Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 629

Clang!

Lee Sang-ho entered as the coffee shop door opened. Hyeon-seong, who was sitting by the window, raised his hand and called him over.

“Over here.”

Lee Sang-ho approached Hyeon-seong with a confident look and sat down, saying,

“Did you wait long?”

“Not at all, I just arrived a little while ago. And you’re not late for the appointment; there are still 10 minutes left, so you don’t have to worry about it.”

As the coffee shop owner approached, they ordered coffee, and Lee Sang-ho immediately continued,

“By the way, can I know why you suddenly changed your mind in the middle?”

“Well, I thought there was no need for the intermediate process since I’m evaluating Mr. Lee Sang-ho’s abilities anyway.”

“But why at first?”

“The purpose of the evaluation has changed.”

Just then, the ordered coffee arrived, and Lee Sang-ho deliberately took a leisurely sip before continuing,

“The purpose of the evaluation changed in the middle? Well, I’m not sure what that means…”

“I don’t think I need to tell you that much.”

Hyeon-seong deliberately held back his words. He didn’t want to talk to him much in this situation anyway.

After all, the goal now is to recover the money he brought.

“Ah, is that how it is? Well, anyway, that’s the CEO’s unique right to choose, so I might be rude to even ask. Shall we get down to business now?”

Lee Sang-ho subtly watched Hyeon-seong’s expression before speaking. After all, his purpose was to quickly show the money he brought and receive the investment, so he seemed to be in a bit of a hurry.

Hyeon-seong felt the same way. He had already figured him out to some extent, so there was no reason to delay any longer.

“Yes, good. Shall we check the amount first?”

He was sure that he had met the amount Hyeon-seong had mentioned. Lee Sang-ho would have prepared the money he had, and even borrowed from others to make up for the shortfall.

That’s how Lee Sang-ho would receive the 100 million investment he wanted. Of course, that amount was just a dream for him alone.

Thump.

Lee Sang-ho confidently handed the envelope of money to Hyeon-seong. Perhaps because he had gathered ten times the investment amount, his hand confidently passed the envelope.

Hyeon-seong roughly checked the envelope of money Lee Sang-ho handed him with his eyes and opened his mouth.

“Thank you for your hard work.”

“Huh? Aren’t you going to count it one by one?”

From Lee Sang-ho’s point of view, it was absurd.

It was hard-earned money that he had prepared by using cash advances and even borrowing 3 million from Jang Jae-ho.

But the fact that he didn’t count the money and finished the confirmation by just glancing at it with his eyes was naturally absurd from Lee Sang-ho’s point of view.

“You must have filled ten times the amount anyway, right?”

“Of course, that’s true, but how hard I worked to make, no, earn that money, and you don’t even check…”

Lee Sang-ho hated himself for acting like this as he spoke. He felt that his appearance of whining in front of the young Hyeon-seong was childish and even pathetic.

Hyeon-seong continued,

“This amount of money is just pocket change, so I don’t need to check it. I don’t want to check it one by one, and it’s not worth it. After all, this money is just being taken back as a price for Lee Sang-ho’s fraud.”

On the other hand, Lee Sang-ho’s expression instantly hardened. He had invested a lot of time and effort to get this money.

But he couldn’t express that in words.

Then Hyeon-seong’s words continued,

“I’m going to donate this money, so keep that in mind.”

“Yes?”

From Lee Sang-ho’s point of view, it was driving him crazy.

How could this be happening? How hard he had worked to make this money.

But the problem was that he couldn’t argue with any words in this situation. After all, the ownership of this money was with Hyeon-seong from the beginning.

“No complaints, right?”

Why wouldn’t he have complaints? Lee Sang-ho wanted to shout ‘No!’ right away. But the words that came out of his mouth were absurd.

“Ah, yes, that’s up to the CEO…”

It was ridiculous, but Lee Sang-ho had no choice. After all, the purpose was different, so he had to give in while crying.

Hyeon-seong’s words continued again.

“Of course, the donation will be made in Mr. Lee Sang-ho’s name. So, please understand even if there are some regrets.”

