Although it was originally a declining area, when opening the Yeonnam Branch, they paid a key money to the person who had the previous bakery there. Despite the bad rumors, Arin chose this place because the previous owner used it cleanly, and there was no need for repairs.

She hesitated because there was no hesitation, as everything was ready to start business right away. They proceeded with a two-year contract and had been renewing it annually since then.

As far as she knew, she only needed to inform the landlord up to a maximum of one month before whether she would continue to operate the store or move.

Since there were still two months left until the contract expired, she didn’t think it was urgent.
“This isn’t just moving one piece of luggage.”

Yoo Hyun touched his forehead, staggering and grabbing the table.

“But Arin, it feels like it hasn’t been long since we asked for time to think, how did the store go in the meantime?”

Yoo Hyun’s words made sense. Arin also had the same question.

“They probably raised the rent on that side too, right? Even so, that’s a price that can’t easily be found in this area, considering it’s on the expensive side in this neighborhood.”

Yoo Hyun and Arin both touched their foreheads simultaneously. Then, they exchanged glances.

“He probably deliberately asked for a high rent, right? Thinking that we wouldn’t do it.”

Affirming Arin’s words, Yoo Hyun nodded.

“He must have expected us to refuse and accepted the next person. It was decided!”

“I didn’t expect him to do this, really, it’s too much to do as an adult.”

In Arin’s voice filled with lament, Yoo Hyun gently stroked her head as if comforting her.

“For now, until the expiration date of the lease contract, there’s still a bit of time. I heard that the commercial lease protection law has been revised, so we don’t need to leave until before the contract is signed. I’ll ask Sang-hoon hyung about it.”

“Then, it might be good for me to go to Seoul. I’ll visit the boss’s office and go to the lawyer’s office.”

At Arin’s suggestion, Yoo Hyun objected, saying it was not a good idea.

“Let’s go together.”

Yoo Hyun didn’t like the idea of ​​sending Arin to Seoul alone.

“Oppa needs to run the business. We said we’ll take a week off for the pop-up store, and it’s not good to rest more.”

Arin lightly held Yoo Hyun’s forearm, speaking.

“Don’t worry, oppa, I’m not a child. I’ll go to the office with Cheol-yong and visit the lawyer together. I’ll solve it and come back.”

Arin raised both arms, showing that she wanted him to trust only her. Yoo Hyun’s eyes looking at her swayed like rough waves.

“What worries me is not that. I just don’t want you to meet that man again.”

Yoo Hyun’s words about not going echoed in Arin’s ears. But she didn’t want to burden Yoo Hyun.

“Not yet. I’ll endure it until you start looking at me as a man a little more. I won’t be too late to express my feelings then, so I’ll endure it for now.”

Yoo Hyun bit his lower lip in frustration.

“Okay. Got it. Come back safely.”

“Yeah. Oppa, take care while I’m gone.”

Arin patted Yoo Hyun’s back. Yoo Hyun, trying to push away the approaching anxiety, smiled.

“Sure. Trust oppa and come back safely.”

Yoo Hyun thought that he would be the one to take her place by her side one day.

The vague yet natural fact had to come true.

Yoo Hyun hid his inner thoughts and held Arin’s hand.

But the ominous premonition that he shouldn’t send her alone still lingered in his mind.

The next day.

Arin boarded a plane to Seoul. As soon as she arrived, she headed to Yeonnam-dong.

“Boss. Hello.”

“You came?”
As Arin entered the cafe, Cheol-yong and Yoo Sik welcomed her.

“Yoo Sik, I’ll be back. Please take care of the store.”

“Yes, leave it to me.”

Yoo Sik replied confidently. Today, Memorya was closed. According to Cheol-yong, they planned to meet a lawyer they knew for consultation.

Arin and Cheol-yong left the cafe in the care of Yoo Sik, who had been a part-time worker since the early days of Memorya Yeonnam-dong, and headed to the landlord’s office.

Three hours later.

Arin and Cheol-yong had already been waiting for the landlord for two hours.

“Wow, it feels like he’s intentionally avoiding us.”

At Cheol-yong’s words, Arin let out a deep sigh. Usually, unless there was something special, or rather, most of the time, the landlord was in the office.

Even though she didn’t usually plan to meet him, every time she came to the Yeonnam-dong store, she used to see him often. But now, when she tried to meet him, she couldn’t find even a shadow.

A while later, an employee who was guarding the office instead of the landlord bowed his head when he saw Arin.

“I’m sorry, but it would be better for you to leave now. He said you came in, but something urgent came up.”

“What did you say?”

Arin’s words were stuck in astonishment. But getting angry with the inexperienced employee would be useless.

“Yes. I understand.”

“I’m really sorry.”

With a disappointed heart, Arin and Cheol-yong left the landlord’s office and headed straight to the law office of Sang-hoon, who was a senior of Yoo Hyun in high school.

Sang-hoon was a real estate lawyer. Arin handed the prepared documents to Sang-hoon.

“Here’s the lease agreement. Look, it’s not expired yet.”

Sang-hoon carefully examined the lease agreement Arin handed over.

“That’s right. Then there’s no need to leave right away. There are two ways to handle this. One is to apply for mediation to the Commercial Lease Dispute Mediation Committee when there is clear evidence that the landlord’s actions are unfair.”

Sang-hoon raised his glasses and continued speaking.

“The second is a method of receiving key money from the new tenant coming in and leaving.”

“Is that possible?”

Arin asked, and Sang-hoon replied firmly.

“Yes. Legally, it’s possible. But the problem is how to determine the amount of key money.”

“Will it take time? The landlord told us to leave by the end of this week.”

“It doesn’t matter. As long as the contract period is not over, there is no reason for Arin to leave. There are two options in any case.”

Even with the lawyer’s firm answer, Arin’s mind didn’t easily calm down.

It was because of the worry about whether someone who used such vicious methods would leave them alone to run their business.

“Is there any chance that the landlord will put pressure on us in any way, or something like that?”

“That’s impossible. Even if the landlord interferes with key money recovery, you can claim damages. The most important thing is to be protected by the Lease Protection Act as long as the evidence is clear and the store rent is not in arrears. ”

“Your saying we can’t avoid disputes in either direction.”
“Yes. To speak frankly, as long as the landlord acts like this, it seems there is no peaceful solution. Listening to Arin’s words, it seems like he’s avoiding something.”

In the place where they sought a solution, Arin’s confusion deepened.