Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 97

97

Hyeonseong stared at Han Myeongsu, unable to understand what he was saying.

“So, what I mean is…”

Han Myeongsu continued his explanation.

He said it was the day after Hyeonseong turned him down.

He had started collecting information about Hyeonseong from then on. In the process of gathering information, he discovered something interesting.

It was that Hyeonseong was about to open a ramen shop.

He thought Hyeonseong had no interest in school. He naturally assumed his grades would be terrible.

But when he found out that Hyeonseong’s grades were surprisingly good, the Jandi Clan kids reacted explosively.

At first, they thought he couldn’t adapt to school and was giving up early to run a ramen shop, but when they learned that wasn’t the case, Hyeonseong became their idol.

Hyeonseong was dumbfounded after hearing Han Myeongsu’s explanation.

Han Myeongsu continued.

“So, the kids are making a fuss, saying they’re going to follow your example and study now. Especially the freshmen, they’re going crazy.”

“Study, or the ramen shop?”

“Of course, the ramen shop. They’re trying to recruit you into our Jandi Clan no matter what.”

“So, they’re going to study for the upcoming midterm exam for now?”

“Yes, they’re saying they’ll risk their lives.”

The more he thought about it, the more he couldn’t help but laugh. These were guys who had built a wall between themselves and studying. But now, they had voted to study on their own.

Honestly, it was unbelievable.

Slackers studying?

In a way, it wasn’t entirely incomprehensible. If they had simply been told to study, they would never have listened.

What moved their hearts was, without a doubt, the ramen shop. It wasn’t just the ramen shop itself, but the fact that it was a job related to real life that moved them.

These guys, though still young, were worried about their futures in their own way.

This was going to be a headache.

He couldn’t just brush them off, but he didn’t have the ability to teach them yet, and what’s more, it wasn’t just one or two people, but thirty.

“Hey, Han Myeongsu, I really have circumstances, so isn’t there another way?”

“Another way?”

“Yeah, someone else to teach you guys besides me. Don’t you have any good students in your third year? I was wondering if we could ask them.”

Then, Kim Taejin, who hadn’t said a word until now, stepped forward.

“Senior, do you mean that sincerely?”

“Of course. Why, is there someone?”

“There is, but we need your permission. If you allow it, I’m willing to ask them directly.”

“My permission? What are you talking about?”

“Don’t ask why, just give us your permission. So we can choose whoever we want to study with.”

Kim Taejin was saying something he couldn’t understand at all.

But the important thing was that if he did that, he could escape this pressure.

What was there to hesitate about?

Hyeonseong looked at Han Myeongsu and asked.

“Is what Taejin is saying true?”

“Yes, it would be best if you taught us, Senior, but if that’s really difficult, that method is also an option.”

“What? That means you two had already talked about it from the beginning.”

“We thought of a backup plan just in case. The little ones are so eager.”

“What, little ones? Never mind. Okay, I don’t care who you ask, just take care of it yourselves. Then, is that it?”

“Yes, Senior. Then, we’ll see you after the midterm exam.”

Unexpectedly, things were easily resolved at the last minute.

He didn’t know they had even prepared a backup plan. He didn’t know who that backup plan was, but it was a relief. If they had kept clinging to him until the end, Hyeonseong would have had no choice but to agree.

He had too few reasons to refuse.

But he was actually a little worried. What if they really did well on the midterm exam and met the conditions? Then it would be a real disaster.

Come to think of it, he remembered what Kim Ilsoo had said.

He had teased him, laughing, asking what he would do if the kids met the conditions.

Hyeonseong shook his head and left the school gate, heading towards the ramen shop under construction.

After Hyeonseong left, the two who remained.

Clap!

The two shared their joy with a high-five.

Han Myeongsu spoke first, looking at Kim Taejin.

“Good job. Seeing this, your brain isn’t ordinary either.”

“What did I tell you? I said that *hyung* [older brother/male friend] would hate us.”

