I Will Raise This Family to Greatness - Chapter 197

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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 197
I stood before the airport gate, my anxiety mounting with each passing moment.
The time when Min-guk and Jung-woo were scheduled to arrive at San Francisco Airport drew steadily closer.
Mark had come along to pick them up in place of Jeon Tae-guk, who had reluctantly attended school classes due to his grades.
Mark’s face was just as excited as mine.
“Sung-guk, I’m so looking forward to this. Min-guk must have grown a lot, right?”
“Yeah. Min-guk’s a middle schooler now.”
“Time really flies. Min-guk must be entering his rebellious phase.”
“When I saw him in winter, he was the same as always.”
[Rebellious phase? Min-guk’s still just a kid….]
Soon the gate doors swung open, and passengers streamed out in a flood.
And finally, I caught sight of Min-guk and Jung-woo’s faces.
Min-guk had large headphones clamped over his ears.
I quickly waved my hand toward Min-guk.
“Min-guk! I’m over here!”
In that instant, I felt Min-guk’s gaze pass right through me without truly seeing me.
[What’s with that indifferent look?]
Instead, Jung-woo approached with genuine warmth.
“Sung-guk!”
“Oh… Jung-woo. You must be exhausted from the trip.”
“Thanks to you, I made it to America. I’m so grateful.”
“Don’t mention it.”
[This is all an investment. I expect you to become a great singer and earn back every penny I’ve put in.]
I introduced Mark, who stood beside me, to Jung-woo.
“This is Mark. He’s my high school and college classmate, and my co-representative at FaceNote.”
“Wow—”
Jung-woo’s jaw dropped at the sight of Mark.
“Hey, I’m Mark. So you’re Sung-guk’s only elementary school friend. Nice to meet you.”
Mark introduced himself in simple English.
Jung-woo answered shyly in English and murmured.
“It’s so strange to see in person someone I’ve seen on FaceNote….”
Jung-woo stared at Mark with wide, curious eyes.
In contrast, Min-guk merely bobbed his head to the music flowing through his headphones.
“Jeon Min-guk, aren’t you going to greet your brother and Mark?”
“Oh, hyung. Mark, what’s up!”
“What?!”
I was left speechless.
[Did this kid just say ‘what’s up’ to me?!]
Internally, I was already seething, but this was an airport.
I clenched my teeth and fixed my gaze on Jeon Min-guk.
“Min-guk, what did you just say?”
“We’re in the United States, so I greeted you American-style. In the movies, all the rappers greet like that, so what’s the big deal?”
“Min-guk, what kind of movie have you been watching?”
“8 Mile with Eminem. Haven’t you seen it, hyung? Everyone in that movie is obsessed with hip-hop.”
Min-guk let out a big yawn.
“Ugh, I’m tired. Hyung, how are we getting to our place?”
“Oh, Mark bought a car. Let’s take that.”
I did my best to hold back my anger.
[They say patience three times over can even spare you from murder… Jeon Min-guk, I’m only going to tolerate this three times.]
* * *
Even in the car heading home, Min-guk didn’t say a word.
He kept his large headphones on, listening to music alone while gazing out the window with it rolled down.
Mark glanced at Min-guk, who was absorbed in his music.
“Sung-guk, Min-guk seems to be going through puberty.”
[This is all because he’s warm and well-fed with nothing to worry about. If I keep him busy, he won’t have time for such thoughts.]
I handed Min-guk and Jung-woo a two-week schedule for their stay.
“I’ve registered you both at a language academy in San Francisco for two weeks. It’s a short time, but I hope you’ll make the most of it.”
Jung-woo looked at the schedule and marveled.
“Sung-guk, you did this back in first grade too… So this is really how you have to study to succeed like you.”
Jeon Min-guk, who had lowered his headphones, scoffed.
“Hyung, why do I have to study English so hard anyway? I’m going to be a singer. Wouldn’t it be better to go to the mecca of hip-hop and do rap battles instead of wasting time studying English?”
“Min-guk, do you even have the English skills to do rap battles in English?”
“Well…”
When Min-guk ran out of words, he put his headphones back on and muttered.
“I’m going to be a singer in Korea anyway, so I don’t understand why you keep going on about English.”
[Because in ten years, you two will become singers loved by the whole world! Do you want to not even be able to greet people in English then, Jeon Min-guk!]
I was reaching my limit.
Mark glanced at me cautiously.
“Sung-guk, you’re really angry, aren’t you?”
“No. I’m. Not.”
I spoke firmly.
