Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 611

613

The woman was none other than Kim Hee-jin, Han Su-young’s mother.

Kim Hee-jin headed straight to the cashier. Her steps were heavy, burdened by the fact that she had only managed to scrape together 500,000 won out of the 5.3 million won owed in hospital bills.

“Hospital bill for Han Su-young,” Kim Hee-jin said in a small voice upon arriving at the cashier. The clerk began typing the name into the computer.

A moment later.

“Oh? It’s already been paid in full.”

“Pardon? What do you mean?”

“A while ago, someone claiming to be her uncle came and paid off all the overdue hospital bills. Not only that, but he also prepaid 10 million won for future expenses.”

“No, there must be some mistake. Our Su-young doesn’t have an uncle…”

Kim Hee-jin tilted her head, puzzled.

*How could such a thing happen?* It didn’t make sense. How could an uncle who doesn’t exist suddenly appear and pay the hospital bills?

Kim Hee-jin continued, “There must be some mistake. Please double-check.”

“No, it’s correct. I processed it myself just a little while ago. I remember it clearly. First, he paid the overdue bills, and then he asked how much the future bills would be. When I said it would be around 5 million, he offered to pay 10 million won in advance, in cash. And when I asked what his relationship was to the patient, he clearly said he was her uncle.”

Kim Hee-jin was at a loss. She had no older or younger brothers. *Who could have come and paid the hospital bills, even covering future expenses?*

After a moment of thought, Kim Hee-jin asked again, “Is it possible to check the CCTV to see who that person was?”

“I can’t do that here.”

“Then where can I check?”

“That’s the security department’s responsibility. If you want to check, go to their office and explain the situation.”

The clerk pointed to an office. Kim Hee-jin immediately turned and headed to the security department.

It wasn’t just a small amount; it was 15.3 million won. She couldn’t just ignore that much money.

Knock, knock.

“How can I help you?”

“Actually…”

Kim Hee-jin began to explain why she had come. As she spoke, the security officer nodded as if he understood. When she finished, the officer said, “So, you want to identify the person who paid the money?”

“Yes, that’s right. It’s not a small amount, and I can’t just pretend I don’t know who paid it.”

“Okay, I understand. Come this way.”

A few moments later.

Kim Hee-jin was shocked as she watched the CCTV footage.

“Oh, this person?”

“Do you know him?”

“No, I don’t have a personal relationship with him, but he sometimes visited Su-young’s room. He’s the brother of Yu Young-seok, the young man in the bed across from Su-young…”

It was definitely a familiar face. It was the man who occasionally came to visit Yu Young-seok.

The problem was, why did he pay the hospital bills?

Leaving the security office, Kim Hee-jin immediately headed to the public phone.

At that moment.

Hyun-sung was driving out of the hospital towards Songlim-dong [a neighborhood in Incheon, South Korea] with Yu Young-seok and his father, Yu Sang-hyuk, in the car. They were heading to Yu Young-seok’s house.

Ring!

Yu Young-seok’s phone rang.

“Hello.”

Yu Young-seok answered the call.

A while later.

Hanging up, Yu Young-seok looked at Hyun-sung and asked, “Hyung [older brother or respectful term for an older male friend], what’s going on?”

“What do you mean?”

“Su-young’s hospital bill. The person I just spoke to was Su-young’s mother. Is what she said true?”

“Oh? Well…”

Hyun-sung didn’t have much to say. He couldn’t give a proper answer.

Yu Young-seok asked again, “So, when you said you were going to the restroom earlier, it was because of Su-young’s hospital bill?”

“That’s how it turned out. But how did that woman know it was me?”

“She checked the CCTV.”

“CCTV?”

“Yes, from Su-young’s mother’s perspective, she had no choice. It’s not a small amount of money, so she had to find out who paid it.”

Perhaps it was only natural. It wasn’t a small amount.

Yu Young-seok continued, “Still, Hyung, you’re amazing. How could you think of something like that?”

“I just felt bad for her.”

“Of course, but even so, how could you pay that much money? Especially the future hospital bills. Honestly, even someone with a lot of money couldn’t easily do that. You’re really amazing, Hyung.”

“Let’s stop talking about it…”

He thought they wouldn’t find out. He never imagined they would check the CCTV.

Now that it was revealed, Hyun-sung felt embarrassed.

“Can I ask you one thing?”

“What is it?”

“How do you develop that kind of heart?”

“……”

Hyun-sung had nothing to say. He could only respond with silence. Yu Young-seok asked again, “It’s not something you can do just because you have money, is it?”

“Actually, I felt so bad when I saw Su-young’s eyes in the hospital room. Seeing that young child trying to overcome that pain…”

That was true. He felt so sorry for the young girl who had lost one leg but was still trying to overcome it. He wanted to help her in any way he could, and when he heard that her hospital bills were overdue, he made a decision.

“You’re really amazing.”

“Amazing, my foot…”

“No, honestly, with my prosthetic leg and Su-young’s hospital bills, I’ve seen a new side of you, Hyung.”

“You’re making me blush… Let’s stop talking about it.”

“Okay, I understand. And Su-young’s mother said she’ll be visiting you soon.”

“Tell her there’s no need.”

“That’s not right. Su-young’s mother has been struggling so much because of those hospital bills. Su-young’s mother will handle it. Anyway, I want to thank you on behalf of Su-young.”

Yu Young-seok bowed slightly to Hyun-sung. Then, Yu Young-seok’s father, Yu Sang-hyuk, who had been quiet until now, spoke up.

“The more I see of CEO Kim, the more he seems like an onion.”

“Father, why are you doing this too?”

“It’s true. I can’t understand how he can think of such things.”

“Father, come on…”

Hyun-sung had nothing to say. He simply smiled at Yu Sang-hyuk.

