I Will Raise This Family to Greatness - Chapter 102

—————

This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

—————

Chapter 102
First, my roommate was Dennis Chazelle.
It was a result of Harvard Dormitory’s policy of selecting roommates who had no overlapping backgrounds in terms of race, region, religion, or any other demographic factor.
Dennis Chazelle and I shared nothing in common—not race, not region, not religion, nothing at all.
The only similarity was that we’d both attended high school in the Eastern United States.
Dennis glanced at me and offered a slight smile.
“Sung-guk, did your parents leave?”
“Yeah. They just headed out.”
“Is the flight to Korea long?”
“Yeah. Over ten hours.”
Dennis had a somewhat shy disposition and spoke in hushed, measured tones.
Most of his time in the dormitory was spent watching films on his laptop.
And somehow, I felt I knew who he was.
In my past life, I’d loved cinema and watched films frequently, often attending international film festivals.
Though I went quietly, I was often caught on camera, which caused me no small amount of trouble.
About ten years from now, Dennis would suddenly emerge as a star of American cinema as the director of a film depicting the relationship between a drummer student and an autocratic instructor—a film called Whiplash.
[I made the right choice coming to Harvard….]
Dennis gestured toward his laptop.
“Since my roommate is from Korea, I’ve been watching Korean films. Sung-guk, have you seen this one?”
The film Dennis was watching was Joint Security Area.
“Of course. It’s incredible, right?”
“Yeah. It made me think about how the North-South situation could be like this, and I really loved the director’s style.”
“Old Boy comes out in the second half of this year—that film is going to be amazing too.”
In my past life, I’d even invested in this director’s next project, Old Boy.
“I’m looking forward to it. When it releases in America, want to go see it together?”
“Sounds good.”
I agreed readily.
“By the way, Dennis. This weekend, a friend is throwing a party at her dormitory. Want to come?”
“A friend?”
“A high school friend. Jessie.”
“No way… Sung-guk, you don’t mean the blonde Jessie?”
“Jessie’s that famous?”
“Of course. And by the way, you’re pretty famous too.”
Dennis quickly opened Face Paper on his laptop.
“You’re one of the early users of Face Paper, right?”
“Yeah.”
[I developed it, Dennis.]
But I remained silent for a moment.
Dennis’s earlier quiet demeanor vanished as he began speaking enthusiastically about Face Paper.
“Face Paper started becoming a bit of a trend among friends back in high school. I wasn’t really interested then because I was busy studying, but after getting into college, I got hooked on it… Once you’re on here, you can connect with anyone who shares a mutual connection, and you can link up with anyone who has something in common with you.”
“Did you find Jessie there too?”
“Yeah. When I typed Harvard into the school search, I immediately saw this year’s incoming students using Face Paper. Actually, I found you there first. Sung-guk, you were prom king at your school, weren’t you?”
“Well… I was just lucky.”
“Don’t lie. Someone like you would naturally be prom king. Honestly, if I ever make a film later, I even imagined what kind of role I’d give this friend.”
“What kind of role?”
“A jazz pianist. Of course, the lead role. How does that sound?”
“That sounds amazing…. If I can’t play the lead, I’ll invest in it.”
It would become Dennis Chazelle’s next film, and that year’s Oscar-sweeping masterpiece.
“Oh right, Jessie’s having a party here. That’s your friend Jessie, right?”
“Yeah. It’s this Saturday. Let’s go together.”
“Of course.”
I had only one reason for attending Jessie’s party on such a precious weekend.
To increase Face Paper’s user base.
[Time to get started.]
* * *
“Sung-guk, welcome!”
Jessie greeted me warmly.
Mark was already in the back, sipping beer.
I entered with my roommate Dennis and introduced him to Jessie and Mark.
“Jessie, Mark. This is my roommate Dennis.”
“Hey, nice to meet you.”
“I’m Jessie.”
“I’m Mark. I was Sung-guk’s roommate first.”
“I’ve seen you on Face Paper.”
Mark’s eyes widened.
“You use Face Paper?”
“Yeah. I signed up in high school and have been using it a lot since coming to college. I’m trying to make some friends.”
“That’s something I and Sung-guk made.”
“Really?!”
Dennis’s voice was so loud that everyone’s attention turned to us.
Dennis stared at me with wide eyes.
“Sung-guk, why didn’t you tell me that! How much have I been explaining Face Paper to you this whole time!”
“Sung-guk likes to joke around.”
Jessie laughed and looked at me.
“I just wanted to see how easily regular users could use our Face Paper. Mark, Dennis came up with an interesting idea too.”
“What?”
“Adding information so each user can see whether someone is in a relationship or not. Or whether they’re married.”
“That would be fun. That way, I could easily contact someone I’m interested in, or I could give up without confessing since I’d already know their status.”
“Sung-guk, I’m so embarrassed. I’m talking about this in front of the developer.”
“No, I appreciated hearing your thoughts, Dennis.”
Mark handed Dennis a beer.
Dennis stared directly at me.
“Sung-guk, why aren’t you drinking?”
“I’m a minor.”
“You haven’t had your birthday yet?”
“Sung-guk, you didn’t even mention your age?”
Mark let out a quiet laugh.
I handed Dennis another beer as an apology, pushing it toward him.
“Drink mine too. My birthday is this coming 12th. I’m turning twelve.”
“What?!”
Dennis fell silent for a long moment.
“Wait, so you’re supposed to be in seventh grade?”
“Yeah. Normally, I mean. I was just too embarrassed to mention my age.”
