Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 486

488

That evening.

Lee Jungwoo returned to his studio apartment after work.

“Huh? What’s this?”

Lee Jungwoo tilted his head, looking at the three boxes placed in front of his door. When he left for work with Hyunseong in the morning, there was nothing in front of the door.

That meant someone had brought them later…

‘Could it be?’

Lee Jungwoo suddenly thought of one person: Hyunseong, who had left the studio with him that morning.

He remembered what Hyunseong had said while they were eating hangover stew.

-I’ll drop you off at the district office and then stop by somewhere…

After a moment of thought, Lee Jungwoo quickly opened the boxes to check the contents.

Sure enough, the boxes were full of books.

Constitutional law, public administration, economics, and various test preparation books needed for the Level 7 exam [a high-level civil service exam in South Korea].

It was Hyunseong’s doing, as expected.

“Haa!”

Lee Jungwoo couldn’t help but let out an exclamation.

He was the guy who rushed over from a long distance at the mere mention of being sick. He even helped solve his worries.

And now, even the test preparation books needed for the exam.

Lee Jungwoo’s lips began to curve into a smile as he looked at the boxes.

“Thanks, Hyunseong. I will definitely…”

Lee Jungwoo muttered to himself and immediately began moving the boxes into his room.

Shortly after.

After moving all the boxes, Lee Jungwoo went straight to the phone. Then, he immediately made a call.

The other person answered right away after the second ring.

-Hello.

“It’s me, Hyunseong.”

-Oh, hey. Did you just get off work?

“Yeah, I just got off work. But these books… Ah, never mind. Thanks.”

Lee Jungwoo was about to say something else but replaced it with a thank you. He didn’t want to diminish his feelings with unnecessary formalities.

-Did you check them?

“Yeah, I checked them as soon as I got home and just moved them all into my room. I won’t say much. I won’t talk nonsense anymore and will study hard. I know it won’t be easy at all. But since I’ve started again as you said, I’ll see it through to the end this time too.”

-Good, that’s my friend Lee Jungwoo. You can do it. And just remember one thing: you’re not alone.”

“Yeah, man. Thanks. Really, thanks. I’ll never forget this favor.”

-Hey, why do you keep saying thank you for something like this between friends? And what favor? Don’t say that. Honestly, I’m the one who’s really grateful.

“What did I…”

-No, you did something for me that others couldn’t do. I can’t say it now, but there’s something like that. So don’t be too…

“Hey, Kim Hyunseong!”

Lee Jungwoo suddenly interrupted Hyunseong and called his name. Then, he immediately asked again.

“Hey, now that we’re on the topic, let me ask you something. You used to say that every time back in high school. What exactly did I do for you?”

-Uh? That’s…

Hyunseong couldn’t easily say it. The reason was that it was something he had received help with in his past life, so he couldn’t talk about it now.

Then, Lee Jungwoo continued, as if trying to press him again.

“Hey, why can’t you answer?”

-There’s a reason why I can’t. So don’t keep asking about that. Anyway, study hard, and let’s all get together for a year-end party this year.

“Jerk, you can’t even say it… Then don’t say I gave you something in the future. I don’t think I’ve ever given you anything.”

-Okay, take care…

Click.

Even after hanging up, Lee Jungwoo tilted his head.

It wasn’t the first time Hyunseong had said that. No matter how much he thought about it, he hadn’t given him anything, but he always said he had given him something, which frustrated him. So he had asked, but in the end, he avoided answering again and just said he couldn’t say. What on earth was he talking about?

After thinking for a while, Lee Jungwoo shook his head from side to side as if he couldn’t figure it out.

“Hoo!”

Meanwhile, after hanging up, Hyunseong unknowingly let out a long sigh.

Of course, Lee Jungwoo might be frustrated because he didn’t know what he was talking about. But Hyunseong also couldn’t talk about what had happened in his past life, so he was just as frustrated.

