I Will Raise This Family to Greatness - Chapter 436

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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 436
I dragged Ji-hee back home.
“Jeon Ji-hee, you’re banned from visiting Jeon Tae-guk’s place next door for a while.”
“Oppa, isn’t that too much? Tae-guk oppa has been buying me food because I’m a test-taker, you know.”
Ji-hee looked up at me with a furious expression.
“Tae-guk oppa might seem easy to push around, but he’s the heir to the Samjeon Group. And Sam and Adam are exhausted from working late every day—if you keep dropping by unannounced, it won’t help them rest.”
“You always think about your company people more than about what I want, don’t you?”
“I’m doing all this for you! There are three men in that house! Even if you’re still young, you should know better than to wander in and out like that!”
“Hmph.”
Ji-hee snorted and disappeared into her room.
I had a feeling I needed to bring Mother to this house as soon as possible.
* * *
Mother arrived three days earlier than planned in response to my SOS.
Fortunately, Ji-hee had gone to the academy, saying there was a class she wanted to attend.
Mother sighed deeply as she saw how gaunt I’d become in recent days.
“Sung-guk, Ji-hee isn’t listening to you, is she? Even at our house, she’s been causing a fuss about studying. Min-guk has so many fans….”
Was Jeon Ji-hee going through adolescence?
Ji-hee was clearly going through a more sensitive time as a test-taker than I’d expected.
“Mother, does the doorbell ring that often?”
“Once a day. Sometimes twice.”
Just that?
“So I told Ji-hee I’d pay for a reading room membership so she could study there, but she said she’s too sensitive to study in the same space as other people.”
[Jeon Ji-hee has had it easy. Born without hardship and raised like a princess.]
I shook my head.
“Sung-guk, since Ji-hee is sensitive, I’ll stay here for a while and then take her back home when I see the right moment. And I need to take care of my son’s meals too. Look how thin your face has gotten.”
Mother’s cooking….
I’d gone abroad at such a young age, and after coming back to Korea, I’d lived independently for longer, so I’d always missed Mother’s home-cooked meals.
“Mother, I leave a little after 6 in the morning.”
“Yes, I heard from Secretary Kim. Ji-hee eats breakfast and studies at that time too, so I’ll prepare meals to match your schedule. Does Secretary Kim live alone?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll tell Secretary Kim to come eat with us. And try to come home for dinner whenever you can. Don’t buy food outside. The company is close by, right?”
“Sometimes when I’m working, I don’t even have time to eat….”
Mother suddenly patted my bottom.
“My son really has it tough.”
At Mother’s warm words, my heart suddenly swelled with emotion.
My siblings have no idea how hard I’m working… truly, only Mother understood.
And I’m still only 21 years old!
Of course, if you count my previous life, I’m in my sixties, but my heart will always be 21!
I suddenly felt the urge to act childish with Mother.
“Oh, Mother. Did I tell you that Mark and I were selected as Time Magazine’s People of the Year this time and we’re doing a cover shoot?”
“I mentioned it over the phone last time. Your father keeps asking when that Time Magazine issue comes out. He can’t believe our son is going to be in Time Magazine—he brings it up every time he goes to bed.”
“When we do the photo shoot, I’ll make sure to ask exactly when it’ll be published.”
Mother gazed at me with a warm, satisfied expression.
“Has our son really become so famous that he’ll be featured in Time Magazine?”
“Of course. Mom, I’m incredibly wealthy. When the rankings of American entrepreneurs’ assets came out last time, Mark and I were tied for sixth place.”
[Actually, Mom, I also own Bitcoin… and I have a lot of stocks. If TikTok takes off as I expect, I’ll be way richer than Mark.]
I grinned and told Mother all sorts of things.
This time, Mother patted my back.
Of course, when Mother’s hand touched my back, I tensed up a little. Usually when Mother’s hand landed on my back, it meant I was about to get hit.
“I’m so proud of our son.”
