I Will Raise This Family to Greatness - Chapter 175

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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 175
Ashley Holmes!
The woman who perpetrated a global fraud through BloodTherapy!
BloodTherapy announced the development of a medical kit called “Thomas”—a device capable of diagnosing over 250 different diseases from just a few drops of blood.
It sparked tremendous sensation and attracted various investments, but later everything was revealed to be a lie.
Ashley Holmes was once revered in the United States as the second Charlie Jobs, but after the fraud was exposed, South Korea knew her as the American version of the Hwang Woo-suk scandal.
And it was one of the few mistakes I made in my previous life.
Investing in BloodTherapy.
Chairman Jeon Ju-shin, who founded the Samjeon Group, was advanced in years when he suddenly left this world due to myocardial infarction.
And I faced the same fate.
I always did my best to maintain my health, but genetic diseases have a way of appearing suddenly.
Fortunately, I escaped it, but my youngest sibling, Jeon Mi-jin, inherited a neurological disorder from the Iron Lady’s maternal line, which became the reason for her temperamental nature.
The Samjeon Group was constantly making substantial donations to the medical field for various reasons, and even established South Korea’s finest hospital.
Naturally, my attention was drawn to “Thomas,” the blood diagnostic kit that was the hottest issue at the time.
To diagnose over 200 diseases from just a few drops of blood.
Especially for someone like me, the vice chairman of the Samjeon Group, who had to travel the world constantly, it was far more convenient than visiting hospitals.
For these various reasons, I invested in BloodTherapy, and ten years later, the company’s entire value converged to zero.
[I won’t just sit back and take it this time, Ashley Holmes.]
Ashley Holmes blinked her characteristically large eyes.
Her hair, dyed blonde, was somewhat dry and frizzy, but it was perfect for making her appear to others as a beautiful blonde woman devoted to her research.
Peter also seemed completely absorbed in Ashley Holmes’s research.
“Sung-guk, this girl Ashley is truly remarkable. She got into Stanford on a scholarship.”
[A lie from the very start.]
She did attend Stanford, but the scholarship part was a fabrication.
Peter continued to introduce Ashley Holmes.
“Well, during a break, she secured this technology while interning at a pharmaceutical company, and just like you, she dropped out of school to start a business. If there’s ‘FaceNote’ on the East Coast, then BloodTherapy is the West Coast equivalent, wouldn’t you say?”
“I suppose so.”
I gave a purely polite response.
[Peter, I’m going to make you regret those words within a month. How dare you compare me to a con artist!]
I suppressed my anger and took a long drink of water.
And at that moment, I felt Ashley Holmes staring at me with an uncomfortably intense gaze.
Peter patted my shoulder.
“Sung-guk, why don’t you two geniuses talk among yourselves? I need to go meet with a Republican congressman over there.”
“Of course, Peter.”
The moment Peter disappeared, Ashley approached me brazenly.
“Sung-guk, I joined ‘FaceNote’ too. Would it be alright if I sent you a friend request?”
“Of course.”
[Of course, I won’t accept your friend request, Ashley.]
Ashley wore a black dress with a plunging neckline and kept running her hand across her collarbone area.
[Ashley, are you trying to seduce me right now?]
Should I expose her? Or keep quiet?
Or should I use the fact that I’m a minor to completely destroy her credibility?
I shook my head.
Getting tangled up in this scandal would only cause me trouble.
I smiled at Ashley Holmes, as if I genuinely liked her.
[I’m a former child actor. This is all just a performance, Ashley.]
Ashley waved her hands through the air with a continuous smile.
“Sung-guk, where did FaceNote get its investment this time?”
“It was all over the news. Bill Gates and Charlie Jobs led the investment round, they said.”
“Of course I saw that news.”
[She’s asking me to connect her with them through me? She’s treating me like a complete fool.]
I took a sip of mineral water.
Ashley smiled and offered me champagne.
“Sung-guk, don’t just drink water. Have some champagne.”
