The Way to Save the Crazy Returnees Chapter 18 - New Roommate (1)

 

“Why was the area under lockdown?”

 

―It seems there was a brief issue with a resident living in the same building as Lee Yoo-seong. After that problem was resolved, the police temporarily restricted access to the surrounding area. Because of that, the fire the young master got caught up in also occurred, which led to further restrictions on nearby access.

 

“…Could you find out more about that resident?”

 

―Of course.

 

What kind of person could cause a lockdown in such a pricey neighborhood?

 

But—

 

“You can’t find out who it was?”

 

―I’m sorry, young master. After the fire incident, the resident cleared out and left, and all related records were discarded.

 

“Were you unable to obtain any personal information?”

 

―No, I’m sorry. If you’d like, I can continue the investigation.

 

I lightly tapped the table and shook my head.

 

“No, that’s alright. You’ve done enough.”

 

This was clearly the work of someone who wasn’t a returnee.

 

They seemed to have money and some influence, but they weren’t a returnee. Aside from me, there was no one like that among the returnees.

 

So, I decided to dismiss this incident as a coincidence.

 

Of course, if such a coincidence happens again, I’ll have to reconsider.

 

“Hey! Why are you so late? Lee Yoo-seong will be here soon!!”

 

At that moment, the door suddenly swung open without knocking.

 

Only one person in this house would dare barge into my room like that.

 

“I’m not late. Stop fussing, Seo Do-hwan.”

 

I ended my call with Secretary Choi, stood up, and headed downstairs with him. Just then, the kid we were waiting for had arrived.

 

“You’re late!”

 

Seo Do-hwan elbowed me in the ribs, then skipped down the stairs and ran to Lee Yoo-seong.

 

“Lee Yoo-seong!”

 

“Ah, Do-hwan hyung! Yoon-hoo hyung!”

 

Lee Yoo-seong, who had been standing unsure of what to do, brightened up when he saw us.

 

Seo Do-hwan smiled back and set off firecrackers.

 

Pop!

 

“Welcome, Lee Yoo-seong! Come on in, my partner!”

 

He still hadn’t shaken off Seo Jong-pil’s personality, even though he had dropped out of Cheongha High School after the fire incident. Maybe I should seriously encourage him to re-enroll someday.

 

Well, that’s for another day.

 

I stepped forward and offered my hand to Lee Yoo-seong.

 

“Welcome, Yoo-seong. Let’s get along from now on.”

 

The boy, carrying nothing but a small handbag, smiled as if he was the happiest person alive.

 

“Yes, hyung!”

 

One more returnee has entered our house.

 

Lee Yoo-seong — a kid who had tried to take his own life countless times, possessed immense power but was just as fragile.

 

“Please take care of me from now on!”

 

And with that, we began living together.

 

***

 

“Eat this. Try this one too. Oh, and try this as well.”

 

Seo Do-hwan piled a generous amount of side dishes onto Lee Yoo-seong’s spoon.

 

“Seo Do-hwan, if you keep this up, Yoo-seong’s going to get indigestion.”

 

“No way. He made the food himself, but he’s just picking at it! It’s so frustrating to watch!”

 

“I’m eating just fine…”

 

Slurp!

 

Lee Yoo-seong hesitated but then stuffed all the side dishes Seo Do-hwan had stacked into his mouth. However, he left out the pickled cucumbers—he must really dislike those.

 

…But they’re tasty.

 

I ate the leftover pickled cucumbers and asked, “Have you unpacked your things yet?”

 

“Yes! I don’t have much anyway.”

 

That made sense—Lee Yoo-seong had come with only a small handbag.

 

He didn’t have much to begin with, and since his house had completely burned down, there wasn’t much to bring.

 

At that moment, Seo Do-hwan asked, 

 

“But what about your clothes? You’ve been wearing your school uniform all day.”

 

“Well… it’s the cleanest and most intact outfit I have…”

 

A worn-out, tattered school uniform was the cleanest and best clothing he owned.

 

Especially after the fire incident, with the smell of smoke still lingering.

