Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 572

The next day.

Hyun-sung headed to Bupyeong St. Mary’s Hospital, where Yoo Seung-il was hospitalized.

“Welcome!”

As Hyun-sung entered the hospital room, Yoo Seung-il greeted him as if he were a precious guest.

“How are you feeling?”

“Very good, all thanks to CEO Kim. And also, I have good news.”

“Good news? What is it?”

Hyun-sung seemed to have a rough idea. He had a feeling since yesterday’s treatment. He no longer felt any bad energy from his body. That meant his cancer cells were gone.

As expected, Yoo Seung-il said exactly that.

“The doctor just came by and said I don’t need to be in the hospital anymore. I can leave tomorrow.”

“Is that true?”

“Yes, the results are in, and they can’t find any more cancer cells.”

“That’s great.”

“It’s all thanks to CEO Kim, who every night……”

Suddenly.

Yoo Seung-il stopped talking and grabbed Hyun-sung’s hands tightly with both of his. Then he continued.

“I don’t know how I’ll ever repay this kindness……”

“Just stay healthy. And take this.”

Hyun-sung took out an envelope from his pocket and handed it to him. It was the money he had settled with Movie Heart headquarters yesterday.

“What’s this?”

“Chairman Min and Manager Park from Movie Heart headquarters visited yesterday.”

“And?”

“Didn’t I tell you I would settle accounts with the headquarters?”

“Yes, but……”

Yoo Seung-il couldn’t help but tilt his head.

Of course, he had received a call yesterday morning about settling accounts with the headquarters. But what he didn’t understand was the word ‘settlement.’

In reality, there was nothing to settle with the headquarters. Well, there was one thing. It was the 10 million won he had to pay to the headquarters as a penalty for not fulfilling the 3-year contract.

That meant there was nothing to receive from their side.

Yoo Seung-il tilted his head and began to check the envelope.

After a while.

“What is all this money?”

Inside the envelope were three 10 million won checks and three 1 million won checks. A total of 33 million won.

“It’s the settled amount, as I said.”

“Did the headquarters really give you this money?”

“Of course. The amount is……”

Hyun-sung began to explain what had happened with the headquarters yesterday.

At first, the headquarters didn’t want to acknowledge it. But when he threatened to shut down Movie Heart in Mapo within three months, they eventually gave in.

The amount Hyun-sung demanded was threefold.

First, he demanded 20 million won from the excessive amount they had taken from the video rentals.

The headquarters naturally refused, but Hyun-sung persisted in exposing their unfairness, and they eventually had to admit it.

Second, there was the interior cost.

This was also not easy at first. But Hyun-sung itemized the overcharged 20 million won and got it acknowledged.

Finally, he demanded 3 million won.

This amount was the cost incurred when Yoo Seung-il’s wife, Han Mi-sook, commissioned a background check on Hyun-sung.

He got 100% of this money back. Since the headquarters had not fulfilled the contract, they had no choice but to agree.

The total amount he received was 43 million won.

After deducting the 10 million won penalty that Yoo Seung-il had to pay, the remaining amount was 33 million won.

“……”

When Hyun-sung finished explaining, Yoo Seung-il could only stare at Hyun-sung without saying a word.

How could he not?

He was supposed to pay a penalty of 10 million won, but instead, he received 33 million won.

Yoo Seung-il forced his mouth open.

“How……?”

“They were the ones who took the money unfairly from the beginning. I just recovered some of it for you.”

“Does this make sense?”

Yoo Seung-il couldn’t understand it no matter how much he thought about it. Of course, he knew that Hyun-sung was no ordinary person, but it was just amazing that he had managed to get the money back from the mighty Movie Heart.

“Did you threaten them or something?”

“I just told them that if they didn’t give me the money, I would shut down Movie Heart in Mapo [a district in Seoul] within three months.”

“Mapo? Are you talking about the 200-pyeong [approximately 7,200 square feet] Movie Heart, the biggest in the country?”

Hyun-sung nodded slightly instead of answering.

Then Yoo Seung-il seemed to think for a moment and suddenly started laughing.

“Haha, hahahaha……”

After a while.

