I Will Raise This Family to Greatness - Chapter 270

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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 270
Jeon Tae-guk’s eyes sharpened.
[Jeon Tae-guk, Myung Hae-jin is absolutely not my type! Don’t worry!]
Jeon Tae-guk watched me with a piercing gaze for a moment, then gestured with his eyes.
“Sung-guk, Myung Hae-jin is waiting. Why aren’t you giving her your number?”
“Huh?”
I reflexively asked back in surprise.
[Jeon Tae-guk, don’t you see the look in Myung Hae-jin’s eyes? She’s interested in me, not you. Please, get it together!]
“Sung-guk, her hand is getting tired. Give her your number already.”
“Ah… yes, hyung.”
I quickly entered my number into Myung Hae-jin’s phone.
“It’s a United States number.”
“I figured as much. I studied abroad in the States for a long time. It’s okay if I contact you occasionally, right?”
“Only when you have something to discuss. I’m quite busy.”
I put up a perfect wall of defense.
I had no intention of getting entangled with family from my past life, and Myung Hae-jin was really not my type.
“Don’t worry. I’m busy too.”
Myung Hae-jin was no pushover either.
“Jeon Tae-guk, there’s a car waiting downstairs. You don’t need to come all the way out.”
“What are you saying, Myung Hae-jin? Of course I should escort you to the hotel entrance.”
Jeon Tae-guk attentively guided Myung Hae-jin to the hotel entrance.
[Hmm… if he’d shown that kind of devotion before, he would’ve been dating by now… Has he finally met his match?]
I watched the scene with warmth, yet felt a twinge of worry.
I hoped Myung Hae-jin wouldn’t fall for me. Though that wouldn’t be easy!
After Jeon Tae-guk left with Myung Hae-jin, Mother came to my side and smiled.
“Sung-guk. It looks like Jeon Tae-guk has finally found his match.”
“How did you know that, Mother?”
“Your father looked at me with those exact eyes when he wanted to date me.”
“So-young, what are you telling our son!”
Father chided from behind.
“Dear, our Sung-guk is all grown up now. Isn’t that right, our son?”
With that, Mother tapped my buttocks playfully.
“Mother, I’m all grown up now. Please stop patting my backside.”
“Oh my, acting all sulky now that you’re grown up.”
Just then, Ji-hee came over and patted my buttocks.
“Our oppa is all grown up.”
“Me too, me too!”
Min-guk joined in, treating my backside like a punching bag.
“Our big brother is all grown up. So impressive.”
“Everyone, please stop!”
But it was no secret that I didn’t entirely dislike it.
* * *
Inside the Elevator.
Between Jeon Tae-guk and Myung Hae-jin, a pleasant tension lingered subtly.
“Myung Hae-jin, Sung-guk’s family seems really harmonious, doesn’t it?”
“Yes, it does seem that way. But… you seem closer to Sung-guk’s family than I expected.”
“Being around Sung-guk’s family makes my heart feel so warm. They all take care of me like I’m their own son.”
“I think I understand that feeling.”
Myung Hae-jin had already heard plenty about what the Samjeon Group family atmosphere was like.
“But… does Sung-guk really not have a girlfriend?”
Myung Hae-jin asked as casually as possible, though with a hint of genuine curiosity.
“He says he doesn’t because he’s still a minor, but at his age in America, everyone’s dated and broken up several times. I think Sung-guk loves himself the most. Until he meets a woman who can change that, he won’t date even if it kills him.”
“So his standards are high.”
“They have to be. Sung-guk is perfect. He’s got good looks, a sharp mind, and look at what he’s accomplished at his age. The phrase ‘incomparable’ was practically invented for Sung-guk.”
For some reason, Jeon Tae-guk found himself opening up easily in front of Myung Hae-jin.
And once he’d let it all out, it felt refreshing.
Myung Hae-jin gently patted Jeon Tae-guk’s arm twice, very lightly.
“Jeon Tae-guk, you seem like someone with a really open heart. It’s not easy to acknowledge someone younger than you like that.”
Jeon Tae-guk was almost grinning from ear to ear at her light touch and compliment.
