I Will Raise This Family to Greatness - Chapter 13

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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 13
Kim Mi-young’s car pulled away from the curb.
Though Kim Mi-young’s vehicle was an aging used car, it served us well enough—ferrying my heavily pregnant mother to and from the film set with relative ease.
Mother cracked the window open, seeking relief from the stuffiness.
The early summer evening breeze drifted through the gap, carrying with it the promise of cooler air.
Nestled in Mother’s embrace, I pressed my hand firmly against my rival’s belly.
“Sung-guk, aren’t you excited to meet your little sibling soon?”
[As if…]
During my tenure as chairman of the Samjeon Group, I had two siblings.
Jeon Tae-guk and Jeon Mi-jin.
Jeon Tae-guk, as I’ve mentioned before, was ten times—no, a hundred times—more troublesome than Michael.
A drug dealer who dabbled in everything from cannabis to various narcotics, he was a liability to any business operation.
Grandfather used to say it would’ve been better if he’d simply chased after women instead; instead, he destroyed his own life through drugs.
Consequently, I had him removed from the succession quickly and exiled to the New York branch, where I let him indulge in his precious drugs to his heart’s content. At least his stupidity made him easy to manage.
The real problem was Jeon Mi-jin.
With a face that bore an uncanny resemblance to Grandfather, Jeon Mi-jin possessed ambitions that knew no bounds.
She constantly yearned to catch up with me, yet her abilities never matched her aspirations.
Once I firmly established my path in management, she boldly pivoted toward fashion.
After graduating from Paris’s most prestigious fashion school, she immediately took over Samjeon Textiles upon her return.
She even married into another conglomerate family, building respectable matrimonial connections, but Jeon Mi-jin excelled at imitation rather than innovation.
Each new brand launch she spearheaded became mired in plagiarism controversies, and ultimately, poor performance left her inheriting only the gallery that the Iron Lady had once managed.
Had these siblings not shared my blood, I would have gladly parachuted them into some conflict zone and forgotten about them entirely—such pathetic specimens they were.
Mother gently stroked my head.
“Sung-guk, what are you thinking so hard about?”
[Well, I’m just worried that my new sibling might turn out as incompetent as Jeon Tae-guk or Jeon Mi-jin. Mother, I have so many concerns.]
I patted Mother’s belly playfully.
Just then, the hand that had been stroking my head suddenly grew damp.
[Mother, what’s wrong all of a sudden?]
I looked up at Mother’s face.
Her brow was furrowed.
Cold sweat beaded on her forehead.
“Sung-guk’s mother, are you alright?”
“Unni, I… I think the baby’s coming. Ugh.”
Mother bit her thin lips.
“I’m heading to the hospital. Just hold on a little longer.”
Kim Mi-young urgently turned the steering wheel.
* * *
The members of Just were eating hamburgers in the darkness, their phone flashlights illuminating their faces.
Leader Tae-hyung gulped down his cola.
“Thanks to Sung-guk, we can finally afford hamburgers and live decently now, right?”
“So that’s the thing, hyung. Just two months ago, we were eating only one meal a day.”
Jae-hyun laughed bashfully.
Just, being a mid-sized talent agency, had idols with poor support resources.
“But hyung, did you ever think five guys and a baby would become such a hit?”
The flower-boy Jae-hyun asked.
Tae-hyung bit into his hamburger and shook his head.
“I never dreamed it in my wildest dreams. Honestly, everyone rejected this program, so we ended up doing it.”
“Right. Singers are supposed to perform on stage, not take care of babies. Everyone turned it down. They said changing diapers, feeding milk, all that—it would kill the mystique. They said it was ridiculous.”
Lucas nodded in agreement.
“Sung-guk is really our savior.”
Beom-seon said quietly.
“Savior? We did well ourselves. The kid just comes out every day, laughs, cries, fights, eats. What else is there to do?”
It was Michael complaining as always.
Beom-seon looked at Michael with pity.
“Michael, before Sung-guk, when did anyone ever properly recognize you on your own?”
“If we just went on stage more, viewers would’ve recognized our charm too!”
