I Will Raise This Family to Greatness - Chapter 306
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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 306
Charlie Jobs had just finished what would be his final presentation, and his face radiated a profound sense of relief.
“Charlie, that was magnificent! Absolutely perfect!”
“I hear that all the time. But Sung-guk, do you think I’ll hear it again in the days ahead?”
“Charlie, don’t dwell only on what’s to come. The path you’ve already walked speaks for itself—it’s been nothing short of perfect. Besides, it’s time to think about finding a successor, not because of illness, but because it’s simply the right moment.”
“Sometimes I think you’ve lived more life than I have….”
Charlie Jobs smiled weakly and handed me the newly released Apple phone.
“I’d wager you’ll be the first person in the entire world to use this Apple phone.”
“That sounds like you’re asking me to advertise it…?”
“You really are just like me, aren’t you?”
Charlie Jobs broke into a brilliant smile once more.
Charlie Jobs truly shone when he was working.
The moment I used this phone in public, the media and paparazzi would descend like wolves, their cameras flashing endlessly.
I quickly secured the phone.
“Charlie, we start the advertising campaign today!”
* * *
Jeon Tae-guk’s hands were laden with multiple shopping bags emblazoned with the Apple logo.
“William, call the Samjeon secretary team right away. Didn’t I buy too much?”
“The Samjeon secretary team is already transporting what I purchased. After I sent that off, I kept wanting more, so I ended up with all this. I’m thinking we should replace all the equipment in the Korea office with Apple products too. I saw Lim Jin-seo using a Samjeon laptop, so I should probably replace that as well….”
“We can just buy those in Korea, can’t we?”
“There’s something special about buying them where Charlie Jobs demonstrated them. Sung-guk, I’m a fan of Charlie Jobs, after all.”
I shook my head in disbelief.
Just then, Jeon Tae-guk’s eyes widened as he spotted the Apple phone in my hand.
“Sung-guk, is that… is that… is that….”
He was so flustered he couldn’t even form a complete sentence.
“Charlie Jobs gave it to me. I’m probably the second person in the world to hold a new Apple phone after Charlie Jobs himself.”
“Sung-guk, can I just touch it once?”
“Absolutely not. I need to advertise this starting now.”
“How exactly are you going to advertise it?”
“I’m Jeon Sung-guk.”
Jeon Tae-guk’s expression went blank for a moment.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“The charismatic man Ashley Holmes mentioned, the CEO of FaceNote and YouTube. And today I’m wearing a Gucci suit to boot. The moment I step outside with this Apple phone, the reporters will swarm like madness, their camera flashes going off nonstop.”
“Ugh…. You really do love showing off….”
“Come on, William. Shall we head out?”
“Yeah, let’s go. Let’s go.”
Jeon Tae-guk trailed behind me like a puppy following its master.
* * *
“Sung-guk!!!”
“Sung-guk! Look this way!”
“Please, over here too!!!”
I heard my name being called from all directions.
I dodged the cameras and held up Apple’s new smartphone with one hand, pretending to shield my face.
“Wow! That’s the new product!”
“Sung-guk!!! Is that Apple’s new product? Did you get it first?”
But I didn’t answer. Instead, I flashed a smile, briefly exposed the Apple phone, and naturally slipped it into my pocket.
* * *
– Charlie Jobs’ new smartphone spotted in the hands of Jeon Sung-guk from FaceNote for the first time in the world!
– Jeon Sung-guk, who revived awareness of FaceNote and YouTube through Apple’s new product showcase!
– Jeon Sung-guk ranked #1 among American women in their teens, twenties, and thirties as the man they most want to date!
– Jeon Sung-guk, whose name appears alongside Leonardo DiCaprio as the man women want to spend Christmas vacation with.
The American media once again focused on my star power, and they also paid close attention to Jeon Tae-guk, the heir to Samjeon Group.
– Jeon Tae-guk, heir to Samjeon Group, Apple’s rival, sweeps Apple’s new products again today!
