I Will Raise This Family to Greatness - Chapter 6

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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 6
When I whimpered, Mother scooped me into her arms.
“Sung-guk, are you sleepy?”
There it was again—that demand for silence.
Was this what it meant to live as a subordinate?
Constantly ground down by competitions rigged against you, subjected to unfair treatment with no recourse but to accept it.
I exhaled a weary sigh.
Perhaps this was the life I would have to grow accustomed to in this incarnation.
Click.
The door swung open, and a familiar woman entered with a radiant smile.
I recognized her instantly.
Lim Sun-mi.
Currently South Korea’s finest actress—a master of melodramatic performances that wrung tears from audiences.
And I knew her secret as well.
She was in a sponsorship arrangement with Jeon Jae-hyung, the vice chairman of Samjeon Group and my father.
I lifted the corners of my mouth slightly as I regarded Lim Sun-mi.
[Long time no see, Sister Sun-mi.]
Lim Sun-mi’s face brightened as she spotted me, and she approached with a luminous smile.
“So you’re the model today. How did you become so adorable?”
As Lim Sun-mi reached to pick me up, Jae-hee’s Mother blocked her with her body.
“He’s just an alternate. The lead today is our Jae-hee.”
Jae-hee’s Mother thrust her son—whose eyes blinked vacantly—toward Lim Sun-mi.
Lim Sun-mi lifted Jae-hee and forced a smile.
“My, you’re lovely too.”
Father had shared many stories about Lim Sun-mi, including this one.
“She’s had her nose done multiple times—absolutely hates anyone touching it.”
Jeon Ju-shin, the founding chairman and first leader of Samjeon Group.
My father, Jeon Jae-hyung, succeeded him as chairman.
True to his nature—having spent his entire life rotting beneath the iron will of his predecessor—Father had spent time with countless women: renowned actresses and women of unknown origin alike, right up until his retirement.
Lim Sun-mi was among them.
Lim Sun-mi had peaked in her late teens and early twenties, after which her career stalled.
But she experienced a resurgence in her early thirties, winning awards at various film festivals for her emotional performances.
Of course, behind that resurgence stood Father, Vice Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung.
How did I know all this?
Even accounting for my regression, 1992 made me only ten years old.
Most people don’t truly understand what a conglomerate chairman is like.
What they know amounts to nothing more than the fantastical portrayals in television dramas or caricatured characters.
Father, Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung, was an exceptional manager of Samjeon Group.
During crises, he restructured the company boldly and invested generously in specialized sectors.
Employee benefits and salaries far exceeded those of competitors, earning the company a spot on the list of most desirable employers for ten consecutive years.
Contrary to this public image, Jeon Jae-hyung was garbage as both a father and a man.
This was precisely why I, unlike my father, had built an impenetrable wall when it came to relationships with women.
Father would often speak openly about the celebrities he was seeing, even in front of us.
“You know Lim Sun-mi, right?”
“Yes, Dad. Sun-mi is really pretty.”
Back then, I was quite fond of Lim Sun-mi, whose image on television was pristine and refined.
Despite my young age, whenever I watched her commercials or acting, my heart would flutter.
“She’s pretty enough, but she’s had multiple nose surgeries and absolutely hates anyone touching that area.”
“How do you know that, Dad?”
I asked innocently, and Father gazed at me with an enigmatic smile.
“Sung-guk, once you reach my position, you’ll know everything too. Understand?”
“….”
At ten years old, I didn’t understand what he meant, but I nodded anyway.
* * *
Now, standing before me was Lim Sun-mi, holding Jae-hee.
Jae-hee squirmed irritably, his entire body restless.
Lim Sun-mi forced a smile, but her face was tilted sharply backward, her brows furrowed.
Her nose bridge was concealed beneath heavy makeup—it appeared the surgery had been done not long ago.
“For today’s shoot, I need to bond with the child. He seems to be shy around strangers, ma’am.”
“It’s probably because the film set is unfamiliar. Let me try to soothe him.”
The moment those words left her lips, the Nanny rose and took Jae-hee into her arms.
Only then did Jae-hee settle down, though his face remained full of displeasure.
I found myself contemplating how Jae-hee might manage to land a solid punch right on Lim Sun-mi’s nose.
[Though he probably wouldn’t understand the instruction….]
Knock. Knock.
The Waiting Room door opened, and a familiar face poked his head inside.
It was Secretary Yang.
Secretary Yang, my father’s Secretary Yang.
