I Will Raise This Family to Greatness - Chapter 200

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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 200
Chad Chun gazed at me leisurely, his face pleasantly tanned.
“Sung-guk, want some water? I have Evian.”
“Sure. Evian sounds perfect.”
I accepted the Evian with ease and sipped it slowly.
Chad Chun’s house was truly a view connoisseur’s paradise. Beyond the living room lay a swimming pool, and beyond that stretched the expansive Malibu beach.
As I gazed out at the Malibu shoreline, Chad Chun puffed up slightly.
“Sung-guk, when you make it big with FaceNote, move out to this neighborhood.”
“I’m sensitive to sunlight, actually.”
I made an excuse. But my true thoughts were different.
Those who easily sell their ideas for a high price never become the greatest.
[Chad, that’s why you’ll remain a mere billionaire. I’ll become one of the world’s most distinguished fortunes.]
I sipped my Evian leisurely. Chad’s days of bragging were numbered—only a few years left.
“Chad, you really did well selling YouTube. Life is meant to be enjoyed like this, isn’t it?”
I spoke words I didn’t truly mean.
“Exactly, Sung-guk. When you get the chance with FaceNote, sell it off and party with me. You’re about to shed that minor label anyway. California’s social scene will absolutely love you.”
“I’ll think about it.”
[When I say I’ll think about it, I mean no.]
I kept drinking my Evian steadily.
Just then, a financial newspaper caught my eye, resting in the corner of the sofa.
It was the same financial paper he’d been reading while I was here.
There was no way Chad Chun hadn’t read the YouTube-related articles.
Chad Chun would want to sell his remaining YouTube shares at the highest possible price, and I was more than willing to oblige.
“Chad, have you contacted Google?”
“Yeah, I reached out. But Google said they want to acquire my remaining stake themselves….”
[A lie.]
According to what I’d learned through Elon Musk, Google would sell YouTube in a heartbeat if someone appeared willing to buy it right now.
Elon Musk was best friends with Google’s founders—though they’d have a falling out over a woman later.
In fact, he’d even asked Elon, who had just successfully launched SpaceX’s spacecraft, if he was interested in acquiring YouTube.
Of course, Elon had declined due to lack of funds.
I responded calmly while sipping my Evian.
“Then there’s nothing to be done. Google will offer you a better price for your shares than I would anyway.”
“But here’s the thing….”
Chad Chun began changing his tune urgently.
“I think it’s bad that YouTube is growing while only listening to one perspective.”
[And?]
“So I’m seriously considering your proposal too. Growth requires diverse opinions, after all.”
That was true.
But there was no reason for me to answer hastily.
“Chad, let’s enjoy this magnificent view today. We can discuss business slowly another time, yes?”
“U-uh, yes.”
Chad Chun still stammered slightly whenever he was flustered.
Just then, loud hip-hop music blared from the swimming pool.
My head was already beginning to throb.
Chad Chun smiled faintly as he sipped his beer.
“Sung-guk, it looks like the friends you brought are putting on a concert.”
“Yeah, well…”
[I’d rather take a walk along the beach than listen to those three rap.]
I grabbed an Ebisu and headed toward the Malibu beach.
* * *
A man approached Chad Chun.
It was Liam Smith, who managed Chad Chun’s wealth.
Liam Smith whispered carefully to Chad Chun.
“Is Sung-guk showing interest?”
“Really… that guy is impossible to read. He seemed interested before, but when I told him what you suggested—that I wanted to buy out all my shares from Google—he just said there’s nothing to be done about it.”
“Honestly, Chad, everyone in this industry knows YouTube is operating at a loss.”
“Hmm… Liam, what should I do?”
Chad Chun began to grow anxious.
Liam Smith offered another piece of advice.
“Don’t forget that the decision is yours to make. We don’t know how things will unfold, but I think it would be better to sell the 5% stake now. With all the recent articles, YouTube’s situation is getting worse. There’s even talk that Google will be downsizing YouTube staff.”
“Then I’ll have to push it onto Sung-guk somehow.”