 

For a moment, Seo Do-hwan and I exchanged looks. I could tell from his eyes what he wanted to say.

 

“Yoo-seong.”

 

“Yes?”

 

“After dinner, let’s go somewhere together.”

 

Lee Yoo-seong tilted his head in curiosity, then nodded.

 

“Yes, hyungs.”

 

He showed no sign of suspicion that we might take him somewhere strange.

 

***

 

“Uh… Yoon-hoo hyung, this place is…”

 

Lee Yoo-seong asked hesitantly, his eyes wide with surprise. I smiled and asked,

 

“This is where we first met, right?”

 

The place we had brought Lee Yoo-seong to was AMA The Gallery Mall, Gangnam branch.

 

It was where I first met him when I came to have Seo Do-hwan fitted for a suit.

 

“Why the department store?”

 

“Of course, to buy you some clothes!”

 

Seo Do-hwan laughed cheerfully and threw his arm around Lee Yoo-seong’s shoulder.

 

“But I don’t have any money.”

 

“That’s okay. I have plenty.”

 

Smiling brightly, we headed into the department store. Since closing time was near, we had to shop quickly.

 

We could have asked the manager to extend the hours, but I thought Lee Yoo-seong might feel pressured. I didn’t want to make the staff work overtime unnecessarily.

 

“Boss, don’t you think that one would look good on Lee Yoo-seong?”

 

“I think the brand over there would suit him better.”

 

“Then let’s check out both!”

 

Good idea.

 

“Yoo-seong, let’s start with the place Seo Do-hwan saw first.”

 

“Huh?”

 

Seo Do-hwan grabbed the bewildered Lee Yoo-seong’s arm and pulled him along.

 

“Um, hyungs! I’m really fine! It’s not just this—I have my summer uniform too!”

 

“Yoo-seong, are you seriously going to say that?”

 

Lee Yoo-seong quietly shut his mouth. He probably realized he was talking nonsense.

 

Seo Do-hwan smiled and handed Lee Yoo-seong the clothes he had personally picked out.

 

“Try these on.”

 

“Uh… isn’t this too expensive?”

 

“Is that so, boss?”

 

Curious about the price, I checked the tag—it was around 250,000 won. A lot for some, but pocket change for me.

 

“Not expensive at all. Try it on.”

 

Unable to resist, Lee Yoo-seong headed to the changing room.

 

“Um, how do I look?”

 

I smiled warmly at his timid question.

 

“It suits you well.”

 

“Try this one too!”

 

Seo Do-hwan handed over more clothes he’d selected, all fitting Lee Yoo-seong perfectly. After paying for everything Seo Do-hwan had picked, we continued shopping at other brands we liked.

 

Last was the school uniform.

 

We replaced his worn-out, smoke-scented uniform with a brand-new one.

 

“Yoon-hoo hyung, Do-hwan hyung, thank you so much. I’ll pay you back someday!”

 

“No need. This is a gift from me.”

 

“Th-that’s such an expensive gift…”

 

Expensive gift, my foot—I actually wanted to give him a watch from one of AMA’s brands.

 

“Enough about gifts. Yoo-seong, is there anything you want? Since we’re out, I’ll buy it for you. Don’t hesitate—just say it.”

 

“Um, I don’t need anything.”

 

“Don’t hold back.”

 

“I really don’t!”

 

Surprised, Lee Yoo-seong waved his hands nervously.

 

“I do have things I want to try, though…”

 

“What is it? Tell us.”

 

Lee Yoo-seong glanced at Seo Do-hwan and me, then said,

 

“I want to watch a movie at the cinema.”

 

That’s easy—we can rent out a cinema.

 

“I also want to go to an amusement park.”

 

Also doable.

 

“And I want to have a picnic by the Han River!”

 

That one’s a bit harder to rent…

 

Maybe I should ask, just in case?

 

“Boss, you’re thinking something weird right now, aren’t you?”

 

How did he know? Strictly speaking, I wasn’t really thinking anything weird, but I cleared my throat a couple of times and said,

 

“Let’s go to the movies and the amusement park.”

 

Lee Yoo-seong’s face lit up.

