Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 704

707

A few days later.

I was just about to leave the office when my phone rang.

*Tring!*

I answered immediately.

“Hello.”

-It’s me, Hyung-nim [older brother, a term of respect].

The caller was Oh Myung-hwan, who runs a street stall business in Gangneung.

He used to work in private lending before starting the street stall.

I answered with a welcoming voice.

“Oh! Hey! CEO Oh! How have you been?”

-Yes, Hyung-nim. Are you doing well as always?

“I’m always the same. But is something wrong?”

-Actually, I hesitated to call, but after much deliberation, I decided to call you.

I tilted my head and asked, “What’s the matter?”

-It’s about the indoor street stall that you mentioned last time. That’s why I called.

I’d mentioned it a few months ago, suggesting that if he was going to run a street stall, he should do it legally indoors.

Oh Myung-hwan was referring to that now.

“Indoor street stall?”

-Yes, that’s right. The first store opens the day after tomorrow. I wanted to give you a heads-up, Hyung-nim.

I tilted my head slightly. He could have just called, but he’d hesitated.

I didn’t understand why.

“Why did you hesitate?”

-Well, it’s meaningful to us, but maybe trivial to you. Compared to your business…

“CEO Oh!” I interrupted him, my voice firm. “I’m disappointed.”

-Yes? What do you mean?

“Do you think I consider you insignificant?”

-It’s not that, but I thought opening an indoor stall might seem small to you. Frankly, compared to your business, it is, right?

I sighed, saying nothing for a moment.

Then, I slowly asked, “Why would you think that way?”

-Well, because your business is so big…

“Really? Then why did you call at all!”

My voice turned sharp, and I immediately heard his worried tone.

-Hyung-nim…! Did I misunderstand?

“Let me ask you something first.”

-Yes, Hyung-nim.

“Why call so late?”

To run an indoor stall, he would have signed a contract at least a month ago. He’d need time for interior design and preparation.

But he’d been silent until now, calling just two days before the opening.

He’d been 고민 [agonizing] over whether to contact me.

I was curious about his reasons.

-Because I thought you’d be happy.

“What? That doesn’t make sense.”

-Yes?

“You hesitated because you thought it was insignificant, but now you say you called because you thought I’d be happy? Why don’t your words match?”

-That’s…

He couldn’t answer. I pressed on, “Do you think I’m insignificant?”

-Hyung-nim, how can you say that? I would never! I just…

He trailed off. “Just what?” I asked.

-I was worried it might be a burden…

“What burden? What kind of great person am I? I’m no different from you!”

-I don’t think so. You opened a new path for our fifty people. Plus, your business is huge, and you’re building a mixed-use building in Incheon. I can’t help but look up to you.

I paused, then said, “CEO Oh.”

-Yes, Hyung-nim.

“Don’t do that again. You know why I didn’t distance myself from you from the start?”

-I don’t know that well…

“Because of your warm heart. If you hadn’t contacted me and asked me to save those fifty brothers, I wouldn’t have had any relationship with you.”

It was a month after the fight a year ago.

Oh Myung-hwan had contacted me, asking me to save fifty people like brothers.

He could have maintained the organization and lived well enough.

But he had the courage to do it for the sake of his family. I was moved and gave him 100 million won [approximately $75,000 USD].

They started the street stall business with that money. And now, they’re opening an indoor stall.

I called him again. “CEO Oh.”

-Yes, Hyung-nim.

“My heart was moved by your warm heart. Did you know that?”

-To be honest, I didn’t think that deeply. I’m not a guy who thinks that much, am I?

I was speechless. He’d said he didn’t contact me because he was worried about being a burden, but now he’s saying he doesn’t think a lot.

It was contradictory.

“What? Then why did you think so much this time? If you’d just called, we wouldn’t have had this long conversation, right?”

-That seems to be the case when I hear it again. Hehe…

I couldn’t help but laugh. Maybe this is his strength: being true to his emotions.

“Don’t do that again. Just contact me if something happens. Don’t worry alone, okay?”

-Yes, I understand. From now on, I’ll contact you immediately.

“Okay, let’s do that. Anyway, we’re the same type.”

-Yes? Same type? What do you mean?

“You have a warm heart, and so do I. That’s why our relationship continues.”