“Myung Hae-jin, you’re really…”
“Jeon Tae-guk, you’re going back to America soon, right?”
“Yes! But I’ll be back soon. I just have the graduation ceremony left.”
“I have a schedule in America next month. Would it be okay if I visited? I’m thinking of spending the end of the year in America.”
“Of course! I’ll take care of everything from the Hotel onwards.”
Jeon Tae-guk was already firmly caught in the trap Myung Hae-jin had set.
Ding—
The Elevator arrived on the first floor.
“Jeon Tae-guk, go on up now.”
“No, I should walk you to the Lobby.”
“We’ll see each other in America anyway. It’s better to part ways like this, with a little longing. When we see each other in America, it’ll feel even more special.”
“Ah… then…”
While Jeon Tae-guk stood there dazed, Myung Hae-jin walked out to the Lobby with a bright smile.
* * *
Deep in the night, when everyone was asleep.
Knock. Knock.
The sound of someone tapping on my bedroom door.
I shifted my body restlessly.
Then the door cracked open slightly, and Jeon Tae-guk poked his head in, calling me in a low voice.
“Sung-guk, it’s me. You’re not asleep, are you?”
“Hyung, what’s the matter?”
“Can I come in?”
“You’d come in anyway even if I said no, wouldn’t you?”
“Well, that’s true…”
[Better to keep my mouth shut.]
Jeon Tae-guk slipped in quietly.
A wine glass was already in his hand.
“Sung-guk, how nice it would be if you could drink too…”
“Starting next year, I’ll be of legal drinking age in Korea.”
“Then, wouldn’t it be fine to drink now?”
“That’s still illegal.”
I erected an iron wall of resistance.
Right now, my relationship with Jeon Tae-guk was amicable. But I had no idea when or how it could fall apart. In that case, it was best to show no openings.
Jeon Tae-guk sat at the edge of the bed and drank his wine with an exaggerated sentimental expression.
“Sung-guk… I think… I’ve fallen in love.”
[That’s something I already know without you saying it.]
“Myung Hae-jin?”
“Yeah. How did you know?”
“There’s a famous saying that love and sneezes cannot be hidden.”
“As expected… our Sung-guk learned about romance from books.”
I clenched my teeth.
[I met way more women than you in my past life!]
Jeon Tae-guk took another sip of wine with an enchanted look in his eyes.
“Myung Hae-jin is the most impressive chaebol woman I’ve ever met.”
I half-agreed with that assessment.
Myung Hae-jin had expressed her opinions quite decisively while eating Father’s bossam.
“Sung-guk, Hae-jin really is something, isn’t she?”
“I’m meeting Myung Hae-jin for the first time today, so I don’t know much about her. And I haven’t heard anything about her before.”
Of course, I knew Myung Hae-jin better than anyone else.
In my past life, when Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung was choosing Jeon Tae-guk’s wife, I compared several profiles and selected the person most necessary for Samjeon Group.
Myung Hae-jin was the perfect daughter-in-law to support the lacking Jeon Tae-guk.
“Sung-guk, listen to this signal and tell me what you think it means.”
“Hyung, I’m… a complete romantic novice.”
“I know that… but you’re the only person I can consult with right now.”
“What about Secretary Park Sung-hee? Isn’t she flirting with Jung-hee noona?”
“Don’t even mention that!”
Jung-hee had been flirting with Secretary Park Sung-hee or something like that, but in any case, the conclusion was that she dumped Jeon Tae-guk.
No matter how I thought about it, Jung-hee was a wise woman.
She didn’t judge a man by his money; she saw the man’s true nature.
And Myung Hae-jin was a woman full of ambition.
Myung Hae-jin wanted to hold both me and Jeon Tae-guk in the palm of her hand and control everything.
“Hyung, what did Myung Hae-jin do?”
“Well… she lightly touched my arm twice in the elevator.”
[Sigh….]
A deep breath rising from the depths of my core.
[That’s obviously Myung Hae-jin deliberately trying to seduce you!]
But Jeon Tae-guk looked serious.
“Sung-guk, that means Myung Hae-jin likes me, right?”
I deliberately touched Jeon Tae-guk’s arm twice.
“Hyung, does that mean I’m interested in you?”
