Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 677

680

***

A few days later.

Hyun-sung stroked his wife Yoon Ji-soo’s belly as she saw him off, saying,

“Deundeun-ah, Dad’s going to work, so be good with Mom today.”

“Yes~ Daddy. Have a good day~.”

Yoon Ji-soo mimicked a child’s voice. Then, she smiled as if she was happy.

This is what the two of them do every morning before Hyun-sung goes to work these days.

To Hyun-sung, this kind of daily life felt like a dream.

His wife, Yoon Ji-soo, might not know because it’s her first time, but for Hyun-sung, it was even more special because it was so different compared to his past life.

The existence of a child was another happiness he had never experienced in his previous life.

Hyun-sung then turned to his wife, Yoon Ji-soo, and said,

“You don’t go down to the cafe too often, do you?”

“No, I only go down for about 3 hours a day, as you said, Hyun-sung. That’s not too much and it’s okay.”

“Okay, good job. You must never overdo it.”

“I know. You don’t have to worry about that.”

The hospital also said that she should be extra careful in the early stages of pregnancy, so she was being especially cautious.

Hyun-sung exchanged a few more words with his wife, then hugged her and said,

“I’ll be back.”

“Okay, take care.”

“I can’t come home for lunch today; I think I’ll go to Mapo, Seoul. I couldn’t keep my promise with CEO Park last time, so I’m going there today. And in the afternoon…”

Hyun-sung began to tell his wife about his schedule for the day.

It was a routine he did every morning before going to work. It wasn’t a big deal, but his wife liked him telling her. So, at some point, that also became a daily routine.

He had already learned how important communication between couples was while living in his previous life, so it was an act that came naturally.

After saying goodbye to his wife, Hyun-sung left the house and headed to the parking lot.

It was when he was about to get into the car.

Beep!

His phone rang.

Hyun-sung wondered, ‘Who could it be so early in the morning?’ and immediately answered the phone.

“Hello.”

– “CEO Kim, it’s me.”

The person who called was Yoo Young-cheol, the president of the real estate office. They had already promised to go to Mapo together today.

For him to call this early meant something must have happened.

Hyun-sung pretended not to know and asked.

“Yes, President. What brings you here so early?”

– “I don’t think I can go to Mapo today. I have another urgent appointment. So today…”

His explanation continued.

It was as expected. He was saying that he had an urgent matter and couldn’t go to Mapo, so he should go alone. Since it wasn’t a place where he absolutely had to be, Hyun-sung said he understood and hung up the phone.

After hanging up, Hyun-sung started the engine to leave.

Right then.

Beep!

His phone rang again.

‘Who is it this time?’

Hyun-sung tilted his head and answered the phone again.

“Hello?”

– “Hyun-sung, it’s me.”

The person who called was his friend Lee Jung-woo, who was working as a civil servant in Chuncheon.

He was the friend who had even broken his savings account to lend him money in his previous life. He was the most grateful friend he had.

Perhaps that’s why Hyun-sung’s voice became brighter than before.

“Hey! Jung-woo! But what’s going on so early? Did something happen?”

He was happy, but he was worried when he received a call so early in the morning.

– “Nothing happened, I just suddenly wanted to hear your voice, so I called.”

Suddenly wanted to hear his voice?

This early in the morning.

That couldn’t be it.

Hyun-sung immediately shook his head. Of course, Lee Jung-woo was his best friend, but even so, Hyun-sung didn’t think he was the type to call early in the morning just to hear his voice.

“Hey, do you think I don’t know you? Don’t do that and tell me honestly. What’s wrong?”

– “You’re right, you’re like a ghost. Actually…”

Lee Jung-woo seemed to hesitate for a moment before speaking. Then he continued.

– “I’m going on a blind date today.”

“What? A blind date?”

At the word ‘blind date,’ Hyun-sung’s voice involuntarily grew louder.

In his previous life, he was single even past 50. At that time, he had worked in a factory after graduating from high school, and then returned to his hometown in his 30s to run a small corner store. It wasn’t easy to work in a factory with a disabled body.

On the other hand, this time, after graduating from high school, he studied for two more years at Hyun-sung’s recommendation and passed the civil service exam. As a result, he was now working at Chuncheon City Hall. And now he was going on a blind date.

It was a huge change compared to his previous life. That’s why Hyun-sung’s voice involuntarily grew louder when he heard that he was going on a blind date. It meant he was that happy.

