Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 676

679

“Thank you.”

“Pardon me?”

Lee Sanghyuk momentarily doubted his ears.

Could this be real? It was none other than the person who had kidnapped her daughter. And she was thanking him?

Lee Sanghyuk looked at Lee Se-i and asked again.

“Ma’am, what did you just say?”

“Of course, at first, I couldn’t forgive you because I felt betrayed. But after listening to your story just now, I’ve changed my mind a bit. I wondered what I would have done in that situation if I were you.”

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

“All the money you’ve earned has gone to hospital bills, and you can’t borrow any more money from the people you know. Your grandmother’s hospital bills are piling up, and her condition is getting worse. I can only imagine how you must have felt.”

Lee Sanghyuk couldn’t say anything and just lowered his head. Then, Lee Se-i continued.

“Even in that situation, you only asked for what you needed. Am I right?”

“I thought long and hard about that money…”

“See? You didn’t have any other desires even in that situation. What would other people have done? They probably would have asked for more. That’s why the president here prepared 100 million won [approximately $75,000 USD].”

Lee Se-i looked at Hyunseong as she finished speaking. Hyunseong also nodded slightly. What she said was true.

He thought she would ask for at least 100 million won.

It was kidnapping, after all. He thought that was the bare minimum.

Her words continued.

“And the most important thing: you didn’t lay a finger on our Sujeong. Actually, what I was most afraid of was that part. I was worried about what would happen if something went wrong with our Sujeong or if she was harmed in any way. If something like that had happened, our Sujeong would have been stuck in that nightmare for the rest of her life.”

Lee Se-i bit her lower lip tightly, as if her emotions were running high. It was terrifying just to imagine.

“Our Sujeong still doesn’t know she was kidnapped. She just thinks she went to her uncle’s house to eat pizza and play for a few hours. I’m so grateful for that. I can’t tell you how grateful I am that our Sujeong wasn’t hurt in any way.”

Lee Se-i closed and opened her eyes slightly.

Just thinking about that time still makes her heart flutter.

While waiting for her daughter, the scariest thing was the scenes on the TV news. Even though she didn’t want to imagine it, the scenes she had seen on TV kept popping into her head, driving her crazy.

Then Yoon Sujeong came back, and when she found out that nothing had happened, she was so grateful.

“Get up.”

Lee Se-i reached out her hand to Lee Sanghyuk again. Lee Sanghyuk then took her hand and stood up.

Lee Se-i’s words continued.

“The reason I didn’t report it afterward was because of that. Of course, I can’t even begin to tell you how upset I was, but nothing happened to our Sujeong, and…”

Lee Se-i looked at Lee Sanghyuk for a moment before continuing.

“I trusted you. Actually, I knew you were the culprit as soon as I put the money in the locker at Bupyeong Station.”

“Pardon me?”

Lee Sanghyuk’s voice rose without him realizing it.

He had never expected that. He never thought she would know he was the culprit in the middle of it all.

Lee Sanghyuk had one question.

That was why she didn’t report it right away even in that situation.

“But you didn’t report it?”

“Because it was you.”

“Yes?”

“If it wasn’t you, I wouldn’t have been able to stand it and would have reported it. Because it was you, I was anxious, but I was able to wait.”

It would be a lie to say that she didn’t have any concerns at that moment. But the reason she was able to wait was because she had been with Lee Sanghyuk for three years and knew what kind of person he was.

“I’m sorry. And thank you. Thank you for waiting for someone like me until the end.”

“Um…”

Lee Se-i looked at Lee Sanghyuk for a moment without saying a word, then continued.

“Let’s put this behind us now. I won’t talk about it anymore, so don’t you talk about it anymore either. Don’t even think about going to the police station. Let’s end it here, just the two of us. Got it?”

“…”

Lee Sanghyuk bowed his head instead of answering. Then Lee Se-i looked at Hyunseong and said again.

“Please apologize to the president here. He was the one who prepared the money that day, and he was worried sick while waiting for Sujeong with me for hours.”

