Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 627

Three days later.

Because Yoon Ji-soo had laparoscopic surgery [a minimally invasive surgical technique] instead of open surgery, she was discharged from the hospital in just three days.

The two of them left the hospital room and arrived in the underground parking lot.

Hyun-sung opened the passenger seat door and said to Yoon Ji-soo,

“Be careful getting in.”

“Hyun-sung, I’m perfectly fine now. So, don’t worry so much.”

Yoon Ji-soo’s expression even seemed relaxed, a sign that her recovery was progressing well. This was likely due to having laparoscopic surgery instead of open surgery.

If she had undergone open surgery, she wouldn’t have even considered being discharged in three days. She would have had to stay in the hospital for at least ten days.

Hyun-sung made sure Yoon Ji-soo was safely in the passenger seat before closing the door and quickly getting into the driver’s seat. Then, he immediately reached for Yoon Ji-soo’s seatbelt.

“Ji-soo, your belt first…”

“Oh, I almost forgot.”

As Yoon Ji-soo pulled out the seatbelt, Hyun-sung immediately took it and buckled it for her. Yoon Ji-soo smiled and looked at Hyun-sung before saying,

“Thank you, Hyun-sung.”

“You’re welcome!”

Hyun-sung smiled brightly, seemingly in a great mood, and started the engine. Seeing this, Yoon Ji-soo immediately asked,

“You seem to be in a very good mood today?”

“Of course! How could I not be when my darling is being discharged from the hospital?”

“You’re doing it again.”

“Why? Doesn’t Ji-soo like being called ‘darling’?”

“Ah, I don’t know.”

Yoon Ji-soo turned her head slightly, as if embarrassed. Seeing this, Hyun-sung smiled and spoke again.

“Darling!”

“Stop it.”

“Daaarling~~~!”

Hyun-sung called Yoon Ji-soo in an even louder voice, deliberately teasing her. He felt comfortable calling her that now, their relationship having grown much closer during her three-day hospital stay.

“Is it fun to tease me?”

“Do you think I’m teasing you?”

“Then what else would it be? It still feels strange when I hear that kind of thing.”

“But you know what?”

“Yes? What?”

Yoon Ji-soo tilted her head at Hyun-sung’s sudden question, turning towards the driver’s seat, indicating she didn’t understand.

“Ji-soo’s resistance to the word ‘darling’ has decreased a lot. At first, you wouldn’t even let me say it.”

“That’s…”

Yoon Ji-soo didn’t know what to say.

It was like the saying, ‘Constant dripping wears away the stone.’ [Meaning that persistence can overcome resistance over time.] At first, she couldn’t stand Hyun-sung calling her ‘darling,’ but gradually, she had gotten used to it without realizing it, and now she didn’t mind it so much.

“Am I right? Ji-soo, you must feel the change in yourself, right?”

“Hmph, I don’t know.”

Yoon Ji-soo turned her head towards the window, not wanting to admit it, but knowing she couldn’t deny it.

Hyun-sung smiled slightly as he looked at her, then said,

“Okay, let’s head home now.”

Hyun-sung stepped on the accelerator. The Jeep powerfully exited the underground parking lot as if it had been waiting.

A little later.

The Jeep, having just left the parking lot, was about to pass through the front gate of the hospital when Yoon Ji-soo suddenly called Hyun-sung’s name in a serious tone.

“Hyun-sung!”

“Yes? Ah, yes…”

Hyun-sung was momentarily surprised by the seriousness in Yoon Ji-soo’s voice.

She continued, “Thank you so much. I was able to overcome a big crisis this time thanks to you. The doctor said that if it had been a little later, it would have been a disaster. How can I ever repay this kindness?”

“You really mean it, right?”

“Of course! I’m not good at expressing myself, but I’m so grateful in my heart.”

“Then promise me just one thing.”

“Yes? What?”

Yoon Ji-soo turned her head and looked at Hyun-sung. Hyun-sung said,

“Promise me that you’ll take care of your body first from now on. Don’t worry about ridiculous working hours like this time.”

“From my point of view…”

“Stop!”