Hyun-sung asked again with a happy heart.

“Is that for real?”

– “Yeah, you.”

“Wow! Congratulations.”

– “Congratulations for what? I’m just going on a blind date today.”

“Still, that’s something. At least there’s a possibility!”

Going on a blind date meant that they already had some level of interest in each other. So the possibility was that much higher.

In fact, he had been worried about him being alone since he was over thirty.

These days, it was common for men to get married in their 40s or 50s, but back then, if you were over thirty, you were called an old bachelor.

Perhaps that’s why Hyun-sung’s voice was full of joy.

Lee Jung-woo, hearing that voice, seemed to have understood his feelings and immediately asked.

– “Are you that happy?”

“Of course, I’m happy. It’s not just anyone, it’s my friend Lee Jung-woo who might be getting married.”

– “That’s why I called. I thought you would be the happiest. The result remains to be seen, but the fact that I’m going on a blind date is important. And…”

Lee Jung-woo stopped talking in the middle for some reason. Then Hyun-sung immediately asked.

“What? Why did you stop talking?”

– “It’s nothing. I’ll tell you later.”

“You’re so bland… Okay, I got it. Anyway, thanks for telling me the good news from this morning.”

– “I’m the one who’s grateful. For thinking of it as your own business.”

“Of course, that’s a given. By the way, what does she do?”

– “Huh? Uh, that’s…”

Lee Jung-woo couldn’t continue right away.

“What? Is that a secret too?”

– “Not now… I’ll tell you later if things go well.”

“You’re hiding everything. Okay, I got it, you. Have a good blind date today and be sure to report how it went afterwards.”

– “Okay, I’ll call you again.”

Click.

After hanging up, Hyun-sung tilted his head.

There was something that didn’t make sense even if he thought about it briefly. He was the guy who even called from the morning to say he was going on a blind date. But suddenly he was hiding the woman’s job?

Not just any guy, but his closest friend.

Hyun-sung tilted his head once again.

But that was only for a moment.

Who was Lee Jung-woo? Wasn’t he the most trustworthy friend? Hyun-sung thought that if he had done such a thing, there must have been a good reason.

The important thing was that Lee Jung-woo was going on a blind date today.

Hyun-sung’s expression brightened again.

He left the parking lot and headed to the office.

Meanwhile, Lee Jung-woo, after hanging up the phone, let out a short sigh of relief and began to call somewhere again.

Beep beep.

After two rings, the other party answered the phone.

– “Hello.”

“Ji-yeon, it’s oppa [older brother, used by females].”

The person Lee Jung-woo called was Hyun-sung’s younger sister, Kim Ji-yeon.

– “Oh, oppa.”

“I talked to Hyun-sung a little while ago.”

– “With my oppa?”

“Yeah, I didn’t talk about us; I just told him I was going on a blind date today.”

– “What did oppa say when you said you were going on a blind date?”

“He was very happy, like it was his own business. But I couldn’t bring myself to tell him that I was seeing you.”

From Lee Jung-woo’s point of view, it couldn’t be helped. It was because of his disabled body. No matter how close they were, there was a clear difference between being a friend and being his sister’s boyfriend.

But that was just Lee Jung-woo’s thought.

Kim Ji-yeon’s thoughts seemed different when she heard that.

Her voice changed.

– “Oppa!”

“Yeah, okay.”

– “What’s the reason? Why can’t you tell our oppa that you’re seeing me proudly?”

“Huh? That’s…”

Lee Jung-woo couldn’t bring himself to say that he couldn’t tell Hyun-sung because of his disabled body.

– “Oppa, why can’t you say it? What’s wrong with oppa’s body? It’s just a little more inconvenient than others, what’s wrong with that? Is that why you couldn’t tell our oppa?”

“… Maybe.”

Lee Jung-woo had no choice but to admit it. That was an unavoidable reality. No matter how close they were, he couldn’t bring himself to say that he was seeing his sister with this body.

Perhaps it was because they were too close that he couldn’t say it.

– “Oppa, don’t you still know our oppa? Do you think our oppa is such a terrible person that he would say something about that?”

“Of course not.”

– “Then? Then why can’t you say it? That I’m meeting your younger sister. That we’re going to get married in the future. Huh? Oppa?”

“……”

Lee Jung-woo had nothing to say.

