Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 650

Three Days Later

Because Yoon Ji-soo had laparoscopic surgery instead of open surgery, she was able to be 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 too much.”

Yoon Ji-soo’s expression even seemed relaxed, a clear sign that the surgery had gone very well. This was likely due to it being a laparoscopic surgery [a minimally invasive surgical technique] rather than an open one.

If it had been an open surgery, she wouldn’t have even dared to think about being discharged in three days. She would have had to stay in the hospital for at least ten days.

Hyun-sung closed the door only after confirming that Yoon Ji-soo was safely in the passenger seat, then quickly got into the driver’s seat. He immediately reached over to help with Yoon Ji-soo’s seat belt.

“Ji-soo, your belt first…”

“Oh, I almost forgot.”

As Yoon Ji-soo reached for the seat belt, Hyun-sung immediately took it and buckled it for her. Then, Yoon Ji-soo smiled and looked at Hyun-sung before opening her mouth.

“Thank you, Hyun-sung.”

“You’re welcome!”

Hyun-sung smiled brightly, clearly in a good mood, and started the engine right away. 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? Does Ji-soo not like being called ‘darling’?”

“Oh, I don’t know.”

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

“Darling!”

“Stop it.”

“Daaarling~~~!”

Hyun-sung called Yoon Ji-soo in an even louder voice, deliberately teasing her. Being able to call her that so openly was possible because their relationship had grown that much closer while she was hospitalized for three days.

“Is it fun to tease me?”

“Do you think I’m teasing you?”

“Then what else would it be? I still feel strange when I hear things like that.”

“But do you know what?”

“Yes? What?”

Yoon Ji-soo tilted her head at Hyun-sung’s sudden question and turned towards the driver’s seat, indicating she didn’t understand what he was getting at.

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

“That’s…”

Yoon Ji-soo didn’t have a ready response.

It was like the saying ‘constant dripping wears away the stone’ [a proverb meaning persistent effort achieves anything]. At first, she felt ticklish all over whenever Hyun-sung said ‘darling’, but at some point, she had adapted without even realizing it, and she didn’t resist it as much anymore.

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

“Hmph, I don’t know.”

Yoon Ji-soo turned her head sharply towards the window. She didn’t want to admit it, but she couldn’t deny it either.

Hyun-sung smiled slightly at her and then continued,

“Okay, let’s head home now.”

With those words, 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, which had exited the parking lot, was just about to leave the hospital’s main gate when Yoon Ji-soo suddenly called Hyun-sung’s name in a serious tone.

“Hyun-sung!”

“Yes? Ah, yes…”

Hyun-sung couldn’t help but be momentarily surprised because Yoon Ji-soo suddenly called him in such a serious voice.

Her voice continued right after.

“Thank you so much. I overcame a big crisis this time thanks to Hyun-sung. 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. Then, Hyun-sung’s words followed immediately.

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

“From my point of view, that’s…”

“Stop!”

Hyun-sung immediately cut off Yoon Ji-soo’s words. Then, he immediately continued,

“Are you going to be stubborn again even after being scolded like this time?”

“… Yes, I understand.”

Yoon Ji-soo had no choice but to admit it. She knew very well that if it had been a little later this time, it would have been a disaster, 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.

He’s much younger than her. But the way he acts, sometimes he feels like an older brother rather than a younger one.

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 the moment when Yoon Ji-soo’s thoughts deepened.

It was right then.

Hyun-sung asked right away.

“Is there something on my face? Why are you staring at me like that?”

“Because I’m amazed.”

“Yes? What at?”

Yoon Ji-soo just smiled instead of answering. She couldn’t explain this strange feeling in words.

It was right then that 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 stretched out her left hand to barely hold Hyun-sung’s hand. Then, she turned her gaze out the window as if she was embarrassed, 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.”

With those words, Hyun-sung glanced at Yoon Ji-soo and squeezed her hand. Then, Yoon Ji-soo turned her gaze out the window again as if she was embarrassed.

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

Thirty minutes later.

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

Hyun-sung opened his mouth first.

“Rest for a while. 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 keep being stubborn, or I’ll just move in here with Ji-soo altogether. If you want that, do as you please. What are you going to do?”

Hyun-sung looked at Yoon Ji-soo. Then, Yoon Ji-soo glanced at Hyun-sung for a moment and immediately opened her mouth.

“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 though it’s only 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. 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’ve forgotten?”

“Yes? What?”

Yoon Ji-soo tilted her head as if she didn’t 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. It was because Hyun-sung’s lips had covered hers again.

A little later.

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

*Chuckling.*

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

It was right then.

*Beep!*

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 have anything to say, so she remained silent.

Then, Hyun-sung’s voice was heard again from 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 something to it. Okay, then I’ll see you later.

*Click.*

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

He had said that last time too. In fact, he had said things like that more than once or twice.

Just what is going on?

She first met him on Arbor Day [a holiday celebrating trees] 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 again. No matter how much she thought about it, she couldn’t understand the word ‘again’ that he was saying.

It was right then.

*Beep, beep….*

Her cell phone kept ringing.

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

“What is it this time?”

-What are you talking about?

“Oh? Mom?”

The person who called was her mother, Ahn Young-soon, in Gangneung [a city in South Korea].

-Yes, it’s me. But what was that from a little while ago? Did you have 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 should 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. In fact, 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. And I’m all better now and I’m 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 no choice but to lie. If she honestly said that she had been with Hyun-sung for three days, she wouldn’t have been able to handle the next questions.

-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 it was urgent.”

-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 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 story later.

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

-I’ve got you a blind date.

“Yes? A blind date?”

At the word ‘blind date’, Yoon Ji-soo’s voice grew louder. It was 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. Then, she immediately continued,

“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? You’ll be forty the year after next! If 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.

*Beep, beep….*

Her cell phone kept ringing.

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

“Mom, 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!