Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 61

“Let’s go!”

Hyun-sung started organizing and writing down the concepts of rational numbers in his notebook, referring to a textbook.

Tricks in math?

They don’t work. He already knows that the only way to succeed in math is to solve problems relentlessly.

The more notebooks he fills, the better his grades will be.

It might not work for everyone else, but it’s the method Hyun-sung learned in the past.

How much time has passed?

“Already?”

Looking at the clock, it was already pointing to 2 AM. He had been sitting for almost 4 hours. No wonder his back was stiff.

Fortunately, he didn’t feel very tired.

Youth is good, indeed.

He had envied those in their 40s since he turned 50, but now he’s back in his teens. This is a blessing like no other.

Heh heh.

What can’t he do at this age?

At that moment, he clenched his fists with determination.

And as he studied, he found another advantage.

It was his comprehension.

Until yesterday, he couldn’t concentrate well because it had been so long, and it was hard to understand what was being said. He thought it would get better with time, but it was the same even after a few days.

His motivation was high, but his brain couldn’t keep up, which was also a struggle.

But today was different.

Has he finally adapted?

At some point, he found himself nodding automatically. Moreover, his concentration followed automatically as he understood the material.

Comprehension and concentration – what could be more important than these when studying?

“At this rate…….”

Confidence was evident on Hyun-sung’s face.

Hyun-sung got up to stretch and went outside.

“There it is.”

Hyun-sung looked up at the sky and searched for the North Star. It was the star his younger sister, Kim Ji-yeon, liked.

She said she liked it because it served as a compass for travelers.

“A compass, huh…….”

Hyun-sung turned his head and looked at his sister’s room.

Smirk.

A silly smile appeared.

Sometimes she seems like an old soul, and other times she shows the typical behavior of a middle school girl like her peers.

Just like a little while ago.

“Seo In-hye?”

“Queen?”

Huh.

He could only let out a hollow laugh.

But what does it matter?

The clear thing is that she’s been smiling more than before.

That’s all that matters.

Hyun-sung stretched lightly and went back into his room.

Hyun-sung sat down and pulled out Sungmoon Basic English from the bookshelf.

“This time, it’s English.”

After all, the most urgent subjects are English and math.

That night, the light in Hyun-sung’s room didn’t go off until dawn.

***

“You’re going to Incheon?”

His father looked at Hyun-sung while eating breakfast and asked.

“Hehe, you heard?”

“But who are you going to see?”

“Why are you doing this? You already heard everything from Mom…….”

“I want to hear it directly from my own ears.”

A playful look was in his father’s eyes. But he couldn’t ignore it.

Hyun-sung wanted to slap himself in the face. If he had just made something up, he wouldn’t have had to answer these questions from the morning.

But it’s no use regretting it now.

Then…….

Hyun-sung opened his mouth as if he had made up his mind.

“Ahem……, her name is Yoon Ji-soo, and later……, of course, in my dream……, today, first…….”

Hyun-sung rattled off the answers his father wanted to hear in one go, like reading from a script.

After Hyun-sung’s explanation, his father nodded and looked at his mother.

“So that’s how it is. Are you satisfied now?”

“Tsk, tsk!”

His mother was momentarily flustered.

Hyun-sung, who had finally figured out the situation, smiled at his mother.

“Why didn’t you just ask me directly…….”

“Hmph, it’s the same as last night anyway, what…….”

His mother had probably hoped that something else would come out. That’s why she even involved his father, but she was disappointed because it was the same as what she had heard last night.

Then, his younger sister, Kim Ji-yeon, who was sitting in front of him, said.

“Oppa, should I come with you?”

“What?”

“I want to see my future sister-in-law soon too. Hmm, can’t I?”

“No way!”

“Why? What’s the reason?”

“You didn’t appear in my dream.”

헐! [A Korean expression of disbelief or shock.]

Kim Ji-yeon could only stare at Hyun-sung with a dumbfounded expression. The two people sitting next to her were the same.

She was annoying, but the two of them couldn’t say anything either.

Because if all roads lead to Rome, all of Hyun-sung’s words led to……, dreams.

Hyun-sung was about to get up after finishing breakfast.

“Take this.”

His father handed Hyun-sung an envelope.

