I Will Raise This Family to Greatness - Chapter 112
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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 112
Tyler’s face flushed crimson.
It was because of the Face Paper post that Sung-guk had just uploaded.
Cameron studied Tyler’s expression carefully.
“Tyler, what’s wrong?”
“Damn it!”
Tyler slammed his hand against the table.
“What happened?”
Without a word, Tyler showed Cameron Sung-guk’s Face Paper post.
“Don’t tell me you mistook him for Mark and said something?”
“Yeah.”
As much as I hated to admit it, it was true.
“Jeon Sung-guk, you played me. I’m going to make sure you pay for this.”
“Tyler, calm down. It couldn’t be helped. Since we’re a year ahead, let’s just apologize and try to smooth things over.”
Tyler drained his beer with a sour expression.
Sung-guk was the only person in this world who didn’t bend to his will.
Tyler couldn’t bear it.
“Jeon Sung-guk, I won’t let this slide!”
* * *
Mark and I sat across from Peter.
Our respective lawyers sat beside us.
Beyond the window, New York was now deep in winter.
Peter gazed at us with a gentle smile.
“It feels like a dream that we’ve actually reached the contract stage.”
“It does for us too.”
“Well then, shall we sign the contract?”
“Yes.”
Peter signed first and handed the contract to us.
Mark and I each signed as co-founders.
Face Paper had finally secured formal investment and was about to dive into the world of the largest SNS platform.
Once the signing was complete, Peter extended his hand for a handshake.
“From now on, we’re all in the same boat. Let’s do great things.”
“Yes.”
* * *
Dinner took place at the most famous pizzeria in New York.
It was more comfortable than a restaurant where you had to wear a suit.
Peter, dressed in his suit, awkwardly took a bite of pizza.
“It’s been so long since I’ve been somewhere like this. My doctor is always harping on me about reducing my carbohydrate intake.”
“Today is a special day, after all.”
“It certainly is. A truly special day.”
Peter was doing his best to accommodate us.
“What do you think about looking for a Face Paper studio near Harvard?”
“We’re good with that.”
“By the way, Peter, as I mentioned before, Mark and I both want to take what might be our last real vacation during winter break.”
Peter had already agreed to this.
“Yeah, I know.”
“After that, we’re both planning to dedicate ourselves entirely to Face Paper.”
“What about school?”
“We’re planning to drop out.”
Peter looked at Mark and me with a serious expression.
“I know this might sound old-fashioned, but have you discussed this with your parents?”
“Not yet. But Mark and I have talked about it extensively.”
“It’s difficult to balance academics with this, and the younger we are, the faster we can recover from failure if it comes to that. Not that we’re planning to fail, of course!”
Mark waved his hands frantically in protest.
“I get it. But just to be safe—I have to say, it’s impressive and admirable that you two are so young yet more interested in entrepreneurship than academics. So here’s my suggestion: why not continue balancing school through the second semester, and then reconsider leaving school once the business grows a bit more?”
Mark and I nodded in agreement.
“Your parents will probably say the same thing. But our resolve is firm—we’re committing ourselves fully to Face Paper.”
“I understand your determination. But on a different note, why have I been missing out on this delicious pizza all this time!”
Peter ordered another pizza.
“I should get one for Grace too.”
“Peter, what’s your relationship with Grace now?”
“Honestly, I’ve been keeping quiet about it because I didn’t want it to affect this deal, but as soon as I get home today, I’m changing my status to ‘in a relationship.'”
Peter smiled broadly.
“The world’s gotten so convenient. Back in the day, I’d have to go to parties and awkwardly explain who I was dating and all that. Now I don’t have to bother. By the way, Sung-guk, you’re heading to Korea during break, right? What about you, Mark?”
“I’m going backpacking through Europe.”
“That sounds amazing. Hey, can you both spare some time before break?”
Peter asked while munching on his pizza.
“I have about a week free.”
“Perfect. I was thinking of going to meet Charlie. Want to come along?”
“Charlie?”
“Charlie Jobs. You guys know him, right?”
[Of course!!!]
In my past life, Charlie Jobs was one of the few people I desperately wanted to meet but never did.
Charlie had actually visited Korea briefly when I was very young to meet my Grandfather Jeon Ju-shin.
It was when Samjeon was just beginning its semiconductor business.
My grandfather wanted to meet Charlie Jobs, the world-renowned entrepreneur, and his Apple company. For some reason, Charlie Jobs came all the way to Korea and met my grandfather briefly before leaving.
In my past life, I was still crawling around at that time, so I only learned later through news articles that my Grandfather Jeon Ju-shin and Charlie Jobs had met.
“Peter, how do you know Charlie Jobs?”
“He’s one of my worst investments, actually.”
“What?”
Mark and I exchanged puzzled glances at Peter.
“When Charlie left Apple, I sold all my Apple stock too. And I haven’t been able to buy back in since then, so it’s the worst investment mistake I’ve ever made.”
Peter laughed bitterly.
* * *
I collapsed onto my dormitory bed.
After making the round trip to New York in just two days, even for a teenager, exhaustion had set in.
Thud. My phone, which I’d tossed onto the desk, rang.
[A message? From whom?]
My mind was still thinking, but my eyes were already closing.
Click.
The faint sound of a door opening and closing echoed.
It seemed Dennis was coming in.
“Sung-guk, are you sleeping?”
“Mmm-hmm.”
I answered in a tired voice.
“So you do get exhausted. Sung-guk, I have something to tell you….”
“Whaa’s it…?”
“Never mind. Let’s talk about it tomorrow when you wake up.”
