Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 517

519

Returning as a Building Owner

When I came down to the first floor, Lee Myung-hoon was already opening the store and cleaning.

Hyun-sung entered and immediately asked,

“Myung-hoon, when did you get here?”

“I arrived 30 minutes ago. I was a bit concerned since it’s the opening day today. So, I came a little early.”

Tap tap.

Hyun-sung lightly tapped Lee Myung-hoon’s shoulder, expressing his gratitude. It seemed he had a unique sense of responsibility, being the oldest among the staff.

Just then, Yoo Young-seok, who was behind him, greeted Lee Myung-hoon cheerfully.

“Myung-hoon hyung [older brother/male friend], hello!”

“Oh, hey. But what’s up? You sound so cheerful this morning.”

“Hehe, really? Actually, I received a very big gift from the boss this morning.”

“A gift?”

“Yes, actually, we’re going to sell side dishes at the store starting in a week.”

“At the store… here?”

Lee Myung-hoon pointed to the floor with his index finger.

Yoo Young-seok nodded and immediately replied,

“Yes, that’s right. Until I go to the army…”

Yoo Young-seok began to explain what he had discussed with Hyun-sung earlier. Lee Myung-hoon also showed interest, as if intrigued.

And finally, when Yoo Young-seok’s explanation ended, Lee Myung-hoon immediately asked Hyun-sung,

“Boss, is what Young-seok is saying true?”

“Yeah, it’s true.”

“But why suddenly a side dish store?”

“It’s too good to eat alone. Have you ever tried the side dishes Young-seok makes?”

“No, but Young-seok cooks?”

Lee Myung-hoon tilted his head as if he found it amazing.

Hyun-sung’s reply followed immediately.

“I had seaweed soybean sprout soup and a few side dishes this morning, and his skills are extraordinary. So, I thought it would be good for him to do it for experience until he goes to the army, so we decided to do that.”

As Hyun-sung’s reply ended, Lee Myung-hoon looked at Yoo Young-seok and asked,

“You had such a talent?”

“Hehe, somehow… Try it for lunch today. It’s in this bag here.”

“Oh? Is that real?”

“Yes, while preparing the boss’s this morning, I packed some for the hyungs [older brothers/male friends] to eat for lunch.”

“Oh~ I’m looking forward to it!”

Lee Myung-hoon smiled brightly.

At that moment, three employees entered the store side by side and greeted at the same time.

“Hello, boss.”

“Oh, yeah. Welcome.”

As Hyun-sung greeted them, they exchanged greetings with Lee Myung-hoon and Yoo Young-seok. After exchanging greetings, Hyun-sung spoke again.

“Okay, everyone, pay attention. Soon, the steamed rice cakes will arrive from the mill. Then, as I said yesterday, distribute them to the areas you are in charge of. And if anyone asks for more, don’t be stingy and give them more. We have plenty of rice cakes, everyone got it?”

“Yes, boss.”

It was then.

Bbang bbang [sound of a horn].

A one-ton truck arrived in front of the store. It was carrying the rice cakes from the mill.

“Boss, is all that rice cake ours?”

Lee Myung-hoon asked, looking at the rice cakes loaded in the truck’s cargo bed. He seemed surprised because the amount was quite substantial at first glance.

Hyun-sung’s reply followed immediately.

“I ordered five bags. I thought it would be better to give the neighborhood people rice cakes with that money rather than calling event helpers and making a lot of noise.”

“No, but five bags…”

Lee Myung-hoon shook his head and walked towards the truck.

Some time later.

Hyun-sung was looking at the rice cakes piled up in the store with a satisfied expression. In his previous life, he didn’t have the余裕 [leeway/time] to give rice cakes to the neighborhood people when he was doing business.

So, he always felt awkward whenever he saw the neighborhood people. But this time, that wouldn’t happen.

“Okay, everyone, grab a box and let’s go!”

With Hyun-sung’s energetic voice, five people began to move in unison.

Since he had paid more to the mill for individual packaging in advance, they could take them out in boxes. If not, they would have to repackage them individually, but there was no need to do so.

Shortly after.

Ddiring! [sound of a ringtone]

The cell phone rang. Certainly, the ringtone was different from the smartphone he used in his previous life. But what could he do? This was the latest model cell phone for now.