“What’s this……?”

“You need to sign a contract. Just take it without saying anything. And I hope it really works out like in your dream.”

‘Like in my dream……?’

His father still wasn’t sure. Maybe that’s natural. Who would believe those words?

Nevertheless, his father had prepared this money.

He hadn’t expected it.

He hadn’t expected it because there was no way to get money from anywhere. So he was thinking of getting a loan from the Nonghyup [National Agricultural Cooperative Federation] using the land Park Hee-cheol gave him as collateral.

But his father was one step ahead.

His father is still his father.

He thought he could guess his father’s 마음 [ma-eum, meaning heart or feelings] to some extent because he had lived as long as his father’s age. But that was a 착각 [chak-gak, meaning delusion or misconception].

The heart that thinks of one’s children.

It’s not something you can get just by living through the years.

‘Hmm…….’

Then, it’s a child’s duty to receive this without saying anything. It would be rude to even ask where he got it.

Just accept it gratefully.

That’s right for his father, and it’s also right for his mother, who is watching.

Hyun-sung bowed his head to his father.

“Thank you, Father!”

“Thank you for accepting it without saying anything.”

“What more can I say? I only have a grateful heart. I will work hard with this money so as not to disappoint my family’s expectations.”

“Yes, but don’t be too burdened. Don’t overdo it. Just being healthy is the best.”

“Yes! And thank you for believing in me.”

“Don’t mention it…….”

Hyun-sung got up and said.

“Since you have to come to sign the contract, I’ll go to the real estate agency in the morning to check and call you. I don’t want you to make a wasted trip.”

“Huh? Do I have to go too?”

“Hehe, Father, I’m only 18 years old. I’m a minor. I’m at an age where I need a guardian.”

“Ah, that’s right. Okay, then I’ll wait for your call.”

“Yes, Father. And Ji-yeon, can I see you for a moment?”

As Hyun-sung got up and left the main room, Kim Ji-yeon also got up and followed Hyun-sung.

The two entered Hyun-sung’s room.

Kim Ji-yeon asked first.

“Oppa, why?”

“Just a moment…….”

Hyun-sung pulled out the bankbook that he had put deep in the drawer. He didn’t intend to use this money from the beginning, but now that he had received money from his father, there was no need to keep it anymore.

Knowing his sister, she might have some 불안한 마음 [bu-ran-han ma-eum, meaning uneasy feelings].

Then it’s right to get rid of those feelings quickly.

“Take this.”

“This is…….”

“As you saw, I received it from Father, so it’s right to give it back.”

“I’m okay with it…….”

“No, Oppa is not okay. And I will remember the 마음 [ma-eum, meaning heart or feelings] that Ji-yeon had for Oppa.”

Kim Ji-yeon hesitated for a moment and then received the envelope that Hyun-sung handed her.

“Then…….”

Kim Ji-yeon’s hand trembled slightly.

Hyun-sung looked at Kim Ji-yeon and said.

“Check how much is in the bankbook.”

“Huh? What are you talking about?”

Hyun-sung just nodded. Then Kim Ji-yeon opened the bankbook, checked it, and opened her mouth.

“What? Are you kidding me…”

“How much is it?”

“Of course, it’s still 1 million won.”

Hyun-sung shook his head slightly.

“Look closely. In my eyes, that ‘1’ looks like a ‘4’.”

“What, 4 million won? Oppa, did you eat something wrong this morning and you’re saying so much nonsense from the morning?”

“What nonsense? Are you really saying that to your Oppa? Right now, you…….”

“That’s right. It’s not like you’re getting 노안 [no-an, meaning presbyopia or age-related farsightedness] already, but you’re saying strange things, so that’s why.”

“You’re smart, so think about what that strange thing means. Homework until tonight.”

“Hmph! You have to say something that makes sense…….”

Kim Ji-yeon trailed off and seemed to think for a moment.

Just for a moment.

“Oppa, maybe…….”

“What? Did you finish your homework already?”

Smirk.

Kim Ji-yeon looked at Hyun-sung and smiled slightly. Then she slowly opened her mouth.

“So, what Oppa is saying now is that Father gave this bankbook to Oppa, Oppa gave it to me, I gave it back to Oppa, and now Oppa is giving it back to me, so every time it changes hands, 1 million won is added, right? It changed owners four times, so it’s 4 million won. Am I right?”

