Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 75

Left alone, Sanghyun Park murmured,

“Hmm…”

It was a period that felt both long and short.

Sanghyun Park turned his head to look out the window. Today, the schoolyard felt particularly familiar.

It was a space that felt so strange and awkward when he first arrived four years ago.

Now, the thought of leaving this place brought back many memories.

“It must be lingering feelings…”

He had been feeling strangely empty lately. It would be odd if he didn’t.

Sigh…

A long sigh came out involuntarily.

His heart was still young, but it was already his retirement.

Sanghyun Park shook his head.

It was to shake off the thoughts, even a little.

He couldn’t afford to waste time doing nothing with these emotions.

Sanghyun Park recalled what Hyunseong had said a little while ago.

“Precious memories…”

After thinking for a while, Sanghyun Park nodded.

A smile began to spread across his face.

Leaving the principal’s office, Hyunseong started running.

Talking with Principal Park Sanghyun had made him a bit late for his appointment with his father.

Hyunseong was almost at the real estate agency when he saw his father.

“Father!”

His father, whom he expected to have already arrived, was walking quickly towards the real estate agency.

Arriving, his father looked at Hyunseong and said,

“Oh, hey Hyunseong. I hope I’m not too late. The bus was especially late today.”

“No, I just got here too. But why are you sweating so much?”

“I was afraid of being late, so I hurried as soon as I got off at the terminal…”

“What’s the rush?”

Hyunseong quickly wiped the sweat from his father’s forehead with his sleeve.

His father must have been very worried about being a little late. That’s why he must have run from the terminal.

That’s the kind of father he was.

Hyunseong grabbed his father’s arm and said,

“Let’s go in, Father.”

The two entered the real estate agency.

The contract was concluded smoothly. The basics had already been discussed with the real estate agent, Park Insoo, so there wasn’t much to adjust.

The only special condition was the contract period.

They signed a 5-year contract.

This was to prevent any abuse of power by the landlord.

Now that long-term leases were not common, the landlord agreed unconditionally, but people’s minds could change at any time, so they created a safety net in advance.

And they added a clause that the tenant could transfer the lease even within the contract period. This was to prepare for any unforeseen circumstances.

The landlord had nothing to lose, so he readily agreed.

Finally, they specified the right to use the inner building. The condition was that the landlord would not interfere, regardless of the purpose for which the tenant used it.

This was to prepare for the possibility of using it as a business.

After finalizing the contract, Hyunseong asked the landlord, Oh Myungseon,

“Mr. Oh, do you happen to be selling this place?”

“Why? Are you thinking of buying it?”

“Hehe, who knows? If I do well in business later… of course, that’s just wishful thinking.”

“Haha, this young man has big dreams. Okay, bring three ‘jang’ [an old Korean unit of currency], including the inner building.”

“Three ‘jang’ means 30 million won, right?”

“That’s right. I’ll hand it over right away if you give me that amount anytime.”

Hyunseong chuckled inwardly.

This price would be impossible even 10 years from now. That meant he had no intention of selling. And this place would be taken by the road later, so it wasn’t worth much money.

Hyunseong smiled and said,

“I’ll take that as you have no intention of selling.”

“Indeed, you’re a remarkable fellow. You already know the market price here. You’re right. I have no intention of selling this land. Eventually, this place will be developed within 10 years, no matter how late, right?”

To be exact, it was 14 years later. In 2000, this place would be taken by the road.

“Maybe… that’s right.”

Hyunseong didn’t say anything more.

Leaving the real estate agency, Hyunseong headed to the store he had just contracted with his father.

It was to show his father the store.

While walking, his father asked,

“Are you sure about this?”

“About what?”

“About the store becoming a hit.”

“Why? Are you still worried?”

“Well…”

Hyunseong turned to look at his father’s expression.

He could read his father’s mind from his tightly closed lips.

It was the same at the real estate agency. While signing the contract, his father’s expression was stiff.

When Hyunseong looked at him, he forced a smile as if to say he was okay.

He could feel his hand trembling even as he wrote his name on the contract.

He was worried.

Of course, what parent wouldn’t worry when a high school sophomore says he’s going to start a business?

It was only natural.

No words could comfort him now.

Swoosh.

Hyunseong took his father’s hand.

His father cleared his throat to cover his embarrassment.

“Ahem…”

“Father!”

“Huh? What…?”

“Just because.”

“You’re such a simpleton for a grown-up…”

Come to think of it, it was the first time he had held his father’s hand and walked. In his past life, he had been especially taciturn, so it was even more so.

Father and son, in some ways, they seemed to be the closest yet most distant relationship.

There was one thing he realized as he got older. It was his own reflection in the mirror.

He didn’t know until he was forty.

After forty, he began to see himself resembling his father in the mirror one day.

As time passed and he passed fifty, he could only laugh wryly whenever he looked in the mirror.

Even while washing his face, he would see his father in the mirror.

By then, his father had already passed away several years ago.

Hyunseong squeezed his father’s hand and said,

“Father, shall we go fishing this Sunday?”

“What’s gotten into you? You hate fishing, don’t you?”

