I Will Raise This Family to Greatness - Chapter 443

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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 443
The reception’s atmosphere deepened as the evening progressed.
The families had already returned to the hotel.
Dennis had come straight from filming all day, yet he spent the entire wedding capturing every moment of Mark and Lim Mi-mi’s ceremony on camera.
“Dennis, are you going to record every single second of this?”
“It’s my wedding gift to Mark.”
[Now that’s a wedding gift worth its weight in gold. A wedding video shot by Dennis, who’ll become a renowned film director someday….]
I glanced at Dennis.
“Dennis, how’s the film production going?”
“It’s challenging, but I’m doing my best, investor.”
Dennis smiled softly.
“I was just asking out of curiosity.”
“As a friend? Or as an investor?”
“Obviously… the former.”
I shrugged my shoulders.
Though truthfully, that wasn’t entirely honest.
“Anyway, I can’t help it. Sung-guk, I’m so grateful you gave me this opportunity… I’ll do my absolute best with this project.”
Just then, Mark waved at us.
“Dennis, Sung-guk!”
Mark rushed toward us with a glass in hand.
“Come on, everyone have another round!”
“We’ve already had plenty.”
When I refused the glass, Mark thrust it into my hands anyway.
“Sung-guk, once you go back to Korea, who knows when we’ll see each other again.”
“I suppose that’s unavoidable….”
I accepted the glass Mark offered.
“By the way, where did Jessie go?”
Dennis subtly searched for Jessie.
“The White House is chaotic these days because of the election.”
“I suppose so….”
Dennis seemed somewhat disappointed.
[His taste in women hasn’t changed from before to now.]
I patted Dennis on the shoulder.
“Dennis, once you succeed as a film director, women will line up for you. Focus on your film! This is naturally something I’m saying as your investor.”
“Got it, Sung-guk.”
Dennis tilted his glass with a wistful expression.
Now only our closest friends remained, and somehow the sun had set, leaving a night sparkling with stars.
Everyone was pleasantly tipsy, pleasantly caught up in the festive mood.
At that moment, Jeon Tae-guk stood up from his seat.
Jeon Tae-guk raised a champagne flute like some great Gatsby and grabbed the microphone. Anyone could see he was thoroughly intoxicated.
[Jeon Tae-guk, what kind of trouble are you cooking up now?]
But I had no power to stop him.
“Ah. Ah. Microphone test. Microphone test.”
Jeon Tae-guk checked the microphone status and then looked at Mark.
It seemed he wanted to offer Mark some words of blessing for his marriage.
[That’s right, Jeon Tae-guk. You’re getting older now too, so go ahead and give Mark some well-wishes.]
Jeon Tae-guk brought the microphone close and began to speak.
“Hello everyone. I’m Jeon Tae-guk, Mark’s longtime friend from Korea.”
Those who already knew Jeon Tae-guk well—Mark’s and Lim Mi-mi’s acquaintances—applauded.
Pleased, Jeon Tae-guk gazed at Mark.
“Mark… I sincerely congratulate you on your marriage.”
“Thanks, Tae-guk.”
“So I’ve prepared a wedding gift for you.”
“Tae-guk, you’ve already prepared this entire wedding for us. We don’t need a wedding gift!”
Mark exclaimed, but Jeon Tae-guk made a slashing gesture with his hand.
“What are you talking about! I have to give a wedding gift!”
All eyes turned toward Jeon Tae-guk.
Everyone was curious what kind of gift a South Korean tycoon would give to an American billionaire.
“Mark, about your honeymoon….”
[Surely he’s not saying he’ll pay for the honeymoon?]
But Mark and Lim Mi-mi had already decided to take a brief honeymoon to Rome, Italy.
It was a place Lim Mi-mi had wanted to visit after watching Roman Holiday.
“Tae-guk, we’ve already decided to go to Rome. We’re flying to Rome tomorrow evening.”
“I know. That’s why I had this thought. What if our close friends came along on the honeymoon? How much happier would that be… that kind of thought.”
[Jeon Tae-guk, please don’t think!]
I was burning with anxiety, and Secretary Kim Mi-so sitting beside me tensed up as well.
