Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 637

It had been about five minutes since I left the real estate office.

Pitter-patter.

Suddenly, it started to rain.

“Yes!”

Hyeonseong’s face lit up instantly. He immediately took out his phone and started to make a call.

Beep, beep.

The other person answered after two rings.

– Hello.

“Ji-soo, it’s me.”

The person Hyeonseong called was his wife, Yoon Ji-soo.

– Yes, Mr. President.

I had asked her several times to call me by my name instead of ‘President,’ but Yoon Ji-soo still called me ‘President’ instead of my name.

I guess it was because we first met as a video store owner and a customer.

But what could I do? I couldn’t force her to call me differently, so I had no choice but to leave it as it was.

Hyeonseong got straight to the point.

“Do you know it’s raining outside now?”

– Really? It wasn’t raining until just a moment ago…

“It just started. So, I’m coming to see you now, Ji-soo.”

– Now?

“Yes, let’s make some savory pancakes [Korean pancakes often made with vegetables or kimchi].”

It had been over a month since I met Yoon Ji-soo, so the word ‘we’ came out of my mouth naturally.

– We made savory pancakes a few days ago on a rainy day, didn’t we?

That was true. A few days ago, I had made kimchi pancakes at Yoon Ji-soo’s house twice under the pretext of rain.

But what could I do? Pancakes were just an excuse anyway, and I wanted to see her.

“Do you not eat lunch just because you ate breakfast?”

– Haha, you always have an answer… Okay. What should I prepare?

It was a great development in a month. I could naturally visit her house under the pretext of pancakes like this.

“No, Ji-soo, just stay put today. I’ll prepare the ingredients and make the pancakes today.”

– Really?

“Yes, I’m quite the cook, you know.”

– Haha, okay. Then I’ll just eat today.

She had been laughing a lot more lately. And she had become much more comfortable talking. It seemed to be a natural progression as we met several times over the past month.

The time when the two mainly met was after 12 o’clock when the video store closed. I was able to realize once again that there was nothing as good as alcohol in making friends.

In fact, in my previous life, the two of us used to go on dates mainly after 12 o’clock at night. The reason was that it was convenient to meet at night because of Hyeonseong’s business hours, but she also said that she was nocturnal.

But I only found out later that that was a lie. From her point of view, she had no choice but to make concessions because Hyeonseong had to run his business.

Hyeonseong started running to the supermarket after hanging up the phone.

“Mr. Kim, do you have something good going on these days?”

The supermarket owner asked, looking at Hyeonseong as he entered the supermarket.

“Haha, does it look like that?”

“Yes, your face looks much brighter than before.”

“Oh, really?”

“Are you dating someone?”

They say you can’t hide a sneeze or a love affair, and it must have shown on my face.

Hyeonseong lightly laughed and bought pancake ingredients and rice wine before leaving the supermarket.

The next place Hyeonseong stopped by after leaving the supermarket was a flower shop. Her favorite flower was a calla lily. And it had to be yellow.

So much so that the flower she held as a bouquet at her wedding was also a yellow calla lily.

10 minutes later.

Hyeonseong arrived at Yoon Ji-soo’s house.

“Oh my! What’s with the calla lilies?”

As expected, Yoon Ji-soo’s reaction was enthusiastic. She asked again.

“Did you know in advance that I liked these?”

“No, I didn’t know. I just passed by the flower shop and thought it would look good on Ji-soo, so I bought them.”

Hyeonseong had no choice but to lie. The reason was that from some point on, she seemed to feel burdened by the expression that she knew him well, so he decided to pretend not to know from then on.

“Really? Actually, my favorite flower is this calla lily. Especially the yellow one.”

“Oh, really? Then I bought the right thing today?”

“Yes, thank you. I was feeling a bit down today, but I felt better the moment I saw these flowers.”

Yoon Ji-soo quickly started putting the flowers in a vase. Then, Hyeonseong, who was watching, immediately asked.

“Do you know what the language of calla lilies is [flower symbolism]?”

“Yes, it’s purity, innocence, passion, and a thousand years of love.”

