I Will Raise This Family to Greatness - Chapter 158

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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 158
“Big brother, I’m going to Disneyland now, right?”
“That’s right, Min-guk! You’ve worked hard all this time.”
“Big brother!!!”
I embraced Min-guk tightly once more.
Of course, even if Min-guk hadn’t scored above 90, I’d planned for all of us to go to Disneyland together once our parents arrived.
Indeed, the right carrot and stick were essential.
Thanks to that, the concentration he’d shown leading up to the exam was truly remarkable.
And to think he’d even scored a perfect hundred….
[So this is what it feels like to raise a younger brother….]
Certainly, raising my younger brothers in this life felt more rewarding than those in my previous one.
* * *
As Min-guk and I left the room, Young Secretary Yang was waiting in the living room.
“Chul-soo, thank you as always.”
Min-guk embraced Young Secretary Yang enthusiastically.
“Brother, I’m grateful to you too.”
Young Secretary Yang patted Min-guk affectionately with a pleased expression.
“Let’s get going. What time did they say we’d arrive?”
“Seven in the evening.”
“We should hurry. If we get stuck in rush hour traffic, we’ll be trapped for sure.”
Just then, Mark and Lim Mi-mi emerged from the room carrying their luggage.
“Mark, Lim Mi-mi. Thank you all so much.”
“What are you talking about, Sung-guk? We’re having a great time staying at a nice hotel thanks to you.”
Mark and Lim Mi-mi would stay at a nearby hotel for a week, while our parents and Ji-hee would remain here at the house.
“Restaurant Owner, thank you so much for finding us such a wonderful hotel!”
“Mark and Lim Mi-mi, come by often and have dinner with us.”
“I’ve really missed your bossam, Father. Make sure to call me, Sung-guk.”
“Since leaving North Korea, I haven’t had proper Korean food in a long time. I’m looking forward to it, Restaurant Owner!”
“Of course!”
Mark and Lim Mi-mi left the house before us.
Min-guk watched their retreating figures with a meaningful gleam in his eyes.
“Big brother, don’t they make a good pair?”
“I’m not sure. I can’t really tell….”
“I hope Mark and Mi-mi noona work out together.”
“Min-guk, our company has a strict no-dating policy.”
“Big brother, isn’t that how it always works—the more you’re told not to do something, the more you want to? Like in a game!”
Young Secretary Yang smiled at Min-guk’s words.
“I think those two are like Tom and Jerry—they really do make a good match.”
Tom and Jerry?
“So Tom, who gets hit every day, is Mark, and Jerry is Lim Mi-mi?”
“I’ve always thought that Tom lets Jerry win on purpose whenever I watch that cartoon. Mark gets it from Lim Mi-mi every day, but what if he’s doing it intentionally?”
“Chul-soo, I’ve been watching Mark since high school until now. He’s not that cunning.”
[If he were that clever, he wouldn’t still be single, Secretary Yang.]
I checked the time and took Min-guk’s hand.
“Chul-soo, let’s head to the airport. We’re going to be late!”
At last, we headed to the airport to meet Mother, Father, and Ji-hee.
* * *
I cracked open the car window slightly.
The breeze drifted in pleasantly.
It was only in this life that I realized my mood changed every time I went to the airport.
In my past life, I’d crossed borders countless times since childhood, and I was so consumed with work that I never had time to contemplate what emotions a place like the airport stirred in me.
But this life was different.
In this life, family was always at the airport.
Whether I was leaving Korea or, like now, when family was arriving.
My heart began to race.
Min-guk squeezed my hand tightly.
Still, having Min-guk with me this time made it feel a little less lonely.
“Min-guk, how was the language program?”
“It was really tough, but I got a perfect score, so I feel great.”
“Min-guk, have you ever thought about studying abroad?”
“Studying abroad?”
Min-guk blinked his large eyes and then rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
“If I study abroad, will I live with you?”
“I’m busy, so if you come study abroad, it would be better to look into a boarding school with dormitories.”
“Then I won’t be able to live with you?”
“Right. But we can see each other often on weekends.”
