Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 674

677

***

The two of them waited with bated breath for the phone on the table to ring.

The clock on the wall was just striking seven.

*Beep!*

The phone rang.

Lee Se-yi’s eyes sparkled. She looked at Hyun-sung, who nodded in response.

Lee Se-yi took a deep breath and answered the phone.

“Hello.”

-Is the money ready?

“Yes, it’s ready. How should I…?”

-Put it in locker number 12 at Bupyeong Station. The locker password is 2428. And just in case, I’ll say it again, if I see any police or suspicious people, there will be no further deals. Of course, if that happens, don’t even think about seeing your daughter again. Do you understand?

“Yes, I understand. I’ll do as you say, so please just send Soo-jung back safely.”

-Don’t worry about that. But I’m telling you again, don’t even think about doing anything foolish.

“Yes, don’t worry. I didn’t report it to the police. But when will Soo-jung come home?”

-She’ll be home within an hour after I confirm the money.

“Yes, I understand. I’ll leave for Bupyeong Station right away. You can check in 20 minutes. Please, just keep Soo-jung safe.”

-Alright.

*Click.*

The call ended with the word ‘alright.’

As soon as Lee Se-yi finished the call, she let out a long breath she had been holding in. Beads of sweat were forming on her forehead, a sign of how nervous she was.

Hyun-sung immediately asked, “What did they say?”

“They told me to put the money in locker number 12 at Bupyeong Station. Then, they’ll return Soo-jung within an hour after confirming the money.”

“Is that all?”

“Yes, that’s all. And if they see any police or suspicious people, Soo-jung is finished.”

“Hmm…”

Hyun-sung seemed to think for a moment before speaking again.

“What are you going to do? Are you really not going to report it to the police until the end?”

“I won’t. What if something happens to Soo-jung if I report it? I absolutely can’t do that.”

Lee Se-yi continued immediately, “And the money doesn’t matter anyway. I just want Soo-jung to come back safely. So, don’t you even think about doing anything else, okay?”

“Yes, I understand. Soo-jung’s safety is the top priority, as you said, so I won’t think about anything else either.”

To be honest, it would be a lie to say he wasn’t conflicted.

The thought of reporting it to the police even now did cross his mind.

However, he couldn’t say anything else because of Lee Se-yi’s strong tone.

And even if he put himself in her shoes, he thought Lee Se-yi’s decision was right.

Anyone would prioritize their child’s safety.

Hyun-sung said to Lee Se-yi, “Let’s go. I’ll drive you to Bupyeong Station.”

“Thank you. Then, I’ll take you up on that.”

The two left the bakery and headed to Bupyeong Station.

A short while later.

The two arrived at Bupyeong Station.

“I’ll stay in the car, so hurry back.”

“Yes, I understand. But why am I so nervous?”

“Of course. It would be strange if you weren’t. Now, take a deep breath and hurry back.”

“Yes, I understand. Hooo! Hooo!”

Lee Se-yi took a deep breath and got out of the car.

As soon as Lee Se-yi left, Hyun-sung began to carefully scan his surroundings, looking for anyone suspicious.

However, it was pointless.

Trying to find a suspect without any information about the other party was absurd.

It was then.

“Oh? Hello!”

Someone greeted Hyun-sung cheerfully. When he turned around, it was someone Hyun-sung knew well.

“Who is this? Isn’t it Sang-hyuk?”

The person who had greeted him was Lee Sang-hyuk. He used to come to the video store occasionally until a year ago. He was a polite and diligent friend, so they had become close.

“But what are you doing here, boss?”

“Oh? I just have some business to take care of.”

Hyun-sung was momentarily flustered. Perhaps because the situation wasn’t normal, he was momentarily flustered without realizing it.

“What about you? What brings you here?”

“I’m meeting a friend here.”

“Oh, I see. Well, how have you been?”

“…… Yes, I’ve been doing well. My appointment time is almost here…”

“Oh, okay, I understand. Go ahead.”

“Yes, then…”

Lee Sang-hyuk bowed politely and disappeared into Bupyeong Station.

“What’s that about?”

As he disappeared, Hyun-sung tilted his head. The reason was his unsettling gaze.

He didn’t know what was going on, but he seemed strangely wary of people. They had been quite close until a year ago.