“Hello.”

-Boss, it’s me.

The person who called was Kim Il-soo, the head chef and vice president.

“There you go again, let’s be comfortable with each other.”

-Huh? Oh, okay.

“Is everything okay at the restaurant?”

-Yeah, it’s still crazy busy. The cherry blossoms are blooming exceptionally beautifully this year, so we’re busy every day. By the way, the video store is opening today, right?”

“Yeah, that’s right. You’re busy, but you still remembered?”

-I should definitely remember, even if no one else does. So, I sent a wreath to the address you gave me last time.”

“You sent flowers?”

-Why, don’t flowers suit me?”

“Haha, no, that’s not it…”

Thinking about Kim Il-soo’s appearance and flowers made him laugh without realizing it.

-Don’t do that, I’m more sensitive than I look, you know.

“Sensitive? You?”

-You really… Never mind, anyway, congratulations on the opening.”

“You rascal, thanks. I guess I only have friends like you. And thanks for all your hard work running the restaurant in my place.”

-If you know, come down quickly.”

“Sorry, I still have a lot to do in Incheon. So, please keep up the good work.”

-Oh! When are you meeting your sister-in-law?”

“Still a year away.”

That’s right. In his previous life, his wife, Yoon Ji-soo, moved to this neighborhood in April ’98. So, he still had about a year left to meet her.

Actually, the reason he came up to Incheon early this time was because of Movie Heart. He had to protect the commercial district before Movie Heart devastated it.

He wouldn’t have known if he didn’t know, but he couldn’t just stand by when he knew in advance.

But he couldn’t tell Jon-bu all these facts as they were, so he just came up.

Kim Il-soo’s voice suddenly grew louder over the receiver.

-What? Is that true?”

“Yeah, that’s how it is. Actually, I had something else to do. But I couldn’t tell you everything, so I just came up. Please understand.”

-Hey, even so, how could you do that to me…”

“It’s not like I did it out of malice, so don’t be too upset.”

-I don’t know!”

Kim Il-soo’s voice suddenly sounded strange. It was the voice he made when he felt upset.

“Are you sulking?”

-I don’t know, anyway, it seems like we’re short-handed, so I think we need to hire two more people in the kitchen, is that okay?”

“Of course, it’s okay. And I already delegated all authority regarding the restaurant to you when I came up. So, take care of it yourself, you don’t have to tell me everything.”

-That’s not right, you’re still the boss.”

“You rascal, you’re so stubborn… Anyway, thanks, I can live so comfortably because you’re there.”

-Okay, I got it. I’ll report everything right away, so don’t worry about here.”

“Okay, I trust you. Oh! And thanks for the wreath. Well, have a good day today.”

Click.

A smile spread across Hyun-sung’s face as he hung up the phone. Kim Il-soo was like an enemy in his previous life. But this time, he had enough trust to entrust the entire restaurant to him, so he couldn’t help but smile as soon as he hung up the phone.

It was then.

Ting-a-ling! [sound of a bell]

The store door opened and a customer came in.

It was Lee Se-yi, who ran the bakery, and her daughter, Yoon Soo-jung.

Hyun-sung greeted them immediately.

“Hello! It looks like you’re going to work now. Hello to our Soo-jung princess too!”

“Yes, hello. Soo-jung, you have to say hello too.”

“…”

Yoon Soo-jung just nodded slightly instead of speaking, as if she was still shy.

Then Lee Se-yi smiled and continued.

“Hoho, this girl is shy like this at first. But after seeing her a few times, she acts like a fox as if she never was.”

“Oh, really? Then I’ll be patient a little longer. I’ve seen her twice now, so I’ll get to know her after seeing her two or three more times.”

“And here’s the video return.”

Lee Se-yi handed over two videos she had rented two days ago. The video titles were ‘Night Singing’ and ‘Cinderella’.

“Did you enjoy watching them?”

“Don’t even mention it, I cried so much that my eyes are still a little swollen. Oh! Today is the opening day, right? Congratulations.”

“Thank you. Would you like some rice cakes?”

“Is… is that all rice cake?”

Lee Se-yi looked at the rice cakes piled up on one side of the store and her eyes widened as if she was surprised.

“Yes, we have plenty. I’m going to give them to the neighborhood people one by one.”