“Mom, and…”
I lowered my voice.
“I’m… wealthier than Jeon Tae-guk.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. I have more money than Samjeon. In terms of stock value, anyway.”
Mother hadn’t felt it when I mentioned rankings of the wealthy in America, but when I said I was richer than Samjeon, it finally hit her.
For South Korean people, Samjeon was a more tangible reality than Bill Gates.
“Mom, Jeon Tae-guk inherited everything from birth. But I built all of this myself. With Mark.”
Tears welled up in Mother’s eyes.
“How hard must our Sung-guk have worked to earn all that money… Thinking about how much you’ve suffered, it breaks my heart…”
Only Mother and Father truly understood my struggles.
“Mom, I still love working. It’s fun.”
“I’m so proud. So proud of you, our son. FaceNote is richer than Samjeon, who makes refrigerators and washing machines…”
But I couldn’t let my guard down.
The world changed rapidly day by day, and businesses that were once in the spotlight could become obsolete in an instant.
“Mom, everything I have is in stocks. If the company’s value drops, I’ll be poor again.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
Though that would never happen, I laid it on a bit thick.
When the era of FaceNote passes, the age of YouTube and Instagrim will come, and after that, the age of TikTok will arrive.
An SNS kingdom where the sun never sets.
And I am the emperor of that kingdom!
Mother patted my back again.
“Sung-guk, you know your father and I care most about your health, even more than work.”
“I know.”
“If you lose your health, you lose everything.”
If you lose your health, you lose everything.
There’s only one person in this world who understands this truth so deeply.
Because that person is me—someone who was born as the heir to the Samjeon Group and died right before inheriting the chairman’s position.
“Mom, don’t worry. I exercise regularly… and I’m eating my meals on schedule.”
“That’s right, our son doesn’t give me a single worry… but Min-guk and Ji-hee, they both require so much attention.”
“Mother, Min-guk and Ji-hee will mature in time.”
“If only that were true, I’d have nothing left to wish for.”
Mother squeezed my hand tightly.
Now that she had passed forty, fine lines were beginning to appear around her eyes.
Gray hairs had multiplied noticeably near her ears.
When had Mother aged so much?
Watching only my own growth, I realized I had neglected to notice my parents growing older all this time.
[Mother, in this life I’m going to live a very long time. So you and Father must live a very long time too.]
* * *
Air Force One.
The term referred to the United States Air Force aircraft carrying the American President.
Right now, I was aboard Air Force One with Barack Obama, heading to the United States immediately after the Nuclear Security Summit concluded.
White clouds drifted past the window.
We were probably somewhere over the Pacific Ocean by now.
The Nuclear Security Summit had ended successfully, and both Barack Obama and the Chairman had obtained what they desired.
North Korea had made clear its refusal to attend the Nuclear Security Summit, and the United States had issued a warning message that it would impose economic sanctions on North Korea for threatening global security.
As always, North Korea responded by declaring it would turn South Korea and the United States into a sea of fire.
Tension had permeated the atmosphere from before the Nuclear Security Summit even began, and given South Korea’s nature as a nation where security determines national destiny, it was only natural that conservatives had rallied.
Barack Obama offered me a glass of champagne.
“Sung-guk, thanks to you the conference went well.”
“The Chairman was satisfied as well.”
In any case, South Korea would maintain its government, and so would Barack Obama.
“I need to start scheduling debates with the Republican presidential candidate soon.”
“As the YouTube operator, I’ll broadcast the debates fairly, but don’t forget that I always support Barack. Public opinion is favorable, so this election should go smoothly for you.”
“I appreciate the support from a Korean without voting rights. Sung-guk, are you really not considering naturalization to the United States? The American government would welcome someone like you with open arms.”
“Barack, I’m already serving in the military in Korea. It seems too late to make that decision now.”
I declined tactfully.
“You’re certainly stubborn. Have some champagne and rest.”
“You should rest too, Barack.”
I took a sip of champagne.