“What are you thinking so hard about?”

Lee Se-yi approached and asked. Hyun-sung had been thinking about Lee Sang-hyuk and hadn’t even noticed Lee Se-yi returning.

As soon as Lee Se-yi got into the car, Hyun-sung immediately asked, “How did it go?”

“I put it in locker number 12 as they said.”

“Oh, did you happen to see Sang-hyuk?”

“Sang-hyuk?”

“Yes, Lee Sang-hyuk, who used to work at the bakery until a year ago. He went inside the station a little while ago.”

“Just a moment!”

Lee Se-yi’s eyes seemed to change in an instant. Then, she was silent as if thinking about something.

After a moment.

Lee Se-yi immediately opened her mouth.

“I remember now.”

“Yes? What do you mean all of a sudden? What do you remember?”

“That voice.”

“What voice?”

“The kidnapper’s voice. I said it sounded familiar, right? But now that I think about it, it sounds like Sang-hyuk’s voice.”

“No way.”

Hyun-sung shook his head violently from side to side as if it were absurd. Lee Se-yi immediately continued.

“I worked with Sang-hyuk for three years. Even if someone disguises their voice, it’s hard to disguise their accent. I wondered where I had heard it before, but I never dreamed it would be Sang-hyuk.”

“Is it true?”

“I’m sure of it. I didn’t know it was Sang-hyuk earlier, so I didn’t know who it was, but the moment you said Sang-hyuk’s name, I knew right away. And, most importantly, Soo-jung called Sang-hyuk ‘Uncle’ and was especially fond of him.”

Lee Se-yi continued, “Even if it was someone else, Soo-jung would have definitely followed Sang-hyuk willingly if he asked her to go with him. So much so that she even said she would marry Sang-hyuk when she grew up.”

“So, you’re saying Sang-hyuk is the culprit?”

“In my judgment, there’s no doubt.”

“Then, what are we going to do now?”

He couldn’t do anything when he didn’t know the culprit. But Hyun-sung judged that it was different now that he knew the culprit.

However, Lee Se-yi’s answer was different from Hyun-sung’s thoughts.

“We have to wait.”

“Yes? Just wait?”

“I don’t care who the culprit is. My only concern is Soo-jung’s safe return. Right now, I have nothing else on my mind.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Hyun-sung had no choice but to nod.

As expected, a mother was different. In any situation, her only concern was her daughter’s safety.

“Alright. Then, let’s go back to the store and wait for Soo-jung to come back.”

Hyun-sung finished speaking and immediately started the car.

At that moment.

Lee Sang-hyuk, who had taken the money from the locker, left the station and headed home.

His steps moved as quickly as possible. He wanted to run, but he couldn’t. He had severely injured one of his legs in a traffic accident in the past.

About 20 minutes later.

Lee Sang-hyuk arrived at a villa and immediately went down to the basement. The house where he lived with his grandmother was located in the basement.

When he opened the door and went inside, Yoon Soo-jung was still sleeping.

Lee Sang-hyuk looked at her for a moment and said as if muttering to himself.

“Soo-jung, I’m sorry. I’ll definitely pay for this sin later.”

After looking at Yoon Soo-jung for a while, Lee Sang-hyuk began to wake her up.

“Soo-jung! Yoon Soo-jung! Wake up!”

“……”

Yoon Soo-jung didn’t respond.

So, Lee Sang-hyuk began to shake her body to wake her up. But still, there was no response.

Lee Sang-hyuk kept waking her up.

About 5 minutes passed.

Finally, Yoon Soo-jung began to react.

“Ugh…”

“Soo-jung, come to your senses. It’s time to go home now.”

“Huh? Uncle!”

As soon as Yoon Soo-jung saw Lee Sang-hyuk’s face, she called him as if she was happy. Lee Sang-hyuk bit his lower lip tightly when he saw that.

It was an expression of apology.

The fact that he had kidnapped such a child was too painful.

“Soo-jung, I’m sorry.”

“Huh? What for?”

“Huh? It’s nothing. Are you feeling better now?”

“Yeah, but why do I keep feeling so sleepy?”

Lee Sang-hyuk bit his lower lip tightly again.

He had no choice but to give her a sleeping pill, but it was something that couldn’t be forgiven for any reason.

