I Will Raise This Family to Greatness - Chapter 113

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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 113
We headed to Cupertino, California, where Apple Campus was located.
Peter was already spending the end-of-year holidays in California with Grace, so Mark and I departed separately as soon as the semester ended.
Mark looked incredibly excited.
Silicon Valley, sprawling widely across the San Francisco area, was a paradise for venture companies.
“Sung-guk, I’ve really only used Apple computers. That perfect system and design—I absolutely love it.”
“I like them too… but I mainly used products made in South Korea. Don’t forget that the notebook you used to develop Face Paper was Korean-made.”
“Sung-guk’s patriotism is impressive too. Wow, actually meeting Charlie Jobs feels like a dream.”
I felt the same way.
When Charlie Jobs had met my grandfather, he’d even proposed displaying Apple computers at Samjeon Electronics showrooms. Of course, it never happened because Chairman Jeon Ju-shin refused.
‘Hmm… we have quite a connection, Charlie.’
Soon we arrived in front of Apple Campus.
The Apple Campus, situated on vast grounds, consisted of several grayish-white buildings connected together.
[Where should we go?]
While Mark and I stood there looking bewildered, Peter waved from a distance.
“Sung-guk! Mark!”
And standing beside Peter was the famous Charlie Jobs himself.
[I’m actually seeing Charlie Jobs in person….]
I walked forward, trying to calm my racing heart.
Mark also looked visibly nervous.
Charlie Jobs smiled pleasantly and offered his hand for a handshake.
I quickly grasped Charlie Jobs’s hand.
“Great to meet you. Peter’s told me a lot about you.”
“I’m always hearing about you. All the media covers your story.”
“You’re quite the cheerful fellow, just as Peter said. Is it true you entered Harvard at twelve?”
“It wasn’t easy.”
Charlie Jobs laughed warmly at my response.
Soon he exchanged greetings with Mark as well.
“You’re a programmer, I hear?”
“Yes.”
“Impressive. You’re both Harvard students?”
“Yes.”
“So it really is true that geniuses move the world.”
“Charlie, that means you’re a genius too, doesn’t it?”
When Peter asked, Charlie nodded without hesitation.
“Of course. Now, let me give you a special tour of Apple.”
Charlie showed Mark and me every corner of this area called Apple Campus.
As I walked behind Charlie, I tilted my head slightly.
Certainly, no American newspaper had reported any facts or suspicions about Charlie’s cancer battle.
Right now, Charlie was wearing loose-fitting pants. Though he’d cinched them with a belt, anyone could see they were at least a size too large.
Charlie Jobs’s personality meant that wearing clothes that didn’t fit him properly indicated he had lost weight rapidly in recent times.
Or perhaps he kept losing weight even after buying new clothes.
Charlie finished introducing the Apple Campus with a smile.
“So, who’s going to introduce us to Face Paper next?”
“I will. Of course, Mark will explain the technical aspects.”
“Then, shall we head to the office?”
“Yes!”
We followed Charlie toward the office.
* * *
I was about to give a presentation on Face Paper, the company I was founding with Mark, in Apple’s office, no less in front of Charlie Jobs himself….
Despite my nerves of steel, my heart fluttered slightly.
I took the deepest breath I could and stepped forward to begin my explanation of Face Paper.
“Our goal is ‘simplicity is the best.’ Currently, various SNS platforms are operating actively in many countries. However, there hasn’t yet been an SNS that connects all people across the globe. The reason is that development has been tailored to each country’s sensibilities. But Face Paper is an SNS created by me, an Asian, and Mark, an American, exchanging our different perspectives. That’s why it has the greatest advantage—anyone can access it comfortably and easily, and connect with their friends.”
When my presentation ended, Charlie Jobs applauded.
“I’m curious—what do you think is necessary for Face Paper to become active in the future?”
[That would be the Apple Phone that Apple will create soon.]
I smiled knowingly.
“Charlie, it’s what you’re going to create.”
“Me?”
Charlie looked at me with a puzzled expression.
“Isn’t Apple going to develop a computer you can hold in your hand?”
Suddenly, Charlie’s eyes widened.
The Apple Phone launch was years away. It was clear that Apple was currently developing it in secret.
“Sung-guk, what are you talking about?”
“Looking at recent miniaturization of laptops and things like the Apple Pod, I believe a phone-sized device that doubles as a notebook could emerge within a few years.”
“Is that even possible? What about the keyboard?”
Peter asked with a puzzled expression.
“You won’t need a keyboard. Everything can be solved with a touchscreen. What do you think, Charlie?”
“Hmm… that’s fascinating…. A touchscreen….”
“Right now everyone uses SNS on computers, but if a handheld phone like a notebook comes out, this SNS market will grow rapidly worldwide.”
I spoke with confidence.
Charlie, stroking his chin, looked at me.
“Sung-guk, you’ve given me tremendous inspiration, and I’d like to give you a gift in return. Will you accept it? If you think it’s nothing special, you don’t have to.”
“There’s no obligation, right?”
“Of course not. Today, listening to your ideas has given me tremendous inspiration.”
“Then please tell me. I’ll decide after hearing it.”
Charlie smiled and opened his mouth.
“To captivate people worldwide like you said, I think the name needs to be simpler. Face Paper is too long. How about Face Note?”
I looked at Mark.
Mark seemed pleased with the suggestion.
I liked it too. But I didn’t let it show.
“Charlie, thank you. I’ll discuss this with Mark, my co-founder.”
“By all means.”
Soon after, Mark launched into an enthusiastic explanation of the program.
Even the usually shy Mark opened up and spoke freely.
* * *
Though our meeting lasted about three hours, Charlie and I even exchanged ideas with each other.
Charlie said goodbye to us with a hint of reluctance.
