Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 723

726

That afternoon.

After parting with Lee Soo-hyuk, Hyun-sung arrived at the hospital parking lot and immediately got into his car. He was about to leave when a thought struck him, and he picked up his phone.

“Yes, I should contact him….”

Nodding, Hyun-sung immediately started making a call.

Beep, beep!

The other party answered after two rings.

– Hello.

“Chairman, it’s me.”

The person Hyun-sung called was Shin Chun-oh, the former chairman of Nongshim.

The reason for the call was to report on Lee Soo-hyuk’s health condition.

When you think about it, it was thanks to Chairman Shin Chun-oh that Lee Soo-hyuk was able to come to Severance Hospital. If he hadn’t helped, Hyun-sung wouldn’t have met Dr. Choi Min-young, and if that were the case, today’s positive results wouldn’t have been possible.

Chairman Shin Chun-oh answered the phone with a welcoming voice.

– Oh, hello, Mr. Kim! Is everything alright?

“Yes, I’m doing well thanks to you, Chairman. How are you?”

– I’m doing very well too, thanks to Mr. Kim.

The two continued their casual conversation for a while. Then, Hyun-sung steered the conversation toward the hospital.

“Chairman, I’m at Severance Hospital right now.”

– Severance? Why are you there?

“Because of Soo-hyuk. The first test results came out after the new drug was administered today.”

– Oh! Really! How did it go?

His voice sounded more urgent than during their casual conversation. This showed that Chairman Shin Chun-oh was genuinely interested in Lee Soo-hyuk’s condition.

“Fortunately, it seems the new drug is working. According to Dr. Choi, there’s reason to be hopeful for the future.”

– That’s a relief. Really a relief. I was worried, but thank you for giving me such good news.

Hyun-sung could clearly hear how pleased Shin Chun-oh was from his voice.

He felt he had made the right decision to call.

“They said they will administer the new drug again in a month for the second time. They said we can get more accurate results around that time.”

– Oh, is that so? Anyway, Mr. Kim, you’ve been through a lot.

“No, it’s only natural since he’s my friend….”

– That’s not true!

Chairman Shin Chun-ho cut him off firmly before Hyun-sung could finish. Then, he continued immediately.

– What friend would step up and do what Mr. Kim is doing? Just because they’re friends doesn’t mean they have an obligation to do so.

“He’s special to me.”

– No matter how special he is, it’s not an easy thing to do. I heard that Mr. Kim is taking care of all the hospital bills. That’s why I think Mr. Kim is amazing. It’s not something that ordinary people can do.

Chairman Shin Chun-oh paused to catch his breath before continuing.

– Frankly, I’ve lived a long life, but even if I had such a friend around me, I wouldn’t have been able to step up so easily. It’s not something that anyone can do just because they have money. Anyway, whenever I see Mr. Kim, I always feel that he’s different from other people. A lot different.

“…….”

Hyun-sung didn’t have anything special to say.

Perhaps Chairman Shin Chun-oh was right. If Hyun-sung hadn’t lived a regressed life, he might not have been able to do this much.

But because he had lived another life, he knew what was more precious, so he was able to do it.

– By the way, how are the wedding preparations going for next month?

“Yes, everything’s on track.”

– And the twins are growing well?

“Yes, I can feel their movements quite a bit these days. It’s amazing.”

– Haha, I’m sure it is. Enjoy it while you can.

They exchanged a few more words before ending the call.

Hyun-sung nodded and smiled after hanging up.

He thought he had made the right decision to call.

Before making the call, he was honestly a little worried that he might be calling for nothing.

He was concerned that Chairman Shin Chun-oh might not be interested in Lee Soo-hyuk.

But after talking to him, he realized that wasn’t the case.

A moment later.

“Now, then, this time….”

Hyun-sung looked up another phone number and started making a call.

Beep!

This time, the other party answered the phone right away after one ring.

– Hello.

“Chief Secretary, this is Kim Hyun-sung.”

The person Hyun-sung called this time was Yoon Seung-hyun, the chief secretary of Nongshim’s headquarters. He was the one who helped with Lee Soo-hyuk’s patient transfer last time.