But what remained unchanged was that, from Hyunseong’s perspective, he had received unforgettable help from him in his past life.

Lee Jungwoo had even broken his savings account to offer a helping hand at the mere mention of needing help. Hyunseong thought that this was nothing compared to that for such a friend.

Just then.

Knock knock.

Baek Doosoon opened the front door and entered with a knock.

As soon as Hyunseong saw him, he asked in surprise.

“Hey, what brings you here at this hour?”

Baek Doosoon shouldn’t be here at this hour.

It was after work. He had only been married for a little over four months. That meant he was still in his honeymoon phase. For him to come to see him right after work instead of going home meant something had happened.

Hyunseong asked again out of curiosity.

“Hey, what’s wrong?”

“Just wanted to have a drink.”

“Soju [a clear, colorless Korean distilled beverage]?”

Hyunseong’s gaze went to Baek Doosoon’s hands. Sure enough, he was holding plastic bags in both hands.

Hyunseong was momentarily conflicted.

‘What should I do?’

He’s a newlywed, but he didn’t go home and came here?

It was clear that something had happened, but he couldn’t just accept a newlywed unconditionally, and he couldn’t just send him away when he had come all the way here as a friend…

After thinking for a moment, Hyunseong opened his mouth as if he had made up his mind.

“Sit down first.”

He thought it was important to find out what was going on first.

As Baek Doosoon sat down, Hyunseong asked again.

“Let me ask you one thing first. What happened?”

“…….”

Silence meant agreement. As he had felt when he first came in, something had happened.

Hyunseong asked again.

“Hey, what’s wrong? What happened that you came all the way to me?”

“Sit over here for a second. Let’s wet our throats and talk.”

With those words, Baek Doosoon took out the snacks he had brought from the bag. He had brought sundae [a type of Korean sausage].

Having prepared the snacks in advance meant that he hadn’t come on a whim but had been thinking about it to some extent.

Hyunseong brought soju glasses from the kitchen and sat down in front of him.

He thought it was best to listen to him since things had come to this.

Pour, pour.

As Hyunseong put down the glass, Baek Doosoon filled it with soju.

The two of them offered their soju glasses without either taking the initiative and lightly clinked them together. There was no need for other words, so they quietly drank a shot of soju each.

Baek Doosoon was the first to speak.

“I didn’t know it would be this hard.”

“Cut out the preamble and tell me what’s hard. Don’t do that and tell me what happened.”

“Well, actually…”

Baek Doosoon began to explain what had happened.

It had been two days ago.

He had gone home after work and found the atmosphere at home to be cold, so he had asked why, and it turned out that his mother and mother-in-law had argued.

The moment Hyunseong heard that, he felt dizzy.

From the moment Baek Doosoon had said he was going to live with his mother and mother-in-law when he got married, the thing he had been most worried about was that part.

He had seen many times in his past life how difficult it was for in-laws to live in the same house. The intention was good, but he knew that it wasn’t as easy as it seemed.

Hyunseong interrupted Baek Doosoon’s words in the middle out of curiosity and immediately asked.

“What was the reason?”

“They won’t tell me.”

“Huh? They won’t tell you the reason? Both of them?”

“Yeah, that’s why I’m going crazy.”

Baek Doosoon rubbed his face with both hands as if he was frustrated.

Hyunseong was just as confused.

Of course, people can argue. But both of them won’t say why they argued?

It was a part that didn’t make sense even if you just heard it briefly. He thought that they shouldn’t hide the reason at least.

Hyunseong tilted his head and asked.

“What could be the reason?”

“That’s what I’m saying. I don’t understand it either. Honestly, I can accept that people can argue, but why won’t they tell me the reason?”

“What does Yoobin say?”

“Yoobin doesn’t know either. My mother-in-law didn’t tell Yoobin either.”

Hyunseong tilted his head once again.

Usually, they would tell their children. But why wouldn’t they tell their children for some reason?

Hyunseong asked again.

“Has this ever happened before?”

