I Will Raise This Family to Greatness - Chapter 272

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

Chapter 272
Jeon Tae-guk stared at me with an incredulous expression.
“Sung-guk… Did I just mishear you? You’re really going to sell this Bugatti and buy stocks with it?”
“No, hyung. You heard correctly.”
“Sung-guk, this Bugatti isn’t the kind of car anyone can just buy because they have money. You understand that, right?”
“Yes, hyung.”
[Does he think I don’t know about Bugattis? Jeon Tae-guk. In my previous life, I drove one before you did.]
Jeon Tae-guk still couldn’t comprehend my reasoning.
“Sung-guk, this Bugatti is equipped with the highest-end specifications available, and there are only a handful of cars like it in the entire world. You know that too, right?”
“Yes, hyung.”
“And yet you want to sell this Bugatti!”
Jeon Tae-guk finally burst out in exasperation.
“Hyung, please calm down.”
“Then just ask me for a lecture fee! Why are you trying to sell my Bugatti?”
“You said from the beginning that you’d give me the Bugatti.”
“Ah… well… that’s true….”
Jeon Tae-guk’s voice grew quieter.
“And if you had offered a lecture fee instead of the Bugatti, how much would you have given me?”
“That would be….”
Jeon Tae-guk couldn’t respond.
No matter how famous someone was, there were limits to what you could charge for a special lecture lasting about an hour.
Even in the capitalist United States, you’d be lucky to receive 100 to 200 million won at most.
But I had just received a Bugatti worth 10 billion won as compensation for giving a lecture for Jeon Tae-guk’s graduation.
The Bugatti that had passed through the hands of the Samjeon Group’s heir and into mine could actually be sold for even more than its original value.
In that case, I would be receiving nearly 10 billion won as a lecture fee.
With 10 billion won, I could definitely recover the land and stocks I’d sold off to buy YouTube shares.
The Lehman Brothers crisis would also be overcome, and now another decade of economic prosperity awaited me ahead. And then there was Bitcoin….
I smiled faintly.
Jeon Tae-guk caressed the Bugatti regretfully with his hand, as if petting a beloved horse.
“If it were me, I’d never trade stocks for a Bugatti.”
“That’s only because hyung was born into a family with plenty of money.”
“Sung-guk, you’ve already earned enough money.”
[I’m still thirsty for more. And how many people are depending on my family? I can’t rest easy until Min-guk and Ji-hee can earn their own living.]
I shook my head.
“Hyung, how many people are in our household….”
“Sung-guk, would you give me some time? Time to say goodbye to my Bugatti?”
“Of course.”
Jeon Tae-guk embraced the Bugatti’s hood and wept bitterly.
“My Bugatti!!! If we’re reborn, let’s stay together till the end!!!”
* * *
“Jeon Tae-guk, congratulations on your graduation!”
As I opened the entrance door, Mark and Lim Mi-mi greeted us warmly.
Then Mark caught sight of Jeon Tae-guk’s face and sensed something was amiss.
“Tae-guk, did you not graduate? Did Sung-guk botch the lecture?”
“Mark, I’m not that kind of person.”
“If I know you, you’d do worse than that….”
Mark shot me a look.
“Mark, relax. I conducted the lecture properly, and Tae-guk hyung received his graduation approval. It’s just….”
“Just… just what?”
“He gave me a Bugatti as lecture compensation, and I said I’d sell it.”
At that moment, Mark’s small eyes widened.
“That’s insane…. Sung-guk, you’re saying you’ll sell the Bugatti! You’re really going to do that?”
“Yeah.”
“How can you even call yourself a man?”
“I’m realizing profits by selling the Bugatti—why are you asking if I’m a man? What’s the issue?”
“A real man could never sell a Bugatti!”
“Exactly.”
Jeon Tae-guk chimed in as well.
I shook my head slowly. Then I signaled to Lim Mi-mi for help.
“What do you think, Lim Mi-mi?”
“I can’t understand it either, sir. How could you even think of selling a Bugatti?”
“Everyone, please stop.”
[If you buy 10 billion won worth of Bitcoin, you can pull dozens of Bugatties!]
Mark comforted the sniffling Jeon Tae-guk.
“Tae-guk, are you okay?”
“I trusted someone with my own child and gave him up for adoption, and now he’s sold him. Mark….”
