Chapter 3
Chapter 3
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: The New Signboard
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"Are you... out of your mind?"
Lee In-cheol tossed out a question anyone might ask. His eyes trembled faintly, as if he were trying to figure out whether this was a dream or reality.
"If I'd said no, what were you planning to do with all this?!"
Well, what then? I'd have ended up a fool who'd scraped together every last bit of my savings from the bank account to make a signboard no one would use.
'I was floored when I checked my account balance.'
There was a time when my account had more zeros than I could count. Just keeping cash in the bank covered my living expenses for a whole month with ease.
Of course, that glory didn't last long... but anyway.
Anyone could imagine how light that bank account must have felt to someone like me back then, with a measly 3 million won as my entire fortune.
Armed with just those 3 million won, I'd gone to the sign shop and commissioned the exact design I wanted.
The young kid who showed up was treating me like a nuisance at first, but even the sign shop owner changed his tune once he saw the detailed design I'd sketched out.
Anyway, there was a good reason for pouring almost my entire fortune into that signboard.
'I knew he wouldn't refuse.'
I flashed a grin at Lee In-cheol, whose face was frozen in shock.
"Because I figured you'd say yes."
Even back before my regression, when I was a clueless twenty-year-old who knew nothing, Lee In-cheol had never brushed off my advice.
"I have a good eye for people, too."
Lee In-cheol's eyes widened, as if he'd heard something utterly unexpected.
"Hah, really."
Finally, he let out a small sigh.
"Must be because you're young. No fear at all. I could tell from the moment you made that wild proposal... you've got some guts."
"Haha, you're too kind."
"That's not a compliment, you punk!"
Lee In-cheol bellowed.
"You think I've lived this long without seeing a few punks like you? Guys with balls so swollen they practically burst out of their guts? They're either total failures or they strike it rich!"
For a moment, I wondered if the owner had regressed too. It was uncanny how both paths described my past life.
"Let's see which one you turn out to be."
Watching Lee In-cheol narrow his eyes, a bitter pang tugged at my heart. Before my regression, he'd witnessed my bitter end.
The failure path.
"...Don't worry, Owner."
I curled my lips into a deliberate smile.
"I have no intention of repeating the same mistakes."
"What?"
"There's some things like that. Anyway, you should check out the new sign!"
I grabbed Lee In-cheol's arm and dragged him outside. He grumbled, "Eh, what's the rush? It'll be done soon enough," but followed along anyway.
As soon as we reached the first floor, a familiar face greeted me.
"Oh, Woo-yeon. You're here?"
"Yes, Owner. The sign turned out beautiful. It looks even better up there."
"Haha! With you hounding me every single day for a week straight, how could I not make it pretty?"
The sign shop owner let out a hearty laugh and patted my shoulder. It was exactly the design I'd envisioned.
'I'd love to gut the whole interior too... but I'll hold off for now.'
No funds for renovations yet, and it would make the timeline with Lee In-cheol way too tight.
I made a mental promise to overhaul everything when we expanded, then turned to Lee In-cheol with a satisfied smile.
"What do you think of the new sign?"
"......"
Lee In-cheol stared blankly at the freshly hung sign. As I nodded approvingly, he muttered in disbelief.
"Song Woo-yeon... you... can't you see what's written up there?"
"I can see it. If I couldn't, I'd be blind, not just nearsighted, Owner."
"Right? So my eyes aren't playing tricks?"
Lee In-cheol rubbed his eyes and blinked a few times. Not that it would change what was right in front of him.
I turned my head and gazed up at the sleek new sign.
[Hapjae Neighborhood Gukbap 0212]
Perfect.
"...What kind of lunatic changes the shop name?! You little brat!"
Lee In-cheol clutched the back of his neck, looking like he might topple over. The man was no spring chicken— he should take it easy.
I clicked my tongue inwardly and continued calmly.
"Why? You told me to do whatever I wanted."
"That doesn't mean change the damn shop name! Oh no, my shop's doomed! Take that sign down! Put the original back upppp!"
He looked ready to grab me by the collar. I could feel the sign shop owner glancing nervously our way.
"It's fine. Keep going. I'll just talk to the owner here for a bit..."
"Keep going? Hell no! Rip off that cursed sign right now and—"
"Come here, Owner."
