I Will Raise This Family to Greatness - Chapter 14

—————

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

—————

Chapter 14
The camera captured my expression as I gazed upon my newborn brother.
Crimson-faced and utterly hideous—a newborn babe.
And male, no less.
His name was Min-guk.
Before my regression, the arrival of a younger brother meant only one thing to me.
A rival has entered the arena!
But now, I wore the boundless expression of joy befitting an older brother.
The camera wouldn’t stop capturing me.
Father held me aloft and kept pressing me closer to Min-guk, visible beyond the glass partition.
“Sung-guk, this is your brother. Min-guk.”
“Ming-goo.”
“Sung-guk, you got your brother’s name right away? Our Sung-guk is truly amazing.”
Father’s face overflowed with emotion as he showered my face with kisses.
[Please, just back off. No matter who you are, I’m declining kisses from another man.]
I squirmed, but the more I resisted, the tighter Father embraced me.
I needed to escape this situation.
I quickly pressed my hand against the glass and performed the role of an older brother overcome with emotion at his long-awaited sibling’s arrival.
“Ming-goo. Hi.”
Then I flashed a radiant smile.
“Cut!”
The Director’s voice came from behind.
“Man, that was absolutely perfect. A total smash hit. The ratings are definitely going to climb again once this airs.”
The Director marveled repeatedly.
“Director, Sung-guk really does seem to know what people want. We could air just this and it would be enough.”
The Assistant Director was quick to shower me with praise.
I shrugged my shoulders.
Shrug, shrug.
Beom-seon tapped my cheek with his finger.
“Look at you, all dignified now that you’re an older brother.”
[I’ve been dignified since birth.]
The Nurse presented Min-guk again from beyond the glass.
“We need to take him back now. Please have one last look.”
Cradled in Father’s arms, I gazed down at the tiny, crimson bundle that was Min-guk.
Red-faced Min-guk couldn’t even open his eyes properly.
But I sent a warning through my gaze.
A notice that from this moment forward, there would be no special treatment simply because he was my brother.
“Then, we’ll be going.”
The Nurse took Min-guk and departed.
The staff began their preparations to leave, and all the members of Just took a breath of relief.
“Sung-guk, you must be so happy to have a little brother!”
Lucas teased me with a bright smile.
[Lucas, didn’t I tell you that you have cabbage stuck in your teeth?]
As Lucas held me, he caught sight of his reflection in the glass window and startled visibly.
“What? I really do have cabbage stuck in my teeth.”
“That’s why I told you to check the mirror in the car earlier. You said you were sleepy and dozed off. Tsk, tsk.”
Jae-hyun clicked his tongue.
Lucas pointed at Michael and laughed.
“Michael, you’ve got ketchup!”
But Michael remained completely silent and motionless throughout the entire shoot.
It was because of what the Director had said.
Michael had approached the Director several times to apologize, but the Director simply ignored him and continued filming.
The Director swept past Michael and turned to the other members with a smile.
“You all were really natural and wonderful! You need to compete with that approachable image. Alright, take the rest of the day off. I’ll see you all at the next broadcast.”
The Director smiled while deliberately ignoring Michael. Then he approached Father and handed him an envelope.
“Sir, you worked so hard today.”
“What is this, Director?”
“You just had a baby, and I wasn’t able to prepare a proper gift. This is something I’m giving you personally. Oh, and the hospital bills have already been covered by the broadcasting station.”
“You’ve already covered the hospital bills, so that’s really not necessary, Director.”
“Please take it. I’d feel worse if you didn’t. Honestly, the appearance fee is already set, and you won’t be able to do commercial appearances for a while anyway.”
Father reluctantly accepted the envelope the Director offered.
“Thank you so much, Director.”
“We should be thanking you. Thanks to Sung-guk, our ratings are going to go up again. This kid really knows how to act. How is it that whenever we point the camera at him, we get exactly the scene we want? Just that one word—’Min-guk’—and all my worries disappear.”
“Sung-guk was really looking forward to meeting his little brother.”
[Could it be… me?]
The Director gently pinched my cheek and let go.
“I see, you little rascal. You wanted to see your brother. By the way, sir, we already have some filmed material from this shoot, and we’ll have the scene of Sung-guk meeting his baby brother, so the next filming should have plenty of time.”
I looked at the Director and gave him a bright smile. It was a form of flattery.
[I’m counting on you going forward, Director.]
The Director smiled.
“Sung-guk, even if you miss me, you can’t cry, alright?”
“Okay.”
I nodded my head.
“What a good boy.”
In the world of capital, the most important thing is quickly understanding who you need to bow your head to.
On this film set, the Director was king.
