Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 706

709

* * *

Click.

Kim Young-sun, Hyun-sung’s father, hung up the phone and called out loudly for his wife, Lee Ok-chool.

“Honey!”

“Yes, what is it?”

Lee Ok-chool, who was folding laundry in the living room, was surprised by her husband’s unusually loud voice and responded.

“The kids called and said they’re coming over.”

“Kids? Which kids?”

She couldn’t understand what he meant. She couldn’t think of anyone who would be coming over right now.

“Hyun-sung. He said he’s coming with his wife and will be here in an hour.”

“What? Why all of a sudden? Is something wrong?”

The last time she had talked to her son was a few days ago. He hadn’t said anything then. So, hearing that he was coming suddenly made her worry.

“No, he just said he had some business in Gangneung and was stopping by.”

“Oh, really? That’s a relief.”

Lee Ok-chool pushed the laundry aside and asked again, “What about lunch?”

“He said he didn’t eat on purpose so he could eat here.”

“Really? Then I shouldn’t be sitting here. I need to start preparing lunch quickly.”

Lee Ok-chool got up and quickly moved to the kitchen. Then, Kim Young-sun continued, “I’m going out to catch a chicken.”

“Okay, I understand. Let’s hurry.”

The two of them started moving quickly as if they had made a promise. Their expressions were brighter than ever.

At that moment.

The car Hyun-sung and Yoon Ji-soo were in was passing Hoengseong and heading towards Seomyeong-myeon.

Hyun-sung asked, “Ji-soo, are you hungry?”

“Just a little.”

“I told you to eat something at the rest stop, but you insisted.”

“That’s not true. We’re not staying overnight, so we should at least have a meal with your parents.”

They had stopped at a rest stop about an hour ago. Hyun-sung had suggested eating something since it was lunchtime. But Yoon Ji-soo had refused.

The reason was simple.

She wanted to have a meal with his parents.

Of course, she had a point. Since they weren’t staying overnight, they should spend some time together.

But Hyun-sung was worried about his wife. She wasn’t alone. He wanted to feed her something for the sake of the babies in her belly.

But she had refused until the end.

Of course, he was grateful for her consideration.

Parents always want to feed their children, even if it’s just a meal.

His wife knew that.

“Then, drink some of this for our twins.”

Hyun-sung handed Yoon Ji-soo the pink tumbler Lee Sang-hyuk had given him before they left.

“Okay, I will.”

Yoon Ji-soo opened the tumbler Hyun-sung handed her, took a few sips of apple juice, and then said, “How did Sang-hyuk even think to prepare apple juice?”

“I know, right? He’s such a thoughtful guy.”

“I was really surprised. Not just anyone can think of that.”

It had been two hours ago.

Hyun-sung had said that Lee Sang-hyuk, an employee, had prepared it while handing her the tumbler.

At first, she thought he had just put some drink from the supermarket in it. Of course, that would have been appreciated too.

But when she actually drank it, it wasn’t just a simple drink but freshly squeezed apple juice.

Naturally, she was touched.

“That’s what I’m saying. The more time passes, the more I think Sang-hyuk is a good guy.”

“Yes, I think so too. We should stop by Gyeongpo on the way back and buy him a bundle of dried squid.”

“Let’s do that.”

Hyun-sung nodded with a smile.

The car they were in was now driving on an unpaved road.

* * *

“Welcome!”

The mother, who had been waiting in the yard, greeted Yoon Ji-soo warmly as she got out of the car, holding her hands.

“Mother, how have you been?”

“I’ve been fine. How are you?”

Yoon Ji-soo turned her head and bowed to her father.

“Father, have you been well?”

“Yes, dear. Thank you for coming.”

The father looked at Yoon Ji-soo with a pleased expression.

It was a sight he had never seen in his past life. His father had passed away before he could marry Yoon Ji-soo.

Perhaps that’s why Hyun-sung couldn’t help but feel a strange emotion as he watched his father look at his wife Yoon Ji-soo with a pleased expression.

“You’re here?”

