Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 710

713

“What? He’s not taking it?”

Hyun-sung couldn’t help but be surprised.

He naturally expected him to accept it. With this amount of money, he could easily open two noodle shops. Depending on the location, he might even be able to open three.

But now, Oh Myung-hwan was refusing the money.

Why?

For what reason?

He wouldn’t refuse without a reason.

Curious, Hyun-sung asked again before he could speak.

“Director Oh, what’s the reason? Why won’t you take it?”

“It’s because of a promise I made to myself.”

“A promise to yourself?”

Hyun-sung’s brow furrowed.

A promise to himself?

It wasn’t easy to understand at first glance.

Hyun-sung asked again.

“What do you mean by that?”

“To be honest, I was very conflicted after receiving the money from you earlier. With that money, I could immediately sign contracts for two stores tomorrow. But I couldn’t do that. The reason is that when I received 100 million won from you last year, I made a promise to myself.”

Oh Myung-hwan emptied the water glass in front of him, as if his throat was parched, and continued.

“At that time, I promised myself that I would never accept help from anyone again.”

“You wouldn’t accept help from anyone?”

“Yes, that’s right. I thought once was enough. As you know, I’m forty-six years old this year. Frankly, isn’t it embarrassing to receive help from someone at that age?”

That might be true. It wouldn’t be normal to receive help from someone after forty.

Hyun-sung was curious about what he would say next.

“So?”

“So, I decided to end it with this one time. I promised myself to work hard so that I would never receive help from others again. And I’ve been working hard for the past year. As a result, I even opened an indoor food stall today.”

Pfft.

A smile naturally spread across Hyun-sung’s face.

He had no idea that Oh Myung-hwan was thinking that way.

Generally, no one dislikes money. Especially if it’s not money that needs to be repaid.

Yet, Oh Myung-hwan was adamantly refusing the money now.

Hyun-sung couldn’t help but feel good seeing this new side of him. That’s why a smile naturally appeared on his face.

“So, you’re not taking this money now?”

“Yes, that’s right. Even if it takes a little longer, I want to open a noodle shop with my own strength. So, I hope you won’t be disappointed.”

“Haha, hahaha…”

Hyun-sung suddenly started laughing loudly.

After a while of laughing.

Hyun-sung stopped laughing and stared intently at Oh Myung-hwan. Then he immediately called him.

“Director Oh.”

“Yes, Hyung-nim [term of endearment for an older brother or male friend].”

“Why do you think I would be disappointed?”

“It’s because you thought about it and gave it to me, but I’m refusing, so from your perspective, you might be disappointed.”

Smirk.

Hyun-sung smiled once again and said immediately.

“Not at all! I’m actually the opposite. Honestly, I’m so grateful that you were thinking that way. No, I even feel sorry. I never dreamed that you were thinking that way.”

Hyun-sung looked at Oh Myung-hwan for a moment and then continued.

“I’m sorry, Director Oh. I didn’t realize what you were thinking. And thank you. Thank you for thinking so wonderfully. From now on, I’ll be watching you from behind. So, live your life 멋지게 [meotjige – stylishly/coolly] as you think, and I hope you achieve your goal.”

“Yes, Hyung-nim. Thank you. Thank you for understanding my heart like this. If it gets really hard, I might ask you for help then. Please don’t ignore me then and take my hand.”

“Of course. I’ll be standing right behind you, so don’t worry about anything and fly as much as you want.”

Hyun-sung picked up the glass in front of him.

“Director Oh, let’s toast. I feel so good today. I think I chose the right person.”

“I’m embarrassed.”

“Don’t mention it. Cheers.”

Clink!

The two men’s soju [Korean distilled spirit] glasses clinked in the air with a cheerful sound.

Hyun-sung ate some sliced pork as an appetizer and glanced at the clock on the wall. Seeing that, Oh Myung-hwan immediately asked.

“Hyung-nim, you’ve been looking at the clock for a while now. Do you have an appointment with someone?”

“Yeah, someone is supposed to come here.”

It was then.

Ding-dong!

Hyun-sung’s cell phone rang.

Hyun-sung immediately answered the phone, exchanged a few words, and hung up.

As soon as Hyun-sung hung up, a young man entered the store. Hyun-sung, as if he had been waiting, immediately raised his hand and greeted the young man.

“Hey, over here!”

The young man immediately approached Hyun-sung and bowed his head in greeting.

