I Will Raise This Family to Greatness - Chapter 352

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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 352
As I rode in Secretary Park Sung-hee’s car toward home, something felt missing.
[What is this nagging feeling that I left something behind in the United States?]
I glanced around the interior of the car.
Secretary Park Sung-hee at the wheel.
Jeon Tae-guk and Lim Jin-seo, their hands clasped tightly from the touching remarks moments ago.
And me….
“Wait….”
“Sung-guk, what’s wrong?”
[Oh no, I left Sam behind!]
I immediately called Mark.
Mark’s playful voice came through the phone moments later.
– Sung-guk… what’s up?
It seemed Mark already knew what I’d left behind.
“Mark, where is Sam right now?”
– What am I supposed to do about that? You said you were bringing Sam, who was down about the whole Susan situation, to Korea, but you just left for Korea without even having a proper conversation with him.
“Mark, I’m not in the mood for jokes. Where is Sam really?”
Mark laughed for a while before finally composing himself and answering.
– Don’t worry. Sam took the next flight and followed right after.
“Do you know what time he arrives?”
– I think it was about three hours after you….
I quickly hung up and grabbed Secretary Park Sung-hee’s shoulder.
“Secretary Park, I think we need to turn the car around.”
“Sung-guk, you mentioned Sam… what’s going on?”
Jeon Tae-guk looked at me with confusion.
“While wrapping up things in the United States, I should have returned to Korea with Sam… I forgot about him.”
Jeon Tae-guk also looked startled and quickly shouted to Secretary Park Sung-hee.
“Secretary Park, turn the car around now!”
* * *
What did Sam like anyway?
In a situation like this, it would have been easy with Adam.
A Misseight concert or fan meeting would have easily smoothed things over.
But with Sam, nothing came to mind clearly.
Sam, who came from YouTube, was a programmer who quietly did his own work even when everyone at YouTube ostracized him.
[What did Sam like….]
At that moment, the gate opened and Sam walked out pushing a large trunk.
Jeon Tae-guk, Lim Jin-seo, Secretary Park Sung-hee, and I all waved enthusiastically toward Sam.
“Sam!!!”
At the same time, I handed Sam even the bouquet that Jeon Tae-guk had given to Lim Jin-seo.
“Sam, welcome!”
“Sung-guk, is this a gift for me?”
“Of course. You must have had quite the journey.”
“Journey? I flew first class—I was completely pampered. So much food, unlimited drinks… I thought I was being fattened up for slaughter!”
Sam grinned from ear to ear.
[Hmm… is he not upset?]
“Wow, these flowers are absolutely beautiful. To be welcomed like this in Korea… I knew being by your side was where I belonged.”
What is this situation?
Did Sam really have no issue with us leaving without him and forcing him to take a separate flight later?
I probed Sam gently.
“Sam… you’re not upset that we left first, right?”
“Sung-guk, Mark told me first class was completely full and I had no choice but to go later. Was there another reason?”
[Mark… you clever bastard…]
I quickly embraced Sam and whispered in his ear.
“Sam, we felt so terrible about it that we didn’t even leave the airport—we waited for you. I’m really sorry for making you travel alone.”
“Sung-guk, it’s fine. I had a comfortable flight. And you waited for me at the airport like this… these flowers really are beautiful.”
[Well, of course. These are the flowers Jeon Tae-guk bought for Lim Jin-seo… they must cost at least hundreds of thousands of won.]
I patted Sam’s back reassuringly.
“Sam, now that you’re in Korea, what do you want to eat first? We need to catch up with Adam.”
“Adam said whenever he comes to Korea, he absolutely has to have grilled pork belly and soju?”
“Of course. Sam, welcome to Korea!”
I embraced Sam again enthusiastically.
* * *
Just how much did I drink with Sam yesterday?
My head throbbed, and my stomach churned.
Adam and Sam’s chemistry extended beyond work—they were perfectly matched when it came to food as well.
Add Sam’s grievances about his breakup with Susan to the mix, and the drinking session stretched into dawn.
Thank goodness today was Saturday.
I held my head and opened the door to find three figures sprawled across the living room floor, sleeping peacefully together.
Adam, Sam, and Jeon Tae-guk.
I went to the refrigerator and grabbed some cold water.
Then I checked the date.
The last week of March.
That meant exactly one week remained until the professional baseball season opened on April 2nd.
I suddenly called out to Jeon Tae-guk.
