I Will Raise This Family to Greatness - Chapter 202

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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 202
What was this feeling, like a headache coming on?
Me and Jeon Tae-guk in some strange relationship!
Of course it’s strange!
My younger brother from my past life became an older brother I know in this life!
[Sigh— Iron Lady, how exactly do you see me? Me and Jeon Tae-guk! Do you think I’m blind?]
Ji-hee shook me with a slightly frightened expression.
“Oppa….”
“Ji-hee, I’m sorry. I was lost in thought for a moment. Ji-hee, show me a problem you don’t understand. I’ll teach it to you so well you’ll never forget it your whole life.”
At that, Ji-hee began backing away slowly.
“Ji-hee, what’s wrong?”
“Oppa, you seem tired today. Teach me tomorrow instead.”
“You should learn right away when you don’t understand something.”
“I’ll study a bit more on my own today. You must be tired, so go to bed soon. Oppa, goodbye!”
Ji-hee rushed out of my room.
Because of my younger brother Jeon Tae-guk from my past life, I was missing this crucial moment to raise my younger sister in this life into a genius!
I quickly called Jeon Tae-guk.
Jeon Tae-guk picked up with a gloomy voice.
– Sung-guk, you saw my message, right?
“Hyung, what exactly are you talking about?”
– The reason our mother dragged me away from the airport was because of you.
I swallowed down the rising anger.
“Hyung… so what you’re saying is. What do you mean?”
– I mean, I’m not even dating anyone.
[Not ‘not dating’—you can’t date!]
– Anyway, I’m living in the same house as you, and I’ve been helping you out by having Samjeon people do things, so Mother has completely misunderstood. It seems rumors have spread in business circles too. Sung-guk, I think I need to put on a show at Samjeon Hotel this Saturday evening.
“Hyung, a show?”
I heard Jeon Tae-guk’s sigh through the phone.
“I need to be photographed looking affectionate with some famous actress that everyone recognizes. You need to be photographed with my younger sister Mi-jin.”
– Hyung, I don’t know about you, but why would I be photographed with Jeon Mi-jin?
“That’s so… we’re spreading rumors that you’re the son-in-law Samjeon has picked out, to make it seem natural that I’m living with you and everything else.”
The more I heard, the worse my headache became.
– Sung-guk, just help me out this once. No matter how much I explain, Mother only misunderstands more, and Jeon Mi-jin is determined to get entangled with you somehow using this opportunity. And it’s just one photo—it’s nothing. There’s nothing bad about being connected to the Samjeon Group in South Korea.
“Hyung, let me think about it and get back to you.”
– Sung-guk, please save me!
Click— I hung up without answering and went to the kitchen to gulp down cold water.
Just then, I overheard Mother and Father talking in the room.
“Honey, the bag Sung-guk bought me is really pretty, isn’t it?”
“You like it?”
“Of course. My husband never bought me a bag, but my son did—how could I not like it? And it’s Chanel, no less.”
“So-young, do you know Chanel?”
“I’ve heard of it. I’ve seen plenty of people carrying those bags around.”
Mother’s voice was brimming with excitement.
“So-young, would you like me to buy you a bag for your next birthday?”
“One bag is enough. Come on, you’re being a bit late to the party.”
“Then, So-young. Is there anything else you’d like to have?”
“Hmm… I’ll think about it.”
My parents’ relationship remained as warm as ever.
Though Jeon Tae-guk had turned my world upside down, being home felt genuinely good.
I deliberately set my cup down with a slight clink.
Mother’s voice came from the master bedroom.
“Sung-guk, is that you?”
“Yeah, I’m heading to bed now.”
“Alright, get some rest.”
I made my way to my room with deliberate footsteps.
[Mom, Dad. A fourth child is absolutely not happening!]
* * *
August 16th.
The day of my appointment with VIP was approaching.
Park Sung-hee had called to say she would pick me up at five in the afternoon.
Though it was an informal setting, meeting with VIP made me slightly anxious about what to wear.