“I’m a minor. I’ll get arrested if I drink, Ashley.”
“What?”
Ashley genuinely seemed unaware of this.
[Just like a con artist, your research is shallow, Ashley.]
Ashley smiled awkwardly.
“I thought you were around my age since you’re a Harvard student. Plus, you’re so tall. Anyway, I’m really sorry.”
Ashley gulped down her champagne.
Just then, Mark, exhausted from socializing, approached me.
“Sung-guk, what are you up to?”
“I’m talking with Ashley Holmes here, the founder of a biotech venture called BloodTherapy.”
“Oh, I’ve seen articles about that company before.”
Mark greeted Ashley with a bright smile.
Ashley flashed a seductive smile at Mark, showing her teeth slightly, and extended her hand.
“I’m Ashley Holmes from BloodTherapy. Mark, you’re not a minor, are you?”
“Oh, so you already knew Sung-guk is a minor. I’m not.”
Mark took Ashley’s hand.
But Mark, as everyone knew, was almost dandelion-like in his single-minded devotion.
When Ashley held onto his hand too long without letting go, he quickly pulled away as if shaking her off.
[Mark is a clean zone when it comes to women, Ashley.]
Ashley seemed genuinely surprised by how differently Mark and I behaved compared to other men.
“Mark, I went to Stanford, so I’m curious—what’s the atmosphere like at Harvard?”
“Well, I only attended briefly, so I’m not sure. Sung-guk here is the one who takes school the most seriously among us and was the most popular. I’ve always been hunched over in the corner like a nerd.”
[No wonder Mark isn’t popular with women.]
But at this moment, no one was more helpful to me than Mark.
Mark downed his champagne in one gulp, then placed his hand on my shoulder.
“Sung-guk, I just can’t adapt to this place. Why is everyone so fake?”
I smiled at Ashley Holmes and spoke.
“Ashley, let me calm Mark down first. Then we can talk about BloodTherapy.”
“I’ll stay here and chat with my friends. Sung-guk, see you soon.”
I led Mark to a corner of the party venue.
Mark looked at Ashley and me alternately with a displeased expression.
“Sung-guk, are you interested in that woman?”
“Mark, help me out here.”
“Don’t tell me you want me to help you get together with her?”
“Mark, how many years have we known each other? Don’t you know me?”
“I’ve rarely seen you talk so affectionately with a woman. Plus, compared to Jessie, that woman isn’t even that attractive.”
I smiled faintly.
“Mark, I’m going to expose that woman as a con artist within the next month.”
“What?”
Mark’s eyes widened further.
“Sung-guk, what are you talking about? Ashley Holmes is a con artist! Articles about her have been published extensively in prestigious scientific magazines.”
“That’s exactly how con artists start. Getting their names into prestigious magazines first.”
Mark took another sip of champagne.
“Sung-guk, how can I help?”
“There’s only one reason she approached us.”
“What’s that?”
“To poach our investors. Starting with Peter, then Bill and Charlie.”
“Is that even possible?”
Mark stared at me with wide, astonished eyes.
“We need to make it impossible. Together.”
“Sung-guk, my heart is suddenly racing. But I feel amazing. It’s like you’ve become James Bond from 007, and I’m an investigator at MI6 headquarters.”
“Mark, first, drop the fantasies. Our objective today is simple.”
“What is it?”
“Pretend to be friends with Ashley Holmes. But absolutely do not add her as a friend on FaceNote.”
“Why?”
“When she’s exposed as a con artist later, the media will try to connect us to her no matter what.”
“But if she sends a friend request, it’s awkward to refuse.”
“Mark, you’re the CEO of FaceNote. Think of a creative excuse! Besides, if Ashley Holmes sees us talking too long, she might get suspicious.”
“Sung-guk, let’s go now!”
Mark pushed me forward from behind.
* * *
Ashley Holmes was talking with a man I knew well.
Jerry Chang.
Jerry Chang’s expression hardened when he saw me.