“Hyung…”
“Hmm?”
“I want to follow Mom and Dad. I realized it painfully this time. I can never live like you do…”
Min-guk spoke with conviction.
[He can never live like me?]
Suddenly, many thoughts flooded my mind.
How had I lived until now?
I was born with the memories of a chaebol from my past life, yet in this life, I was the eldest son of a dirt-poor family.
On top of that, my parents were orphans—the only difference was love.
So before I even turned one, I clenched my fists and vowed to lift this family out of poverty.
I’ve achieved that goal to some extent now.
But I was worried about my younger siblings trailing behind.
Min-guk—intelligent but uninterested in studying.
Ji-hee—who somehow missed out on all the family’s good looks.
There’s a saying that parents stop worrying about their children only when they close their eyes for the last time.
In this life, I suspect the moment I stop worrying about my family will be precisely that same moment.
Min-guk gazed at me with anxious eyes.
“Hyung, did I hurt your feelings?”
“No. I was just thinking about what you meant—that you can’t live like me.”
“Hyung, I really hope you don’t push yourself so hard. You barely sleep in, and you don’t even get to bed until after midnight. And before that, you’re constantly working or studying. I admire you for it, but I don’t think I could live that way. Sometimes while studying, I just want to watch comics.”
Min-guk was a normal child for his age.
I gently stroked his head without saying a word.
[Min-guk, I’ll earn the money until you become an idol.]
As I smiled faintly, Min-guk’s eyes narrowed.
“Hyung, are you plotting something in your head?”
“I’m not thinking about anything….”
I deliberately changed the subject.
[This isn’t a plot—it’s a resolve. I’m going to raise you well! You have no idea what your hyung is thinking, Min-guk!]
“That’s suspicious….”
Just then, Young Secretary Yang turned around from the front.
“We’re arriving at the airport now. You two need to stop bickering and get ready to meet your parents. It’s time.”
“Yes!”
Min-guk and I raised our hands simultaneously.
* * *
We waited for the airport gate to open.
How long had it been….
Just then, Young Secretary Yang snapped a photo of us from the front.
“Chul-soo, why are you suddenly taking a picture?”
“Because you and Min-guk both stretching your necks and waiting like meerkats is adorable. Post it on FaceNote later.”
“Come on, hyung….”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa….”
Min-guk suddenly pointed at the gate with his finger.
“Hyung, the gate’s opening!”
Finally, the airport gate opened and people streamed through.
Min-guk and I held hands tightly, searching with our eyes for Mother, Father, and Ji-hee.
After a moment, as the crowd thinned, I began to see Mother, Father, and Ji-hee.
Min-guk released my hand and ran forward.
“Mother! Father!”
“Min-guk!”
Mother quickly embraced Min-guk.
Ji-hee, holding a doll in one hand, looked around searching for me.
I quickly raised my hand.
“Mother, Father! Ji-hee! Here!”
At that moment, Young Secretary Yang gave my back a gentle push.
“Sung-guk, you should run to Mother and Father like Min-guk did. That’s what you’re supposed to do at your age….”
[Young Secretary Yang, if you only knew how old I really am, you’d be shocked….]
I was practically pushed forward by Young Secretary Yang toward my parents. Truth be told, I wanted to dash toward them just like Min-guk did.
Ji-hee recognized me first and rushed over, sweeping me into her embrace.
“Oppa!!!”
“Ji-hee!!!”
“Oppa, I missed you so much!”
“I missed you too!”
Father approached from behind and gently patted my back with his warm hand.
“Sung-guk, you’ve been well, haven’t you?”
“Yes, Father.”
Mother looked at me and began rubbing my face vigorously with her hands.
“Mother, gently.”
“Sung-guk, why have you lost so much weight? You’re eating properly, aren’t you? You’re not sick anywhere, are you?”
“Don’t worry, Mother. I’m eating well.”
I had missed this family so much—the kind that worries about food the moment they see you.
* * *
The savory aroma of bossam wafted from the kitchen.