I dragged Lee In-cheol into the alley next door.
The ground was littered with cigarette butts. Ugh. This needs a cleanup too.
"Owner, hear me out."
"Hear what?!"
"In my opinion, this restaurant needs a ton of improvements... but the top priority, hands down, is that signboard. Shop name included."
"What's wrong with [Integrity Hall]!"
Lee In-cheol's vein bulged as he launched into why the name had to be Integrity Hall.
"Food is all about sincerity—sincerity! Considering the eaters' feelings and giving your all—that's the heart of the food business!"
"Then why add 'Hall' at the end?"
"Just because!"
Bold as brass.
"I racked my brains for days over that name! And the new one? Hapjae Gukbap?"
Lee In-cheol clearly hated it, yelling nonstop.
"It's just slapping the neighborhood name Hapjae-dong on there! And what's with 0212? Does it even mean anything? The opening date...? No way you know that, and it's not February 12th either."
"Ah, that's the last four digits of my phone number."
"What the—?!"
Before his eardrums shattered, I cut him off.
"You can't tell what kind of food [Integrity Hall] serves from outside."
"......!"
"It's on the second floor, and foot traffic isn't great. Who sees [Integrity Hall] and thinks, 'Oh, that's the gukbap place~' and heads up?"
Lee In-cheol's eyes bulged, and he clamped his mouth shut. He had nothing to say.
The guy's food was incredible, but his business sense was nonexistent. Just picking a name like that for his shop proved it—I wouldn't touch it with a ten-foot pole.
"...That's why we put up the menu in the window..."
"Ah, that's a problem too. Slapping it all over the windows looks ugly and unsanitary."
"Ugh."
He clutched his chest like I'd wounded him. Sorry, but that wasn't the end of it.
"Plus, both 'Integrity' and 'Hall' scream expensive. Even one is off-putting, but together? Total poison in this economy."
"......"
"So [Hapjae Neighborhood Gukbap 0212] tells everyone at a glance what it is, doesn't look pricey, and draws people in easier."
As I kept going, 'surprise' lit up Lee In-cheol's face more and more.
What? Thought I'd picked it on a whim?
"[Hapjae Gukbap] alone would be too plain and forgettable, so I tacked on some numbers to make it stick."
My phone number being pure coincidence for fun.
"So? See why it has to be [Hapjae Neighborhood Gukbap 0212] instead of [Integrity Hall]?"
"......"
Lee In-cheol stared at me, lips sealed tight like a clam. Something fierce churned in his blazing eyes.
How dare this bratty kid lecture an adult?! A pinch of outrage, a spoonful of relief from understanding... and...
'Regret at himself for not realizing what even a green kid like me knew all this time.'
That's why the food business is tough. Great cooking alone doesn't cut it.
How many people started shops banking solely on their cooking, only to drown in debt? I'd seen countless before my regression.
"...Song Woo-yeon."
After a long silence, Lee In-cheol called my name in a hoarse voice.
"Do whatever you want."
Just as I thought.
"Watch me, Owner."
I curled my lips into a smile.
"I'm gonna test how far this place can go."
Plenty to do. The sign was just the start—the interior needed work too.
A full remodel was out, but leaving it as is? No way.
"You watch them finish the sign, Owner. I'll tidy up inside."
Excitement had me too wired to stand still.
Starting over from scratch should feel daunting, but strangely, I was thrilled like a kid with a new toy.
Eyes sparkling, heart pounding, body buzzing with energy.
I flung open the door to what was now [Hapjae Neighborhood Gukbap 0212] and took a deep breath.
"Mm~."
Stale, musty stench.
Damn. Time for a deep clean first.
"......"
Lee In-cheol stood there alone for a long while, staring at the spot where Song Woo-yeon had vanished.
-Just give me three months.
It felt like yesterday he'd sneered inwardly at the cocky kid's bold declaration.
"...What a guy."
Lee In-cheol clicked his tongue and leaned against the wall.
"Man, what he figured out in a week working here... I've been clueless for over ten years. I'm a failure as an owner. Total failure. Tch."
His mouth tasted bitter. But so did the anticipation.
Just like that confident punk said.
How far could this go...? Curiosity stirred.