Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 678

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“Did you arrive, sir!”

As Hyun-sung arrived at the office, Lee Sang-hyuk, who had come to work early and finished cleaning, greeted him with a joyful voice. Hyun-sung returned the greeting with pleasure.

“Oh, good morning!”

“Did something good happen today? You look great, sir.”

Perhaps because Hyun-sung had heard the news about Lee Jung-woo going on a blind date on his way to work, his good mood was evident.

“Does it show?”

“Yes, of course. You always look good, but this morning you seem especially happy.”

“Yeah, you’re right. I heard some good news on my way to work. A friend of mine, Lee Jung-woo, is going on a blind date today.”

“Are you talking about a matchmaking meeting?”

“Yeah, so I’m feeling great today. Haha…”

Hyun-sung laughed out loud, clearly in a good mood. Lee Sang-hyuk smiled as he watched him, then walked to the coffee machine. He poured freshly brewed coffee into a cup and placed it on the table where Hyun-sung was sitting, saying,

“Are you close with that friend?”

“No need to ask twice. He’s one of the most important people in my life.”

Hyun-sung took a sip of the coffee Lee Sang-hyuk handed him and said. Lee Sang-hyuk immediately followed up.

“I’m envious.”

“Envious? Of what?”

“Of having such a friend. I was bullied by other kids because of an accident when I was young, so I didn’t have any friends.”

Lee Sang-hyuk’s expression darkened. He seemed to be reminded of his difficult school days.

Hyun-sung paused for a moment, as if thinking, and then continued.

“That friend is similar to you.”

“Pardon? Similar to me?”

“Yeah, that friend is also physically challenged like you. So he was bullied a lot by other kids when he was in school.”

“Ah, I see.”

Lee Sang-hyuk nodded and immediately asked again.

“So what does that friend do now?”

“He’s a civil servant. He studied for two more years after graduating from high school and became a civil servant. He’s a persistent guy.”

“He didn’t go to college and became a civil servant?”

“That’s right. He figured it was better to become a civil servant than to go to a bad college anyway.”

Of course, Lee Jung-woo made that decision because of Hyun-sung’s active encouragement. But there was no need to reveal that fact in this situation, so he said that Lee Jung-woo had decided on his own.

“He’s an amazing person. It wouldn’t be easy to make such a decision.”

“That’s not the end of it.”

“Pardon? What else is there?”

“He’s preparing for the 7th grade exam now.”

“Pardon? The 7th grade?”

Lee Sang-hyuk couldn’t help but be surprised. It was amazing enough that he passed the 9th grade exam after graduating from high school, but it was hard to believe that he was preparing for the 7th grade on top of that. [In the Korean civil service system, lower numbers indicate higher ranks, making the 7th grade exam more difficult than the 9th grade exam.]

Curious, he asked again.

“Is that really possible?”

“Why? Doesn’t it seem possible?”

“In my opinion, it doesn’t seem easy at all. I heard that even people who graduated from college find the 7th grade difficult.”

“Of course it’s difficult. But that doesn’t mean it’s absolutely impossible. I think it’s ultimately a matter of will. My friend has been doing it steadily for two years now.”

When he first recommended the 7th grade to Lee Jung-woo, he was honestly half-doubtful. He wondered if he could really do this difficult thing.

But that was Hyun-sung’s own worry.

Of course, he hasn’t gotten satisfactory results yet, but his skills are improving over time.

Two years from now, that’s the target time he mentioned.

“He’s really an amazing person.”

“What about you?”

“Pardon? What do you mean…?”

“Why do you think I’m telling you about my friend right now?”

“That’s…”

Lee Sang-hyuk was silent for a moment, as if thinking about something.

Hyun-sung watched him and slowly sipped the remaining coffee. It was to give him time to think.

He opened his mouth about two minutes later.

“Sir, I’m sorry. No matter how much I think about it, I don’t understand why you’re saying that.”

“I said a little while ago that my friend is similar to you, right?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Still, you don’t know why I’m saying this?”

Hyun-sung’s eyes sharpened. But Lee Sang-hyuk still tilted his head as if he didn’t understand.

After thinking for a moment, Hyun-sung looked at Lee Sang-hyuk and asked.

“How old are you now?”

“Twenty-six.”

“Do you have any thoughts of studying again?”

“Studying?”

The word ‘studying’ momentarily flashed through Lee Sang-hyuk’s mind. He immediately realized that the purpose of Hyun-sung telling him about his friend was exactly this.

Lee Sang-hyuk immediately asked.

“Did you tell me about your friend for this purpose?”

“What’s ‘this’?”

“Are you telling me to prepare for the civil service exam?”

Smile!

Hyun-sung immediately smiled.

Because his judgment was correct.

Anyway, Lee Sang-hyuk won’t be able to stay in this office forever. It will take about five years to completely transform the town.

Until then, there’s no problem. He can work in the office.

The problem is after that.

When the construction is finished, the office will naturally disappear. Then his job will naturally disappear as well.

What will he do then? This was the problem Hyun-sung was worried about.

“Yeah, that’s right. The reason I told you about my friend today was because I thought it would be a good idea for you to start preparing for the civil service exam now. This office will be gone in about five years anyway. What do you think?”

“…….”

Lee Sang-hyuk was silent. Instead, he had a thoughtful expression.

After a while.

He opened his mouth.

“Actually, I prepared for the civil service exam for a short time in the past.”

“When?”

“When I was a senior in high school.”

“Really?”

