Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 613

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The current time is 7:30 AM. A phone call at this hour likely means something urgent has happened.

Hyun-sung immediately asked,

“Hey, Kim Il-soo. What’s wrong?”

“Grandma…”

“Grandma? What about Grandma?”

Hyun-sung interrupted Kim Il-soo before he could say anything else at the mention of his grandmother. She held a special meaning for Hyun-sung as well.

“Grandma is very sick.”

“Sick? How bad? Where does it hurt?”

“I don’t know exactly, but the doctor…”

“Doctor? So, you’re at the hospital now?”

“Yeah, I’m at Wonju Christian Hospital right now. She came to the hospital in an ambulance last night.”

The fact that she was taken by ambulance meant her condition must have been quite serious. That would explain the call at this hour.

Hyun-sung asked again,

“What did the doctor say?”

“The doctor said…”

Kim Il-soo couldn’t finish his sentence for some reason. Hyun-sung, feeling anxious, pressed him again.

“What did he say?”

“He said… to prepare yourself.”

“What? Prepare? That means…”

Hyun-sung switched the phone from his right hand to his left. He was so shocked that he did it without realizing it.

‘Prepare yourself?’ Hyun-sung knew exactly what that meant.

Then, Kim Il-soo’s voice came through again.

“But Grandma is looking for you.”

“Me?”

“Yeah, that’s why I called so early in the morning.”

“Okay, I understand. I’ll leave right away.”

“Are you sure you’re okay to come?”

“Don’t worry about me, just wait. If I leave now, it’ll take a little over two hours, so I should be there before 10 AM. So, stay strong and wait by Grandma’s side.”

Click!

Hyun-sung hung up and immediately started running.

How much time had passed?

The clock was already pointing to 9:50 AM. He had left Incheon at 7:40 AM, so he arrived at Wonju Christian Hospital in 2 hours and 10 minutes.

Normally, this distance would take about 2 hours and 30 minutes. That meant he arrived 20 minutes early.

That’s how urgent Hyun-sung’s heart was.

Arriving at the hospital, Hyun-sung immediately headed to the emergency room.

“Hyun-sung!”

As Hyun-sung entered the emergency room, Kim Il-soo called out Hyun-sung’s name in a hurried voice.

“Oh, yeah, how’s Grandma?”

“She’s just lying there. She’s so weak, she can’t say anything and is barely breathing. But even her breath is barely…”

Kim Il-soo couldn’t finish his sentence and started to cry. Seeing this, Hyun-sung gently patted Kim Il-soo’s back and continued,

“You need to stay strong, especially at times like this.”

“Okay, I will.”

Hyun-sung headed to the bed in one corner. There, Kim Il-soo’s grandmother, Shin Yu-bok, was lying down.

“…Haa!”

Her breathing sounds indicated the severity of her condition.

Hyun-sung immediately grabbed Shin Yu-bok’s hand and said,

“Grandma, I’m here. It’s Dooyou student [Soybean Milk Student – a nickname from when Hyun-sung frequently bought soybean milk for Il-soo].”

The last time he had seen Shin Yu-bok was a year ago, before he went up to Incheon. Even then, Shin Yu-bok had called him ‘Dooyou student.’ It was a nickname that naturally stuck when he used to buy Dooyou (soybean milk) every time he went to Kim Il-soo’s house back in high school.

However, Shin Yu-bok couldn’t respond.

“…”

Instead, she squeezed the hand Hyun-sung was holding. But it was barely a movement.

Her breathing was still rough.

Then, Kim Il-soo, who was next to them, spoke again.

“Grandma, Hyun-sung is here. Please open your eyes.”

“…”

“You were looking for Hyun-sung until dawn, saying you had something to tell him, so please hurry…”

Hyun-sung gently grabbed Kim Il-soo’s shoulder with his hand. Then, he continued,

“Il-soo, I’m sorry, but can you give us a moment alone?”

“Huh? Oh, okay.”

Kim Il-soo stepped back as if he understood. Then, Hyun-sung approached Shin Yu-bok and grabbed her hand again. Then, he immediately closed his eyes, to focus his mind.

