I Will Raise This Family to Greatness - Chapter 141

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

Chapter 141
I slung my bag over my shoulder.
Just then, Jessie approached with a greeting after a long time.
I could see Dennis’s eyes widen in surprise.
Jessie was still beautiful and captivating, a goddess that every Harvard male student dreamed of dating at least once.
I gently tugged at Dennis’s sleeve.
“Dennis, compose yourself.”
“Sung-guk, you haven’t been to school in a while, so you probably don’t realize how popular Jessie is.”
Jessie stopped right in front of me and flashed a bright smile.
“Sung-guk, why has it been so hard to see your face all this time?”
“I’ve been buried in the office working.”
“It’s a shame that I have to find out how an old friend is doing through the news on FaceNote.”
[And you didn’t even tell me you were dating Tyler!]
Jessie stepped closer. A strong, pungent perfume scent wafted toward me.
“Sung-guk, what’s your next class?”
I looked at Dennis.
“Dennis, what’s our next class?”
“It’s time for lunch.”
The moment I heard that, Jessie rushed at me eagerly.
“Sung-guk, let’s grab lunch together. But why isn’t Mark here?”
“Mark probably went to the office.”
The reason was obvious—Lim Mi-mi was at the office.
“Then let’s all three of us have lunch together.”
“I’m in!”
Dennis answered eagerly.
I was about to pat Dennis on the back three times to discourage him, but quickly stopped myself.
[They say old habits die hard, and I really can’t shake this one.]
Jessie took the lead.
“Sung-guk, how about that taco place up ahead?”
“I’m fine with anything. I’m at an age where I should be eating and growing.”
[Jessie, I’m still a minor. Be careful.]
* * *
Jessie took a photo with her phone and posted it on FaceNote, then showed it to me.
“Sung-guk, what do you think? My friend count is no joke, right?”
“Jessie, you don’t actually know all of them, do you?”
“They’re friends of friends. That counts as knowing them, doesn’t it?”
“Professor Michael Sandel warned you about this. He said you should be careful since you’re so popular.”
“Sung-guk, are you worried about me?”
[No, I’m worried FaceNote might suffer damage because of you.]
I simply nodded and shoved a taco into my mouth.
Dennis gazed at Jessie with enchanted eyes.
[They’re all so full of youthful vigor in their twenties. Romance isn’t that big a deal, yet why are they all so desperate about it?]
I shook my head slowly.
“Sung-guk, but you… are you planning not to come to school anymore?”
“I wasn’t planning on it, but work has been keeping me busy….”
“From the conversation you had with Michael earlier, it sounded like you were quitting school to run a business, right?”
“Well… it looks like that’s what’s going to happen.”
Our office move to Silicon Valley was scheduled to be announced soon through FaceNote anyway.
I took a bite of my taco and told Jessie about this. Stop worrying about what I’m going to do!
“Jessie, we’re moving to Silicon Valley soon. Naturally, I won’t be able to come to school, and we’ll be relocating our dormitory there as well.”
“Sung-guk….”
Jessie looked at me with a shocked expression. She said nothing for a while.
“Jessie, we have FaceNote. We’ll always be able to stay in touch.”
“Why are you telling me this just now?”
“Ah, the decision was made at the Forum, so it’s only been a few days. You’re the first to know after Dennis.”
“Still….”
Jessie set down the half-eaten taco back onto her plate. Her energy seemed to drain away, and then she opened her eyes wide and stared at me.
[Whenever women look at me like that, it always terrifies me….]
I leaned back slightly.
“Sung-guk, you absolutely cannot go anywhere this weekend.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m going to throw a party, and you have to come.”
“Jessie, I appreciate it… but next month I have to go to Apple to check out the office and find housing, so I can’t promise I’ll be here this weekend.”
“Then that won’t work….”
At that moment, Dennis quietly interjected.
“Jessie, don’t you throw parties every week anyway? Just hold it like you normally do, and Sung-guk can come whenever he has time.”
“That’s just a casual get-together… I wanted to throw Sung-guk a proper going-away party, a really big one.”
I took another bite of my taco and chewed thoughtfully.
Jessie continued planning the party regardless of me, and I found myself deeply contemplating why I could never understand women, even if I were born again.
Dennis nudged my ribs sharply.
“Sung-guk, what are you thinking so hard about?”
“Dennis, I wish all the romance in your movies had sad endings.”
“Why?”
“Because it seems impossible for men to understand women, and for women to understand men.”
I nodded with absolute conviction.
“Sung-guk, you’re still young. That’s why you think that.”
[Dennis, listen. I’m already on my second life! I’ve had more romantic experiences than you!]
Of course, Dennis would later come to understand this truth about relationships and would craft endings in every film where the male protagonist stumbles or lovers part ways—quite the desirable conclusion.
Just then, my phone rang.
[Is it Mother? Is Min-guk throwing another tantrum about going to the United States again?]
Contrary to my expectations, it was Peter.
“Peter, what’s the matter?”
– Sung-guk, I found an absolutely fantastic place near the Apple Campus. It’s a three-bedroom condo with two bathrooms. If Lim Mi-mi is okay with it, I’d like to rent it….
“Peter, but if the rent is too expensive, we won’t be able to afford it.”
– Don’t worry about it. It’s all an investment anyway, right? Besides, we got the office for free in this expensive Silicon Valley, so I should make this kind of investment. Our staff will send you photos of the place and its location by email, so discuss it and get back to me. Good properties like this go fast.
“Yes, I’ll contact you right away.”
I quickly grabbed the last taco and stood up.
“Sung-guk, you’re leaving already?”
“Yeah, I need to discuss something with the team. You and Dennis finish eating. I’ll head out first.”
