Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 701

704

Back to Being a Landlord

The next day.

Two people stood in front of the hospital entrance.

They kept checking their watches, as if waiting for someone.

How much time had passed?

Lee Soo-hyuk spoke.

“Hyun-sung, it seems like Mom is going to be late. I’ll talk to her, so you can go.”

“Yeah, I guess I should. I wanted to see your mother before leaving, but it doesn’t look like I can.”

The person they were waiting for was Lee Soo-hyuk’s mother, Yoo Soo-min.

She had called Lee Soo-hyuk in the morning, saying she would arrive at the hospital by two o’clock at the latest and asked them to wait.

So they had been waiting until now. But it was already past three, and she hadn’t arrived, so Hyun-sung had no choice but to leave.

Hyun-sung took out a card from his wallet and handed it to Lee Soo-hyuk.

“Soo-hyuk, take this.”

“Huh? This is a card. But why are you giving it to me…?”

“Use it while you’re in the hospital. You’ll probably need it.”

“Hey, how can I accept this?”

Lee Soo-hyuk couldn’t accept the card Hyun-sung offered.

He had already received so much from him. Thanks to him, he was able to come to Seoul, and thanks to him, he would be able to receive treatment with the new drug.

He didn’t answer when asked how much the new drug cost.

In any case, it must be unimaginably expensive.

Even a flea has its face [everyone has their pride].

No matter how close they were as friends, he couldn’t accept any more.

Hyun-sung continued.

“You probably won’t have much appetite once you start treatment next week. Don’t eat the hospital food then. There are many restaurants downstairs. Go there and eat whatever you want.”

“Still, I can’t accept this. How can I receive any more from you? And don’t worry about food. I’ll make sure to eat no matter what. So, this card…”

Suddenly.

Before Lee Soo-hyuk could finish, Hyun-sung grabbed his hand and placed the card in it.

“Hey, Lee Soo-hyuk. Let’s not waste our energy on this. I’m helping because I have the ability to help. So, just accept it comfortably. And use it to buy delicious food and get strong for your treatment. That’s the best thing you can do for me.”

“…”

Lee Soo-hyuk was speechless.

He was probably right. Honestly, the hospital bills alone would be a lot. Having already incurred such a debt for the hospital bills, it would be ridiculous to refuse the card for food.

He chuckled.

Lee Soo-hyuk smiled lightly, feeling absurd. He had already indebted himself for hospital bills that could amount to tens of millions, yet he was refusing a card for food. He found himself pathetic.

He clicked his tongue and said to Hyun-sung.

“I was being pathetic again.”

“Man, what are you talking about? What are you…”

“Okay, I understand. I’ll accept it gratefully. But you better be prepared. I’m only going to eat beef.”

“You rascal, please do. Well, I’m off.”

With those words, Hyun-sung held out his fist to Lee Soo-hyuk. Lee Soo-hyuk bumped his fist against it.

Tuk.

It was the moment their fists met in the air.

“I’m too embarrassed to even say thank you now.”

“Forget it, just focus on getting treatment. I’ll come again next time.”

“Okay, drive carefully.”

“Alright, I will. Stay strong! Got it?”

Lee Soo-hyuk nodded. Seeing that, Hyun-sung smiled and turned to head to the parking lot.

After about ten steps.

He heard Lee Soo-hyuk’s voice from behind.

“Hey, Kim Hyun-sung!”

Hyun-sung turned around. Lee Soo-hyuk shouted again.

“I’m going to get better for sure!”

Hyun-sung nodded and waved his fist. Lee Soo-hyuk spoke again.

“Thanks, you jerk!”

Hyun-sung raised his hand high in a wave and turned to head to the parking lot.

A few minutes later.

Hyun-sung arrived at the parking lot and immediately got into his car.

Just then.

Ring!

His phone rang. Hyun-sung answered immediately.

“Hello.”

-It’s me.

The caller was Lee Soo-hyuk, whom he had just parted with.

“Oh, Soo-hyuk. What’s up?”

-I’m testing the phone you bought me. Just checking if I can hear you well.

He had bought a phone after getting his haircut yesterday. He needed a phone to communicate frequently in the future.

“You rascal, you’re so corny. I can hear you fine. Is that it?”

-Yeah, you jerk. And will your hair be okay?

“What about my hair?”

-I was just wondering if Ji-soo might worry about it.

“You worry too much. It’s okay, don’t worry. My wife isn’t the type to say anything about this.”

-Oh, okay, I understand. Then drive carefully.

Click.

The call ended, and Hyun-sung sighed briefly, touching his hair.

Although he had pretended to be nonchalant, he was worried about how his wife, Yoon Ji-soo, would react.

Just then.

Beep!

His phone rang again.

“Hello.”

-Hyun-sung, it’s me.

The caller was his wife, Yoon Ji-soo.

“Yes, Ji-soo. I’m just about to leave the hospital. Is something wrong?”

-No, I was just wondering when you were leaving. Okay, drive carefully.

“Yes, I will. And, um…”

Hyun-sung stopped, about to say something more. He had been about to mention his haircut, but he thought it would be better to talk about it in person.

But Yoon Ji-soo, unaware of this, asked immediately.

-Why? Is there something you want to say?

“No, it’s nothing. I’ll tell you when I get home. See you soon. Oh, by the way, do you want to have jokbal [pig’s trotters]?”

-I’d love to. It’s been a while since I had jokbal…

“Okay, I’ll stop by the Gongdeok-dong market on the way and buy some. I should be there in about two hours.”

Click.

Hyun-sung hung up and started driving immediately.

He was about to pull out of the parking lot when.

Someone was standing at the entrance of the parking lot. He knew immediately who it was. It was Lee Soo-hyuk’s mother, Yoo Soo-min.