“It’s different with you and Myung Hae-jin.”
“How is it different?”
“You’re a man… and Myung Hae-jin is a woman.”
“Hyung, remember this one thing: the person who assigns meaning to the other’s actions is the weaker one in a romantic relationship.”
“Huh? What do you mean by that?”
“Lightly touching someone while talking is something anyone can do. Ji-hee often holds your hand while talking, doesn’t she? And Min-guk frequently clings to me. Assigning meaning to every little gesture like that means you’re already emotionally dominated—you’re the weaker one. The person in control never assigns meaning to such trivial actions.”
Jeon Tae-guk’s face suddenly hardened.
“Sung-guk…”
“Yes, hyung?”
“I… I think I’ve really fallen in love.”
Jeon Tae-guk suddenly stood up, his face taking on the expression of a man in love. Then, like a lost lamb saved by God, he dropped to his knees.
“Sung-guk! I! I’ve finally found my soulmate!”
“….”
I said nothing.
In truth, Myung Hae-jin whispered something very softly to me as she left.
“Sung-guk, let’s meet again.”
As if it were only natural that we would.
* * *
Air Force One.
Everyone sat down with exhausted faces.
It had been an incredibly packed schedule—touring China, Japan, and finally Korea.
Gary Oldman approached and sat beside me.
“Sung-guk, is Christie staying in Korea?”
“Yes, it seems she found a job.”
Christie Kennedy had ultimately gotten hired at Bang Mu-hyuk’s company.
And I heard that Jae-hee had passed the final interview and would be starting as a trainee at Bang Mu-hyuk’s office.
Gary Oldman continued, pushing his tired face up with his large hand.
“Christie is impressive. Finding a job in South Korea, a place she’s never lived in before.”
“Christie will do well. I’m living in the United States, a place I’ve never lived before either, and it’s fine.”
“Now that you mention it, you’re really something too, Sung-guk. Both of you are impressive.”
“Chief of Staff, you’re not regretting letting Christie go, are you?”
“Of course I regret it.”
Gary Oldman’s answer was unexpected.
“As you know, Sung-guk, Americans have a special love for the Kennedy family. If Christie had been around, it would have worked more favorably for this administration. There’s nothing we can do about it now, though.”
Gary Oldman sighed and looked at me.
“Sung-guk, but I… I’m curious about something.”
“What is it?”
“What’s your next move, Sung-guk?”
“Pardon?”
I asked, surprised.
“You’re already the CEO of FaceNote and YouTube at that age. You’re the most anticipated teenager in America. Barack Obama’s special envoy… how did you accomplish all that before you even turned twenty? As an individual! I really want to know what you haven’t achieved yet.”
“Well, that would be…”
I paused for a moment.
Gary Oldman’s face was brimming with curiosity.
“Romance, perhaps?”
“What did you say?”
Gary Oldman burst out laughing.
And I shrugged my shoulders.
[Once I’m no longer a minor, I should try dating too. Why is everyone so shocked?]
Gary Oldman stopped laughing and nodded his head.
“You do have a human side, Sung-guk. I naturally thought you’d say something like, ‘Next, I’ll become the President of South Korea.'”
“I’m not interested in politics.”
“Then, become the richest person in the world?”
“That’s already in progress.”
“As expected…”
Gary Oldman suddenly pulled out his phone and showed me several photos saved on it.
“Sung-guk, these are my daughters. They’re around your age. What do you think?”
“Gary, I prefer natural meetings. I’ll have to decline the blind date.”
“Sung-guk, dating is going to be quite difficult for you in the future.”
“I’ll decline the insults too.”
“Alright, alright.”
Gary laughed and leaned his head against the chair. Soon after, he fell asleep.
At that moment, my phone rang.
On Air Force One with internet access, messages flowed freely.
I checked the message on my phone.
It was from Myung Hae-jin.
– Sung-guk, I’m going to the United States next week to see Tae-guk. We’ll meet again. I wanted to congratulate you on coming of age, so how about we spend the last day together?
Of course, I didn’t reply.
[Sigh… this fatal charm of mine… it even captivated my sister-in-law from my past life. This is quite troublesome…]

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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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