I Will Raise This Family to Greatness - Chapter 362

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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 362
“Sung-guk, boiled pork really does pair well with soju, doesn’t it?”
Mark had already drunk nearly a full bottle, completely enamored with soju.
The employees were eating and drinking at a leisurely pace, savoring this rare company gathering before the holiday break.
“Mark, don’t drink too much. I need to greet Mi-mi’s parents later.”
“It’s fine, sir. I told them not to wait if it gets too late.”
Mi-mi was also enjoying the company gathering after such a long time.
“Ahh— Korean soju really is the best. Though South Korean soju seems to be getting blander by the year.”
[It’s only going to get blander from here on, Mi-mi.]
Mi-mi picked up the soju bottle.
“Sir, please have a drink. I’m so grateful you saved me, and now I’ve met Mark like this… Ten years ago, I never could have imagined freely coming and going to South Korea like this.”
“Welcome to South Korea, the land of capitalism, Mi-mi.”
I accepted the soju Mi-mi poured for me.
And I had a glass of soju for the first time in a while.
“Ahh—”
The exclamation escaped naturally.
“Look at our Sung-guk, all grown up now. Even making those kinds of sounds.”
Tae-guk chimed in from beside me.
After all, it was largely Tae-guk’s doing that we’d organized this birthday party and invited all the Just members.
On top of that, seeing my childhood photos again unexpectedly stirred my heart deeply.
When I was born in a tiny room under my parents’ care, I’d worried constantly about how I’d survive in this harsh world.
I raised my glass of soju.
“Hyung, you worked hard today. Please accept a drink from me as well.”
For a moment, Tae-guk stared at me blankly.
[What’s wrong, Tae-guk?]
“Y-you… Sung-guk….”
His voice was trembling slightly.
“Hyung, go ahead and take it.”
“Oh… yeah.”
I poured soju into Tae-guk’s empty glass.
“Sung-guk, after hearing you say thank you like that… I really am living to see the day. I’m completely moved right now.”
[I didn’t even say thank you…. He’s being overdramatic.]
“Hyung, but from now on, please don’t prepare separate birthday parties. I’d prefer this to be the last one.”
“Oh… understood.”
At that moment, Min-guk, who had been eating boiled pork heartily beside us, interjected.
“Our hyung really does have a talent for ruining touching moments.”
“Min-guk, your face looks a bit fuller lately. You’re eating that boiled pork pretty enthusiastically, aren’t you?”
“Huh? I’ve gained that much weight, hyung?”
Min-guk’s eyes widened.
“I saw the videos on YouTube—your face got rounder and your movements got sluggish…. With less than a year until your debut, no matter how much you’re my brother, if you keep getting that puffy, I’m going to strongly recommend to Bang Mu-hyuk that he replace you. You know I’m an investor with 50% stake in Mega Hit, right?”
“Hyung, just today! I’ll start my diet tomorrow!”
“There’s no such thing as tomorrow. You start right now. Besides, I don’t think Sevens needs a chubby comedian character in each group. I’m going to make it seven handsome, impressive Korean men. So even if you’re my real brother, if you don’t meet that standard, you’re out. Got it?”
Min-guk set down his chopsticks on the table with sad eyes. Then he pressed his face against Huin-dung-i, who was sitting there looking stern.
“Huin-dung-i, hyung says… I’m starting my diet today.”
“Yelp—.”
Huin-dung-i looked at Min-guk with pity as well.
“Min-guk, since you’re holding Huin-dung-i anyway, why don’t you take him for a walk? It’ll help digest what you just ate.”
“You’re so cruel, hyung! Hmph!”
Min-guk grumbled as he picked up Huin-dung-i and left the restaurant.
Tae-guk clicked his tongue.
“Every time I see this, I’m grateful all over again that I wasn’t born as Jeon Sung-guk’s brother.”
[Tae-guk, you don’t know it, but in my past life, you were my brother. And I was a hundred times harsher with you than I am with Min-guk.]
I calmly took a sip of soju.
Twenty-one years old by Korean age.
I’d finally become an adult that no one could deny…
[Hmm… if I’d lived, I’d be exactly sixty now.]
Just then, the TV in the corner of the restaurant was broadcasting a discussion about the Seoul mayoral by-election.
The biggest issue in this Seoul mayoral race was the consolidation of two candidates: Ahn Hae-su, a leading Seoul mayoral candidate, and Bae Deok-ho, who had emerged from the private sector.
The staff members were also very interested in the consolidation of Seoul mayoral candidates.
In particular, candidate Ahn Hae-su was like a legend in IT.