Lee Sang-hyuk took out a banana milk from the bag. He had bought it at the supermarket on the way because it was Yoon Soo-jung’s favorite.

“Soo-jung, drink this and wake up.”

“Oh? It’s banana milk.”

Yoon Soo-jung began to drink the banana milk that Lee Sang-hyuk handed her. Yoon Soo-jung, who had drunk about half of the banana milk, asked Lee Sang-hyuk, who was standing.

“Uncle, why aren’t you sitting down?”

“I’m trying to take you home quickly.”

“I can go slowly. It’s okay if I stay with Uncle a little longer.”

“Your mom will be worried. Drink the milk quickly. Let’s eat and go home.”

“I’m okay…”

Yoon Soo-jung tilted her head and began to drink the banana milk again.

A short while later.

When Yoon Soo-jung finished drinking the banana milk, Lee Sang-hyuk quickly grabbed her hand and stood her up. However, Yoon Soo-jung, who hadn’t fully come to her senses yet, couldn’t stand properly and staggered slightly.

“Are you okay?”

“Huh? My body is weird. Why does it keep shaking?”

“I’m sorry, Soo-jung.”

“Why does Uncle keep saying he’s sorry since earlier?”

Yoon Soo-jung looked at Lee Sang-hyuk again and tilted her head slightly. Then, Lee Sang-hyuk grabbed both of her shoulders with both hands.

“Uncle did something very bad to our Soo-jung. There’s no excuse for that. Don’t forgive this uncle later.”

“Uncle, what’s wrong?”

“……”

Instead of speaking, Lee Sang-hyuk hugged Yoon Soo-jung, who was staring blankly at him. The guilt of committing a crime against such a child washed over him.

Lee Sang-hyuk checked the time. It was already past 7:40.

“Soo-jung, let’s go home now.”

“Okay, I understand. But when can I see Uncle again?”

“Uncle will come to the bakery later.”

“Really?”

Her black eyes sparkled. The more she did, the less Lee Sang-hyuk could look at her straight.

After hesitating for a moment, he took Yoon Soo-jung’s hand and left the room.

Meanwhile, the two people who were eagerly waiting for Yoon Soo-jung to return at the bakery.

Lee Se-yi turned her head and looked at the clock.

“It’s almost 8 o’clock, why isn’t our Soo-jung here yet?”

“It’ll be a little longer. The guy said the promised time was one hour after confirming the money, so there’s still about 20 minutes left.”

“I hope nothing happens.”

“Of course. Of course, it’s not 100% certain, but if Sang-hyuk is the culprit, nothing will happen. It seems like that guy had some unavoidable circumstances, but even so, he wouldn’t do anything bad to Soo-jung.”

“I hope so.”

Even as she asked, her eyes were shaking violently as if she was uneasy.

It was a natural reaction. As the saying goes, the one you know is scarier. But right now, she’s just trying to believe that nothing will happen, but the anxiety itself won’t disappear.

“Haa!”

Lee Se-yi couldn’t stand it anymore and took a deep breath before jumping up from her seat. Then, she went to the refrigerator, put ice in a cup, poured cold water, and began to drink it in gulps.

Her gaze was directed back to the clock on the wall. Only 5 minutes had passed since before.

She approached Hyun-sung again and opened her mouth.

“Is our Soo-jung coming?”

“Yes, she’s definitely coming. She’ll be here soon if we just wait a little longer.”

“I can’t stay like this. I think I should go outside.”

Lee Se-yi turned and went outside.

Hyun-sung was just as anxious. As time passed, that feeling grew stronger. One minute felt like an hour.

Hyun-sung also got up from his seat and went outside the store. He couldn’t just sit and wait for Soo-jung to come back.

The two stood side by side outside the store again.

Lee Se-yi asked again.

“What time is it?”

“10 minutes left.”

“Haa!”

Lee Se-yi took another deep breath.

Hyun-sung was also breathing faster as time passed. But he couldn’t just stand next to Lee Se-yi and do the same.

*Crack.*

Hyun-sung moved his head from side to side. His neck was stiff because he was nervous.

It was then.

A girl walking in the streetlight came into view.

Hyun-sung shouted without realizing it.

“Soo-jung!”