Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 661

Serious faces.

It was Yoon Ji-soo and her mother, Ahn Young-soon.

The reason for their seriousness was one thing: tonight’s sleeping arrangements.

The question was whether they should share a room or use separate rooms.

Yoon Ji-soo favored separate rooms, while her mother, Ahn Young-soon, insisted on sharing a room.

“Mom, we’re not at that stage yet.”

Yoon Ji-soo shook her head violently, as if the idea were absurd. Seeing this, Ahn Young-soon responded with an equally incredulous expression.

“Are you playing house right now?”

“Mom, it’s not playing house. Hyun-sung and I aren’t ready yet.”

“What do you mean, ‘ready’? Are you out of your mind? Do you even know how old you are this year?”

“Well…”

Yoon Ji-soo couldn’t answer right away. The reason was simple: her age was always on her mind.

Thirty-eight, a woman’s age. Yoon Ji-soo knew better than anyone what that meant.

“Why can’t you answer?”

“Even so, it doesn’t make sense to have a wedding night on the day you come to greet Mom!”

“Why do you think so? You can think of it the other way around.”

“The other way around?”

“Yes, you came to greet me, and I gave my approval, right? Then aren’t all the conditions met? Where else can you find more perfect conditions than this?”

“Still…”

Yoon Ji-soo was still reluctant.

How could this make sense?

To have a wedding night on the day you come to greet her. And it was her own mother who was saying this.

“Mom, no matter how I think about it, this doesn’t seem right. Does this make sense?”

“Are you going to make me say it again? You’ll be forty in a little while…”

“Stop!”

Yoon Ji-soo raised her hand, cutting Ahn Young-soon off mid-sentence. Then she immediately continued.

“Mom, do you have to pressure me like this because of my age? I have my own plans.”

“Quiet. You’re going to listen to your mother today, no matter what. And you’re going to have the wedding this fall, right?”

“Well, yes, but…”

“Then what’s the problem? There’s no problem, is there? Women, by nature…”

Ahn Young-soon’s long speech began. Her words were lengthy, but the message was simple: she had to get pregnant as soon as possible. It was already long overdue. If she wasn’t careful, she would be cutting off the family lineage.

When Ahn Young-soon finished speaking, Yoon Ji-soo immediately opened her mouth.

“This isn’t the Joseon Dynasty [Korean kingdom from 1392-1897, known for its strict Confucian social norms]…”

“This isn’t about the era; it’s a woman’s basic duty. And more than anything, I want to hold a grandchild in my arms. My friends are already…”

“Stop!”

Yoon Ji-soo shook her head.

No matter how she thought about it, she couldn’t shake the feeling that this wasn’t right.

“Mom, please wait a little longer. Okay? I don’t think today is the day.”

“No way!”

Ahn Young-soon was firm. She seemed to have already made up her mind.

Yoon Ji-soo sighed and spoke again.

“Okay, I’ll think about it a little more, so don’t force me anymore. I need to prepare myself mentally.”

“Prepare mentally, my foot…”

“Mom!”

Yoon Ji-soo exclaimed.

It was then.

“Ji-soo.”

Hyun-sung’s voice was heard from outside. The first to react was not Yoon Ji-soo, but Ahn Young-soon.

She opened the door and greeted Hyun-sung with a smile.

“Our Kim son-in-law, come on in.”

Hyun-sung went straight into the room, carrying a large plastic bag.

“Hyun-sung, what’s that?”

“Ah, I stopped by Gyeongpo [a famous beach in Gangneung] on the way and got some sliced raw fish. Mother, you like yellowtail, right?”

Hyun-sung already knew this. Ahn Young-soon especially liked yellowtail, which was in season during the winter.

Sure enough, her voice changed to a higher tone.

“Yellowtail is the best in winter! Our Kim son-in-law is the best!”

A little later.

A decent table was set in the room.

“Mother-in-law, let me pour you a drink.”

The words ‘mother-in-law’ came out of Hyun-sung’s mouth so naturally. From Hyun-sung’s point of view, it was only natural. After all, it was a title he had been using for over 15 years.

But the two women watching him didn’t feel the same way.

Yoon Ji-soo was the first to react.

“Hyun-sung, did you practice?”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“The title ‘mother-in-law.’ Anyone would think we’ve been together for 10 years.”

“Is that so? Haha…”

Hyun-sung just laughed. He knew that laughing was the best answer in this situation.

This time, Ahn Young-soon called out to Hyun-sung.

“Kim son-in-law.”

“Yes, Mother-in-law!”

“It’s so strange.”

“Yes? What is it?”

“It doesn’t feel strange at all. Of course, I saw you once before, but it doesn’t seem like that’s the reason. I strangely feel like you were meant to be with our Ji-soo from the beginning. I don’t know what this feeling is.”

Ahn Young-soon’s eyes deepened as she looked at Hyun-sung. Seeing this, Yoon Ji-soo immediately stepped in.

“Mom, really…”

“No, actually, I had a strange feeling from the first time you came to the hospital. Even though it was the first time I saw you, I felt strangely drawn to you.”

“Why is my mom being like this today…”

“I’m telling you now, I liked Kim son-in-law from the beginning.”

As expected, Ahn Young-soon hadn’t changed.

She was the same in her past life. She was friendly from the first time he went to greet her.

Even though he was running a small video store at the time, she didn’t express any opposition.

That’s why he was even more grateful.

“Mother-in-law, thank you. I may be lacking, but I will take good care of you like a son in the future.”

“I’m grateful too. Please take good care of our Ji-soo.”

“Yes! Mother-in-law!”

Hyun-sung answered with enthusiasm and poured her a drink.

And so the drinking party began.