The last method Hyun-sung chose was to use his ability. It was a method of gathering energy from his dantian [energy center in the body, according to traditional Chinese medicine] and sending it to her to restore her vitality.

Of course, he had never tried it before. But he had cured several people of their illnesses in this way, so he chose this method with the thought that it was his last resort.

How much time had passed?

Hyun-sung’s whole body began to be soaked with sweat. That meant that this treatment he was doing was very physically demanding.

“Hoo…”

It was when he was adjusting his breathing and finishing his dantian.

“Ugh…”

A weak groan flowed out of Shin Yu-bok’s mouth, who hadn’t made any sound until now. Then, Kim Il-soo, who was behind him, immediately called out.

“Grandma!”

“Ugh…”

“Grandma, it’s me. It’s your grandson, Il-soo. Are you feeling a little better now?”

“Ugh… Il-soo.”

“Yes, Grandma!”

Kim Il-soo called out to Shin Yu-bok and immediately burst into tears. Seeing this, Hyun-sung gently patted Kim Il-soo’s shoulder and said in a small voice,

“I don’t know how much Grandma will regain her senses. So, from now on, if there’s anything you haven’t said, talk to Grandma. It seems like Grandma is going on a long journey.”

“Oh, okay. Thank you, Hyun-sung!”

Kim Il-soo had known about Hyun-sung’s abilities to some extent since before, so he just thanked him without saying anything else. That’s why he didn’t say anything and stepped aside when Hyun-sung asked him to leave a moment ago.

Hyun-sung came out of the emergency room for the time being so that the two could talk. It was because he thought that the two of them would have more to talk about than Hyun-sung himself.

If there was only a little time left anyway, he judged that it was right for the two of them to spend that time together.

As Hyun-sung stepped aside, Kim Il-soo immediately opened his mouth.

“Grandma, are you feeling a little better now?”

“Yeah, I am.”

“Do you recognize who I am?”

“You’re my grandson, Il-soo.”

“Yes, Grandma, I’m Il-soo.”

Kim Il-soo wiped away the tears flowing as he said those words. Then, Shin Yu-bok, who saw this, immediately opened her mouth.

“Il-soo!”

“Yes, Grandma.”

“Don’t cry. Why are you crying?”

“No, something just got in my eye, so I’m tearing up. I’m not crying because of Grandma.”

Pat, pat.

Shin Yu-bok patted Kim Il-soo’s hand and then continued to speak.

“Listen to me carefully.”

“Yes, Grandma.”

“The land documents and house documents are at the bottom of the farm, so you take care of that…”

“Grandma, why are you saying that? I don’t need any of that. I just need Grandma to be by my side…”

Kim Il-soo couldn’t continue speaking. Only tears were flowing down his face.

He didn’t even know his mother and father’s faces and grew up in his grandmother’s hands. When he was young, he thought his grandmother was his mother and called her ‘Mom.’

Now that he thought this was the end, all that came out were tears.

“Il-soo…”

Shin Yu-bok’s voice seemed weaker than before. Then, Kim Il-soo’s voice became urgent.

“Yes, Grandma!”

“This grandma wanted to see our Il-soo get married before she left… Haa… It seems like that will be difficult.”

“Grandma, if you just wait a little longer…”

“No, it seems like there’s no time left now. So… even if this grandma is not here…”

Shin Yu-bok couldn’t continue speaking and closed her eyes.

“Grandma, you don’t have to say anything if it’s hard. Just hold my hand like this. And don’t worry about me. Grandma raised me for 30 years. When I was young, I didn’t listen to Grandma and didn’t go to school, so Grandma had a hard time, right? I’m sorry. I don’t know why I was like that then.”

Kim Il-soo’s words continued.

“But don’t worry now. As Grandma knows, I’m living well in a good job thanks to Hyun-sung. And this is a secret, but I’ve been seeing a girl for a few days. She’s a junior from school who came in as a kitchen assistant, and she’s pretty. So, Grandma, don’t worry…”

It was then.

Shin Yu-bok struggled to speak again.

“What’s her name?”

“Her name?”