“Senior, nice to meet you. I’m Jang Min-soo, class of ’94, majoring in Business Administration.”

Yesterday, before leaving Incheon, he had a phone call with someone. That person is Jang Min-soo, who is now in front of him.

He is currently the class representative of the 3rd grade in Business Administration at Kangsang University.

He had promised to meet him here today, so he came here now.

“Nice to meet you, Min-soo!”

Hyun-sung reached out his hand with a smile.

He was a junior from the same university’s business department. There was no reason not to be happy. Moreover, he had talked with him for a long time on the phone yesterday, so he could call him comfortably.

As Hyun-sung reached out his hand, Jang Min-soo also greeted Hyun-sung’s hand with a smile and said.

“Senior, I’m glad to meet you too. And I’m honored to meet such a legendary senior.”

Jang Min-soo looked nervous, his face flushed.

Why wouldn’t he be?

There would be no one at Kangsang University who didn’t know Hyun-sung, class of ’88, majoring in Business Administration. He was such a legendary figure at Kangsang University.

That’s because he was the only one who passed the Certified Public Accountant exam in both the 1st and 2nd rounds after finishing his freshman year, and that record has not been broken until now.

Not only that, but there is even a scholarship named after him. Of course, that scholarship is operated with money donated by Hyun-sung.

In addition, he runs the largest restaurant in Korea.

And these days, he is said to be building 주상복합 [jusang-bokhap – mixed-use] buildings in Incheon. Not just one or two, but seven.

He is so famous that the department office is plastered with his pictures.

How could he not be nervous to meet such a person in person?

“Legend? Come on… Sit over here.”

Hyun-sung lightly tapped Jang Min-soo’s shoulder and said. Then, as soon as he sat down next to him, he continued.

“Min-soo, say hello. This is Oh Myung-hwan, the CEO of Food Stall Corporation. And Director Oh, say hello too. This friend is a junior from the same school as me. He is currently the 3rd grade class representative. I asked him to meet me here today, so he came.”

As Hyun-sung finished speaking, Oh Myung-hwan and Jang Min-soo greeted each other.

As the two men finished greeting each other, Park Sang-cheol, the owner of the food stall, approached the table with 잔치국수 [janchi-guksu – celebratory noodles] and placed the bowl of noodles in front of Jang Min-soo, saying.

“Enjoy your meal.”

As Park Sang-cheol was about to leave after putting down the noodles, Hyun-sung called him.

“Sang-cheol, sit down for a moment.”

“Yes, Big Brother.”

As Park Sang-cheol took a seat, Hyun-sung looked at him and Jang Min-soo again and said.

“Min-soo, say hello. This is President Park, who opened an indoor food stall today. And Sang-cheol, this friend is a junior from the same school as me. He is currently the 3rd grade class representative.”

“Nice to meet you. I’m Park Sang-cheol.”

Park Sang-cheol greeted first. Then Jang Min-soo immediately bowed his head and greeted.

“Hello, I’m Jang Min-soo. I heard you opened today. Congratulations.”

“Yes, thank you.”

As Park Sang-cheol was about to leave again after greeting, Hyun-sung called him again.

“Sang-cheol, just a moment. Actually, I deliberately called this friend here today.”

“Yes? Deliberately?”

“Yeah, what do you think the reason is?”

“Well, I don’t know…”

Park Sang-cheol tilted his head as if he didn’t know. Then Hyun-sung immediately continued.

“I deliberately called him here to introduce you two to each other.”

“Introduce?”

“Yeah, if you want to do business in the future, this friend will be very helpful. As I said a little while ago, this friend is the 3rd grade class representative. Do you know what I mean?”

“Ah, yes. So that’s what you meant. I didn’t know…”

Park Sang-cheol nodded as if he understood now.

Business is about connections.

The wider your network, the more helpful it will be for your business.

Moreover, Jang Min-soo said a little while ago that he was the 3rd grade class representative. His influence would inevitably be that much greater.

Hyun-sung deliberately called him here for that reason.

Park Sang-cheol bowed his head to Hyun-sung.

“Thank you, Big Brother.”

Hyun-sung nodded and then looked at Jang Min-soo this time and said.

“Min-soo, as I told you on the phone yesterday, the reason I called you here today is to ask you to help this friend in the future. Do you know what I mean?”

When you become the 3rd grade class representative at a university, your influence is usually greatest from the 1st grade to the 3rd grade of that department.

