I Will Raise This Family to Greatness - Chapter 209

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

Chapter 209
Ding dong.
The moment the doorbell chimed, Jeon Tae-guk yanked the door open with an irritated expression.
Upon seeing me and Park Sung-hee, Jeon Tae-guk seemed about to unleash a string of curses before catching himself.
“What are you two doing here?”
“Hyung, did something happen?”
“Orders came down from above this morning to have our room cleaned. The doorbell kept ringing, so… anyway, come in.”
Jeon Tae-guk’s room still bore the unmistakable traces of last night’s heavy drinking.
Every table was scattered with empty bottles and half-eaten appetizers.
Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung apparently felt it would be improper to show Jeon Tae-guk in this state during a first meeting, so he’d ordered the room cleaned.
But this was part of who Jeon Tae-guk was, after all.
Upon seeing Park Sung-hee, Jeon Tae-guk’s expression became somewhat bewildered.
“Sung-guk, who is this person?”
Park Sung-hee quickly bowed respectfully to Jeon Tae-guk.
“Hello. I’m Park Sung-hee, and I’ll be serving as your secretary starting today.”
“What?”
Of course, Jeon Tae-guk was taken aback.
His rival was now his secretary?
“Hyung, I ran into her in the lobby too. She said she’d be your secretary starting today.”
“Ms. Park. I never hired you as my secretary.”
Jeon Tae-guk stared at Park Sung-hee with an expression of disbelief.
“Of course you didn’t hire me directly, sir. Secretary Yang contacted me personally. He mentioned that I’ve performed so well at Cheong Wa Dae that I’ve received numerous recommendations from various places.”
Various places. That was me.
I stood by the Suite Room window, gazing down at Seoul as if I knew nothing about it.
Behind me, I could hear Park Sung-hee explaining the situation.
“I’ll be assisting you going forward, so please don’t worry. For your reference, I graduated top of my class in the humanities at Seoul National University. I’m sure I’ll be quite helpful to you, given that you’re merely attending university in America.”
“What! I’m not just barely attending university!”
“I heard the San Francisco Samjeon branch has been helping you considerably. With so much work for the staff there, and your studies to manage as well, Secretary Yang said someone of my caliber would be necessary.”
“This is absolutely ridiculous!!!”
Jeon Tae-guk let out a cry of despair.
* * *
An hour later, a bowl of Pyongyang cold noodles sat before Jeon Tae-guk, who had surrendered to his fate.
“Fresh Pyongyang cold noodles just delivered from Eulji-ro Woo-ryeo-ok. Perfect for settling your stomach.”
Jeon Tae-guk looked at Park Sung-hee with eyes that screamed he didn’t want to live.
“I have unsophisticated tastes, so I don’t appreciate cold noodles. Remember that, Park Secretary.”
“Yes, sir.”
Park Sung-hee immediately jotted down a note in her notebook.
Of course, I was the one who’d ordered these Pyongyang cold noodles because I wanted them.
“Hyung, I’ll enjoy this.”
“Sung-guk, do you even know what cold noodles taste like at your age?”
[I’ve actually been to Pyongyang Okryugwan and eaten authentic Pyongyang cold noodles. Why are you like this?]
I grinned sheepishly. Innocently!
“Hyung, isn’t cold noodles all the same?”
“You don’t know everything. Go ahead and try it.”
“Yes, hyung.”
Slurrrp. Slurrrp. Slurrrp.
I inhaled the Eulji-ro Woo-ryeo-ok’s Pyongyang cold noodles.
[This is the taste I remember.]
I’d loved this restaurant’s cold noodles so much in my previous life that I’d had it delivered frequently.
“Sung-guk, you really don’t have any prejudices about food, do you?”
“Hyung, please try it. Even if it seems flavorless at first, as you eat it, a savory taste comes through.”
“Sigh, alright. Let me try.”
The moment Jeon Tae-guk finished speaking, Park Sung-hee sat down right beside him.
Jeon Tae-guk stared at Park Sung-hee with sharp eyes.
“Park Secretary, what are you doing?”
“I need to eat to work, sir. Your lunch break is my lunch break too, isn’t it? Please, go ahead and eat, young master.”
Jeon Tae-guk was at a loss for words.
Young Secretary Yang would never do something like this.
Usually, Young Secretary Yang would observe Jeon Tae-guk until he finished his meal, then eat when traveling or during breaks.
But Park Sung-hee was different. And I found that quality very appealing.
[Jeon Tae-guk, you’re completely cornered now.]