“My name?”

“Yes, after all, this money was earned by Mr. Lee Sang-ho’s hard work.”

“…….”

It was a situation where no words could comfort him anyway. So, Lee Sang-ho couldn’t say anything.

Then Hyeon-seong said something even more salt-rubbing [aggravating].

“You will be blessed.”

‘Crazy!’

He wanted to say that he didn’t need any blessings and wanted the money back right away, but the words were about to come out of his throat.

But what could he do?

To get something big, you have to give up something small.

Lee Sang-ho had no choice but to lie again against his will.

“The CEO should be blessed. You are the one who created the conditions to earn that money.”

“By the way, I’m really curious. How did you make ten times the profit in just one week? You’re really amazing.”

“Ahem…”

Lee Sang-ho had no choice but to replace his answer with a dry cough. After all, that money was not earned through business, but by filling the shortfall with the money he had, cash advances, and from friends.

“I’m curious, but since I promised not to ask about the process, it would be rude to ask any further, and Mr. Lee Sang-ho’s ability has been proven.”

“Ah, yes… Hooo!”

Lee Sang-ho unknowingly let out a faint sigh of relief. If he had been asked to explain the process of making ten times the profit, there would have been nothing more difficult than that.

But then Hyeon-seong said something strange.

“Could I see the family photo I saw back then again?”

“Yes? Family photo?”

“Yes, that’s right. I want to see the children again.”

“Yes, I understand. Here it is.”

Lee Sang-ho quickly took out a photo from his inside pocket and handed it to Hyeon-seong. Then Hyeon-seong picked up the photo as if he had been waiting and began to examine it carefully.

After a while.

Hyeon-seong put down the photo and asked quietly.

“Just in case, there’s no way this photo is a composite [digitally altered], right?”

“Yes? A composite?”

Lee Sang-ho’s voice grew louder at the word ‘composite’.

It was like a thief with a guilty conscience.

When he was investigating Hyeon-seong to commit fraud, he learned that he was particularly vulnerable to affection. So, he prepared a family photo.

Since he had to create a non-existent family, he had no choice but to go to a photo studio and ask for help. At first, the photo studio refused, but when he offered to pay more, they made it right away.

But now that he was being asked if it was a composite photo, Lee Sang-ho, as the person involved, couldn’t help but be surprised.

“Yes, the photo is too artificial. I didn’t notice it at first, but looking at it again today, it’s a bit…”

“CEO!”

Lee Sang-ho interrupted Hyeon-seong’s words in the middle before he could finish. And he continued right away.

“Isn’t this too much? Of course, I’m in a position to receive help from the CEO, but I don’t think it’s right to mention the authenticity of my family photo. I can’t accept this at all.”

‘You bad guy!’

Hyeon-seong couldn’t help but be dumbfounded.

He had already confirmed that he had no family by going to his house. But when the family story came up, Lee Sang-ho was just amusing to speak shamelessly as if there was no problem.

He wanted to reveal his true colors right now, but Hyeon-seong bowed his head and continued to speak.

“Right? This is my mistake, right?”

“Doesn’t that make sense? How can a person wear a human mask and do such a thing? CEO Lee must be something…”

Watching Lee Sang-ho, who was only saying the right things with his mouth, Hyeon-seong barely held back his laughter.

It was the moment when he thought that a scammer was definitely different.

Hyeon-seong’s words continued again.

“I made a big mistake. I apologize like this.”

Hyeon-seong bowed his head towards Lee Sang-ho with his hands clasped together. Then Lee Sang-ho’s voice grew even louder.

“CEO! You can’t do this. No matter how much money you have, you can’t condemn a family like this.”

‘I just want to shove a rag in this bastard’s mouth!’

Hyeon-seong felt like he wanted to shove a rag in his mouth. But in order to completely screw him over in the end, he had to endure again.

“I’m sorry. I made a mistake for a moment. So, I earnestly ask Mr. Lee Sang-ho to accept this generously.”

Hyeon-seong bowed his head again with his hands clasped together. This time, Lee Sang-ho’s voice seemed to calm down a bit.