“Sir, surely you’re not going to…”
And at that moment, Jeon Tae-guk opened his mouth.
“All our close friends are going to Rome together tomorrow too! Mark, congratulations on your marriage!”
* * *
– Mark and Jeon Sung-guk on their honeymoon together.
– Mark and Jeon Sung-guk sightseeing at an art museum.
– Mark and Jeon Sung-guk tossing coins into the Trevi Fountain and making wishes.
– A tender moment of Mark and Jeon Sung-guk affectionately placing their hands into the Mouth of Truth together.
Lim Mi-mi, whose condition wasn’t good due to her pregnancy, spent almost the entire honeymoon at the hotel.
Secretary Kim Mi-so also stayed with Lim Mi-mi for most of the itinerary, just in case.
As a result, only Mark, Jeon Tae-guk, and I were able to leisurely enjoy sightseeing in Rome.
But this became the source of trouble.
After Mark’s honeymoon ended, paparazzi who followed Mark and me flooded the internet with articles, and since he was clearly married, only photos of him and me alone circulating became the subject of scandal.
– Mark’s marriage to hide his relationship with Jeon Sung-guk?!
– CEO Jeon Sung-guk, has Mark been the reason for the quiet scandals since Emma Watson?
– CEO Jeon Sung-guk’s female fans are actually cheering for the two of you as a couple!
Jeon Tae-guk had been pacing dizzily through the living room since morning.
“Sung-guk, does this make any sense? The three of us—you, Mark, and me—we all went everywhere together… so why are they leaving me out and only pairing you with Mark?”
“Brother, I’m even more upset. I could like men too, you know. But Mark is so ugly. I have standards too.”
That was precisely where my anger lay.
Spreading rumors about my sexual identity was something I could endure as a public figure, but Mark as my supposed partner? Absolutely not!!!
Yet Jeon Tae-guk was just as furious as I was.
“Sung-guk, anyway, you need to clarify this quickly. I’ll have Park Secretary release all the photos that include me. I was there too—how is this even fair!”
Jeon Tae-guk’s anger stemmed from being completely edited out of the photos.
“Sung-guk, and you know what would help you shake off this rumor? Start dating someone quickly.”
“If I start dating right after this rumor, everyone will say the same thing. That I’m dating a woman to cover up the rumor. I don’t care about that anymore.”
I stood up from my seat.
It hadn’t even been a full day since we returned to Korea after attending Mark’s honeymoon.
Fortunately, Mother, who had arrived in Korea first, had taken Ji-hee—who had been occupying our house—back to the family home.
“Brother, aren’t you going to work?”
“What about you?”
“I’m on vacation until today.”
“I’m taking the day off too. Sung-guk, what do you want for breakfast? How about bone marrow soup? After eating all that heavy food abroad, I’m craving something like this.”
“That sounds perfect.”
Times like these called for comfort food to settle the stomach.
After all, rumors were practically an inescapable fate for celebrities.
There’s even a saying: if you can’t avoid it, enjoy it.
But still! Regardless! Mark is absolutely not my type!!!
* * *
Ji-hee, who had taken the high school equivalency exam in early August and attended Mark’s wedding, had passed the entire exam with top marks.
Now, if she just took the College Scholastic Ability Test, Ji-hee could get into Seoul National University, her dream school.
Of course, the problem was that Min-guk had moved into our house, complaining that he couldn’t even breathe properly at home because of all the studying.
And Sevens, as expected, was struggling to gain traction among the idol groups under major talent agencies.
While their YouTube videos were gaining popularity overseas, they hadn’t become a major issue domestically.
When I arrived home from work, Min-guk greeted me.
“Brother, welcome home.”
“Why aren’t you at the dormitory?”
“The CEO told everyone to take a break until we start preparing for the second album.”
Min-guk’s voice lacked energy.
The first album’s performance had been ambiguous at best.
It was neither a success nor a failure—stuck in that vague middle ground.
“Still, the fact that they’re preparing a second album means things are going okay. It’s not like new idol groups are popping up left and right these days.”
“Honestly, who knows. They might disband us after all this preparation.”