“Obviously they’re going to consolidate around candidate Ahn Hae-su, right? Bae Deok-ho—I’ve never even heard of this guy before.”
The staff’s reactions were nearly unanimous.
Bae Deok-ho, who had worked as a human rights lawyer for a long time, was an unfamiliar figure to the public.
Mark watched the TV with curiosity.
“Sung-guk, did that guy develop computer antivirus software?”
Mark, working in the same industry, was very interested in candidate Ahn Hae-su.
“Wow, I really hope that guy wins! It’s so interesting that someone doing the same work as us is going into politics.”
“Mark, want to make a bet?”
“What kind of bet?”
Mark’s eyes sparkled at my provocation after so long.
“There’s a Seoul mayoral by-election coming up, and these two are discussing consolidating as candidates. Right now, candidate Ahn Hae-su is overwhelmingly ahead in both name recognition and polling. So let me try to predict which of the two will consolidate as the Seoul mayoral candidate.”
“Sung-guk, are you trying to prophesy again?”
Mark asked teasingly.
“Not prophecy—prediction. If the candidate I predict ends up consolidating, Mark, what do you want to bet?”
“Well, I don’t really have much to bet….”
“You know, Apple stock….”
Mark’s eyes widened.
“Wait… Sung-guk, you’re not asking for all of that stock, are you?”
Mark’s face was turning pale.
[I’m not that bad a friend, Mark.]
I smiled faintly and took a sip of soju.
“Mark, if my prediction about the candidate is correct, regarding Apple stock—I promise not to sell it for ten years.”
“What?”
Mark looked shocked, and so did Lim Mi-mi and Jeon Tae-guk.
“CEO, but could you tell us the reason? Mark is already mentally driving a Porsche he’s planning to buy with the money from selling that stock.”
I looked at Mark.
“Mark, if you were really going to sell that stock, when would you sell it?”
“Well, actually the price has dropped a bit lately, so I’ve been buying more. I was thinking of selling it around the end of this year. Our car is in such bad condition that it could break down any day now.”
Mark really shouldn’t be trading stocks.
“Mark, if I correctly predict which of these two candidates will consolidate as the unified candidate, will you agree not to sell that stock for ten years?”
“Hmm….”
Mark pondered for a moment, then looked at me with playful eyes.
“Sung-guk, what are you going to bet?”
In situations like this, I had to bet something Mark could never refuse.
“My Porsche. If my prediction is wrong, I’ll give you my Porsche. Then you’ll have both the Apple stock intact and the Porsche you want.”
Mark nodded readily.
“Deal! The bet is on! If your prediction is right, I’m holding the Apple stock for ten years!”
[That’s right, Mark. Long-term holding is the answer to stocks.]
Mark picked up his soju glass.
“Sung-guk, is the deal sealed?”
“Of course!”
We both downed our soju in one shot simultaneously.
And at the same time, we both let out an exhilarated cry.
Now everyone in the restaurant had their eyes on me.
I stood up from my seat and stroked my chin with a thoughtful expression.
“I want to make clear that my prediction from this point forward is not prophecy or anything like that, but a prediction based on thorough analysis.”
“Jeon Sung-guk, don’t drag this out—just tell us!”
Jeon Tae-guk, slightly tipsy, urged me on.
“I believe that between Candidate Ahn Hae-su and Candidate Bae Deok-ho, the unified candidate for Seoul Mayor will be Candidate Bae Deok-ho.”
“Huh?”
“Really?”
“I’ve never even heard of that guy.”
Similar reactions came from various corners of the room.
At that moment, one of the employees raised his hand.
“CEO, could you explain the reasoning behind that prediction?”
“The reason is simple. From what I can see, Candidate Ahn Hae-su is thinking on a much larger scale.”
Suddenly, everyone began murmuring.
“CEO, if you mean a larger scale… could it be the presidential election?”
Instead of answering, I picked up my soju glass.
“Everyone, I think you’ve all forgotten something. Today is my birthday. Come on, let’s all have a great time drinking!”
* * *
I stared down at the promissory note Mark had written while drunk.
Mark had written and stamped his seal on a pledge that if Bae Deok-ho became the unified candidate for Seoul mayor, he wouldn’t sell Apple stock for the next ten years.
Of course, I’d also promised that if my prediction turned out wrong, I’d give Mark my beloved Porsche.
After the dinner ended and everyone headed home, I helped Father close his restaurant for the first time in a while.
“Sung-guk, I’ll take care of it.”
[I’m already taller than Father now and stronger too.]
But I didn’t voice that thought aloud.
Father would always be the man who silently carried me home in his arms during my childhood.
Clang.
