Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 582

584

Back to Being a Landlord

“Excuse me? What does that mean…?”

Hyun-sung was momentarily taken aback.

*Our* connection?

What was she talking about?

After a moment of contemplation, Hyun-sung asked again.

“Did you just say a connection?”

“Yes, they say that even a brush of clothing is a connection. Compared to that, our connection must be quite significant. Moreover, Soo-jung is so fond of you, Mr. President. So, what I’m saying is, if you can turn even a bad connection into a good one, please save me for the sake of our connection—from Paris Baguette, that is.”

“Ah, Paris Baguette…”

Hyun-sung finally understood what Se-yi was talking about.

She was ultimately asking for a way to survive the opening of Paris Baguette in ten days.

He chuckled.

Hyun-sung couldn’t help but laugh. The reason was that he found himself so absurd.

He had been subtly bothered by her earlier words, ‘our connection’.

And it seemed the other party had noticed.

“What? What’s with that expression?”

“What do you mean?”

“Your expression is strange. Are you thinking something weird?”

“No? Why would I be thinking anything weird…?”

Hyun-sung had no choice but to pretend he didn’t know. He couldn’t let her find out that he had been having strange thoughts.

However, Se-yi didn’t seem like she would back down easily.

“Could it be that you were thinking strange things because of what I said about our connection?”

“No! It’s absolutely not like that!”

Hyun-sung strongly denied it, even waving his hands. But people usually show when they’re lying.

“Mr. President, I’m disappointed.”

“Yes? What about?”

“Even though it’s written all over your face that you’re lying, you’re still saying it’s not true.”

“Uh… it’s really not…”

Hyun-sung had no choice but to deny it until the end. He couldn’t reveal his true feelings now.

“Okay, since you keep denying it, I’ll just let it go. But just remember one thing: I’m not *that* shameless.”

“Yes? What does that mean?”

“I’ll stop there. Talking more about it will only hurt my pride.”

“……”

Hyun-sung was the one who felt awkward. Pretending not to know what she was talking about, even though he knew, wasn’t easy.

Se-yi glanced at Hyun-sung and continued.

“Okay, let’s stop talking about that and talk about business. First, I’ll start by asking you a question.”

“Yes, what is it?”

“Do you think I can win against a large chain store?”

“No.”

Hyun-sung immediately shook his head.

An individual winning against a chain?

That was absurd.

He had already seen it in his past life. The many neighborhood bakeries started closing down as chain stores came in, and eventually, almost all of them closed within a year or two.

Of course, Se-yi was no exception.

Six months was how long she lasted against Paris Baguette.

Se-yi tilted her head and immediately continued.

“No? Does that mean I can’t compete with a chain store?”

“Of course, that’s impossible. Chain stores are not that easy to deal with.”

“Then what should I do?”

“You have to endure.”

“Endure?”

“Yes, honestly, you can’t win against a chain store, but I think enduring is the direction you should take moving forward.”

It was the conclusion he had reached after thinking for several days.

No matter how he thought about it, Hyun-sung concluded that it was realistically impossible to win against a large chain store like Paris Baguette.

Then there was only one thing left.

To endure, no matter what.

Of course, that was as difficult as defeating them. But that was the best Se-yi could do for now, according to Hyun-sung’s conclusion.

“So, you’re saying I shouldn’t think about winning, but think about enduring?”

“Yes, that’s right. I think that’s the best you can do for now.”

“Hmm…”

Se-yi was silent for a moment, wondering what she was thinking. Then she opened her mouth again.

“Is enduring even possible?”

“You have to endure for Soo-jung’s sake. This isn’t a choice; it’s a must. And that’s why I came here today, to find a way.”

A few days ago, Se-yi had sent him a video and asked him to meet and find a way because there was no time left. So, he had been thinking about it for a few days and made time to visit the bakery today.

He wanted to come earlier, but he couldn’t make time until today because of Yoo Young-seok.

Hyun-sung took out a piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to Se-yi.

“Here, take this.”

“What is this?”

“These are the things I’ve been thinking about. I thought it would be better to write them down than to say them.”

“Wait a minute, let me take a look.”

Se-yi began to carefully examine the paper Hyun-sung handed her.

After a while.

Se-yi opened her mouth immediately after checking the contents.

“First, you pointed out the exterior?”

“Honestly, the sign and the tinting are quite faded. Of course, the taste of the bread is important, but the exterior can’t be ignored either.”

“I was thinking about that too. I haven’t changed it since I opened it seven years ago. I was thinking of changing the sign and the tinting on the glass this time.”

In her past life, Se-yi’s first action was to change the sign and tinting. But that was all she did.

In fact, the most important thing in a bakery is the bread, but she didn’t make any changes to the bread itself. Perhaps that’s why she had to close down after only six months.

“Oh? What’s this?”

“What is it?”

“Increasing the types of bread marked with a star here.”