Father had taken over the kitchen immediately after unpacking, using the bossam ingredients he’d prepared all the way from Korea.
“Sung-guk, we have about ten minutes left—Mark and that employee from North Korea are coming too, right?”
“Yes, Father.”
I answered quickly.
Mother looked at me with a slightly worried expression.
“Sung-guk, is it really okay to hire someone from North Korea as an employee?”
“She’s a talented person, and she’s American now, Mother. There’s nothing to worry about.”
“Mother! That noona even taught me and Min-guk with North Korean-style studying methods.”
Under the assault of Min-guk’s and my arguments, Mother finally seemed to ease her mind.
Ji-hee, clutching her doll, held my hand tightly and refused to let go.
“Oppa, did you miss me a lot?”
“Of course.”
[But Ji-hee, I remember. I remember how you and Min-guk conspired and cried at the airport….]
Min-guk appeared and abruptly broke apart the hands Ji-hee and I were holding.
“Jeon Ji-hee! Didn’t you miss me? Between me and Sung-guk hyung, who do you like more?”
Min-guk turned out to be the very embodiment of jealousy.
Ji-hee’s expression turned sullen as she looked back and forth between Min-guk and me.
“Come on, tell me! Who do you like more! Depending on your answer, your life will change when you go to Korea!”
“Well….”
Ji-hee looked at me with pitiful eyes.
“I… like Sung-guk oppa.”
[As expected… women are all the same….]
At that moment, Ji-hee opened her mouth again.
“I like Sung-guk oppa, and I like Min-guk oppa too.”
“Which one do you like more! Jeon Ji-hee, you need to understand what the question is asking!”
Min-guk pressed the issue with surprising sharpness.
I clenched both my fists and stared at Ji-hee.
[I need to settle this. Jeon Ji-hee, Min-guk or me?]
Ji-hee swallowed hard.
“Well….”
[Jeon Ji-hee, have you forgotten that I’m the one who built this household? Your answer determines your future.]
I looked at Ji-hee with grim determination.
Min-guk wore the same expression.
“Jeon Ji-hee, the person you’ll see most often at home is me.”
Ji-hee seemed to make a decision, her eyes widening as she looked at me.
[So it’s me, right?]
Ding-dong.
Just then, the doorbell rang.
At the same time, Mother emerged from the kitchen and scooped Ji-hee into her arms.
“Why are you two bullying your only little sister like this? Everyone help your father set the table.”
“Yes.”
“Yes, Mother.”
Min-guk and I trudged dejectedly toward the kitchen.
“Hyung, it seems like the hardest thing in this world is winning Ji-hee’s heart.”
“Min-guk, even if we win her heart for now, someday we might have to hand it over to another man…”
“Yeah, hyung. I won’t give her my heart too easily.”
Min-guk clenched both his fists tightly.
I patted Min-guk’s shoulder.
[Min-guk, that’s just what it means to be an older brother….]
* * *
Father’s dishes were arranged abundantly across the table, accompanied by Mother’s side dishes made with her signature touch.
At the table sat not only Mark and Lim Mi-mi, but also Young Secretary Yang and Jeon Tae-guk.
Father emerged from the kitchen carrying a plate of freshly boiled meat.
A savory aroma filled the table.
“Here, Won Uncle’s Bossam.”
As Father set down the meat, everyone exchanged glances.
Of course, the most oblivious Jeon Tae-guk snatched the most perfectly cooked piece of bossam with his chopsticks. He popped it into his mouth, chewed it several times, and swallowed immediately.
“Sir… why is this so delicious?”
For a moment, I was taken aback.
Jeon Tae-guk is the heir to Samjeon Group.
Since childhood, he had frequented all manner of Michelin-starred restaurants.
That Jeon Tae-guk would acknowledge Father’s bossam….
I stared at him with wide eyes, and Jeon Tae-guk, who had been pondering something, finally spoke to my father.
“Sir, would you be interested in starting a business venture with me?”
Jeon Tae-guk, the hidden hand of the Samjeon Group.
Could it be… that today would become the day Jeon Tae-guk made the greatest decision of his life?

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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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