“With your looks, your height, and you’re only twelve? And you were even prom king at Phillips Academy?”
“Dennis, once you spend more time with Sung-guk, you’ll find plenty more surprises.”
Mark patted Dennis on the shoulder.
“Sung-guk, you should know I’ve been turning down everyone who asks me to introduce them to you. They all said you were too sexy, and when they found out your age, they nearly became criminals. They all repented and disappeared.”
“Thanks, Jessie.”
Just then, a couple of people around us started asking Mark and me about Face Paper.
“What’s that Face Paper you mentioned earlier?”
“Well, it’s like this….”
Mark, Jessie, and I—and now Dennis too—began enthusiastically explaining Face Paper.
Dennis’s explanation was particularly brilliant.
“Eventually, there’ll probably be a status like ‘in a relationship’ too. Then, if someone you’ve had your eye on breaks up, it’s the perfect time to make your move, right?”
Being a future film director, he explained Face Paper through the lens of its emotional appeal.
[I really should invest in a film later on….]
Just then, two tall men approached Mark and me. Their faces were identical.
[These must be those famous identical twin Winklevoss brothers.]
I recognized them instantly.
Nearly two meters tall, athletic enough to be competitive rowers.
Blonde hair and blue eyes.
Typical children of American elite families.
One of the Winklevoss brothers greeted me first.
“Hey, I’m Cameron.”
[They really do look identical….]
The fortunate thing was that Cameron had a small mole at the corner of his right mouth.
“I’m Tyler. Did you create Face Paper?”
“Mark and I created it together. Have you tried using it?”
“Yeah, it’s really fun. I saw a lot of talk about you on there. You’re a genius?”
“I wouldn’t say that.”
No one knew about my pain—an IQ of 121.
“A Harvard student at twelve years old? What else would you call that but a genius?”
Cameron laughed heartily.
Neither of them carried the arrogance I had anticipated.
“Actually, I have a proposal for you.”
“For me?”
“Yeah.”
Tyler glanced around before heading toward a secluded corner.
“Sung-guk, let’s talk somewhere quiet.”
“Sure.”
I followed Cameron.
At the far end of the dormitory corridor.
Cameron and Tyler stood looking down at me beneath the window.
“Sung-guk, have you heard about the Final Clubs at Harvard?”
Of course I had.
[I attended Harvard in my past life, after all. Graduate school, but still….]
The Final Clubs were exclusive social organizations accessible only to the elite among Harvard’s elite.
Separate clubs existed for men and women, and entry required not only exceptional grades and an outstanding family background, but also the completion of rigorous initiation rites.
Cameron and Tyler, both a year my senior, were members of one of the Final Clubs.
[I should play ignorant….]
I shrugged.
“I’m still a freshman, so I don’t know much about it.”
“I figured. Honestly, this is the first time we’ve extended an invitation like this to someone from the East. Keep that in mind.”
Tyler spoke in a measured tone.
Cameron continued where Tyler left off.
“The Final Club that Tyler and I belong to is called Lyan Club. It’s the oldest Final Club at Harvard. It’s also the club that’s produced the most U.S. presidents. You understand what that means for the strength of our alumni network, right?”
Of course I did. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that everyone currently wielding power in America came from this Final Club.
Cameron handed me an envelope.
“Sung-guk, this is an invitation. Only students who receive this invitation can take the test to join Lyan Club. The test date is written inside. Of course, if you’re not interested, you don’t have to show up.”
I carefully opened the invitation.
The Lyan Club’s emblem—a flag—was engraved on it, with a date written below.
Friday, September 12, 2003.
My birthday.
* * *
Mark and Dennis were examining the invitation with wide eyes in their dormitory room.
“Sung-guk, I thought Lyan Club only existed in legends.”
Mark was already flushed from having drunk several beers.
Dennis was in the same state.
“Wow, Sung-guk. You absolutely have to participate. But what’s the test for Lyan Club like?”
“I guess they’ll tell us on the day.”
“Word has it that it’s no joke.”
Dennis seemed to know something.
“What is it?”
When Mark asked with curious eyes, Dennis took a few more sips of his beer and leaned forward conspiratorially.
He rubbed his hands together twice, perked up his ears, and scanned us as we listened intently.
Dennis was indeed a typical storyteller.
“It’s just something I heard. Apparently, Lyan Club doesn’t send invitations to just anyone, and their initiation rites change every year, but there’s still a repeating pattern. In even years, they typically conduct traditional initiations—like quizzes about characters from Fitzgerald’s novels, for example.”
“Sounds less fun than I expected.”
Mark put his hands behind his back.
“Even years are usually like that.”
“Dennis, this year is odd-numbered.”
“Exactly, Sung-guk. That’s why it’s going to be really fun.”
“So what kind of missions do they give in odd years?”
“Well, they might have you race from Harvard’s main gate to the club, and the first ones there get selected. Or they give various quizzes, and if you can’t answer, you take off a piece of clothing—the ones wearing the most clothes at the end get chosen. That’s why some students wear multiple layers when they’re invited to Lyan.”
“Now that sounds fun.”
Mark showed interest too.
I looked at Dennis.
“So what will it be this year?”
“Who knows.”
None of us knew what Lyan’s initiation rites would be.

—————

This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

—————