I Will Raise This Family to Greatness - Chapter 94

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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 94
“Here, I made this coq au vin myself. Congratulations to all of you on graduation, and congratulations on your Harvard admissions.”
Michael Schwartsman placed the bowl of coq au vin in the center of the table.
[It looks somewhat similar. Michael, it’ll be hard to match my palate….]
As a former tycoon of South Korea, I had visited virtually every Michelin-starred restaurant across the globe.
“Sung-guk, Mark. Give me your plates.”
Michael Schwartsman personally served the coq au vin onto our plates.
“It feels like a dream that you’re all becoming Harvard students now.”
Jessie’s Mother smiled warmly and looked at Mark and me.
“By the way, Sung-guk is Jessie’s partner for prom, right?”
“Yes.”
“Who’s Mark going with?”
“Amy.”
As we talked about the graduation party, I took a bite of the coq au vin that Michael Schwartsman had supposedly made.
In that instant, my brow furrowed.
The taste was far too familiar.
I glanced at Michael Schwartsman, but our eyes met directly.
“Sung-guk, how does it taste?”
“It’s delicious. Really.”
[Michael, what are you up to? This is from the Michelin-starred French restaurant Mousse, isn’t it?]
I didn’t let it show.
But I felt I understood exactly what kind of person Michael Schwartsman was.
A person’s true nature reveals itself in the smallest details.
Michael Schwartsman’s success must have begun with cutting corners.
“Dad, it’s really delicious. So much better than what you made last time!”
Even deceiving his own daughter….
I’m sorry, but Jessie’s future looked bleak to me.
Since I loved Mousse’s coq au vin, I finished my entire plate.
Mark did the same.
“It seems like the best coq au vin I’ve ever had.”
Mark even marveled at it.
“I’m so happy everyone’s enjoying it. Dear, shall we open a bottle of wine? Now that the kids are graduating, I think they can each have a glass?”
“Sung-guk still can’t, though.”
[They only remember my age when it’s convenient.]
It was unavoidable.
Michael Schwartsman poured wine for everyone except me.
It was a red wine I used to enjoy drinking when I was a tycoon.
Mark’s ears were already turning red after just one glass of wine.
“Just one glass each.”
Michael Schwartsman played the role of a strict father and took a sip of wine himself.
By the time I finished the coq au vin, Jessica’s Mother called out to Jessie.
“Oh, Jessie. I forgot to pack the earrings you were going to wear with your prom dress.”
“How could you forget that, Mom?”
“Honey, we’re discussing something. Let me gather what I need to give Jessie, and we’ll be right down.”
“Sure, take your time.”
[Predictable. Why do they always do this?]
It was clearly Michael Schwartsman’s scheme.
Mark’s face had flushed from a single glass of wine, his eyes blinking rapidly.
But I remained composed.
All I’d consumed was cola.
[All right, Michael Schwartsman. Let’s see what you propose.]
Michael Schwartsman took a sip of wine and looked at me.
“Sung-guk, Mark. Now that you’re Harvard students, why don’t you seriously develop Face Paper? Our company has been watching Face Paper all this time, and we’ve concluded it has real potential.”
“Really?”
Mark was already excited.
I waited for Michael Schwartsman’s next words.
“In exchange for our investment in Face Paper, we want 50% equity in the company.”
[What a thief.]
Mark looked at me, unable to grasp the situation.
I calmly wiped my mouth.
Right now, I felt like flipping this entire table, but the most important thing in any negotiation was to preserve the possibility of future dealings.
Today’s enemy could become tomorrow’s ally.
Today’s ally could become tomorrow’s enemy in this world.
I smiled gently at Michael Schwartsman.
“Thank you, sir, but I don’t think we’re quite ready yet.”
“You’ve been refining it for two years.”
“No, sir. Mark and I have been focused on our studies—Face Paper took a backseat. After getting into Harvard, we decided to have fun until we start, and then tackle this later. Honestly, I’m not even sure if we’ll actually start a company. Right, Mark?”
“Yeah. I’m sorry, sir. Sung-guk’s right—we’re just not ready yet.”
Mark said exactly what I’d instructed him to say.
On the way to Jessie’s place, I’d told Mark that no matter what Michael proposed, he had to follow my lead. Mark kept his word.
“I see. That’s unfortunate. We were hoping to get started now….”
“Sir, we’ll have a blast before Harvard starts, and then I’ll show you updates as soon as they’re ready. Don’t worry.”
“If that’s what Sung-guk says, then so be it.”
Michael Schwartsman smiled as he sipped his wine.
Michael Schwartsman would believe my words.
Because people almost always believed what a thirteen-year-old said.
I heard Jessie coming downstairs.
“Dad, are you done talking? Mom lent me all her accessories from her high school graduation party.”
Michael Schwartsman chuckled.
“Jessie, you know your mom was prom queen, right?”
“Of course.”
“Were you a Prom King, sir?”
Mark asked Michael Schwartsman.
Michael Schwartsman stared at Mark intently.
“I was Prom King’s friend, Mark.”
* * *
[Sigh… Do I really have to go to a party like some high school movie at my age?]
I exhaled deeply as I adjusted my suit.
Mark had dressed before me and showed no signs of leaving the mirror.
“Sung-guk, look at me. Is my hair better up or down?”
“Half down.”
“Okay!”
Mark fussed with his hair again.
I buttoned my suit jacket and simply shook my head.
“Sung-guk, you look handsome and cool no matter what you do.”
Mark marveled beside me.
“Mark, I’m curious about something.”
“What?”
“Am I handsome?”
I genuinely wanted to know.
I was thirteen years old by Korean age now.