“President, I have committed a crime worthy of death. I’m sorry.”

Lee Sanghyuk bowed his head to Hyunseong. Hyunseong immediately continued.

“Um, okay.”

Hyunseong nodded and patted him on the shoulder. He wanted to say more, but he couldn’t say anything more when he saw him looking like he was about to collapse.

Instead, he asked Lee Se-i.

“Can I take this guy with me?”

“Yes, of course. But where to?”

“I think I should feed him some sundae soup first. He doesn’t look like he’s had breakfast properly.”

“Ah, yes, I understand. Then please take care of him.”

Lee Se-i nodded as if she understood. Then Hyunseong immediately said to Lee Sanghyuk.

“Sanghyuk, let’s go.”

“…Yes.”

Lee Sanghyuk bowed his head and said to Lee Se-i again.

“I will pay back the rest of the money as soon as I earn it.”

“Okay, I understand. Go and get something to eat.”

Lee Se-i patted Lee Sanghyuk on the back.

The two people came out.

Hyunseong asked Lee Sanghyuk.

“Is sundae soup okay?”

“I… I’m sorry, but can we eat later?”

“No. You have to eat now. You’re going to collapse if you keep going like this. You haven’t eaten properly for three days, have you?”

“…”

“Follow me!”

Hyunseong started walking ahead. Lee Sanghyuk quietly followed him.

A little later.

Hyunseong arrived at the restaurant and ordered two bowls of sundae soup and a bottle of soju [Korean distilled rice liquor].

The soju came out first with the radish kimchi.

“Here, have a drink.”

Hyunseong filled Lee Sanghyuk’s glass with soju and then filled his own glass.

“First of all, I don’t know what words of comfort to offer you about your grandmother.”

“My grandmother has gone to a better place.”

“Yes, she has. Anyway, cheer up. Don’t skip meals just because you’re alone. Take care of yourself. Here, have a drink and go get some rest.”

Hyunseong clinked glasses lightly and then emptied his glass. But then Lee Sanghyuk put down the soju glass he was holding and said cautiously.

“President, I’m sorry, but I won’t drink this alcohol.”

“Huh? Oh, why?”

Hyunseong was a little embarrassed. He had drunk with him a few times before. So he knew better than anyone that he liked alcohol.

“I don’t think it’s the right time for me to drink this alcohol, at least not now.”

“Huh? Why?”

“Of course, the presidents have forgiven me, but I don’t think I should forgive myself by getting caught up in that atmosphere. I think I should pay the price for my sins in my own way. In that sense, I will not drink this alcohol.”

Lee Sanghyuk paused for a moment and then continued.

“Of course, others may think it’s a funny story, but for me, it’s a punishment for myself.”

“Um…”

Hyunseong looked at Lee Sanghyuk, who was saying that, instead of speaking.

It was an unexpected sight.

Like he said, some people might laugh. But Hyunseong didn’t see it that way at all.

It was just a simple glass of alcohol, but the meaning behind it didn’t feel small at all.

A punishment for himself. A taboo against what he likes the most.

He didn’t think anyone could do that easily.

Hyunseong nodded as he looked at Lee Sanghyuk. Then he called his name softly.

“Lee Sanghyuk!”

“Yes, President.”

“What are you doing tomorrow?”

“Now that my grandmother’s nursing care is over, I’m thinking of finding a job again.”

“Um, is that so…”

Hyunseong seemed to think for a moment and then immediately continued.

“Come to my office tomorrow.”

“Yes? Do you mean me?”

“Yes, it’s a good thing. I needed someone in the office anyway. Come out tomorrow, because if you’re home alone, you’ll just have unnecessary thoughts. Got it?”

“Really?”

Lee Sanghyuk couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He was already worried. He had already experienced how difficult it was to work with a disabled leg.

“Yes, so eat sundae soup today, go to the barbershop, cut your hair and shave your beard, and come to work tomorrow looking neat and tidy.”

