Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 599

A few minutes later.

After everyone had left, Lee Myung-hoon immediately asked Hyun-sung,

“Is what you said earlier about this?”

Hyun-sung had said directly, ‘This store isn’t run by me alone; many people will participate.’ Lee Myung-hoon was referring to that statement.

“That’s right, I trusted the people around me.”

“And those people ended up coming here like this?”

“As you can see…”

“That’s what I mean. In the end, your judgment was correct. To be honest, I didn’t believe you when you said earlier that many people would participate.”

That was true.

He hadn’t believed it when Hyun-sung first said that the store wouldn’t be run alone but with many people participating.

The reason was that he thought donating wasn’t as easy as it sounded.

“Was there a reason you thought that way?”

“Yes, there was. I thought donating wasn’t something just anyone could do, as you said. But seeing the bakery owner, the supermarket owner, the bookstore owner, and the real estate agent earlier changed my mind.”

“How so?”

“I realized that donating isn’t such a grand thing. It’s possible as long as you have the heart to share even something small. Especially seeing the supermarket owner bringing tofu really changed my mind.”

Perhaps from Lee Myung-hoon’s perspective, that was understandable. For someone who thought of donating as something special, the meaning of three blocks of tofu would have been received differently.

“Whatever the reason, I’m glad your mind has changed.”

“That’s what I mean. So, about that…”

Lee Myung-hoon paused briefly before continuing.

“I’d like to participate in what you’re doing, even if it’s just a little.”

“You too?”

“Yes, to be honest, I always thought I had nothing to do with donating. But now that my mind has changed, I’m thinking of putting it into action. I’ll be right back.”

With those words, Lee Myung-hoon immediately left the store. Hyun-sung watched his disappearing back and couldn’t help but smile.

10 minutes later.

Lee Myung-hoon returned to the store with a carton of eggs in each hand. In the end, he started his first donation with two cartons of eggs.

He put down the two cartons of eggs, looking embarrassed, and said,

“Boss, this is okay, right?”

“Of course, nothing is off-limits for donations. Anyway, thank you for participating like this.”

“But I feel strange.”

“Feel?”

“Yes, I only bought two cartons of eggs, but I feel so proud here.”

Lee Myung-hoon tapped his chest with his hand. His face was full of a look as if he had accomplished something.

Tuk, tuk.

Hyun-sung simply patted him lightly on the shoulder, saying nothing.

Just then.

Clang!

A female student entered as the store door opened. She looked to be around a middle school first or second-year student.

But what was strange was that the female student who opened the door didn’t come further inside the store.

Seeing this, Hyun-sung approached her first.

“What’s wrong?”

Even though she was a young student, he spoke politely. Of course, it varied from person to person, but Hyun-sung thought that doing so was respecting the other person.

Sometimes, he was bothered by the sight of people speaking informally to those who were young, so Hyun-sung himself didn’t do that.

“Excuse me…”

The female student barely opened her mouth, but her words stopped there. Then Hyun-sung continued,

“Tell me what’s wrong. Don’t worry about anything.”

“Is it really okay to just take the things here?”

He had expected this to some extent from the moment she opened the store door.

The reason for coming here would be one of two things anyway.

One would be to donate, and the other would be to take things.

But the female student came in empty-handed, so he had expected it to be the latter.

“Yes, of course.”

“I saw the notice outside, but I was wondering just in case. Who runs this place?”

“Several people run it.”

Hyun-sung immediately answered, ‘Several people,’ without thinking. Hearing that, Lee Myung-hoon immediately joined their conversation.

“That’s not quite right; our boss donated 98%, and others are donating just a little for the remaining 2%.”

“Ah, I see. By the way, aren’t you the owner of the video store up there?”

“Yes, that’s me. But why do you ask?”

Lee Myung-hoon looked directly at the female student’s face as if curious. Then the female student shook her head slightly as if it was nothing and answered immediately.

“No, I just wanted to confirm.”

“Confirm?”

“Yes, actually, there was talk about you at our school two days ago.”

The most surprised at the female student’s words was Hyun-sung.

What was this all about? Why was there talk about him at a girls’ school?

Hyun-sung asked immediately.

“What are you talking about? Why is there talk about me at school?”

“It’s not anything else, but as the story about this free sharing store spread, there was talk within the school about who the owner was.”

“The store is already known at school?”

“Yes, there was talk about it two days ago. It’s such a unique case. There wouldn’t be a free sharing store like this anywhere else in the country.”

It was an understandable story. There wouldn’t be a store like this anywhere else in the country.

The female student’s words continued.

“But there was a kid among our friends who knew you.”

“Me?”

“Yes, if I just say her name, you’ll know her. Mijin, Seo Mijin.”

“Ah, Mijin. I know her well. She’s a friend who comes to rent videos sometimes.”

He knew her well. She was a kid who came to rent videos two or three times a week since he opened the video store.

“Mijin told about you at school.”

“I hope Mijin didn’t speak ill of me.”

“Mijin? Hoho…”

The female student suddenly started laughing. The unfamiliar expression she had when she first entered the store could not be found anywhere.

She opened her mouth again.

“It’s the opposite.”

“The opposite?”

“I don’t know how much Mijin praised you. Especially…”

The female student stopped talking in the middle. Then Hyun-sung asked immediately.

“Especially what?”

“That you’re handsome. From beginning to end, she said you’re handsome. So I came as a representative to check.”

“Check? What kind of check?”

“It’s a bit much to say this, but it’s to check if you’re really handsome.”

“Who?”

“My classmates. Actually, I’m the class president. So I had no choice but to…”

“……”

Hyun-sung had nothing to say. When she first entered the store, he thought she was coming to get something because she was so shy. But to think that she came to check out his looks on behalf of her friends, Hyun-sung was dumbfounded.