All the clothes in my suitcase were just jeans and hoodies.
Mother glanced at me as she passed by while I stood there deliberating over my outfit.
“Sung-guk, do you have plans?”
“Oh… someone asked me to meet them briefly this evening for work.”
I hadn’t mentioned meeting VIP to my parents. It was obvious that the nagging would start immediately, beginning with my clothes.
“Let’s buy you some clothes. Now that you’re about to go out, you have nothing decent to wear, right?”
“No, it’s fine. This place doesn’t require formal attire.”
“Sung-guk, throw away all those underwear with holes in them. Got it?”
“Got it, Mom.”
“I wonder who you take after, being so stingy.”
[Who do I take after? I’m just like you and Dad.]
Just then, Park Sung-hee called.
– Sung-guk, I’m at the apartment entrance.
“I’ll be right down.”
– I’ll be waiting. Take your time!
I quickly put on my jeans and hoodie.
* * *
Park Sung-hee’s car was parked at the apartment entrance.
As I came down, Park Sung-hee stepped out of the car and greeted me respectfully.
“It’s been a while, Sung-guk.”
“It hasn’t even been a month since Ye-jung’s wedding.”
“True enough. Come on, let’s get going. VIP is waiting for you.”
“Yes.”
As I climbed into the car, a familiar aroma wafted up from the back seat.
“Secretary Park, did you happen to bring wrapped bossam from our home?”
“Actually, VIP mentioned wanting to try it, so I had it packaged.”
“You could have at least told me beforehand.”
“Would you have given him a better cut then?”
“My father would never be that kind of person, but he probably would have thrown in a bit more kimchi as a courtesy.”
“I’ll use that opportunity next time I eat it myself.”
Park Sung-hee’s car finally headed toward Cheong Wa Dae.
I asked about something I’d been curious about all this time.
“You’re still seeing Jung-hee, aren’t you?”
“Ah, well….”
Park Sung-hee smiled ambiguously.
[Is it already over?]
“Actually, we’ve decided to take some time apart and think things through for now.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“I still need to work here until VIP’s term ends anyway. Both Jung-hee and I decided to keep in touch while we each sort out our lives until then.”
“Sounds like you’re maintaining a good relationship.”
“For now, at least.”
I noticed Park Sung-hee’s earlobes turning red as she spoke about Jung-hee.
[Love really is something wonderful….]
In that moment, the rumor about Jeon Tae-guk came to mind, and my head throbbed.
“Sung-guk, are you feeling alright?”
“There’s just something troubling me.”
“If it’s something I can help with, tell me anytime. I’ll do whatever I can.”
[This isn’t something Park Secretary can help with.]
I simply smiled.
* * *
Park Sung-hee quietly guided me to the inner chamber where VIP stayed.
I found myself holding my breath as well.
In my previous life, I’d visited Cheong Wa Dae countless times, and I’d had countless intimate meetings like this.
[I thought it would feel familiar… but I’m oddly nervous.]
I adjusted my hoodie again.
Soon the door to the inner chamber opened, and I saw VIP seated in a chair.
As I entered, VIP rose from his seat and greeted me with his characteristic benevolent smile.
“Sung-guk?”
“Hello.”
“Welcome. You must be tired from your trip from the United States, and I’m honored to meet you like this.”
“The honor is mine.”
I settled carefully into my seat.
VIP glanced at Park Sung-hee once I was seated.
“Have dinner preparations started.”
“Yes.”
Park Sung-hee quickly excused herself, leaving only VIP, me, and the bodyguard in the small inner room.
[I thought I wouldn’t be nervous since this happened often in my past life, but it’s been so long that I’m on edge.]
VIP offered me tea.
“I’m not sure what tea young people prefer these days. I’ve prepared the green tea I usually enjoy.”
“I’ll enjoy it.”
VIP couldn’t take his eyes off me.
“Sung-guk’s parents must feel satisfied just looking at your face. With such outstanding looks and accomplishing so much at such a young age—truly remarkable.”
