I Will Raise This Family to Greatness - Chapter 125

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 125
Father handed Jeon Soo-hyun an envelope containing bossam.
“Take this with you, Soo-hyun.”
“Restaurant Owner, thank you for always looking after me.”
“When you’re young, you’re always hungry. If you get tired of it, just say so. I’ll stop packing it then.”
“I need to eat a lot to learn. Thank you.”
“Right then, everyone rest up tomorrow since it’s a day off. I’ll see you all on Tuesday.”
“Restaurant Owner, take care.”
After everyone left, Father locked up the restaurant.
I quickly took the bossam from Father’s hands.
“Dad, let’s hurry home and eat the bossam.”
“Yeah… your mother’s waiting for us.”
Father and I walked through the night streets together, just the two of us.
“It’s been a while since Sung-guk and I walked like this at night.”
[Dad, what are you about to say now?]
Father seemed to be recalling the past.
“Sung-guk, when you were a baby, the house next to us that was under construction collapsed, and your mother and you almost had a terrible accident.”
[I remember it all, Dad.]
“Back then, your mother held you so tightly to protect you that you didn’t get a single scratch, but your mother got hurt. I was at the restaurant when I heard the news, and I felt like my heart was shattering. Your mother and I don’t have parents, you know. Your mother and you are my entire life, and the thought of ‘what if?’ made me rush to the hospital without even remembering how I got there.”
I remembered that day vividly as well.
I had died just as I was about to become a conglomerate chairman, and when I was reborn, I found myself in a family that wasn’t just poor—it was desperately poor.
Born into a household that haggled over the price of bean sprouts, I couldn’t accept my current parents at that time.
But that day, Mother threw herself in front of me to save my life.
And from that moment on, these two foolish parents became my real mother and father.
“Fortunately, your mother was fine, but the doctor said she needed to stay in the hospital for a day. I admitted her without worrying about the cost, but honestly, I had no money back then. I walked home carrying you, and my legs didn’t hurt at all. You were squirming and sleeping in my arms—you were so precious….”
[I noticed back then that we had no money.]
Of course, this was the first time I was hearing these details from Father.
“Sung-guk, thank you for growing up so well.”
“Dad….”
I called out to him gently.
“Hmm?”
“Dad, please stop bragging about me now. What will people think!”
“Alright. You rascal, you’ve been breaking the mood every time I get emotional since you were little, and you’re still doing it.”
[Dad, stop bragging about me and brag about yourself instead. You’ve lived a good life too.]
I patted Father’s back twice.
When I was little and couldn’t communicate with words, it was my own signal. Two taps meant yes, three meant no.
[Dad, do you remember this?]
Father stopped and looked at me, then smiled softly and continued walking ahead.
“Sung-guk, your mother’s waiting. Let’s hurry.”
“Yeah!”
* * *
Tomorrow, I would have to depart for Harvard once again.
“Listen, Min-guk and Ji-hee. This is your schedule for until I come back during the next break. Follow it as closely as you can.”
Min-guk’s eyes widened as he looked over the schedule.
“Hyung, you want me in the top five of the class? I’m right in the middle—fifteenth place. How am I supposed to beat ten people? That’s impossible.”
“Min-guk, remember the contract you made with me? I’m cutting idols strictly by grades.”
“Ugh, hyung….”
“You said you were confident.”
“That’s… I might feel confident in my heart, but life doesn’t work the way you want it to, does it?”
Min-guk’s shoulders slumped.
“I have to go to hagwon… and if you’re right, I need to master English too… Why is becoming an idol so hard?”
“If you become an idol, things will be much harder. How can you say you want to be an idol when you can’t even do this properly?”
“Hyung, but I have a condition too!”
Min-guk clenched his fists and looked at me.
[This kid’s already negotiating.]
“What condition?”
“Take me to the JP and SH joint concert during the break. Mom will let me go if you say you’re taking me.”
“Fine. But you have to be in the top five of your class!”
“Okay!”
I looked at Ji-hee.
“Now, Ji-hee.”
My voice was different from when I spoke to Min-guk.
“Hyung, isn’t that unfair? Why are you so gentle with Ji-hee?”
“Ji-hee is only seven years old.”
