I Will Raise This Family to Greatness - Chapter 461

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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 461
The Seoul National University Main Gate came into view.
Memories of my university entrance ceremony from my past life began to surface, piece by piece.
Back then, I had gone to the entrance ceremony alone, trying my best to hide the fact that I was a Samjeon Group heir.
I wore the most modest clothes I could find. Even my watch was nothing particularly expensive.
Yet after the ceremony ended, when we gathered together, people seemed to think I came from a wealthy family.
I was wearing the cheapest Rolex model, but when the kids ordered such pathetic appetizers, I simply added a few more dishes and paid with my card—that’s all it took for them to form that impression.
Seeing my old school after so long stirred up complicated emotions.
“Sung-guk, what are you thinking about?”
“I was just wondering what Seoul National University is like. After all, I’ve only ever attended Harvard, and I dropped out from there too.”
At my words, Jeon Tae-guk’s eyes narrowed.
“Sung-guk, please don’t say things like that except when it’s just us. Other people will think it’s incredibly tactless.”
“But hyung, you talk about the Samjeon Family the same way when you’re with us.”
“Whether it’s you or Ji-hee, you both seem to take your accomplishments far too lightly.”
“People usually don’t think much about what they’re born with. Everyone assumes that’s just how things are.”
In my past life, I had never known poverty.
I thought single-room apartments only existed in documentary programs.
But in this life, I was born and raised in such a place.
Indeed, people tend to take lightly what they have never experienced.
Just then, I spotted our parents’ car and Min-guk’s van arriving ahead of us in the distance.
“Min-guk must have dressed well for this.”
“He probably wore what he picked out on Sunday.”
Jeon Tae-guk adjusted my jacket for me.
“No matter what you wear, Jeon Sung-guk always looks impressive.”
Unable to resist Jeon Tae-guk’s insistence, I had reluctantly put on a suit. On top of that, I was wearing a Rolex, and even had my hair done by a visiting hair designer.
I didn’t think we went this far even when I was doing the Time Magazine photoshoot.
Finally, the car that Jeon Tae-guk and I were in pulled into the parking lot.
Jeon Tae-guk checked his face in the mirror one more time.
“Hyung, let’s get out. Everyone’s waiting.”
“Right, I know. Oh, I need to grab the flowers.”
Jeon Tae-guk and I each held a bouquet in one hand as we opened the car door.
At that same moment, I heard women’s screams ringing in my ears.
“Kyaaaaa!”
[Here we go again…]
I was about to shrug my shoulders and touch my jacket collar when I realized these screams weren’t directed at me.
Usually, screams like this would be for me, wouldn’t they?
Looking closer, the women were screaming at Min-guk, who had just stepped out of the car.
“It’s Jeon Min-guk!”
“Min-guk, look over here!”
“Wow! His face is so small!”
“Min-guk! Sister!!!”
Min-guk stood surrounded by bodyguards, grinning widely as he waved at the fans who had already gathered to wait for him.
Exactly 2 centimeters shorter than me.
And with less refined features. Of course, compared to me!
But his smiling face did have a certain cute charm to it.
“Sung-guk, Min-guk really does look handsome in that suit.”
“For someone from our family, he’s not bad-looking.”
Just then, a reporter shouted.
“It’s CEO Jeon Sung-guk!”
And then murmurs erupted from all around.
[Finally, they’ve recognized me.]
My shoulders lifted slightly, and Min-guk walked toward us.
“Hyung!”
In that instant, the Seoul National University parking lot filled with screams from women.
* * *
– The Jeon Sung-guk and Jeon Min-guk brothers who heated up today’s Seoul National University entrance ceremony!
– Global entrepreneur CEO Jeon Sung-guk and Jeon Min-guk of Sevens. And even Jeon Tae-guk, executive director of Samjeon! Today’s Seoul National University entrance ceremony was a frenzy no less intense than an idol concert!
Jeon Tae-guk casually showed me articles about us scrolling in real-time on his phone.
“Sung-guk, the photos came out well, didn’t they?”
“Well, I always look pretty much the same.”
“Not you—me! I can definitely tell the makeup effort paid off.”
“A little bit, yeah.”