* * *
Lim Sun-mi had just finished showering.
Jeon Jae-hyung sat on the sofa wearing only a bathrobe, reading the newspaper.
“Honey, are you staying over tonight?”
“I have an early lunch meeting tomorrow.”
One of Jeon Jae-hyung’s rules was that he might stray, but he would never spend the night away from home.
It was an unspoken law among the Samjeon Group family.
The belief was that no matter how much one might wander, family came first.
Jeon Jae-hyung knew better than anyone that what started as a casual encounter—sleeping over for a day or two—could stretch into a week, then a month.
Once that happened, what was once a simple transaction suddenly became someone eyeing the master bedroom, and breaking it off became a headache.
Lim Sun-mi poured whiskey with a disappointed expression and slid the glass toward Jeon Jae-hyung.
“Your favorite.”
“Thanks.”
“Honey, once I finish filming this movie, should we take a trip to the United States?”
“Sure.”
The future was uncertain.
But picking a fight with the woman in front of him by saying he didn’t like it or that it seemed difficult right now would only waste energy.
Jeon Jae-hyung was beginning to grow tired of Lim Sun-mi.
He had first met Lim Sun-mi when she was going through a serious slump.
After thriving as a teen star, she had attempted a bold reinvention into adult roles with a provocative intimate scene in a film, but it backfired spectacularly.
【No one wants to see the nation’s little sister, Lim Sun-mi, exposed.】
The film flopped, her image was damaged, and Lim Sun-mi gradually faded from public attention.
It was Shin Sung-joong who had saved Lim Sun-mi.
He had introduced her to Jeon Jae-hyung, who had been a fan of hers during her teen star days.
Lim Sun-mi’s first impression of Jeon Jae-hyung wasn’t bad either.
One of South Korea’s most prominent tycoons. Tall, with a meticulously maintained appearance, he was in his forties but possessed a dignified charm.
Moreover, maintaining a good relationship with Jeon Jae-hyung offered the opportunity to become an exclusive model for Samjeon Electronics.
The money she had earned as a teen star had been squandered by her father and older brother on their business ventures, leaving her with nothing but debt.
Of course, Jeon Jae-hyung’s romantic history was legendary in the entertainment industry.
There was even talk that it was hard to find a successful actress who hadn’t been linked to him.
Jeon Jae-hyung was looking at a newspaper advertisement for Samjeon Electronics. Naturally, Lim Sun-mi was featured in it.
It was for a newly released refrigerator.
“Sun-mi, you seem to have gained some weight.”
“The role I took on this time is a spinster in her thirties, so I put on some weight for it.”
Lim Sun-mi had immediately noticed that the way Jeon Jae-hyung looked at her had changed recently.
That’s why she had deliberately taken on the spinster role instead of maintaining the sophisticated urban image she had cultivated.
Jeon Jae-hyung had been a good stepping stone, and now it was the right time for Lim Sun-mi to evolve as an actress.
Jeon Jae-hyung raised his eyebrows slightly.
“Our Samjeon Electronics appliances target young, sophisticated urban women. Even after marriage and childbirth, the body type they want is a Miss Korea figure of 34–24–36, not a full-figured spinster’s body.”
“Have you seen ‘Five Men and a Baby Basket’?”
“What’s that?”
“It’s a variety show by a group called Just, and it’s all the rage these days. Until now, singers and actors used a mystery strategy, right? But these guys expose everything—their semi-basement dormitory where they live, their messy appearance when they wake up in the morning, them wearing oversized t-shirts—they present themselves with a relatable image to the public.”
“A relatable image?”
“Yeah. How much longer will Samjeon Electronics keep running ads of women in ten-centimeter heels cooking?”
“….”
Vice Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung fell silent.
Jeon Jae-hyung was a thorough businessman.
There were countless actresses as beautiful as Lim Sun-mi. Yet he continued to see her because there was no other woman who understood him quite like she did.
“Five men and a baby basket—that’s exactly the kind of content people want to see these days. You should watch it yourself.”
Lim Sun-mi turned on the television.
Just then, a scene of Sung-guk taking his first steps appeared on screen.
“Oh my, it’s Sung-guk.”
Jeon Jae-hyung leaned forward.
“Isn’t that the baby you filmed an advertisement with last time?”
The memory surfaced—when he’d visited Lim Sun-mi at the broadcasting station, he’d glimpsed Sung-guk through the gap in the waiting room door, beaming with that radiant smile.
The way the child had waved his hand, as if recognizing him, had left quite an impression.
Lim Sun-mi began massaging Jeon Jae-hyung’s shoulders.
“Is that baby popular these days?”
“They’re calling it the nation’s favorite parenting program.”
Jeon Jae-hyung couldn’t tear his eyes away from Sung-guk.
“Cute kid.”
Yet a strange sense of déjà vu washed over him.