Kim Young-sun’s gaze turned to his son, Hyun-sung.

“Yes, Father. Mother, your son is here too.”

Hyun-sung bowed to his father and then spoke to his mother, who was only taking care of Yoon Ji-soo. Then, his mother smiled brightly and greeted Hyun-sung.

“Oh! My son! Welcome!”

The four of them walked through the front door into the house side by side.

“Please, accept our greetings.”

Hyun-sung and Yoon Ji-soo bowed deeply side by side and then sat down, handing the basket they had brought to his parents.

“Don’t come empty-handed, what is this?”

The mother asked, touching the basket wrapped in golden cloth with curiosity. Then, Hyun-sung immediately answered.

“Open it.”

“Shall I?”

The mother carefully began to unwrap the cloth.

And after a while.

“What is this!”

The mother’s pupils dilated to the fullest the moment she unwrapped the cloth.

The mother looked back and forth between Hyun-sung and Yoon Ji-soo. The father next to her was the same.

The mother opened her mouth again.

“Hyun-sung, is this wild ginseng?”

“Yes, it is.”

“Where did you get this wild ginseng?”

“She bought it for you two.”

Hyun-sung glanced at Yoon Ji-soo and said. Then, the father and mother’s gaze turned to Yoon Ji-soo.

At that moment, Yoon Ji-soo was a little embarrassed.

But Yoon Ji-soo immediately realized that Hyun-sung had said that on purpose.

Yoon Ji-soo glanced at Hyun-sung and then immediately continued, “It will be good for your health. Eat one root each first, and then eat another root each later.”

“This precious thing. It must be expensive…”

The mother couldn’t even touch the wild ginseng and was just touching the outer packaging with her palm. Hyun-sung, watching her, stepped forward and removed the packaging. Then, he took out one of the roots and handed it to his father first.

“Father, eat it right now.”

“Huh? Now?”

The father was flustered and didn’t know what to do while holding the wild ginseng. Then, Yoon Ji-soo, who was next to him, supported Hyun-sung’s words.

“Yes, Father. Eat it right now.”

“Well…”

The father was still just holding the wild ginseng. Then, Hyun-sung took out another root of wild ginseng, removed the nodule [the small bump at the top of the root], and handed it to his mother.

“Mother, please eat it too.”

“Huh? You want me to eat this now?”

“Yes, you can eat it anytime, so eat it now. Father, please hurry.”

Hyun-sung urged, looking at his father, who was still just holding it. Then, after a moment of hesitation, the father suddenly took out two roots of wild ginseng from the basket and handed them to Hyun-sung and Yoon Ji-soo.

“Don’t do that, let’s all eat one root each. Come on, eat up!”

The father said, shaking the wild ginseng.

It was at that moment.

Yoon Ji-soo put down the wild ginseng and said,

“Father, I can’t because of the baby… I’ll just accept your kind heart.”

“Huh? Is that so?”

The father seemed flustered for a moment and didn’t know what to do. Then, the mother next to him looked at the father and immediately opened her mouth.

“That’s right, it’s a big deal if you eat anything while you’re pregnant. It’ll be even more sensitive since it’s twins. Yes, it’s better for the baby to eat it later. I’ll buy you a good one later.”

“Yes, Mother.”

Yoon Ji-soo nodded and answered, and then Hyun-sung next to her immediately opened his mouth.

“I’ll eat it later too.”

“Huh? You too?”

“Of course. Aren’t we one in body and soul? I’ll eat it together with our twins after they’re born.”

As soon as Hyun-sung finished speaking, the father immediately continued.

“Yes, do that. You’ll feel bad if you eat it alone. I’ll buy it and take it with me when I go up to Incheon later.”

“Yes, Father.”

Hyun-sung accepted his father’s words with a happy heart. In his past life, it would have been difficult due to financial difficulties, but now his father had the ability to do so, so he could accept his father’s words with a happy heart.

“Father, Mother, please eat.”

“Yes, then I’ll eat it gratefully. Honey, you eat too.”

“Yes, okay.”

Crunch, crunch.

