Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 615

617

-That guy is a real piece of work.

“A piece of work?”

-Yeah, he’s known in the industry for being a real scumbag. Especially when he’s working for people he knows, he pulls all sorts of tricks, especially with the construction schedule. Why are you asking about him, Mr. Kim?

“A younger friend of mine hired him, and it seems like there are some problems.”

-Oh, no. How did they end up with him? Tsk, tsk.

Kim Dong-ho clicked his tongue as if he felt sorry for him. Then he immediately continued.

-His specialty is stretching out the construction schedule. Since regular people don’t know much about it, he often creates extra work. But the problem isn’t just that.

“Then what else is there?”

-He usually doesn’t stick to the original schedule. In the end, he extends the construction by a few more days than initially agreed upon, and then he asks for more money.

“How can someone be like that?”

Hyun-sung’s voice grew louder without him even realizing it. That meant Hyun-sung was angry.

Hyun-sung asked again.

“What happens if you terminate the contract in the middle?”

-That’s a bit difficult.

“Difficult? Why? You just calculate how much work has been done so far, pay him for that, and then hire another contractor to finish the remaining work, right?”

-Who would clean up that mess?

“Huh? What do you mean?”

-There’s a basic etiquette in this industry. No matter the reason, that guy is still part of this industry, isn’t he?

“Are you saying that other contractors won’t touch a project that someone else has started?”

Hyun-sung felt uneasy as he spoke. If his question was true, it would be a very difficult situation.

In that case, terminating the contract with the existing contractor would be almost impossible.

Unfortunately, that was the case.

-Of course. Otherwise, contractors would be fighting over jobs. So, it’s an unwritten rule in this industry not to take on work that someone else has started.

“How can that be…”

Hyun-sung was dumbfounded. This meant that he had to stick with that guy until the end, no matter what.

In the end, that Ahn Sang-min guy was pulling this nonsense because he knew this fact.

After thinking for a moment, Hyun-sung asked again.

“Is there no other way?”

-A way…

Kim Dong-ho seemed to think for a moment before continuing.

-There are two ways.

“Two ways? What are they?”

-One is to threaten him or kiss his ass to get him to finish the work on time.

“So, the best option is to have him finish it? What’s the other one then?”

-Terminate the contract with him.

“What? Is that possible? You just said that other contractors won’t take on the work he’s doing. If that’s the case, we won’t be able to finish the work.”

Kim Dong-ho had clearly said it before. Ahn Sang-min was also in the industry, so no one would take over his work.

But terminate the contract?

That didn’t make sense. If that happened, they wouldn’t be able to finish the remaining construction.

Hyun-sung immediately asked out of curiosity.

“Hyung [older brother or close male friend], this doesn’t make sense. What about the remaining construction?”

-There’s always an exception to every rule.

“An exception?”

-Yeah, there’s someone in our industry who’s like the opposite of that guy.

“The opposite?”

Hyun-sung perked up his ears at the word “opposite.” He thought there might be another way.

Hyun-sung asked again out of curiosity before Kim Dong-ho could speak.

“Are you saying that this opposite person would take over the work that Ahn Sang-min was doing?”

-That’s right. He’s the only one who cleans up Ahn Sang-min’s messes when everyone else refuses to do it.

“But doesn’t the industry say anything? You clearly said that it’s an unwritten rule in that industry not to do work that someone else has started.”

-It’s just an unwritten rule. There’s no written agreement, so no one can openly say anything about it.

“Ah, so this opposite person takes on the work that Ahn Sang-min was doing?”

-Yeah, actually, Ahn Sang-min started doing those dirty tricks first. After that, the two became like opposites.

Hyun-sung nodded as if he understood what he was saying.

He could feel a sense of relief on his face that he hadn’t seen before.

Until a little while ago, there was no way out, but now he could terminate the contract with Ahn Sang-min if necessary.

“Can I get the name and contact information of that person who’s the opposite of Ahn Sang-min?”

-Of course, his name is Baek Sang-gi, and his phone number is 011-2448-4709. But the best way is to coax Ahn Sang-min to finish the job.

“Yes, I think so too. But if it doesn’t work out, I have to keep one last card in my hand. Still, I’m glad it worked out this way thanks to you, Hyung.”

-Don’t mention it. Let’s have a drink soon.

“Yes, Hyung, I understand. I’ll contact you again later.”

Click.

Hyun-sung hung up the phone and immediately turned to Yoo Young-seok in front of him.

“So, this guy was the problem?”

“What did he say?”

“Well, this guy…”

Hyun-sung began to roughly explain the conversation with Kim Dong-ho. As his explanation continued, Yoo Young-seok bit his lower lip slightly and began to frown. And finally, when Hyun-sung’s explanation was over, he immediately continued.

“How can someone be like that?”

“That’s why they say that the people you know are the scariest.”

“Wow! I’m getting so angry just listening to this. How can someone be like that…”

Yoo Young-seok clenched one fist and shook it in the air as if he was angry. That was how he wanted to relieve his emotions.

Suddenly, he took out his cell phone. Then Hyun-sung immediately asked.

“Who? Your father?”

“Yes, I think it’s better to tell him in advance. No matter how close he is to Dad, it doesn’t make sense to keep the work with such a person.”

“Yeah, it’s better to tell him in advance. Okay, tell him everything.”

As soon as Hyun-sung finished speaking, Yoo Young-seok immediately pressed the call button.

-Hello.

“Dad, it’s me.”

-Yeah, Young-seok.

“Dad, I have something to tell you about that interior designer.”

-Why, what’s wrong?

“It turns out that he’s a really bad person. A little while ago, Hyun-sung Hyung talked to another contractor, and he said that the designer deliberately targets people he knows…”

Yoo Young-seok began to explain what he had heard from Hyun-sung.