“President, are you really okay with this? I have a disability in my leg…”

“Don’t talk nonsense.”

Hyunseong interrupted Lee Sanghyuk’s words. Then he immediately continued.

“It doesn’t matter at all for work, so don’t think about it. I already know that you are more diligent than anyone else. I’ll see you in the office tomorrow.”

“President!”

Lee Sanghyuk stood up from his seat and bowed his head to Hyunseong.

It was just then.

The sundae soup that he had ordered came out.

“Let’s eat.”

“Yes, President.”

Lee Sanghyuk answered energetically and began to eat the sundae soup like crazy. The expression on his face, which had looked like he was about to collapse just a moment ago, was nowhere to be found. Rather, his eyes were shining brighter than ever.

Hyunseong looked at him for a moment and then smiled and began to eat the sundae soup.

***

Lee Sanghyuk, who had parted ways with Hyunseong and went to the barbershop to cut his hair and shave his beard, headed back to the bakery. His appearance was completely different from two hours ago.

Of course, his appearance had changed because he had cut his hair and shaved his beard, but his steps were also full of energy.

He opened the door to the bakery and went inside.

“Oh? Sanghyuk, what’s wrong?”

Lee Se-i was surprised. It had only been two hours since she had parted ways with him. Back then, his face and hair were a mess. He looked like he was about to collapse. But now he looked so different from then.

His appearance, of course, but his eyes were also full of confidence.

Lee Sanghyuk handed Lee Se-i an envelope.

“Please accept this.”

“Oh? What is this?”

“It’s 5 million won [approximately $3,750 USD].”

“What money is this?”

“This is the amount I used for my grandmother’s overdue hospital bills. I’m paying that money back now.”

Lee Se-i tilted her head. It had only been two hours since she had parted ways with him. But he had already paid back 5 million won, which didn’t make sense to anyone.

“What happened?”

“I got a job.”

“A job? Where?”

“At the video store president’s office! I’m going to work there tomorrow!”

Lee Sanghyuk’s voice was full of confidence and confidence.

“Is that real?”

“Yes, it is. A little while ago, the president told me to come to work tomorrow while we were eating sundae soup.”

“That’s great. But what is this money?”

“The president gave me an advance. It’s in the sense that I should pay off my debts first and make a new start.”

It was when he had finished eating the sundae soup. Hyunseong suddenly handed him a check. Of course, the check was for 5 million won as a result of confirmation.

He told him to pay off his debts first. From now on, he was to start anew with a new mindset.

“Kim President did that?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Sanghyuk must be happy to have met a good president.”

“Yes, that’s right. I think my deceased grandmother is helping me.”

“Yes, so keep up the good work and live hard in the future.”

Lee Se-i smiled as she looked at Lee Sanghyuk. Then Lee Sanghyuk handed her a black bag this time.

“Please accept this.”

“Oh? What is this again?”

“It’s chocolate milk and banana milk. The president can have the chocolate milk, and Sujeong can have the banana milk.”

“Oh my! You still remember that I like chocolate milk?”

“Of course. I’ve worked here for three years, haven’t I?”

“That’s true, but thank you anyway. I’ll enjoy it. And I’ll be sure to tell Sujeong that Sanghyuk Uncle bought it for her.”

Lee Se-i smiled as she looked inside the bag.

Although it was just chocolate milk and banana milk, she was so grateful for his heart in buying it.

“Then I’ll be on my way.”

“Okay, go ahead. Go get some rest.”

“When I get paid next month, I’ll buy Sujeong her favorite seasoned chicken and come back.”

Lee Se-i smiled and nodded. Then Lee Sanghyuk bowed his head 90 degrees and said again.

“President, thank you so much. I will work hard in the future and repay the president’s kindness.”

Tuk tuk.

Lee Se-i lightly patted him on the shoulder. Then she slowly continued.

“Thank you for protecting our Sujeong.”

“…”

Lee Sanghyuk couldn’t say anything and bowed his head again. Lee Se-i’s warm touch brushed past his back.