“Sung-guk, your farewell party starts this week. You have to come if you can.”
“Yeah, I got it.”
I gave a quick reply and rushed to the office.
* * *
Click.
As the door opened, Mark and Lim Mi-mi were both staring at their computers without saying a word.
“Have you two eaten lunch?”
“Mark hasn’t yet, but I have. Boss.”
“But… why did you eat separately?”
“Mark suggested getting hamburgers, so I told him never to bring up hamburgers again, and he got upset.”
“Mi-mi, I didn’t get upset. I just hadn’t eaten a hamburger in a while and was trying to be nice, but when you snapped at me like that, I reacted.”
“I didn’t snap at you. That’s just how North Korean speech patterns are, Mark.”
“Wait!”
I quickly stepped between the two of them.
“Mark, Lim Mi-mi. We need to make a decision right now.”
“Sung-guk, what is it?”
“Peter called. He found a place near the Apple Campus that he really likes. It’s a three-bedroom condo, and he wants us to discuss it and let him know quickly. He says good properties like this sell fast.”
Lim Mi-mi looked at me with a troubled expression.
“Boss, I don’t think I can find a nice place. I lived in a semi-basement here too.”
“Peter said he saved money on the office, so he’ll cover the rent for the housing. Don’t worry and just look at the photos first.”
I quickly turned on my laptop and checked my email.
Peter’s employee had sent several detailed photos.
And the place Peter found was even better than I expected.
The living room and kitchen were spacious, and there was even a terrace.
Moreover, two of the bedrooms shared a bathroom between them, while the remaining one had its own separate bedroom and bathroom like a guest room.
[Compared to the penthouse in New York where I lived alone in my previous life, this is nothing….]
“Sung-guk, how about Mark and I each take one of these rooms with the shared bathroom in the middle, and Lim Mi-mi uses the separate room?”
“I think so too. What do you think, Lim Mi-mi?”
“Absolutely! No questions asked, Boss! I’ve never lived in such a nice house back in North Korea!”
Even when Lim Mi-mi was happy, her voice tone became rough.
I whispered quietly to Mark.
“Mark, your North Korean accent is a bit rough, just like Lim Mi-mi said.”
“I should suggest we go to a Korean restaurant later. As an apology.”
“Mark, dating is off-limits.”
“Sung-guk, you’ll be coming along anyway, so don’t worry.”
Mark shrugged his shoulders with ease.
[Mark, what’s this? Is your unrequited love finally starting to cool down?]
“Sung-guk, how long has it been since you and I shared a room alone?”
“Mark, I barely remember ever having my own room. Didn’t I tell you? The place where I was first born was an even smaller one-room apartment than this office. Three of us lived there, and then my younger brother was even born….”
Mark laughed and waved his hand dismissively.
“Sung-guk, if I hear that story one more time, it’ll be a hundred times.”
“Restaurant Owner, I’ve only been in this office for a few months, but I feel like I’ve already heard it ten times.”
[Sigh… I’ve come this far through such hardship. No wonder I can’t stop talking to myself….]
I drank the cold milk bitterly in one gulp.
Just then, Lim Mi-mi noticed something and looked at me.
“Restaurant Owner, why does this blonde beauty keep advertising that she’s hosting your farewell party every week?”
“Could it be… Jessie?”
Mark’s pupils trembled.
[Yes, the good thing about unrequited love is that your heart can still make room for other women. Mark, enjoy it while you can.]
“I ran into her in class earlier and mentioned I’d be heading to Silicon Valley. Then she said she’d just keep throwing the parties she hosts every week, but make them my farewell party instead.”
“Restaurant Owner, but I have a question.”
Lim Mi-mi asked with a serious expression.
“Yes, ask away.”
“How do people usually have fun at parties in America?”
“Well, you drink cheap liquor, dance to the music. People gather in corners in small groups and chat about this and that. If eyes meet, they hold hands and leave together. Of course, I don’t do that. And Mark can’t either.”
“Sung-guk!”
Mark burst out in protest.
“Ah, I see….”
Lim Mi-mi trailed off as if disappointed about something.
“Lim Mi-mi, have you never been to a party?”
“No, Restaurant Owner. After escaping, I’ve been working multiple part-time jobs a day just to survive, so I never had time to go to parties.”
“Sung-guk, there’s nothing special planned for this weekend… should we go to Jessie’s party together?”
“Can I really go, Restaurant Owner?”
Lim Mi-mi asked with sparkling eyes I’d never seen before. Looking into those eyes, it felt like I’d be damned to hell if I refused.
“Then let’s all go together after work Friday evening.”
“Restaurant Owner, what should I wear to the party? Do I wear a dress like at an awards ceremony?”
“No. I’m just going to wear what I have on now.”
“Mi-mi, I’m going in a plaid shirt too.”
“Lim Mi-mi, with two fashion terrorists entering, you can wear whatever you want.”
“We should match the dress code!”
Lim Mi-mi quickly asked on FaceNote what kind of clothes to wear to a party her friend was throwing. Comments seemed to pour in immediately.
“Alright then. I’ll let Peter know we’ve decided on this dormitory.”
“Restaurant Owner, do as you wish.”
Lim Mi-mi was already absorbed in reading the comments.
“I’m in favor of it. Sung-guk!”
I had no reason to object to the dormitory either.
I quickly sent a message to Peter.
– Peter, we’re all unanimously in favor. It’s such an excellent dormitory!
Peter’s reply came shortly after.
– I’ll sign the contract right away!
I scrolled through the dormitory photos one more time.
The office at Apple Campus that Charlie Jobs had agreed to lend us, and now that we’d settled on the dormitory as well, it finally felt real that I was heading to Silicon Valley.
[Silicon Valley….]
I was finally stepping into the place that everyone dreamed of when starting an IT business.

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