Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 718

721

The next day, in the afternoon.

Hyeonseong left his room to visit Lee Suhyuk at the hospital. As if she had been waiting, his wife, Yoon Jisu, came out of the kitchen and handed him a bag.

“Take this with you.”

“What is it?”

“It’s some side dishes. Take them for Suhyuk. I thought he might not have much appetite because of the strong medicine, but I don’t know if he’ll like them.”

Hyeonseong looked at Yoon Jisu for a moment.

She was smiling shyly.

To Hyeonseong, she looked incredibly beautiful.

It was completely unexpected. He was already grateful that she had encouraged him to visit his friend, but she had even prepared side dishes.

Who would do something like this if asked?

This was something that could only come from genuine care.

“Jisu, I’m really touched by this.”

“Touched? I just made a few side dishes.”

“It’s not just about the side dishes, but the fact that you even thought about making them for my friend. That’s what touches me.”

It was true. No matter how he looked at it, this wasn’t something just anyone would do.

Hyeonseong hadn’t even realized that his wife had this kind of heart.

“Hyeonseong, you’re something else… You’ll be late for dinner. Stop it and go quickly.”

“Okay, I understand.”

Hyeonseong nodded and held the bag to his chest. A comforting warmth radiated through it.

It felt like her warm heart was being conveyed directly.

“Suhyuk will love it.”

“I don’t know if it will suit his taste.”

“Of course, it will. I guarantee Jisu’s cooking skills. So don’t worry about a thing.”

“Well… Yes, I understand. Go quickly.”

Yoon Jisu stopped herself from saying anything more and gently pushed Hyeonseong’s back.

“Yes, I understand. I’m really going now.”

Hyeonseong lightly hugged Yoon Jisu, then left the house and headed to the parking lot.

Getting into the car, Hyeonseong immediately made a phone call.

Beep, beep.

The signal rang twice before the other person answered.

-Hello.

“Suhyuk, it’s me.”

-Oh, Hyeonseong!

Lee Suhyuk’s voice sounded cheerful.

“What were you doing?”

-Working.

“Working? Were you writing that novel you mentioned a few days ago?”

He had heard that Suhyuk had started writing again when they last spoke. When he asked if it was difficult, Suhyuk said he was actually enjoying it.

It was hard to understand.

In fact, it didn’t seem logical to be working in his current condition. It especially didn’t make sense to be writing when he was dealing with headaches.

But he claimed he enjoyed writing in this situation.

So, just in case, he asked him why. But the answer was ridiculous.

-It’s a secret.

Hyeonseong was speechless for a moment, but he just laughed it off.

-Yeah, that’s right.

“Is it going well?”

-It’s going very well, thanks to you.”

“What? Thanks to me? What did I do?”

-You got me a private room. It’s perfect for working because there’s no one else around. I can turn on the lights and work until late at night.”

Well, since he was alone, there was no one to complain about him keeping the lights on. That would have been impossible in a shared hospital room.

-So I’m thinking of you every time I work!

Lee Suhyuk said, seemingly joking.

“You’re disgusting… Anyway, I’m leaving now. So, even if I’m a little late, don’t eat dinner and wait for me.”

-You’re coming now?

“Yeah, if I leave now, I’ll be there in an hour. So let’s have dinner together today.”

-Okay, I understand. Drive carefully!

Click.

A smile spread across Hyeonseong’s face after he hung up.

To be honest, he had been worried before making the call. He was concerned that Suhyuk might be having a hard time because of the new medication.

But fortunately, judging from his voice, it didn’t seem too bad yet.

Hyeonseong turned his head and looked at the lunch box bag in the passenger seat.

Tuk tuk.

Hyeonseong lightly tapped the bag, left the parking lot, and pressed the accelerator towards Seoul.

At that time.

Lee Suhyuk, who had hung up, covered his mouth with his hand for a moment.

After a while.

“Hoo…”

Lee Suhyuk barely calmed himself and took a long breath.

Perhaps because of the new drug, he sometimes felt nauseous and had a hard time even speaking. It had happened a little while ago when he was talking to Hyeonseong.

Fortunately, he could still barely hold it in. If not, he would have had to hang up in the middle of the conversation.

If that had happened, how worried would Hyeonseong have been?

Lee Suhyuk sighed in relief again.

Creak!

The hospital room door opened, and his mother, Yoo Sumin, came in.

Lee Suhyuk spoke first.

“Mom, Hyeonseong is coming.”

“Hyeonseong is coming now?”

“Yes, I just got a call. I think he’s coming because of the test tomorrow.”

“I guess so. He must be very busy, but even in the midst of that…”

Yoo Sumin was simply grateful.

She knew very well that it was impossible for an ordinary person to be so considerate, even if they were close friends.

“Mom, you can go visit Auntie in Yeongdeungpo tonight.”

“Then should I?”

“Yes, do that…”

Lee Suhyuk stopped talking and covered his mouth with his hand. He felt nauseous again.

After a while.

Lee Suhyuk opened his mouth again.

“Do that. Hyeonseong said he’d have dinner with me, so you can go now and come back tomorrow afternoon.”

“Okay, I understand. But what are we going to do about your stomach feeling bad all the time?”

“What can we do? The doctor told me to be prepared if I want to get better, so I can endure this much.”

“Um, okay.”

Yoo Sumin had nothing else to say.

As a mother, it was extremely painful to watch her son gagging.

But this was also part of the treatment process, so there was nothing she could do.

After a while.

His mother, Yoo Sumin, left the hospital room, and Lee Suhyuk was left alone.

Creak.