“Sung-guk, Mark. I’m sorry I can’t stay through dinner—I have another commitment.”
“Thank you so much for taking the time to meet with us.”
“Let’s meet again next time if we get the chance. Take care, Peter. And don’t worry too much about our stock anymore. The products Apple will release in the future will change the world, so there’s no way it’ll go down.”
“As long as you don’t cause any scandals, it obviously won’t go down. I’ll call you when I’m in New York.”
And so we parted ways.
At that moment, I felt a strange sadness.
A melancholy premonition that this would be my last meeting with Charlie Jobs.
* * *
Peter headed back to our accommodation with us.
“Sung-guk, you really made quite an impression on Charlie. He rarely gives ideas to other people or companies.”
“I’m not entirely sure why myself.”
[It’s probably the touchscreen part, Peter. Samjeon Electronics was developing that too. Apple just got there first.]
I clenched my fist.
“By the way, what do you think of the name Charlie suggested? It’s more intuitive and has fewer syllables, so I find it easier.”
‘Face Note’ was certainly easier to say.
“It’s easier to pronounce, and it evokes the feeling of exchange diaries or rolling papers we used to share with friends, making it feel more familiar. And what I like most is that the story behind how ‘Face Note’ got its name will probably be on everyone’s lips around the world.”
“Sung-guk, what do you mean by that?”
Mark asked.
“Two Harvard students who created ‘Face Paper’ and Charlie Jobs, the legend of Silicon Valley, were inspired by us and suggested this name. I think this story will become widely known after our success….”
I smiled softly.
“Seriously, the way you talk and act, you sound just like someone who’s already succeeded. Sung-guk, get a grip. We still have a long way to go.”
“Now that Mark mentions it, Sung-guk really does seem to have a lot in common with Charlie. You’re even similarly self-absorbed.”
No matter what they said, it didn’t reach my ears.
I smiled contentedly, imagining a page from the future.
I knew that Mark Zuckerberg would create ‘Face Paper’. But after all these efforts, meeting Charlie Jobs and having the name changed, receiving this new story—that wasn’t part of the future I knew.
Though small, there was definitely a future being altered because of me.
* * *
As soon as I returned to the hotel, I sold all my Apple stock.
“Sung-guk, what are you doing? Why are you selling Apple stock?”
“I have a feeling it’ll drop soon.”
“What are you talking about? We just met Charlie Jobs today. A legend of Silicon Valley. Charlie Jobs said himself that world-changing products will be released soon.”
[Yeah. But before that, news about Charlie’s cancer surgery will break, and the stock will plummet. It’ll probably happen soon.]
I gulped down the milk in one go.
“Mark, I just hope more people will buy Apple stock during this fortunate period. Besides, I want to invest in other things.”
“You really are incomprehensible sometimes.”
[Don’t worry. I’ll sell for now and buy back later.]
Charlie Jobs’s cancer surgery caused the stock to plummet, but as he recovered, the Apple Phone he unveiled like a final masterpiece changed the world just as he said, becoming a landmark in history. And during that era, Apple’s stock climbed every single day.
“By the way, Sung-guk. Are you heading straight back to Korea?”
“Yeah. Mark, what about you?”
“I’m going to my parents’ place to spend Christmas together before I leave.”
Just then, Mark shoved his laptop in front of my face.
“Sung-guk, look at this. Check out the photos of Jessie and Tyler. They took this in front of the Eiffel Tower, right?”
[Tsk tsk, a typical showpiece couple.]
“When I go to Paris, I have to worry about economy class syndrome, but at least those two probably flew business class, right?”
“Mark, don’t worry. Once we succeed, we’ll be flying private jets.”
“Wow! Sung-guk, you really are the most confident person I know.”
[Of course, I’m Jeon Sung-guk after all.]
“Mark, stop snooping on Jessie and get some sleep. I’m going to bed.”
“Yeah, sleep well, Sung-guk.”
The hotel room lights went out.
Tomorrow I would board a plane in San Francisco and head straight to Korea.
I was already missing Father’s boiled pork and Mother’s kimchi stew.
* * *
As soon as the airport gate opened, familiar and longed-for silhouettes greeted me from afar, one by one.
“Hyuuuung!!!”
My younger brother Min-guk, still screaming loud enough to shake the entire airport.
Ji-hee rushing toward me in a pink padded jacket.
“Oppa!!!”
I quickly ran like a madman and scooped Ji-hee into my arms.
“Ji-hee.”
“Oppa!”
[I’m not usually the type to dote on family like this. But Ji-hee, you’ve gotten quite heavy.]
Father came over and quickly took my luggage.
“Sung-guk, are you tired?”
“I’m fine, Father. Father, why has Ji-hee gotten so heavy?”
“Ji-hee is seven years old now.”
“Oppa, Ji-hee goes to Kindergarten.”
[I thought Ji-hee was smart, but now she’s satisfied with just kindergarten? This oppa could already speak six languages during kindergarten. Ji-hee, your oppa is going to have to teach you some things. Prepare yourself.]
I looked at Ji-hee with stern eyes.
Ji-hee was still cute rather than pretty.
[Where did our family’s genes go?]
“Hyung, a gift. What gift did you bring me?”
“Min-guk, have you been studying English hard?”
“Ah, seriously? You’re asking me that the moment you arrive. Now I really feel like my brother’s here.”
Min-guk’s shoulders drooped, but then he suddenly threw his arms around me.
Mother pulled Min-guk away.
“Brother, you just got here. Let’s go home already.”
“You just arrived, and it’s already talk about studying. But I’m so glad you’re here! Brother, let’s go home.”
“Yeah, let’s go. Home.”
I held Min-guk’s hand in my left and Ji-hee’s in my right, heading toward the home I’d missed so dearly.
[There’s nothing quite like home.]

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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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