“That’s right. And five flowers especially mean ‘There is no woman like you.'”

“Oh, really? I didn’t know that… Oh my, come to think of it, there are five flowers?”

Yoon Ji-soo glanced at Hyeonseong as if she was embarrassed. Then, Hyeonseong smiled slightly and pretended not to know as he entered the kitchen and said.

“Today, we’re having zucchini pancakes.”

“Zucchini pancakes are good too. Did you buy Cheongyang chili peppers [Korean chili peppers, known for their spiciness] too?”

“Of course, zucchini pancakes should be a little spicy, shouldn’t they?”

Hyeonseong answered and took out the rice wine he had bought and put it in the refrigerator. Then, Yoon Ji-soo, who saw the scene, chuckled and immediately continued.

“Anyone would think you’re the owner of this house. You open the refrigerator so naturally.”

“Haha, is that so? I’m a bit quick to adapt…”

It was true that being with Yoon Ji-soo like this felt as comfortable as when we lived as a couple in our previous life. And it was also true that this house was a place I had frequented so often before we got married in my previous life, so it didn’t feel awkward at all.

Yoon Ji-soo chuckled and continued.

“Come to think of it, I’m a strange woman too.”

“Yes? What is it?”

“Like this, without being afraid of a man…”

Yoon Ji-soo stopped talking and chuckled. It seemed that she was a little concerned that Hyeonseong was coming in and out of her house so naturally.

But Hyeonseong had no choice.

In order to get close to her, I had no choice but to keep making time to be with her like this.

Hyeonseong deliberately pretended not to know and turned his gaze elsewhere.

“Where’s the apron?”

There was no way I wouldn’t know where the apron was. But I deliberately pretended not to know and asked. It was to divert her attention elsewhere.

Yoon Ji-soo smiled slightly and continued.

“Is Mr. President really going to make pancakes?”

“Of course, I said I’d do everything today. Ji-soo, just trust me and stay put and eat. Hurry up and give me the apron.”

Yoon Ji-soo tilted her head as if she couldn’t believe it, then picked up the apron and approached Hyeonseong. Then, Hyeonseong quickly lowered his head, put the apron around his neck, turned around, and said.

“Ji-soo, tie it from behind.”

In my previous life, whenever Hyeonseong put on an apron to cook, his wife Yoon Ji-soo always tied the apron strings from behind.

But that was only in Hyeonseong’s memory, and from Yoon Ji-soo’s point of view, it was just embarrassing.

“Yes? Me?”

“Why? Can’t you do it?”

“No, it’s not that I can’t, but still…”

Yoon Ji-soo hesitated for a moment, then pretended not to know and started tying the apron strings. Then, Hyeonseong smiled secretly. He wanted to feel her touch even like this.

“Okay, let’s start now.”

Thud, thud.

Hyeonseong started slicing the zucchini first. But the way he was cutting was quite natural. Then, Yoon Ji-soo, who was watching, immediately said.

“Oh? You’re quite good?”

“Hehe, didn’t I tell you? I’m quite the cook, you know.”

“I just thought you were saying that.”

“I don’t usually talk nonsense. Now, this is a carrot.”

Carrots were vegetables that my wife especially liked. Especially when making zucchini pancakes, carrots were a vegetable that she always added, not only for the taste but also to add color.

Before slicing the carrot, Hyeonseong peeled it, cut it into pieces, and held it out to Yoon Ji-soo.

“Here, eat.”

“Oh my, how did you know I was a carrot killer?”

“I heard you swallowing your saliva a little while ago.”

Of course, it was a lie. But I had no choice but to say that. If I said I knew in advance again, Yoon Ji-soo would feel burdened.

Crunch, crunch.

Yoon Ji-soo smiled slightly and started eating the carrot. Then, Hyeonseong also put a carrot in his mouth and started chewing. The two of them started eating carrots diligently.

Hyeonseong smiled without realizing it. The reason was that he remembered how he and Yoon Ji-soo always ate carrots together when making pancakes in their previous life.

It was at that moment.