After lowering the shutter and locking it, Father brushed off his hands.
“Sung-guk, you’re staying at our place tonight, right?”
“Yeah. Tae-guk, Adam, and Sam said they were going to have another drink together….”
“Why didn’t you go with your friends?”
“Friends? They’re just coworkers.”
“Sung-guk, what kind of coworker has people who share memories with you come celebrate their birthday, collects childhood photos and makes videos out of them? Sometimes you’re too harsh on Tae-guk.”
[Jeon Tae-guk is someone special. Do you know how much he annoyed me in my past life!]
I walked slowly, matching Father’s pace.
“Sung-guk, I’ve always worried that you were so brilliant from childhood that you couldn’t fit in with your peers and only focused on studying. But I’m grateful that you have Mark in America…. and Tae-guk here in Korea. People who care for you like that—keep them by your side for life. That’s what friends are, and that’s real wealth. Understand?”
“Dad, you’re really….”
I teased him a bit, but suddenly Mark and Jeon Tae-guk came to mind.
[Will these two really be lifelong connections for me….]
* * *
What was this strange sensation of someone licking my face?
I rubbed my eyes open to find Huin-dung-i licking my face.
And Min-guk had draped his heavy leg across mine.
[This grown man….]
I quickly moved Min-guk’s leg away.
After the birthday party ended, I’d come home for the first time in a while and slept in Min-guk’s room, which led to this disaster.
Just then, my phone rang loudly.
“Ugh. Phone… turn it off!!!”
“Jeon Min-guk, wake up and do your morning exercise. Nothing beats fasted cardio for losing weight.”
“Five more minutes!”
I answered the phone, leaving Min-guk tossing and turning behind me.
– Sung-guk! What did I do yesterday?
Mark’s urgent voice came through.
It seemed he didn’t remember the promissory note we’d written together.
“Mark, we made a bet. If I correctly predict whether Ahn Hae-su or Bae Deok-ho becomes the unified candidate for Seoul mayor, you won’t sell Apple stock for ten years.”
– So why did I make that bet! Why! I was planning to sell that stock and buy a Porsche!
“Mark, the unified candidate hasn’t been decided yet. I could be wrong this time too. Then my Porsche is yours.”
– Sigh… really… why did I do something like this when I was drunk?
“Mark, what’s done is done. Just get yourself some hangover soup.”
– Yeah, got it. Sung-guk, but when are you announcing the unified candidate?
“Probably soon.”
I managed to placate Mark before hanging up the phone.
* * *
The weekend ended, and everyday life resumed.
South Korea remained abuzz with the Seoul mayoral candidate unification issue ahead of the Chuseok holidays.
Over the weekend, the unification between candidates Ahn Hae-su and Bae Deok-ho never materialized.
“CEO, Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung said he’d like to meet you this evening.”
“Me?”
“Yes. He contacted us asking if 7 PM at the Samjeon Hotel Chinese Restaurant works.”
“Did he mention why?”
“No.”
Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung wanted to see me again? What was this about?
This time, I couldn’t quite get a read on the situation.
“Go ahead and confirm the appointment.”
“Yes, CEO.”
* * *
I walked into the Samjeon Hotel Chinese Restaurant as planned.
The moment I opened the door, the first person I spotted was Jeon Tae-guk. Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung hadn’t arrived yet.
“Sung-guk, what brings you here?”
“The Chairman asked to see me. What about you?”
“Father said he had something to discuss….”
It seemed Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung was seriously positioning Jeon Tae-guk as his successor.
He appeared to have arranged this meeting to discuss that very matter.
Soon Secretary Yang entered.
“Young Master, Sung-guk. The Seoul mayoral candidate unification was just decided today, so an emergency meeting has been called. It seems the Chairman will have difficulty freeing up time today. My apologies.”
It was a common occurrence—whenever the Seoul mayoral candidate changed, corporations had to adjust their strategies accordingly.
“It’s fine. Let’s just have some jjajangmyeon before we go.”
“Thank you for understanding, Sung-guk.”
Jeon Tae-guk quickly glanced at his phone, then looked at me.
“Sung-guk, they unified behind Bae Deok-ho. Wow… so Ahn Hae-su is really going for the presidential race?”
“We’ll have to wait and see.”
I shrugged my shoulders.
Just then, a message came in from Mark.
– Sung-guk, I really can’t sell the Apple stock for 10 years?
[Mark, I’m saving you here. If you knew the Apple stock price 10 years from now, you’d definitely bow down to me!]
I smiled contentedly and looked at Secretary Yang.
“Secretary Yang, I’ll have the jjajangmyeon with extra noodles, please!”

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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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