Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 474

Two Years Later.

Knock, knock.

With the knock, Baek Doo-soon, my army buddy, opened the office door and came in.

“Boss.”

“There you go again. I told you to just call me comfortably when it’s just us.”

“It’s a bit… Okay, got it. I came to give you this.”

Baek Doo-soon handed Hyunsung an envelope. At a glance, it was easy to tell what it was.

“Oh? Isn’t this a wedding invitation?”

“Yeah, it just came out. I felt like I had to give it to you first, so I brought it right away.”

“Really? Okay, got it. Hmm… let’s see.”

Hyunsung took the invitation out of the envelope and checked the contents.

It was two years ago.

One late night when the cherry blossoms were in full bloom, Baek Doo-soon came to my house. He came and suddenly asked for my help.

Shin Yu-bin.

He said he loved her. But he didn’t know how to start.

In the end, Hyunsung played the role of Ojakgyo [a mythical bridge connecting lovers] between the two.

As a result, after two years, he came with a wedding invitation like this.

Hyunsung, who had checked the contents of the invitation, immediately opened his mouth.

“It’s the 10th of next month.”

“Yeah, my mom went to the temple and said that day is good for both of us.”

“Really? Then we should follow your mother’s words. Oh! I wonder if your mother is comfortable in the new house.”

A month ago, Baek Doo-soon’s mother moved here from Paju. It was the first case of an employee’s family moving into the village.

Baek Doo-soon was the first recipient of the housing supply project for employees.

The first house was completed a month ago, and they moved in.

“Uncomfortable? It’s the opposite. She says it’s too good. Especially since there’s a garden behind the house, she says she’s happy every day.”

“That’s a relief. But I heard you’re going to live with your mother-in-law too?”

“Yeah, you know my mother-in-law is not well. So we decided to live together in one house.”

“Okay, good job. But… no, you’ll do well.”

Hyunsung stopped talking.

He knew that taking care of two mothers wouldn’t be easy, but he also felt that saying anything else in this situation was unnecessary.

As if knowing Hyunsung’s mind, Baek Doo-soon continued.

“I’m expecting it to some extent. That it won’t be easy.”

“People can do anything they want, usually people…”

Hyunsung’s words became unexpectedly long. Perhaps because he had seen many situations in his previous life, he couldn’t help but talk longer.

After some time, when Hyunsung’s words were about to end, Baek Doo-soon suddenly started laughing.

Then Hyunsung immediately asked.

“Hey, why are you laughing?”

“Oh? No, it’s just that I’m afraid someone will mistake you for my father.”

“Haha, was I too talkative?”

“No, it’s not that. I’m just saying thank you. Honestly, I sometimes think that maybe my deceased father helped me meet you. Otherwise, how could I have become close to you among so many army buddies? Don’t you think?”

“I’m grateful if you think so. Anyway, I was nagging too much. But the only thing I want to say is, if any problems arise, don’t keep them to yourself and discuss them with Yu-bin. After all, you two are the ones who will solve the problems.”

I wanted to talk longer, but Hyunsung stopped there. He thought that Baek Doo-soon would have to go through all the processes in the future.

Then Baek Doo-soon opened his mouth again.

“Okay, I got it. I’ll keep that in mind. And I have a favor to ask…”

“A favor? What favor?”

“It’s a difficult favor.”

“What is it?”

“That’s…”

Baek Doo-soon couldn’t speak easily.

Then Hyunsung immediately asked.

“Hey, what favor is it?”

“That’s, the emcee…”

“Emcee? Are you talking about the wedding emcee [master of ceremonies]?”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

Baek Doo-soon nodded slightly. But what was strange was his expression. He was making a difficult expression as if he was asking for a big favor.

Hyunsung immediately asked with a slightly dumbfounded expression.

“What? What’s with that expression now?”

“I’m just being careful. Because you’re different from other friends.”

“Huh? What does that mean? How am I different from other friends?”

Hyunsung couldn’t understand what he was saying even if he thought about it for a moment. So he tilted his head without realizing it.

Then Baek Doo-soon’s words continued.

“You’re the boss.”

“Boss?”

“Yeah, I don’t know what you think, but from my point of view, I’m sorry.”

“Sorry? Why?”

Hyunsung still couldn’t understand Baek Doo-soon’s words. Why he was sorry from Baek Doo-soon’s point of view that he was the boss.

Baek Doo-soon’s words continued again.

“Really, you don’t care about that at all?”

“What’s wrong with it? What’s so strange about a friend emceeing a friend’s wedding?”

“Huh? That’s…”

It was Baek Doo-soon who was embarrassed.

No matter what anyone says, Hyunsung is the boss here. It’s not just a small corner store, but the largest restaurant in Korea.

Not only that, but if you include the employees of the additional farm and wild vegetable factory, the number of employees is 2,300.

It’s not even comparable to most small and medium-sized enterprises.

But Hyunsung is going to emcee the wedding?

Even at his own building.

Baek Doo-soon judged that it would not be easy even if he was a friend.

But the person himself said that he didn’t care about it at all, so Baek Doo-soon couldn’t help but be embarrassed.

Baek Doo-soon asked again.

“Are you really okay with it?”

“Of course, I know why you’re doing this, but you’re wrong.”

“Still, social prestige…”

“Hey, Baek Doo-soon!”

Hyunsung called Baek Doo-soon’s name before he finished speaking. Then he immediately asked.

“We’re friends, right?”