“Do you know how many boy groups debut in a single day like us?”
“Why should I know that?”
Michael talked back to Beom-seon.
“Michael, idols from major agencies go on shows every week, variety programs constantly. This was really our last chance. Plus, we’re taking care of Sung-guk, this genuinely harmless baby, and viewers got to know our individual characters by watching us do that.”
Only Michael pouted, while everyone else nodded.
Lucas laughed brightly.
“I like being able to show off the muscles I’ve built while holding Sung-guk.”
“Anyway, Lucas is optimistic.”
Jae-hyun tried to lift the gloomy mood.
Just then, the living room lights came on.
“Oh, the lights are on.”
At the same moment, the manager burst in.
“You guys, get ready quick.”
“Are we going straight into filming?”
“Sung-guk’s mom is having her second baby! You need to go welcome Sung-guk’s little sibling!”
“Hyung, we haven’t even done our makeup.”
“Hey, you guys sleep and wake up to film every day—what’s this about makeup? The broadcasting station already left. If you’re even a little late, you’re all getting cut from this major event! Just get out there as you are right now!”
“Yes!”
* * *
Mother’s contractions continued.
It had already been two hours.
I was nestled in Father’s arms after he came home from work.
“Sung-guk, don’t be nervous.”
[It’s you who’s nervous, Father. Right now, your hand holding me is drenched in sweat.]
I gripped my father’s trembling knees tightly.
Kim Mi-young approached us.
“The Director and all the Just members are on their way.”
The moment we arrived at the Hospital, Kim Mi-young had contacted my father and the Director.
Anyone could see this was prime broadcast material.
The birth of Sung-guk’s younger sibling, star of “Five Men and a Baby Basket”!
The five men of “Just” sharing this momentous day!
[Manager Kim Mi-young, you’ve got good instincts. You did well.]
I patted Manager Kim Mi-young’s back with my hand.
Pat, pat.
From far down the corridor, I heard the murmur of voices.
Just had finally arrived.
I heard screams like “Ahhh! It’s Tae-hyung!” and “Lucas!!!”
I quickly let tears glisten in my eyes and gripped my father’s shirt with both hands.
The picture of an anxious firstborn waiting for his mother and younger sibling.
[Well, shall we start acting?]
The Just members rushed over in unison and bowed ninety degrees to my father.
“Hello! We’re Just.”
“We’re Sung-guk’s father.”
“Wow, your father is really handsome too.”
Tae-hyung spoke with extreme politeness.
[Tae-hyung, there’s barely an age difference between us.]
Beom-seon approached me before I knew it and lifted me into his arms.
“Sir, please rest. We’ll watch Sung-guk.”
“No, it’s fine.”
My father declined, but I quickly nestled into Beom-seon’s embrace.
My father had been holding me for over an hour after coming from the Bossam Restaurant.
He was obviously exhausted.
[Dad, get some rest.]
“Then, I’ll trouble you for a moment.”
The Just members’ faces remained tense.
Soon the Broadcasting Station camera crew and Director arrived.
“We’re a bit late. The second child hasn’t arrived yet, right?”
“That’s right.”
“Thank goodness.”
The Director let out a genuine sigh of relief. Then, looking at the Just members, he burst out laughing.
“You all just ran out without checking a mirror, didn’t you?”
“Huh?”
Jae-hyun asked with a bewildered expression.
“Never mind. This is perfect—so real and good. Great. Alright, rolling camera.”
I scanned the faces of the members.
They’d eaten their hamburgers thoroughly.
Tae-hyung’s shirt had a piece of cabbage clinging to it, while Michael’s white t-shirt bore a vivid red ketchup stain.
I quickly reached over and tapped the cabbage off Tae-hyung’s shirt. It fell away naturally.
The camera didn’t miss the moment.
“Director, Sung-guk is taking care of his hyung.”
I heard the Assistant Director whisper.
[Assistant Director, subtitle it as “Sung-guk looking after his hyung.” Please.]
Tae-hyung quickly stroked my head and straightened his posture.
The camera rolled as everyone paced anxiously in front of the delivery room.
Another two hours passed like that.
Everyone looked exhausted.
