I Will Raise This Family to Greatness - Chapter 294
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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 294
“Sung-guk, shouldn’t we raise a toast?” Jeon Tae-guk asked.
Jeon Tae-guk was already bringing out wine before I could even respond.
“Sung-guk, I specially asked Secretary Yang to get this wine. To our independence….”
“Hyung, we were already independent in the United States.”
“This is our first independence in Korea. I went abroad to escape and lived in the United States all this time, so this is my first time living separately here in Korea.”
I accepted the glass Jeon Tae-guk offered me.
Either way, this independence held meaning for me too.
In this life, it was my first independence in Korea.
* * *
– The global SNS Twitter reunites after 10 years since Just disbanded!
– The complete five-member lineup with Michael joining for the first time in 18 years!
– That baby from “Five Men and a Baby Carriage” appears as a dark horse to seize Jeon Sung-guk’s FaceNote. A showdown between five men and a baby! Who will emerge victorious?
– Is Twitter solidifying its current number one domestic market share?
Articles began pouring in announcing that Just’s complete lineup would appear in a Twitter advertisement.
The advertising content was so confidential that even Samjeon’s secretarial team struggled to extract details.
Considering the outrageous stunts Jack Dorsey had pulled, honestly, no one could predict where this would go.
My greater concern wasn’t how much impact Just would have, but rather how much damage Jack Dorsey could inflict on me through Just.
This was why the office atmosphere felt heavier than usual.
That’s when it happened.
Lim Jin-seo suddenly jumped up from her seat in shock.
Then she pointed toward the opposite building.
“Director… please look over there.”
I quickly looked toward where Lim Jin-seo was pointing.
A massive blue bird—the symbol of Twitter itself—was being lowered from the rooftop of the opposite building.
Could it be?
I quickly glanced at Jeon Tae-guk.
“William, can you check what’s happening right now?”
“Yes, Sung-guk!”
Jeon Tae-guk immediately called Secretary Park Sung-hee to confirm the situation. It was predictably obvious.
“Sung-guk, Twitter has opened a Korean headquarters in the building across from us.”
“Hmm….”
I let out a low sigh.
First of all, Jack Dorsey’s actions were far too childish.
What on earth was his reason for pursuing me so relentlessly?
“Sung-guk, did you have some kind of grudge with Jack Dorsey?” Lim Jin-seo asked.
“The only grudge I can think of is stealing athlete Kim Yeo-na from him.”
I truly couldn’t think of anything else.
Just then, I noticed someone lurking outside the office.
At that moment, someone was seen loitering outside the office.
Tall, with shaggy hair and an equally unkempt beard—it was Jack Dorsey himself.
When Jack Dorsey’s eyes met mine, he flashed a bright smile.
“Sung-guk, should I call security and have them throw this person out?”
“William, could you prepare some coffee? Our enemy has walked right to our doorstep—we can’t just let him leave empty-handed.”
I quickly opened the door, plastering on a false smile.
“Jack Dorsey, I never dreamed we’d meet again like this.”
“Sung-guk, you’re welcoming me so warmly—something feels off.”
“What do you mean?”
“Nothing.”
Jack Dorsey gave a shrug.
[That’s my gesture, not yours!]
“Jack, what brings you here?”
“I thought my advertisement would be most visible here. Sung-guk, have you seen our ad?”
[Of course I have. I know exactly what you’re trying to do!]
Just then, Jeon Tae-guk opened the office door and poked his head out.
“Come inside and have a cup of coffee. Don’t stand out there like that.”
We entered the office.
Jack Dorsey accepted the coffee Jeon Tae-guk offered him.
“So you serve coffee to your competitors?”
“Competitors?”
I looked at Jack Dorsey with a puzzled expression.
“What’s with that look, Sung-guk?”
“Nothing. I’ve never actually considered Twitter a competitor.”
Jack Dorsey’s expression hardened.
I leisurely sipped my coffee while Jack Dorsey drained his, watching me intently.
The office fell silent.
A silence as if whoever spoke first would lose.