I was as tall as Mark, and my face had grown into the same features from childhood. In Korea, people might have called me handsome, but America seemed different.
Signs of puberty were gradually appearing, and my delicate features were becoming more defined, but to me, there seemed to be little change.
“Sung-guk, are you teasing me right now?”
“No. I’m asking sincerely. In Korea, I was only young, so everyone said I was cute, but I don’t know how it is now. And the standards for handsome men are different between America and Korea anyway.”
“Sung-guk, if I could have even half your face, I’d want nothing else.”
[So I am handsome, then.]
I shrugged and finished tying my necktie.
“Sung-guk, you really tie a necktie well. Help me with mine too.”
[Of course. In my past life, I tied one every day.]
I quickly adjusted Mark’s necktie and patted his shoulder.
“Mark, should we go pick up our partners?”
“Sounds good!”
* * *
In front of the Dormitory where Jessie and Amy lived, Mark and I, along with countless other male students, stood in suits waiting for our partners.
Each time the door opened, a girl in a dress emerged and found her partner.
Finally, Jessie and Amy came out.
“Wow!”
Even the male students waiting for their partners gasped in admiration.
Jessie and Amy were that beautiful.
Amy strode forward first and took Mark’s hand.
“Mark, you look amazing today.”
“Thanks.”
Then Jessie took my hand.
“Sung-guk, you look absolutely stunning tonight.”
“You look beautiful too, Jessie.”
[Honestly, Jessie, I’m sorry—but you’re not really my type.]
I held Jessie’s hand and headed toward the auditorium where the prom was being held.
* * *
[Childish. Childish. Absolutely childish!]
The auditorium was a chaotic mess of unbridled teenage energy.
Teenagers flailed about to the music with laughably poor dancing skills, and in the darkened corners, couples were locked in passionate embraces.
Mark danced with Amy a few times, then came back and gulped down drinks one after another.
“Sung-guk, why aren’t you dancing?”
[Would you dance to hip-hop if you were me?]
I shook my head firmly.
“There’s no song that matches my taste.”
“But Jessie’s waiting for you.”
Jessie had rejected all the other boys’ invitations and was only looking at me.
[I suppose I have no choice… It is graduation night, after all.]
Just then, the ear-splitting medley of hip-hop songs ended, and a sweet pop ballad began playing.
I approached Jessie and extended my hand.
“Jessie, would you dance with me?”
“Of course.”
As Jessie and I stepped onto the floor, I felt everyone’s eyes on us.
[This popularity is exhausting.]
In my previous life, I had briefly learned dances like the waltz.
I hadn’t particularly enjoyed it, but being invited to parties around the world meant I sometimes had to dance unexpectedly.
As I naturally led Jessie, she looked at me with wide, surprised eyes.
“Sung-guk, where did you learn to waltz?”
“The internet.”
I answered briefly.
Soon Jessie’s face flushed as she followed my lead, moving in perfect rhythm.
While other couples were busy clinging to each other, our waltz to the pop ballad stood out distinctly.
Jessie kept gazing into my eyes.
[This is suffocating, Jessie.]
I felt like I was dying inside.
But I showed nothing on the surface.
Then it happened.
Jessie looked at me with burning eyes.
[Jessie, don’t. Don’t say anything.]
“Sung-guk, will you date me when we get to Harvard?”
Finally, words I never wanted to hear tumbled from Jessie’s lips.
“Jessie, I’m sorry, but I’m only eleven years old.”
My birthday hadn’t come yet, so by American age, I was still eleven.
In other words, it was a gentle reminder to come to her senses.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to say that…. Sung-guk, please forget it.”
Jessie quickly recovered, though her face was flushed with embarrassment.
At moments like this, a gentleman doesn’t leave a girl in such discomfort.
I squeezed Jessie’s hand that rested against mine and looked at her.
“Jessie, let’s talk about this when I’m a bit older.”
“Okay, Sung-guk….”
Only then did Jessie break into a radiant smile.
* * *
“Now, we will announce the results for the 2003 Phillips Academy Prom Queen and Prom King!”
The announcer was shouting into the microphone on stage.
[I’m not deaf. Everyone can hear you even if you speak quietly.]
All the graduates turned their attention to the announcement.
Jessie was already standing with perfect posture, as if she were already the prom queen.
Amy, who had grown close to Mark somewhere along the way, wore an expression of eager anticipation.
Mark approached my side.
“Jessie’s going to be prom queen, right?”
“Who knows.”
“Sung-guk, who did you vote for?”
“I didn’t vote.”
Mark looked slightly taken aback.
Mark and I knew better than anyone that Jessie wanted to be prom queen.
I quickly reassured Mark.
“Mark, I’m eleven years old.”
“Sung-guk, with your looks and the way you talk, you absolutely don’t look eleven. Anyway, you always surprise me.”
Mark grinned and waited for the results.
The person Mark voted for was obviously Jessie.
“And now, the 2003 Phillips Academy Prom Queen is! Jessie Schwartsman!”
Jessie rushed over to me, her partner, and embraced me.
“Jessie, congratulations. Go on up to the stage.”
I quickly offered her my congratulations out of courtesy.
The prom queen crown was placed on Jessie’s head.
The female students looked at Jessie with envious eyes, while the male students gazed at her in awe.
“Now, only the Prom King remains. Let me announce the finest young man of the evening, the Prom King who will stand beside this beautiful Prom Queen!”
Drum sound effects played from behind in sync with the announcer’s voice.
The host unfolded the card and scanned the audience below as if searching for someone.
“And so, the Prom King of Philip Academy for this year 2003 is… Sung-guk Jeon!”

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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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