“Hoho, that’s amazing.”

“If you like rice cakes, how about a few…”

It was then.

Yoon Soo-jung, who had been still, suddenly walked towards the place where the rice cakes were piled up.

Then Lee Se-yi smiled and continued.

“Hoho, she’s a rice cake lover.”

“A rice cake lover?”

“Yes, she likes rice cakes more than bread, so I sometimes call her a rice cake lover.”

“Haha, really?”

Hyun-sung immediately filled a paper bag with rice cakes and walked towards Yoon Soo-jung.

“Soo-jung, this is a gift from uncle. I’ll give you more if you eat all of this.”

“…”

“Here, take it.”

“…”

Yoon Soo-jung looked at her mother, Lee Se-yi, instead of answering. Then Lee Se-yi smiled and nodded, and only then did she receive the paper bag that Hyun-sung held out.

Then Lee Se-yi immediately looked at Yoon Soo-jung and said.

“You have to say thank you to the boss.”

“…”

“Hurry~!

“…Ssamchon [term for close older male, like uncle/friend], thank…you.”

Yoon Soo-jung barely opened her mouth and then bowed her head.

Hyun-sung smiled brightly at the sight. In his previous life, Yoon Soo-jung would run and hug him when he called her name, even from a distance.

But it seemed like it would take a little more time to do that yet. But he could be satisfied with being able to see her again like this.

Shortly after.

Lee Se-yi and Yoon Soo-jung left, and a 2.5-ton truck stopped in front of the store shortly after. He could tell that the truck was a flower delivery truck by looking at the hood.

“Are you Kim Hyun-sung, the president?”
The truck driver asked, looking at Hyun-sung.

“Yes, that’s me.”

“It’s a flower delivery. There’s a lot of volume, where should I put it?”

“What? A lot of volume?”

Hyun-sung tilted his head momentarily. He thought that Kim Il-soo, whom he had just finished talking to, was the only person who would send flowers.

Some time later.

“What is all this?”

Hyun-sung was just dumbfounded as he looked at the wreaths lined up in front of the store. There were a total of twenty-five wreaths.

Hyun-sung slowly began to check who had sent the wreaths.

“Hehe…”

Hyun-sung couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh as he checked the wreaths. The reason was that people he had never expected had sent congratulatory wreaths.

There are eleven video rental stores in Incheon alone. Of course, each rental store has its own sales representatives for each region.

But all those people had sent wreaths.

So, 11 rental store managers, 11 sales representatives in charge, 22 in that way were sent by those people.

Rental store managers and sales representatives send wreaths?

It can’t happen. But the fact that such a thing happened meant that there was a good reason.

The reason is obvious.

Purchasing power.

It must be because of ‘Hit’ that Hyun-sung ordered this time.

The payment amount exceeds 6 million won for one work. So, the rumor must have already spread to each rental store, and the rest is obvious without explanation.

In the end, it means that each rental store sent wreaths as a courtesy because they had purchasing power.

Tsk!

Hyun-sung licked his lips.

He couldn’t help but feel bitter. He couldn’t help but feel that way because it was a capitalist society, but the contrast with his previous life was so stark.

“Oh? This is?”

Hyun-sung stopped in front of two wreaths. The wreaths were sent by Park Hee-chul and Chairman Shin Chun-oh.

The two people who made it possible for Hyun-sung to get to where he is now, those people were congratulating him again like this.

Hyun-sung, who had been fiddling with the wreath ribbon for a while, bowed his head. Although he couldn’t see them in front of him right now, he wanted to express his gratitude in this way.

Hyun-sung moved his steps again and stood in front of the last wreath.

It was the wreath sent by Kim Il-soo. He’s the guy who didn’t forget to take care of it even in the midst of his busy schedule.

“Eucha!”

Hyun-sung picked up the wreath sent by Kim Il-soo without thinking and moved it to the entrance. Then he picked up two more wreaths and moved them to the entrance as before. It was the wreath sent by Park Hee-chul and Chairman Shin Chun-oh.

“Um, good!”

Hyun-sung nodded, looking at the three wreaths lined up side by side on both sides of the entrance.

It was right then.

Squeak!

A van stopped in front of the store. Then, the people who got out of the driver’s seat and the passenger seat walked towards Hyun-sung.