I Will Raise This Family to Greatness - Chapter 275

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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 275
I smiled, revealing my neat teeth.
Seo Se-jung returned my smile as if in response.
“I should introduce myself properly as well. Hello, I’m Seo Se-jung. I serve as Myung Hae-jin’s personal secretary.”
“By personal secretary, you mean you handle her personal affairs on her behalf?”
“Something like that. Myung Hae-jin is an individual, of course, but she’s also the eldest daughter of Myung Jin Group, representing the company’s image.”
Seo Se-jung was as sharp as I remembered, devoted to her employer.
Her current employer was Myung Hae-jin.
Her next employer would be the nation itself.
“I’ve lived in the United States for so long that I didn’t know Myung Hae-jin represented Myung Jin Group’s image.”
“South Korea is a chaebol society. That means the chaebol families embody their company’s image.”
“Hmm… Much like how I represent the image of FaceNote and YouTube?”
“The difference is you don’t say it about yourself.”
Seo Se-jung was indeed brilliant.
She wasn’t the type to merely serve as someone’s personal secretary.
“Isn’t that the difference between self-made success and inherited wealth? Today’s second and third-generation chaebols didn’t build what they have through effort, but I did.”
“I hadn’t considered that perspective. I apologize.”
She conceded defeat quickly and decisively.
“But… why did you seek me out today?”
“Myung Hae-jin wishes to meet with you separately.”
“For what reason?”
“As a messenger, I wasn’t informed of the specific details.”
“What if I refuse?”
“Myung Hae-jin said she would mobilize all her connections to disadvantage your family’s business operations in Korea.”
I smiled faintly.
[I didn’t know Myung Hae-jin loved me that much…]
The greater the betrayal, the more ruthless the methods become.
Seo Se-jung observed my expression for a moment.
[What was the old Seo Se-jung like…]
A promising prosecutor in South Korea.
Principled and sharp in image.
Black hair and pale complexion.
And the backing of Myung Jin Group.
“Seo Se-jung, let me say this: I’m willing to meet Myung Hae-jin. But she said that if I don’t suit her tastes, she’ll use every method at her disposal to disadvantage my family. So, don’t you think the provincial chaebols trapped in the well of South Korea simply can’t fathom that I could use every method at my disposal to disadvantage Myung Jin Group?”
“…”
Seo Se-jung offered a faint smile instead of a response.
“I’ll relay your words exactly. You’re still willing to meet her?”
“Yes, there’s a saying: ‘The one who ties the knot must untie it.'”
“It means one must resolve what one has caused.”
“And I must do that starting now.”
[With this overwhelming charm, I’ve stolen Myung Hae-jin’s heart—I should give it back.]
* * *
I came home after a long time and turned on the TV.
Since it was New Year’s, the TV was still preoccupied with economic and current affairs predictions for 2010. A story about the upcoming Vancouver Winter Olympics came on.
[Is Kim Yeo-na appearing?]
Click—the door opened, and Jeon Tae-guk entered with an exhausted expression.
These days, Jeon Tae-guk’s mood was consistently gloomy.
“You’re home early.”
“Where have you been, hyung?”
“Hmm… I had dinner with Myung Hae-jin.”
“Why do you look like that after a date?”
“Just… something feels off.”
“What do you mean?”
“Dating Myung Hae-jin doesn’t feel like dating—it feels like a business meeting.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Just… there’s no warmth between us as a couple… how do I put it. It just feels like we’re constantly analyzing each other.”
I listened to Jeon Tae-guk’s words quietly, then suddenly asked him a question.
“Hyung… but you’re basically a total romantic novice too.”
“That’s true, but… is dating supposed to be like this, Sung-guk?”
“Hyung, how can you ask me that?”
“Right… asking someone even more of a romantic novice than me…”
Jeon Tae-guk opened the refrigerator, took out a beer, and chugged it.
“I should go get some advice from Mark.”
[Jeon Tae-guk, that’s overkill.]
If he got counseled by Mark a few more times, even a marriage arrangement that was already settled between families might fall apart.
“Hyung… when are you going back to Korea?”
“I don’t know… Father told me to report for work in March… but I’m not sure I can work properly with this desolate heart.”
