I Will Raise This Family to Greatness - Chapter 139

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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 139
Mark urged me on.
“Sung-guk, what’s the bottom line?”
“Hmm… Mark, you should experience it yourself. Since we’re the same age, maybe you’ll understand….”
“Yeah, you learn by meeting people. Lim Mi-mi seemed really tough at first, but she has a sense of humor. And I thought I was a total rebel, but I’m completely respectful to the Restaurant Owner. You really do learn by experiencing people.”
[Everything comes back to Lim Mi-mi…. Mark, when are you going to wake up?]
Mark pointed at Jung Woo-sung in the laptop again.
“Sung-guk, but Korean girls still like quiet guys. Look, Jung Woo-sung just smiles silently without saying much. Plus, the teacher said something and he damaged school property, rides a bike with no hands… Do Korean girls really go crazy for guys who throw their lives away like that?”
“Mark, Korean girls like Jung Woo-sung’s face.”
Mark blinked his large eyes.
“I’m doomed no matter what.”
I patted Mark’s back.
“By the way, Mark. What do you think about moving our office to Silicon Valley?”
“Why all of a sudden?”
“I was talking to Chad Chun during the day… and it just felt like we’re the only ones stuck on the East Coast.”
“That’s because we’re still in school.”
“Mark, it’s been a long time since you and I stopped going to school.”
“Hmm… that’s true.”
If things continued like this, Mark and I would both be automatically expelled.
“But… we just got this office not long ago, and if we talk about moving already, it feels bad toward Peter. Plus, you, me, and Lim Mi-mi all have our roots on the East Coast. And since you and I live in the dormitory, we’re saving on rent, but I heard Silicon Valley’s housing costs are insane.”
“That’s true, but….”
This was a difficult decision for me too.
Considering all the expenses, it made sense to stay near Harvard.
But as Chad Chun said, if we wanted to network with various venture companies, we’d need to move to Silicon Valley.
Moreover, I wanted to have even a small hand in YouTube.
I rubbed my face with both hands.
Mark patted my back.
“Sung-guk, sleep is good for your body at times like this.”
“Yeah, I’ll sleep for now. It’s been such an exhausting day.”
I collapsed onto the bed. And I fell into a deep sleep.
* * *
“Sung-guk, wake up. It’s morning.”
Mark’s voice kept ringing in my ears.
I opened my eyes groggily.
For some reason, Mark had woken up before me, washed up, and was now holding a checkered shirt up to himself.
“Mark, what are you doing?”
“Trying on clothes.”
“Today we’re just having dinner with Charlie Jobs, that’s all we have to do….”
“I know. You, me, and Lim Mi-mi…. Lim Mi-mi posted on FaceNote earlier that she wanted to wake up early and see the New York morning streets, but since it was her first time, she didn’t know where to go, so she just posted that she was staying in. So I immediately commented that we should take a walk through Central Park together.”
“Mark, are you actually using FaceNote properly?”
Mark grinned at my words.
“Sung-guk, I spent all last night digging through the internet, and it turns out Korean women really love considerate men. You know, the kind who position women on the inside of the sidewalk when walking, open doors first for them. That kind of thoughtfulness.”
Mark seemed thrilled about his walk with Lim Mi-mi.
“Sung-guk, which one looks better?”
What Mark held up in front of me were two blue checkered shirts—one with a larger check pattern, the other with a smaller one.
I pointed at one without much thought.
“This one?”
“Yeah.”
“You really do have fashion sense, Sung-guk. I thought this one looked better too.”
Mark put on the larger blue checkered shirt and left the hotel room.
“Sung-guk, if you’re tired, get some more sleep. I’ll wake you when I come back.”
“Okay….”
Soon I heard the door close, and I shut my eyes again.
[Sorry, Mark. Honestly, both checkered shirts looked identical to me.]
I drifted back to sleep.
* * *
“Sung-guk, you’re still sleeping?”
Mark had returned from his walk and was holding my hand.
“Mark, why are you holding my hand?”
“You were stretching your hand out into the air. I thought you were asking me to wake you up.”
“Ah….”
“Did you have a dream?”
“Yeah… I saw my family in a dream after a long time.”
I had dreamed of meeting Mother, Father, Min-guk, and Ji-hee at the airport, embracing them tightly.
But what bothered me was that Min-guk held me so tightly and wouldn’t let go.
[Something feels off….]
Mark smiled softly.
“Sung-guk, you really do love your family so much.”
[Because they’re the reason I live. That’s also why I’m working to lift this family up….]
I checked the time.
It was thirty minutes before my appointment with Charlie Jobs!
“Mark! What are you doing waking me up now!”
“The meeting place isn’t far from here.”
“I didn’t even shower yesterday before sleeping.”
I quickly got up and rushed into the bathroom.
Mark called out after me.
“Sung-guk, you look great even without showering.”
[I know that already!]
I quickly shoved my toothbrush into my mouth.
* * *
Mark, Lim Mi-mi, and I arrived at the restaurant just in time for our appointment with Charlie Jobs.
Modern interior design, immaculate atmosphere—precisely the style Charlie preferred.
We followed the host’s guidance from the entrance into the dining area.
At the far end of the restaurant, Charlie, Peter, and Grace were already seated together.
Charlie raised his hand in greeting.
“Over here!”
We took our seats in the empty spaces beside them.
Charlie Jobs looked at me and smiled warmly.
“Sung-guk, did you sleep well?”
“Yes. I even had dreams I don’t usually have.”