“The world is so unfair!”
[You’ll understand how unfair the world is when you become an idol, Jeon Min-guk.]
Min-guk vented his frustration on Ji-hee for no reason.
“Hey, Jeon Ji-hee! When Sung-guk hyung leaves, I’m going to mess with you.”
Ji-hee clung to me and stuck her tongue out at him.
“Sung-guk oppa! Oppa, Ji-hee will study hard while you’re away.”
“Okay, I’ll buy you a Barbie doll from America.”
“Yay! I’m so excited!”
“Hey, what’s this? That’s discrimination too. Hyung, buy me a robot.”
“If you’re in the top five of your class.”
“Ugh, you always discriminate! Jeon Ji-hee, just you wait until hyung leaves!”
Ji-hee threw her arms around me.
“Oppa, Ji-hee is scared.”
How could I not adore my little sister after this?
As Min-guk grumbled and disappeared, sharpening the blade of revenge against Ji-hee, Mother called me from the kitchen.
“Sung-guk, you need to pack too. Oh, I’ve wrapped up some kimchi, gochujang, and seaweed for you. Come here and take them.”
“Yes, Mother.”
[So I’m finally going back to America again….]
A corner of my heart felt hollow.
In my previous life, I felt nothing like this when parting with my family. If anything, I had wished to leave sooner.
“Oh, Mother. There’s something I need to discuss with Father today….”
“What is it?”
“I’ll talk to him about it when he gets home.”
“Alright.”
Mother was absorbed in packing my luggage, even taking time off from work.
“Sung-guk, did you buy only hoodies again?”
“Mother, I find these comfortable.”
“Really… they say everyone your age in America is dating, so how do you expect girls to like you dressed like that?”
“Mother, I’m very popular.”
Mother shook her head in disapproval.
“You’re my children, but you’re far too arrogant.”
“That’s right! Hyung is totally full of himself!”
Min-guk, who had been running around the house wielding a knife, interjected between our words.
To think this chaotic home would be my last memory for a while….
* * *
A lengthy email arrived from Peter.
Peter had sent photos of a studio near Harvard that I would be moving into starting in March, along with a message suggesting we discuss the development and promotional plans for Face Paper once I arrived in America.
[Hmm… Mark alone won’t be enough, so I’ll probably need more developers… If we launch in March, I should change the name to “Face Note” as Charlie Jobs suggested….]
As I organized the tasks ahead, I heard Father coming home.
10:30 PM.
It was the time Father returned after finishing work at the restaurant.
“Honey, why is this so hot?”
“Sung-guk is leaving for America tomorrow—am I supposed to feed him cold meat? I just made it fresh.”
“It smells delicious.”
“Where are Min-guk and Ji-hee?”
“They’re asleep. Even though there’s such an age gap between Min-guk and Ji-hee, I don’t understand why they fight so much.”
“Min-guk just hasn’t matured yet.”
I could hear the everyday conversation between Father and Mother.
I quickly rose from my seat and headed to the living room.
“Father.”
“Sung-guk, your mother mentioned you had something to tell us?”
“Yes.”
I nodded solemnly.
“I brought the finest boiled pork belly for you to eat one last time before you go. Father, I’ll wash up quickly and be right out. Let’s talk while we eat.”
“Alright.”
“So-young, prepare some beer.”
“Okay, I understand.”
I sat down at the dining table with a heavy heart.
I could feel Mother glancing at me.
“Sung-guk, why do you look so serious?”
“It’s just….”
The truth was, I might be taking away one of the greatest sources of pride my parents had today.
Soon Father emerged from the shower, carrying the scent of soap as he took his seat.
Mother quickly opened a cold beer for him.
Father drained the cold beer in one long gulp, then looked at me.
“Since I have to say goodbye to Sung-guk again, my heart feels heavy. So, what did you want to tell us?”
“Mom, Dad… I’m developing an SNS with my friend Mark called Face Paper.”
“Right, I know. You said you were getting investment for it?”
“Yes. That’s what this is about.”
Mother and Father still wore expressions of confusion.
“Why is that, Sung-guk?”
Mother asked carefully.
“I might have to drop out of Harvard. I really want to make this business succeed.”
