I Will Raise This Family to Greatness - Chapter 229

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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 229
– Can Jeon Sung-guk truly turn the dying YouTube profitable within two years?
– The fearless teenager, Jeon Sung-guk. This time, he takes the helm as YouTube’s CEO!
– Just how far can Jeon Sung-guk’s reckless challenge go?
– Jeon Sung-guk—is he a genius? Or a smooth-talking con artist?
The economic journals could hardly contain their excitement at the news of my appointment as YouTube’s CEO.
While some welcomed the development, others looked down on me as a reckless teenager without a shred of sense.
But I knew for certain that YouTube would skyrocket within two years. I had lived through it.
During my time at Samjeon Group, I had conducted countless global analyses covering FaceNote, Google, and YouTube.
[I’ll remember every single journalist who wrote malicious articles about me and refuse them interviews.]
I began committing to memory the names of all the journalists who had penned disparaging pieces about me.
Just then, Mark approached me through the bustling office, wiping sweat from his brow.
“Sung-guk, but seriously. Where did you get the money to buy that 10% stake in YouTube?”
“I sold some land I owned in Korea.”
[Though I got an earful of nagging from Father because of it.]
To acquire the YouTube stake, I had sold off the land I’d accumulated in Korea over the years.
Dongtan had appreciated enough that I liquidated it all, and I also accelerated some payment from my appearance fee on the Intern spinoff.
I took out a bank loan for the shortfall, but I managed to secure the 10% stake.
“Sung-guk, you… had land in Korea?”
“Yeah. Land I’d bought years ago appreciated quite a bit. In South Korea, no matter what happens, real estate is always the answer.”
“Is it the same in the United States?”
“Mark, if you’re thinking about buying a house, now’s actually a good time. Banks are auctioning off all those foreclosed properties from people who can’t pay their mortgages.”
Since Lehman Brothers’ collapse, American real estate had been in free fall. The stock market was no different.
“I should talk it over with Mi-mi. Ever since she nearly lost everything on Nokia stock, she’s insisted on consulting before any investment.”
“Tell Lim Mi-mi that I strongly recommend it.”
“So, are you going to buy a house?”
“A house?”
Of course I wanted to.
I wanted to escape from Jeon Tae-guk and live alone in a stunning penthouse overlooking Silicon Valley! But.
“I don’t have the money.”
“Sung-guk, how can you say you don’t have money?”
“I invest everything I earn, so there’s nothing left to spend.”
I shrugged my shoulders.
Mark patted my shoulder.
“Sung-guk, you told me to invest in stocks, but if you end up broke, I’ll give you a room.”
[Mark, don’t worry. If I just hold on tight like this for two more years, YouTube will skyrocket. With a 45% stake in YouTube and FaceNote’s IPO, I could become the richest person in the world….]
“Mark, stop bragging and just save your money to buy a house.”
“Anyway, my spirit isn’t broken. Oh, Sung-guk. What was that idea you mentioned you’d thought of last time?”
“Oh… that. I was actually hoping to form a team right after we finish moving.”
“What else are you trying to develop now?”
“FaceNote is basically like a personal diary, right? But ever since the Apple phone came out, everyone became a photographer.”
“That’s true.”
“I think it would be great to have an app where people can upload photos cleanly without rambling on about them, get validation, and share them with friends.”
Mark shrugged.
“Like a photo album?”
“The concept of sharing my photo album with others.”
“Sung-guk, you’re going to push forward no matter what I say, aren’t you?”
“Mark, of course.”
In the original timeline, FaceNote would eventually acquire Instagram, which had already been developed, but why not just develop it ourselves right now instead?
I shrugged.
Just then, Lim Mi-mi shouted from a distance.
“You two! Stop loitering around and help us move!”
* * *
The new office was, in a word, perfect in every way.
The interior design we’d worked on for a month turned out exactly as Mark and I had envisioned.
The office space was filled with numerous plants, and we’d set up massive tables throughout where people could work freely.
A coffee machine and a relaxation area.
Plus private meeting spaces.
Right in front of the building was a garden where we could get some sunlight whenever we wanted.
I stepped outside with a cup of coffee and walked through the garden with Mark.
Mark’s expression was one of disbelief.
“Sung-guk, is this really our company? Even after moving in, I still can’t believe it. It feels like just yesterday you and I were making FaceNote in a high school dormitory room.”
“Mark, should I pinch your cheek to prove it?”
“Not quite that much. But I’m a bit anxious. I’m worried we’ve made things too big.”
“Mark, that’s what business is. You always carry that anxiety with you. An owner feeling anxious just means the owner is working hard, so don’t worry too much.”
“Sung-guk, why do you talk like someone who’s been in business their whole life?”
[If I count my previous life too, I have at least thirty years of business experience. Even more if you count the heir training.]
I took a sip of coffee.
Just then, my phone buzzed with a Twitter notification.
Elon Musk had told me to keep notifications on since he uses Twitter instead of FaceNote, and I’d apparently forgotten to turn them off.
– Someday I’ll be the richest person in the world, and I’ll acquire Twitter!
Elon Musk had posted another rambling message on his Twitter account.
[I really don’t know when Elon will ever grow up.]
I clicked my tongue.
And immediately turned off the notifications.
But Elon’s words weren’t wrong. He would become the world’s richest person and acquire Twitter.
For a moment, I reflected on the future I’d dreamed of after being reborn.
When I was toddling around in a tiny room, I’d thought about lifting my impoverished family out of poverty.
I’d believed that with the knowledge of the future I possessed, even if I couldn’t become a chaebol, I could earn enough money without worry.
But after coming to America to study and meeting Mark, I realized I could become a chaebol powerful enough to easily crush the Samjeon Group.