The Secretary Yang family had been handling all the miscellaneous affairs of our household since my grandfather’s time.
In particular, Secretary Yang had always been exceptionally fond of me.
I cried out in delight.
[Secretary Yang! It’s me!]
Secretary Yang glanced at me and smiled.
“The child doesn’t seem shy at all and smiles so readily.”
“Our boy is quite gentle.”
Mother bowed her head in gratitude.
Wait—if Secretary Yang is here, that means Father is making a move?
I immediately spotted the figure standing in the open doorway.
Tall frame, always impeccably dressed. Hair neatly parted and combed back in a 2-to-8 ratio. Not a trace of belly fat despite his middle age, and his posture was rigidly upright.
It was my father, Jeon Jae-hyung.
[Father! Father!]
I steadied myself with one hand while waving the other.
Mother quickly scooped me into her arms.
“Sung-guk, isn’t it nice having so many people around? I’ll bring you out more often from now on.”
[Sigh. This isn’t what I meant….]
To them, my cries and gestures were nothing but cute baby antics.
Secretary Yang said something to Lim Sun-mi, and the two of them slipped out of the Waiting Room together.
[So today’s the day….]
Father had once brought me to Lim Sun-mi’s commercial shoot after learning that I had feelings for her.
Father introduced me to Lim Sun-mi.
Lim Sun-mi gently caressed my cheeks a few times with her hand, then disappeared with Father, returning a short while later with her makeup washed off.
In the meantime, I spent time playing ball with Secretary Yang on the Film Set.
Soon the Waiting Room door opened, and the Perm-haired Assistant Director entered with an awkward expression.
“Ma’am, it appears the shoot will be delayed a bit.”
“But you said you’d have it done by the time our Jae-hee needs to eat and sleep?”
“I apologize. It’s just that Lim Sun-mi isn’t feeling quite well.”
[What a lie….]
Lim Sun-mi was quite busy in the back seat of Father’s car.
Since Father was in a hurry, it wouldn’t take long.
I shook my head side to side.
The middle-aged Nanny set Jae-hee down beside me for a moment.
“Ma’am, I need to use the Restroom urgently. Could you watch Jae-hee for me?”
“The time you spend in the Restroom should be deducted from your wages. Now go.”
“I’m sorry.”
Even while the Nanny was away, the lady didn’t lift a finger.
The Assistant Director sensed the tension and quietly slipped out, leaving Mother and me sitting in awkward silence.
Jae-hee, sitting on the sofa next to me, looked utterly listless.
Should I try talking to him? We’re about the same age, so maybe we can understand each other.
[Hey, you don’t want to do the shoot, right?]
Jae-hee responded surprisingly quickly.
“Goo goo. Mm. Goo goo goo goo.”
[What? I can kind of understand….]
I stared at Jae-hee in surprise.
Jae-hee continued babbling his complaints.
[Yeah, go ahead and tell me everything!]
In summary, he didn’t want to shoot because the lights were too hot and harsh.
He was also annoyed at people telling him to do this and that. On top of that, he was hungry and sleepy.
This young master, raised in comfort, found such work tedious.
Memories only form after you’ve grown up; right now, a dusty Film Set like this is reason enough to hate it.
The key is to handle what the other person dislikes.
That was precisely how one earned trust in business relationships.
I revealed Lim Sun-mi’s weakness directly to Jae-hee.
[Hit that older sister’s nose. That’s her weak point. One good shot and you won’t have to do the filming.]
“Goo goo?”
[Of course it’s true. Don’t worry, just hit her with all your strength.]
“Goo goo.”
Jae-hee nodded vigorously.
“Oh my, you two are getting along so well. What were you two talking about?”
The middle-aged Nanny returned and scooped Jae-hee into her arms.
* * *
“We’re starting filming soon.”
The Perm-haired Assistant Director came rushing over, shouting.
Jae-hee finished his preparations and headed to the Film Set with his mother and the Nanny.
I called out to Jae-hee one last time.
[You’ve got this!]
“Goo goo!”
Jae-hee answered with all his might.
I was beginning to take a liking to this kid.
It was clear he had no desire to develop a twisted temperament from being raised in wealth.
[That brat should’ve been born into poverty and suffered in my place instead….]
Just then, Mother’s hand came sweeping in and gently rubbed my belly.
It was my favorite of Mother’s techniques.
When Mother rubbed my belly like this, all my worries and anxieties would vanish in an instant, and I’d feel nothing but happiness.
