I Will Raise This Family to Greatness - Chapter 63

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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 63
Walking out of the shopping district with Chairman Koo Soo-young.
Behind Mother and Father, secretaries followed, their arms laden with luxury shopping bags.
“Chairman, we weren’t able to prepare a gift for you.”
“You came on such short notice—we should be the ones apologizing. The fact that you’re here is thanks enough. My wife and daughters do tend to have expensive tastes. It’s quite the burden, I assure you.”
“Father, wealthy people should spend money. That’s how the economy keeps moving—you say that all the time.”
“Our daughter here still has much to learn about restraint.”
Chairman Koo Soo-young’s family seemed genuinely harmonious.
If Chairman Koo Soo-young’s eldest son—my friend from my previous life—had lived, he surely would have been happy and thriving…
“Chairman.”
“Yes, Sung-guk?”
“He would have been happy, I’m sure… your son.”
“…Yes, thank you for saying that.”
Chairman Koo Soo-young squeezed my hand tightly.
Just then, a familiar face appeared from across the way.
[Isn’t that Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung!]
I froze for a moment.
[Why am I being so awkward about this?]
It felt like I’d been caught cheating on a devoted wife.
Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung approached with an impassive expression. He’d clearly spotted us from a distance.
Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung greeted us with impeccable courtesy.
“Chairman, what a coincidence meeting you here. And Sung-guk as well.”
“It’s good to see you, Chairman.”
Father responded on behalf of the family.
I felt Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung’s gaze flick toward Chairman Koo Soo-young’s hand holding mine. The cold sweat forming on my palms was surely just nerves.
I smiled as naturally as I could and greeted Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung.
“How have you been, Sung-guk?”
“Very well!”
“Are you here for the art fair as well?”
“Yes, my entire family is staying at this hotel.”
So Tae-guk and Mi-jin were here too.
“Well then, enjoy the rest of your visit.”
“We’ll see you in Korea.”
Throughout his conversation with Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung, Chairman Koo Soo-young never released my hand—as if making a point.
* * *
Mother and Father opened the shopping bags with bewildered expressions.
“Honey, do you know this brand?”
“You know I don’t follow these things. But it must be terribly expensive, right?”
[Should I step in here? These luxury brands are so common to me that I rarely use them, but I certainly recognize them.]
Mother clapped her hands together eagerly.
“I should call Kim Mi-young and ask her. She works in the industry, so she’d know better. Since she’s an entertainment company representative, she often gives gifts like this to celebrities.”
“Let’s do that. If it’s too expensive, we can return it.”
[Sigh, Father. Don’t do that. Didn’t you hear what that daughter said? The wealthy need to spend money to keep the economy moving.]
Riiip.
I quickly tore open the wrapping paper containing my gift. Making it impossible to return.
Father’s eyes widened in surprise as he quickly grabbed my hand to stop me.
“Sung-guk, you can’t do that.”
But I’d already torn open the rest of the shopping bag with my free hand.
Riiip.
“Seriously, Jeon Sung-guk—you’ve been so disobedient lately, haven’t you?”
[It would be strange if an eight-year-old listened, Father.]
I quickly finished unwrapping and opened my gift.
It was a children’s backpack. When I opened it, various clothes spilled out.
[As expected, the taste is refined.]
I examined the clothes with satisfaction, holding them up and trying them on this way and that.
“Min-guk too. Min-guk too.”
Min-guk had already torn open his gift wrapping before anyone could stop him. His gift was similar to mine.
When Kim Mi-young arrived shortly after, she explained this brand well on my behalf.
“Wow, truly befitting the chairman’s household.”
“Is this place really famous here?”
“Of course it’s famous. It’s even more famous because it’s expensive.”
“How much is one of these wallets?”
“Better not to know. It’s better for your mental health.”
Father scratched his head.
“I don’t even carry more than 30,000 won in that wallet, so if I lost it, they’d just steal the wallet itself.”
“That’s probably what would happen. Sung-guk, you little blessing, you’re truly loved everywhere.”
[Of course. I’m Jeon Sung-guk, after all.]
I grinned widely. Then I put on the backpack.