“It’s as written. I thought it was the most important, so I marked it with a star.”

That was obvious. There was nothing more important than that in a bakery. But her thoughts seemed to be different.

“I used to have more types than now, but it didn’t work. The characteristic of this neighborhood is that only certain things sell, and the rest remain as inventory.”

“What’s the reason for that?”

“Reason? Well… I don’t know exactly, but it’s strangely like that.”

“When was that?”

“Seven years ago.”

“……”

Hyun-sung was speechless.

Was this even possible? She was talking about something from seven years ago in a world where consumption patterns change every day.

And in fact, the biggest difference between individual bakeries and chain stores is the variety of bread.

From the customer’s point of view, they would inevitably go to a chain store with a wider variety of bread.

“That doesn’t make sense now. How can you talk about something from seven years ago? The world is changing every day.”

“Ah, is that how it is?”

“And the really important thing is not just the variety, but the taste of the bread. I don’t know what kind of bread you used to make, but if customers didn’t look for that bread, there must be a reason.”

“The reason?”

“Yes, that’s right. Of course, there will only be one reason.”

People ignore the bread?

Hyun-sung thought there could only be one reason.

Of course, that reason would be the taste.

Se-yi couldn’t have missed that point.

“Are you saying it didn’t taste good?”

“I’m sorry, but I don’t think there’s any other reason. People who like bread usually don’t ignore it if it tastes good.”

“Hmm… I guess so.”

Se-yi pondered for a moment and nodded as if acknowledging it. Then Hyun-sung continued.

“Could I taste the bread you used to make?”

“That’s not difficult.”

“When would that be possible?”

“It takes time to proof [allow dough to rise], so if I start making it now, you can taste it around 8 PM.”

“Then I’ll come back at that time. And how about looking around other bakeries today?”

It was meant to be a lesson.

Hyun-sung thought that to survive, you have to constantly learn and research. Moreover, working in the same space every day inevitably narrows your perspective.

It’s not just clothes that are trendy.

Hyun-sung judged that bread would be the same.

“Other bakeries?”

“Yes, I would recommend taking a bakery tour, even if it means closing the store for two or three days.”

“Does that mean…?”

“There’s a saying that seeing is believing. I want you to see it with your own eyes. See the trends in bread these days. Right now, it’s not important to miss a few days of business, but your survival depends on it. And…”

Hyun-sung’s words became longer as if he had made up his mind. As his words grew longer, Se-yi’s expression also changed from the beginning.

And finally, when Hyun-sung’s words ended, Se-yi immediately continued.

“Listening to you, Mr. President, I’m ashamed of myself. Now that I think about it, I realize that I’ve been doing business too easily.”

“I hope you’ll start again with a determined mind and visit at least all the famous bakeries in Incheon [a city in South Korea].”

“Yes, I understand. Since today is my day off anyway, I’ll knead the dough in a little while and visit a few nearby bakeries.”

“Yes, you’ve made a good decision. You have to survive no matter what, thinking about Soo-jung.”

“Yes, I will.”

Se-yi nodded several times as if making a promise.

“Okay, then I’ll come back at 8 PM.”

“Yes, thank you. I wouldn’t have been able to do anything alone without you, Mr. President, and would have just been crying.”

That’s what happened in her past life.

It was then.

Yoon Soo-jung, who was in the room, came out to the store and called Hyun-sung.

“Video Uncle.”

“Oh, Soo-jung. What’s wrong?”

“Are you coming again later?”

“Yes, I am. I promised to come back when your mom makes new bread. But why?”

“No, just…”

Yoon Soo-jung’s face turned slightly red for some reason. When Hyun-sung tried to ask again after seeing her like that, Yoon Soo-jung immediately disappeared into the room.

Then Se-yi, who was next to her, immediately opened her mouth.

“Our Soo-jung is really into Video Uncle these days.”

“Yes? Soo-jung is?”

“You just saw it, her face turning red. She likes that you’re coming back tonight.”

Hyun-sung just smiled.

At that time, Yoon Soo-jung peeked her head out of the room and called Hyun-sung again.

“Uncle.”

“Oh, Soo-jung.”

“Shave your beard when you come later.”

“Oh? Oh, okay. I will.”

Hyun-sung smiled again. Then Yoon Soo-jung waved her hand slightly at Hyun-sung and disappeared back into the room.

“Okay, then I’ll be going now.”

“Yes, okay. See you later. And I’m really grateful again. You give me strength, Mr. President.”

Se-yi bowed slightly to Hyun-sung. Then Hyun-sung also bowed to her and came outside.

It was then.

Beep!

The phone rang.

“Hello.”

-Mr. President! Our Young-seok!

The person who called was Yoo Young-seok’s father, Yoo Sang-hyuk. But the strange thing was that his voice was urgent.

“What’s wrong with Young-seok?”

-Our Young-seok is acting strange!

“Yes? What do you mean?”

-Since a little while ago… .