“Okay, since the CEO has apologized twice like this, I won’t mention this issue any further. But I want to tell the CEO that I was disappointed this time.”

Lee Sang-ho was setting up his pride until the end. Hyeon-seong felt disgusted at the sight, but he had no choice but to bow his head once again on the outside.

“Thank you, I feel a little more comfortable that you have understood like this.”

“Ahem…”

Lee Sang-ho finished with a dry cough, covering his chin instead of answering. It was a smug expression as if he had won a game.

Right at that moment!

Hyeon-seong’s eyes began to change in an instant. From now on, it was Hyeon-seong’s time to attack in reverse.

But Lee Sang-ho couldn’t notice such a change in Hyeon-seong.

Hyeon-seong’s attack followed immediately.

“About the investment…”

“Ah, yes!”

Lee Sang-ho’s eyes also changed as the investment story came out. After all, his purpose was to receive the investment as soon as possible and leave this place.

“First of all, Mr. Lee Sang-ho’s ability has been confirmed with this money, so you have passed the first gate.”

“Yes? Did you just say the first gate?”

Lee Sang-ho couldn’t help but doubt his ears for a moment.

The story of the first gate means that this is not the end here at least.

Lee Sang-ho asked again in a hurry.

“Are you saying that the test you mentioned at the beginning is not the end here?”

“You don’t have to worry too much. You only have to pass one more gate. And the remaining gate is easier than eating rice cake while lying down [a Korean idiom meaning ‘very easy’] compared to the first gate, so you don’t have to worry.”

“Ah, is that so…”

Lee Sang-ho sighed in relief inside. To be honest, he was in the dark when he heard the news that there was another test left. But Hyeon-seong’s words that the second gate this time was easier than eating rice cake while lying down made him unknowingly sigh in relief.

But that was only for a while.

It was inevitable to feel uneasy without knowing what the second gate was.

Lee Sang-ho had no choice but to carefully ask Hyeon-seong.

“What is that remaining gate…”

“Are you curious?”

“Yes, I can’t help but be curious from my point of view. I feel like I’ve become a student taking an exam.”

“I told you there’s nothing to worry about.”

“Still, for me…”

From Lee Sang-ho’s anxious eyes, he could see that he was somewhat nervous. Hyeon-seong’s eyes looking at the sight were completely different from him.

It was like he was enjoying this situation.

As the saying goes, a thirsty person digs a well [meaning someone in need will take initiative].

This time, Lee Sang-ho opened his mouth first.

“I would like you to tell me what the second gate to pass this time is now. I have a bit of a hasty personality, so it seems difficult to bear any longer.”

“Yes, I understand. I’ll check one thing first before that.”

“Yes, what is it?”

“I don’t know if you know that the reason I decided to invest in Mr. Lee Sang-ho at first was because of your two disabled sons and your wife who is uncomfortable [unwell].”

For Hyeon-seong, it was a moment of counterattack. After all, it was the moment to reveal his fabricated family.

But Lee Sang-ho’s answer, who still didn’t know anything, was confident.

“Of course!”

“So, I would like to have a meal with the family. This is the second gate I want. Actually, it’s not even a gate. It’s just having a meal with the family, right? Isn’t that right?”

“D, dinner?”

Lee Sang-ho even stuttered. Why wouldn’t he? There was no family from the beginning. But he was asked to have a meal with such a family.

“Yes, and if it’s uncomfortable for the family to come out, I can visit your house. We can simply order jajangmyeon [black bean noodles] from a Chinese restaurant. After all, I decided to invest after seeing them, so I think I should see their faces at least once.”

Hyeon-seong even said that he could visit on purpose. Otherwise, he thought he would make an excuse that it was difficult for the family to come out due to their uncomfortable bodies.

Was that why?

Thinking that there was no way out anymore, Lee Sang-ho didn’t say anything after that. As his silence continued, Hyeon-seong’s last attack followed.

“Please contact me when the date is set. Then I will deposit 100 million right after the meal is over. Then I’ll get up first because I’m busy.”

“…….”

Lee Sang-ho was still silent.