Jeon Tae-guk just sighed heavily, then gulped down only the broth from the Eulji-ro Woo-ryeo-ok’s cold noodles and ordered various dishes through room service.
“Hyung, did your conversation with Bang Mu-hyuk go well?”
“I don’t know… I don’t even remember it well.”
From the way he was acting, it seemed he was embarrassed about being rejected outright by Bang Mu-hyuk.
“Hyung, what did you decide about investing in Bang Mu-hyuk’s company?”
“Uh… we just decided to do it.”
“Hyung, if the terms are too demanding, I can try to mediate between you and Bang Mu-hyuk.”
Of course, I already knew all the conditions.
Two billion won invested annually in Bang Mu-hyuk’s company for the next three years.
Of course, it wasn’t an investment expecting any return.
Two billion wasn’t a huge sum for someone in the entertainment business, but for Bang Mu-hyuk right now, two billion annually for three years was like lifeblood.
And after three years, the true nature of ‘Sevens’ would gradually be revealed, so after that, there would be no worries.
Park Sung-hee was practically inhaling her Pyongyang cold noodles beside me.
“Park Secretary, you really seem to like cold noodles.”
“I really do love this restaurant’s cold noodles.”
“Park Secretary, when we go to the United States, search for restaurants that match my taste.”
“Yes, young master.”
Park Sung-hee drank the cold noodles straight from the bowl.
“Sung-guk, would it be alright if I stayed at your place until we leave for the United States on Wednesday? I really miss home-cooked meals.”
“Brother, your place is in Hannam-dong anyway. If you’re craving home cooking, you should just go home.”
“Home cooking at our house is what Aunt makes. And now we have a new aunt, but her cooking just doesn’t suit my palate. She only uses natural seasonings. What’s the difference between seasoning and seasoning? What does ‘natural’ even mean?”
“I believe Young Master is correct on that point.”
Park Sung-hee, who had been listening to the conversation from beside us, interjected.
Jeon Tae-guk’s brow furrowed involuntarily.
This was not something Young Secretary Yang would ever do. Secretaries who assisted so closely with daily life typically refrained from inserting themselves into conversations.
[I’m already looking forward to the chemistry between these two….]
I smiled faintly and took a long sip of the broth from the Eulji-ro Woo-ryeo-ok.
* * *
“Oppa!”
The moment I stepped through the front door, Ji-hee threw her arms around me.
[Ji-hee, your aegyo won’t work on me. You like Jung-woo anyway. Tsk.]
I patted Ji-hee’s back as she clung to me and stepped into the living room.
That’s when I noticed a familiar face.
It was Short-haired Woman—Kim Mi-young.
“Sung-guk, it’s been a while, hasn’t it?”
“Hello!”
[Short-haired Woman, it’s been forever. Well, not really—it’s been a while since Kim Mi-young became a representative.]
I greeted Kim Mi-young warmly.
Kim Mi-young was like a benefactor to our family.
She was the first to recognize my appearance and helped me apply as a child model, and thanks to her, I was able to accumulate seed money and bring our family to where we are today.
Kim Mi-young looked at me with a satisfied gaze.
“Sung-guk’s mother, when did Sung-guk grow up so wonderfully? I wouldn’t even recognize him on the street.”
“We also think he’s grown a lot whenever we see him.”
“Sung-guk, how tall are you?”
“I haven’t measured, so I’m not sure.”
“You must be well over 180 centimeters, right? I think Sung-guk should be the one doing modeling work, not Ji-hee.”
Kim Mi-young looked at me and smiled brightly.
[Wait, not me… Ji-hee is doing modeling? Surely not… with that awkward face?]
I looked down at Ji-hee’s face as she clung to me.
Our family’s superior genes had somehow skipped right over her….
“Representative, Ji-hee is doing modeling? What kind of modeling?”
“It’s not confirmed yet—she still has to audition.”
“So what kind of modeling is it?”
[With that face?]
“Ah, it’s for educational workbook modeling. Ji-hee is so sharp, you know. There’s a company looking for that kind of image….”
[What was I thinking…. Right, our Ji-hee does look sharp.]
I studied Ji-hee’s face carefully once more.
“Oppa, is Ji-hee pretty?”
“Yeah. You’re pretty.”
[Only in my eyes.]
Ji-hee bounced excitedly at my words, her shoulders swaying to an unheard rhythm.
[This is something I used to dance well when I was little…]
“CEO, can I go with Ji-hee to her audition?”
“Sung-guk, you need to go to the United States.”