It was broken by—
“Jack, how’s the coffee? I had these beans specially sourced.”
Jeon Tae-guk himself.
Jack Dorsey looked Jeon Tae-guk up and down.
“So you’re the heir to the Samjeon Group?”
“Am I really that famous?”
“You’re famous as a reckless playboy.”
“I’ll just have to live up to your expectations then.”
[Nice one, Jeon Tae-guk.]
Jeon Tae-guk fired back smoothly.
Jack Dorsey held out his empty coffee cup to Jeon Tae-guk.
“When else would I get the chance to have the heir to the Samjeon Group fetch my cup? Anyway… do you all have time Friday night this week?”
Jack Dorsey pulled several invitations from his pocket and handed them to me.
“There’s going to be a Twitter global party in Samseong-dong. You’ll probably see some familiar faces there. Sung-guk, you absolutely must attend.”
“Of course.”
I accepted the invitation.
* * *
“Jack Dorsey, that insufferable bastard! Looking like a goat and daring to send me, the heir to the Samjeon Group, on coffee runs?”
“William, calm down.”
“Secretary Lim must be frustrated too, right? Actually, you should be. We’re all in the same boat now.”
Lim Jin-seo watched Jeon Tae-guk with an amused smile before her expression turned cold.
“Of course I’m frustrated. Twitter is acting as if they’re trying to deny FaceNote’s very entry into Korea. As if they’re searching for the popularity they’ve lost in the United States by turning to Korea and Asia instead. Sung-guk, don’t you think it’s time we took our next step?”
“Let’s go to the Twitter party on Friday first. Let’s see what they have planned.”
“Sung-guk, what if we fall behind while we’re watching?”
“Falling behind is better than rushing and ruining everything. Right now Jack Dorsey is desperately pushing forward after losing Kim Yeo-na. In the end, it means they started around the same time we did, in a similar way. But they’re moving too fast. Everything is.”
I gazed out the window at the massive Twitter advertisement.
“Sometimes doing it right matters more than doing it fast.”
Then I looked at Lim Jin-seo.
“Contact everyone and tell them we’re redoing the advertising campaign. Everyone’s ready to pull all-nighters starting tomorrow, right?”
“Sung-guk! Isn’t this a labor law violation?”
“William, let Samjeon worry about following labor laws. We’re fighting for survival here. Do you want to lose to Twitter?”
“Fine. I’ll have Park Secretary arrange the late-night meal plans.”
Lim Jin-seo smiled slightly.
“Working with a chaebol is convenient.”
“That’s exactly why Sung-guk picked me, Secretary Lim.”
[Jeon Tae-guk, finally understanding the situation.]
I shrugged my shoulders.
* * *
Director Kim Se-bang looked haggard as he gulped down coffee during back-to-back meetings.
“So… you’re saying you’ll appear in the advertisement, Sung-guk?”
“Yes. Of course, Kim Yeo-na will be the main focus. But I need an advertising strategy where my appearance can make an appeal. Twitter made Just their main star, after all. That’s clearly an attack on me.”
“That’s true.”
“They’re clearly trying to disparage it as an SNS created by someone who used to wear diapers.”
“And they’re also trying to imprint on people’s minds that we’re the late entrants.”
Lim Jin-seo added.
“I understand FaceNote’s position. But if we completely overhaul the advertising campaign now, we won’t have enough time. They’re already preparing to launch their advertisement. Plus, I’m not sure how Sung-guk fits into the concept we’ve been planning—an SNS that transcends generations.”
At that moment, I slammed the desk.
“That’s it, Director!”
“Yes?”
“You just said it. An SNS that transcends generations!”
“That’s already the concept we have.”
Director Kim Se-bang looked at me with confusion.
“I am that generation. Nineteen years ago, a baby in diapers went to study in the United States, became the youngest person admitted to Harvard, and in my teens, I developed FaceNote and started a company. People who saw me nineteen years ago know me as that diaper-wearing child, but people seeing me for the first time now will see me as an icon of youth and success, won’t they?”
I could see Lim Jin-seo and Jeon Tae-guk suppressing their laughter.
