I Will Raise This Family to Greatness - Chapter 28

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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 28
Jeon Jae-hyung found himself bewildered.
Of course, there had been more than one or two women who had passed through his life, but nothing of this sort had ever occurred with Sung-guk’s family.
Master Lee, perceptive as always, caught the subtle shift in Jeon Jae-hyung’s demeanor and deftly steered the conversation.
“What I mean is… you share that much of a karmic connection.”
“You mean a karmic connection as strong as a father-son relationship?”
“Certainly, whether in a past life or a future one, you are destined to meet as father and son. Perhaps not in this lifetime, but certainly in another.”
“Then what of my karmic connection with him in this lifetime?”
Jeon Jae-hyung asked carefully.
“Hmm… He will help you little by little, then take everything all at once.”
“Pardon?”
“That is the nature of children, is it not? We raise them bit by bit. Then when I grow old and fall ill, they take everything I have. Especially for parents of great wealth, there is much to give. Though this child was not born as your son in this lifetime, you must be cautious. Looking at his birth chart, he is too young to fully display his potential, but when he encounters water, he will advance to the sea and command the world. Such is his destiny.”
The old man studied the birth chart once more in silence.
“Though born to poor parents with nothing to rely upon, this child will elevate your household to great heights.”
“What of my son, Jeon Tae-guk? How do you see him?”
“Your son’s birth chart…”
Jeon Jae-hyung was already familiar with his son Jeon Tae-guk’s birth chart.
Though born through cesarean section at a precisely calculated date and hour, something had gone awry—his post-birth chart fell short of expectations.
“Hmm… Had an older brother existed, he would have been overshadowed and his life would have withered without ever flourishing. Fortunately, there is no older brother, so this will not come to pass. However, you must continue to protect him, Vice Chairman.”
Jeon Jae-hyung’s mind grew turbulent.
Master Lee gazed quietly at Jeon Jae-hyung’s face.
“Vice Chairman, I offer you this counsel: the future is not fixed, is it? Keep this child close and watch over him. There is a saying that one should keep one’s enemy even closer.”
“I will remember your words.”
Jeon Jae-hyung moistened his parched throat with chrysanthemum tea.
“By the way, this child saved my life at Sampung Department Store. And now he asks that the search continue for just five more days.”
“Hmm… Looking at his birth chart, this is no ordinary child. Listen to him. Verify how far his fortune extends.”
Jeon Jae-hyung nodded.
Master Lee took a sip of chrysanthemum tea and regarded Jeon Jae-hyung with subtle intensity.
“I sense good news approaching soon, Vice Chairman.”
“…Thank you.”
Jeon Jae-hyung asked no further questions.
Because the time had come. His heavy heart found some solace.
Whenever Master Lee spoke with such certainty, what he foretold invariably came to pass.
“Good fortune brings misfortune in its wake, so prepare your heart accordingly.”
Could it be…
Jeon Jae-hyung suppressed the ominous thought that had suddenly surfaced.
Exactly five days after Sung-guk had asked for a little more time, a survivor trapped on the basement level was rescued after seventeen days.
When Jeon Jae-hyung pledged support against the opinion to end the search early, the rescue deadline was extended.
The discovery of a survivor after seventeen days brought jubilation to the nation, and news naturally emerged that Samjeon Group had provided backing.
With this, Samjeon Electronics’ popularity surged and sales reached their peak.
No matter how much Jeon Jae-hyung thought about it, he couldn’t ignore his connection to Sung-guk.
* * *
The alarm blared loudly.
Father jolted awake and quickly silenced it, and I could hear the sound of him washing up.
I rubbed my eyes and got up.
Today was Father’s last day at work.
The aroma of Mother’s simmering soybean paste stew filled the entire home.
I hurried to the dining table and sat in my chair.
“Sung-guk, you’re already up?”
“Mother! I’m hungry.”
“We have filming to do today, so sleep a bit more.”
I shook my head vigorously.
Today was the day we’d be shooting the Samjeon Electronics catalog that couldn’t be filmed due to the Sampung Department Store collapse.
“Sung-guk, let’s eat together once Father comes out.”
“Yes!”
Mother peeled a banana and fed it to me, then continued preparing breakfast.
Father emerged from washing up, kissed my cheek, and helped Mother complete the morning meal.
I gazed at the two of them intently.
Mother and Father, now in their mid-twenties.