“Tae-guk hyung!”
Jeon Tae-guk jolted awake from the living room floor.
“Wh-Sung-guk… what’s wrong? Did someone break in?”
“Hyung, I’m supposed to throw the ceremonial first pitch next week, right?”
“Oh, that’s right. Father told me to make sure I get you to Daegu safely. But why?”
“I’ve never actually played baseball before.”
To be precise, in this life I had never even touched a baseball.
In my previous life, I often threw ceremonial first pitches and even received coaching from pitchers, but in this life, I’d been too busy studying and working to have such opportunities.
Jeon Tae-guk waved his hand dismissively and lay back down on the living room couch.
“Sung-guk, don’t worry about that. Before the first pitch, the coach and players will come by and show you exactly how to throw.”
“Hyung, there’s actually a specific player I really want to meet and get coaching from.”
In this life….
“Who is it?”
“Pitcher Choi Dong-jun.”
“Choi Dong-jun? I’m not sure who that is. Talk to Park Secretary. He’ll take care of everything.”
* * *
Secretary Park Sung-hee, who brought the hangover soup, looked at me with bright eyes upon hearing the name of pitcher Choi Dong-jun.
“Young Master Sung-guk, are you talking about Choi Dong-jun, the pitcher from Lotte?”
“Yes, the pitcher Choi Dong-jun who led the Lotte Giants to victory in the 1984 Korean Series against the Samsung Lions.”
Secretary Park Sung-hee’s bright expression suddenly turned puzzled as she looked at me.
“How does Sung-guk, born in 1991, know so much about the 1984 Korean Series?”
“I… saw it in a documentary.”
“Ah, I see. As an enthusiastic fan of the Lotte Giants myself, I really loved that legendary 1984 Korean Series documentary.”
At that moment, Jeon Tae-guk, who was eating the hangover soup, furrowed his brow.
“Park Secretary, you’re a Lotte Giants fan while eating Samsung’s salary?”
“Young Master, just because I eat Samsung’s salary doesn’t mean I have to surrender my freedom of heart, does it?”
“Well, I suppose not….”
Jeon Tae-guk quickly backed down.
“Park Secretary, could you possibly connect me with pitcher Choi Dong-jun?”
I asked carefully.
In truth, I wasn’t certain whether pitcher Choi Dong-jun was still alive.
“Since pitcher Choi Dong-jun also played briefly for the Samsung Lions at the end of his career, I should be able to make the connection. He’s a player I’ve always wanted to meet as well. I’ll do my best to reach out to him!”
[Phew… He’s still alive.]
Secretary Park Sung-hee left the house immediately.
Jeon Tae-guk shook his head with a bewildered expression.
“Sung-guk, I can connect you with Director Sun Dong-yeon. He was our Samsung Lions manager until last year. I don’t know Choi Dong-jun well, but… in terms of baseball skills and career, there’s no one in South Korea who can match Director Sun Dong-yeon.”
“Tae-guk hyung, the player that Director Sun Dong-yeon, whom you praise so highly, acknowledged as the one and only player is precisely Choi Dong-jun!”
I absolutely had to meet pitcher Choi Dong-jun in this life.
When I was vice chairman of Samsung in my previous life, I did everything I could to bring pitcher Choi Dong-jun to Samsung as our manager.
But Choi Dong-jun, who had deep affection for Lotte, repeatedly rejected my calls, and the last place I saw him was at his funeral.
Iron Arm Choi Dong-jun.
In this life, I absolutely had to meet him.
* * *
– CEO Jeon Sung-guk to throw the ceremonial first pitch at the 2011 Professional Baseball Opening Game between Samsung and Kian!
– The 2011 Professional Baseball Opening first pitch by CEO Jeon Sung-guk, who predicted the Great East Japan Earthquake! Which team will CEO Jeon Sung-guk favor with his pitch!
– The opening game sold out in record time due to female fans’ enthusiasm to see CEO Jeon Sung-guk’s first pitch!
Day after day, articles about the opening pitch filled the sports sections.
And I heard nothing from Secretary Park Sung-hee for several days.
[Choi Dong-jun… his physical condition must be quite poor…]
Pitcher Choi Dong-jun was battling colon cancer in his final years.
Now, only four days remained until the 2011 professional baseball opening pitch.
Unable to wait any longer, I called Secretary Park Sung-hee.