[Work is work, and love is love!]
“Hyung, what if you go to Vancouver in February?”
“Huh?”
“Doesn’t Samjeon Group sponsor the Vancouver Winter Olympics?”
“Probably… but I have poor circulation in my extremities, so I’m not really into winter sports.”
[Jeon Tae-guk really is something else.]
Then I had no choice but to dangle some bait he’d like.
“Hyung, how many gold medals do you think our country will win at this Winter Olympics?”
“I don’t know… the only figure skater I can think of is Kim Yeo-na.”
“Hyung, what if you go to Vancouver with Myung Hae-jin?”
“Huh?”
Jeon Tae-guk looked at me with surprised eyes.
“You know, when you go to a cold country, you might get closer to each other.”
“Sung-guk… Then I should ask Myung Hae-jin if she wants to go together.”
“Hyung… They say romance is all about timing, don’t they?”
“Yeah. I know that well. It’s something from dating guides. Mark says that a lot too.”
“Hyung, from what I can see, you came on too strong right after you started dating Myung Hae-jin. Just hold back for a few days. And then ask her to go to Vancouver with you.”
“But… what if Myung Hae-jin breaks up with me because I haven’t contacted her for a few days?”
“Hyung… if it’s a connection that can’t survive that, it was meant to end anyway.”
Jeon Tae-guk’s expression transformed into that of a monk who had just attained enlightenment.
“Sung-guk… you really are….”
“A genius, I know.”
I moved toward the kitchen and sent a message to Myung Hae-jin.
– How about we have dinner together tomorrow evening?
Of course, the reply came in less than ten seconds.
– Sounds good. I’ll pick the place and send you the details.
* * *
That night, I found myself pondering this absurd love triangle until late.
Myung Hae-jin was interested in me, while Jeon Tae-guk was floundering hopelessly over Myung Hae-jin.
The person I needed most right now was Jeon Tae-guk, the very symbol of South Korea’s business elite and the Samjeon Group.
He was indispensable for the Korean business ventures I would unfold in the future.
He was also the one who would be responsible for my military service.
Somehow, I had to redirect Myung Hae-jin’s affections toward Jeon Tae-guk.
And I couldn’t afford to make an enemy of Myung Hae-jin either.
After all, if Jeon Tae-guk and Myung Hae-jin married, that spineless fool would obviously be wrapped around her finger.
I sank into deep thought.
In that moment, Seo Se-jung came to mind.
Seo Se-jung.
I smiled faintly.
* * *
The restaurant Myung Hae-jin had chosen was a famous establishment in San Francisco, known as an ideal dating spot for couples.
[Myung Hae-jin, you’re making this too obvious….]
I arrived ten minutes early and waited for Myung Hae-jin.
She arrived exactly on time.
Her makeup and outfit were clearly the result of considerable effort.
And then Seo Se-jung walked in behind her.
I greeted Seo Se-jung briefly.
“It’s nice to see you again.”
“Yes, well then. I hope you and the young lady have a wonderful time.”
Seo Se-jung was clearly keeping her distance from me.
After all, Myung Hae-jin was practically the embodiment of jealousy right now.
After Seo Se-jung left, Myung Hae-jin sat down and looked at me.
“Sung-guk, I hope we can meet like this more often.”
“Hmm… I’ve been quite busy with work.”
“I’ll make time for it.”
“I’m sorry, but you’re already in a relationship with Jeon Tae-guk.”
“I’ll sort things out.”
Myung Hae-jin pushed forward like a bulldozer.
“Myung Hae-jin, would you like to go to the Vancouver Winter Olympics together?”
At those words, Myung Hae-jin broke into a broad smile.
“Are you asking me out by using a national issue as an excuse?”
“It’s not a date request—I’m talking about a national business matter.”
Myung Hae-jin’s brow furrowed for a moment.
She seemed to be racking her brain, unable to discern my true intentions.
Myung Hae-jin had an honest and straightforward side, but she wasn’t the type to scheme or think on her feet.
[We can’t be like this, Se-jung.]
I smiled faintly and handed Myung Hae-jin a photograph.
It was a photo of her with a famous male actor, taken just a few months ago. Her eyes widened as she saw it.
