I Will Raise This Family to Greatness - Chapter 37

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

Chapter 37
A family meeting was convened.
Kim Mi-young, now as much a part of the family as anyone, was present as well.
Min-guk also claimed his seat at the table.
The reason everyone had gathered was entirely because of me.
Specifically, the matter of my studying abroad.
[Being born this extraordinarily gifted is truly a headache.]
I ate my jjajangmyeon with a listless expression.
Tonight’s meal was special—jjajangmyeon prepared just for me.
Father briefly explained the current situation.
“Secretary Yang suggested that sending Sung-guk to study in the United States might be wise. The Chairman’s children are all going there this time, and he thought Sung-guk could go with them. He said it would be difficult to properly educate a gifted child like Sung-guk domestically.”
Kim Mi-young nodded in agreement.
I glanced sideways at Kim Mi-young’s jjajangmyeon.
[Manager Kim, if you’re not going to finish that, would it be alright if I had a bit more?]
With my growth spurt lately, my stomach felt perpetually empty.
As I stole a look at her noodles, Kim Mi-young smiled warmly and spooned some of her jjajangmyeon onto my plate.
“Sung-guk, eat plenty.”
“Yes, thank you very much.”
I bowed politely and then slurped up the noodles with gusto.
“What do you parents think about this?”
Kim Mi-young glanced carefully at Mother and Father.
“We’d certainly prefer to keep our child with us. But Sister, don’t you think Sung-guk should go to the United States for his future? What if we raise such a genius here and he becomes ordinary?”
[Mom, I’m not a genius. My IQ is only 121. Sigh.]
“What about Sung-guk’s father?”
“So-young is the mother, so she’s naturally more sensitive about education matters. But yesterday, something funny happened—Sung-guk had an accident he hasn’t had in ages.”
“Dad!”
I cried out in protest.
Father chuckled and ruffled my hair.
“Sung-guk is embarrassed.”
[That was supposed to be a secret!]
Laughter erupted from Kim Mi-young and Mother.
I shook my head.
[Adults really are something.]
Adults so often forgot just how sensitive children could be.
I decided to focus on my jjajangmyeon instead. Besides, my mind was already made up about studying abroad.
“Honey, Sung-guk is embarrassed. Stop it.”
“Alright, alright. It’s rare for Sung-guk, who hardly ever makes mistakes, to slip up like that. It reminds me he’s still just a child. I found it endearing, actually.”
[I’m not a child.]
I slurped down my jjajangmyeon and clamped my mouth shut.
“So, Sung-guk’s father is opposed to him studying abroad?”
“I think it’s a bit too early, don’t you? He’s only five years old. At that age, he needs help with everything—getting dressed, bathing. No matter how much Samjeon Group assists, parents are irreplaceable.”
[Dad, I guess I never mentioned it. In my past life, I traveled abroad countless times starting from age five. Of course, my parents weren’t around. But I had a protocol team.]
“Sung-guk’s father feels that way, but I’d hate to miss this opportunity, you know, sister.”
“I understand both of your positions.”
I slurped down my jjajangmyeon noodles.
Kim Mi-young looked at me.
“Sung-guk, what do you think?”
[Hmm…]
I gathered my composure and pondered what Jeon Sung-guk from my past life would have decided.
Since I’d already experienced studying abroad in my previous life, I wasn’t particularly eager about it. And truthfully, I wasn’t the genius they believed me to be.
I was simply an exceptional child because of accumulated experience from my past life.
Under America’s gifted education system, they might hope I’d grow into someone capable of winning a Nobel Prize, but I wasn’t that caliber. This was a cold, rational assessment.
So wouldn’t it be better to spend my childhood in the comfort of my parents’ embrace? Eating plenty of jjajangmyeon and such. Various thoughts crossed my mind.
“Hey, Min-guk! Min-guk, what’s wrong?”
While we were talking, Min-guk had disappeared.
I saw Mother hurrying into the master bedroom.
[What trouble has Min-guk gotten into now?]
Then, a pitiful wail echoed from the master bedroom.
“Waaah— Brother! Brother—”
[Why is he calling for me? How annoying.]
“Min-guk, what’s wrong?”
“Brother. Brother.”
Even as Mother tried to soothe him, Min-guk only cried harder.
[Do I need to step in?]
I set down my fork and walked toward the master bedroom.
Min-guk was crying and rummaging through the dresser drawer that held my clothes.
Mother tried to stop Min-guk.
“Min-guk, what are you doing? Those are your brother’s clothes.”
“Waaah—”
[He’s being so loud.]
Min-guk kept pulling my clothes from the drawer and hiding them under the blanket.
[Min-guk, I can see everything you’re hiding.]
Mother tried to restrain Min-guk, but he pushed her away and continued hiding my clothes.
I quickly approached Min-guk.
[You, there’s a guest here. If you throw a tantrum, your brother will scold you.]
Min-guk’s face was already covered in tears and snot.
“Brother.”
[Why are you looking for me?]
Suddenly, Min-guk wrapped his arms around me tightly, his face still streaked with tears and snot.
[When did this kid get so strong?]
“Let go of me, Min-guk.”
The more I struggled, the tighter he held me.
“Brother. Don’t go.”
“What?”
“Brother. Don’t go.”
[Did you just say that? Brother, don’t study abroad?]
“Brother. Stay here with Min-guk. Don’t go.”
My body went rigid in an instant.
He had hidden my clothes because he was afraid I would leave.
Min-guk held me tight and wouldn’t let go, his hoarse voice continuing to murmur despite his tears.