The father and mother hesitated for a moment and then began to eat the wild ginseng at the same time as if they had made a promise.

It was a scene that could not have been imagined in his past life.

Was that why?

A happy smile began to spread across Hyun-sung’s face as he looked at the two of them.

After a while.

After the father and mother had finished eating the wild ginseng, Hyun-sung suddenly started sniffing and twitching his nose.

“What’s this smell? Did you boil a chicken?”

“Oh, yes. Your father caught a chicken because you were coming. It’s probably cooked just right by now. Come on, let’s go to the kitchen.”

The mother took the lead and headed to the kitchen. Then, his wife, Yoon Ji-soo, immediately followed behind her.

Hyun-sung got up from his seat and reached out his hand to his father.

“Father, let’s go.”

“Yes, let’s go.”

The father also took Hyun-sung’s outstretched hand and got up from his seat.

The rough feeling was good.

In his past life, he barely even remembered holding his father’s hand.

What was so difficult about it?

He regretted it after he passed away, but it was no use.

He realized that he had to express his feelings only after a lot of time had passed.

Hyun-sung squeezed the hand he was holding.

The two of them headed to the kitchen side by side.

“Wow, how can a chicken be so big?”

Hyun-sung was surprised to see the chicken on the table. It was a different dimension from the regular chicken he used to eat in the city. It was the epitome of a native chicken [a local breed known for its larger size and tougher meat].

“Your father caught the biggest one, he said.”

The mother said, sitting down in a chair.

Hyun-sung glanced at his father and then said with a smile.

“Father, I’ll enjoy the meal.”

“Yes, eat a lot.”

“Father, Mother, I’ll enjoy the meal.”

Yoon Ji-soo said with a smile.

It was at that moment.

The father suddenly got up from his chair, tore off a chicken leg, and placed it in the bowl in front of Yoon Ji-soo, saying,

“Dear, eat a lot.”

“Yes? Oh, yes… Thank you, Father.”

Yoon Ji-soo seemed a little flustered by her father’s sudden action, but she quickly regained her composure and said.

Hyun-sung smiled at the sight. Then, he quickly tore off the remaining leg and gave it to his mother.

“This is for Mother.”

“No, you should eat this. We can eat it anytime.”

The mother quickly moved the chicken leg placed in her bowl to Hyun-sung’s bowl. Then, Hyun-sung tried to move the chicken leg to his father’s bowl this time.

But the father’s words were faster.

“It’s okay. You eat it.”

“No, this is for Father…”

“I said it’s okay, we ate it a few days ago. So, you two eat it.”

The story that they had eaten it a few days ago was, of course, a lie.

Chicken leg.

In a way, it might be nothing. But Hyun-sung knew very well that this moment was about each other’s love for the family.

And he knew very well how he should act at this moment to make his parents happy.

“Yes, then we’ll eat this chicken leg. Ji-soo, let’s eat.”

The two of them began to eat the chicken leg diligently.

Two hours later.

The four people stood in the yard.

Hyun-sung walked up to his father. Then, he opened his arms and hugged him. In his past life, he was too shy to hug his father even once.

But now it’s different. He always greets him like this when he says goodbye.

“Father, I’ll be going now.”

Pat, pat.

The father patted Hyun-sung on the back.

Hyun-sung accepted the feeling with his whole body for a moment. The resonance that was transmitted to his heart was so good.

After a while.

Hyun-sung and Yoon Ji-soo, who had exchanged all the greetings, got into the car and were about to leave.

It was at that moment.

The father approached the passenger seat and handed Yoon Ji-soo an envelope.

“Dear, thank you for the wild ginseng. Use this for lunch when you go up to Incheon tomorrow.”

“Yes? Father… Thank you.”

Yoon Ji-soo seemed flustered and didn’t know what to do while holding the envelope in her hand. Then, Hyun-sung smiled brightly and said loudly to his father.

“Thank you, Father!”

The father nodded and smiled brightly.

It was a sight that could not be seen in his past life. That’s why the moment felt even more precious.