Hyun-sung turned his gaze to Lee Sang-hyuk.

It was unexpected. In fact, it is rare to prepare for the civil service exam while attending high school.

Lee Jung-woo also did not prepare for the civil service exam from the beginning. Of course, Hyun-sung’s help was great. Hyun-sung would not have even thought of it if he had not regressed.

That’s how difficult it is to prepare for the civil service exam in high school.

But Lee Sang-hyuk is now saying that he prepared for the civil service exam himself when he was a senior in high school.

Hyun-sung was curious about his results.

“So what happened?”

“I couldn’t even take the exam.”

“What? You couldn’t even take the exam? What’s the reason?”

“I had to earn money. As soon as I graduated from high school, I got a job at a box factory. So of course the exam…”

Lee Sang-hyuk smiled bitterly as he spoke.

Hyun-sung then realized why Lee Sang-hyuk said he couldn’t take the exam.

Again, the problem was the family environment.

“You had such circumstances. I didn’t know. You must have been very heartbroken?”

“I didn’t even have time for that. I had to earn my grandmother’s hospital bills no matter what.”

“Hmm…”

Hyun-sung had nothing to say. He had expected it to some extent, but he didn’t know it would be this bad.

After thinking for a moment, Hyun-sung called his name seriously.

“Lee Sang-hyuk!”

“Yes, sir.”

“How about starting again from now?”

“From now on?”

“Yeah, I think you can do it enough if you prepare from now on.”

Lee Sang-hyuk has about 5 years to spare. He will be able to study when he is not busy at the office, and he will be able to study for about five hours after work if he puts his mind to it.

With that much investment, there will be enough potential.

Of course, his will is important to do that.

Hyun-sung asked again.

“What do you think?”

“Well, it’s too sudden…”

Lee Sang-hyuk couldn’t continue speaking because he was flustered. Then Hyun-sung immediately continued.

“Is there any reason to worry?”

“That’s…”

Lee Sang-hyuk still couldn’t make a decision.

Of course, he knows very well that it won’t be easy. It’s been a long time since he put down the book.

But no matter how much he thinks about it, it seems like there won’t be such an opportunity for him unless it’s now.

After thinking for a moment, Hyun-sung got up from his seat. Then Lee Sang-hyuk immediately asked.

“Where are you going?”

“I have to go somewhere for a while. I’ll be back in about an hour. Can you finish your worries by then?”

“Pardon? Ah, yes. I’ll try.”

“It’s for yourself. You know?”

“Yes, I know.”

“I don’t think this kind of opportunity will ever come again. Think carefully and decide. It’s deciding the rest of your life.”

Lee Sang-hyuk’s eyes deepened. He seemed to realize that this situation was important.

Hyun-sung left the office, leaving him behind.

Lee Sang-hyuk alone.

‘What should I do?’

Lee Sang-hyuk bit his thumb slightly. It was his habit when he was seriously worried.

In the past, he wanted to study but couldn’t.

But it’s different now.

He will be able to do it as much as he wants if he has the will.

Moreover, this office will disappear in 5 years. Then he will have to wander around looking for a job again.

How long will he have to repeat this life?

Lee Sang-hyuk’s worries deepened.

An hour later.

Thump.

The office door opened and Hyun-sung came in. But he wasn’t empty-handed. What he brought in were two large boxes.

Two boxes stacked side by side next to the table.

Lee Sang-hyuk immediately asked.

“What are these boxes all of a sudden?”

“Secret.”

Lee Sang-hyuk had nothing to say to the word ‘secret’. Then Hyun-sung’s voice was heard again.

“Sit over here.”

Lee Sang-hyuk sat across from Hyun-sung. Then Hyun-sung immediately asked.

“Have you thought about it?”

“Yes.”

“What’s the conclusion?”

After thinking for a moment, Lee Sang-hyuk immediately opened his mouth.

“I don’t think there will be another chance like this.”

“That means?”

“I decided to follow your words, sir. I gave up because the conditions were not right in the past, but I will never give up this time.”

Lee Sang-hyuk’s expression was definitely different from an hour ago.

Smile.

Hyun-sung smiled as he looked at him.

“Open it.”

“Pardon?”

“I told you to open the box.”

Hyun-sung’s gaze was directed at the boxes stacked side by side next to the table. Then Lee Sang-hyuk got up from his seat and started checking the boxes.

After a while.

Lee Sang-hyuk’s pupils widened as he checked the box. There was something he couldn’t have imagined in the box.

“Sir!”

Lee Sang-hyuk’s voice calling Hyun-sung was filled with emotion. That’s because the box was full of books about 9th grade civil servants.

“Thank you, sir. I will study hard with this book and pass it.”

Hyun-sung smiled and nodded. Then Lee Sang-hyuk came back to Hyun-sung and sat down and asked.

“How did you know I would make such a decision?”

“I saw your eyes earlier.”

“My eyes?”

“Yeah, when I was talking about the civil service exam earlier, your eyes were shining more than ever.”

That’s true. Hyun-sung could tell by looking at those eyes. How much attachment he has left for the civil service. So he went out to the city and bought a book.

“You gave me a new life, sir.”

“I’m grateful if you think so.”

“I will work hard without disappointing you in the future.”

“Yeah, life is only once anyway. Do it to your heart’s content without regrets. It’s no use regretting it later. Do it when you can. Got it?”

“Yes! Sir!”

Lee Sang-hyuk answered vigorously and started bowing deeply to Hyun-sung. His expression was more hopeful than ever.