– Sung-guk, I was just about to contact you. I spoke with Choi Dong-jun’s wife this morning. His son, who knows you from FaceNote, asked his father if he could meet you. However, his body is in no condition for pitching coaching…
“Is his condition that poor?”
– Still, he said he really wants to meet you. I’ll pick him up this afternoon.
“Understood…”
Finally, today… I would meet the legendary Iron Arm Choi Dong-jun, the player I had long dreamed of meeting.
* * *
Hospital corridor.
The moment I stepped into that space, I felt the weight of life itself.
People fighting against cancer and the families standing beside them, protecting them.
With a heavy heart, I knocked on the door of the final hospital room where Choi Dong-jun awaited.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
And soon, I heard the familiar voice of Choi Dong-jun.
“Come in.”
That distinctive voice carried the accent of Busan dialect.
[I finally meet Choi Dong-jun, someone I never encountered in my previous life…]
I carefully opened the door.
Choi Dong-jun rose to greet me, his face gaunt and unrecognizable from illness.
“Welcome. You’re CEO Jeon Sung-guk, correct?”
Though his body had weakened, Pitcher Choi Dong-jun’s voice remained bright.
“It’s an honor to meet you for the first time. And I’m grateful you’ve agreed to this meeting. I’m Jeon Sung-guk of FaceNote.”
“When I heard that CEO Jeon Sung-guk of FaceNote wanted to see me, I asked my son about it, and he insisted I must meet you. He showed me FaceNote too… these days, whether Korean men or women, you’re the object of everyone’s admiration. I looked up several interview articles, and you’re even more impressive in person.”
“I should be thanking your son.”
Secretary Park Sung-hee, standing behind me, was practically bouncing with excitement.
I quickly introduced her.
“This is a secretary from Samjeon. She helped arrange this meeting.”
“A longtime fan of Pitcher Choi Dong-jun and a longtime fan of the Lotte Giants.”
“Oh my, and you work at Samjeon?”
“My body works at Samjeon, but my soul has been rooted in Lotte since the beginning!”
“Hahaha.”
Choi Dong-jun smiled warmly at Secretary Park Sung-hee’s passionate fandom.
“So… you’ll be throwing the opening pitch this time?”
“Yes. Since it’s a Daegu game, I’ll be wearing a Samsung Lions uniform instead of Lotte.”
“I see… it’s a shame, but I played for Samsung too. Back then, my number was…”
“Number 11.”
“That’s right. Number 11. You’ve done quite a bit of research on me.”
“If you don’t mind, would it be alright if I threw the opening pitch wearing that number?”
“It would be an honor for me, actually. Well then… shall I start by teaching you how to catch the ball?”
“Yes, truthfully… I… this is my first time playing baseball.”
Secretary Park Sung-hee handed the prepared glove and ball to pitcher Choi Dong-jun.
Pitcher Choi Dong-jun put on the glove and rolled the ball in his hands a few times, his eyes growing moist.
“Ah, it’s been a while.”
Pitcher Choi Dong-jun paused for a moment, then swallowed hard and looked at me.
“Our son admires and loves CEO Jeon Sung-guk. May I ask you just one thing?”
“Yes… please, ask away.”
“My son said you were a genius, CEO Jeon Sung-guk. Born into poverty, sponsored to study abroad at a young age. Admitted to Harvard at the youngest age possible, which is incredibly difficult. Yet… you gave that up and started a business. And even now, you seem young to me. People say you’re someone the world watches.”
“I don’t think I’ve yet reached the achievements you accomplished in your twenties, Pitcher Choi Dong-jun.”
“Heh heh. Well, that would be true if we’re talking about baseball.”
Pitcher Choi Dong-jun broke into a broad smile.
“CEO Jeon Sung-guk.”
“Please, just call me Sung-guk.”
“No, that won’t do. Regardless of your age, a CEO is a CEO. CEO Jeon Sung-guk, as someone who has lived a bit longer, let me share a word of wisdom with you, and then I’ll teach you how to catch and throw.”
I nodded.
Every word from Choi Dong-jun carried weight.
“When I was young and playing baseball, I thought I was chasing the ball. But… what I was really chasing wasn’t the ball—it was a star. It was the goal of my life, and I wanted to become that star for my teammates and juniors. I think you’re probably that kind of existence for everyone. That’s why you always shine. You know that, right?”
Choi Dong-jun smiled through reddened eyes.
.

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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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