Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 693

“Grandma!”

Lee Sang-hyuk, returning home after parting with Hyun-sung, gazed at his grandmother’s picture hanging on the wall.

It felt as if his grandmother would hug him any moment, saying, ‘Oh, my baby.’

After staring at the picture for a long time, Lee Sang-hyuk took it off the wall, held it with both hands, and said,

“Grandma, do you know what happened today? Guess what? My boss gave me two rooms in the office. Two rooms! He told me to use one as a bedroom and the other as a study.”

Lee Sang-hyuk paused, looked at the picture, and continued,

“And the boss said he wouldn’t take rent. He said they were empty rooms anyway. But who am I? I’m your grandson, Grandma. Of course, I couldn’t do that. A person has a conscience; how could I use the rooms for free? Right, Grandma!”

Lee Sang-hyuk spoke as if he were having a conversation with his grandmother, even making appropriate facial expressions.

“The boss insisted on not taking rent. That didn’t make sense. So, today, I insisted too. I said I wouldn’t move in if he didn’t take rent. Eventually, the boss laughed and told me to do as I pleased. So, I said I’d give him just 100,000 won without a deposit. Honestly, 100,000 won is super cheap. There are two rooms, a big living room, and a big kitchen. Grandma, did I do well?”

-Of course, my baby!

Lee Sang-hyuk seemed to hear his grandmother’s voice.

“Grandma, actually, at first, I didn’t want to move from here either. But when I thought about it, I didn’t think you’d want your only grandson to live in such a smelly place every day, so I decided to move. Grandma, am I right?”

After waiting for his grandmother’s reply for a moment, Lee Sang-hyuk continued,

“Grandma, when I move there, I’m really going to study hard. So, I’ll definitely pass the civil service exam. Actually, I know it too. The boss is doing me this favor on purpose. So, I’ll definitely pass, even if it’s just to repay the boss’s kindness. And…”

Lee Sang-hyuk continued to hold his grandmother’s picture and talk about many things.

About ten minutes passed.

Lee Sang-hyuk breathed on his grandmother’s picture, wiped it with his clothes, and hung it back on the wall. Then, looking at the picture, he said again,

“Grandma, I’ll remember the memories with you here in my heart forever. Just because I’m leaving here doesn’t mean I’m forgetting them.”

Thump, thump.

Lee Sang-hyuk lightly tapped his chest with his hand. Then, he turned his gaze and looked around the room.

He had lived with his grandmother here for 15 years.

It would be a lie to say he had no feelings.

Perhaps that’s why.

He couldn’t help but feel a little sad at the thought of leaving this place.

After looking around the room for a while, Lee Sang-hyuk spread out the dining table as if making a resolution. Then, he immediately placed his civil service exam books on the table.

“Yes, all I can do is study. I’m going to pass, no matter what!”

Lee Sang-hyuk nodded and opened his textbook.

At that moment.

Hyun-sung arrived home and opened the front door wide.

“Did something good happen?”

His wife, Yoon Ji-soo, who was watching TV in the living room, looked at Hyun-sung as he came in and asked with a smile.

“Why, does it look like it?”

“Yes, look in the mirror. See what your face looks like now.”

“Is it that obvious?”

Hyun-sung glanced at the mirror hanging on the wall. Sure enough, as she said, his face was full of smiles.

People can’t hide their emotions, after all.

In fact, there was always something on his mind.

It was Lee Sang-hyuk’s room. If he didn’t know, he wouldn’t care, but knowing his situation, he couldn’t help but be concerned.

Especially on rainy days, it was even worse.

He worried that the drainage pump might break down and the sewage would overflow again.

No matter how good the replacement product was, he couldn’t help but worry.

But finally, that problem was solved today.

So, how could he not be in a good mood?

“Ji-soo, come sit here.”

Hyun-sung took Yoon Ji-soo’s hand and sat down on the sofa. Then, he began to talk about what had happened with Lee Sang-hyuk a little while ago.

