Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 667

It was completely unexpected.

There hadn’t been any talk about it until last month.

So, why is this suddenly coming up?

Hyun-sung couldn’t help but ask immediately.

“Was there a particular reason for this?”

“I’m turning sixty this year.”

“So?”

Hyun-sung asked as if it were nothing. He believed his age was irrelevant to his position as chairman. It also meant that he was vigorous regardless of his age.

“‘So?’ Back in the day, turning sixty meant you were already a retired old man. For me to be holding the chairman position is just a nuisance to the neighborhood shopping district.”

“That’s based on old standards, Chairman. This isn’t the old days, is it?”

“Well, that’s true…”

Lee Se-young had to admit it. Times had definitely changed. So much so that throwing a sixtieth birthday party these days would get you criticized.

Hyun-sung continued.

“What’s the real reason? It doesn’t seem like you’re stepping down just because of your age…”

“Haha, really…”

Lee Se-young laughed awkwardly. Then, he continued.

“I tried to use my age as an excuse to quit, but it’s not that easy. Actually, I’ve been thinking about resigning regardless of my age.”

“Is there a specific reason?”

“I’ve been doing it for too long. I don’t know if Mr. Kim knows, but I’ve been the chairman for ten years now. So, I think it’s right for me to step down for the sake of the shopping district’s development. And…”

Lee Se-young’s words trailed off. Although he spoke at length, the core message was simple: he believed a younger person should take on the chairmanship for the betterment of the shopping district.

When he finished speaking, Hyun-sung immediately asked.

“You didn’t mention anything like this last month, did you?”

“I just didn’t say it, but I’ve been thinking about it for months. Then, I made up my mind last night. That’s why I came to see Mr. Kim so urgently today.”

Hyun-sung couldn’t help but tilt his head for a moment. It was because of his last words. He said he made the decision last night. Let’s assume that’s his judgment. The problem is why he came to see Hyun-sung himself at this early hour. For what reason?

Hyun-sung immediately asked again.

“But why did you come to me? I’ve only been a member of the Shopping District Association for three years.”

“What does the length of membership matter?”

“I’m also younger than the other members…”

“What does that matter? I don’t think that’s important at all. What I think is important is the person’s ability. So…”

Lee Se-young paused for a moment before continuing.

“Could Mr. Kim lead our Shopping District Association in the future?”

“Me? Are you talking about me?”

It was completely unexpected. Naturally, Hyun-sung couldn’t help but be taken aback.

Hyun-sung immediately asked.

“Why are you suddenly saying this to me?”

“Actually, it’s not sudden. I’ve been considering Mr. Kim for months. But no matter how much I think about it, I can’t find anyone in our association as capable as Mr. Kim. That’s why I came to see you so early in the morning.”

“…”

Hyun-sung was still taken aback.

He hadn’t said anything until now, and then he suddenly comes to talk about it the day before the meeting. How could he not be taken aback?

When Hyun-sung didn’t say anything, Lee Se-young continued.

“This isn’t just my idea.”

“Are you saying the other members already know?”

“That’s right. I called them last night. They all said it was a good idea. Now, all that’s left is Mr. Kim’s decision.”

Hyun-sung was even more taken aback.

It was completely unexpected.

The chairman of the Shopping District Association.

But the strange thing is that this didn’t happen in his previous life.

Why is something that didn’t happen in his previous life happening this time?

After thinking for a moment, Hyun-sung opened his mouth.

“As you know, Chairman, I’m practically the youngest member of the group. How could I…”

“What does being the youngest matter? Didn’t I say earlier that age doesn’t matter?”

“Still…”

“All the members already know that Mr. Kim is the youngest. Yet, they all want Mr. Kim to take on the chairmanship. What does that mean?”

“…”

Hyun-sung had nothing to say.

Lee Se-young’s words were all correct. They already know that Hyun-sung himself is the youngest. Yet, they want Hyun-sung to take on the chairmanship.

What should he do?

Hyun-sung couldn’t help but worry.

Lee Se-young continued.

“Don’t feel too pressured.”

“How can I not feel pressured? It’s so unexpected that I’m just bewildered.”

“Of course, I understand Mr. Kim’s position. But you don’t need to feel too pressured. The Shopping District Association is mainly for friendship…”

Lee Se-young’s words dragged on. His point was that they could just continue to lead the meeting with a focus on friendship, as they had been doing.

But Hyun-sung’s thoughts were different.

If that’s the case, there’s no point in changing the chairman.

“I have a different idea, Chairman.”

“How so?”

“First, let me ask you, Chairman. Why did you decide to step down from the chairmanship?”

“Well, that’s…”

Lee Se-young couldn’t speak easily.

The real reason he was trying to step down from the chairmanship this time was because he felt his limitations.

If it was just about promoting friendship, there would be no problem, but as times change, he decided that he couldn’t just run the meeting for the purpose of friendship anymore.

“Actually…”

Lee Se-young had no choice but to honestly start talking about his thoughts. As his words continued, Hyun-sung listened quietly without saying a word.

And finally, when he finished speaking, Hyun-sung immediately opened his mouth.

“Let me ask again. Then, in what direction should we lead this group in the future?”

“It seems like a change is needed.”

“What kind of change are you talking about?”

“Until now, it was just a meeting for the friendship of the members, but from now on, it should be a meeting for the practical development of the shopping district.”

“For example, what would that be?”

“Well…”

Lee Se-young seemed to think for a moment before continuing.

“Sign maintenance project, for example…”

“Sign maintenance project?”

