I Will Raise This Family to Greatness - Chapter 187

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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 187
Jeon Tae-guk woke up and immediately started drinking again.
“Hyung, maybe take it easy on the alcohol?”
“Sung-guk, are you worried about me now?”
[I’m just trying to prevent him from becoming a burden when we get off the plane. And honestly, he was a deadweight in my previous life too. How does nothing about him ever change?]
I shook my head in exasperation.
“I understand. I’ll just have some champagne instead.”
“Do as you please.”
Jeon Tae-guk suddenly opened his laptop to check FaceNote, then looked at me with glistening eyes.
“Sung-guk….”
[Please don’t get emotional. I only did this for networking purposes since I need connections with the Samjeon Group to do business in Korea.]
“Sung-guk… I finally made a friend?”
“Hyung, take a look at this article.”
I handed him the newspaper.
After reading it, Jeon Tae-guk flew into a rage.
“Are you kidding me? These hack journalists! They didn’t even verify before running this story! My FaceNote is obviously the real one! I need to call the secretary team right now and have them pull all the ads and everything else. These pathetic hacks!”
While Jeon Tae-guk was fuming, Mark left a strange comment on FaceNote.
– Sung-guk, things are going well, right? I’ll pick you and Mi-mi up on time. But… I think it’d be better if you covered your face as much as possible when you come out.
What was going on?
Mark’s next comment came right after.
– My friend is a Washington Post journalist, and apparently reporters and paparazzi are going crazy trying to interview you right now. Anyway, we’ll be waiting out front. Keep your face covered.
Ashley Holmes and I were definitely cursed to cross paths.
I looked at Jeon Tae-guk.
“Hyung, do you have sunglasses?”
“Yeah. Why?”
“Since I accepted your friend request, could you lend me some sunglasses?”
“Sure. You’re my first friend, after all. I’ll be generous. These are my new Gucci ones.”
I quickly took the sunglasses.
The in-flight announcement came that we were about to land at San Francisco Airport.
* * *
I adjusted my hoodie.
Jeon Tae-guk shook his head.
“If I were you, I would’ve worn every designer outfit in existence.”
“Hyung, I’m not as rich as you.”
“What are you talking about? You have money now too.”
[Once FaceNote goes public, I’ll obviously be richer than you, Jeon Tae-guk.]
But for now, I was just an ordinary person with a bit of savings.
“Not enough to be extravagant.”
“You’re really something.”
Making small talk, we gathered our luggage and headed toward the gate.
I put on the Gucci sunglasses I’d borrowed from Jeon Tae-guk.
Jeon Tae-guk looked at me with a hint of jealousy in his eyes.
“What, they look better on you than me.”
[Of course they do.]
“But why are you suddenly wearing sunglasses?”
“You’ll find out soon enough, hyung.”
Finally, the gate doors opened.
Simultaneously, countless reporters and paparazzi began snapping photos as I emerged.
Flashes erupted from every direction, making it impossible to think straight.
[I was used to this back when I was a chaebol….]
Though that chaebol era was already over fifteen years ago.
Reporters swarmed from all directions, bombarding me with questions.
“Ashley Holmes said you were the man she loved most—what was your relationship exactly?”
“Some say Ashley Holmes is using FaceNote’s CEO Jeon Sung-guk to divert attention from her scandal. What do you think about that?”
“Did you really love Ashley Holmes?”
It was an absolute barrage of nonsensical drivel.
I had to settle this situation one way or another.
I stood my ground and faced the reporters.
One reporter hastily thrust a microphone toward me.
“Go ahead, tell us.”
I brushed back my falling bangs slightly while keeping the sunglasses on.
Then, looking at the swarm of reporters descending like angry wasps, I slowly opened my mouth.
“I am fifteen years old by Korean age. By American standards, I’m even younger. That means I’m still a minor. And as one of you reporters mentioned earlier, Ashley Holmes is exaggerating our meeting for public attention. I attended a party Ashley Holmes invited me to with Mark Zuckerberg, FaceNote’s co-founder, and we simply discussed her investment interests while sharing pizza. Of course, news broke at that pizza restaurant about Ashley Holmes’s fraud, so I only managed to eat three slices.”
The reporters waited for my next words.
“I was nearly the only party attendee who questioned Ashley Holmes’s company, BloodTherapy. I believe Ashley Holmes harbors resentment over that. My statement ends here. And I won’t tolerate this any longer. Any journalists and media outlets publishing speculative articles about Ashley Holmes and me should prepare to face consequences.”