“Why is everyone holding back their laughter?”
“Aren’t you embarrassed saying that kind of thing about yourself, Sung-guk?”
“Lim Jin-seo, I was really just stating the facts!”
Jeon Tae-guk shook his head in disbelief.
“Jin-seo, once you work with him for a while, you’ll see that kind of thing at least a dozen times a day. Better get used to it.”
“A chaebol heir and a genius. FaceNote’s specs are way too high.”
“Alright, everyone stop the chatter! Come up with a plan to catch up to Twitter… no, to surpass Twitter!!!”
I raised my voice sharply.
* * *
3 AM.
Everyone was throwing out ideas with hollow eyes, but nothing concrete was emerging.
The ideas of me appearing directly in advertisements felt too focused on countering Just, so progress was slower than expected.
Jeon Tae-guk called out to me in a drowsy voice.
“Sung-guk, let’s call it a day.”
“Yeah, Sung-guk. We’ve at least nailed down the concept of an SNS that transcends generations.”
Director Kim Se-bang’s eyes were already half-closed.
Lim Jin-seo was visibly exhausted as well.
“Right, let’s wrap up for today. Then, after we attend the Twitter party on Friday, let’s resume the meeting.”
“Sung-guk, it’s the weekend.”
“William, you don’t have anything to do on the weekend anyway.”
“Well, I suppose that’s true…”
I ran my fingers through my disheveled hair and stood up.
“Alright then. Everyone submit refined ideas based on today’s concepts before the Twitter party. Before the Twitter party!”
“No way, Sung-guk!!!”
Everyone groaned in protest, but I didn’t respond.
In the United States, FaceNote was already beating Twitter.
But in my homeland, I couldn’t lose to Twitter. Absolutely not!!!
* * *
Jeon Tae-guk handed me a new hoodie and jeans.
“Sung-guk, I know you only wear hoodies and jeans. But you’re going to a competitor’s party—at least wear some Gucci.”
“Brother, what I’m wearing now is fine.”
At that moment, Lim Jin-seo interjected.
“It’s not fine, Sung-guk. When was the last time you washed that hoodie?”
“I wash it regularly. Maybe last week…”
“There’s still a coffee stain on the sleeve from the day before yesterday.”
“That probably isn’t from the day before yesterday. You’ve likely spilled coffee in the exact same spot before, which is why it looks like this.”
“Anyway, Sung-guk, I respect your fashion sense. But for this occasion, please wear the hoodie William is offering. You can do that much, right?”
“Sigh, I suppose I have no choice.”
I finished my coffee and stood up. Grabbing the clothes, I headed toward the restroom but suddenly stopped in my tracks.
And I looked at Jeon Tae-guk.
“William.”
“What is it, Sung-guk?”
“William, can you get me a suit right now?”
“All of a sudden?”
“Yes, I think I need to wear a suit today.”
“Sure, I’ll have Park Secretary bring one right away. She knows all your measurements anyway.”
“Please hurry. Something that looks effortlessly stylish.”
“You always dump the difficult tasks on me, don’t you?”
Jeon Tae-guk grumbled as he contacted Secretary Park Sung-hee.
* * *
I put on the brand-new Gucci suit that Park Secretary brought.
I adjusted the navy tie with Gucci’s signature pattern.
Lim Jin-seo’s eyes widened as she stood behind me.
“Sung-guk, you look really handsome today.”
“That’s not flattery, is it?”
“I’m not that kind of person.”
“Sung-guk, but why did you suddenly decide to wear a suit?”
I brushed off my collar and looked back and forth between Jeon Tae-guk and Lim Jin-seo.
“We’re not going to a party today—we’re going to battle.”
“Sung-guk, you’re being too serious.”
“Remember this, everyone. We’re launching the advertisement starting today.”
Jeon Tae-guk and Lim Jin-seo looked at me with uncertain eyes.
“The card they dealt us is Just—the company that raised me from when I wore diapers. Today is the day we show the people of South Korea for the first time how beautifully that diaper-wearing child has grown! Now, shall we go film this advertisement?!”
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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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