“Yes, as Mr. Kim knows, the signs in our neighborhood shopping district are old and worn out. So, I think it’s a priority to fix the signs first.”

“What’s next?”

“Well…”

Lee Se-young couldn’t continue right away.

After a while.

He spoke again.

“This is my limit. I don’t know anymore. Actually, that’s why I decided to step down from the chairmanship.”

“So there was a reason.”

When Lee Se-young first said he was stepping down from the chairmanship, he thought there must be something. A person who had been the chairman until now was saying he was quitting.

But in the end, he realized that he had also felt his limitations, so he made that decision.

Then the remaining problem depends on Hyun-sung himself.

The problem is how to overcome the limitations he felt.

Can he do it?

Hyun-sung couldn’t help but fall into *gomin* [Korean: 고민; deep contemplation] again.

Then Lee Se-young looked at Hyun-sung and said.

“It won’t be easy. But Mr. Kim is the only one who can do it.”

“Honestly, I’m not confident. I don’t know what I can do right now. How can I do what the chairman couldn’t do…”

“Mr. Kim is clearly different from me.”

“I’m different?”

It was hard to understand. What does Lee Se-young mean by ‘different’ now?

“Yes, you’ve already taken over all the shopping districts in this neighborhood, haven’t you?”

“Taken over?”

“Yes, as far as I know, you’ve already bought 95% of the shopping districts in this neighborhood. Am I wrong?”

“That’s right, but…”

“What’s the reason? Not just one or two, but why did you buy all the shopping districts in this neighborhood?”

“That’s…”

Hyun-sung paused for a moment before continuing.

“It’s for the development of this neighborhood.”

“Development? What kind of development?”

“To create a more pleasant neighborhood to live in. Especially, I wanted to create a neighborhood where you don’t have to worry about parking.”

“I knew my judgment was right.”

“What do you mean?”

Hyun-sung looked at Lee Se-young, signaling him to explain.

“I met Yoo Young-cheol, the president of the real estate agency, a while ago.”

“You mean President Yoo?”

“Yes, that friend told me. Mr. Kim bought 95% of the shopping districts in this neighborhood. So I asked him again. What’s the reason? Then what that friend said was a masterpiece.”

“What did President Yoo say?”

“He said that this neighborhood will be completely changed in four years. The person who will make it happen is Mr. Kim.”

Of course, he had a conversation with Yoo Young-cheol, the president of the real estate agency, a while ago. But he didn’t know that the story would go straight to Lee Se-young’s ears.

“I heard Mr. Kim said that himself, is that true?”

“Yes, that’s right. Since I had no choice but to go through real estate to buy the building, I told President Yoo about my plan.”

“Look, Mr. Kim already has a plan to develop this neighborhood in his head, doesn’t he? So I don’t have any more regrets and want to hand over this position to Mr. Kim. The others will feel the same way.”

Lee Se-young continued.

“Now this neighborhood is in Mr. Kim’s hands. So don’t delay any longer and take over the Shopping District Association and lead it.”

“Hmm…”

Hyun-sung couldn’t answer right away.

The reason was simple. It was because of the pressure that the position gave. Besides, it was too sudden.

When Hyun-sung couldn’t answer easily, Lee Se-young spoke again.

“What are you hesitating about? Mr. Kim’s head is already full of ideas to develop this neighborhood, isn’t it?”

“That’s different.”

“Different?”

“Yes, that’s because I can build a building by myself, but running the Shopping District Association is different. In the case of the Shopping District Association, there are 50 members. That means there are many different opinions. I wonder if I can integrate and manage those people’s opinions…”

As Hyun-sung’s 고민 [Korean: 고민; worries] deepened, Lee Se-young’s words continued again.

“I think Mr. Kim can do well.”

“Well, I’m not confident…”

“Mr. Kim said that the goal is to make the environment of this neighborhood more pleasant, right?”

“That’s right.”

“Then what are you 고민 [Korean: 고민; worrying] about? I think our association members will be helpful and not obstructive…”

“…”

Hyun-sung was still not confident. So he couldn’t answer easily.

“I’m sorry, but please give me some time.”

“You mean time to think?”

“Yes, that’s right. It’s such a sudden proposal that I think I need more time to think.”

“Hmm, how much time?”

“Since tomorrow is the meeting date, I will contact the chairman separately before the meeting.”

“Haha, really…”

Lee Se-young seemed to be in a difficult situation. But he couldn’t help it. He couldn’t force it because the other person was asking for time.

After 고민 [Korean: 고민; contemplating] for a while, Lee Se-young opened his mouth.

“Okay, I can’t force Mr. Kim to take on the position when he says that. Think about it and contact me before tomorrow’s meeting.”

“Yes, I will.”

“I hope for a good answer if possible.”

“I’ll try.”

Hyun-sung finished his remaining workout after parting with Lee Se-young and headed home.

*Dddddick.* [Sound of the door unlocking]

As he entered the house after entering the password, his wife Yoon Ji-soo, who was preparing breakfast, greeted Hyun-sung.

“Why do you look like that?”

It seemed that his worried expression was revealed on his face.

Hyun-sung had no choice but to explain in detail the story he had shared with Lee Se-young a little while ago.

When Hyun-sung’s story ended, Yoon Ji-soo immediately continued.

“There’s nothing to worry about.”

“What? What do you mean? I’ve been 고민 [Korean: 고민; worrying] so much because of that problem…”

Pfft.

Yoon Ji-soo smiled and then continued.