Jeon Tae-guk was already seeing the effects of the makeup he’d applied since morning.
“But the entrance ceremony is so boring… when does it end?”
“It should be over soon. Hyung, smile. The reporters are here.”
“Right.”
Jeon Tae-guk forced a smile, and the camera flashes from the reporters surrounding us finally ceased as the entrance ceremony concluded.
We went down to the auditorium and handed a bouquet to Ji-hee.
But Ji-hee’s face wasn’t bright.
Jeon Tae-guk cheerfully handed her the bouquet.
“Ji-hee, congratulations on your admission.”
“Sigh… really… I already stand out because I’m young, and now with my older brothers too. I have a feeling my university life won’t be easy.”
I gripped Ji-hee’s shoulder firmly.
“Ji-hee, since you’re a minor and can’t drink anyway, don’t even think about going to welcome parties and such. Just come home early and study for the bar exam.”
“In the entire world, you’re probably the only older brother who would give such a blessing on an entrance ceremony day.”
“And in the entire world, you’re probably the only person who has me as an older brother, so just accept it.”
“Really….”
Ji-hee shook her head and handed the bouquet back entirely to Jeon Tae-guk.
“Hyung, please take this home for us. I have a major class.”
“Don’t they usually not have classes on the first day?”
“Even if I don’t attend class, I should at least greet the professor and get the curriculum for upcoming lectures. Oppa, aren’t you being too careless with university?”
“But I still graduated, didn’t I? That’s what matters.”
Jeon Tae-guk seemed satisfied with his university graduation.
Of course, that was only because I had done my best to make it happen.
Just then, a young male student approached Ji-hee with a smile.
“Are you Jeon Ji-hee?”
“Yes.”
“I’m Kim Young-min, a second-year law student. There’s a freshman welcome gathering after class today—do you have time?”
I, Min-guk, and Jeon Tae-guk all simultaneously crossed our arms while looking at Kim Young-min.
And we waited silently for Ji-hee’s answer.
“I’m still a minor, so…”
“I know. You got a perfect score on the college entrance exam this year, right? The youngest freshman here. Oh, and… are these those famous older brothers?”
Only then did Kim Young-min look at us with an awkward expression.
“I’m Jeon Sung-guk, Ji-hee’s eldest brother.”
“Oh, hello.”
I offered my hand for a handshake and gripped Kim Young-min’s hand firmly. As firmly as I could.
Min-guk greeted him next.
“Hello, I’m Jeon Min-guk. I’m Ji-hee’s second-oldest brother.”
“Oh, yes. Hello. I’m a fan of Sevens.”
Kim Young-min shook hands with Jeon Min-guk, and Jeon Tae-guk extended his hand last.
“I’m Jeon Tae-guk, Executive Director of Samjeon Group, whom Ji-hee considers on equal footing with her biological brothers.”
“Yes… I already know of you all since you’re all famous people. It’s an honor to meet you like this.”
At the same time, I could see a vein bulging on Jeon Tae-guk’s forehead.
[Jeon Tae-guk, ease up on the grip.]
After finishing the handshake, Kim Young-min quickly withdrew his hand and looked back at Ji-hee with a reddened face.
“Ji-hee, if you’re busy, you don’t have to attend.”
[Right, good thinking. Young-min, our Ji-hee is busy.]
At that moment, Ji-hee answered in a cheerful voice.
“I can’t drink alcohol, but would it be okay if I attended?”
“Huh?”
Kim Young-min glanced at us instead.
“Well, that is…”
“Don’t worry about my brothers. What time should I go, and where?”
Jeon Tae-guk hurriedly interjected.
“Ji-hee, didn’t we agree to have dinner with the family tonight?”
“Oh… I forgot about that.”
Kim Young-min quickly waved his hand.
“Ji-hee, if you don’t have time, it’s fine. Today we’re just doing a simple welcome ceremony, and we’ll have a formal one again next week. Attend that instead.”
“Hmm… let me think about it. Where are you having it?”
“Today it’s at six o’clock at Grandmother’s Pajeon Restaurant on Nokdu Street.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
At that moment, Jeon Tae-guk interjected again.
“Grandmother’s Pajeon Restaurant?”
“Yes, well….”
Kim Young-min answered somewhat flustered.