“That seems like the best option.”
Mark had been quietly listening to this entire conversation from behind.
* * *
I walked slowly along the Malibu beach.
Soon, the time would come when I could witness a magnificent sunset.
“Sung-guk! Sung-guk!”
Mark came sprinting across the sand like a madman.
“Mark, what’s wrong?”
“Huff— huff— huff— I, it’s—”
I handed him the Ebisu I was holding.
“Mark, catch your breath and tell me slowly.”
“Uh…”
Mark gulped down the Ebisu and exhaled heavily.
“This is why I keep telling you to exercise regularly.”
“Sung-guk, I don’t have time for your lectures. I just overheard Chad talking with Liam, his wealth advisor.”
[This doesn’t sound good…]
Mark caught his breath a few more times before continuing.
“So, Chad wants to sell you his YouTube stake. Apparently, YouTube is completely neglected even within Google, and they’re planning to cut staff.”
I already knew all of this.
Mark exhaled roughly.
“Sung-guk, you’re still going to acquire YouTube shares?”
“Hmm…”
There was no point telling Mark something like this.
I tried my best to reassure him.
“Mark, don’t worry so much. FaceNote is solid, so one failed investment won’t bring me down.”
“What? You’re still acquiring YouTube shares after hearing that?”
[If not now, I’ll never get another chance to have a stake in YouTube!]
I spoke calmly.
“Mark, thanks. I’ll think about it. But something like this takes time, you know? Can I walk alone for a bit?”
“Sure, Sung-guk. Everyone makes mistakes sometimes, so don’t get too discouraged.”
“Yeah. Mark, thanks.”
[Mark, please just sell your Nokia stock!]
But I kept my mouth shut and walked along the Malibu beach.
Waiting for Chad Chun to arrive.
* * *
Loud hip-hop music blared from Chad Chun’s pool, and I could hear Min-guk and Jung-woo rapping.
[This is actually pretty decent.]
Of course, Jeon Tae-guk’s rap that followed tested the limits of human patience, but the Americans found it so comedic that their laughter never ceased.
I stood gazing at the sunset for a moment.
The breeze blowing from the ocean was refreshing.
And finally, the person I’d been waiting for appeared. It was Chad Chun.
“Sung-guk, what are you doing here alone?”
“I’m always stuck inside concrete buildings working, so it feels good to enjoy this kind of leisure. I’m thinking maybe I should just quit everything—work, investments, all of it—and enjoy life like you do. Or maybe go back to Harvard and study more.”
I could see his eyes waver at my words.
“Ah… Sung-guk, then… is it about YouTube?”
“Oh right, I almost forgot. YouTube. Honestly, it’s not even at a level where it can handle the traffic yet. Google needs to invest in it, but there are rumors they’ve been losing money since last year and even cutting staff.”
“Sung-guk, so you have no interest in my YouTube shares?”
[Of course I do. Very much.]
I shrugged.
“To be honest, I’m not sure. On the way here, I saw business journals predicting a very bleak future for YouTube. Chad, why don’t you just hand it over to Google now?”
“Ah, that’s… what if I sold it to you instead?”
“Hmm….”
I pretended to fall into thought.
Google’s acquisition price for YouTube was 1.65 billion dollars.
In Korean currency, that’s roughly 2 trillion won—an astronomical sum.
Thanks to that, Chad Chun and the other founding members became billionaires.
Chad Chun’s stake was 5%.
“Google says they want to buy my shares to make the deal perfect. They’re talking 10 million dollars.”
[A lie.]
I shrugged my shoulders.
With Apple’s stock rising and the sale of my Samjeon shares from South Korea, I could move well over ten million dollars right now. But I pretended not to notice.
“It’s more expensive than I thought. What Chad said about Google monopolizing YouTube and losing all potential for growth really stuck with me, but money talks, I suppose.”
This remark struck a nerve with Chad.
Chad wanted to be a billionaire, yet he always needed to appear socially conscious.
I walked along Malibu Beach with my Evisu beer, utterly indifferent.
Chad Chun didn’t follow, but his bewilderment was unmistakable.