“Sometimes.”

“Sometimes?”

“Yeah, it seems like they fight about once a week.”

“What’s the reason?”

“They still won’t tell me. If it wasn’t so bad, would I have come to you with soju today? I don’t know what to do because this is the first time this has happened to me.”

As soon as Baek Doosoon finished speaking, he poured himself a shot of soju as if he was frustrated.

“So, they fight every time, but they don’t tell you the reason?”

“Yeah, but the strange thing is that they get better after a few days. As if nothing had happened.”

“Huh? What does that mean?”

“That’s what’s strange. Some days they fight, and other days…”

Baek Doosoon began to explain what had happened. As his explanation grew longer, Hyunseong’s expression began to change. At first, he had a serious expression, but as time passed, his expression changed to a nonchalant one as if it was nothing.

And finally, when his explanation was over, Hyunseong lightly smiled and called Baek Doosoon’s name.

“Hey, Baek Doosoon.”

“Hey, are you laughing right now? I’m serious right now?”

“Yeah, man. Thanks for talking, anyway. Here, have a shot of soju. Let’s talk after that.”

Hyunseong began to pour soju into his empty glass. Then, he poured soju into his own glass and raised it, lightly clinking it against his glass.

Chew, chew.

After picking up a sundae and putting it in his mouth, Hyunseong continued.

“Hey, don’t worry about anything.”

“What? What does that mean? I’m serious?”

“I think the two mothers are having a battle of wills right now.”

“A battle of wills?”

“Yeah, it hasn’t been long since they started living together, right? So the two of them are sorting out the hierarchy right now.”

“What are you talking about…?”

Baek Doosoon tilted his head, looking at Hyunseong as if he didn’t understand what he was saying.

Then, Hyunseong chuckled and continued.

“The two of them will continue to do that for the time being. Of course, I don’t know when that time will end. It might be short, or it might take a year or two. But what’s clear is that after some time passes and the hierarchy is sorted out to some extent, they will naturally get better.”

Hyunseong had also experienced it in his past life.

He had lived with his mother and mother-in-law for about three years due to circumstances. At first, they seemed to be careful because they were awkward with each other, but after some time passed, they started bickering with each other.

At first, he and his wife had been upset and had a hard time more than once.

But it was only after time had passed that he realized it was a battle of wills. That period had lasted about a year.

“Really?”

“Yeah, so don’t think too seriously about it. And what’s important is your and Yoobin’s attitude.”

“Attitude? What should we do?”

“Stand back.”

“Stand back?”

“Yeah, don’t get involved. If you two get involved there, then there’s really no answer. Never take anyone’s side.”

Baek Doosoon tilted his head again as if he still didn’t understand and continued.

“Is that really all I have to do?”

“Of course, it varies from person to person, but it can last from six months to a few years for some people. But what’s important is that if the daughter or son gets involved, it’s not easy to solve. If you make a mistake, it can develop into a problem between the couple, not just the mothers’ problem. So just close your eyes and pretend it’s nothing. It’s a problem that the two of them will solve anyway.”

“But why are they doing that?”

“I told you a little while ago, they’re having a battle of wills. It’s a fight that will only end when the hierarchy is determined. So now, when you go home, tell Yoobin about this for sure. And if you two don’t waver, time will solve this problem.”

As Hyunseong finished speaking, Baek Doosoon asked again.

“But you’re not even married, how do you know so well?”

“That’s um… I saw it on TV.”

That was the answer Hyunseong chose. It was an unavoidable choice because he couldn’t say that he had experienced it in his past life.

Hyunseong continued.

“How is Yoobin doing now?”

“She’s similar to me. If it wasn’t so bad, Yoobin would have told me to go to you. In case you know what to do.”

“Yoobin really said that?”

“Yeah, Yoobin trusts you even if she doesn’t trust me?”

“That’s nonsense…”

Pfft.

Hyunseong chuckled at the end of his words. Then, he continued.