I Will Raise This Family to Greatness - Chapter 142

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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 142
Late evening.
FaceNote office.
For once, Mark and Lim Mi-mi had left early, so Dennis and I huddled together over his screenplay instead.
It was all because of Dennis’s scenario.
Dennis clutched at his hair in frustration.
“Sung-guk, why am I so anxious? The story just won’t come out.”
“Dennis, have a beer and think through it slowly.”
“Sigh…”
Dennis had already sighed more than ten times just this evening.
I opened the refrigerator and gazed at the overflowing beer cans.
[Sigh… a night when alcohol calls to me, but…]
I slapped my thigh with my fist, grabbed a beer, and handed it to Dennis.
“Sung-guk, why don’t you just drink milk instead?”
[I’m tired of milk too…]
I shook my head.
Dennis gulped down the beer and stared at me intently.
“Sung-guk, I really don’t think I have any talent.”
“Dennis, if you say that one more time, I’m going to start telling the story of how I was born into poverty and made it to Harvard so often that it’ll sound less frequent than your complaints.”
“Sorry… I’m just frustrated.”
“Dennis, we gathered here today to work through various ideas and nail down the screenplay’s direction. Let’s unravel the story piece by piece. How far have you written so far?”
“The character of 【Whip】 stays the same. Just like we discussed—a drummer who just entered art school struggles to earn recognition from a ruthless mentor. That’s the story.”
[Hmm… should I reveal some secrets? Well, I should probably sort out the contract terms first…]
Of course, I knew everything about the film Dennis was creating. But nothing in this world is free.
“Dennis, do you really want to write the screenplay with me?”
“Of course.”
“Then, how about we draw up a contract?”
“What?”
Dennis looked taken aback.
“Dennis, I believe that no matter how close we are, it’s best to establish clear contractual terms from the start before we begin work. Look at Mark and me. We already hashed out equity details back in high school, so now we trust and support each other while building FaceNote.”
[Otherwise, Mark would’ve stabbed me in the back.]
Dennis nodded in understanding.
“You’re right. Michelle and I even fought over that issue so much it gave me a headache.”
“But did you completely remove Michelle’s ideas?”
“Well…”
Dennis’s answer was unconvincing. He quickly continued as if making excuses.
“Actually, Michelle’s idea wasn’t much. She just wanted me to add a friend character for the male lead. This friend is actually incredibly talented, but his life was ruined after playing drums under that ruthless teacher. The male lead sees this and reconsiders his own drumming career… Anyone could come up with an idea like that.”
“Anyone could come up with it, but you’ve already used that idea and haven’t even completely removed it, have you?”
“That’s… actually true.”
Dennis reluctantly nodded in agreement.
It might be a commonplace idea, but once 【The Whip】 hit theaters and started turning a profit, Michelle could easily sue us over it.
I quickly made a proposal to Dennis.
“Dennis, from what I can see, Michelle’s idea is generic, but it’s exactly the kind of character that could appear anywhere in 【The Whip】. It seems like this scenario has been stuck in limbo because of Michelle’s idea. Let me handle it. In exchange, sign a contract with me and we’ll start the scenario.”
“Sung-guk, how are you going to handle it?”
“I’m going to buy the copyright to every idea that comes up during your scenario work with Michelle. Michelle’s name obviously won’t appear in the credits. If Michelle reveals this fact to the media after the scenario is made into a film….”
[Honestly, even if she does reveal it, it’s not an idea that would damage Dennis’s reputation, but….]
“I’ll present a contract stating she has to pay 100 times the amount we paid her. Dennis, since you know Michelle’s situation well, let me ask you—does Michelle need money right now?”
“Uh… just a moment….”
Dennis quickly opened his laptop and checked Michelle’s FaceNote.
“Hmm… actually, Michelle’s talk show that she was preparing got pushed back to next year, so she’s not doing so well financially.”
Michelle’s idea honestly wasn’t much, but I couldn’t bear to watch Dennis struggle over it any longer.