– Whenever Jeon Tae-guk appears at Apple events, Samjeon’s name inevitably comes up. Could Jeon Tae-guk’s actions be a sophisticated marketing strategy carefully planned by Samjeon Group?!
This time too, Jeon Tae-guk was drawing attention for acquiring all of Apple’s products.
Now the media was even suspecting that Jeon Tae-guk’s fandom for Charlie Jobs might be Samjeon’s marketing strategy.
Of course, that wasn’t the case.
Jeon Tae-guk was still a man whose instincts took precedence over reason.
I closed my laptop and stretched, gazing out the window.
It was time to return to Korea.
Knock. Knock.
I heard a knock, and before I could respond, Jeon Tae-guk entered.
“Sung-guk… Before the articles even came out, Hanseong decided not to invest in Twitter.”
“Hmm… I figured as much.”
Chairman Han Myung-hee hadn’t lost his touch.
Though he was getting on in years, a man who had built and operated such a massive company possessed experience and instinct.
It was obvious to Chairman Han Myung-hee that FaceNote, chosen by the global giant Apple, had a brighter future than Twitter.
“Anyway… you’re acting like you knew all along. But you flew all the way to San Francisco because you were nervous, didn’t you?”
“Anyone who saw yesterday’s showcase would naturally understand that we’re the future now. Especially someone running a business.”
“Right… I need to get more sleep. I was up all night yesterday looking at the new Apple products I bought.”
[You should study like that more often!]
The nagging comment slipped out naturally.
“William, can you look into flights back to Korea for me?”
“Oh… well…”
What’s going on?
“Does Sung-guk need to go back quickly?”
“I can’t leave the Korean branch unattended. While Twitter is reeling from the blow, I need to go back and make our move properly.”
“Well… actually, it’s about Lim Jin-seo this weekend. I promised to give Lim Jin-seo a tour of San Francisco.”
I stared at Jeon Tae-guk intently.
[Wait… could it be… Does he have feelings for Lim Jin-seo?]
Jeon Tae-guk’s face grew increasingly flushed.
[That’s right, exactly!]
I patted Jeon Tae-guk on the shoulder.
“William… you know we have a no-dating-coworkers policy, right?”
“But Mark and Mi-mi are together.”
“This is America.”
“There’s no rule saying the Korean branch has to be different. It should be the same as here.”
“William… or rather, hyung, I just have one question. Does Lim Jin-seo have feelings for you too?”
“Well, that’s….”
It seemed he was harboring unrequited feelings again.
“Hyung, why did you fall for Lim Jin-seo again?”
“Jin-seo is impressive. She does her work cleanly and well. She doesn’t get intimidated anywhere…. Now that I think about it, Father would probably prefer a smart woman like Lim Jin-seo who takes good care of her own career over a woman from a similar family background.”
[That’s not going to happen….]
I smiled bitterly.
[Should I tell him? Or should I keep quiet….]
“Sung-guk, do you have something to say?”
“So… Lim Jin-seo still has no interest, and you’re just interested in her on your own, right?”
“I haven’t asked, so I wouldn’t know.”
[Like it matters whether he asks or not.]
Either way, it was fortunate.
“William, you’ll be spending this weekend in Korea. Book your airplane ticket.”
“But… why are you doing this? Sung-guk, don’t tell me….”
[What’s with that look in his eyes?]
Jeon Tae-guk had jumped to another wrong conclusion.
“Sung-guk, do you like Lim Jin-seo?”
“William, I’m the one who said we have a no-dating-coworkers policy. Why would I like Lim Jin-seo?”
“Then why, when I said I’d try to win Lim Jin-seo’s affection this weekend, did you immediately say let’s go to Korea?”
The truth would sting.
I hesitated for a moment.
But if I didn’t speak, there was no way to dissuade Jeon Tae-guk.
“You just said it yourself. Lim Jin-seo is smart and good at her work, so Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung would like her.”
“Right!”
Jeon Tae-guk nodded without a moment’s hesitation.
“Hyung… Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung would absolutely never like Lim Jin-seo.”