When he finished explaining, Yoon Ji-soo smiled and said,

“So, that’s why?”

“Yes, if I didn’t know, I wouldn’t care, but knowing Sang-hyuk’s situation, I couldn’t help but be concerned. Especially on days with a lot of rain. But I couldn’t force him to move when he said he couldn’t because of his memories with his grandmother.”

“But that problem was neatly resolved today?”

“That’s right. So, how could I not be in a good mood?”

Hyun-sung’s face still had a smile on it. Seeing that, Yoon Ji-soo continued,

“When you think about it, you’re really kind-hearted.”

“Just me? What about you? Don’t you remember the day it rained a lot a month ago?”

It was a month ago.

It was just past 2 a.m., and it was pouring rain. It felt like it would swallow the whole world.

At that time, she woke up in the middle of the night and was worried.

It was about Lee Sang-hyuk.

She also knew Lee Sang-hyuk’s situation better than anyone else because Hyun-sung had already told her about it.

In the end, she couldn’t go back to sleep until Hyun-sung braved the rain and went to Lee Sang-hyuk’s house.

“Of course, me. That day was really… Anyway, it’s a good thing. Now I can sleep without worrying, no matter how much it rains.”

“That’s right. But you know…”

Hyun-sung paused for a moment and then continued.

“But there’s a problem.”

“A problem? What problem?”

“From the beginning, I didn’t think about rent because it was an empty room anyway, but Sang-hyuk insisted that he would pay rent no matter what.”

“So?”

Yoon Ji-soo looked at Hyun-sung with curiosity.

“He said he wouldn’t move into the room if I didn’t take rent. So, I had no choice but to agree to take it.”

“How much?”

“Just 100,000 won without a deposit. He said he would pay at least that much.”

“100,000 won? Didn’t you say the room he’s living in now is 50,000 won? Then, from Sang-hyuk’s point of view, he’s paying more rent, right?”

“That’s what I’m saying.”

Hyun-sung was also taken aback at first.

From the beginning, he didn’t think about rent because it was an empty room anyway, but Lee Sang-hyuk insisted on 100,000 won.

So, when he said he would only take 50,000 won if that was the case, he said that wouldn’t work either. He said he would definitely give at least 100,000 won.

Otherwise, he said he couldn’t use the room.

So, he had no choice but to agree.

“So, in the end, you have no choice but to receive 100,000 won? Because otherwise, he won’t use the room.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“So, you’re worried?”

“Honestly, this isn’t right. I really just told him to move in because it was an empty room anyway, but as a result, I’m going to receive 100,000 won in rent.”

Of course, from Hyun-sung’s point of view, 100,000 won is nothing.

But from Lee Sang-hyuk’s point of view, it’s different. He’s moving from a 50,000 won rent to a 100,000 won rent.

In the end, he has an additional cost of 50,000 won.

Therefore, Hyun-sung is naturally concerned about that part now.

“Hmm…”

Yoon Ji-soo couldn’t say anything. She also understood what kind of situation this was.

Hyun-sung was also silent.

In the end, the two had no choice but to fall into 고민 [gomin – worry/trouble] about how to decide on this situation.

After a while.

Hyun-sung, who had been 고민 [gomin – worrying], spoke first.

“Ji-soo, how about we do this?”

“How?”

“Let’s create a monthly 100,000 won installment savings account.”

“Are you perhaps thinking of doing it in Sang-hyuk’s name?”

Yoon Ji-soo’s face brightened. She also immediately understood what Hyun-sung was talking about.

“Yes, that’s right. Since we can’t not receive rent in this situation anyway, let’s take that money and put it into savings instead.”

“So, in the end, you’re saying we should give that money back to Sang-hyuk as a lump sum later?”

“That’s exactly it. Honestly, it’s a bit much for us to use that money. We weren’t thinking about rent from the beginning anyway. What do you think, Ji-soo?”

Smirk.

Yoon Ji-soo smiled. Then, she immediately continued.

“I’m in favor. I don’t think there’s a better way than that right now. How did you come up with that idea?”

