I Will Raise This Family to Greatness - Chapter 314

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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 314
Ji-hee looked up at me with trembling eyes.
“Big brother… I’m doing well in my studies here too.”
“Ji-hee, languages are learned fastest in their native environment. I’ll contact Lim Mi-mi and ask her to arrange a place where you can stay in a dormitory for a month, make friends, and immerse yourself in that kind of setting.”
“Jeon Ji-hee, to put it plainly, what your older brother is saying is that you’ll be cooped up in a dormitory studying English 24 hours a day.”
Min-guk chimed in from beside me.
“Min-guk, don’t worry. You’ll all be placed in different dormitories according to your proficiency levels.”
“Brother! You should at least give us a choice! This is tyranny!”
[Does he think this is the 1980s?]
I smiled faintly and looked at Min-guk.
“Min-guk, I met with Bang Mu-hyuk today….”
At my words, Min-guk’s pupils dilated.
And for good reason—Min-guk was going through another slump lately. His debut kept getting delayed, and whenever he heard that friends who’d moved to larger talent agencies were debuting, anyone would feel the same way.
Perhaps that’s why I’d heard he’d been skipping practice sessions and going through the motions during rehearsals, earning frequent scolding from his instructors.
“Min-guk, if you’re going to stay here this summer and practice like that, shouldn’t you at least start preparing for the college entrance exam?”
“Well… that’s….”
Min-guk’s voice trembled.
Ever since becoming an idol trainee, Min-guk had practically severed all ties with academics.
“When I looked at your school grades last time, even for an arts high school, you were competing for last place. Wouldn’t it be better to build a foundation and study from now on? Or would it be better to listen to your brother, go to the United States for language training, recenter yourself, and return to trainee life?”
“Brother, I’ll go!”
Min-guk answered without hesitation. He was always quick to pick up on implications.
“Brother, when did I ever say I wouldn’t go? That’s what I want too. To recenter myself! I need to recenter myself.”
Min-guk even grabbed Ji-hee’s hand tightly.
“Big brother, that hurts….”
“Ji-hee, your brother went to the United States at your age and improved his English tremendously. No matter how well you study or how sharp you are, languages learned in their native environment are different. You’re going too.”
“Big brother, Ji-hee doesn’t need to recenter herself. I study well already.”
That was true.
Ji-hee maintained top grades even at the private elementary school she’d transferred to.
Her abilities were such that she competed without losing against students from private elementary schools who’d been abroad since childhood and had received extensive private tutoring.
I could see Min-guk clenching his teeth.
“Jeon Ji-hee, do you think this older brother is going alone?”
In that instant, Ji-hee jumped up from her seat, abandoning her ice cream. Then she looked directly into my eyes.
“Big brother, Ji-hee will go to language training.”
[Your opinion doesn’t matter, Ji-hee. You’re just going to go anyway. But listen to what I say next.]
I looked down at Ji-hee with my arms crossed.
“Good, Ji-hee. Your brother will look into a very good boarding school for you.”
“But there’s a condition.”
A negotiation?
Ji-hee was indeed different from Min-guk.
She wouldn’t be swayed by coercion. She knew how to thoroughly look out for her own interests.
“A condition?”
“Yes!”
“What is it?”
“Send me to the same boarding school as Dohyung oppa!”
I looked at Min-guk.
“Min-guk, who is Dohyung?”
Min-guk spoke with a reluctant expression.
“There’s one handsome trainee among those who joined recently.”
After Jung-woo, now it was this boy Dohyung?
At this rate, Ji-hee would end up flirting with everyone at Sevens except Min-guk.
“How handsome is he?”
[It would be impossible for anyone to be more handsome than me….]
“Wait a moment.”
Min-guk searched his phone for a photo and handed one over.
Sharp, distinct features. Deep, penetrating eyes and a distinctive nose bridge. And full lips to match.
[He’s not as handsome as me, but he’s certainly good-looking.]
I tilted my head.
“Ji-hee, you want to share the same dormitory with this Dohyung oppa?”
“Yes!”
“Alright… I’ll look into getting him into the same boarding school. So, you’ll go, right?”
“Yes! I’ll study hard!”
* * *
Late at night, after returning home, I called Lim Mi-mi.