“Sung-guk’s always been a bit cold-hearted anyway.”
“You know I can hear all of this, Mark.”
“You deserve to hear it. Selling a Bugatti for a few measly dollars.”
“I haven’t even sold it yet. And the money from selling a Bugatti can’t be called a few measly dollars.”
Lim Mi-mi dragged me away.
“Sir, just keep your mouth shut and help me instead.”
“You’re right.”
* * *
Lim Mi-mi had prepared a blend of Korean and North Korean dishes to celebrate Tae-guk’s graduation.
Dumplings and bulgogi. And miso stew on top of that.
My mouth watered.
Secretary Park Sung-hee, who joined us late, rolled up her sleeves and helped as well.
“Secretary Park, you’re quite skilled at cooking.”
“I’ve been living on my own for a long time, so I’m decent at most things.”
Just then, the doorbell rang loudly.
“Who could that be? We weren’t expecting anyone….”
Secretary Park Sung-hee wiped her hands and walked toward the intercom.
Mark and Lim Mi-mi, along with Jeon Tae-guk and Secretary Park Sung-hee. Everyone who could possibly visit this Silicon Valley apartment had already arrived.
Secretary Park Sung-hee’s expression turned surprised as she looked at the intercom screen, then glanced at me and Jeon Tae-guk.
“Young master, it’s Myung Hae-jin.”
“Hae-jin?”
“Did you give her the address, sir?”
“Well… I didn’t expect her to come this early though. Let me just… no, I’ll open the door myself.”
Jeon Tae-guk touched his flushed face with his hand and opened the door.
There stood Myung Hae-jin with a radiant smile, holding flowers. She walked over and handed them to me.
“Sung-guk, your lecture today was wonderful.”
At that moment, Jeon Tae-guk’s expression froze.
Had Myung Hae-jin been in the lecture hall?
Jeon Tae-guk asked with a puzzled expression.
“Hae-jin, how did you know about Sung-guk’s lecture?”
There was more than simple curiosity in Jeon Tae-guk’s question—there was suspicion. A suspicion that perhaps Myung Hae-jin had taken an interest in me.
Myung Hae-jin smiled brightly and pulled a small box from within the flowers, offering it to Jeon Tae-guk.
“Tae-guk, congratulations on your graduation. This is a gift from my heart.”
“Haha, Hae-jin. You shouldn’t have gone to all this trouble….”
Jeon Tae-guk opened the small box she handed him. Inside was a Gucci necktie—one he wore frequently.
His suspicion immediately melted away, replaced by genuine emotion.
“Hae-jin… you really shouldn’t have.”
“I thought it would suit you perfectly for your first day at Samjeon Group.”
“I’ll wear it proudly. Absolutely.”
Myung Hae-jin held the bouquet and looked at me.
“Sung-guk, I’ll put these flowers in your room. Where is it?”
“Let me put them in your room for you. Just give them to me.”
“That’s just an excuse to see Sung-guk’s room. Of course, you’ll have to show me Tae-guk’s room too.”
“Of course!”
Jeon Tae-guk grinned foolishly over just a necktie.
I quickly opened the door to my room.
“If you place them on the desk, I’ll arrange them in a vase this evening.”
“Yes, please do.”
Myung Hae-jin oddly complied without resistance, setting the flowers on my desk and leaving. Then, guided by Jeon Tae-guk, she entered his room and they chatted away, giggling together.
Lim Mi-mi, watching this unfold, came to my side and whispered.
“Boss, what I just saw—was that a person or a nine-tailed fox?”
“Probably the latter. She’s not very good at hiding her tail, it seems.”
“You seem fortunately immune to that nine-tailed fox, sir. But I’m quite worried about Tae-guk.”
[Don’t worry. Once that nine-tailed fox becomes a daughter-in-law of Samjeon Group, her tail will be completely cut off.]
“Lim Mi-mi, let’s finish preparing the meal.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Mark, come help us too.”
Mark smiled faintly as he heard laughter echoing from Jeon Tae-guk’s room.
“Sung-guk, it looks like Tae-guk has finally found his match.”
“Yeah, I think so too.”
* * *
Myung Hae-jin stayed late into the night, even having a glass of wine before returning to the hotel.
I rose from my seat with a long, drawn-out yawn.