Then, Yu Young-seok asked again, “Hyung, since we’re on the topic, do you have any job openings?”

“Job openings? For whom?”

“Su-young’s mother. Not right now, but two months from now, when Su-young is discharged.”

“Hmm…”

After a moment of thought, Hyun-sung spoke up, “As a matter of fact, the bakery said they need someone. I’ll ask them later. By the way, when are you starting at the side dish shop?”

“Tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow? Aren’t you rushing things?”

“I’m rushing on purpose. I feel like I’ll just have unnecessary thoughts if I stay home. And if I’m going to start anyway, I think it’s better to start as soon as possible.”

“Hmm…”

After a moment of thought, Hyun-sung continued, “Okay, you’ve thought it through. Like you said, if you’re going to do it anyway, it’s better to start as soon as possible. Then come to Bupyeong [a district in Incheon, South Korea] tomorrow and call me. I’ll come right out.”

“Yes, I understand. I’ll contact you tomorrow morning.”

Listening to the two of them, Yu Sang-hyuk said to Yu Young-seok, “Are you sure you’ll be okay?”

“Yes, don’t worry. It’s not like I’ve never done this before, and I can handle this much work. And I’ll endure it, even if it’s a little difficult. I’ve had a lot of time to think while I was in the hospital.”

Yu Young-seok glanced at his father, Yu Sang-hyuk, and continued, “Actually, while I was in the hospital, I realized a lot about what family is. Seeing my mom and dad crying because of me…”

“……”

“When I first had the accident and was coming up from Nonsan [a city in South Chungcheong Province, South Korea] to Incheon…”

Yu Young-seok’s words grew longer.

That meant he had a lot of feelings this time. Although his words continued at length, what he ultimately wanted to say was that he had rethought the meaning of family because of this accident.

When Yu Young-seok finished speaking, Yu Sang-hyuk immediately continued, “Yes, I also reflected a lot on the things I did wrong in the past while watching you this time. I didn’t know it then, but I realized anew how precious children are.”

“Dad, from now on, I’ll be more careful so that this kind of thing doesn’t happen again.”

“Yes, you have to. Always be careful, and if there’s anything this father can do to help, contact me anytime. I’ll run to you even in my sleep.”

“Yes, Dad.”

Yu Young-seok reached out and took Yu Sang-hyuk’s hand. Yu Sang-hyuk also held Yu Young-seok’s hand tightly.

At that moment, a smile began to spread across Hyun-sung’s face as he watched the scene.

When he first heard the news that Yu Young-seok had been in an accident, he was in despair. He was worried about how that young man would cope with such a big accident.

But fortunately, seeing Yu Young-seok standing up again so bravely, Hyun-sung smiled without realizing it.

The truck carrying the three men passed Juan Station [a subway station in Incheon, South Korea] and headed towards Songlim-dong.

***

A few days later.

Hyun-sung, who had finished his morning exercise, headed to Isei’s bakery as usual.

“Welcome!”

Isei greeted Hyun-sung cheerfully as he entered. But today, she wasn’t alone; someone was with her.

“Oh? Su-jeong, what brings you here at this hour?”

The child next to Isei was none other than her daughter, Yoon Su-jeong.

“Uncle!”

“Oh, hi. But why are you here at this hour?”

“I came to see Uncle.”

“What? Me?”

“Yes, I have something to give Uncle.”

Hyun-sung tilted his head in confusion and looked at Isei. Isei smiled and continued, “Su-jeong is right. She said she had something to give Uncle today and has been chasing me since dawn, so I had no choice but to bring her.”

“So you came out at this hour without sleeping?”

“Yes, that’s right. She kept asking me to wake her up last night, so I had no choice…”

“What is it?”

“Ask Su-jeong directly. She said it’s a secret from me and wouldn’t tell me.”

Isei gently touched Yoon Su-jeong’s head. Hyun-sung also smiled slightly and looked at Yoon Su-jeong, asking, “Su-jeong, what do you have to give me?”

“Just a moment.”

With those words, Yoon Su-jeong disappeared into the room behind the counter.

A moment later.

Yoon Su-jeong came out of the room and handed Hyun-sung an envelope.

“Uncle, this.”

“Oh? This is a letter?”

“Yes, that’s right. I wrote it at daycare.”

“You gave me one last time, didn’t you?”

“That’s that, and this is different.”

“Really? Can I read it now?”

“No, you can’t. You have to go home and read it alone. You can’t read it in front of my mom.”

As Yoon Su-jeong finished speaking, Isei said in disbelief, “Kids these days are like this.”

“Haha…”

Hyun-sung laughed. Isei continued, “Don’t laugh.”

“Then should I cry?”

“I’m not kidding. What is this?”

“What’s so serious about it?”

“I’m just… No, never mind. What am I doing with a child…”

Isei shook her head from side to side. She looked like she couldn’t believe herself.

Then, Yoon Su-jeong said to Hyun-sung again, “Uncle, you really have to look at this alone.”

“Yeah, okay. I understand.”

“Then I’m going back into the room because it’s cold.”

“Okay, go in quickly.”

As soon as Yoon Su-jeong went into the room, Isei immediately said, “What are you doing? Why aren’t you opening it?”

“I can’t right now. I’m going to go home and look at it alone.”

“Are you really going to do this?”

“Su-jeong clearly told me to look at it alone…”

Hyun-sung couldn’t continue speaking. It was because Isei’s gaze was intense.

“Are you really going to do this?”

“Are you really going to do this, Madam? This is strictly a matter between me and Su-jeong.”

Pfft.

Isei suddenly laughed. But the way she laughed looked like she was mocking him.

Hyun-sung was dumbfounded.

“What’s with that laugh?”