“Brother. Don’t go. Stay here with Min-guk. Don’t go.”
My chest tightened.
Heat flooded my eyes.
[Why does he have to move me like this!]
In my previous life, whenever I went on short-term training or studied abroad, my younger siblings never cried or tried to stop me. They seemed relieved just to see a competitor disappear before their eyes.
“Sniffle—.”
Min-guk sniffled loudly.
[Damn it.]
I tried to reach for a tissue with one hand, but Min-guk’s grip prevented me.
“Min-guk, let go.”
“No, brother. You can’t go anywhere.”
[This kid, really.]
I had no choice but to respond.
“Min-guk, I’m not going. I’m not going anywhere.”
“Really?”
Min-guk stopped crying and looked up at me with sparkling eyes.
“Brother, really?”
“Yeah. I’m not going.”
I said it firmly.
* * *
Jeon Jae-hyung’s residence in Samseong-dong had a distinctly different atmosphere from the Hannam-dong house.
While Hannam-dong pursued French-style interiors tailored to the Iron Lady’s taste, this place bore Jeon Jae-hyung’s preferences unmistakably.
Modern furniture and Jackson Pollock paintings that Jeon Jae-hyung favored were scattered throughout.
Jackson Pollock paintings were now difficult to find anywhere in the world.
Jeon Jae-hyung was just pouring himself a whiskey.
I heard Secretary Yang entering.
The only thing identical to the Hannam-dong residence was Secretary Yang.
Secretary Yang had also relocated to the neighborhood following Jeon Jae-hyung.
“The interior really reflects your taste, sir.”
“The Hannam-dong house was too comfortable—it wasn’t my style at all.”
“You’ve purchased quite a lot of Jackson Pollock pieces this time. It seems you’re quite fond of them?”
“I prefer modern art to classical. It’s more my taste.”
Jeon Jae-hyung poured himself another glass of whisky and handed it to Secretary Yang.
“You’ve worked hard with the move, Secretary Yang.”
“It’s just part of my job.”
Secretary Yang accepted the glass with a respectful bow of his head.
In truth, there was something he needed to report today.
“Tae-guk and Mi-jin’s studies abroad are progressing well. It appears the Madam will accompany them initially to help them adjust.”
“Of course. Make sure Tae-guk doesn’t cause any trouble.”
“Don’t worry. I’ve already placed a few of his classmates there as friends, and they’ll all report back to us.”
Jeon Jae-hyung nodded in approval.
It had been the same during his own time abroad. His late father, former Chairman Jeon Ju-shin, had similarly planted several “friends” in each place where Jeon Jae-hyung studied, receiving reports from them.
But there was something else on Jeon Jae-hyung’s mind.
“And what about Sung-guk?”
Jeon Jae-hyung’s right eyebrow rose. He seemed far more concerned about this than when hearing about the other children.
“Sung-guk has decided not to go this time.”
“That’s unexpected.”
Jeon Jae-hyung found it completely incomprehensible.
To squander such a golden opportunity.
“Did his parents talk him out of it? Ordinary people always do that, don’t they? They say family is more important, that they need to keep their child close and care for him themselves.”
“Of course, Sung-guk’s parents did have some of those concerns. However, Sung-guk’s mother seemed to have given the matter quite serious consideration. It appeared she had a genuine desire to provide him with a better educational environment.”
“But?”
“It was Sung-guk’s own decision, apparently.”
“You’re telling me you left the decision to a five-year-old?”
“They held a family meeting, I’m told.”
“Hmm….”
Jeon Jae-hyung drained his whisky in one gulp. It was truly incomprehensible.
To throw away such a precious opportunity to leap forward in life.
“Though Sung-guk is indeed a remarkable child, at five years old he still requires considerable parental attention. I believe someone of Sung-guk’s caliber will have plenty of opportunities to study abroad later, so there’s no need to rush.”
“I suppose that’s true. Five years old. He is still young.”
Jeon Jae-hyung swallowed his disappointment.
He believed that the next generation of talent to lead the Samjeon Group would certainly not miss such opportunities in the future.
* * *
After the discussion about studying abroad, Min-guk refused to leave my side.
During meals, when changing clothes, even when going to the restroom—he clung to me like glue.
“Hyung. Are you pooping?”
“Can’t you tell by looking?”
My patience was wearing dangerously thin.
Hngh.
I mustered my last bit of strength and quickly flushed the toilet.
“Hyung, Min-guk needs to go too.”
“You need to use the bathroom too?”
“Yeah.”
I guided Min-guk to the child-sized toilet and sat him down.
“Push.”
“Nngh. Hyung.”
Min-guk strained while gripping my hand tightly.
[My rival has become a clingy little thing.]
I shook my head with a wry smile.
Still, the silver lining was that thanks to him, I could reassess my decisions rationally.
Don’t mistake me—I didn’t abandon my studies abroad just because Min-guk clung to me and cried.
That night, sleeping hand in hand with Min-guk, I realized I’d overlooked something crucial.
It was the Samjeon Group.
If I accepted their sponsorship and went abroad now, I’d remain trapped in the Samjeon Group’s shadow for this lifetime too.
That wasn’t the life I wanted.
What I truly desired was to become South Korea’s greatest in this lifetime through my own efforts.
“Hyung, I’m done.”
Min-guk thrust his backside toward me.
[Is he really asking me to wipe him now?]
“Hyung.”
“Sigh…”
A deep breath escaped from my core.
[Did I really make the right choice giving up studying abroad?]
I pinched my nose with one hand and reached for the tissue.

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