After a while.

When Yoo Young-seok’s explanation was over, Yoo Sang-hyuk immediately asked.

-Is that true?

“Yes, so we’ve been completely scammed. I should have known from the beginning when he said it would take two weeks… How can someone who’s Dad’s friend do that?”

-Well, I honestly don’t know if that’s true even now.

“Dad, we’ve been completely scammed.”

-Is Hyun-sung there with you? If he is, can you put him on the phone?

“Yes, I will. Wait a moment.”

Yoo Young-seok looked at Hyun-sung and said.

“Hyung, my dad wants to talk to you for a moment.”

“Oh, okay.”

Hyun-sung took the phone from Yoo Young-seok and immediately answered the call.

“Hello.”

-Yes, Mr. Kim, how are you?

“Yes, Father [term of respect for an elder].”

-Is what our Young-seok said a little while ago true?

“Yes, it’s true. I just spoke with a contractor I know well. And that guy is famous in this industry.”

-He’s not that kind of friend…

“Actually, this construction should have been finished in a week. Of course, I’m not an expert, but I know that much. But this guy deliberately tore down the ceiling because the construction period wasn’t coming out.”

Hyun-sung continued.

“And he hasn’t finished it yet and is just wasting time. After listening to Young-seok’s story today, I found out that he didn’t even keep his work hours and did the work completely haphazardly. But the problem doesn’t end here.”

-If it doesn’t end here, then what?

“He couldn’t finish the construction even after a week. No, it’s not that he couldn’t finish it, but that he wouldn’t finish it.”

-Why?

“What could be the reason? The goal is only money. He’s going to delay the construction schedule for a few more days and get more money for it. That’s his specialty.”

-Oh, my… Sigh.

A sigh could be heard from beyond the phone. That meant Yoo Sang-hyuk was also dumbfounded and couldn’t believe the current situation.

-So, what do you think we should do, Mr. Kim?

“First of all, I’m going to try to talk to him so that he can finish the construction as much as possible.”

-Do you think that will work?

“I don’t know, but that’s the best thing to do right now. If that doesn’t work, I’ll have to use the last method.”

-The last method?

“Yes, terminate the contract with that guy. And I’ll have to have someone else finish the construction.”

It would be the real last resort. To do that, the contractor Ahn Sang-min would not easily agree to terminate the contract.

It’s even a problem that could go to court.

-Is that possible?

“Of course, it won’t be easy. That guy won’t easily agree to terminate the contract.”

-Do you have any way?

“Honestly, I’m a little frustrated right now. I need to think about it a little more.”

-Should I call that friend?

“No. That will only make the problem more difficult. That guy used Father from the beginning.”

-I see…

“Father, just pretend you don’t know anything. If you get a call from that guy, it’s better for you not to answer the phone. Young-seok and I will take care of it anyway.”

-Um…

There was a moment of silence beyond the phone. Yoo Sang-hyuk seemed to be worried. After all, the problem started with him.

After a while.

Yoo Sang-hyuk’s voice was heard again from beyond the phone.

-Everything happened because I was ignorant. I just talked to a friend who does interior design, but I didn’t know things would turn out like this.

“It’s not Father’s fault. That guy who uses friendship is bad.”

-Anyway, I have no face to see Mr. Kim.

“No, I’m fine. Now, the important thing is to finish the construction safely, so you just need to focus on that.”

-I’m sorry, but can Mr. Kim do me a favor and go through more trouble for our Young-seok?

“Yes, don’t worry. If I didn’t know, I wouldn’t know, but from now on, I’ll take care of it.”

-Okay, then please do so. I’m sorry, but please put our Young-seok on the phone.”

Hyun-sung immediately handed the phone to Yoo Young-seok. Then Yoo Young-seok took the phone and immediately continued.

“Yes, Dad.”

-I’m sorry. It seems like this father made things difficult by interfering.

“It’s not Dad’s fault. That guy who uses it is bad.”

-Anyway, that’s it, but I asked Hyun-sung for help, so you just trust Hyun-sung and follow him well.

“Yes, I understand. I’m going to do that anyway. Don’t worry too much.”

-Okay, then I’ll hang up now. Good work and see you in the evening.

Click.

Yoo Young-seok hung up the phone and immediately looked at Hyun-sung.

“Hyung, what should we do now?”

“Do you have a log written down?”

“A log?”

“Yeah, a construction log. From the beginning of the interior construction to the present process.”

“Yes, if you don’t, Hyung asked me to write down how the construction is going at first, so I’m writing it all down without missing anything.”

“You wrote down that guy’s work hours and leaving time, too, right?”

“Yes, of course. I wrote it down to the minute. But why?”

Yoo Young-seok looked at Hyun-sung with a curious expression. Then Hyun-sung’s words immediately followed.

“I think it’ll be necessary if we go to court.”

“Court?”

“Yeah, of course, that shouldn’t happen, but there’s always a possibility.”

“What kind of case are you talking about?”

“If we try to terminate the contract and the other party keeps resisting, we have no choice but to do it according to the law.”

“Do you think it’ll go that far?”

“That’s why I said if.”

As soon as Hyun-sung finished speaking, Yoo Young-seok immediately asked again.

“What happens if that really happens?”

“We’ll have to see.”

“Are we really going to court?”

“I have a lawyer I know, so don’t worry about anything. These bad people need to know how scary the world is.”

It was the moment when Hyun-sung’s eyes changed.

It was just then.

Someone came in as the store door opened. At that moment, Yoo Young-seok said in a small voice to Hyun-sung’s ear.

“That’s the contractor!”

The person who opened the store door and came in was none other than Ahn Sang-min, the man they had been talking about.