‘Why does that kid look so familiar….’
* * *
Jeon Jae-hyung entered his office after the luncheon meeting concluded.
Secretary Yang followed behind him.
“How was the luncheon meeting, sir?”
“The semiconductor factory expansion is giving me a headache.”
“Still, expanding now seems like a wise choice for the future, sir.”
Secretary Yang possessed foresight rivaling that of senior executives and often offered counsel to Vice Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung.
Jeon Jae-hyung sipped the coffee that Secretary Yang had prepared.
“Secretary Yang.”
“Yes, Vice Chairman.”
“Do you watch that show—Five Men and a Baby Basket?”
“You know about that program, sir?”
“I happened to catch some of it yesterday.”
At the mere mention of Five Men and a Baby Basket, Secretary Yang’s face lit up.
“There’s a child named Sung-guk on the show who’s absolutely adorable. My own child loves him too.”
Jeon Jae-hyung stroked his chin thoughtfully.
“What do you think makes that program so popular, Secretary Yang?”
“Well, most people have experience with childcare, or even if they haven’t, there’s a vicarious thrill to it. And then there’s the charm of watching the boy and the men interact.”
“The kind of child and men you’d find in your own neighborhood, fumbling through things together—something like that?”
“Exactly, sir. You’ve grasped it all from just one viewing yesterday.”
Just as Lim Sun-mi had said, that sense of familiarity was resonating with audiences.
On top of that, there was even a hands-on childcare experience.
“Look into that child named Sung-guk for me. Isn’t he the one who appeared in our washing machine commercial?”
“May I ask the reason? I’ll conduct the investigation accordingly.”
“I’m thinking Samjeon Electronics needs to move away from the image of a woman in high heels cooking, and instead approach it with a more relatable image. Our appliance division is mature, but semiconductors are experiencing rapid growth, so I thought it would be good to showcase our company’s evolving image alongside that child’s growth.”
“Yes, I understand. I’ll look into it.”
Secretary Yang opened the door and left.
As Secretary Yang stepped out, he tilted his head in puzzlement.
It was rare for Vice Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung to take interest in a child model.
Of course, the drum washing machine commercial had been a massive hit, but this was the first time he’d issued a direct order without even a proposal from the advertising agency.
* * *
Mother discharged herself and Min-guk from the hospital the very next day.
When the Iron Lady gave birth to her youngest sister, she had spent a month lying in a VIP hospital room, but this time there was no postpartum care center, and Mother had no means for such luxury.
At the same time, our family had grown by one more person in this cramped one-room apartment.
Mother and Min-guk lay on a blanket spread across the floor where there was no bed.
I quietly approached and looked down at Min-guk.
The crimson little mass was gradually taking on a more defined form.
To be honest, his appearance was inferior to mine.
His stature also seemed slightly smaller than mine.
Clearly, all the superior genes had been concentrated in me.
Mother patted my back.
“Sung-guk, isn’t your little brother cute?”
[How could a rival be cute?]
I shook my head vigorously.
“Sung-guk. Your mother and father didn’t want you to be alone in this world. We’re so glad you finally have a real brother.”
What is she talking about?
“Your mother and father are alone in this world. We have no parents, no siblings to rely on. That’s why we promised each other to have as many children as we could afford when we got married.”
I listened to Mother’s words quietly.
Had my family ever been someone I could rely on?
They were always someone to compete with, someone I had to keep in check.
“Sung-guk, your mother and father work so hard to be a strong shelter for Min-guk. When your mother and father are gone, Min-guk will become your shelter. You’re the older brother, so you’ll take good care of Min-guk, right?”
I looked down at Min-guk.
A tiny mass two years younger than me.
I grasped Min-guk’s small hand. It was warm and soft.
I whispered quietly near Min-guk’s ear.
[Little brother, if you ever stab me in the back, you’re dead.]
Then I turned to Mother with a bright smile and answered.
“Yes!”
Ding-dong.
The doorbell rang.
I had a feeling I knew who it was without even looking.
When Mother opened the door, Kim Mi-young stepped inside carrying fruit and a large pot.
“What’s all this, unni?”
“Seaweed soup. I didn’t make it myself—I asked the Supermarket Ajumma down the street to prepare it. A new mother needs proper nutrition during her recovery period. And starting tomorrow, a housekeeper will come by too. She’ll handle the housework and look after Sung-guk.”
“Unni, we can’t afford—”
“Don’t worry about it. I’m covering this as Sung-guk’s manager.”
“Unni…”
Mother fell silent.
A strange current of emotion swept through the room.
It felt like a tsunami of gratitude was about to crash down.
[I absolutely can’t let this happen.]