Mother and Father had given me a backpack too, but it had a large robot drawn on it, which wasn’t really my taste.
[This one suits my taste, but… Mother and Father will feel hurt, won’t they?]
“Sung-guk, it suits you well.”
“Really?”
“Sung-guk looks great in expensive things like this. I guess he takes after me, So-young.”
“Tch, I look good in expensive things too. I just can’t afford them.”
Mother and Father bickered childishly again.
I put the backpack on Min-guk and quickly led him to stand in front of the mirror.
“Hyung, don’t I look cool?”
“Cool is me. You’re just a bit cute.”
[Wait, what did I just say? Did I just admit that this brat is cute…?]
Min-guk squeezed my hand tightly.
“Big brother, I love you.”
Living long enough, you encounter all sorts of timing.
Even the timing to show weakness to a rival.
I decided to acknowledge my own heart at last.
“I love you too, Min-guk.”
“Yay!”
Min-guk hugged me tightly.
* * *
A woodblock print by Damien Hirst, express-shipped from Hong Kong, now hung in my room.
Mother and Father objected, saying it was far too dark, but I paid them no mind.
[I wonder what this will be worth someday….]
But I had no intention of selling it.
Gifts aren’t meant to be sold. They’re meant to be treasured.
“Sung-guk, hurry and eat breakfast before school.”
“Yes!”
I bolted out of the room in a flash, wearing the backpack that Gu Su-young’s Wife had given me.
* * *
A first-grade classroom in March was nothing short of pandemonium.
With nearly thirty children gathered together, silence was impossible.
I quickly took my seat at the very back of the class.
I felt Choi Jung-woo, sitting beside me, glancing in my direction.
He was about my height, but carried more weight, giving him a more imposing build.
“Sung-guk, did you go on a trip?”
“Yeah. I went to Hong Kong.”
The moment those words left my mouth, a swarm of girls rushed over, clustering around me with eager faces, pelting me with questions.
“Sung-guk, did you go to an amusement park?”
“Yeah.”
“Sung-guk, was Hong Kong fun?”
“Not really. But the dim sum was great.”
As this shallow conversation continued, the Homeroom Teacher entered.
“Everyone, take your seats.”
The children scattered to their desks in an instant.
[I barely made it.]
“Now, let’s begin first period. Everyone, open your textbooks!”
I opened my book as instructed, but all I could do was sigh.
[Seriously, they expect me to do this?]
The teacher went around checking each child’s addition problems one by one.
I’d finished everything ages ago and had already worked through the next page, and the one after that, and the one after that.
The Homeroom Teacher looked at me and spoke in a slightly irritated tone.
“Sung-guk, you’re not supposed to be doing that right now. You should be working on this page.”
I showed him the completed page.
“Even if you finish this one, you need to work on the next page with your friends. Don’t do it alone anymore.”
“Yes.”
I answered listlessly.
[Sigh, I really need to take the GED exam soon.]
As I sighed, Choi Jung-woo, sitting beside me, diligently worked through the problems. He seemed to be struggling a bit.
I quickly whispered to Choi Jung-woo.
“There are three shrimp crackers. And there are seven more shrimp crackers. So how many are there in total?”
“T-ten.”
I nodded slightly.
Choi Jung-woo smiled brightly and thanked me.
During break time, Choi Jung-woo shared snacks he’d brought in his bag with me.
“Sung-guk, thanks for earlier.”
[This guy knows how to repay kindness.]
I picked up the snack.
“I’ll enjoy it.”
Choi Jung-woo grinned and ate his snack. Despite his weight, his facial features were quite decent.
I quickly popped the snack into my mouth.
After class ended, the Homeroom Teacher distributed a notice.
“There’s an open class in two weeks, so all parents who can attend should come. You can also have a consultation with me that day, which would be good.”
“Yes!”
I put on my backpack and stood up.
Choi Jung-woo came over to me and asked quietly.
“Sung-guk, what are you doing today?”
[I have a lot to do. I need to check on my stocks.]
“I need to study. Why?”
“Want to study together?”
[Our studying is completely different….]
I hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
Having one ordinary friend in this life seemed like it would be a worthwhile experience.