In that instant, Father set down the piece of bossam he’d been eating.
Mother said nothing.
I understood perfectly well.
For South Korean parents, there was nothing more devastating than a genius son attending Harvard deciding to leave—nothing short of the sky falling.
Father thought for a long moment before looking at me.
“Sung-guk, wouldn’t it be better to continue your studies? You worked so hard to get into that school—it would be a waste to quit.”
Father tried to persuade me first.
“Dad, I decided to attend with Mark through the second semester. But honestly, I don’t have confidence I can do both. We’ve already received investment, and now that we’re about to seriously scale and grow the company, I’m going to be pressed for time.”
“Hmm….”
Father was silent.
He simply took another sip of his beer.
I said one last thing.
“Dad, Mom. Even if I fail while building the company, I won’t even be twenty yet. If I start over then, I’ll just be starting at the same point as everyone else. I hope you’ll trust my decision.”
“Alright… let’s give it a try.”
Father agreed readily, which was unexpected.
“As you said, even if the business fails, you’ll probably still be younger than your peers. You’re at an age where you can definitely start over. But Sung-guk, you’ve already lived several lifetimes compared to others. Without ever resting…. The most important thing is that you don’t burn out. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Dad.”
“Sung-guk, and… when things get hard, remember you have Dad and Mom. And your siblings. Your family always believes in you, so lean on us whenever you’re struggling. Understood?”
“Yes!”
I nodded.
[But why was it so easy, contrary to my solemn resolve? And why hasn’t Mom said anything? Something feels off….]
* * *
Sung-guk’s father, Ji-sung, kept tossing and turning. Sleep wouldn’t come.
“So-young, I told you to allow Sung-guk to do whatever he says, so I went along with it, but I did the right thing, didn’t I?”
“Are you still worried about that?”
“Of course I am. No matter how brilliant that boy is, he’s actually running a business now. What parent wouldn’t be concerned?”
“I already explained everything to you. I noticed Sung-guk’s behavior seemed suspicious these past few days, so I asked Grace directly.”
Sung-guk’s mother and Grace were still in contact.
“Grace is dating the representative of Sung-guk’s investment company, so she gave me all the details. First of all, the investment terms are good, and Grace said Sung-guk and Mark agreed to continue school for the second semester at least. She also said there are many companies willing to buy just the item if the business doesn’t work out, and they could receive hundreds of millions of dollars from a sale. Hundreds of millions of dollars—that’s hundreds of billions won.”
Sung-guk’s father couldn’t help but laugh in disbelief.
“So-young, so that’s why you were so quiet all evening?”
“Of course. Honey, no matter how much of a genius Sung-guk is or how smart he is for his age, I’m still his mother. Sung-guk is in the palm of my hand.”
“Really… you and Sung-guk are both impossible to control.”
Even Ji-sung, who had been full of worry, managed to crack a smile.
* * *
The airport bustled with activity once more.
“Big brother!”
“Oppa!”
Min-guk tugged at my right hand while Ji-hee pulled at my left, blocking my path.
“Big brother, don’t go. Let’s live together with Min-guk!”
“Oppa, Ji-hee too! Ji-hee wants to go with you.”
I tilted my head in confusion.
[These kids were silent in the car, but now they’re acting suspicious?]
I knelt down and placed my hands on Min-guk and Ji-hee’s shoulders, meeting their eyes.
“Min-guk, Ji-hee. I’ll buy lots of toys and dolls in America and bring them back, so we’ll see each other during vacation. Okay?”
In an instant, Min-guk and Ji-hee exchanged glances and winked at each other, then released my hands without hesitation.
“Can’t be helped. Big brother, have a safe trip.”
Min-guk even used his acting experience to add a melancholic tone to his voice.
“Oppa, don’t forget that Ji-hee loves you. Sniff.”
[What? This was all an act!]
Mother and Father checked their watches and then lifted me up, pushing me toward the gate.
“Sung-guk, you’ll be late for your flight. Go on.”
I hurried through the gate without choice.
“Hey, Mom… Dad… I’ll call when I arrive in America!”
When I turned around, Min-guk and Ji-hee behind Mother and Father were waving their arms with victorious smiles on their faces.

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