“What do you mean?”
“Do you know who Lim Jin-seo’s aunt is?”
“I wouldn’t know that….”
“Actress Lim Sun-mi.”
Jeon Tae-guk still seemed unable to grasp the situation.
Now that I thought about it, it had been over ten years since Lim Sun-mi’s retirement.
She occasionally appeared on entertainment programs, but by now she was one of those actresses that only people from the old days remembered.
“Sung-guk, who is Lim Sun-mi?”
“She’s someone I filmed a Samjeon Electronics commercial with when I was little. You know, that legendary commercial? The one where I say ‘Father!'”
In my previous life, I knew everything about Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung and Lim Sun-mi’s relationship, so I was actually delighted when we met on the film set, but the situation was different now.
Jeon Tae-guk still hadn’t grasped what was happening.
“That commercial was when you were a baby, right? But… why was Lim Sun-mi involved back then?”
“I only heard about it later. It’s awkward for me to explain, so… why don’t you ask Secretary Yang?”
Jeon Tae-guk’s brow furrowed.
Even if he was hopelessly oblivious, Jeon Tae-guk surely knew about Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung’s romantic escapades.
“Ah, I see.”
“Brother… let’s head back to Korea as quickly as possible.”
….
Jeon Tae-guk turned around and left without saying a word.
In fact, Jin-seo’s resume alone hadn’t revealed the connection between her and actress Lim Sun-mi.
I discovered that Jin-seo’s aunt was actress Lim Sun-mi purely by chance.
When I mistakenly called Jin-seo by the name Lim Sun-mi, she laughed and told me that was her aunt’s name.
And that aunt had once been involved with Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung in that way, and later married a Hong Kong financier and was living well as actress Lim Sun-mi.
Anyway, could Jeon Tae-guk possibly… just like any woman he meets?
As a third-generation chaebol heir, he should be more cunning and weigh people’s characters carefully… truly, the karma from my past life knew no bounds.
[How long am I supposed to clean up after his women problems!]
* * *
Jeon Tae-guk called Secretary Yang with flushed cheeks.
Secretary Yang answered the phone shortly.
– Young Master, I saw the photos in the newspaper.
“Secretary Yang… that’s not what I’m calling about….”
– The internet is flooded with pictures of you carrying Apple products, so I thought that’s what you were curious about?
Secretary Yang chuckled heartily, oblivious to Jeon Tae-guk’s true intentions.
“Secretary Yang… I heard something strange, you see.”
– What might that be, Young Master?
“What was Father’s relationship with retired actress Lim Sun-mi?”
At Jeon Tae-guk’s question, Secretary Yang fell silent for a moment.
An impatient Jeon Tae-guk pressed him.
“Secretary Yang, why aren’t you saying anything? What was their relationship?”
– That was when Young Master was very young. Who recently told you about this?
“That’s not important… I’m asking if such a thing actually happened.”
– Yes, Young Master. What you’re imagining did indeed happen. And Lim Jin-seo, who works at the FaceNote Asia branch where you currently are, is Ms. Lim Sun-mi’s niece.
“Why are you only telling me this now!”
– It was a long time ago… and I was concerned that Young Master might view Lim Jin-seo with prejudice because of it, so I didn’t report it separately. Upon verification, Lim Jin-seo’s qualifications and career were flawless. She seemed like someone Young Master could learn much from.
….
Jeon Tae-guk was at a loss for words.
– Young Master, what on earth is the matter?
“Secretary Yang… we’ve wrapped up everything here. Book me the fastest first-class flight back to Korea.”
– Yes, Young Master.
Jeon Tae-guk hung up the phone listlessly.
I thought love had returned to me… but Father has me by the ankles….
* * *
From inside the room, I could hear Jeon Tae-guk’s muffled sobs.
[Love makes fools of us all.]
I shook my head slowly.
Then I checked a new message.
It was from Sergey Brin.
– Sung-guk, congratulations on YouTube finally turning a complete profit. You’ve essentially made it yours now. My sincere congratulations!
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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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