[VIP, if you consider the time I’ve lived, you and I are quite similar.]
“You’re too kind.”
Today, unlike my usual nature, I had to be humble.
“And humble too, Sung-guk.”
[Sigh, humility. That really doesn’t suit my temperament.]
VIP laughed warmly.
“I wanted to meet you because I wanted to hear about your return to America from the most successful businessman in the country right now. I’m curious about several things.”
“I’ll do my best to answer within the limits of what I know.”
VIP smiled slightly.
“Just speak freely.”
[Who speaks freely in front of a VIP like you?]
I sipped the green tea quietly.
VIP began asking various questions about America.
“So who do you think will win this presidential election? You’ve even done hamburger diplomacy, so surely Barack Obama?”
“That’s my assessment. Of course, recent polls also consistently show Barack Obama ahead. John McCain chose his vice presidential candidate poorly.”
Thanks to the hamburger diplomacy, Barack Obama had completely reversed public opinion.
Only a small faction of Republican supporters still believed Barack Obama was Muslim.
“By the way, you’re remarkable. May I ask how you came up with the idea of connecting Dick Powell and Barack Obama?”
“I didn’t deliberately connect them. I simply thought that to draw conservative votes, it was important to gain the support of the person conservatives trust most.”
“Thinking like that at such a young age….”
VIP asked a few more things about the American political situation, then posed a serious question to me.
“Do you happen to know about Lehman Brothers?”
“Yes….”
I had a feeling something was coming.
“But… why are you asking?”
“Well… Daeun Bank submitted a report asking whether it would be good to acquire Lehman Brothers.”
Daeun was short for Daeun Bank.
Daeun Bank was a state-run bank established to support corporate financing.
[Is the day of Lehman Brothers’ bankruptcy finally coming?]
I kept my expression as composed as possible while observing VIP.
“Experts are divided on this matter. Some argue that we should aggressively acquire Lehman Brothers—a prestigious American investment bank with a storied history and tradition—and make bold investments to strengthen our national finances. Others caution that as the U.S. real estate market deteriorates, many investment banks could face crisis, so we must be careful. Of course, the consensus is that Lehman Brothers itself is among the riskier investment banks.”
VIP laid out his concerns carefully.
The future I knew was unmistakably clear.
One year from now, Lehman Brothers will collapse.
And the fact that South Korea’s Daeun Bank had attempted to acquire Lehman Brothers just before its bankruptcy was an extraordinarily famous anecdote.
VIP fixed me with an unwavering stare.
“What I’m curious about is this: whether it would be safe for Daeun to acquire Lehman Brothers. I wanted to ask you about that.”
“I should first mention that I’m not an economic expert, so my opinion may not be entirely accurate.”
“Of course. Just speak freely and comfortably.”
VIP leaned back against his chair.
It was a gesture meant to ease tension, yet one of his legs trembled noticeably. His anxiety was unmistakable.
I decided to tell VIP the truth.
“The current American situation appears prosperous on the surface, but internally, numerous problems are ready to explode at any moment. In particular, the real estate decline will lead to serious mortgage default issues from the reckless lending that has occurred. While Lehman Brothers is one of America’s four major investment banks, its financial structure carries considerable risk.”
VIP’s brow furrowed.
“Are you saying this isn’t a matter of whether Daeun should acquire Lehman Brothers or not, but rather that Lehman Brothers itself could go bankrupt?”
“That is my assessment.”
I nodded gravely.
In 2007, no one could yet conceive of such a catastrophe.
“And Lehman Brothers’ bankruptcy will almost certainly serve as the most critical trigger for American economic collapse. If this detonates, the U.S. economy itself will not remain intact.”
[VIP, I’m revealing heaven’s secrets right now. Listen carefully.]
VIP’s face grew impossibly grave.
“Sung-guk, what are you saying?”
“Yes, sir. For Daeun to attempt acquiring Lehman Brothers would be absolute madness.”
I answered with unwavering conviction.

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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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