Especially when there is a department meeting, it is even more so.

That was the reason Hyun-sung called Jang Min-soo here. He hoped that if they were going to have a drinking party, they would do it here as much as possible.

“Yes, Senior. I don’t know if I’ll be helpful, but I’ll do my best.”

“Don’t feel too pressured though.”

“Yes, I understand. Anyway, if I’m going to drink, it’s better to drink at a place I know.”

“Wait, how old is Min-soo this year?”

“Twenty-five.”

Hyun-sung looked at Park Sang-cheol this time and asked.

“How about Sang-cheol?”

“Twenty-six.”

“Then the two of you are one year apart. That’s great. How about you two just become 형, 동생 [hyung, dongsaeng – older brother/sister, younger brother/sister] at this opportunity?”

Hyun-sung looked at Jang Min-soo. Then Jang Min-soo nodded as if he understood and said to Park Sang-cheol.

“From now on, I’ll call you Sang-cheol Hyung.”

“Huh? Oh, yeah. I’m grateful. Well, in that sense, let’s have a drink of soju.”

Park Sang-cheol quickly handed a soju glass to Jang Min-soo and started pouring soju. Then Jang Min-soo also poured soju for Park Sang-cheol.

As the two men’s glasses were filled with alcohol, Hyun-sung raised his glass high.

“Okay, let’s all toast together.”

With Hyun-sung’s words, the four people’s glasses on the table clinked in the air with a cheerful sound.

“Wow! This is amazing.”

Jang Min-soo, who had emptied his glass, looked at Park Sang-cheol in front of him while eating 잔치국수 [janchi-guksu – celebratory noodles].

“Did you make this 잔치국수 [janchi-guksu – celebratory noodles], Hyung?”

“Yeah, I did. How does it taste?”

“Wow! It’s really the best. I like noodles too, so I eat them sometimes, but this is the first time I’ve tasted such a rich flavor. I can feel the savory taste of anchovies. Wow! I can’t believe it.”

With those words, Jang Min-soo began to 흡입 [heup-ip – inhale/slurp] 잔치국수 [janchi-guksu – celebratory noodles] 정신없이 [jeongsin-eopsi – mindlessly/without thinking]. Just by looking at him eating, you could tell how delicious it was.

A smile began to spread across Hyun-sung’s face as he watched him intently.

After a while.

As Jang Min-soo emptied the noodle bowl in an instant, Hyun-sung immediately asked as if he had been waiting.

“How is it?”

“I’m not lying, this is the first time I’ve had such delicious 잔치국수 [janchi-guksu – celebratory noodles].”

“You too, right? Actually, I also ate this noodle today and really fell in love with the taste.”

“Hmm…”

Jang Min-soo seemed to be thinking for a moment and then immediately opened his mouth.

“I think you can get an answer just by selling this.”

At Jang Min-soo’s answer, Hyun-sung and Oh Myung-hwan’s eyes met momentarily.

The two of them had been talking about it until just now. That’s why Jang Min-soo’s praise for the noodles was more welcome than ever.

Hyun-sung immediately opened his mouth.

“Min-soo, you think so too, right? You think there’s enough chance of success with just this noodle?”

“Yes, that’s right. If it’s this delicious, people will probably line up to eat it. It’s a pity.”

“Huh? What is?”

“That this noodle shop isn’t near the school.”

At that very moment.

A thought flashed through Hyun-sung’s mind.

“Min-soo, how much is ramen at a restaurant near the school now?”

“800 won.”

Hyun-sung’s gaze turned to the menu. The menu stated that 잔치국수 [janchi-guksu – celebratory noodles] was 1,000 won.

Hyun-sung asked Jang Min-soo again.

“Min-soo, if ramen is 800 won and 잔치국수 [janchi-guksu – celebratory noodles] is 1,000 won, which one would you eat? Of course, that 잔치국수 [janchi-guksu – celebratory noodles] is the 잔치국수 [janchi-guksu – celebratory noodles] you ate a little while ago.”

“What’s there to 고민 [gomin – worry/hesitate]? Of course, 잔치국수 [janchi-guksu – celebratory noodles]. Moreover, the amount is more than twice that of ramen. Any hungry student would eat 잔치국수 [janchi-guksu – celebratory noodles].”

Smirk.

It was the moment when a smile spread across Hyun-sung’s face.