“Min-guk, I’m an investor too. You’ve already recouped the initial investment. Album sales were relatively strong, and you did that Samjeon Electronics commercial.”
Min-guk still couldn’t straighten his shoulders.
“I really thought that once I debuted, I’d be like a major talent agency idol—buying my parents a new car right away, getting them a house, all that stuff.”
“Min-guk, we already have everything we need. Don’t worry about it.”
“You’re impossible to talk to, hyung. I’m speaking metaphorically. I thought the compensation for all the sweat I’ve shed would be visible right away, hyung!”
[Families never understand each other anyway, Min-guk.]
And there was a way to console Min-guk in moments like this.
“Min-guk, let’s grab something delicious for dinner.”
“Hyung, I want chicken.”
[That mood shift was fast, wasn’t it.]
“Once we start preparing the second album, you’ll need to diet properly again. You know that, right?”
“Yeah! Hyung, and I want beer too!”
[Feels like just yesterday he was crawling around in diapers.]
Min-guk was an adult now.
Min-guk ordered chicken and turned on the TV.
As an idol, he still mainly watched music broadcasts.
Just then, a commercial for a hip-hop competition aired on the screen.
– We’re looking for the artists who will lead South Korea’s hip-hop scene. Now, show us your skills! Give Me The Money!
I could see Min-guk’s eyes sparkling.
Actually, before establishing himself as the main vocalist, Min-guk had been a rapper who even received direct instruction from Eminem.
I subtly probed Min-guk’s thoughts.
“Min-guk, what do you think about giving that a shot?”
“Me, me?”
“Yeah. You were always good at rapping.”
“That’s mostly where underground rappers compete.”
“So what? If you have the skills, it doesn’t matter if you’re an idol. Honestly, they’re always criticizing idol rappers there for being terrible, so it could actually be a chance to show your real skills and your members’ abilities too. It’d boost your group’s recognition.”
I cast my line.
Now it was up to Min-guk to bite.
“Hyung, I think I need to talk to the members about this later.”
“Sure, let’s just eat chicken for now.”
I picked up my phone and sent a message to Bang Mu-hyuk.
– Sir, if Min-guk or anyone else places in the top three at the Give Me The Money audition, let’s release the second album. What do you think?
Actually, Bang Mu-hyuk had contacted me a few days ago.
There was no energy in Bang Mu-hyuk’s voice, and after finishing my schedule, I headed to his office in Nonhyeon-dong.
Bang Mu-hyuk greeted me with slumped shoulders.
“Sir, why do you look so exhausted?”
“Sung-guk, since you’re an investor too, I’ll be honest with you.”
His face said I’d probably figure it out anyway.
“Honestly, our situation isn’t good right now. Sevens has done well for us, but we’ve barely recovered our investment. We’re getting popular on YouTube, but what does it matter if a Korean group gets attention overseas?”
[Things will change going forward, Bang Mu-hyuk.]
I couldn’t tell him about the future, and even if I did, it was obvious he wouldn’t believe me in his current state.
“I told the kids to go home and rest for now. But I can’t guarantee a second album.”
Bang Mu-hyuk finally laid bare what was weighing on him.
Of course, if I said I’d invest my own money, everything would be solved.
But that wasn’t the narrative I wanted for Sevens.
Starting from nothing, overcoming hardship, and achieving success—that was the miracle story of a small talent agency I envisioned!
“Sir, I’ll think about it too. Please don’t worry too much.”
“Yeah, maybe I’m just exhausted. I’ll pull myself together.”
And we parted ways.
Bang Mu-hyuk took quite some time to reply to the message I sent.
– After meeting you, I felt like I only complained. I reflected a lot that day. And I can’t tell the kids who’ve worked so hard that we’re stopping after one album. Truth is, I was planning to release a second one. Still, Give Me The Money seems pretty good, doesn’t it? Our kids have top-tier talent!
Bang Mu-hyuk had clearly organized his thoughts in the meantime.
Just then, Min-guk, who was tearing into a chicken leg, shouted.
“Hyung! The director says we should try Give Me The Money!”
“So he was watching TV too!”
“Hyung, is this what they call destiny?”
[Min-guk, destiny is something you create.]
I smiled softly.

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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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