“But how did you know that *hyung* would refuse until the end?”

“It’s obvious. Do you think that *hyung* would set the condition of studying because he likes us? He really hated us. There’s no way that *hyung* would teach us for our sake. Isn’t that right?”

Han Myeongsu unknowingly smiled.

In fact, he had been anxious until just a moment ago. He was worried that Hyeonseong might reluctantly agree to his request.

Kim Taejin told him not to worry and to push forward, so he had no choice but to do it, but he was nervous the whole time he was speaking.

Relieved, Han Myeongsu looked at Kim Taejin and said again.

“Now that it’s gone according to your plan, the next plan will go smoothly too, right?”

“Don’t worry. Just trust me.”

“By the way, will he stay still if he finds out that his younger sister is teaching us?”

“What if he doesn’t stay still? He clearly gave his permission with his own mouth. He’ll be furious, but he has no reason to say anything.”

Kim Taejin was relaxed, even with a smile on his face.

Then, Han Myeongsu looked at him and asked again.

“Are you really confident?”

“Of course. You leave Kim Jiyeon to me, and from now on, you just think about raising your rank by 10. That’s my biggest worry.”

“That’s what I’m saying. Why only 10 ranks for me…”

Han Myeongsu clenched his teeth, looking in the direction Hyeonseong had disappeared, with a dissatisfied expression.

Kim Taejin’s expression wasn’t very good either as he watched him. No matter how hard other people work to raise their grades, it’s useless unless Han Myeongsu reaches his target.

Anyway, that’s something to be seen, but what’s clear is that a new wind of change has begun to blow in the Jandi Clan.

Hyeonseong stopped by the ramen shop to discuss the remaining construction with the equipment contractor, Yoo Mincheol, and then headed to the snack bar run by Lee Jeongwoo’s mother.

He was supposed to meet Lee Jeongwoo here today.

Creak.

As Hyeonseong entered, Lee Jeongwoo’s mother, Shin Myeongsoon, greeted him happily.

“Oh, the boss is here?”

“Mother, are you really going to keep teasing me?”

“I’m not teasing you; it’s the truth.”

“Please don’t do that and call me comfortably like before. I feel uncomfortable if you keep doing that.”

Lee Jeongwoo’s mother, Shin Myeongsoon’s face, looked much better than before these days. It seemed that she felt much more at ease after deciding to work at the ramen shop run by Hyeonseong.

Looking at Shin Myeongsoon, Hyeonseong said.

“Has Jeongwoo not arrived yet?”

“He’s almost here, so just wait a little longer. Speaking of which, I’m really grateful for taking care of our Jeongwoo.”

“Please don’t say that. Don’t say such things.”

“No, it’s all thanks to you that Jeongwoo is working out so hard these days. Anyway, thank you in many ways. I will never forget this favor.”

Tap tap.

Shin Myeongsoon gently patted Hyeonseong’s shoulder. It was the best expression of her heart that Shin Myeongsoon could do right now.

She’s been so happy whenever she sees Lee Jeongwoo these days.

What she was always worried about was Lee Jeongwoo’s health. But for some reason, he started exercising as soon as class was over a while ago.

At first, she thought he would only do it for a few days. It was because he hated exercising so much, but also because she had experienced it before.

But this time it was different.

Later, she found out that he wasn’t alone.

It was Hyeonseong who encouraged him to exercise, and it was also Hyeonseong who exercised with him, and it was also Hyeonseong who asked another friend to help him when she became busy with the store.

So, from Shin Myeongsoon’s point of view, she was endlessly grateful to Hyeonseong.

Creak.

The door opened and Lee Jeongwoo came in.

As soon as Lee Jeongwoo saw Hyeonseong, he greeted him happily.

“Hi! Did you wait long?”

Lee Jeongwoo’s tone of voice has changed compared to before.

Hyeonseong also welcomed Lee Jeongwoo.

“Yeah, are you done exercising now?”

“Yeah. I was a little late today because I went around a little more.”