Hyun-sung immediately cut off Yoon Ji-soo’s words. “Are you going to be stubborn again after being scolded like this?”

“… Yes, I understand.”

Yoon Ji-soo had no choice but to admit it. She knew very well that it would have been a disaster if it had been a little later, just like Hyun-sung said.

“You definitely promised.”

“Yes, I understand. I’ll make sure that doesn’t happen again in the future.”

“Then that’s enough. That one word is enough for me. I don’t want anything more.”

“…”

Yoon Ji-soo looked at Hyun-sung instead of speaking.

In terms of age, he was much younger than her. But when she saw him acting, she sometimes felt like he was not her younger brother but her older brother.

It was the same when he solved her mother’s problem last time, and it was the same this time as well.

*Just who is this person…*

It was at that moment.

Hyun-sung asked, “Is there something on my face? Why are you staring at me like that?”

“Because I’m amazed.”

“Yes? At what?”

Yoon Ji-soo smiled instead of answering, unable to explain this strange feeling in words.

Just then, Hyun-sung stretched out his right hand towards the passenger seat.

“Will you hold my hand?”

“Yes?”

“Hurry.”

Yoon Ji-soo hesitated for a moment, then turned her head slightly towards the window and barely reached out her left hand to grab Hyun-sung’s hand. She turned her gaze out the window, wanting to avoid Hyun-sung’s gaze.

She didn’t have the confidence to look at him directly in this situation yet.

It was right then.

Snowflakes began to fall.

Yoon Ji-soo turned her head and looked at Hyun-sung and said,

“Oh my! Hyun-sung, it’s snowing outside.”

“I guess the sky is also celebrating Ji-soo’s discharge from the hospital.”

Hyun-sung glanced at Yoon Ji-soo as he said this, and squeezed her hand. Yoon Ji-soo turned her gaze out the window again, as if embarrassed once more.

Like that, the Jeep with the two of them inside drove down the snowy road.

30 minutes later.

The two of them arrived at Yoon Ji-soo’s house.

Hyun-sung spoke first. “Rest for a bit. I’ll go to the video store and come back in time for dinner.”

“You don’t have to do that. I’m perfectly fine now.”

“Didn’t you hear what the doctor said? Even if you look fine on the outside, surgery is still surgery, so you have to be careful for the time being. So, don’t even think about doing anything. I’ll take care of everything.”

“I’m really okay…”

“Know that if I say no, it means no. Don’t be stubborn, or I’ll just move in here with Ji-soo altogether. If you want that, go ahead. What are you going to do?”

Hyun-sung looked at Yoon Ji-soo. Yoon Ji-soo glanced at Hyun-sung and said,

“What are you, some kind of gangster…”

“Yes? A gangster?”

“You just threatened me, didn’t you?”

“Threatened you? What threat is that? And have you already forgotten?”

“Forgotten what?”

“The fact that I’m Ji-soo’s husband, even if it’s just temporary.”

“I shouldn’t have said anything…”

Yoon Ji-soo shook her head. Seeing that, Hyun-sung chuckled and got up from his seat.

“Rest up. I’ll be going now.”

“Okay. Go to the store quickly. You’ve been away from the store for three days…”

“Don’t you have anything you forgot?”

“Yes? What?”

Yoon Ji-soo tilted her head, pretending not to know what he was talking about, and stared at Hyun-sung.

It was right then.

*Chu!*

Hyun-sung lowered his head and lightly kissed her lips as she was looking at him.

“This is cheating…”

Yoon Ji-soo couldn’t say anything more because Hyun-sung’s lips had covered hers again.

A little later.

Hyun-sung left the house, and Yoon Ji-soo was left alone.

*Chuckle.*

She couldn’t help but laugh, her hand already touching her lips, feeling the lingering sensation from the kiss.

It was right then.

*Ting-a-ling!*

Her cell phone rang.

Yoon Ji-soo immediately answered the phone.

“Hello.”

“It’s me, Ji-soo.”

The person who called was Hyun-sung, who had left the house a little while ago.

“Why? Did you forget something?”