Thanks to my work interpreting and coordinating opinions between Barack and the Chairman throughout the Nuclear Security Summit, I had been granted permission to stay in the United States for a full month.
Normally, given my military status, such extended overseas stays were not permitted except in special circumstances.
It suggested that my role at the Nuclear Security Summit had been quite significant.
[Without me, both Barack and the Chairman would have been in trouble.]
I drained the champagne in one gulp.
Then I looked out the window again.
Numerous schedules awaited me in the United States.
* * *
I stood before Mark’s house in Silicon Valley after a long time.
Mark arrived in the United States a day earlier than me, bringing the pregnant Lim Mi-mi with him.
Ding dong!
The moment the doorbell rang, Mark opened the door.
“Sung-guk, welcome. The flight wasn’t too tiring, was it?”
“It was a bit exhausting.”
“You’re staying at our place tonight, right?”
“Of course.”
Mark’s neighbor’s house contract had been cancelled a few months ago.
To be precise, the contract had expired, and Jeon Tae-guk and I decided not to renew it.
There was only one reason.
Mark had decided to move after getting married. He was searching for a house with a yard where the children could play.
As Mark walked inside, he kept complaining about one thing after another.
“Sung-guk, I never knew morning sickness could be this terrifying.”
“Lim Mi-mi, is your morning sickness severe?”
“Well… Mi-mi keeps craving food constantly. But whenever I smell anything, my stomach turns and I can’t bear it.”
I suppressed my laughter.
It seemed Mark was the one experiencing proper morning sickness instead of Lim Mi-mi.
“Sung-guk, don’t laugh.”
“Mark, you’ve lost some weight. You’d look great on a magazine cover though….”
Just then, Lim Mi-mi poked her head out from the kitchen. Her face, which had looked skeletal the last time I saw her, had become round and full.
“Boss, Mark’s losing weight while I’m gaining it. Our wedding photos are going to be a disaster.”
“Then have the wedding after the baby is born.”
“I wanted to do that too, but my parents said the baby is most comfortable when it’s still in the womb, and that having the wedding after birth would be difficult. So I’m just going to go ahead with it now. And Mom says the weight stays the same even after giving birth anyway. Oh, Mark’s in such a state that I ordered pizza delivery. That’s okay with you, boss?”
“Of course.”
Soon the ordered pizza arrived, and Mark finally came to his senses after taking a sip of beer.
“I can’t eat anything except this place’s pizza and beer.”
I suppressed my laughter and took a bite of pizza.
“This place’s pepperoni pizza really is the best. I’ve been missing this taste.”
Then Mark suddenly looked at me with a serious expression.
“Sung-guk….”
“Why the sudden change?”
“I’ve been thinking about something. About our FaceNote.”
A bad premonition washed over me.
“There’s been a lot of talk about selling the company since we went public.”
Surely not?
“Sung-guk, I’m thinking of just handing over all my shares and… once Mi-mi gives birth, maybe I’ll just focus on raising the kid and managing the household.”
“Mark….”
Even if Mark sold all his FaceNote shares that he currently owned, he could live comfortably for the rest of his life. Not only that, but his children would be fine too.
But I didn’t think now was the right time.
FaceNote had just gone public, and the stock price would only rise from here.
But Mark, the core developer and my business partner, dropping out? It was unthinkable.
“Mark, are you serious?”
“I’ve been thinking about it while dealing with morning sickness lately, and I’m just not the type who fits well into corporate life.”
That’s when it happened.
Lim Mi-mi grabbed a thick magazine from behind and smacked Mark across the back.
“Mark! I absolutely cannot stand the sight of a man sitting at home watching kids! If you got married and started a family, you should be figuring out how to earn money and feed your family. Where do you get off talking about watching kids!”
“Mi-mi, don’t be angry. I was just saying it.”
Mark quickly backed down.
And I gave Lim Mi-mi a silent thumbs up in my mind.
Whether it was North Korea or South Korea, women were always strong.

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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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