Mark whispered from behind.
“Sung-guk, isn’t that Jerry? Did you send him that cautionary email last time?”
“Hmm. To be honest, I forgot while I was in the Marshall Islands.”
“Well, that’s a relief.”
It was a relief, but looking at Jerry Chang’s expression, I thought he was about to strangle me.
I approached him with a composed smile.
“Hello, Jerry Chang. It’s been a while.”
“Sung-guk, you know Jerry Chang?”
Ashley Holmes asked with an animated expression.
“Jerry Chang wanted to acquire FaceNote. That’s why he’s an investor with a keen eye.”
I gave Jerry Chang a subtle compliment.
I could see the corners of Jerry Chang’s mouth lift slightly.
“Jerry Chang, so you invested in FaceNote?”
“Sung-guk rejected it outright.”
“Jerry Chang, you’re mistaken. I was the one who rejected it!”
Mark stepped forward from behind.
Mark rejecting Jerry Chang’s proposal because of Lim Mi-mi was truly a stroke of genius.
Jerry Chang’s bewilderment was evident.
“Ashley, let’s talk more about our business another time.”
“Of course, Jerry Chang.”
Ashley Holmes subtly brushed Jerry Chang’s forearm.
[Sigh, what are you doing in front of a minor!]
I took a long drink of plain water.
Ashley Holmes smiled with her eyes and approached Mark and me again.
“Sung-guk, when will you come visit our company? I’ll show you the blood diagnostic kit I’m developing right now.”
[Me? Ashley, you’re not developing that alone anyway.]
But I responded as if I genuinely wanted to see the kit.
“I’ve been wanting to visit BloodTherapy for a while now.”
“Since things have come to this, I should throw a party. At our office. You’ll both come, right?”
“Of course.”
I nodded.
* * *
Mark, Lim Mi-mi, and I still stayed at the same dormitory.
Mark chatted away to Lim Mi-mi about Ashley Holmes.
“Ashley Holmes. She’s got this completely dull blonde hair and these huge round eyes, and every time she talks, she touches men’s arms. She really thinks she’s some kind of femme fatale.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. When she didn’t know Sung-guk was a minor, she kept approaching him, but once she found out he was a minor, she started approaching me instead. I complained so much and ran away. I did the right thing, didn’t I, Lim Mi-mi?”
“Mark, Lim Mi-mi isn’t your mother. Stop tattling.”
I shook my head.
“Sung-guk, were we talking too much?”
“It’s fine. You can talk more.”
“But, Sung-guk. Can I tell Lim Mi-mi that you’re planning to expose Ashley Holmes as a fraud?”
“Sigh… Mark. I’m already telling you.”
“Oh, right.”
“Sung-guk, I didn’t hear a thing. Back in North Korea, one careless word and you’d end up in Aoji—people there keep their mouths sealed tight.”
“Thank you, Lim Mi-mi.”
I quickly opened my laptop.
And checked FaceNote.
“Sung-guk, are you checking if that woman sent you a friend request?”
“Yeah.”
“Did she send one?”
“No. Mark, check yours too.”
Mark opened his laptop and checked FaceNote, then shook his head.
“She didn’t. Sung-guk, isn’t this woman completely insane? She boasted about sending a friend request first, and it’s been hours since the party ended, but she still hasn’t sent anything.”
“Just as I expected.”
I murmured quietly to myself.
Ashley Holmes was indeed a sociopath.
A woman who viewed everyone as tools for her own purposes.
Mark asked with a puzzled expression.
“Sung-guk, you predicted Ashley wouldn’t send a friend request?”
“Yeah. She sees us not as people, but as tools. There’s no reason for her to befriend tools. Not until she achieves her goals.”
“So you’re saying she won’t even consider us human until we introduce her to big shots like Bill and Charlie?”
“Yeah.”
I nodded firmly.
A battle against a sociopath… I was looking forward to it.
[Ashley, wait. I’m a narcissist without equal!]

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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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