Though orphans, they lived with such diligence, and thanks to a son like me, they’d even moved to an apartment in Jamsil.
Father’s bossam restaurant would be opening soon, and Mother and Manager Kim Mi-young’s SKJ Planning were planning to relocate to Gangnam.
I’d heard that Manager Kim Mi-young was also clearing out her one-room apartment in Suyu-ri and moving here.
I bit into the banana with satisfaction, my smile warm and genuine.
[Mother, Father, you’ve worked so hard. Just wait until I start elementary school. I’ll make this family thrive beyond your wildest dreams.]
“Sung-guk, why are you in such a good mood?”
Father stroked my head.
[I’m just happy watching myself grow day by day. And Mother and Father seem to be growing well too.]
“Waaaaah!”
The sound of Min-guk waking up and crying came from the bedroom.
If only that brat weren’t here, this would be a truly peaceful morning….
Mother picked up Min-guk and brought him to the dining table.
[Mother, I can’t eat at the same table as Min-guk. That kid spills rice everywhere—it’s disgusting.]
Min-guk, paying me no mind, spotted me and came running over.
“Hyung-young!”
“Sigh….”
I let out a deep sigh.
This brat’s first word in the world was “hyung”—older brother.
[That’s right, you instinctively recognize who really runs this household, don’t you?]
“Hehe!”
Min-guk sat beside me and grinned widely.
[Ugly as I am, at least I look better when I smile.]
I gently raised my hand and patted Min-guk’s bottom.
He laughed for who knows what reason.
“Oh, honey. We need to transfer Sung-guk to a new kindergarten too, don’t we?”
“Kindergarten. No way!”
I expressed my opposition forcefully.
The children at the kindergarten I’d briefly attended before moving didn’t match my level at all.
Most of them couldn’t even read, and there was no one to discuss socioeconomic issues with.
They were all just busy showing off their toys.
Father patted my back.
“Sung-guk, you need to make friends. Once my work settles down, let’s look into kindergartens starting from the fall semester.”
“The place Kim Mi-young’s friend recommended doesn’t have much of a waiting list. We’ll probably need to look elsewhere.”
I felt dejected.
The future seemed too bleak.
From kindergarten to elementary school, middle school, high school—I couldn’t fathom how many years I’d have to navigate society with people who didn’t match my level.
“Yum. Nom nom.”
Min-guk shoved his spoon right into my mouth.
[This brat!]
“Yum. Hehe.”
[I’m only allowing this today. Not because of you. Because Mother’s doenjang-jjigae tastes good.]
I chewed and swallowed the rice Min-guk had pushed into my mouth.
* * *
I took a deep breath of the stale air at the film set.
Of course, it was clearly a foul smell.
But I was saying goodbye to this film set’s odor for a while.
Today was my last shoot as an exclusive model for Samjeon Electronics.
And I intended to retire.
As the saying goes, you should leave when people are applauding—you must depart at your most glorious moment.
[Will I miss this place?]
This was where I’d scrambled and hustled to earn seed money.
And I’d already exceeded my target amount.
“Sung-guk, this is your last shoot today.”
Lim Sun-mi, whose exclusive model contract was also ending, approached me with a smile.
“Hey!”
I waved at Lim Sun-mi with a smile.
For the sake of Lim Sun-mi, our reliable financial backer at SKJ Planning, I could do a forward roll right now.
The steady support from Mother and Manager Kim Mi-young.
And the shoot with the familiar Lim Sun-mi proceeded smoothly.
“Alright, this is the final shot. Give it one more push, please!”
The photographer’s voice rang out, and Lim Sun-mi lifted me into her arms.
“Sung-guk, this is really the last one. Let’s do great.”
“Fighting!”
I shouted the cheer adorably.
Laughter rippled across the film set, and with that, my final Samjeon Electronics shoot came to an end.
Mother rushed over and handed me water.
Slurp.
I drank the water refreshingly through the straw.
“Sung-guk, you worked hard.”
[What, this is child’s play now.]
Thinking it was truly the last time, I felt a twinge of regret.
I swept my gaze across the film set once more.
Then, a familiar figure appeared in the distance.
[Isn’t that Vice Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung?]
Vice Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung distributed meal allowances and bonuses to the director and staff, then approached Lim Sun-mi and me.
“Let’s have dinner together today.”
Slurp.
I deliberately sucked the water through the straw.
