I Will Raise This Family to Greatness - Chapter 279

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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 279
– The Vancouver Olympics explained in a single photograph!
– Vancouver Olympics, faces of glory appear on FaceNote!
– From the American hockey team to snowboarding legend Jann White and Queen Kim Yeo-na! Who is this man named Jeon Sung-guk who brought them all together!
Silicon Valley, where I’d returned, was incomparably mild compared to Vancouver’s bitter cold.
I walked through the apartment I’d decided to live in alone after Jeon Tae-guk went back to Korea.
Three bedrooms, three bathrooms.
A cozy living room and kitchen.
A gentle view of Silicon Valley visible from the living room.
I’d thought that here, I’d spend my evenings in contemplation alone, and as an adult, I could even enjoy a glass of wine or two….
“Ugh!”
Jeon Tae-guk emerged from his room, stretching.
“Sung-guk, want some coffee?”
“I already made some downstairs.”
“Why do you do things I didn’t even ask you to do?”
[It’s not that I do things unbidden—I just always wake up first in the morning, so what can I do!]
I simply drank my coffee.
When would peace of mind finally come to me?
“Brother, when do you start at the San Francisco Branch?”
“In about… two weeks. Before that I need to buy a car… go to Gucci and get new suits… pick up some limited editions from Mark…. There’s just so much to do…. Maybe I’ll say I’m starting in a month. You’re going to start at the company right away, right?”
“Yes….”
“Oh, your article came out huge again. How did you take that photo?”
“Just took it while walking down the street.”
This was the truth.
“Anyway, your luck is insanely good. How do you take a group photo with Olympic heroes just walking down the street? And with Kim Yeo-na too. By the way, you’re going to recruit Kim Yeo-na as the model for Korea’s FaceNote, right?”
“Now that the Olympics are over, we need to start working on it gradually.”
I finished my coffee.
Now was the time to begin FaceNote’s full-scale expansion into Korea.
* * *
FaceNote Office Building Conference Room.
“FaceNote’s usage in the United States is now rapidly chasing Twitter. However, in Asian regions, we’re still falling significantly behind Twitter in terms of recognition and user numbers. That’s why I want to launch a major advertising campaign for expansion into Asian markets.”
Mark raised his hand excitedly.
“Queen Yeo-na is doing the modeling, right?”
“We’ve already made contact with her agency, and I’m working on it behind the scenes personally.”
Sam and Adam both looked excited.
“Sung-guk, we all watched that competition. She was absolutely a goddess—no, a queen. I think she’d be perfect as the model for the Asian region. She’s loved by everyone.”
“And Kim Yeo-na is already using FaceNote.”
I answered with confidence.
“We saw the article. They became friends and took photos together!”
Sam and Adam were more excited than I was, talking animatedly.
“We haven’t signed the contract yet. From now on, we’ll be actively recruiting advertising models.”
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Someone knocked on the conference room door, and Emily from the marketing team entered. But her expression wasn’t good.
“Emily, what’s wrong?”
“Sung-guk… I contacted Kim Yeo-na’s agency. Apparently, Twitter is currently in contact with Kim Yeo-na as an advertising model for the Asian region.”
“What?”
Sam was surprised and asked before I could respond.
“They probably saw the photo you posted on FaceNote and rushed into recruitment. You and the FaceNote representative are friends and even took photos together, but they want to use Twitter as the advertising model! I think that’s what they’re aiming for.”
“What does the agency say?”
“Kim Yeo-na’s opinion is important, but you know how it is. If Twitter offers a substantial sum more than us… then it’s not just Kim Yeo-na’s decision alone. It’s complicated with her parents and the agency involved.”
“No way!”
Mark also cried out in protest.
“Sung-guk, we absolutely have to get Kim Yeo-na as our model!”
“Oh, and… this is information I obtained personally.”
Everyone’s attention turned to Emily.
“Jack Dorsey, the Twitter CEO, is planning to go to Korea directly.”
I furrowed my brow.
[Jack Dorsey, that dirty bastard!]
Jack Dorsey was the founder and CEO of Twitter.
He was known as an eccentric—a lanky man with a scraggly beard who would leave work early claiming it was for his hobbies.
Emily continued.
“Sung-guk, Twitter was doing great for a while, but lately its growth in the United States has stalled. The industry consensus is that growth in America has plateaued. That’s why the industry is focusing on growth in the Asian region. Korea especially is an IT powerhouse and a battleground for emerging SNS platforms.”
“Emily, don’t you have more detailed information? Have they set up a meeting with Kim Yeo-na?”
“Apparently, since Kim Yeo-na will be busy with the World Championships coming up soon, they’re planning to target her parents instead.”
“Hmm….”
It was time to make a decision.
“Emily, book me the earliest flight to Korea.”
Just then, Mark raised his hand.
“Sung-guk, I want to go to Korea with you on this trip.”
“Mark, what are you suddenly saying? We can’t have both representatives away from the office….”
“Ah, well… let’s talk about that separately.”
Mark lowered his hand.
“Then, Sung-guk. Should I book airplane tickets for both of you?”
“Wait a moment… I just thought of someone.”
[This is exactly what I’ve been saving him for—my faithful hound.]
I quickly called Jeon Tae-guk and explained the current situation.
The hound I knew was even the heir to Samjeon Group, an official sponsor of the Vancouver Olympics.
– Sung-guk, are you saying Twitter might steal Kim Yeo-na as an advertising model?
“Jack Dorsey, the Twitter CEO, is apparently going to Korea directly to secure Kim Yeo-na as a model, hyung.”
– Ah, then we should go too. I’ll have Secretary Park Sung-hee book the earliest flight. First class always has availability.
I hung up the phone.