If he wasn’t that kind of person, I wouldn’t have stayed in contact. I wanted to convey that.

He wouldn’t fail to understand, even after all this.

-Yes, I understand. I won’t use my head anymore.

“You’re really… By the way, the first store is opening under your name, right?”

-No. I don’t know if you remember, but I signed the contract under Park Sang-cheol’s name.

I tilted my head. I thought the first store would be under Oh Myung-hwan’s name. But he’d contracted it under someone else’s.

It was unexpected.

“Park Sang-cheol? Isn’t he the youngest? A 격투기 [mixed martial arts] player?”

-Oh? You remember? Yes, that’s right. Sang-cheol is the youngest.

It was surprising. I thought the stores would be obtained sequentially, starting with the CEO. Taking care of the youngest first?

It was hard to understand.

“Whose decision was it?”

-Mine.

“You made that decision? Did everyone agree?”

-At first, everyone opposed it. They said the first store should be under my name.

“But?” I wondered why he’d ignored their opinions.

He was silent for a moment.

-I wanted to.

“Why?”

-At first, I was greedy too. But I didn’t think it was right.

“Why?”

He took even longer to answer this time.

-…It’s because of you.”

“Me?” My voice grew louder. I hadn’t expected him to mention me.

“What does that mean? Why me?”

-I don’t know if you remember, but you always took care of me first, whenever I saw you. When eating and drinking.

I hadn’t seen him often, but I had taken care of him when I had the chance. But I never thought he’d make such a decision because of that.

“That’s the reason?”

-Yes, that’s right. I looked back at myself while watching you. I realized I had never acted like you. I had always only received from my younger siblings. I had been too selfish.

Oh Myung-hwan continued, “So I made a different decision. I decided to take care of the youngest first. Do you know what happened then?”

“Um… I don’t know.”

-The atmosphere of the organization changed.

“The atmosphere?”

-Yes, that’s right. Until now, it was somewhat coercive, based on seniority. But after making that decision, it started to move voluntarily. The younger siblings’ atmosphere changed drastically.

A smile spread across my face.

-That’s not all.

“What else is there?”

-Because the younger siblings are doing well, that atmosphere is spreading upwards. It’s become so good that anyone would think they’re real brothers (친형제).

“So, the organization completely changed with just that one decision?”

-Yes, that’s right. I didn’t know the effect would be this great. I was really surprised. It’s all thanks to you.

“That’s enough. This is your work. Anyway, congratulations.”

I wanted to congratulate him sincerely.

It wouldn’t have been easy, but he’d done it.

“Then, you’ll be the main character of the last, fiftieth store, right?”

-Yes, that’s right. After all the other younger siblings open their stores, I’ll open mine last. That’s my goal.

“Awesome.”

-I’m embarrassed, Hyung-nim.

“The opening is the day after tomorrow, right?”

-Yes, that’s right. But don’t worry about it. I just wanted to let you know.”

I smiled. “Okay, I got it. Congratulations, and I hope you hit the jackpot. Send me the address of the stall as soon as we hang up.”

-Why the address…

“I’ll take care of that, so just send it.”

-Yes, I understand, Hyung-nim. I’ll contact you again next time.

*Click.*

I smiled again.

Shortly after, a text message arrived, and I immediately called the flower delivery service and ordered ten wreaths.

***

I 퇴근 [left work] and went home.

“Did something good happen?” Yoon Ji-soo, my wife, asked as soon as I entered.

“Why? Is it obvious?”

“Look in the mirror. What’s your expression?”

I looked at my face. I smiled. As Yoon Ji-soo said, I was smiling brightly.

“What’s going on?”

“Sit over here.” I took her hand and led her to the sofa. Then I explained the call with Oh Myung-hwan.

As soon as I finished, Yoon Ji-soo said, “That’s what happened.”

“So, let’s go down to Gangneung tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?”

“Yes, the opening is the day after tomorrow, but let’s go down in advance to see 장모님 [mother-in-law] and then attend the opening ceremony and come back. What do you think, Ji-soo?”

At first, I hadn’t planned on going. But the fact that it was the first store bothered me. It was the first start.

And I wanted to see the changed 모습 [state/appearance] of the organization.

Yoon Ji-soo thought for a moment, then nodded. “Yes, 좋아요 [good]. It’s good to get some fresh air and see Mom.”