“Then, want to come to my place?”
Choi Jung-woo made the suggestion first.
“Sure.”
[Might as well see how ordinary people live.]
* * *
Choi Jung-woo’s apartment was one of the largest units in our Apartment Complex. It was over 60 pyeong.
I was slightly surprised.
“This is your place?”
“Yeah.”
Choi Jung-woo answered shyly.
I was already taking in every corner of the house.
[Jeon Sung-guk, are you showing off what you don’t have?]
The interior design was exquisite, and the artworks scattered throughout were all genuine pieces—by artists I recognized, no less!
Choi Jung-woo’s mother greeted us from inside.
“Jung-woo, did you bring a friend over?”
“Mom, this is Sung-guk.”
“Oh my, this boy….”
[Yes, that’s right. I’m that famous Jeon Sung-guk from the Five Men and the Baby Basket show.]
Choi Jung-woo’s mother’s face lit up.
“Oh my, you’re the one who appeared on TV, aren’t you?”
“Jung-woo. Why didn’t you mention this?”
“I didn’t know….”
There was no way the boy who crawled around with me had been watching TV properly.
“Mom, snacks for us. Sung-guk taught me arithmetic today.”
“Really? What a wonderful friend. Sung-guk, you told your mother you were coming to our house, right?”
“Yes. My father runs a bossam restaurant here. I let him know before coming.”
I had stopped by Father’s shop earlier and introduced Jung-woo to him.
“A bossam restaurant? Where?”
“Won Uncle’s Bossam.”
“Oh my, I order from that place all the time because it’s so delicious. So your father runs it.”
“Yes!”
“Wait just a moment. I’ll bring some snacks. Jung-woo, wash your hands and go to your room.”
“Okay, Mom.”
Jung-woo clearly seemed to be well-loved by his family.
Jung-woo’s room wasn’t far from the master bedroom.
The room, decorated in shades of blue, was furnished with pieces that looked genuinely nice.
“Sung-guk, you appeared on TV?”
“Not anymore.”
“Wow, I’m jealous.”
“Why be jealous? It was work.”
“I want to be an entertainer.”
Jung-woo spoke shyly.
It was hard to tell yet because he was still chubby, but looking at his parents, he didn’t seem to have poor features.
“There are so many entertainers. Singers, actors….”
“I want to be a rapper. A singer who raps.”
A piano sat in one corner of Jung-woo’s room.
I found myself drawn to it, moving toward the piano as if enchanted.
“Can I play it?”
“Sure.”
I quickly sat down at the piano and began playing with practiced ease.
Choi Jung-woo stared at me with wide, surprised eyes.
“Sung-guk, you’re really good at piano.”
At that moment, the door clicked open and Choi Jung-woo’s mother entered carrying snacks.
“Oh my! Sung-guk! You play piano too?”
“Yes.”
I paused my playing for a moment.
The snacks Choi Jung-woo’s mother had brought were clearly high-quality confections at first glance.
“Sung-guk, have some of these.”
“Thank you.”
When I bowed respectfully, Choi Jung-woo’s mother smiled contentedly and patted my head.
“Thank you for being such a good friend to Jung-woo. Sung-guk, come visit often.”
“Yes!”
After Choi Jung-woo’s mother left, I was utterly exhausted from playing at his level.
[Elementary school kids really are boring.]
Choi Jung-woo was surprisingly perceptive.
“Sung-guk, are you bored?”
“Jung-woo, I love studying.”
“You really love studying? I hate my English teacher the most.”
“I find studying the most fun. Want to study together?”
“Well, that’s….”
Choi Jung-woo looked flustered, then answered again.
“Yeah, let’s study. I should tell Mom about this.”
Choi Jung-woo opened the door and left, and I could hear him chattering to his mother about how he and I would study together from now on.
At home, I couldn’t study properly because Min-guk kept asking me to play with him, but here I could study comfortably while quietly enjoying snacks.
“Sung-guk, Mom says you can come over anytime.”
[Right, there’s no family other than ours that dislikes a child who wants to study.]
“Jung-woo, let’s study hard together!”

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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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