It was Beom-seon who shone through it all.
Though Beom-seon holding me must have been tiring, he kept me cradled firmly in his arms as he paced back and forth in front of the delivery room.
Tae-hyung, Jae-hyun, and Lucas took turns holding me, but Beom-seon held me the longest.
Michael couldn’t hold me for more than a few minutes because I squirmed so much, and he ended up sulking in the corner.
Beom-seon kept patting my back gently.
“Sung-guk, your mother must be going through so much.”
I looked up at Beom-seon intently.
[Should we drop the rivalry act and shift to an awkward dynamic instead?]
Father approached Beom-seon.
“I can hold Sung-guk now. He must be getting quite heavy for you.”
“No, it’s fine. I raised my youngest brother. My mother had a late baby when I was in high school. Sung-guk is completely light. My brother was a big, healthy baby.”
Beom-seon managed a smile.
Two hours should have been exhausting, but he was holding up well.
The delivery room door slid open and a Nurse rushed out.
“Is there a guardian for So-young Kim?”
“Me, me!”
Father quickly raised his hand.
“Sir, you’ll be cutting the umbilical cord, right?”
“Yes!”
“Then follow me. It looks like delivery is imminent.”
“Yes, yes….”
Father rushed into the delivery room with a half-dazed expression.
“Nurse!”
The Director caught the Nurse before she could leave.
“You know us, right? A Baby Basket and Five Men.”
The Director was so flustered he’d even reversed the title, but the Nurse understood anyway.
“Oh, yes. But what is it?”
“Can we come in too? This is the famous Sung-guk.”
The Director quickly showed me, cradled in Beom-seon’s arms, to the Nurse.
“Well….”
The Nurse looked flustered.
“I asked at the front desk, and they said it’s fine from a hospital publicity perspective if the guardian consents.”
In that moment, Father grabbed the Director’s arm.
“Director, we need to get my wife’s permission first.”
“Oh, my apologies.”
“I’ll go ask her and be right back.”
Father hurried into the delivery room with the Nurse.
Then he came rushing back out moments later.
“You can film just the umbilical cord cutting scene, right?”
“Yes, let’s do it that way.”
Kim Mi-young stepped forward.
“The mother’s face cannot appear on camera.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll film it as a documentary, not a variety show. I actually come from a documentary background. If you’re concerned, I can show you the edited version before broadcast.”
“Then, once you’re all sterilized, let’s go in together.”
The Nurse urged them along.
Even in his rush, Father turned back to look at me.
“Sung-guk, get ready to meet your little brother!”
I waved my hand toward Father.
I wasn’t worried about my second sibling.
The only one I was concerned about was Mother.
It was strange, really.
In my previous life, even when the Iron Lady was my mother, no matter what happened, I thought first about the impact of her absence on the Samjeon Group rather than her wellbeing itself.
[Is this family what the Samjeon Group was to me in this life….]
I stroked my chin with my small hand.
“Sung-guk, your good times are ending now.”
It was Michael’s crude remark that broke my train of thought.
If I were still the heir to the Samjeon Group, I would have found some pretext to have Michael permanently expelled from the country.
“Michael, stay away from Sung-guk.”
“What’s it to you, hyung? Don’t just clam up and act all dignified, losing your screen time. Act like me instead. That’s what the viewers like.”
“Michael, what did you just say?”
“Hyung, you still can’t read the room? The viewers love how Michael and I bicker like this. So Director, you just edit it appropriately. This scene—if I stand next to Sung-guk with a sad face too, it’ll show that Sung-guk has grown up now. But Michael still has some growing to do. Something like that will probably air.”
So this is what people mean by a chill running down your spine.
Beom-seon, standing behind Michael, quickly greeted the Director.
The Director stared at Michael with an exasperated expression.
“Michael, let’s finish filming properly first.”
“Yes, sir!”
Michael answered with even more enthusiasm than usual.
It was because of his unwavering belief that the relationship between us, once solidified, would never crumble.
At that moment, the Director spoke with absolute certainty.
“Michael, you said we saved you through editing, so we can just as easily kill you through editing.”

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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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