“Good dreams, I hope?”
“I saw my family, so it seemed good… but it felt more like a fleeting dream, honestly.”
Charlie Jobs chuckled and ordered the menu.
“This restaurant only offers one tasting course. I’m particularly fond of it, and I hope you’ll all experience it. Vegetarianism nourishes both body and spirit, after all.”
“Charlie, didn’t you have surgery? Shouldn’t you be eating a balanced diet?” Peter asked with concern.
Peter asked worriedly.
“Peter, no one knows my body better than I do. Doctors only began observing my body after cancer cells were detected. But I’ve been observing my own body my entire life. Nothing suits me better than vegetarianism.”
[Charlie’s stubbornness is truly remarkable.]
Lim Mi-mi asked me quietly.
“Boss, is this really a restaurant that only serves vegetables?”
“Yes, Lim Mi-mi. Why?”
“Americans really pay money for just this?”
“And it’s quite expensive, Lim Mi-mi.”
“My friends back in North Korea would go crazy if they saw this.”
Lim Mi-mi clicked her tongue.
Mark and I pressed our lips together, barely suppressing our laughter.
Soon the tasting course Charlie had ordered began arriving in succession, and we naturally continued our conversation.
“Sung-guk, it seems you’ll be receiving investment offers from many places. How do you feel about that?”
“I’ve discussed this extensively with Peter as well, but I hope to find investors who completely trust and support Mark and me. We grow together with the company.”
“Looking at you two reminds me of Tom and me back then.”
Tom was Tom Wozniak, who had co-founded Apple with him.
[If Tom’s the programmer, does that make me Charlie? Charlie, I’m far better-looking than you…]
“You’re still on good terms with Tom Wozniak, aren’t you?” Mark asked brightly.
Mark asked cheerfully.
I gently tugged at Mark’s checkered shirt.
[Mark, their relationship isn’t great these days.]
Since Tom Wozniak left Apple, Charlie Jobs and he had become quite distant.
Charlie simply smiled.
“We’re just acquaintances now. I hope you two don’t end up like that… By the way, there’s a reason I invited everyone here today.”
Charlie took a sip of water and looked between Peter and me alternately.
[What are you trying to say, Charlie? Don’t tell me you want a piece of FaceNote?]
“It might just be my own greed, but…”
Charlie kept pausing mid-sentence.
[Charlie, don’t keep me in suspense.]
Charlie was truly a master of presentation.
“Sung-guk, how about moving FaceNote to Silicon Valley? I can give you an empty office at Apple Campus.”
“Excuse me?”
I asked back, completely taken aback.
It was truly an unexpected proposal.
“Charlie, are you serious? Is this some kind of investment?”
Peter asked, and Charlie shook his head.
“I’m not investing in FaceNote—I genuinely want to help. It seems like you two are hesitant to come to Silicon Valley because you’re attending Harvard, so I want to actively offer you office space. I really want to help, and the reason is that I want to be inspired by having these young geniuses nearby.”
[Charlie, they say when someone does something they normally wouldn’t do, it’s time to prepare for death…]
I found myself anxious for no good reason.
Just then, the next course arrived.
It was perfectly cooked spinach and pumpkin.
“Did I come on too strong during dinner?”
“No, Charlie, thank you so much. Mark and I were just discussing whether we should try moving to Silicon Valley. Most of the companies at this forum are based in Silicon Valley, and we thought it would be better to gather with similar people on the West Coast rather than being isolated on the East Coast, sharing information with each other.”
“Then it works out perfectly. You’re accepting my offer?”
Charlie Jobs had remarkable drive.
“I should discuss it with Mark and Lim Mi-mi first, Charlie.”
“Good. I have empty offices available, so you’re welcome anytime. The sooner, the better, actually. After my surgery, I realized that life isn’t that long.”
Charlie smiled bitterly.
And in that moment, my eyes met Mark’s and Lim Mi-mi’s.
[You’re all ready, right?]
As if reading my mind, Mark and Lim Mi-mi nodded.
“Boss, a true programmer should go to Silicon Valley and make their mark.”
“Sung-guk, life is short.”
Mark added quietly.
I first looked at Peter.
“Peter, would there be any financial obstacles for us to move to Silicon Valley?”
“The rental office is an issue, but since Charlie is offering office space for free, it shouldn’t matter. Is Charlie handling the housing too?”
“Peter, you’re truly the god of investment. I’ll look into it. I can make it affordable.”
Peter smiled at me with a grin.
“Sung-guk, it looks like everything’s settled. What do you think?”
“Then, Charlie, first I’d like a contract stating there are no conditions attached to lending us the office space for free.”
“Of course! You’re really meticulous, Sung-guk!”
Charlie readily agreed.
Mark looked at me and gave me a thumbs up under the table.
[I’m Jeon Sung-guk!]
I shrugged my shoulders.
* * *
Charlie and I parted ways after promising to meet again once we had organized the school office.
Peter and Grace decided to visit the office in person next weekend to help with the organization.
Mark, Lim Mi-mi, and I walked through the bustling streets of New York.
“Boss, we’re really going to Silicon Valley, right?”
“You already heard everything, Lim Mi-mi.”
“Wow, from North Korea to Silicon Valley… I still can’t believe it.”
Just then, my phone in my pocket rang.
Who could it be?
The screen showed my Mother’s number from Korea.
I quickly answered the call.
“Mother, what’s the matter?”
– Sung-guk, Min-guk is making such a fuss about wanting to go to the United States to study English. What should I do?

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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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