Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 657

660

***

A few days later.

“Jisu, are you almost ready?”

“Yes, I’m all set. Just heading out now.”

Yun Jisu hurried out the front door, her hands full of shopping bags.

Hyeonseong, seeing this, immediately asked, “What’s all this?”

“What do you think? It’s all the stuff you bought at the department store these past few days for my mom.”

“Did I buy this much?”

“You don’t even remember buying it? That’s why I told you to buy moderately, right?”

“It didn’t seem like much when I was buying it……”

Hyeonseong tilted his head, taking the shopping bags from Yun Jisu. Seeing this, Yun Jisu laughed and continued, “That’s how it always is. That’s why they say women are scary once they start shopping. No matter how big the closet is, it becomes cramped in half a year.”

“I think I understand a little. Okay, let’s go downstairs now.”

Hyeonseong started down the stairs with the shopping bags in both hands.

Just as he reached the first floor.

Clunk.

The front door of unit 101 opened, and a woman in her 40s suddenly came out. She recognized Hyeonseong and greeted him.

“Oh, hello there!”

“Yes, hello.”

“But what is all this?”

“Ah, I’m on my way to greet my future mother-in-law.”

“Greeting?”

“Yes, it’s my first time meeting her.”

The woman nodded as if she finally understood, then continued, “When are we having the noodles?” [A Korean wedding tradition where noodles are served to guests.]

“We’re thinking around October this fall.”

“Oh! That’s wonderful.”

“Haha, yes, it’s great. Please come then.”

“Yes, I will. By the way, Jisu, what good fortune did you have to meet such a CEO……”

The woman said, looking at Yun Jisu behind him. Hyeonseong immediately interjected, “Why do you say that? I’m the one who’s fortunate. Where else could I meet someone so beautiful?”

“Hoho, is that so? Anyway, Jisu, you’re so lucky.”

“Well, we should be going now……” “Ah, yes, yes. Have a good trip.”

The two started walking back to where the car was parked.

A short while later.

Hyeonseong quickly opened the passenger door after loading all the luggage into the back seat.

“Jisu, get in quickly.”

“Yes, thank you.”

As Yun Jisu got into the passenger seat, Hyeonseong held out his left cheek to her, saying, “Honey, the fare is prepaid.”

“Someone might see us.”

“What if someone sees us? We’ll be husband and wife soon.”

“Whatever……”

Smack!

After hesitating for a moment, Yun Jisu shyly kissed Hyeonseong on the cheek. Hyeonseong smiled brightly and said, “Ma’am, I will take you to Gangneung in comfort.”

“Please do, hoho……”

Yun Jisu started laughing as if it was funny. Hyeonseong glanced at her, smiled, and closed the passenger door.

It was a feeling of happiness that only he could feel.

Hyeonseong got into the driver’s seat, checked Yun Jisu’s seatbelt, and said, “Okay, we’re leaving now.”

“Yes!”

Yun Jisu replied loudly, seemingly in a good mood.

The car carrying the two of them pulled out of the alley and headed towards the main street.

A short while later.

Just as the car carrying the two of them entered the main street.

Yun Jisu glanced at Hyeonseong and cautiously opened her mouth. “Um…… Hyeonseong.”

“Yes, what is it? Is there something you want to say?”

“I have a question to ask.”

“To me? What is it?”

Hyeonseong looked at Yun Jisu and asked lightly. Yun Jisu immediately continued, “Aren’t you curious about my dad?”

“Why are you suddenly asking that question?”

“Since meeting me, you’ve never asked about my dad.”

“Were you curious about that?”

“Yes, strangely, you never asked.”

In fact, Hyeonseong already knew about it from his past life.

He knew that her only Achilles’ heel was her father’s absence. So he had deliberately avoided asking until now. He thought that she would bring it up herself when the time came.

Her father had passed away in an accident when she was eight years old. As a result, her mother had to work outside almost all the time to earn money in place of her father.

She couldn’t even come to school for picnics or sports days.

So she hated picnics and sports days the most when she was young because she didn’t like being compared to others.

Naturally, she lost interest in school life, and her grades gradually deteriorated.

Eventually, as such a life accumulated from a young age, her father’s absence became her biggest Achilles’ heel.

“I was deliberately waiting.”

“Deliberately waiting?”

“Yes, until you mentioned your father first.”

“Did you know that my dad wasn’t around?”

“I had a hunch.”

Hyeonseong couldn’t say what he knew to be true. After all, it was something he had heard directly from Yun Jisu in his past life.

“A hunch? How?”

“Your family photo in your room didn’t have your father. And I didn’t see him when we went to Gangneung because of your mother’s matter last time. So I thought so.”

“Ah, yes…… I see.”

Yun Jisu nodded and immediately continued, “So you waited until I mentioned it first?”

“Yes, that’s right. I was cautious about asking rashly.”

“So you were considerate of me?”

“I thought you might have painful memories. I didn’t want to trouble you to satisfy my curiosity. So I was waiting for you to bring it up first.”

“Hmm……”

Yun Jisu seemed to think for a moment, then immediately continued, “You’re really thoughtful. I didn’t know that and was a little upset about why you weren’t curious about my dad.”

“That’s not true.”

“I guess I still don’t know you well enough.”

Yun Jisu tapped her head with her fist as if blaming herself. Hyeonseong immediately continued, “Don’t hit your head. That head isn’t just yours.”

“Huh?”

“From now on, everything about you isn’t just yours.”

“Huh? What does that……?”