And now….
“Mark….”
Mark looked at me.
“Mark… don’t you think I could become the richest person in the world?”
“What?”
Mark looked a bit taken aback.
[Mark, why so surprised? FaceNote, YouTube, and Instagram too. Plus my investment in Elon, and I’m thinking about getting into cryptocurrency down the road… it seems entirely possible.]
“Sung-guk, your face looks really smug right now.”
“Hmm… it just seems feasible.”
Mark suddenly slapped my back.
“Anyway, there’s no stopping you. Sung-guk, instead of daydreaming like that, let’s clean up the mess you’ve created. The YouTube staff will be commuting here too, right?”
“Oh, that’s right…. Mark, and we need to start filming the Intern spinoff. Once we fill the positions that were left open from the last salary negotiation, what do you think about hiring a photo-sharing app developer for the rest?”
“That sounds good too….”
“By the way, recommend some good candidates from those who’ve submitted resumes to our company. I’ll contact them about participating in this program.”
“Sure, why not. But Sung-guk….”
“Yeah?”
“So you do imagine things while living….”
What’s he talking about?
“You just said it. That you might become the richest person in the world. That you were thinking about it.”
[That’s not imagination—it’s a very concrete result of the future.]
Mark was smiling brightly.
“I’ve always been a bit worried that you’re too realistic for your age. Honestly, I spent my entire teens just imagining dating Jessie. But you only ever talked about work, so I was concerned. But now I’m relieved to see that you do imagine things like this in your head too.”
[Mark, it’s not imagination!]
But I smiled faintly.
“Mark, I spend less time imagining and more time making it reality.”
“Sung-guk, but why can’t you do the same with romance?”
“Mark!”
Mark laughed and headed into the office.
“Sung-guk, get some more sunlight before coming in. What you need is photosynthesis and a love life.”
Mark continued teasing me as he entered the office.
But I could sense that the future I dreamed of was drawing near, almost within my grasp.
Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.
My phone vibrated in my pocket. Who was it?
An unfamiliar number appeared on the screen.
“Hello?”
Then, a familiar voice came through the receiver.
– Hyung, it’s me, Min-guk!
[Why are you showing up here?]
An ominous premonition made my brow furrow.
“Jeon Min-guk, what’s going on?”
– Hyung, I’m in the United States!
“What? Where? Why?”
– Hyung, please ask one question at a time.
“Where exactly in the United States are you right now?”
– San Francisco Airport.
“Why did you come to the United States?”
– Hyung, I ran away from home!
* * *
We rushed to the airport in Mark’s used car.
Mark asked in a worried voice.
“Sung-guk, what on earth happened to Min-guk?”
“I don’t know either. He says he ran away.”
“That kid’s even going global with his rebellion. But… why did he run away?”
“I have no idea….”
I replied in a sullen tone.
“Sung-guk, kids that age always go through phases like this. So don’t lecture him too much.”
“No, when I was his age, I was busy founding FaceNote and attending the Forum… so why on earth would he run away?”
[Just because he’s well-fed and has a roof over his head, he’s doing nonsensical things. I think I need to give Jeon Min-guk a serious reality check.]
Mark chuckled beside me as if he knew exactly what I was thinking.
“Sung-guk, you’re really an exceptional case. I’d say there’s only one person on this planet who lives like you do.”
“Sigh….”
I simply closed my mouth.
They say a tree with many branches never has a calm day….
And among those branches, Jeon Min-guk was the one with the most turbulent days.
* * *
When we rushed into the airport, Min-guk was surrounded by flight attendants.
What kind of situation was this?
Min-guk gestured toward me.
“Hyung! Over here!”
“Jeon Min-guk, what exactly are you doing here?”
“Hyung, I’ll explain the details at home. The flight attendant let me borrow her phone to call you.”
Min-guk suddenly pulled me over and began introducing me to the flight attendants.
“This is my older brother. He’s the founder of FaceNote, and he’s that baby from the movie ‘Five Men and a Baby’ when he was little.”
[I’m not a baby anymore!]
The flight attendants began to cheer.
“Oh my, it’s really him. Min-guk is so handsome that we were saying he looked like a celebrity… but your brother is a real celebrity.”
“I follow FaceNote. Can I take a photo with you?”
Min-guk pushed me into the circle of flight attendants.
“Of course. My brother looks great in person, but he also photographs incredibly well.”
I found myself taking photos with the flight attendants one after another.
“My goodness, Min-guk’s right. These photos are incredible.”
I quickly grabbed Min-guk’s hand and whispered into his ear.
“What are you up to right now?”
“Hyung, you got rejected on that blind date, remember? Your face doesn’t seem to work in America, so I did a little marketing with some of our country’s flight attendants.”
“Who told you to worry about that?”
“Hyung, do you think I do nothing all day?”
[Good grief, this kid….]
My younger brother was a handful in this life and the last one too.
“Let’s talk about this at home.”
“Got it. Hyung, buy me pizza.”
Jeon Min-guk shamelessly demanded pizza despite running away from home.
When would this brat’s adolescence finally end?!
* * *
In the car, Min-guk wore a heavy expression, his lips sealed shut—a far cry from his demeanor around the flight attendants.
Mark kept glancing back and forth between Min-guk and me.
“Mi-mi said she’d bring pizza. Should we go eat, Min-guk?”
“Yes, Mark hyung.”
“Min-guk, but why did you run away?”
Mark asked gently.
In that moment, Min-guk’s eyes reddened and tears spilled down his cheeks.
“Sniff.”
“Min-guk, what’s wrong?”
As I turned around, Min-guk cried out in a trembling voice.
“Hyung, I can’t take being a trainee anymore!”

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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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