Hyun-sung smiled instead of answering. He thought there was no better way than this.

“Then let’s do it that way.”

“Yes, let’s do that. No matter how I think about it, it’s a good idea. You’re really smart.”

“Haha, it’s not like I have any brains…”

“Okay, now go wash up.”

Hyun-sung nodded and got up from his seat and went into the bathroom. After walking a few steps, Hyun-sung turned back and said to Yoon Ji-soo.

“Let’s go to the hospital together tomorrow.”

“Oh my! You remembered that?”

“Of course. It’s not like anything else, it’s because of our Tun-Tun [nickname for their baby] that we go to the hospital periodically, how could I forget that.”

“I thought you would have forgotten because you’re busy with construction these days.”

“That can’t be… No matter how busy the construction is, our Tun-Tun is the top priority.”

“You’re the best dad.”

Yoon Ji-soo gave Hyun-sung a thumbs up. Then, Hyun-sung smiled and went into the bathroom.

After a while.

When Hyun-sung came out after washing up, Yoon Ji-soo came out of the kitchen with a cup as if she had been waiting.

“Drink this.”

“What is this?”

“It’s honey water. I saw on TV today that honey is the best for relieving fatigue. It was very hot today, so it must have been hard, right? Drink it all up.”

Hyun-sung took the cup that Yoon Ji-soo handed him.

Seeing the honey water, he suddenly thought of someone.

It was his father.

When he was in high school, studying at night, his father would always mix honey water in a bowl and bring it into his room.

“What are you thinking so much about without drinking it?”

“My father.”

“Yes? Suddenly?”

“My father used to always give me honey water at 10 p.m. when I was studying. Seeing the honey water, I suddenly remembered that time.”

Hyun-sung said that and immediately drank the honey water.

“It’s good.”

“This honey is also what my father gave me last fall. That’s why it seems so thick.”

“It tastes just like it used to. But aren’t you drinking it?”

“I’m okay. I’m just at home all day anyway…”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

Before Yoon Ji-soo could finish speaking, Hyun-sung took the cup and headed to the kitchen. Then, he mixed honey water in the cup and immediately brought it out.

“Here, drink it.”

“I’m okay…”

“What’s that supposed to mean? Good things should always be eaten together. Come on, drink it.”

“Whatever…”

Yoon Ji-soo took the cup and smiled at Hyun-sung. Then, she immediately started drinking.

“Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it… Okay, let’s go into the bedroom now.”

“Yes, let’s go.”

The two walked side by side towards the bedroom.

***

The two of them were waiting in front of the doctor’s office after completing all the tests.

The eyes of the two people looked nervous. The reason was that today’s examination time took twice as long as usual.

Hyun-sung spoke first.

“Are you nervous?”

“A little. What kind of tests were there so many of today…”

Yoon Ji-soo still showed signs of anxiety. Hyun-sung held her hand and said.

“Everything will be fine, so don’t worry about anything.”

“Is that so?”

“Of course.”

Just then, the nurse opened the door to the doctor’s office and came out.

“Yoon Ji-soo.”

“Yes!”

Hyun-sung and Yoon Ji-soo, who entered the doctor’s office, sat side by side in front of the doctor. The two of them looked nervous, like students back in school.

Gulp.

Hyun-sung swallowed dry saliva without realizing it.

Seeing that, the doctor smiled slightly and opened his mouth.

“Why are you so nervous?”

“I get nervous without realizing it when I come to the hospital, but is everything okay?”

“There’s something wrong.”

“Yes? What do you mean?”

Hyun-sung got up from his seat without realizing it. Then, the doctor looked at Hyun-sung and smiled.

“Please sit down. I’ll tell you what’s wrong from now on.”

Hyun-sung sat down immediately. Then, the doctor opened his mouth immediately.

“Father, Mother, congratulations. The test results came back as twins. Just in case, I tested it twice, but…”

Hyun-sung couldn’t hear any other words anymore. Only the three letters ‘twins’ came into his head.