“Myung Hae-jin, you were quite serious with this actor for quite some time. The photo I brought today is just the mild version.”
Myung Hae-jin crossed her arms calmly.
“I cleaned it up nicely. Sung-guk, you spent time in America, but your thinking is quite old-fashioned.”
“I’m a bit conservative. And I don’t care about a woman’s past, but I don’t think Samjeon Group would look favorably on it.”
“What does that have to do with me?”
“You haven’t been paying attention to group matters yet, have you? Myung Jin Group’s sponsorship of the Vancouver Olympics athletes’ meals this time—that’s all thanks to Samjeon Group being the Olympic’s main sponsor. Thanks to that, Myung Jin Group, which only had an image of selling seasonings domestically, is now gaining a global image. If the daughter ignores this favor, Samjeon Group won’t sit idle. They can be quite ruthless.”
Samjeon Group operated on a principle of taking back exactly what they gave.
This time, Myung Jin Group’s Olympic athletes’ meal sponsorship was likely a gesture of goodwill from Samjeon Group, signifying their intention to take Myung Hae-jin as a daughter-in-law. But if Myung Hae-jin rejected the prepared table or tarnished it with scandal, Samjeon Group would certainly not remain silent.
“If I didn’t show up today, they said they’d obstruct my father and mother’s business by any means necessary.”
“….”
Myung Hae-jin said nothing.
“So I’m just doing a little coercion myself.”
“That photo is already in the past!”
If she was going to say that!
I handed Myung Hae-jin a copy of the airline ticket for Vancouver.
Her eyes finally widened.
“It seems you didn’t clean things up after all. This male actor is a model for Samjeon Electronics, so he’s going to the Vancouver Olympics. And it looks like you also booked a ticket.”
“Where did you get this?”
“From Myung Hae-jin’s personal secretary. She’s quite sharp. She knows exactly which strings to pull.”
I contacted Seo Se-jung right after setting up the appointment with Myung Hae-jin and met with her separately.
* * *
“So… you’re telling me to betray the young lady?”
Of course, Seo Se-jung was shocked.
“You didn’t become a personal secretary because you wanted to. You were the second-place student in your entire university class, barely scraping by as an equestrian scholarship student. Weren’t you planning to work under Myung Hae-jin for just a few years to prepare for the bar exam?”
“That’s true, but…”
“I’ll take care of that sponsorship for you instead.”
“Pardon?”
“I’ll become your financial backer, Seo Se-jung. In return, when you pass the bar exam and become a prosecutor, you’ll repay this favor appropriately. There’s no such thing as a free lunch in this world. In South Korea, money matters more than intelligence—and you know that better than anyone.”
Seo Se-jung smiled faintly at my words.
“So you’re saying I should study with your sponsorship and become a prosecutor?”
“Yes.”
“May I ask why you’re helping me?”
[Because in my previous life, you were the special prosecutor who indicted me. Building a connection with a prosecutor of your caliber is essential. It’s something I absolutely need in South Korea.]
Instead, I simply smiled.
“You seem like someone destined for great things, Seo Se-jung.”
“Hmm… What are your conditions?”
“Tell me all of Myung Hae-jin’s weaknesses. I suspect someone as intelligent as you already knows which weakness would be most useful in the current situation. And… make a copy of those weaknesses and bring it with you. That’s the only way to avoid making an enemy of the Myung Jin Group.”
“I may not know much about chaebol families, but you certainly handle them like a true South Korean tycoon does.”
[Well, I used to be one, after all….]
Seo Se-jung suddenly stood up from her seat. Was this a refusal?
Then she extended her hand to me.
“I’ll do it. I agree. I thought I’d need another year or so to prepare for the bar exam, but I’m grateful for your sponsorship. In return, I promise you this: I’ll pass the bar exam within a year.”
I shook Seo Se-jung’s hand.
“Congratulations in advance, Prosecutor!”
* * *
Myung Hae-jin stared at me with a bewildered expression.
“What are you trying to do to me, Sung-guk?”
“This is just a taste of what’s to come. If you ever touch my family again, I’ll destroy you far more thoroughly than this.”
Myung Hae-jin stood up abruptly and left.

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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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