If Yoon Seung-hyun hadn’t stepped in at that time, it wouldn’t have been easy to transfer the patient so quickly, especially at that early hour.

This is the reason why Hyun-sung is calling now.

Hyun-sung felt it was polite to at least inform him of the patient’s condition.

– Ah, Mr. Kim! How have you been?

“Yes, I’m doing well. The reason I’m calling you today is because….”

Hyun-sung explained Lee Soo-hyuk’s current condition to Chief Secretary Yoon Seung-hyun, just as he had done to Chairman Shin Chun-oh earlier.

As soon as Hyun-sung’s explanation was over, Yoon Seung-hyun’s voice was heard.

– That’s really a relief! I was wondering how it was going.

Hyun-sung could feel the sincerity in his voice.

As the saying goes, the voice reflects the heart.

From his voice alone, he could tell that he wasn’t just answering the phone formally, but that he was genuinely relieved.

He thought he had made the right decision to call.

In fact, he had hesitated for a moment before making the call, wondering if he was doing something unnecessary.

He wondered if it was a one-sided action when they had no interest at all.

But fortunately, that wasn’t the case.

Hyun-sung expressed his sincere gratitude.

“Thank you! For worrying about Soo-hyuk!”

– Of course. It’s not like someone else; I transferred him with my own hands.

“That’s true, but….”

Of course, it is true that he stepped up and transferred Lee Soo-hyuk himself, but that was because of instructions from above, not necessarily out of personal desire.

So, he could have been annoyed.

But he wasn’t, at least outwardly.

It was a moment when Hyun-sung could once again appreciate his character.

At times like this, there is no need for other words.

Hyun-sung said immediately.

“Chief Secretary, I would like to thank you once again.”

– You’re welcome. I’m the one who’s grateful for giving me the news. And I received the money well last time. I was going to contact you again, but I just stayed still because I knew what you meant.

Last time, after transferring Lee Soo-hyuk, Hyun-sung gave Yoon Seung-hyun an envelope as he was leaving. At first, he didn’t want to accept it, so Hyun-sung just gave it to him, saying it was a family restaurant meal ticket.

But in fact, there were two one million won bills in the envelope [approximately $1,500 USD].

He wanted to express his gratitude that way.

The money that Yoon Seung-hyun is talking about now is the money from that time.

The two exchanged a few more words before ending the call.

A smile was already spreading on Hyun-sung’s face after hanging up.

As with Chairman Shin Chun-oh earlier, he thought he had made the right decision to call this time as well.

A moment later.

Hyun-sung checked the time.

“Now that it’s come to this, let’s meet and go.”

Hyun-sung started making a call somewhere again.

***

Chief Secretary Yoon Seung-hyun, who had hung up the phone, left his office and headed to the chairman’s office.

It was something that he could have just known and moved on, but since it was something that he moved on after receiving the chairman’s instructions, he thought it was right to report it.

“What’s going on?”

As soon as Chief Secretary Yoon Seung-hyun entered the chairman’s office, Shin Min-ki, the chairman of Nongshim, who was sitting in his chair, asked.

“I just received a call from Mr. Kim Hyun-sung.”

“That Kim Hyun-sung from Incheon?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“What’s the matter?”

“Do you happen to remember Mr. Lee Soo-hyuk?”

“Hmm….”

Shin Min-ki thought for a moment, and then spoke as if he remembered.

“If it’s that friend, isn’t he the patient who was transferred to Severance Hospital early in the morning last time?”

The reason he remembers him is simple: his father.

He received a phone call in the middle of the night a while ago, requesting the transfer of a patient from Wonju to Seoul.

So, he immediately called his chief secretary.

And the work was done smoothly.

The next day, he received a detailed report from Chief Secretary Yoon.

“Yes, that’s right. It’s that friend.”

“But, why is that friend…?”

“The first results came out after the new drug was administered. And the results are….”

Yoon Seung-hyun told Chairman Shin Min-ki exactly what he had heard from Hyun-sung earlier.