The hospital room door opened, and a nurse came in.

“Suhyuk, how are you feeling?”

“I’m good!”

Lee Suhyuk’s voice was brighter than ever. Then, the nurse glanced at Lee Suhyuk and asked again.

“What happened? Why are you in such a good mood today?”

“My friend said he’s coming.”

“Friend? Is it that friend you said you were closest to? I think his name was Hyeonseong?”

“Oh? You even remember his name?”

Lee Suhyuk looked at the nurse as if he was surprised.

Of course, he had mentioned Hyeonseong’s name before. But it was still amazing that she remembered it.

“I don’t think there’s anyone among the nurses who doesn’t know that name.”

“Huh? Why?”

“How can we not know when Suhyuk brags about him so much?”

“Did I talk about him that much?”

“Yes, I’ve heard it three times alone.”

“Oh, is that so?”

Lee Suhyuk had nothing to say. He hadn’t realized he had talked about his friend that much.

“I’m jealous.”

“Huh? Of what?”

“That you have such a friend. You’re blessed. And your blood pressure and pulse are all normal. Oh, how’s the nausea?”

“Ugh!”

Lee Suhyuk covered his mouth again. He suddenly felt sick again.

After a while.

“Hoo…”

Lee Suhyuk took a long breath.

“Are you okay?”

“Yes, I’m okay again now. The doctor told me to be prepared for this much, so I can endure it.”

“Okay, endure it and overcome it. And oh, is the novel going well?”

“So so.”

Lee Suhyuk scratched his head slightly.

“Please tell me when it comes out as a book later. I’ll definitely buy it and read it.”

“It’s still far off. But honestly…”

Lee Suhyuk couldn’t say any more. Honestly, he wasn’t sure if he could finish this novel right now.

“Why? Is there a problem?”

“No, there’s just something.”

“Promise me.”

“Huh? What promise?”

Lee Suhyuk looked at the nurse. Then, the nurse smiled and said.

“That you’ll finish the novel before you leave this hospital.”

“Did you say leave the hospital now?”

The words ‘leave the hospital’ resonated deeply with Lee Suhyuk. That phrase implied that he would be completely healed and discharged.

“Yes, leave the hospital. I think you’ll be able to leave here in about two years.”

“Two years?”

To Lee Suhyuk, the number ‘2’ felt too long. In fact, he had heard that he only had about a year left at the Wonju hospital before coming here.

“Can I last two years?”

“Of course.”

“Of course?”

The nurse’s voice was full of confidence, as if it was obvious.

But from Lee Suhyuk’s point of view, he couldn’t understand her certainty.

Of course, he was grateful for her words. But he was also curious as to why she was so sure.

“Excuse me, Nurse.”

“Yes, tell me.”

“What’s the basis for that?”

“Basis?”

“Yes, what basis do you have for being so sure?”

Lee Suhyuk looked at the nurse directly. He was curious to know what she would say.

“Money.”

“Huh? Money?”

Lee Suhyuk was dumbfounded. He hadn’t expected the word ‘money’ to come out of her mouth.

Lee Suhyuk asked again.

“Why money?”

“I can’t trust people, but I trust money.”

It was hard to understand. What was she suddenly going to trust about money?

Then, the nurse’s words continued.

“Suhyuk, you know, right? How expensive that medicine is.”

“Are you talking about the new drug?”

“Yes, that’s right. You know that the medicine costs 200 million won [approximately $150,000 USD] per bottle, right?”

“Yes, of course. I heard about it later, though.”

That was true. At first, he didn’t even know that the medicine was so expensive. He found out later that the price was beyond imagination.

“And you also know that you have to get at least five bottles once you start injecting that medicine, right?”

“Yes, I heard that too.”

“See, that means the medicine alone costs at least 1 billion won [approximately $750,000 USD]. So I’m going to trust the value of that money.”

The nurse’s words continued.

“1 billion won is definitely not a small amount.”

“Of course, that’s right.”

“So I’m going to trust the value of that money, that is, the power of money. That money will definitely cure Suhyuk’s disease.”

Only then did Lee Suhyuk understand why the nurse had said she would trust money.

Maybe her words sounded cold, but they were right.

1 billion won just for the medicine, and that was the minimum.

Like she said, the power of that money couldn’t be ignored.

“Was I too harsh?”

“No. That’s probably the reality. Who would dare to ignore the power of money?”

“That’s right. I haven’t lived in the world for very long, but even if people lie, money doesn’t lie.”

Lee Suhyuk had no choice but to nod.

It was an unavoidable reality. Even he would have been waiting for death in Wonju right now if it weren’t for Hyeonseong’s help.

That is the power and value of money.

“I admit it. I wouldn’t have been able to come here either if it weren’t for Hyeonseong’s help.”

“Whatever the reason, the important thing is that Suhyuk is currently benefiting from that money. Am I right?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

It was an undeniable fact.

“Now you know why I said I trust money, right?”

“Yes, enough.”

“So Suhyuk will definitely get better. That’s why I’m telling you to finish the novel before you leave the hospital. How about it, can you do it?”

“…”

Lee Suhyuk couldn’t answer right away.

In fact, even though he had started again, he hadn’t intended to write it to the end. He wasn’t sure he would be completely healed.

Lee Suhyuk’s 고민 [worry/concern] seemed to be getting longer.

The nurse looked at him and started packing up the blood pressure monitor.

“I’ll come back around 8 o’clock. You can give me your answer then.”

It was just then.

Creak!

Someone came in as the hospital room door opened.

It was the moment when Lee Suhyuk’s expression brightened in a way it hadn’t before.