“Sung-guk, even if you don’t get to film today, I’m so happy just watching you. I got to see Lim Sun-mi too. Sung-guk, Mother really loves you so much.”
Mother peppered my cheeks with kisses.
My chest tightened.
In this life, I really couldn’t control my emotions.
Getting choked up over a simple “I love you”—how pathetic.
Before my regression, I’d never properly heard those words.
Everyone had told me they respected me far more than they loved me.
Back then, I thought that was something to be proud of.
I reached out my hand to Mother.
She then lifted me up and cradled me against her protruding belly.
“I think our Sung-guk is the most beautiful, but these gentlemen don’t seem to agree. Still, the Director promised to recommend you in other places, so we’ll have another chance, right?”
[Opportunities aren’t something you wait for, Mother. You create them.]
“That’s right, that’s right. Let’s wait together with Mother.”
I shook my head firmly.
Just then, the Waiting Room door swung open and the Perm-haired Assistant Director rushed in urgently.
“Excuse me. Get ready.”
“Yes?”
Mother asked in surprise.
“Prepare for filming! Can’t you understand what I’m saying?”
“Our Sung-guk is the one being filmed?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
[Where is this annoyance coming from?]
I had a feeling I needed to remember this woman.
Soon the staff rushed in, dressed me in the same undershirt Jae-hee had worn, and carried me running toward the film set.
I could see Lim Sun-mi fixing her makeup with a thoroughly irritated expression.
Standing beside her was Jae-hee’s Mother, equally furious.
“Can’t you just give him one more chance? Can’t you?”
Jae-hee’s Mother was pressing the Director with her demands.
“I’ve already given him an hour, and it’s the same result. The kid won’t listen, and he keeps smacking the female model’s face with his hands—what am I supposed to do? We need to finish filming today. At this rate, we won’t even be able to shoot tomorrow!”
“I’m going to call my father-in-law right now.”
“Go ahead! I’m not doing this commercial either!”
The Director shouted angrily, his voice booming across the set.
Jae-hee burst into tears, and the film set descended into chaos.
Jae-hee’s Mother picked up her brick-sized cell phone and called someone.
That’s when it happened.
Lim Sun-mi, who had been fixing her makeup, strode over and snatched the phone from her hand.
“What do you think you’re doing? A mere model.”
“Do you know what commercial we’re filming?”
“How dare you speak casually to me?”
Jae-hee’s Mother pressed back at Lim Sun-mi harshly.
But Lim Sun-mi was no pushover.
“You spoke casually first, so I will too. Mrs. Deokpung Paper Company. You should have treated me with proper respect from the start. Your kid won’t listen properly and has no talent—what do you expect?”
“This is… hey!”
The moment Jae-hee’s Mother’s hand shot up, Lim Sun-mi grabbed her wrist firmly.
The film set fell silent in an instant.
I too stood mesmerized, watching.
Lim Sun-mi glanced around once, then stared directly at Jae-hee’s Mother.
“Born into wealth, married well, and now you think the world owes you everything? This isn’t that kind of place. If you have no talent, go drink cold water and head home. This position belongs to those with real ability. Don’t you agree?”
“Let go of my hand. I know you’re sponsored by the vice chairman of Samjeon Group. That’s why you’re an exclusive model for Samjeon Electronics. What makes you so confident?”
[Oh, this lady has some backbone too.]
Mother and I held hands tightly, watching the confrontation between the two women with rapt attention.
“Then you understand perfectly. I have Samjeon Group backing me—what gives a mere daughter-in-law of a small company the nerve to challenge me?”
“….”
I almost burst into applause.
A mere daughter-in-law of a small company—what nerve indeed!
That was exactly what I wanted to say.
The Director and all the staff watching this spectacle were so stunned they couldn’t even open their mouths.
Lim Sun-mi wrenched Jae-hee’s Mother’s hand away in one swift motion and walked toward the Director.
“Director, let’s start shooting with the backup model. I have a film shoot tomorrow and don’t have time for this. I saw the backup model in the waiting room earlier—she’s much prettier and doesn’t have a picky face. If this woman says anything, I’ll make one call to the Samjeon Vice Chairman, so let’s just ignore her and start shooting. Looks like someone’s been greasing palms, but unless she’s been bribing the Samjeon Group Chairman himself, I’ll handle everything.”
“Okay. Let’s start shooting. Sung-guk’s ready, right?”
The Director looked at me.
I raised my hand eagerly.
[Ready to go!]

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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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