Vice Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung never met anyone carelessly.
Lim Sun-mi looked at us with an awkward expression.
“I’m afraid I can’t today. I have a prior engagement.”
[What’s this about?]
I didn’t know all the details of Vice Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung’s romantic life, but judging by the atmosphere, it seemed like he and Lim Sun-mi were gradually parting ways.
Secretary Yang approached Mother and Kim Mi-young with a smile.
“I heard Sung-guk loves the jjajangmyeon at Samjeon Hotel so much. Once you’re ready, we’ll meet there at six. The vice chairman says that because of Sung-guk during the Sampung Department Store incident, we all benefited, so he’d like to have dinner together as a special treat.”
As compensation, Samjeon Hotel jjajangmyeon was honestly pretty modest.
Gulp.
Foolishly, I’d already swallowed my saliva.
Secretary Yang patted my head.
“Sung-guk, see you later.”
“Yeth! Jjajang noodles. Lots!”
I answered with a lisp.
* * *
In the elevator, an awkward tension hung between Vice Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung and Lim Sun-mi, now alone together.
Lim Sun-mi spoke first.
“Thank you for everything.”
“Me too.”
“Should I think of this as us drifting apart because of your succession preparations?”
“Yeah.”
After meeting Master Lee in Samcheongdong, Vice Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung had notified Lim Sun-mi of their breakup.
Soon, the moment would come when he inherited Chairman Jeon Ju-shin’s position.
Even as the eldest son and largest shareholder, it was best to minimize any noise.
“I’ll contact you if there’s good news.”
“Reach out whenever you face difficulties while working. I can do at least that much. Things didn’t end badly, after all.”
“Understood, Chairman of Samjeon Group.”
As Lim Sun-mi spoke, the elevator came to a stop in the Underground Parking Lot.
Vice Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung moved first, following Secretary Yang who had been waiting, while Lim Sun-mi headed to her manager’s vehicle after a brief interval.
* * *
[Why is it taking so long?]
I gripped my chopsticks in one hand, waiting anxiously for the black bean noodles at Samjeon Hotel.
The sliding door opened with a soft whoosh.
I snapped my head toward the door, but Vice Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung and Secretary Yang walked in.
A crushing disappointment.
When I let my disappointment show, Secretary Yang chuckled warmly.
“Sung-guk, your black bean noodles will be here soon.”
“Yay!”
My shoulders bounced up on their own.
It was a skill I’d cultivated, but lately I found myself shrugging my shoulders habitually whenever I felt pleased.
True to Secretary Yang’s word, the black bean noodles arrived shortly, and Vice Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung commended Mother, Kim Mi-young, and me for our efforts as models for Samjeon Electronics, presenting us with monetary gifts as a token of his gratitude.
Vice Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung had always been tediously roundabout with his words, even when he was Father, and today was no exception.
Because of that, Mother and Manager Kim Mi-young merely sipped water despite the lavish spread before them.
Regardless, I slurped down my black bean noodles like I was drinking them.
Being a child had its conveniences—I didn’t need to maintain formality in any situation.
“Sung-guk, thank you for saving my life.”
[Is he really trying to settle this with just black bean noodles? Vice Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung, why is a tycoon being so stingy? How much is in that envelope? Around 100 million won?]
Vice Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung picked up a napkin and wiped my mouth, which was covered in black bean sauce.
“Eat slowly.”
[He never did this when he was Father. Why is he acting so awkwardly?]
“Actually, the reason I arranged this gathering today is…”
Vice Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung looked at Mother.
I too focused my attention on Vice Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung.
“Sung-guk saved my life. Now that the Samjeon Electronics modeling work has ended, Sung-guk is only five years old. I would like to become his guardian.”
“What do you mean…”
Mother was so flustered that she couldn’t finish her sentence.
Secretary Yang stepped forward.
“We would like to sponsor all of Sung-guk’s education for as long as he wishes to study. From university onwards, if he wants to study abroad, he may do so. When he later joins Samjeon Group, we are also considering special recruitment for any position he desires.”
Vice Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung stroked my head.
This man, who had never done such a thing even when he was Father, treated me like a son today.
“I believe I owe my life to Sung-guk. After much deliberation, I’m making this proposal, and I hope you won’t refuse.”
[What? For saving a life, shouldn’t he at least hand over the Dongtan Samjeon Electronics site or something?]

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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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