“Dennis, I’ll contact Michelle and sort this out. And here are our contract terms: since I’m starting my investment by buying Michelle’s idea, I’m now one of your official investors, and when 【The Whip】 is made into a film later, I naturally want to exercise my rights over that part. Is that okay?”
“Sung-guk, you’re helping with my scenario. Shouldn’t you at least have your name listed as a co-writer?”
“Dennis, I’m just talking things through with you—you’re the one actually writing it. I’m fine being an investor.”
I wanted Dennis to become an excellent film director more than anyone.
[If it’s a hit, the investor takes all the money anyway….]
Dennis still had a worried look in his eyes.
“Sung-guk… everything’s good, but… we’d need to hire a lawyer for that….”
Dennis didn’t attach much significance to how much money I was investing to become an investor in 【The Whip】. He just wanted to settle things with Michelle as soon as possible.
“Dennis, I’ll take care of everything. Don’t worry.”
I spoke with conviction.
* * *
I sent Michelle a message through FaceNote.
The content was simple.
I was offering to buy Michelle’s idea from Dennis’s scenario for $10,000. It was just over ten million won.
I also sent a summary of the contract terms. There was room for negotiation if she wanted more money, but there was no need to sweeten the deal first.
– All ideas contributed during 【The Whip】 work are transferred for $10,000.
– Upon future film adaptation, no claims of any kind will be made.
– If this content is revealed later for any public, commercial, or other purpose, damages of 100 times the amount received must be paid.
Dennis nervously kept drinking beer beside me.
“Sung-guk, do you think Michelle will accept?”
“Dennis, you know Michelle better than I do.”
“That’s true….”
Dennis pulled out another beer and continued.
“I honestly don’t know if Michelle will accept or not, but she won’t think about it for long. She makes decisions incredibly fast. And she pushes through with those decisions…. She decided on the offer from LA in less than ten minutes, and she proposed to me that we leave together.”
Just as Dennis said, Michelle’s reply came exactly thirty minutes later.
I quickly clicked on the message.
– Okay. I’ll sell it for $10,000!
“Dennis, Michelle accepted.”
“I knew it….”
Dennis’s face turned slightly bitter.
“Dennis, you’re finally free from that tedious shackle. Doesn’t it feel refreshing?”
“Honestly, I’m wondering if Michelle’s idea is really worth ten million won. And the fact that I agreed so easily… doesn’t that mean my screenplay has a low chance of being made into a film?”
Dennis’s self-esteem was plummeting into the depths of the earth.
“Dennis, don’t worry needlessly. For now, you’re free from any constraints—just focus on your screenplay work.”
“Thanks, Sung-guk.”
[In ten years, you’ll have even more to thank me for.]
I quickly sent a reply to Michelle.
– I’ll have the contract sent through our lawyer by tomorrow.
– Thanks, Sung-guk. Let me know when you visit LA!
– Got it, Michelle. Hope you do well in LA.
Our conversation ended there.
Despite the late hour, I drafted the contract and emailed it to Hyojin Group’s lawyer. Then I stretched luxuriously.
Dennis gathered his laptop and belongings.
“Sung-guk, let’s head back to the dormitory now.”
“Yeah.”
“But Sung-guk, why do you look more relieved than I do?”
“Because I eased my friend’s worries.”
I smiled with words I didn’t quite mean.
[Successfully added a spoon to the whip!]
* * *
The dreaded Friday had finally arrived.
Mark burst into our room early in the morning, holding three plaid shirts.
Dennis, who had just woken up and was putting on his pants, threw a pillow at Mark.
“Mark, at least knock!”
“Oh, sorry. Sung-guk, Dennis. I’m in a rush. Which of these three shirts looks best?”
Red, green, and blue plaid shirts. Moreover, the spacing of the checks was identical on all three.
I pulled the blanket back over my head.
[I shouldn’t have taught him Pangyo style…]
I was already regretting it.
Mark quickly pulled the blanket down.
“Sung-guk, come on, take a look.”
“Dennis, you’re the artist—take a look.”