Lim Mi-mi answered in a bright voice. It was morning in Silicon Valley.
– Boss! What brings this on?
“Lim Mi-mi, I have a favor to ask.”
– Boss, if it’s a favor, I should help with anything.
“I’m planning to go to the United States for a month next month.”
– I’ve already heard about that.
“At that time, I’ll be bringing six trainees that Min-guk is training with, plus Ji-hee. The six trainees have only basic English skills except for Min-guk. And Ji-hee can manage basic English conversations with foreigners without much difficulty.”
– You want me to find a Spartan-style language academy, right?
Lim Mi-mi and I were indeed on the same wavelength about this.
“Preferably a boarding school.”
– I’ll look into it.
“And I have one more favor.”
– Go ahead, boss.
“Please find a language academy or school specifically for female students only for Ji-hee!”
– Yes! I’ll look into a separate course just for Ji-hee and send you the details right away.
I hung up and smiled.
[Jeon Ji-hee, our family has one rule. No dating until you’re an adult!!!]
* * *
After a long time, I set foot on the tarmac of San Francisco Airport.
Behind me were six trainees, including Min-guk, and Ji-hee.
Dohyung, a friend from Chungcheong Province, had an endearing quality despite his slow, measured way of speaking that contrasted with his appearance.
“Hyung, do we go straight to the dormitory?”
“Yeah. The people who’ll be taking you there will arrive soon. Go ahead, take your level test first, and study hard. If you all work diligently for a month, I’ll take you sightseeing around California at the end.”
“Yes, Hyung!!!”
The trainees cheered, and Ji-hee’s eyes sparkled as she followed Dohyung’s every move.
Ji-hee tugged at my hand.
“Oppa, I’m going sightseeing with you too, right?”
“Of course, Ji-hee.”
Just then, I spotted Lim Mi-mi in the distance.
Lim Mi-mi was with a tall American man.
“Lim Mi-mi, how have you been?”
“Restaurant Owner, are these the friends entering the dormitory school this time?”
“Yes.”
The trainees quickly greeted Lim Mi-mi with loud voices.
“Hello!!!”
“They look disciplined—they’ll study hard, I’m sure. This is John Smith. He’s from the Language Academy where these friends will be going. It’s a university-affiliated Language Academy about an hour’s drive from here in the countryside. Let’s head out right now.”
Min-guk grabbed my arm.
“Hyung, are we leaving right now?”
“Of course. You all came here to study. Not to sightsee in America.”
“I know, but… I’m not mentally prepared yet.”
“You can prepare your mind on the way there.”
I looked at John Smith.
“Please take good care of these six male students.”
“Don’t worry. Our university Language Academy operates on a full-dormitory basis with thorough management as our goal. Oh, here’s our dormitory program. Please refer to it.”
I scanned through the program.
Classes started at 9 a.m. after breakfast and continued until 6 p.m.—an intensive course. After dinner, individual tutoring sessions were conducted based on each student’s performance level.
“I’m very pleased with this. These friends are preparing to be singers in South Korea, so I appreciate your care.”
“Don’t worry.”
John Smith called out to the male trainees.
“Come on, follow me. The car is waiting outside the airport.”
Min-guk and the other trainees followed John Smith out of the airport.
Ji-hee looked up at me with a confused expression.
“Oppa… what about Ji-hee? Isn’t Ji-hee going to the same place as Dohyung Oppa?”
At that moment, Lim Mi-mi grasped Ji-hee’s hand firmly.
“Ji-hee, come with your unnie.”
“Unnie… where are we going?”
“We’re going to register for a Language Academy program at a women’s university about an hour south of here.”
Ji-hee looked at me with resentful eyes.
“Brother! That’s not what you promised! You said you’d send me to the same dormitory academy as Dohyung!”
“Ji-hee, studying is something you do alone.”
“Brother~ You’re so mean! I want to go back to Korea!”
In that instant, Lim Mi-mi gripped Ji-hee’s hand firmly.
“Ji-hee, your return ticket is in a month. No matter how much you cry here, it won’t change anything. Since we’re already here, let’s study hard.”
“Brother, you’re the worst. You’re a fraud!”
I grasped Ji-hee’s shoulders and looked into her eyes.