* * *
Darkness fell, and the party grew increasingly heated.
On the stage set up by the swimming pool, Min-guk, Jung-woo, and Jeon Tae-guk took turns performing hip-hop music relentlessly.
Just then, an economics expert appeared on the TV in the living room, saying that Google’s acquisition of YouTube was ailing the company.
Mark, watching the TV, kept giving me meaningful glances.
[Don’t worry, Mark. I’ve already bought off every one of those economic experts.]
I watched the TV with a grave expression, and Chad Chun certainly didn’t miss this.
Ever since our encounter on the beach, Chad Chun had been circling around me.
“Hmm….”
I took a deliberately serious sip of Evisu.
Then I shook my head slowly.
I made eye contact with a worried Mark.
Then I turned away from Chad Chun’s gaze with a troubled expression.
I grew increasingly curious about what choice someone would make when cornered like this.
* * *
The next day, the sun in Malibu was scorching.
I woke early and brewed coffee, and Chad Chun, now on edge from the noise, emerged from his room.
“Chad, I slept so well thanks to you.”
“Our home is always open. Come by often, Sung-guk.”
“Thank you. Chad, would you like some coffee?”
“Uh… I’ll have a cup too.”
Silence resumed.
I brewed the coffee calmly, and Chad Chun watched my expression as he turned on the TV.
The morning news reported once again about Google’s YouTube losses.
[Chad, I’ve spread some money around.]
Chad Chun quickly turned off the TV.
I calmly handed Chad his coffee.
“Chad, have your coffee.”
“Uh… thanks.”
I drank my coffee in silence, and Chad Chun did the same.
And until we parted ways, we didn’t speak a single word about YouTube.
* * *
Mark looked at me through the rearview mirror with concern.
“Sung-guk, you’re not going to buy YouTube, right?”
“Mark, I think the real problem isn’t me acquiring YouTube shares—it’s you not selling your Nokia stock….”
Lim Mi-mi nodded in agreement from the front.
“Boss, I agree with that. In fact, I bought a bit more Nokia stock just last week.”
“Mark, you’re going to bankrupt yourself like this.”
“I’m just buying Nokia stock little by little, but you’re talking about spending nearly all your wealth on YouTube shares. And this is happening while every financial news outlet and broadcast has been expressing concerns about Google’s YouTube acquisition in unison.”
Mark grumbled in a distinctly sulky tone.
At that moment, Lim Mi-mi turned to me with a suspicious expression.
“Boss, I find that strange too. Why are all the financial news programs suddenly expressing concerns about Google’s YouTube acquisition? And precisely at the moment when you’re trying to acquire YouTube shares?”
“Mi-mi, what are you saying? Did Sung-guk pull some strings or something?”
Mark responded as if that were impossible.
“Mark, Lim Mi-mi. Wouldn’t it be more profitable to spread some money around various broadcasts and newspapers and buy Chad Chun’s shares cheaply, rather than buying them at the price Chad Chun wants?”
“Sung-guk! Are you really doing that?”
“Mark, please just sell your Nokia stock.”
* * *
I was waiting for my flight back to Korea at San Francisco Airport.
I hadn’t heard from Chad Chun since then.
Of course, I had continued to have economic publications and news outlets run stories expressing concerns about Google’s YouTube acquisition.
[By now, he should be calling….]
Jeon Tae-guk grabbed my shoulder.
“Sung-guk, what are you thinking about? Let’s board the plane.”
“Yeah.”
Jung-woo marveled at experiencing first class for the first time, while Min-guk and Jeon Tae-guk remained absorbed in hip-hop, chattering away excitedly.
I checked my phone one last time. At that moment, my phone rang like a miracle.
It was Chad Chun.
I answered the call immediately.
Chad Chun’s voice was trembling.
– Sung-guk, about my YouTube shares. Will you acquire them for five million dollars?
The price had dropped from ten million dollars to five million—cut in half.
It meant Chad Chun was cornered.
I smiled and answered immediately.
“Chad, I’ll send my representative right away.”

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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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