About an hour passed.

Ahn Young-soon suddenly got up from her seat. Her face was flushed, perhaps because of the alcohol.

But that appearance was rather pleasing to the eye.

Hyun-sung already knew. He knew what she was about to do.

It was her habit.

When her mood reached its peak, she would sing.

Sure enough.

Ahn Young-soon looked at Hyun-sung and said.

“Kim son-in-law, I’m going to sing a song, so listen carefully. Don’t make fun of me for singing badly.”

Hyun-sung got up from his seat as soon as Ahn Young-soon finished speaking. How could he just sit there and listen to her sing?

-Even if my heart aches so much that I can’t bear it, I can’t say a word because I’m a woman. I endure countless sorrows alone, struggling through a difficult life~~.

It was Lee Mi-ja’s ‘A Woman’s Life.’ Her favorite song.

How easy could it have been for her to live alone after losing her husband early?

Perhaps that was why.

Her voice sounded even more sorrowful.

-I send you away with tears, a woman’s life~~!

When the song ended, Hyun-sung hugged her tightly.

About an hour passed.

All the drinking was over, and the two of them were left in the room after Ahn Young-soon left.

Hyun-sung spoke first.

“You haven’t forgotten what Mother-in-law said a little while ago, have you?”

Ahn Young-soon had said something before leaving the room. She told them to sleep together in this room tonight.

Hyun-sung was a little embarrassed at first, but he answered loudly. Of course, Yoon Ji-soo didn’t answer until the end.

“Are we really going to sleep together?”

“Are you going to disobey your elders?”

“But why do you have that look in your eyes?”

“What’s wrong with my eyes?”

“Do you know that your eyes are sparkling too much right now?”

“I’m originally nocturnal…”

Hyun-sung barely managed to hold back his laughter. Then Yoon Ji-soo immediately opened her mouth.

“Hyun-sung, you’re a Rooster, right?”

“So?”

“Since when have Roosters been nocturnal…”

It was then.

Hyun-sung immediately covered her lips.

“Ugh… that’s cheating.”

“Shh! Be quiet.”

“What are you going to do?”

“From now on, we’re going on a trip to heaven.”

Hyun-sung began to explore her lips even more.

“…”

She didn’t say anything more.

***

The next day.

The Yeongdong Expressway, heading towards Seoul.

The Jeep that the two were in was heading towards Wonju.

Yoon Ji-soo said.

“You said your hometown is Hongcheon, right, Hyun-sung?”

“Yes, if you get off here at Wonju and drive for two hours, you’ll find my parents’ place.”

“Hmm…”

Yoon Ji-soo seemed to be thinking for a moment, then immediately opened her mouth.

“Get off at Wonju.”

“What are you talking about?”

“We’ve come all the way here, so let’s go see your father and mother before we go back.”

“We were going to come and greet them next time, weren’t we?”

That’s what they had talked about while leaving Gangneung.

The conclusion they came to was to set a date soon and greet his parents.

“It bothers me.”

“What does?”

“We’re going all the way here, but we’re just going to pass by. Even if we come again next time, let’s stop by and say hello. Or we can stay overnight.”

“Are you sure it’s okay?”

“Of course. I’m now a prospective daughter-in-law.”

“Okay, then let’s get off at Wonju right away!”

Hyun-sung’s voice grew louder. He was already a little bothered by the thought of just passing by after coming all this way.

The Jeep that the two were in immediately exited at the Wonju tollgate.

About five minutes later.

Yoon Ji-soo yawned. Then Hyun-sung immediately asked.

“Why, are you tired?”

“Wouldn’t it be strange if I wasn’t tired? But why are you like that?”

“What do you mean?”

“How can you not let someone sleep all night?”

“I told you, I’m nocturnal…”

“I shouldn’t have said anything… Pfft.”

Yoon Ji-soo turned her head and chuckled. Then Hyun-sung immediately asked.

“Are you okay?”

“What do you mean?”

“Does it hurt?”

“I don’t know. Anyway, you’re just like an animal…”

Yoon Ji-soo glared at Hyun-sung.

Hyun-sung reached out his right hand to her.

“Give me your hand.”

“Why?”

“Just give it to me.”

Yoon Ji-soo reluctantly reached out her hand.

Hyun-sung grabbed Yoon Ji-soo’s hand and said.

“Ji-soo, thank you.”

“…”

Yoon Ji-soo nodded, looking at Hyun-sung instead of speaking.

It was then.

Ring!

Yoon Ji-soo’s cell phone rang.

A little later.

Yoon Ji-soo finished the call and looked at Hyun-sung and asked.

“Did you give Mom some spending money?”

“Why?”

“No, Mom is saying that you gave her spending money.”

“I just gave her a little.”

Pfft.

Yoon Ji-soo looked at Hyun-sung and laughed lightly, as if she was dumbfounded. Then she immediately continued.

“Is 500,000 won [approximately $375 USD] a little to you?”

“I told her not to tell you…”

“My mom says to tell you thank you. She didn’t know there was that much in the envelope.”

Hyun-sung smiled instead of answering.

In his past life, he had never been able to give his mother-in-law spending money properly. He was glad that he had another chance to do so.

“Hyun-sung, I can’t take it anymore. I’m just going to sleep for a bit.”

“Yes, go ahead. Go to sleep. That way…”

“That way? What do you mean by that? Don’t tell me tonight too…”

“No, that’s not what I meant… Hehe.”

Hyun-sung couldn’t help but laugh. Then Yoon Ji-soo shook her head and looked at Hyun-sung.

How much time had passed?

The car that the two were in was already passing the Hoengseong Terminal and heading towards Seo-myeon, Hyun-sung’s hometown.