As soon as his explanation was over, Chairman Shin Min-ki spoke.

“That’s a relief. I’m glad to hear that the new drug is working.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“But didn’t you say that the new drug is expensive?”

“Yes, that’s right. It costs 200 million won per injection [approximately $150,000 USD]. And it’s not just a one-time thing, but at least five times….”

“Wait a minute!”

Chairman Shin Min-ki suddenly raised his hand and cut off Yoon Seung-hyun’s words. And then he asked again immediately.

“If it’s at least five times, isn’t that 1 billion won just for the medicine [approximately $750,000 USD]?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Can he afford that?”

From Shin Min-ki’s point of view, it was hard to understand.

Just the medicine costs 1 billion won. If you add the hospital bills, the amount will increase even more. How can an ordinary person afford that?

“Of course, he can’t afford it. But Kim Hyun-sung is behind Lee Soo-hyuk.”

“Does that mean…?”

“Yes, Mr. Kim is responsible for all the hospital bills. I was worried, so I checked a few days ago, and Mr. Kim deposited 2 billion won [approximately $1.5 million USD] for the hospital bills initially.”

“What? 2 billion won… Haha.”

Shin Min-ki could only laugh in disbelief.

Does this make sense? Is there anyone in the world who is responsible for someone else’s hospital bills, not just a few pennies, but 2 billion won?

Shin Min-ki asked again.

“What is the relationship between that friend Lee Soo-hyuk and Mr. Kim?”

“They are high school friends.”

“Is that all?”

“Yes, as far as I know, that’s all. Of course, they were close in high school.”

“No, no matter how close they are….”

Shin Min-ki shook his head from side to side.

No matter how he thinks about it, this doesn’t make sense.

Is there anyone in the world who can do that much, no matter how close they were in high school?

Shin Min-ki thought for a moment and said to Yoon Seung-hyun.

“Find out more about that friend.”

“Are you talking about Mr. Kim?”

“Yes, I’ve been thinking that he’s just like that because he’s been close to my father, but I think I need to find out more about him. Find out everything about that friend without leaving anything out.”

“Yes, I understand. I will report to you as soon as possible.”

Chief Secretary Yoon Seung-hyun bowed his head and left the chairman’s office.

Chairman Shin Min-ki, who was left alone, moved to the window and looked out.

“Kim Hyun-sung….”

Chairman Shin Min-ki muttered to himself as he looked out the window.

***

A Jeep stopped in front of a villa located in Gongdeok-dong, Mapo [a district in Seoul].

And after a while, a man got off.

It was Hyun-sung, who had left Severance Hospital 30 minutes ago.

“Is this the place?”

Hyun-sung looked at the villa.

[Buheung Villa]

After checking the villa’s name, Hyun-sung passed the villa and headed to a supermarket 5 minutes away.

A moment later, Hyun-sung came out of the supermarket with a box of soy milk and a box of cup noodles in his hands.

Hyun-sung, who had returned to the villa, headed straight to the first floor.

Diddiddick!

Hyun-sung naturally entered the password.

The person he had last spoken to 30 minutes ago before leaving Severance Hospital was Ahn Young-hee.

Ahn Young-hee.

He is the son of Younghee’s Jokbal [pigs’ feet dish] in Gongdeok Market.

He is the same age as Hyun-sung, so they decided to be friends a while ago.

When he called 30 minutes ago and asked if he could come today, he said he could come anytime.

In fact, there was no firm appointment today.

The original appointment was on the third Wednesday of September. They were supposed to eat pork belly that day.

But today, since he came to Seoul, he called to see his face even for a while.

Thump!

Hyun-sung opened the front door and went inside.

“Young-hee!”

Hyun-sung carefully called Ahn Young-hee’s name.

“…….”

No sound was heard.

Hyun-sung called his name again.

“Young-hee, Ahn Young-hee!”

“…….”

There was no answer this time either.

It was then.

“Ugh….”

A groan was heard from somewhere.

Hyun-sung intuitively knew that something was wrong.

“Young-hee!”

Thump!

Hyun-sung opened the door where the groan was coming from.

“Huh?”