I quickly grabbed an apple from the fruit bag Kim Mi-young had brought and began tossing them around the room one by one, giggling mischievously.
Mother snapped back to attention and scooped me up.
“Unni, I’m really grateful. I recovered from childbirth all alone, you know.”
“Oh, the Broadcasting Station called. They want to start filming in two weeks. You understand, Sung-guk?”
“Mm.”
Kim Mi-young quickly changed the subject. She seemed to have an allergy to overly sentimental moments as well.
I was desperate to escape this cramped one-room apartment and get back to the film set.
Min-guk could lie around all day without complaint, but now that I’d started walking, my restless energy was bursting at the seams—this one-room apartment was far too small for me.
Kim Mi-young had already peeled an apple and placed it in my hand.
I held the apple and sucked on its sweetness eagerly.
“Room 107, don’t you think it’s time to consider moving? Sung-guk will be turning two soon. With two children already, isn’t a one-room apartment too cramped?”
“It is small, but I’m comfortable here. Since the children are still young, I want to save up a bit more before we move.”
“Sung-guk’s been on ‘Five Men and a Baby’ for two months now. He’s earned 2 million won in appearance fees alone. Even after deducting my manager’s fee, Sung-guk has 1.5 million won coming to him.”
“We need to save all of that. Sung-guk worked hard to earn that money—I don’t feel right spending it carelessly.”
I clenched my fist and pounded my chest indignantly.
[Stagnant water will never become the ocean! Just saving and saving only benefits the bank!]
Kim Mi-young picked me up.
“What are you going on about, Sung-guk? Why are you hitting your chest? This kid always has something to say.”
“Lately, whenever my husband and I talk, he’s always jumping in with his opinions.”
Mother tickled my belly and laughed warmly.
[This is my weakness.]
I found myself laughing along with her.
“Giggle.”
“Oh, and there’s another reason I came today.”
“What is it?”
“I’ve been getting countless offers to use Sung-guk in commercials.”
“But we agreed no commercials for the first six months.”
“That’s right. But we’re down to just four months left now. Sung-guk’s star potential is already proven, and the advertising industry is in an uproar.”
[I knew it would come to this. My instincts from running the Samjeon Group haven’t dulled one bit.]
I listened intently to what Kim Mi-young was saying.
“Given the volume of advertisements coming in, I think it would be best to focus primarily on large corporations with Sung-guk’s image in mind.”
“Large corporations?”
“Samjeon Electronics, the company that did that drum washing machine commercial before, has offered an exclusive modeling contract. Of course, they’ve also proposed the highest fee in the industry.”
In this life, I found myself oddly entangled with Samjeon Group.
I had fallen from being the eldest son of Samjeon Group to being born as the firstborn of a poor family, but if I could just receive a little help from Samjeon Group, I felt I could rebuild this household much more quickly.
Worry clouded Mother’s expression.
“I’ll need to discuss it with my husband, but what do you think, sister?”
“You know I can’t beat around the bush. I’ll be honest with you. Sung-guk is beautiful now, but children’s faces change dozens of times as they grow. There’s no way to know when or how he’ll change.”
[I won’t be an icon of decline—I’ll be an icon of transformation. Don’t worry, Manager.]
“The conditions Samjeon Electronics has proposed are too good. Sung-guk’s mother and father, if it’s for Sung-guk’s future, it would be best to steadily save money from advertisements while he’s young and get established sooner.”
Mother’s eyes still held uncertainty.
[You always said to row when the tide comes in, Mother. Now is the time to do whatever it takes and earn money. Once I’m a little older, I’ll do stocks and real estate, and I’ll make sure you and Father live comfortably.]
I spoke to Mother with complete seriousness.
Of course, Mother couldn’t understand what I was saying.
“Waaah! Waaah!”
Just then, Min-guk burst into tears, making our serious conversation impossible to continue.
Mother quickly picked up Min-guk.
“Sister, I’ll discuss it with my husband.”
“Then, how about we meet first and see? I work at Samjeon Entertainment, so I know well. An exclusive modeling position for Samjeon Electronics commercials is really a position you don’t want to miss.”
“I’ll think about it for just one day.”
“Waaah! Waaah!”
Min-guk continued crying.
I covered my ears with both hands because of the noise.
Mother was now busy soothing the crying and fussy Min-guk rather than me.
“Min-guk, are you hungry? Just wait a moment.”
While Mother prepared milk, I stared intently at Min-guk.
I no longer threw tantrums asking Mother to hold me. I only acted up when I was hungry or when my diaper was uncomfortable.
[This is how one becomes an adult.]
I sucked on the sweet juice of an apple, alone and forlorn.

—————

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

—————