“You’re definitely angry. You always clam up and give short answers when you’re mad.”
At that moment, Jung-woo, sensing the strange atmosphere from the back seat, looked at us both with an innocent expression.
“Sung-guk, my English studying is paying off. I understand a little of what Mark said. He’s asking if you’re angry, right?”
[Sigh… Jung-woo, I’m not in the mood for this kind of conversation right now. Read the room.]
But Jung-woo was not one to read the room.
His innocent nature was also his charm.
“Sung-guk, San Francisco is really beautiful. So we’re sharing a room with you?”
“There’s one room left, so you and Min-guk will use that. I need my own room because I have a lot of work.”
“Wow. Sung-guk, you’re really cool!”
Jung-woo gave a thumbs up.
“Oh, and there’s one more person living with us. Jeon Tae-guk. He’s a college student, but he’s got a sharp personality, so be careful around him.”
“Don’t worry! I won’t cause any trouble.”
“You’re not the one I’m worried about….”
I let out a heavy sigh.
Watching Min-guk, twisted in every conceivable way, I couldn’t help but wonder why the next two weeks felt like they’d be absolutely brutal.
* * *
“Jeon Min-guk! Long time no see! I told my secretaries on the way here to buy out all the delicious food from restaurants around this area!”
Jeon Tae-guk, returning from school after a long absence, welcomed Jeon Min-guk with his hands full of food.
But Min-guk’s response was cold.
“Wassup, man.”
“Huh? What did you just say?”
Even Jeon Tae-guk, born as the heir to a chaebol family and living his entire twenty years without regard for others, was taken aback by Min-guk’s greeting.
“Hyung, long time. Just saying hi.”
“Oh… yeah…. I brought a lot of delicious food to eat together with you guys. Aren’t you hungry?”
“Hyung, I’m on a diet. I’m only eating salad.”
Min-guk spoke in choppy sentences, then scanned the room where he and Jung-woo would be staying.
“Hyung, why is there only one bed?”
“It’s a king size. There’s plenty of room for both you and Jung-woo.”
Jung-woo quickly gauged Min-guk’s mood.
“Min-guk, if you’re uncomfortable, I’ll lay out a blanket on the floor and sleep there.”
“I’m sensitive and can’t sleep with anyone. Artists are naturally sensitive, you know.”
Bang.
Min-guk closed the door and went into the room.
Jeon Tae-guk and I stared at the closed door in disbelief.
Hip-hop syndrome, artist syndrome—Min-guk had contracted every possible affliction.
“Sung-guk, is Min-guk going through puberty?”
[I’m drawing my second stroke of patience. You’ve got one more left, Jeon Min-guk!]
Just then, Jung-woo smiled gently.
“Sung-guk, don’t worry too much. I was pretty much like that when I was in first year of middle school. You know, like everything in the world feels annoying, and you just want to be left alone. That kind of thing.”
“Jung-woo, this is my place first, and we’re in the United States. So I think people here should follow my rules.”
Just then, the door burst open and Min-guk shouted loudly.
“Down with the dictator!”
Bang!
The door closed again.
[I’ve used up all three strokes of patience! Jeon Min-guk, you bastard!]
I rolled up my sleeves.
“Jeon Min-guk, who told you to slam the door like that! I’ve been incredibly patient! Let’s settle this today!”
Jeon Tae-guk stopped me.
“Sung-guk, he’s in first year of middle school.”
“A middle schooler as an official? I was running the FaceNote business at that age, working day and night without rest!”
“Sung-guk, that’s because you’re a genius. You’re truly a special person.”
What?
My anger dissipated at Jung-woo’s single remark.
[That’s right, I was a genius. A special person too….]
I shrugged my shoulders.
Then Jeon Tae-guk shook his head.
“Anyway, I’m weak to compliments. By the way, I brought a lot of food, so what should we do? I even got the pizza that Min-guk used to enjoy….”
Just then, the door burst open again and Min-guk came running in.
“Pizza is food I can eat.”
“Weren’t you dieting just now? Weren’t you saying you’d only eat salad?”
“My mind changed.”
“Then first, take back what you said to your brother about being a dictator.”
“I didn’t say anything wrong. You always do whatever you want anyway. I want to go to the mecca of hip-hop, but you’re the one registering for Language Academy classes. Seriously, you’re too much!”
[That’s right, let me get beaten up good today!]
As I approached, Min-guk quickly hid behind Jeon Tae-guk.
“Brother, I’m scared of Sung-guk hyung.”