Yoon Ji-soo immediately asked.

“Why are you smiling?”

“Because it’s funny. The way we’re eating carrots so deliciously. There are usually a lot of people who don’t like carrots.”

“I guess so… Hoho.”

Yoon Ji-soo started laughing without realizing it, thinking it was funny. It was a moment when the two discovered another commonality. Of course, Hyeonseong already knew that.

After a while.

Hyeonseong, who had mixed everything including the Cheongyang chili peppers, poured an appropriate amount of oil on the heated frying pan and then put the batter on it. Then, a delicious smell began to spread in the kitchen with a ‘sizzle’ sound.

About 5 minutes passed.

There was a zucchini pancake on the plate. It was the first zucchini pancake Hyeonseong made.

Hyeonseong quickly took out the rice wine from the refrigerator and filled two glasses. Then he immediately called Yoon Ji-soo.

“Ji-soo, come here.”

“Is it already done?”

“No, let’s eat what we made first while this is cooking. Pancakes are the most delicious when you eat them while making them.”

“I guess that’s true.”

Yoon Ji-soo was already holding chopsticks with a smile. As soon as she saw the pancake Hyeonseong made, she said in a loud voice.

“Wow! You made it really well. The color is so pretty too…”

“Come on, let’s have a drink first.”

Hyeonseong quickly handed the glass of rice wine to Yoon Ji-soo. Then, she received the glass of rice wine with both hands and immediately said.

“At this rate, I’m really going to become a drinker because of Mr. President?”

“It’s okay if you only drink moderately. Moderate alcohol is good for your health, right?”

“I’m just saying that it seems like my tolerance is increasing these days.”

Yoon Ji-soo glanced at Hyeonseong with those words. Then, Hyeonseong’s words immediately followed.

“Are you blaming me now?”

“It’s not a blame, I’m just saying. How old am I to blame others?”

“It’s okay, that’s fine. And what if your tolerance increases a little? As long as you don’t make mistakes. Don’t you think so?”

“I don’t know…”

Yoon Ji-soo tilted her head slightly. Then, Hyeonseong’s words continued again.

“The pancake will get cold.”

“Ah! That’s right. Let’s toast. It’s not polite to the pancake to do this in front of the pancake.”

Yoon Ji-soo stretched out her glass of rice wine. Then, Hyeonseong also stretched out his glass of rice wine and said.

“You do the toast.”

“I’m not good at that. Don’t do that and you do it, Mr. President…”

“Okay. Then I’ll do it. For our future, cheers!”

“Our future? That’s a bit…”

“Why, I like it.”

“…”

Yoon Ji-soo just looked at Hyeonseong without saying anything. Then, Hyeonseong nodded as if he understood and continued again.

“Okay, is it still burdensome? Then how about this? For our health, cheers!”

“Um… Yes, cheers.”

Yoon Ji-soo seemed to think for a moment, then stretched out her glass of rice wine again. Then Hyeonseong also stretched out his glass and bumped it against hers.

The two began to drink rice wine at the same time as if they had made a promise.

“Wow! Why is rice wine so sweet?”

“Sweet? It’s bitter to me.”

“No, it’s just sweet because I’m drinking with pretty Ji-soo.”

“Again… Stop it and eat the pancake.”

Yoon Ji-soo glared at Hyeonseong slightly and tore the pancake and held it out to Hyeonseong. Then, Hyeonseong quickly picked up the pancake and brought it to his mouth. I wanted to put it in her mouth, but I forcibly endured it because I thought I would be kicked out of the house if I did that.

Munch, munch.

Yoon Ji-soo, who was eating the pancake, raised her thumb at some point.

“Mr. President, it’s so delicious. As expected, the spicy taste of Cheongyang chili peppers and the sweetness of zucchini are properly felt. Did you learn it from your mother?”

“No.”

“Then from whom?”

“There is such a person.”

Hyeonseong had no choice but to forcibly endure wanting to say ‘It’s you’. Instead, he had no choice but to be satisfied with smiling at Yoon Ji-soo.

It was such a precious time just to be able to be with her like this.