“Of course, that’s…”

“Then that’s it, there’s nothing else to think about. As I said before, just as you trusted me and came this far, I will also remain your friend forever. So even if I’m the boss here, nothing will change. Do you know what I mean?”

“…Yeah.”

Baek Doo-soon nodded.

Then Hyunsung opened his mouth again.

“How many days of vacation do you need?”

“We’re going to Jeju Island for 2 nights and 3 days anyway, so it’ll be 3 nights and 4 days including the wedding day.”

“Don’t do that, I’ll give you ten days, so take a longer vacation. 2 nights and 3 days is too short for a honeymoon.”

“No way!”

Baek Doo-soon’s voice suddenly grew louder.

Hyunsung was just dumbfounded.

It wasn’t like he was shortening the days, but he was lengthening them, so what was this reaction?

Hyunsung immediately asked.

“Hey, why are you reacting like that? Is there any reason?”

“We’re the first, right?”

“The first?”

“Yeah, we’re the first to get married among more than 2,000 employees. If we go for ten days, then in the future…”

“Wait!”

Hyunsung raised his hand and stopped Baek Doo-soon’s words. Then he immediately continued.

“So, in the end, you’re saying you don’t want to set a precedent?”

“That’s right. It’s not just one or two people, but more than 2,000 people, and if everyone gets ten days of vacation because of us…”

“That’s enough!”

“Huh?”

“That’s enough.”

“What do you mean it’s enough?”

Baek Doo-soon looked at Hyunsung as if he didn’t know what he was talking about.

Then Hyunsung smiled and continued.

“I’m talking about your consideration for me. You’re saying you don’t want to leave such a precedent because you’re thinking of me, but I think differently.”

“Differently?”

“Yeah, I’m thinking of announcing this opportunity to give ten days of vacation for weddings.”

“Is that real?”

“Yeah, even civil servants get 5 days, so shouldn’t we give at least twice as much? Honestly, 5 days is too short. Especially for a wedding. Anyway, how did you think of that in that situation?”

Hyunsung couldn’t understand even if he thought about it for a moment. How could he think of the entire restaurant instead of personal greed in that situation?

Baek Doo-soon’s answer followed.

“Actually, it was Yu-bin’s idea.”

“Yu-bin’s?”

“Yeah, Yu-bin said that we should set a good precedent since we’re the first.”

“So that’s why you decided on 3 nights and 4 days?”

“Yeah, honestly, I wanted to go for about a week, but if we did, then all the other employees would have to go like that…”

Baek Doo-soon smiled while talking.

Hyunsung also smiled lightly as he looked at Baek Doo-soon. Anyway, Hyunsung was just grateful that he thought of the entire restaurant rather than personal greed in that situation.

Hyunsung got up from his seat, took out an envelope from his desk drawer, and handed it to Baek Doo-soon.

“Take this.”

“Huh? What is this?”

“It’s my small gift. Use it for your honeymoon.”

“No way…”

Baek Doo-soon, who received the envelope, was surprised. It was because of the amount of money in the envelope. I don’t know the exact amount, but it seemed like it would be enough to be at least one million won [approximately $800 USD].

“Why is there so much money?”

“I have to do that much for you, even if it’s not for anyone else.”

“Even so… Thank you. I’ll use it well.”

Baek Doo-soon stopped trying to say anything else.

Instead, he bowed his head and thanked him to replace his heart.

Hyunsung always said that the reason for making money is to spend it. Of course, he didn’t forget to say that he would use it in valuable places.

Baek Doo-soon judged that many words would be unnecessary in front of him.

Hyunsung was left alone after Baek Doo-soon left.

A smile spread across Hyunsung’s face.

He never expected this day to come when he first met Baek Doo-soon at the training camp.

Whatever the reason, he is now starting a family after 2 years. In his previous life, he was just a passing relationship, but this time it was different.

It seemed that his relationship with Baek Doo-soon was successful. That’s why he smiled without realizing it.

About 30 minutes passed.

Knock, knock.

The person who opened the office door this time was Manager Yoo Min-cheol.

As he came in, Hyunsung greeted Yoo Min-cheol with a welcoming voice as if he had been waiting.

“Welcome, Manager!”

“Were you waiting for me?”

“Why, is it obvious?”

“Of course it’s obvious. And it’s already been 9 years since I’ve been working with you, boss. So now I know just by listening to your voice.”

“Has it already been 9 years since we’ve been working together?”

“Why, don’t you remember? When you were a sophomore in high school, you said you were going to run a ramen shop…”

Yoo Min-cheol began to bring up past stories as if reminiscing. As his explanation grew longer, Hyunsung also began to talk about the past, agreeing with his words.

After a while.

Hyunsung asked first.

“So, did you finish the investigation?”

“Yes, I just finished it. If you look at this…”

Yoo Min-cheol continued to explain, turning over the documents he was holding.

The content he was explaining was the change in the village. More precisely, it was an analysis of the changes in the village for 2 years after Hyunsung opened the restaurant.

After his explanation, Hyunsung immediately asked.

“So, the most increased business is the restaurant?”

“Yes, that’s right. 3 increased in the first year, 2 years ago, and 10 more increased last year.”

“10 more?”

“Yes, I was surprised when I did the investigation this time. But do you know what’s more surprising?”

“Yes? Well. Is there anything else besides the restaurant?”

Hyunsung looked at Yoo Min-cheol directly with curiosity.

Then Yoo Min-cheol’s words continued again.

“It’s the building price.”

“Building price?”

“Yes, it has increased by an average of 10 times compared to 2 years ago.”

“10 times?”