Yoo Seung-il, who had stopped laughing, spoke again.

“Too bad.”

“Yes? What is?”

“I should have seen Chairman Min and Manager Park’s faces myself.”

Indeed, their expressions were a sight to behold. Especially when they were arguing about the interior costs, they looked like they were about to cry. It seemed the shock was even greater for them because it was the first time they had experienced something like this.

At that moment.

Beep!

Yoo Seung-il’s phone rang.

“Just a moment……”

Yoo Seung-il asked for Hyun-sung’s understanding and started answering the phone.

After a while.

Yoo Seung-il’s face brightened.

Seeing that, Hyun-sung immediately asked.

“What call made you so happy?”

“They caught that bastard.”

“That bastard?”

“Lee Han-gu. The guy who ran away with my money. They caught him in a motel room in Seoul during a surprise inspection.”

“What about the money?”

“He had more than 25 million won in cash in his bag.”

“That’s a relief.”

“But what should I do with him?”

Yoo Seung-il looked at Hyun-sung and asked. He seemed to be asking about how to deal with Lee Han-gu.

“Is there anything to think about? He’s a guy who ran away with someone else’s money.”

“Of course, but I got you thanks to that friend, and he saved my life too.”

That was true. It was because Lee Han-gu ran away with Yoo Seung-il’s money that he was taken to the hospital due to the shock.

“So what are you going to do?”

“Of course, running away with someone else’s money is a bad thing, but I got something more precious thanks to him. In the end, it was a profitable deal. And I learned something from you this time.”

“Learn? What……?”

“Forgiveness.”

“Forgiveness?”

Hyun-sung tilted his head slightly at the word ‘forgiveness.’ He didn’t know exactly what he meant by forgiveness.

“Yes, like you forgave me. So, why did you forgive me? At first, you strongly said that we couldn’t live together, but at some point, you said you forgave me. I was embarrassed at the time, so I just let it go, but I want to know the reason now.”

“……Repentance.”

Hyun-sung thought for a moment and answered honestly. If Yoo Seung-il hadn’t repented at that time, he wouldn’t have forgiven him.

But Yoo Seung-il seemed unfamiliar with the word and immediately asked.

“Repentance?”

“Yes, I didn’t officially go to church, but I went a few times when I was in the military. The priest told me something then.”

“What did he say?”

“He said that anyone can make mistakes. But if they sincerely regret their mistakes and change their heart and actions, they should be forgiven.”

That was what he called repentance. It was more than just regretting past actions or feeling remorse; it was a complete change of heart and behavior. And those people should be forgiven.

“So, you mean I repented?”

“That’s what I felt. Didn’t you say you wanted to kneel down and sincerely apologize to the other rental shop owners in the neighborhood? I forgave you in my heart that day when I heard that.”

“So that’s why you helped me from then on?”

“Yes, that’s right. If you hadn’t said that that day, I would have been satisfied with just driving you out of our neighborhood.”

“Hmm……”

Yoo Seung-il was silent, as if he was thinking about something.

After a while.

Yoo Seung-il spoke again.

“I was sincere then. Of course, I still feel the same way now. Since we’re on the subject, gather the neighborhood rental shop owners at a restaurant for lunch tomorrow. I’ll apologize and treat them to lunch.”

“I guess my judgment wasn’t wrong. Yes, I understand. I’ll see you at the restaurant for lunch tomorrow.”

Hyun-sung nodded. It was the moment when it was proven that Yoo Seung-il’s feelings that day were not temporary.

Hyun-sung continued.

“And there’s more good news.”

“Good news? What is it?”

“We might be able to get the highest price for the videos.”

“The highest? How much?”

“I think we can get at least 70 million won.”

“How much?”

Yoo Seung-il couldn’t help but doubt his ears.

The first price that Manager Park Sun-woo from the headquarters offered was 20 million won. And then Hyun-sung offered 40 million won. Of course, he said that he could get more if he connected directly with the founder.

But that was just a possibility, and he didn’t think it would be possible.

But Hyun-sung was now saying 70 million won.

“Did you just say 70 million won?”