“Oh, by the way, didn’t Cheolmin come with you?”

“He said he had something to do at home today, so he went first.”

Shin Myeongsoon, who was listening to the two talking, stepped forward and said.

“What should I make for you today?”

“It’s ramen for us. You like it too, right?”

“Of course.”

“Wait a minute. Mom will make ramen for you soon.”

Then, Shin Myeongsoon headed straight to the kitchen.

After a while.

Creak.

At that time, someone opened the store door and came in.

It was the landlord, Oh Sangcheol.

“Is Shin Boss here?”

Oh Sangcheol called for Shin Myeongsoon and headed towards the kitchen. Then, Shin Myeongsoon came out of the kitchen and asked.

“What’s going on?”

“What’s going on, I just stopped by. By the way, have you heard the story?”

“What story?”

“The story that a ramen shop is coming in the alley across the street. I feel sorry for whoever the crazy bastard is.”

Shin Myeongsoon’s brow suddenly narrowed. Then, she glanced at Hyeonseong. Hyeonseong was sitting in his seat without moving.

Then, Shin Myeongsoon’s expression changed strangely and asked Oh Sangcheol, pretending not to know.

“What are you talking about?”

“That’s right. Unless you’re crazy, would you come to a place where people have died? And what kind of business would work in that alley?”

“You never know. But wouldn’t it be better than a thief’s mentality of taking someone else’s place?”

Shin Myeongsoon said that on purpose for Oh Sangcheol to hear.

Then, Oh Sangcheol stared at Shin Myeongsoon.

“Are you perhaps saying that now……”

“Oh! The ramen must be done.”

With those words, Shin Myeongsoon turned her back on Oh Sangcheol and disappeared into the kitchen.

At that time, Hyeonseong got up from his seat and headed to the kitchen and asked Shin Myeongsoon.

“Mother, are there still people like that?”

Then, Shin Myeongsoon came out of the kitchen with ramen and answered Hyeonseong’s words.

“There is. He’s a pure evil among the wicked. That human will be painting the walls with poop later!”

“Do you know him well?”

“I know him well. But from now on, I’m not going to treat him like a human.”

Hehehe.

Lee Jeongwoo, who was listening to the conversation between the two, burst into laughter.

Then, he looked at Oh Sangcheol and said.

“Uncle, aren’t you leaving?”

“Huh?”

Oh Sangcheol was just dumbfounded.

Clearly, listening to the conversation between the two, they were talking about him. But he couldn’t say anything.

Because if he got angry now, it would be like confessing himself. Of course, he did it because he was greedy, but he couldn’t admit it with his own mouth.

Hmm hmm.

Perhaps embarrassed, Oh Sangcheol cleared his throat and said to Shin Myeongsoon.

“Make sure to clean up by the end of next month……”

“I won’t be here even if you tell me to stay. I’m only doing business until the beginning of next month anyway, but I can’t empty the store. I’ll fill it up until the end of next month, so keep that in mind.”

“Your words are a bit……”

“Am I in a situation where good words come out? I finally got a place, but some strange guy is taking it?”

Shin Myeongsoon’s voice soared to the sky.

Oh Sangcheol felt like something was going to happen if he stayed here any longer.

“Then, I’ll be going……”

“Go or don’t go, do as you please!”

Shin Myeongsoon was finally using informal speech.

Then, Oh Sangcheol, unable to bear it any longer, became angry.

“Shin Boss, your words are too harsh, aren’t they?”

“But I don’t steal. You bastard!”

Shin Myeongsoon was all or nothing anyway.

Before, she tried to match his mood to endure a little longer, but it’s different now. She already has a place to go. Shin Myeongsoon had nothing to regret.

She was about to have the store she had worked on for 10 years taken away as it was, so what couldn’t she say?

Swish.

At that time, Hyeonseong, who was watching the scene from the side, stepped forward.

“Ahjussi [term for older man]!”

It was the moment when Hyeonseong’s unique way of speaking came out.