But something felt off.
[Us? Does that mean Jeon Tae-guk is going too?]
* * *
Mark and Lim Mi-mi walked into our home carrying enormous suitcases.
“Sung-guk, thanks for the special leave.”
“Boss, me too.”
The reason Mark had to return to Korea this time was because of Lim Mi-mi’s parents.
After defecting from North Korea, Lim Mi-mi’s parents had settled in Korea rather than joining her in the United States. They’d only recently learned that their daughter was cohabiting with a man, and upon discovering this, they’d declared they would sever ties unless she introduced them to him immediately.
“Lim Mi-mi, so your parents didn’t know you were living with Mark until now?”
“Well, they knew I was dating a foreigner… but you know how it is. North Korean parents are pretty conservative.”
“Korean parents are all the same. Anyway, use this opportunity to make a good impression on Mark.”
Mark grinned widely, clearly delighted, and rattled off a few Korean greetings.
“An-nyong-ha…seyo. I am Mark. How’s that? Sung-guk. I speak Korean really well, right?”
“Yeah. Absolutely terrible.”
“Of course I’d never get a compliment from you. Jeon Tae-guk isn’t coming with us?”
“There’s no way—”
I sighed.
“Tae-guk is at the department store right now.”
“The department store? Why?”
“He’s buying clothes to wear when he goes out to eat with Kim Yeo-na.”
I checked the time and shook my head.
“Mark, Lim Mi-mi. Let’s just head to the airport ourselves. I’ll tell Tae-guk to meet us there directly.”
* * *
Jeon Tae-guk barely made it into first class just before the plane took off.
Of course, he came with an assortment of shopping bags in tow.
“Hyung, you can buy more once we’re in Korea.”
“I need to buy more even in Korea. The fit here isn’t quite what I want. I think I need to look at more options in Asian sizing.”
“Hyung… we only have exactly two hours tomorrow evening. Don’t spend too much money for that time.”
Thanks to Samjeon Group’s backing as a sponsor of the Vancouver Olympics, I’d barely managed to secure an evening dinner with Kim Yeo-na and her parents.
Officially, it was an evening dinner with Samjeon Group, the official sponsor of the Vancouver Olympics, but in reality, I needed to secure a commitment from Kim Yeo-na and her parents.
My neck was tense with nervousness.
I’d worked hard in my previous life to land major advertising models, but I’d never felt this nervous before.
Kim Yeo-na was absolutely essential for FaceNote’s entry into Korea.
“Sung-guk, want some wine? You’re an adult now anyway.”
I wanted to ease my nerves with wine, but I held back.
Learning to drink from someone like him would turn me into a fool.
“Hyung, I’ll learn to drink from Father.”
“Alright… once you learn, let me know right away. I’ll get you completely drunk.”
“…Yes.”
I reviewed Kim Yeo-na’s profile once more.
She was a year older than me.
Her parents had played a significant role in Kim Yeo-na’s success.
That’s why convincing her parents and agency was the key to securing her as an advertising model.
* * *
The moment we stepped out of the airport, Mark and Lim Mi-mi greeted us.
“Sung-guk, I’ll make sure to be there tomorrow evening.”
“Mark, make sure to greet Lim Mi-mi’s parents properly. You packed the gifts, right?”
“Yeah, thanks so much… I never would’ve thought of that….”
Since Mark didn’t understand Korean customs and was even more clueless about human relationships, I had separately prepared premium liquor and various gifts to present to Lim Mi-mi’s parents on his behalf.
[Getting Mark married off is really tough….]
“Don’t worry, I’ll greet them properly.”
“Lim Mi-mi, please take good care of Mark.”
“You’re acting like you’re the one getting Mark married off.”
“That’s pretty much how I feel.”
Whether Mark understood my sentiment or not, he bounced excitedly on his feet behind us.
“Sung-guk, coming to Korea always feels exciting.”
“Mark, if you’re about to say something, please think twice before you open your mouth. Got it?”
“Sung-guk, that’s what I was going to say to you. Oh, here comes the taxi!”
Mark and Lim Mi-mi got into a taxi and left.
I climbed into the prepared vehicle with Jeon Tae-guk.
“Hyung… please take me to our home in Jamsil….”
“Yeah, I was planning to go there anyway.”
“Hyung, you’re not….”
“Staying at your place?”
My eyes narrowed.
“This is ridiculous….”
Not this time?
“Sung-guk, why are you asking the obvious? Coming to Korea is like a holiday for me. And I called Mom and Dad before leaving the airport. Why didn’t you even contact them when you’re coming to Korea?”
[Why are you bringing that up now?]
“Hyung, you do that with hyung and our parents.”
“Our mom and dad are busy. Secretary Park Sung-hee said Mom’s in France again. And I’ll see Dad when he has a meal with athlete Kim Yeo-na.”
Ding.
Just then, a message notification sounded on Jeon Tae-guk’s phone.
Jeon Tae-guk checked the message and smiled.
“Sung-guk, Father’s wrapping up the boiled pork right now. Let’s hurry.”
“Hyung… you’re in separate contact with our parents too?”
“Yeah… since you don’t call often, they’ve been asking about you, so I’ve been telling them detailed updates about you.”
“What?!”
Jeon Tae-guk smiled mischievously.
“It was easier to win over your parents than to win you over.”
In that moment, I saw Jeon Tae-guk in a new light.
[A village dog who turned out to be a genius?]
Then I immediately made a request to Secretary Park Sung-hee, who sat directly across from me.
“Secretary Park, I apologize for the trouble, but could you use Samjeon Group’s intelligence network to conduct a detailed investigation into Kim Yeo-na’s parents?”
“Yes, I’ll begin the investigation 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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