“But it’s Ji-hee’s audition. I should watch before I leave. I can delay my departure by a few days anyway.”
[Mom, I even gave Min-guk special training and got him to pass as a model. I think Ji-hee needs some coaching today too.]
Ji-hee threw herself into my arms, delighted.
“Oppa, you’re the best!”
I whispered into Ji-hee’s ear.
“Ji-hee, do you like your oppa? Or do you like Jung-woo oppa more?”
“Hmm… I like you both.”
[That’s right, Ji-hee. Let’s do some Spartan training today! Now it’s your turn to earn your keep!]
* * *
At Ji-hee’s audition venue, Jeon Tae-guk and Park Sung-hee were with me.
Beside me, Jeon Tae-guk grumbled with a discontented expression.
“Sung-guk, why do I have to be here?”
“Ji-hee has a model audition today.”
“Yeah, but why do I have to come?”
[Because having connections with the heir to the Samjeon Group gives you an advantage!]
I had kept Ji-hee awake all last night, rubbing her sleepy eyes, drilling her on facial expressions.
Min-guk had already earned his keep at three years old, and since Ji-hee was the youngest, I’d been lenient with her. Besides, after our family’s circumstances improved, Ji-hee had grown up relatively privileged since birth.
But if you were born into our family, you had to earn your place.
I had mobilized every connection I knew to help Ji-hee debut as a model.
The most powerful connection among them was Jeon Tae-guk, the heir to the Samjeon Group.
Today, Ji-hee, wearing a pink one-piece dress she rarely put on, passed in front of me before rushing over with a worried expression.
“Oppa! I’m so nervous.”
“About what?”
“What if I don’t get it?”
“Even if you don’t, it’s fine. It won’t be because you’re not good enough… it’ll be because you don’t match the image they’re looking for.”
At that moment, Jeon Tae-guk stepped forward.
“Ji-hee, do you remember your oppa?”
“Yes! Tae-guk oppa.”
In that instant, I saw Jeon Tae-guk’s mouth stretch from ear to ear.
Jeon Tae-guk was a textbook case of someone with emotional deprivation who craved recognition from everyone.
“Ji-hee, do you want to do this commercial?”
“Yes… but I’m not confident. The other models are so pretty. Oppa.”
I folded my arms and smiled contentedly.
Last night, I had burned the midnight oil coaching Ji-hee on her acting, but she hadn’t responded to my expectations as well as I’d hoped.
Min-guk seemed to have been born with the talent to be an entertainer—he absorbed my teachings eagerly—but Ji-hee hadn’t managed the same.
That’s why I had Plan B in motion.
Plan B was to win over Jeon Tae-guk.
Jeon Tae-guk looked at the other models at Ji-hee’s words.
“Ji-hee, in this oppa’s eyes, you’re the prettiest.”
“Really, oppa?”
“Of course!”
“If Ji-hee doesn’t get it, buy me something delicious. Jjajangmyeon.”
“Just like Sung-guk’s little sister—jjajangmyeon, huh? Ji-hee, you’ll definitely get it. And this oppa will buy you jjajangmyeon whether you get it or not!”
“Yay! Oppa, you’re the best!”
Ji-hee threw herself into Jeon Tae-guk’s arms.
Of course, I felt no jealousy whatsoever.
This was all part of my Plan B.
* * *
“Ji-hee, congratulations on becoming a model!”
Jeon Tae-guk was delighted as if his own little sister had been selected.
“Everyone order whatever you’d like. Actually, let me call the head chef and request today’s special dishes.”
We were at the Samjeon Hotel Chinese Restaurant after the audition.
Ji-hee had become a model.
Beating out models a hundred times prettier than her.
Of course, Jeon Tae-guk had made a phone call to someone in the middle, and the results were reversed.
I felt sorry for the models who didn’t make it, but the world was inherently unfair. And this might have been Ji-hee’s last chance in life.
“Ji-hee, can oppa come watch you film the commercial?”
There was someone even more of a sister fool than me right before my eyes.
“Young Master, we’re departing in two days.”
“Why is Park Secretary so inflexible?”
“That’s precisely why I was chosen as your secretary, sir.”
“Sigh.”
As expected, Park Sung-hee was the only one who could rein in Jeon Tae-guk.
Just then, my phone rang loudly.
The caller ID didn’t display.
I quickly stepped into the hallway and answered.
A strange voice spoke in English.
– You’re Sung-guk, right?
“Who is this?”
– I’m Donald Trumpet.

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