“Yes, what’s that girl’s name? This grandma has to know her name before she goes.”

“Yoon-hee, Seo Yoon-hee. She’s twenty-six this year. They say there’s no need to check compatibility if there’s a four-year age difference [In Korean culture, 궁합 (gung-hap), or marital compatibility, is often determined by age and birthdates]. She said she was going to come to greet Grandma in the spring… Sob.”

Kim Il-soo started crying again. Then, Shin Yu-bok struggled to speak again.

“A man shouldn’t cry so easily.”

“Yes, Grandma. I won’t cry anymore.”

“Yes, our Il-soo is big, so it doesn’t suit him to cry. So, you always have to smile.”

“Yes, Grandma. I will.”

“By any chance… Haa.”

Shin Yu-bok couldn’t continue speaking as she seemed to be out of breath again. Seeing this, Kim Il-soo grabbed Shin Yu-bok’s hand again and said,

“Grandma, do you have anything to say?”

“…Haa.”

Shin Yu-bok was still out of breath and couldn’t speak.

“Grandma, Hyun-sung is here, should I call Hyun-sung?”

Shin Yu-bok nodded slightly instead of answering. Then, Kim Il-soo jumped up from his seat and ran out of the emergency room.

At that time.

Hyun-sung, who was outside the emergency room, saw Kim Il-soo running out and immediately said,

“Oh, Il-soo. How’s Grandma?”

“It seems like… Never mind, hurry up and go to Grandma. She’s looking for you.”

“Oh, okay.”

Hyun-sung immediately realized that the situation was not good. That’s why his steps towards the emergency room couldn’t help but quicken.

Shortly after.

“Grandma!”

Hyun-sung grabbed Shin Yu-bok’s hand and called out carefully. Then, Shin Yu-bok, who had been closing her eyes, opened her eyes and looked at Hyun-sung. Then, she opened her mouth with difficulty.

“Dooyou student…”

“Yes, Grandma, I’m here.”

“Oh, you’re not Dooyou student anymore. You’re our Il-soo’s boss, right?”

“No, I’m just Dooyou student to Grandma forever. So, please just call me Dooyou student.”

Shin Yu-bok nodded slightly as if she understood and then continued to speak.

“Okay, then I’ll call you that.”

“Yes, Grandma.”

“Thank you.”

“What are you thanking me for?”

“No, if it weren’t for Dooyou student, our Il-soo wouldn’t have become a chef and wouldn’t have such a great job now. It’s all thanks to Dooyou student. So… Haa.”

Shin Yu-bok couldn’t continue speaking as she was out of breath again. Then, Hyun-sung immediately continued to speak.

“Grandma, if it’s hard, please wait a little bit and then speak.”

“Ugh… Okay.”

Shin Yu-bok barely answered and then closed her eyes again.

Then, Hyun-sung quickly gathered energy in his dantian again, as he had done before, and began to infuse Shin Yu-bok with energy.

How much time had passed?

Shin Yu-bok seemed to regain her senses and opened her eyes again. Then, she opened her mouth again.

“Your name was Hyun-sung, right?”

“Yes, Grandma. It’s Kim Hyun-sung.”

“Okay, Hyun-sung, it seems like I don’t have the strength to hold on any longer.”

“Grandma…”

Hyun-sung had nothing more to say. All Hyun-sung could do in this situation was to hold Shin Yu-bok’s hand and somehow infuse her with as much energy from his dantian as possible.

It was then.

‘Huh?’

Hyun-sung felt a strange energy momentarily. The energy that had been flowing in without any resistance until now was blocked as if it was blocked and no longer entered.

At that very moment.

Shin Yu-bok opened her mouth again.

“Stop it.”

“Yes?”

“That’s enough. I have no regrets even if I die now.”

“Grandma!”

“No, I’m already…”

Shin Yu-bok called Kim Il-soo, who was next to her, before she could finish speaking.

“Il-soo.”

“Yes, Grandma.”

“Come here, let’s hold hands once.”

Shin Yu-bok said, holding Kim Il-soo’s hand in one hand and Hyun-sung’s hand in the other.