I concluded the interview with an appropriate threat.
Soon I spotted Mark and Lim Mi-mi waving from behind the crowd. Jeon Tae-guk was with them.
I quickly approached Mark.
“Sung-guk, are you okay?”
“Ashley Holmes—I’m going to absolutely destroy her.”
I clenched my teeth.
* * *
– FaceNote co-founder Jeon Sung-guk speaks out about his grievances.
– American reporters swayed by Ashley Holmes’s media manipulation.
– Jeon Sung-guk warns all media outlets publishing speculative articles about Ashley Holmes and himself. “I won’t tolerate this any longer!”
– Jeon Sung-guk’s airport fashion becomes a hot topic.
– Jeon Sung-guk, wearing over 300-dollar Gucci sunglasses, captivates hearts.
Mark burst out laughing while reading the morning newspaper article.
“Sung-guk, your fashion from yesterday is going viral on the internet right now. They even listed all the brands you wore in detail here. Those sneakers you wore yesterday—nice?”
“New Balance… anyway, they didn’t even check before writing….”
I shook my head.
“There’s even an article like this. ‘Jeon Sung-guk, thought to be modest, is actually a luxury brand enthusiast.'”
“You told me to hide my face as much as possible, so I borrowed them from Jeon Tae-guk.”
“The real bombshell is that those Gucci sunglasses you wore yesterday are now sold out in every store across the country. Sung-guk, you’ve become a total fashionista.”
[Mark, listen. In my previous life, I was a fashionista from a chaebol family, but I gave that up in this one.]
I took a bite of my bagel.
[I’m not interested in that sort of thing… After coming back from Korea, I’m craving a warm bowl of soup with rice.]
Just then, the doorbell rang loudly.
It had to be Jeon Tae-guk from next door.
Mark looked at me with a smile.
“Sung-guk, Tae-guk is always coming over to our place. Should I just give him a key?”
“Even when you and Mi-mi are spending intimate time together, he just barges in like that. You’re okay with it?”
“Sung-guk, we’re not like that.”
Mark’s face turned as red as his hair.
I heard Jeon Tae-guk’s voice from outside.
“Come on, open the door.”
Mark quickly opened the door, and Jeon Tae-guk handed me the sunglasses with a look of despair, practically throwing them at me.
“Hyung, these are yours.”
I’d only worn the sunglasses when leaving the airport yesterday and returned them to Jeon Tae-guk as is.
“If I wear these, people will definitely ask if they bought them because of you.”
[Same sunglasses, different vibe? Something like that….]
I casually tore off a piece of bagel with my teeth.
“I’ve really come to like these sunglasses after a long time. Just keep wearing them.”
“I won’t refuse.”
It wasn’t easy to turn down something free.
“By the way, when is Yang Chul-soo coming?”
“He’s supposed to arrive in a few days. Oh, Sung-guk. Do you want to live with me?”
What did he mean?
“Yang Chul-soo hasn’t told you yet? He said he’s probably going to move into the Stanford dormitory.”
“No, I’m hearing this for the first time.”
“If Yang Chul-soo moves into the Stanford dormitory, how about you move to our place? We’ll give this one to the couple.”
I looked at Mark.
Mark waved his hand dismissively.
“Sung-guk, I’m really fine with it. Let’s keep living together here. Or rather, if we’re going to move, we should move together.”
“So that means you want to live together as a couple?”
“Well, that’s….”
In America, cohabitation was a common thing.
It was a rational choice to share expensive rent, and a way to get to know each other before marriage. It wasn’t something shameful like it was in Korea.
I finished chewing the rest of my bagel.
My surroundings were slowly changing.
FaceNote had received substantial investment, and the staff grew every week.
The number of users was increasing at an equally frightening pace.
And Mark was growing older, falling in love.
No matter how much I refused to admit it, they were all more mature than me.
I swallowed my bagel and looked at Mark.
“Mark, I’m going to move to Jeon Tae-guk’s place.”
“Sung-guk….”
“I’m serious. Tell Lim Mi-mi that too.”
“Uh….”
Mark looked apologetic even as he answered.
“Jeon Tae-guk, I’ll contact Yang Chul-soo and set a moving date.”
“Got it.”
Then I swept my bangs back and headed to the bathroom to brush my teeth.
[Sigh… so this is how I keep growing up….]