“That’s a relief.”

“A relief? What’s a relief?”

“That Mijin’s words are true. I feel rewarded for coming too. Hoho…”

“Rewarded… Pfft.”

Hyun-sung also burst out laughing. Even though they were young students, it was just absurd that they even came to check like this.

Then the female student took something out of her bag and handed it to Hyun-sung.

“Please accept this.”

“What is this envelope?”

“Our classmates collected it little by little. Please use it for good. And thank you. For setting an example as an adult.”

It was something he had never expected. Until a little while ago, he was just dumbfounded because she said she came to check out his face, but after receiving the envelope, he realized that they were not just young friends.

“But I don’t know if I can accept this.”

“Of course, you should accept it. We don’t know how proud we are. That a store like this has opened in our neighborhood.”

“I have heavy shoulders from now on. I’ll do my best to run it, even though I’m lacking.”

“My name is Ahn Soyoung. Call my name next time I come. Then you can speak comfortably too.”

“Ah, is that so? But next time?”

“I’ll come again before winter vacation. This time, I’ll be more active in raising funds. I’ve seen your face with my own eyes, so I’ll be able to collect more money next time. Hoho…”

You could feel the playfulness in the laughing female student’s expression.

At that moment, Lee Myung-hoon, who saw the scene, said.

“You said you’re Soyoung?”

“Yes, that’s right. Ahn Soyoung.”

“Does that school pick class presidents based on looks?”

“Pardon? What are you saying…”

“When you opened the door earlier, I thought a talent was coming in.”

“Oh my! This oppa~!” [Oppa is a Korean term used by younger women to address older men they are close to.]

The female student’s face suddenly turned red. She quickly greeted Hyun-sung and left the store. No, at the moment she was about to do so, Lee Myung-hoon opened his mouth again.

“I’m Lee Myung-hoon.”

“Ah, yes.”

“I’ll see you again next time.”

“Yes, yes…”

The female student immediately opened the door and disappeared. Hyun-sung, who was watching the scene, said to Lee Myung-hoon.

“What are you doing?”

“She’s too pretty? Her actions…”

“That’s true, but the student is surprised, right?”

“Did she look surprised to you? She looked like she liked it to me. And she’s actually pretty too. Who knows? If you keep seeing her…”

“If you keep seeing her, what?”

“It’s only a 9-year difference, people should have hope. Isn’t that right?”

“Hey, you thief.”

Hyun-sung chuckled at those words.

A little later.

Hyun-sung handed the envelope he received from Ahn Soyoung to Lee Myung-hoon and said.

“Check how much is in there and write it down on the computer. Also, the ramen box, bread, and tofu that came in earlier. Oh, and write down the eggs you brought too. We’ll need it all later for the settlement report.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Lee Myung-hoon immediately started organizing the items.

Just then.

Clang!

A person entered as the store door opened. This time, it was a grandmother who looked to be in her 70s.

Hyun-sung greeted her happily.

“Welcome, Grandma!”

“Is this the place that gives out free food?”

“Yes, that’s right. It’s a place where we share food little by little for those who are having difficulties due to this IMF crisis [International Monetary Fund crisis, a period of financial instability in the late 1990s]. Do you need anything?”

“My son was fired from his company yesterday, even though he was doing well. But a little while ago, someone said they were giving out food here, so I came here, swallowing my shame.”

The grandmother’s expression was clearly embarrassed. She looked around the store and continued.

“How much can one person take?”

“You can take about two days’ worth. And then you can come again. We have to share with other people too, so one person can’t take too much at once.”

“Hmm, I see. I understand what you mean. Of course, we have to share with others.”

With those words, the grandmother started walking around the store and putting a few things in her basket.

She chose 1 kilogram of rice, half a cabbage, and 10 eggs.

“Don’t you need anything else?”

“I need to take a few potatoes too, but I can’t take too much by myself. I’ll take the rest next time. This is enough to eat for a few days, so it’s okay.”

“I’ll give you potatoes too.”

Hyun-sung immediately put a bag of potatoes in the basket. Then the grandmother looked at Hyun-sung and continued.

“Thank you, young man, you’ll be blessed.”

“No, I’m the one who’s grateful. Thank you for not being greedy and taking just the right amount.”

In fact, the most worrying thing was the amount of items people would take. Since they were giving them out for free without receiving money, he thought it would be difficult to control the amount.

“Even if I’m old, I know that much. But how long are you going to run this store?”

“It’s going to be a long time. So you don’t have to worry.”

“That’s a relief, I was worried that it would end in just a month or two. I can’t work until next spring.”

“Ah, yes. Is that so? Then don’t worry until then and come comfortably.”

“Yes, I was worried because my son was fired from the company, but this is a breathing hole. Anyway, I’ll say it again, thank you so much.”

The grandmother held Hyun-sung’s hand tightly. Her touch felt especially warm.

A little later.

After the grandmother left, Lee Myung-hoon immediately called Hyun-sung.

“Boss!”

“Yeah, why?”

“To be honest, I thought people would be greedy. But surprisingly, they’re adjusting the amount themselves.”

From the beginning, Hyun-sung’s worry was that too. He thought that people might take a lot unconditionally because it was free. But thankfully, that hasn’t happened yet.

But Hyun-sung knew well that it was too early to be relieved. It’s just the beginning.

Just then.

Murmur, murmur.

People’s voices started to be heard from outside.

Then the store door opened and people started coming in. But what was surprising was the number. At least 20 people started coming in.

Hyun-sung and Lee Myung-hoon exchanged glances for a moment and shouted at the same time.

“Welcome!”

But there was something the two didn’t know. This number was just the beginning.