[Ugh, what a headache….]
So this is what adolescence is really like!
* * *
FaceNote’s business was proceeding smoothly.
Investors were flocking in, and the number of employees continued to grow.
Still, I made sure to have lunch together with Mark and Lim Mi-mi, the founding members, and discuss company matters.
“Boss, I think we need to strengthen the security team further.”
“How many people?”
“We need at least 10 more.”
“Security is the lifeblood of an SNS like this, so figure out the exact number needed and submit it.”
I took a slice of pizza and drank an iced Americano.
“Sung-guk, why aren’t you eating more?”
“That Min-guk brat has ruined my appetite.”
“Is Min-guk still grumbling like yesterday?”
“This morning I told him the San Francisco weather is hot, so please wear light clothes to the Language Academy, but he threw a fit saying he’d wear a leather jacket no matter what and left wearing it. He’s probably sweating to death right now.”
“Min-guk’s really hit adolescence hard.”
I couldn’t understand why anyone had to go through adolescence at all.
In my previous life, I didn’t even remember experiencing adolescence while undergoing successor training.
I had to be first in my entire school, had to get into Seoul National University, so I studied relentlessly day and night.
“What’s with kids these days anyway….”
At that moment, Lim Mi-mi, who had been quietly listening to our conversation, chimed in.
“Boss, Min-guk is going through adolescence, but isn’t there a reason for his behavior?”
“Hmm… Lim Mi-mi, that was a sharp observation. It seems like while studying hip-hop music, he’s just picked up some unnecessary affectations.”
“Hip-hop? That stuff can be pretty scary once you get into it.”
Mark nodded vigorously in agreement.
“Honestly, I’m a metal fan. There was a time when I’d imagine myself as a member of a metal band, touring the world and performing.”
“Mark, you can’t even carry a tune.”
“That’s exactly why I stopped fantasizing about it early on.”
It was then that Lim Mi-mi casually threw out a suggestion.
“Restaurant Owner, it seems Min-guk learned about hip-hop from books and movies back in Korea. Why don’t you show him what real hip-hop is like? I don’t think anything would work faster than that.”
“Lim Mi-mi!”
I looked at her with a slightly surprised expression.
“What’s wrong, Restaurant Owner?”
“That’s actually a brilliant solution.”
“You’re a genius when it comes to business, but it seems you always lose to your younger siblings.”
I took another bite of my pizza.
[Jeon Min-guk, just wait. I’ll show you what hip-hop really is.]
* * *
Jeon Tae-guk looked at me with a serious expression.
“Sung-guk, do we really have to do it this way?”
“Hyung, you saw Min-guk yourself. He came back from Korea having learned nothing but this strange hip-hop culture, and he keeps pestering us to let him go to the mecca of hip-hop instead of studying. If that’s what he wants, we should give it to him.”
“I’m helping you because you asked, but… I’m really not comfortable with this.”
Jeon Tae-guk handed over airplane tickets to Detroit.
It was the city that served as the backdrop for the movie “8 Mile” starring Eminem.
He’d already done his research on several hip-hop clubs actually located there.
“Sung-guk, it could be dangerous there… especially for just the two of you to go as East Asians.”
“Hyung, what are you talking about? You’re coming with me.”
“Me too?”
“Of course, Hyung!”
[That way, Samjeon’s protocol team will mobilize.]
* * *
When Jeon Min-guk stepped off the plane at Detroit Airport, his face was filled with emotion as he kissed the ground.
[Ugh… my head’s pounding.]
I rubbed the back of my head and climbed into the limousine that Jeon Tae-guk had prepared in advance.
As soon as Jeon Tae-guk got into the limousine, he began his explanation.
“Everything in this car is bulletproof. So as long as you stay inside, you’re safe.”
“Hyung, are you a coward? What’s so scary about it?”
Min-guk, oblivious to everything, kept chattering away.
The limousine soon entered the unfamiliar landscape where Detroit’s hip-hop venues were located.
And I could see clubs filled with Black men wearing oversized hoodies that swallowed their frames, just like the clothes Min-guk was wearing today.
I could see Min-guk’s face gradually stiffen.
His body, which had been swaying to the music, had long since gone rigid.
Finally, the limousine came to a stop in front of a massive club packed with towering Black men.
I opened the car door.
Then I glanced at Jeon Min-guk and Jung-woo.
“Jeon Min-guk, come on down. This is the hip-hop mecca you’ve been dying to visit.”
“Wow….”
Min-guk was clearly trembling.

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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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