Hyunseong had never been interested in fishing. So, whenever his father suggested going fishing when he was young, he would always try to find a way to escape.

“I’m going to try to like it from now on.”

“Your father would be happy. I haven’t been fishing in a while, so that’s great.”

“Okay then, let’s go fishing at the reservoir this Sunday.”

“Haha, I’m already looking forward to Sunday.”

The stiff expression on his father’s face from a moment ago was nowhere to be seen.

The two arrived in front of the store.

“Here it is, Father.”

“Okay…”

His father’s face darkened again.

Then Hyunseong continued,

“Don’t worry too much. It’s inside an alley, but a lot of students pass through this alley, so it’ll be fine.”

“I know. It’s not like anything will change if I worry now. Now that you’ve started, work hard. And if you need your father’s help, tell me anytime. I’ll help you with anything I can.”

“Yes, I understand. I feel energized just hearing you say that, Father.”

Hyunseong opened the store door and led his father to the inner building.

Then his father asked,

“So, you’re going to be living and eating here from now on?”

“I think I’ll have to once I start the business. It’s too far from home, so I can’t help it.”

“I guess so. At least the school is close, so that’s a relief.”

“Yes, my commute time has been reduced by about an hour.”

What made him happy when he checked the inner building this morning was that securing space was important, but more than anything, he could solve the problem of living and eating there.

It was almost impossible to run a business while commuting from a long distance for a day or two. Moreover, there was no way to do it if it rained or in the middle of winter.

So, at first, he even thought about getting a separate room.

Fortunately, having the inner building solved both the problem of living and eating and the narrowness of the business space at once.

His father carefully examined the inner building and asked again,

“Are you thinking of receiving customers here too?”

“Huh? How did you know?”

“I thought it was a little strange when I wrote the contract earlier, but after coming here, I think I know why.”

“Haha, you’re sharp as always, Father. Actually, I was worried because the hall is too small.”

“To that extent… oh, no. I hope this place is packed too.”

The reason why his father changed his words in the middle was obvious.

He was worried about whether the business would be successful.

Hyunseong couldn’t possibly not know that.

“Father, don’t worry. I’ll try to make sure this place is packed.”

“Haha, this kid has a good sense… I know. Then let’s go. Let’s go eat a bowl of Jjambong [spicy Korean noodle soup with seafood].”

“What should I do? I have someone to meet for a while.”

“Why, who else is coming?”

“A contractor. I’m going to get a quote.”

“You’re so thorough. I don’t know when our Hyunseong grew up like this. Okay then, I’ll go first, so let’s see you at home later.”

Hyunseong escorted his father to the main street and headed back into the alley.

He was almost in front of the store.

‘Why is that guy here again?’

Min Doosik, whom he had seen in the morning, was standing in front of the store. He was the guy who used to run a ramen shop here in his past life.

He thought he wouldn’t have to see him anymore, but that was just Hyunseong’s thought.

Hyunseong approached Min Doosik and asked,

“Is there anything else you need?”

“You went ahead and signed the contract?”

This meant that he had already visited the real estate agency and confirmed it.

He couldn’t understand why this guy was so obsessed. But he didn’t want to ask him again.

“Please leave.”

“You ignored my warning, huh?”

“I said, leave!”

Hyunseong couldn’t help but raise his voice.

Then, what Min Doosik did next was absurd.

Tap.

He flicked Hyunseong’s forehead with his finger.

“You little punk, you don’t respect adults?”

“Touch me one more time. Then I won’t stand still.”

“Huh! Look at this punk. If you don’t stand still, what are you going to do?”

Swoosh.

Min Doosik put his finger out again.

But his finger didn’t reach Hyunseong’s forehead.

“Argh, you little punk, won’t you let go?”

“Then why don’t you listen to people?”

Crack.

Hyunseong slowly began to bend Min Doosik’s finger. Then Min Doosik’s expression was a sight to behold.

“You… you little punk, what are you doing?”

Min Doosik was dumbfounded.

Even so, he didn’t expect a young kid to come out like this. There was more than a 20-year age difference, not just a year or two.

Of course, he knew he was rude in the morning, but he didn’t know he would come out this strong.

Hyunseong put more force on his wrist.

Thud.

“Argh!”

Min Doosik screamed.

If he bent it a little more here, his finger would be bent backward. That’s why Min Doosik was desperately holding on with his strength.

“Hey! You crazy punk, argh, damn my finger. Won’t you let go?”

Hyunseong looked at Min Doosik and said,

“Then why are you waving your finger around recklessly? Why don’t you try it one more time?”

Hyunseong shook off Min Doosik’s finger.

He wanted to bend it backward, but he barely held back.

Looking at his appearance, he was the type to make a fuss and sue him.

“You, you little punk, stay right here.”

Min Doosik clutched his finger and stormed out of the alley.

Clatter.

Hyunseong opened the store door wide.

First of all, he was going to get rid of the moldy smell inside as soon as possible. The store had been empty for too long, so the musty moldy smell was no joke.

It was then that a man in his mid-40s approached.

“Excuse me, are you Kim Hyunseong?”

“Yes, are you the contractor?”

“Yes, that’s right. I came on the recommendation of Park Heecheol.”