“A welcome reception for Seoul National University freshmen, and you’re saying it’s at a pajeon place?”
“Well, that’s… the seniors pool their money together to treat us, so… we don’t have much to spare.”
“According to recent statistics, 30% of Seoul National University freshmen are from Gangnam….”
Jeon Tae-guk seemed to have looked up the statistics already.
“There are students like that, but I’m not one of them. I’m from Haenam. I rent a room near Ssuk Gogae. During winter break, I worked hard at tutoring to save up money so I could treat the incoming freshmen today at this welcome reception.”
Kim Young-min answered brightly.
[Seeing a poor college student brings back memories of eating bananas in a tiny room when I was young….]
Jeon Tae-guk furrowed his brow and looked at Kim Young-min.
“I was planning to eat dinner with Ji-hee tonight, but it seems we should all eat together.”
Could it be?
“Are you the sophomore class president or something like that?”
“Yes… sir.”
“I was planning to eat at Samjeon Hotel with Ji-hee, but that won’t work. I’ll invite all the freshmen attending the welcome reception to Samjeon Hotel instead. Ji-hee just got into Seoul National University, so I should get to know her friends and understand their drinking habits.”
Ji-hee stared at Jeon Tae-guk with wide eyes, her jaw clenched tight.
“Brother, that seems like overkill. Just let me have dinner with Mom and Dad today. I’ll attend the welcome reception next week.”
At that moment, Jeon Min-guk stepped forward.
“Ji-hee, what Tae-guk said isn’t entirely without merit. You got into Seoul National University at such a young age and are studying there, yet you’re going to a pajeon place? And Mom and Dad would want to know the students you’ll be studying with.”
“You haven’t even gone to college yourself.”
“I don’t need to have experienced it. I have ears to listen with.”
Ji-hee now turned her desperate gaze toward me, her last hope for reason.
[That’s right, it’s my turn to step in now.]
I tilted my head and looked at Kim Young-min.
“Young-min, let’s hold the welcome reception simply at Samjeon Hotel today. Don’t worry about the money. Money is something Tae-guk and I have plenty of.”
I shrugged my shoulders and looked down at Ji-hee.
[Ji-hee, your brother’s pretty cool, right?]
* * *
The shuttle bus pulled up to the entrance of Samjeon Hotel.
As the bus stopped, students poured out, and professors’ faces appeared as well.
Jeon Tae-guk received the student roster from Kim Young-min and quickly handed it to Secretary Park Sung-hee.
In less than half a day, the list of attending students and professors was secured, and a shuttle bus was immediately reserved.
A small banquet hall at Samjeon Hotel was booked, tables were set up, and all the food was prepared.
In the lobby, Min-guk, our parents, Jeon Tae-guk, and I prepared to greet them.
Secretary Kim Mi-so and Secretary Park Sung-hee assisted us from behind.
Secretary Kim Mi-so whispered to me with a somewhat worried expression.
“Chairman, I wish I had been there this morning to stop this. I think the best thing is to help Ji-hee live a normal college life.”
“Secretary Kim, Ji-hee is the youngest person to pass the exam and scored a perfect on the College Entrance Exam. And she has me and Min-guk as her older brothers. She’s already been exposed to the media multiple times. For someone like Ji-hee, living an ordinary university life is inherently difficult. Rather, by making Ji-hee’s situation clear from the start, we can prevent strange people from approaching her and help her have a smooth university experience.”
[Secretary Kim, this is all from my own experience.]
In my previous life, I tried to live frugally through university and hid the fact that I was the heir to Samjeon from my ordinary friends.
But as I naturally bonded with a few close friends, I inadvertently let slip that I was part of the Samjeon Family.
After that, classmates who barely knew my name started approaching me with false friendliness, and some even openly called me a corrupt chaebol heir and said I was insufferable.
This level of treatment was common enough that I could tolerate it.
But years later, when a classmate I had shared drinks and hardships with became a reporter and wrote an article about me, I felt a deep sense of betrayal.
Reflecting on that experience, for Ji-hee’s circumstances not to become a burden on her, being open about it like this might actually be better than hiding it.
Of course, it would take a while for Ji-hee to understand her older brother’s deeper intentions….

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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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