“Ji-hee, don’t you remember what I said earlier?”
“I don’t care.”
Ji-hee pouted.
“I told you that if you study hard for a month, I’ll show you around this place before you go back to Korea.”
Suddenly, Ji-hee’s face brightened a little.
“Wouldn’t it be amazing if I could hold Dohyung’s hand and go to an ice cream shop and eat ice cream together?”
“Really, brother?”
“Of course. You’ll study hard, won’t you, Ji-hee?”
“Yes!”
“If your grades aren’t good, you might have to stay longer and study more. You understand?”
“Brother, don’t worry. I’m Jeon Ji-hee.”
[Hmm… why do I see myself in Ji-hee….]
And so Ji-hee disappeared, holding onto Lim Mi-mi’s hand.
Finally having dealt with my siblings, my heart felt considerably lighter.
Now it was time to truly enjoy my vacation!
* * *
The moment I stepped through the entrance, I heard upbeat music.
And soon a familiar voice greeted me.
“Sung-guk!!! It’s been forever!”
Elon Musk, who had lost some weight and gotten a hair transplant in the meantime, welcomed me.
“Elon, what is all this?”
“What do you mean? I thought I’d die going through the IPO process. I’m throwing a party to play like crazy during my vacation.”
Elon Musk had just completed Tesla’s IPO and was spending his vacation at his villa near San Francisco.
Elon Musk draped his arm around my shoulder.
“Sung-guk, you’ve become a real handsome man now. Did you date much back in Korea?”
“I was too busy with work.”
“Sung-guk, even when I’m busy with work, I meet plenty of women.”
[Elon, that’s not something to brag about. That’s why you’ve been married so many times and have so many children….]
I simply laughed.
“I guess I don’t have your abilities. When I’m working, I’m too busy to have time to meet other people.”
“Don’t be modest. Today I invited all my millionaire friends… and I also invited a ton of Hollywood actors. Sung-guk, there are more than a few people who want to see you, so look around carefully.”
“I’ll give it a try.”
I entered the party venue with Elon.
At the eccentric entrepreneur’s party, there were Silicon Valley misfits just as peculiar as Elon, millionaire friends, and famous Hollywood actors and singers.
I spotted Sergey Brin as well.
Sergey approached me and handed me a bottle of water.
“Sung-guk, how is Korea?”
“Sergey, please visit in the fall. Korea will become the new mecca for YouTube.”
“All right, I’ll make a trip there. And… about that clause we agreed on—3% equity incentive for every million new YouTube subscribers you bring in.”
Sergey Brin trailed off, laughed dejectedly, and looked at me.
“We received word that there are some legally unfair aspects that need adjustment.”
[Hmm… so he’s backing out now?]
I smiled nonchalantly.
I already controlled 45% personally.
With my FaceNote stake included, I could exercise over 50% of YouTube’s shares.
“Sergey, today is a vacation day. Let’s discuss that slowly.”
“Fair enough.”
Of course, I knew perfectly well that wouldn’t happen.
I quickly headed to the quiet terrace.
Then I called Peter in New York.
Soon I heard Peter’s voice.
After hearing my situation, Peter responded in a serious tone.
– I’ll look into what clause Google is using with my legal team. Given YouTube’s nature as a platform with high liquidity—subscriber counts fluctuating up and down—they might just be stalling for time.
“Yes, I think so too. We need to prepare our response on that front.”
– All right, I’ll head to Silicon Valley soon.
“No, I’ll come to New York instead. It’s been a while since I’ve seen Grace.”
– Grace will be delighted. Then, see you in New York.
“Yes, Peter.”
I hung up and gazed out into the distance while sipping the water.
Just then, I heard a sound behind me.
[Oh no… did she hear everything?]
I turned around in surprise, and there stood a familiar face.
“Emma Watson?”
The lead actress from the Harry Potter film that Ji-hee was obsessed with.
“Yes, I’m Emma Watson. You’re Sung-guk from FaceNote, right?”
“Yes… I didn’t expect to meet you here.”
“I finished filming in LA and came to party with a friend. When are you going to New York?”
“Probably next week.”
“I think I’ll be in New York around then too… would you like to have dinner together?”
[Hmm… what does this mean?]
I took a long gulp of water.

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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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