“Mother, when did you arrive?”

“Just now.”

“I was just about to leave after waiting for you, but I’m glad I could see you like this.”

As Hyun-sung finished speaking, Yoo Soo-min suddenly held out a bag.

“Take this with you.”

“Yes? What is this?”

“Potatoes.”

“Potatoes?”

At the word ‘potatoes,’ Hyun-sung quickly opened the car door and took the bag. Then he asked immediately.

“Why potatoes?”

“I dug them up this morning. I wanted to give you something, but I didn’t have anything else to give. It’s not much, but here…”

“Thank you. I’ll enjoy them. I love potatoes the most.”

Hyun-sung said it loudly on purpose.

He knew she must have rushed this morning to dig up these potatoes. And he knew how much trouble she must have gone through to carry this bag on the bus all the way here.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t give you anything more.”

“Mother, you don’t have to say such things.”

Just then.

Suddenly.

Yoo Soo-min grabbed Hyun-sung’s hand and said again.

“Soo-hyuk’s father told me to thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

“And the money Hyun-sung gave us will be used to open a supermarket later. Anyway, we survived thanks to Hyun-sung. How can we ever repay this kindness…?”

Before she could finish, Hyun-sung quickly grabbed her hand tightly and said.

“Mother, if you ever have any difficulties in the future, please call me anytime.”

“That’s not right. A person should have some shame. I already feel so ashamed that I can’t even say anything…”

Yoo Soo-min lowered her head slightly. Seeing that, Hyun-sung stopped, about to say something more. He felt that continuing to talk about it would only make her situation more difficult.

“Mother, I should get going now.”

“Okay, thank you for taking care of our Soo-hyuk. I’ll say it again, thank you so much.”

Hyun-sung bowed his head in greeting and got into the car. Then he started slowly.

He could see the two of them waving in the rearview mirror. Lee Soo-hyuk had already come to the entrance of the parking lot.

Hyun-sung reached out and waved before driving out of the hospital.

***

Hyun-sung arrived in front of Younghee’s Jokbal restaurant in Gongdeok-dong.

Slide!

Hyun-sung immediately opened the door and went inside.

“Oh? Mr. Kim!”

The owner, who was cutting jokbal, greeted Hyun-sung warmly.

“I came to Seoul on business and stopped by on the way back. Have you been well?”

“Of course. By the way, is the twins’ mother doing well?”

He had mentioned that his wife was pregnant with twins when he ordered jokbal. That’s why she was talking about it now.

“Yes, she’s doing well. Please pack jokbal and stir-fried pork rinds today.”

“Yes, I understand. Please wait a moment.”

The owner started packing the jokbal with a bright expression.

After a while.

The owner, having finished packing, cautiously opened her mouth to Hyun-sung.

“Um, can you talk to our Younghee for a moment?”

“Younghee?”

“Yes, our Younghee said she has something to say to you.”

“Really? That’s great. I wanted to hear Younghee’s voice too. What’s the home phone number?”

Hyun-sung immediately started making a call.

Beep, beep…

The other party didn’t answer even after several rings. Then the owner said immediately.

“It takes some time for her to answer the phone. So…”

Just then.

A man’s voice was heard from the phone.

-Hello.

“Younghee?”

-Yes, who is this?

“This is Kim Hyun-sung.”

-Ah, Hyun-sung!

It was the moment the voice on the phone changed. Unlike before, the voice became brighter.

-Did you come to our jokbal restaurant?

“Yes, I came to Seoul on business and stopped by on the way back. By the way, should we drop the formalities since we’re talking? We’re the same age anyway. What do you think?”

-Then shall we?

“Okay, then from this moment on, we’ll speak informally to each other. I’ll start first. Younghee, nice to meet you!”

Hyun-sung called his name in a friendly manner. Then his voice was immediately heard from the phone.

-Yeah, Hyun-sung. Nice to meet you too. Actually…”

His words continued at length. It turned out that the reason he wanted to talk was this: to be friends.

After that, the two talked for a long time. Younghee’s mother, watching them, had a pleased expression.

Click.

As Hyun-sung hung up the phone, the owner said immediately.

“Thank you, Mr. Kim.”

“You don’t have to say such things. And please don’t call me that anymore, just call me by my name. I decided to be friends with Younghee from today. I’m a friend’s mother from now on, so just call me Mother.”

“Can I do that?”

“Of course, Mother!”

Hyun-sung called her affectionately on purpose. Then he could immediately see a smile spreading across her face.

Hyun-sung looked at her and continued.

“You said the third Wednesday is a holiday, right?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“I’ll visit you at home that day next month.”

“At our house?”

She looked at Hyun-sung with a surprised expression. Then Hyun-sung nodded and said.

“Yes, I promised to eat samgyeopsal [grilled pork belly] with Younghee that day.”

“Samgyeopsal?”

“Yes, Younghee said he wanted to eat samgyeopsal with me. So I said I would go to your house on your day off.”

That’s what Ahn Younghee had said when they talked earlier. So Hyun-sung had gladly agreed.

“Our Younghee must be missing people. He’s always at home…”

A shadow fell over Younghee’s mother’s eyes. It must be the heart of a mother with a sick child.

She immediately continued.

“I don’t know if our Younghee is bothering you.”

“No, it’s not like that. So don’t think that way. I’m doing it because I want to. Then I’ll see you next month, and I’ll be on my way today.”

With those words, Hyun-sung greeted her and left the store.

After a few steps.

He heard someone calling him from behind.

“Hyun-sung!”

He turned around and saw Younghee’s mother waving her hand. Then she said again.

“Thank you so much!”

Hyun-sung bowed his head in greeting and turned to head to the parking lot.