?”

“First place? Are you talking about the entrance exam this time?”

“Yes, he confidently took the top spot overall.”

“Oh! Congratulations.”

Han Gwang-hyun smiled brightly at Hyun-sung, looking at him in the rearview mirror.

Hyun-sung simply bowed his head in response to Han Gwang-hyun’s congratulations.

Then, Lee Hye-sun brought up the runner-up.

“Do you happen to know who the runner-up is?”

“Hmm… I think I know. Is it you, student? So, the top student and the runner-up are together now?”

“Hoho, I guess that’s how it is.”

Lee Hye-sun was just busy laughing as if she was happy.

At that moment, two letters took root in Hyun-sung’s head.

Runner-up (次席) [second place].

He didn’t even know her name. All he knew was that she was a female student and her score.

282 points, the runner-up’s score. If you add the physical fitness test, it’s over 300 points. It’s a score high enough to get into Korea University. The first time he checked the runner-up’s score, he was surprised by this score. He wondered why she would come to Kang Sang University with that score.

Hyun-sung himself had his own circumstances, so he couldn’t help it, but he couldn’t understand why someone else would come here with that score.

And that person is Lee Hye-sun, who is right next to him now…

Hyun-sung glanced at Lee Hye-sun, who was sitting next to him.

Then, Lee Hye-sun immediately asked,

“Why?”

“Oh? Ah, it’s nothing.”

It wasn’t the right situation to ask ‘Why did you come to Kang Sang University with that score?’

Squeak.

At that moment, the taxi arrived at Gyeongpo Beach.

As soon as Hyun-sung handed over the taxi fare, Han Gwang-hyun waved his hand and said,

“This is not right. How can I accept the taxi fare from you?”

“Still…”

“No, it’s okay. See you again next time. Have a good school life.”

“Yes, then I’ll see you again next time.”

Hyun-sung got out first, and Lee Hye-sun followed, saying,

“Goodbye, mister. Drive safely.”

“Thank you. And the top two, do well.”

“Yes? Oh my, mister…”

Lee Hye-sun blushed as if she was embarrassed, but she didn’t lose her smile. Hyun-sung chuckled as he looked at Lee Hye-sun.

The two of them had no contact in their previous lives. They had only seen each other briefly at the blind date that day, and they had never met since then. But after the regression, they came to Gyeongpo Beach together like this.

As the taxi left, Lee Hye-sun took the lead and went up to the second floor.

“Follow me!”

“Follow me?”

What is this… am I a pet?

The atmosphere felt strangely flowing. On the surface, the two were friends, but that wasn’t the case inside.

But the inside is not revealed on the outside.

“How did this happen?”

Hyun-sung muttered to himself.

Then, Lee Hye-sun’s voice was heard again.

“What are you doing?”

“Oh? Okay.”

Hyun-sung answered in a daze and looked up at the sign.