I pawned off the shirt-choosing task to Dennis.
“Mark, I think green is the way to go today.”
“Green? Right? I think so too. Green feels right for today.”
Mark pulled the green plaid shirt over his white t-shirt.
“Party outfit complete!”
“Mark, you’re that excited?”
“Sung-guk, we’ve been buried in FaceNote for so long, I can’t remember the last time we went to a party.”
[Parties aren’t anything special… Once you get older, you hate them because they’re all so loud.]
I shook my head firmly.
“Sung-guk, what are you going to wear?”
“Mark, just like you wear checkered shirts in different colors, I’m going to wear a gray hoodie that’s been washed and never worn.”
Dennis laughed beside us.
“You two really do seem like soulmates. Why don’t you two just date?”
At that, I threw a pillow at Dennis.
Thud—and Dennis, who was in the middle of putting on his pants, landed flat on his backside.
Then Mark, Dennis, and I rolled around laughing in the dormitory room.
[When you’re young, even these moments become precious memories….]
* * *
Click.
The moment I opened the office door and stepped inside, Lim Mi-mi greeted us with a respectful bow.
“Boss, Mark. Good morning.”
I looked at Lim Mi-mi with a puzzled expression.
“Lim Mi-mi, why are you dressed like that today? You were searching hard for party outfits on FaceNote until yesterday.”
Lim Mi-mi’s outfit was no different from usual.
Piercings covering her earlobes. On top of that, a tattered black t-shirt and jeans.
In short, Mark, Lim Mi-mi, and I were all dressed in our usual everyday clothes.
Lim Mi-mi looked at Mark and me with sharp eyes, alternating between us.
“Boss, Mark. You two are dressed exactly the same as always, so why are you only asking me about it?”
“Mi-mi, I really put in effort this morning. I went back and forth to Sung-guk’s room since early morning trying to pick a green checkered shirt.”
“What, green or blue. A check is a check. I put in effort too. This is a new shirt I bought yesterday. A Metallica version.”
[We should just focus on work….]
I pulled a morning milk from the refrigerator.
“Let’s work hard and then all go to the party together.”
“Yes, boss!”
“By the way, Lim Mi-mi, have you settled your housing situation?”
“Yes, I think I’ll be moving out before summer. Since I don’t have much stuff, moving to Silicon Valley shouldn’t be difficult.”
“That’s good.”
I took a sip of milk.
Just then, Young Secretary Yang called.
What’s going on?
I stepped into the hallway and answered Young Secretary Yang’s call.
“Chul-soo, what’s the matter?”
– Sung-guk, about Tae-guk doing an internship at your company.
[Could it be his pride is hurt and he doesn’t want to do it? Then I’m thanking him. That naturally means I can reject the Samjeon investment too.]
I waited for Young Secretary Yang’s next words.
– Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung asked where you’d be staying if you relocated to Silicon Valley… Could you tell me?
“Why are you asking, hyung?”
– It looks like he’s going to find a place to stay around there.
“Hmm… If I don’t tell my brother, he’ll be in quite a bind, won’t he?”
– I wouldn’t say I’m in any real trouble.
That’s what he says, but given Jeon Jae-hyung’s temperament, he’ll definitely say something that stings—a cutting remark or two.
Something about lacking ability, or taking the money but failing to deliver. Jeon Tae-guk’s nature doesn’t come from nowhere, after all.
[I probably would’ve done the same…]
I swallowed the bitterness silently.
Young Secretary Yang quickly offered an excuse.
– But Sung-guk, you know as well as I do. Once Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung gets involved, he’ll find out one way or another. And… I thought it might be better for you to tell him now anyway… I’m sorry for passing this along.
“Brother, what are you apologizing for? I found a place recently. I’ll give you the details. Look for something in that area.”
– Okay. Thanks.
I hung up and sent Young Secretary Yang a message with the location of the dormitory Peter had found.
[He’s going to find a house near our dormitory? Hmm… Let’s see how this plays out.]
I smiled faintly.

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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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