“I love you.”

“Yes?”

“I said I love you. I thought I forgot to say that a little while ago, so I called again.”

“…”

Yoon Ji-soo didn’t know what to say, so she remained silent.

Then, Hyun-sung’s voice was heard again over the phone.

“Thank you for appearing in front of me again like this.”

“Yes? Again? You said that last time too. What does that even mean?”

“There’s a reason. Okay, then I’ll see you later.”

*Click.*

The call ended, and Yoon Ji-soo tilted her head.

He had said that last time too. In fact, he had said that kind of thing more than once or twice.

*Just what is going on?*

She first met him on Arbor Day last year. He had brought drinks, saying he was doing video sales, on the day she was moving.

That was their first meeting, so when did they meet again?

Yoon Ji-soo tilted her head once more. No matter how much she thought about it, she couldn’t understand the word ‘again’ that he was saying.

It was right then.

*Ting-a-ling, Ting-a-ling…*

Her cell phone kept ringing.

Yoon Ji-soo thought it would be Hyun-sung and answered the phone right away.

“What is it this time?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Oh? Mom?”

The person who called was her mother, Ahn Young-soon, who was in Gangneung.

“Yes, it’s me. But what was that from a little while ago? Was there a call you were waiting for?”

“No, it’s nothing like that, so you don’t have to worry about it. By the way, is everything okay?”

“Nothing much happens to me. But where are you now?”

“I’m at home.”

“Home? Isn’t this the time you’re supposed to be at the department store? But how…”

“Ah, something happened. Actually, I had surgery. It’s not a big surgery though…”

Yoon Ji-soo briefly explained to her mother, Ahn Young-soon, what had happened in the meantime. She had deliberately not contacted her, thinking she would worry.

When Yoon Ji-soo’s explanation was over, Ahn Young-soon immediately asked.

“You should have contacted me sooner if something like that happened.”

“I deliberately didn’t because I thought you would worry for no reason. And I’m all better now and came home, so you don’t have to worry about anything.”

“You were even hospitalized?”

“It was only for three days. And my friend was with me and helped me a lot, so there were no problems.”

Yoon Ji-soo had to lie. If she honestly said that she had been with Hyun-sung for three days, she wouldn’t have the confidence to handle the next question.

“Friend? Which friend?”

“You wouldn’t know even if I told you. By the way, what’s going on?”

“I’m just trying to confirm something.”

“What is it?”

“What’s the relationship between you and that man who came to Gangneung last time?”

“What relationship? I told you last time. He’s the owner of the video store in the neighborhood, and he went down with me because I said I was in a hurry.”

“You want me to believe that?”

“You can do whatever you want. I’ve already told you the truth.”

Yoon Ji-soo had no choice. She couldn’t explain it any other way.

“Okay, so you’re saying that you have no relationship with that man?”

“Yes, he’s just the owner of the video store in the neighborhood.”

“Don’t you dare change your mind later.”

“Yes, I understand. But why are you suddenly asking that?”

“A marriage proposal came in.”

“Yes? A marriage proposal?”

Yoon Ji-soo’s voice grew louder without her even realizing it at the word ‘marriage proposal,’ something she hadn’t expected at all.

“Yes, so make some time.”

“No, I told you I’m not getting married.”

“Whether you get married or not, just meet him first. I heard he’s a school teacher. He’s also good-looking…”

“Mom!”

Yoon Ji-soo immediately cut off Ahn Young-soon’s words. “I’m telling you clearly, I’m not getting married. So, don’t bother wasting your time.”

“Are you trying to see someone die? Do you even know how old you are? The year after next, you’ll be forty, forty! When a woman is forty…”

“Mom, stop it. I’m hanging up now.”

*Click.*

Yoon Ji-soo unilaterally hung up the phone.

It was right then.

*Ting-a-ling, Ting-a-ling…*

Her cell phone kept ringing.

Yoon Ji-soo had no choice but to answer the phone again.

“Mom, please don’t do this. I’m never going to go on a blind date. If you keep doing this, I won’t answer your calls in the future.”

“Ji-soo!”