 

“And we’ll have a picnic by the Han River.”

 

A smile spread across his already bright face.

 

“Tell me everything you want to do, everything you want to try. And of course, anything you want to have.”

 

“Yes!”

 

Seeing him much happier than when I first met him made me feel proud.

 

“Shall we head back now?”

 

Lee Yoo-seong nodded. Seo Do-hwan stood up, holding the dessert he’d been eating.

 

“Just throw it away.”

 

“Boss, don’t you feel bad wasting food?”

 

I know exactly how precious food is. Having lived as a slave for a thousand years, I know too well.

 

But I just shrugged in response.

 

We got into the car.

 

“Shall I drive you home?”

 

“No. Please take us to the Han River.”

 

Seo Do-hwan interrupted.

 

“Why the Han River?”

 

“Lee Yoo-seong said he wants to have a picnic there. Let’s go now.”

 

“Now? At this hour?”

 

“It’s the perfect time for drinking, though.”

 

What is this guy talking about?

 

“Yoo-seong is still a minor, you know? Driver Koo, sorry, but please turn the car back home.”

 

“Yes, young master.”

 

Driver Koo silently turned the wheel. Seo Do-hwan shot me a dissatisfied glare, then asked Lee Yoo-seong,

 

“Lee Yoo-seong, you’ve never been to the Han River at night, right?”

 

“No, I haven’t.”

 

“Then you don’t know how beautiful the night view of the Han River is. It’s truly stunning!”

 

“Really?”

 

“Yeah! Sometimes there are street performers by the Han River. Watching them makes time fly!”

 

Lee Yoo-seong’s eyes sparkled at Seo Do-hwan’s words. His face lit up with excitement as he finally spoke.

 

“…I’m really sorry, but could you please turn the car back to the Han River?”

 

Damn Seo Do-hwan.

 

Using Lee Yoo-seong for his own purposes — what a petty guy!

 

***

 

“Wow! It’s beautiful! I thought all the night views in Seoul were the same.”

 

“Right? It’s really pretty, isn’t it?”

 

Seo Do-hwan chuckled softly. I spread out the picnic mat and teased him.

 

“I always thought you only went to clubs.”

 

“What did you think of me, anyway?”

 

“Club hopper.”

 

Ha! Seo Do-hwan let out a quiet snort of laughter.

 

“Why? Was I wrong?”

 

“Better not say.”

 

Seo Do-hwan grumbled sulkily and said,

 

“To be honest, this is my first time here too.”

 

“What?”

 

“I’ve been to the Han River a lot, of course.”

 

Then Seo Do-hwan glanced toward a nearby bridge.

 

“There was a time I really wanted to throw myself off, but I didn’t want to become a spectacle.”

 

It was easy to tell he was talking about a distant past.

 

Looking into his eyes filled with memories, I said without thinking,

 

“Good choice.”

 

“Yeah.”

 

Seo Do-hwan smirked.

 

“I’m glad I stayed alive.”

 

There was no trace of regret in his voice.

 

I also smiled faintly beside him.

 

“Hyungs! There’s going to be a busking performance over there soon! Can we go watch?”

 

Lee Yoo-seong, who had been watching the people enjoying the picnic, ran over then.

 

His face was full of excitement as he stood up.

 

“Let’s go together.”

 

“Yeah. What if trouble breaks out?”

 

“It’ll be fine.”

 

“No, it won’t!”

 

Seo Do-hwan put his arm around Lee Yoo-seong’s shoulder. Lee Yoo-seong, happy to be with us, eagerly led the way to the busking spot.

 

It seemed to be a fairly popular street performance, judging by the large crowd.

 

As we pushed through the crowd with Seo Do-hwan leading,

 

“…Boss, that guy.”

 

“I know. I saw him too.”

 

We unexpectedly ran into someone there.

 

“Hello! We Get Victory! I’m Muse, the leader of Victory!”

 

Stage name: Muse.

 

Real name: Kang Ye-seong.

 

Before returning, he was a top-tier idol, but now he’s what they call a ‘fallen idol,’ greeting the crowd.