“I’m tired, so I’ll turn in early.”
“Go on, get some sleep. Children of a new nation should sleep early and rise early, after all.”
Jeon Tae-guk, in high spirits, teased me relentlessly.
“Tae-guk, I’ll let it slide just for today as a graduation celebration. Everyone, drink your wine in moderation and have a wonderful evening.”
I excused myself and entered my room.
A bouquet of flowers on the desk caught my eye.
[I thought Myung Hae-jin was interested in me… but it turns out she’s with Samjeon after all.]
Still, choosing Samjeon was truly the wise decision.
A man of my fatal charm could never be satisfied with just one woman anyway.
The moment I picked up the bouquet, I felt an inexplicable weight to it.
[Why is this bouquet so heavy?]
I slipped my hand into the flowers and felt a small box nestled among the blooms.
So that’s why Myung Hae-jin hadn’t simply handed me the bouquet—she’d been holding it herself.
I stared at the small box. I had a rough idea of what it was.
It was a box from one of the watch brands I favored in my past life.
Patek Philippe, to be precise.
I carefully opened the box.
As expected, there was a Patek Philippe watch inside. And a handwritten card from Myung Hae-jin as well.
– I’d love it if you wore this watch the next time we meet.
I shook my head firmly.
“Myung Hae-jin, I’m sorry, but… that will never happen.”
I quickly tore up the card and searched through every corner of the watch box.
“Where’s the warranty?”
Fortunately, the warranty was tucked inside the box.
[Hmm… I could buy more stocks if I sold this watch.]
A satisfied smile crossed my face.
* * *
The parking lot in the morning.
I started the Bugatti’s engine.
Soon Mark came rushing down breathlessly.
“Sung-guk, let’s go to the office together.”
Lim Mi-mi came rushing down as well.
“Oh, I’m a step late!”
The Bugatti was a two-seater, befitting a sports car.
I tossed the keys to Mark.
“Mark, you and Lim Mi-mi take it.”
“Sung-guk, what about you? Are you sure?”
“I have my Porsche.”
[And I’ve driven plenty in my past life.]
“Wow! Mi-mi, get in! I’ll take you in the Bugatti.”
Just as Mark was about to take the driver’s seat with great fanfare, Lim Mi-mi blocked him.
“Mark, I think I’m the better driver.”
“Well… that’s true, but….”
“Boss, given your personality, if the Bugatti gets even a single scratch, I don’t think you’d let either Mark or me off the hook. Mark, you okay with that?”
The moment he heard those words, Mark’s hands began to tremble.
Mark quickly handed the keys to Lim Mi-mi.
“Mi-mi, you sure?”
“Don’t worry. I’m from North Korea. I’ve driven on unpaved roads.”
Lim Mi-mi took the keys with confidence and climbed into the driver’s seat of the Bugatti.
I watched the scene with satisfaction.
“Since it’s the last time, enjoy it to the fullest, Mark! Lim Mi-mi!”
And so I sent the Bugatti off.
The moment I acquired the Bugatti from Jeon Tae-guk, I posted on FaceNote a photo of the Samjeon Group’s heir driving it for a few months, and me—the CEO of FaceNote and YouTube—briefly riding in it as I passed by.
Immediately after, a message came from the Prince of Dubai.
He wanted to buy the Bugatti.
– Isn’t the Prince of Dubai someone with the means to buy a brand new Bugatti?
I asked out of curiosity.
Soon, a reply arrived.
– Of course, I have several Bugattis right now. But a Bugatti driven by the heir of the Samjeon Group, and moreover the CEO of FaceNote and YouTube, holds special significance. You could call it superstition, but it’s like how people buy land plots from places where others have struck it rich. Cars carry the same meaning.
– Does the Prince of Dubai need even greater fortune?
– That car clearly appears to be blessed by divine grace. It’s not so much about fortune as it is about bringing divine blessing.
I smiled faintly.
My strategy had worked perfectly.
I had calculated that if I wove together the Bugatti’s history well, someone wealthy would add a premium and pay an even higher price.
And the Prince of Dubai had taken my bait perfectly.
We negotiated the price appropriately.
The final sale price was 12 billion won.
I sent a message to Abdul, the Prince of Dubai.
– Abdul, may divine blessing accompany you from now on!

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