“Yes, fortunately, I was able to connect directly with the founder through an acquaintance. He’s coming tomorrow to see the items, and if he likes them, we’ll sign the contract right away.”

“Oh~~~!”

An exclamation flowed out of Yoo Seung-il’s mouth involuntarily. If he had followed the headquarters’ words at first, he would have had only one 10 million won bill in his hand. The video price was 20 million won, but after deducting the 10 million won penalty, only 10 million won would have been left.

But what about now?

The settled amount is 33 million won, and if he sells the items, he could get another 70 million won. That would be a total of over 100 million won.

That meant that Hyun-sung intervened and saved over 100 million won from the money that would have been only 10 million won.

“I’m alive again thanks to CEO Kim.”

“You’re welcome. Now you’ll have to open something else there with that money.”

“That’s right, but I can’t figure out what to do no matter how much I think about it. I’m sorry, but can you help me one more time?”

“Hmm……”

Hyun-sung was silent for a while, as if he was thinking about something.

It was some time later that Hyun-sung spoke again.

“I only have one idea.”

“One? What is it?”

“Books.”

He had been thinking about it for a few days. Once the videos were removed, all that would be left were the shelves. The shelves were new, so it would be a waste to just tear them down. So, he eventually found books. Books would be steady for the next 20 or 30 years.

“Are you saying we should put books instead of videos?”

“Yes, that’s right. I don’t think there’s a better alternative. Videos will be very difficult in about 10 years. But books……”

Hyun-sung could confidently explain because he had already experienced it in his past life. As his explanation continued, Yoo Seung-il’s expression began to brighten more and more.

And finally, when Hyun-sung’s explanation was over, Yoo Seung-il immediately spoke.

“CEO Kim! You are my savior. If we do that, we can reuse the shelves as they are, and there couldn’t be a better item. Let’s put books in as soon as we take out the videos.”

“I think that would be good. There won’t be a better business for the next 20 years anyway.”

That’s right. Until the e-book market becomes active, the offline book rental stores will be active. But as with everything, if it flourishes, it will decline, but it won’t matter to Yoo Seung-il now. He only needs to run it for about 10 to 15 years. Until then, there will be no problem making a living with a book rental store.

After that, the two talked about the book rental store for a long time before parting ways.

***

The next day.

There were a total of 7 people gathered at the restaurant, including Hyun-sung. They were the same rental shop owners from around the neighborhood who had gathered 6 months ago. The only difference was that there were 6 people back then, but now there was one more.

That one person was Yoo Seung-il.

This meeting was also created because he wanted it.

“Well, everyone’s here, so let me explain the purpose of gathering here today. The reason I asked you to gather here today is……”

Hyun-sung first explained the purpose of gathering here and finally stood up Yoo Seung-il, who was next to him. Then he continued.

“Mr. Yoo, please speak.”

“Yes, thank you. Hello, everyone. I’m late, but I’d like to introduce myself now. I’m the one who opened Movie Heart 6 months ago……”

Yoo Seung-il started with his introduction first. Then he immediately continued with his apology. He started by saying that he tried to kill all the other rental shops when he first came to this neighborhood, and that he now regrets how bad and selfish that was.

And he didn’t forget to ask for forgiveness.

At the same time, he said that he would take out the videos and put in books, and that he would like to get along with the other owners from now on.

When he finished speaking, the first to react was Choi Sang-gil, who was running a business in his own building.

“Anyway, you’ve been through a lot. Mr. Yoo is apologizing and asking for forgiveness, so how can we ignore it? Isn’t that right, everyone?”

“That’s right. Moreover, you said you’re not doing videos anymore, so we have nothing more to say. From now on, let’s greet each other……”

One of the female owners stepped forward and seconded Choi Sang-gil’s words. Then the other female owners nodded as if they agreed, and at some point, they started clapping.

In his past life, except for Choi Sang-gil, the other female owners in front of him would have closed their video stores and left this neighborhood. Those people are now forgiving Yoo Seung-il with applause.

It was definitely a different scene from his past life.

A smile began to spread across Hyun-sung’s face as he watched the scene.