I closed my eyes again.
* * *
Twelve hours of sleep….
I couldn’t remember the last time I’d slept that long, except perhaps when I was crawling around as a baby.
Ever since I received the shock of my IQ being 121, I’d been cutting back on sleep to study.
If I ever write an autobiography someday, I think I’d write it like this.
[Live like Jeon Sung-guk and you’ll become a tycoon. Ha, now that’s a killer title.]
A smile naturally spread across my lips.
“Sung-guk, what’s got you so happy?”
“I slept deeply after a long time, so I feel refreshed.”
“You had messages and calls coming in all night, but you didn’t hear any of it and just kept sleeping.”
“Really?”
Only then did I check my phone.
There were several messages and calls from Jessie.
“From Jessie….”
“Oh, Dennis. Didn’t you say last night you had something to tell me?”
“Oh… Sung-guk, I felt like I needed to get your permission for this.”
“For what?”
“I told Michelle about the drummer story, and she said she wants to work on it together. Michelle has experience as a broadcast writer too, so it seems like it would help me a lot….”
[Artists really are weak when it comes to women.]
“Dennis, work on it with Michelle. Starting next semester, I’m going to be incredibly busy with Face Paper anyway.”
I answered casually.
“Sung-guk, when this becomes a movie later, I’ll make sure to put your name in the script.”
“Dennis, if you really can’t get investors, come to me. I’ll invest in you.”
“Just hearing that means a lot.”
[What are you talking about? You should be thanking me for letting you accept my investment.]
I grinned widely.
“When you start Face Paper with Mark, will you two be able to attend school properly?”
“Peter said he’d get us a studio near campus first. We’re planning to start there with Mark. I’ll attend school whenever I can, but honestly, I’m not sure how it’ll work out.”
“Can you give me a part-time job too?”
“Of course.”
I answered readily.
Even after just one semester, I had Dennis figured out.
If Mark was a jellyfish, Dennis was a reed.
He was indecisive about many things, and especially weak when it came to women.
[Reed Dennis, write that screenplay diligently. I’ll invest in you.]
I pushed myself up from my seat.
[Oh right, Jessie….]
I quickly called Jessie.
But Jessie didn’t answer.
What on earth was going on?
Thud-thud-thud.
I heard someone rushing down the hallway from the far end.
Without knocking, the door burst open and Mark stumbled in, gasping for breath.
“Sung-guk….”
“Yeah, what?”
“Jessie… Jessie, she….”
“What about Jessie?”
“She updated her profile to ‘in a relationship.'”
[So that’s why she called me like that.]
I shrugged.
“Sung-guk, aren’t you surprised?”
“Is it surprising for an adult to be in a relationship?”
“It’s Jessie. Everyone thought she liked you, so nobody said anything about it.”
“Mark, I’m a minor. The moment Jessie makes a move on me, she becomes a criminal.”
“That’s true, but….”
Dennis also looked quite taken aback.
“Sung-guk, you really had no interest in Jessie?”
“No. Jessie isn’t my type.”
I stated it firmly.
Mark seemed deflated.
“What, so I was the only one making a fuss.”
“Anyway, Mark. I’m more curious about how you’re doing.”
“That’s… well, there’s nothing I can do about it. Who’d like a nerd like me?”
[Sigh. Mark really was the heavy burden of my life.]
I stretched languidly and grabbed my books.
“Mark. Let’s head to class. We’re going to be late.”
“Oh… okay.”
* * *
Students began flooding into the lecture hall.
Mark and I sat in the middle and chatted enthusiastically with the other students.
“Sung-guk, were you in New York over the weekend?”
“Yeah.”
“Mark, my friend Justin saw your dance moves at Halloween and is totally smitten. He’s been asking for your contact info. Mark, if you’re okay with it…”
“No! Justin’s a guy. Absolutely not!”
Mark maintained an iron wall when it came to men.
“Justin’s actually a really great guy though…”
Just then, the lecture hall began to buzz with commotion.
What was going on?
I turned around to see Jessie entering the lecture hall arm-in-arm with one of the Winklevoss Brothers.
I examined the Winklevoss Brother’s lips with a hawk’s gaze. There was no mole.
[So it’s Tyler. Tsk tsk. Tyler. I’m not the type to get jealous over something like that…]
At that moment, Jessie’s eyes met mine directly.
Jessie smiled at me with a grin, then linked her arm more affectionately with Tyler’s.
“Whoa! Sung-guk, which twin is it?”
“Looks like Tyler. He doesn’t have a mole next to his mouth. And Tyler’s expression is a bit more arrogant.”
Once Jessie took her seat, Tyler gave her a brief kiss. Then he turned his head sharply, searching for me.
I wanted to raise my hand and let him know I was here, but I held back.
Soon Tyler found me and stared at me intently for a moment, then smiled with a grin as if he’d won.
[Tsk tsk. I’m really not interested in those two at all…]
I shook my head slowly.
Once Tyler left the lecture hall, girls swarmed around Jessie.
“Jessie, is it Tyler? Or Cameron?”
“Tyler.”
“Oh my, Jessie, how do you tell them apart?”
“Tyler’s a bit more built.”
“Who made the first move?”
“Obviously Tyler. He’s been sending me flowers every day since the Halloween party.”
The girls’ laughter rang out loudly.
[So transparent.]
Mark shook his head as well.
“Sung-guk, I’m pretty sure Tyler’s trying to get revenge on you for what happened at the Halloween party.”
“Tyler really seems to lack any sense. How does he always miss the mark?”
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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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