딱 [ttak – Onomatopoeia for a click or snap].

Hyun-sung flicked his thumb and middle finger.

“You’re really my sister. You got it right in one go.”

“헐! [heol – An expression of disbelief or shock]”

Kim Ji-yeon could only let out a hollow laugh as if she was dumbfounded.

Then Hyun-sung said.

“Isn’t it cool?”

“Cool? Looking at you now, Oppa, you’ve become a complete con artist! I’m so dumbfounded…….”

Kim Ji-yeon left Hyun-sung’s room after saying that. No, he thought she left.

드르륵 [deu-reu-reuk – sound of a door sliding open].

The door opened again.

“Oppa, just a moment.”

“Huh? Why?”

Hyun-sung went to his sister Kim Ji-yeon without realizing it. Then his sister suddenly put the bankbook in Hyun-sung’s hand and took it back.

Then she immediately opened her mouth.

“Now there’s 6 million won in this bankbook, right, Oppa?”

“Huh?”

“That’s right, according to Oppa’s words…….”

톡 [tok – A light tap].

Hyun-sung lightly tapped Kim Ji-yeon’s forehead with his palm.

“You, you’re making fun of your Oppa?”

“Hmph, who was the one who conned first!”

Kim Ji-yeon turned away and disappeared into her room.

Hyun-sung, who was left alone, tilted his head. Then he mumbled.

“It’s cool though…….”

Hyun-sung hurried to school.

Because he had to stop by the real estate agency first. He wanted to sign the contract today if possible.

That was why he pedaled the bicycle even harder.

“What?”

Hyun-sung doubted his eyes when he arrived at the real estate agency.

It was because of the contents of the white paper attached to the real estate agency’s glass door.

– Temporary Holiday Notice.

Due to personal reasons…….

“Of all days!”

It said that they would be closed for two days (Saturday, Sunday) due to a wedding in Seoul.

Hyun-sung had no choice but to head to school.

However, Hyun-sung’s bicycle was heading towards the alley, not the school. Even though he couldn’t sign the contract today, he couldn’t help but feel drawn to it since he now thought of it as almost his own 가게 [ga-ge, meaning shop or store].

Hyun-sung’s gaze was fixed on one spot as he looked around the 가게 [ga-ge, meaning shop or store].

“Huh? There’s a door on the inside too.”

It was hard to see clearly because the inside of the 가게 [ga-ge, meaning shop or store] was dark, but there was definitely a door to the back of the 가게 [ga-ge, meaning shop or store]. If there’s a door, that means there could be space in the back.

“Space…….”

Roughly looking, the hall excluding the kitchen is only about 7 평 [pyeong, a Korean unit of area, approximately 3.3 square meters].

“It’s small…….”

Hyun-sung shook his head slightly.

He couldn’t shake off the feeling that it was small.

Out of disappointment, Hyun-sung started looking around the 가게 [ga-ge, meaning shop or store] again.

This time, he pressed his forehead close to the 가게 [ga-ge, meaning shop or store] glass and carefully looked inside the 가게 [ga-ge, meaning shop or store] again.

“As expected…….”

He definitely saw a door in the back.

The answer will come out later when he checks, but there is definitely a possibility of additional space.

Of course, the person who ran this 가게 [ga-ge, meaning shop or store] in his past life only used this hall.

As a result, there was always a limit to the number of people who could eat in the hall. Of course, there would be nothing more to wish for if people lined up and ate, but that also has its limits.

Hyun-sung himself had waited and just returned without eating more than once or twice.

“Then…….”

If he can increase the space, that’s what he should do first.

Since the visits of customers will be concentrated at certain times due to the nature of the business. Then the key to sales will depend on how many people can be accommodated at once.

He has confirmed to some extent the possibility of increasing the space.

That’s enough.

Hyun-sung nodded.

The commercial district has already been verified in his past life.

Then, if he can increase the space there and maximize the turnover rate, he will surpass the fame of his past life.

He also knows to some extent how to increase the turnover rate.

Heh heh.

Now it’s finally starting.

“Let’s go!”

Hyun-sung clenched his fists.