Behind me, I heard Jeon Tae-guk and Mark whispering to each other.
“Doesn’t Sung-guk seem like he has middle school syndrome when he gets all serious like that?”
“You’re one to talk. Sung-guk obviously has middle school syndrome. He’s that age, after all.”
[These kids are still so young….]
I began brushing my teeth with fury.
* * *
Through the phone, I heard Jung-woo’s excited voice.
– Sung-guk, I passed the audition. Bang Mu-hyuk wants me to come in as a trainee.
“Jung-woo, even if it’s tough, don’t get distracted. Hang in there.”
– Yeah. I’ll work really hard and show you me becoming a famous singer.
“Jung-woo, if things ever get hard… if you get offers from other agencies, make sure to consult with me first.”
– Of course. Sung-guk, I’m really going to become a famous singer and restore our family’s fortune just like you said!
“I’ll support you.”
[And hopefully become a singer who makes our talent agency a lot of money too.]
I hung up with a satisfied expression.
Knock. Knock.
I heard the knock, and Jeon Tae-guk poked his head in.
“Do you like the room?”
“It’s the same as the room I used at the neighboring house, so it’s comfortable.”
Young Secretary Yang had confidently succeeded in transferring to Stanford and left for the dormitory right away.
And I moved in right away for Mark and Lim Mi-mi.
Jeon Tae-guk looked around the room and extended his hand to me.
What did that mean?
“Sung-guk, let’s work well together from now on.”
“Me too, hyung.”
I took Jeon Tae-guk’s hand.
And so, a new season was opening for me in Silicon Valley.
* * *
September 12, 2006.
“Sung-guk, wake up!”
I opened my eyes groggily.
“Mark?”
“How many days have you been sleeping here anyway?”
“I have no idea….”
“Jeon Tae-guk asked me to bring you some clean clothes this morning.”
“Oh, thanks.”
“Get up. Lim Mi-mi made kimbap for you this morning, saying you’d die at this rate.”
“Wow, that’s amazing.”
I sprang up from bed immediately.
“What have you been so obsessed with lately anyway?”
“Can’t you just give me the kimbap first?”
“Fine. Eat slowly.”
“Yeah!”
I stuffed the kimbap Mark handed me into my mouth.
[How long has it been since I’ve eaten kimbap like this….]
I was nearly moved to tears.
“Here, water.”
“Thanks….”
“Stop talking and just eat.”
I devoured the kimbap relentlessly.
Over the past year and more, FaceNote had grown exponentially.
Investments poured in ceaselessly, and the user base exploded.
We’d already crushed the rival “My House,” which had operated on a similar concept.
On top of that, everything I’d invested in was rolling forward at a breakneck pace.
SpaceZ had finally succeeded in launching a spacecraft and signed a contract with NASA, beginning to receive massive investments.
Jim posted on FaceNote that he’d soon be released from the Marshall Islands and returning to the United States.
Alibaba, which had been barely getting started when I invested, was now beginning to dominate China’s internet commerce market.
And the land I’d invested in at Dongtan and Magok in South Korea was already generating over tenfold returns as development plans were officially announced, and the stock performance was beyond words.
Father’s Won Uncle’s Bossam was actively expanding, starting with the Jamsil flagship location, followed by the first and second Gangnam branches, and even opening stores in metropolitan areas.
Simultaneously, Mother and Kim Mi-young’s SKJ Production Company was establishing itself quite solidly, creating global advertisements for Hyojin Group.
And remarkably, Min-guk had ranked first in his entire elementary school during the first semester of sixth grade, and was now a middle school student.
Ji-hee was already sweeping elementary school mathematics competitions. Her face had also become slightly prettier than when she was first born.
Bang Mu-hyuk was just beginning to conceive of plans to pair Min-guk and Jung-woo as a team to form a boy idol group.
Finally, what I’d been absorbed in for the past several days was American political systems, current senators and representatives, key figures in the current government, and their track records.
Mark glanced at my laptop and looked at me with surprise.
“Sung-guk, what is all this?”
“He’s the current face of American politics.”
“Why are you looking at this?”
“Barack Obama reached out to me a few days ago. He’s going to announce his presidential campaign next month on television. His campaign needs someone to handle SNS, and he’s asking me to join.”
Mark stared at me with a slightly dumbfounded expression.
“Sung-guk… so… what did you tell him?”
“I told him I’d think about it. For now.”

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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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