Just a little while ago, when he was calling Hyun-sung, he was going to honestly say that the woman was his younger sister. But when he was so happy like it was his own business, he couldn’t bring himself to say it.

– “Jung-woo oppa.”

“Yeah, okay.”

– “Was I too harsh?”

“No, it’s not that. It’s not that I don’t know your heart. But I guarantee that our oppa is the one who will congratulate us more than anyone else. Don’t you think so, oppa?”

“Of course, that’s true, but…”

Lee Jung-woo couldn’t finish his sentence.

Of course, Hyun-sung would congratulate them more than anyone else. That’s why he felt even more sorry.

He would feel less sorry if he opposed it.

– “But? What’s the but?”

“Like you said, Hyun-sung will congratulate us more than anyone else. That’s why I feel even more sorry.”

– “That’s why you feel even more sorry?”

“Yeah, there’s that. I don’t know if you can understand…”

Lee Jung-woo’s words continued right away.

“Please wait a little longer. I’ll tell you the truth soon. Okay? Ji-yeon?”

– “Um… To be honest, I don’t understand 100%, but I think I know oppa’s heart to some extent. But please know this one thing. Oppa is a wonderful person. The best to me. It’s true that oppa’s body is a little more inconvenient than others, but I don’t care about that at all. So I hope oppa doesn’t get upset about that. Oppa, got it?”

“I think I chose a woman well after all. How can you say such pretty things?”

– “Why are you being like this? Even if your mouth is crooked, you have to speak straight; I was the one who made the first move on oppa. Isn’t that right?”

“Huh? Does it turn out that way again?”

It’s not wrong. She was the one who contacted him first 3 months ago, and she was the one who formally proposed the meeting first.

– “Oppa.”

“Yeah, okay.”

– “Do you know why I chose oppa?”

“Um, well… To be honest, I’m curious too. Why did you choose someone like me?”

First of all, putting everything else aside, he has a disability. On the other hand, she is too perfect. She has the looks, the job, and even a rich family.

To be honest, he was curious as to why she chose him.

– “Two things.”

“Two things?”

– “Yeah, the reason why I chose oppa. One of them is oppa’s eyes.”

“Eyes?”

– “Yeah, that’s right. One day I saw oppa’s eyes and they were so clear. They say the eyes are the windows to the soul, right? Oppa, have you heard of it?”

“Huh? Uh.”

Lee Jung-woo answered absentmindedly. Then her voice was heard right away.

– “I thought I could trust and live with this person for the rest of my life. Oppa’s eyes were that attractive.”

“Well, I don’t know…”

– “Of course you don’t know yourself. Anyway, oppa’s eyes were special to me.”

Pfft.

Lee Jung-woo laughed without realizing it. Whatever the reason, he was just grateful for her saying it was special.

– “Do you know what the other one is?”

“Well…”

– “Grit.”

“Grit?”

– “Yeah, that’s right. I was really surprised when I heard from our oppa that oppa passed the 9th grade exam [lowest level civil service exam] even after graduating from high school. That’s not an easy thing to do.”

Her voice was heard again right away.

– “Besides, you’re not just ending there these days; you’re also preparing for the 7th grade [higher level civil service exam], right?”

“That’s because Hyun-sung recommended it…”

– “That’s not something that can be done just because someone recommends it, right? Seeing that, I knew that oppa had great grit. That’s why I chose oppa. I thought that I could trust and live with this kind of man for the rest of my life.”

“I’m embarrassed to hear that.”

Lee Jung-woo scratched the back of his head slightly. To be honest, he prepared for the civil service exam from the beginning because of Hyun-sung’s recommendation, and he challenged the 7th grade because of Hyun-sung’s recommendation.

– “Do you know why I’m saying this today?”

“Well…”

– “Oppa is that wonderful of a person. He has a clear heart, and he has the grit to challenge without settling for reality. So you can be confident. Oppa is a much better person than you think.”

Lee Jung-woo finally knew why Kim Ji-yeon was saying this. Right now, she was telling him not to do that about showing a weak side in front of Hyun-sung a little while ago.

“Ji-yeon!”

– “Yeah, oppa.”

“I know what you mean. I’ll be more confident now. I’m going to talk to Hyun-sung about our relationship when I talk to him tonight, so that we can meet proudly in the future.”

– “Okay, oppa is the best after all. In that sense… Mwah!”

Lee Jung-woo’s face turned red without realizing it at the sound of ‘Mwah’ in his ear.