Yun Jisu turned her head and stared at Hyeonseong as if she didn’t understand what he was saying. Hyeonseong immediately continued, “I have a share in it now.”

“A share?”

“Yes, a share in your body. So from now on, you shouldn’t do anything bad to your body in any way.”

Pfft.

Yun Jisu looked at Hyeonseong and laughed lightly. Then she shook her head from side to side and immediately continued, “When you look at it, you’re a really funny person.”

“I was serious……”

“Anyway…… Yes, yes, I understand. I won’t treat this body carelessly from now on, so take it easy.”

“And there’s another reason to be careful.”

“Again? What is it this time?”

Yun Jisu stared at Hyeonseong as if curious. Hyeonseong seemed to hesitate for a moment, then immediately continued, “Our future children.”

“Did you just say future children?”

“Yes, we need to start preparing from now on.”

“Preparing? Preparing what?”

“They say a healthy mind resides in a healthy body, so from now on……”

“Hyeonseong~~~!”

It was the moment when Yun Jisu’s habit came out. It meant to stop there. Hyeonseong, of course, knew that.

“Okay, let’s stop here. By the way, you seemed to have stopped talking about your father a little while ago.”

“Ah, that’s right. We came all the way here talking about my dad. Actually, my dad passed away in an accident when I was in the first grade of elementary school. So from then on, Mom……”

Yun Jisu started talking again about what she had said in her past life. Her story continued for a long time.

How much time had passed?

At some point, Yun Jisu’s eyes started to turn red. Even in her past life, she cried a lot while telling that story.

Hyeonseong took out a handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to her. She started to shed the tears she had been holding back.

About five minutes passed.

Yun Jisu, who had stopped crying, looked at Hyeonseong and continued, “I’m sorry, I didn’t want to cry……”

“It’s okay, you can cry as much as you want. But only cry until today. From now on, I will try to fill your father’s void, though I may be lacking.”

“Thank you, sob……”

Yun Jisu started crying again.

At that time.

Third floor of Daeseong Building in Gangneung.

[Shilla Savings Bank]

The eyes of the two people sitting face to face, Oh Myeonghwan and Han Sangtae, sparkled.

Oh Myeonghwan spoke first.

“So, Hyeonseong is coming down to Gangneung today?”

“Yes, that’s right, hyung [older brother/respected male figure]. He’s probably on his way down now.”

“Do you know why he’s coming down?”

“Yes, of course. He’s coming down to greet his future mother-in-law for the first time today. And I received a call that he’ll be stopping by the office for a bit.”

Han Sangtae’s eyes sparkled especially as he answered. It meant that welcoming Hyeonseong today was important to him.

“He sent us 100 million won last month, right?”

“Yes, that’s right. He sent us 100 million won under the name of self-reliance funds.”

“He’s an amazing person. So what did you do with that money?”

“First, we opened 10 street stalls. We opened 5 in Gangneung first, and then one each in Sokcho, Jumunjin, Goseong, Donghae, and Samcheok. We’re planning to operate only 10 for now, and if the response is good, we’ll gradually increase the number.”

Oh Myeonghwan nodded and asked again, “How’s the initial response?”

“It’s been good so far until yesterday. We’re putting 4 kids in each street stall. Once they gain experience, they’ll operate with two people later. If that happens, I think all the kids will be able to become self-sufficient within this year.”

“There was such a method! But whose idea is this street stall?”

“Hyeonseong told me directly while giving me the money.”

“I knew it, the more I think about it, the more I think he’s amazing even though he’s young, don’t you think?”

“Yes, that’s right. When I first saw him, I only knew that he was good at fighting, but when I got to know him, he was the real deal. Thanks to him, all our kids have become self-sufficient.”

A smile began to spread across Han Sangtae’s face. Seeing this, Oh Myeonghwan immediately asked, “Are you happy?”

“Yes, I’m happy.”

“What are you so happy about?”

“First of all, I’m happy because I don’t do bad things, so I feel comfortable.”

“And?”

“Next, I’m happy because the kids’ eyes have changed. The kids’ eyes are shining so brightly these days that they can’t be compared to the past.”

“Is it that much?”

“Yes, that’s right. Tonight, hyung, you should stop by the street stall where the kids are doing business, then you’ll feel how much our kids have changed.”

Pfft.

Oh Myeonghwan smiled lightly and immediately continued, “Okay, I got it, let’s go out to Namdaecheon with me tonight. I’ll buy you a bottle of soju [Korean distilled spirit].”

“Yes, I understand. By the way, how are we going to welcome Hyeonseong?”

“Hmm……”

Oh Myeonghwan thought for a moment and immediately opened his mouth. “If we call everyone, he won’t like it, so gather only half of them at the tofu restaurant at the time he’s coming.”

“Yes, I understand. Then I’ll see you at the tofu restaurant later.”

Han Sangtae got up from his seat and left the office, ending his words. No, he was about to. Until Oh Myeonghwan called him again.

“Hey, Chief Han.”

“Yes, hyung. Is there anything you want to say?”

“How old are you this year?”

“Yes, I’m thirty-eight.”

“Thirty-eight……”

Oh Myeonghwan thought for a moment and immediately opened his mouth. “It’s already been 15 years since I met Chief Han.”

“Yes, that’s right. It’s been that long since hyung took me in when I was twenty-three. But why suddenly that……”

“Oh? Just……”

“Then I’ll be on my way……”

Han Sangtae bowed his head and left the office.