I Will Raise This Family to Greatness - Chapter 318

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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 318
– Emma Watson’s new boyfriend is Jeon Sung-guk, founder of FaceNote!
– Jeon Sung-guk, the ultimate heartthrob, is finally in a relationship!
– Women are rushing to delete FaceNote!
I reviewed the various articles that had appeared in the news.
“Mark, is there really a mass exodus?”
“After analyzing it, the number of women in their late teens to early twenties deleting their accounts did spike after the dating rumors about you broke, but it’s not as dramatic as it seems.”
“My personal life can’t become a liability for the company…”
“Sung-guk, please prioritize your relationship first. If a company is going to be shaken by its owner’s dating rumors, then its future isn’t very promising, is it?”
“Mark…”
I found myself genuinely impressed by Mark.
Before I left the U.S. headquarters for Korea, Mark used to cling to me like a child who couldn’t function without me, constantly whining and hiding behind my back.
But while I was away, leading the headquarters, he’d quietly gained confidence without even realizing it.
“Sung-guk, and there are tons of people who delete their accounts and then reopen them the very next day. So don’t worry about it. In America right now, FaceNote is being treated as a social phenomenon—something you can’t quit once you start…”
“Mark, you’ve become quite a bit more confident in the meantime, haven’t you?”
“Well, I’m Mark. Jeon Sung-guk’s business partner.”
Mark shrugged his shoulders and mimicked me, then shook his head vigorously.
“Ugh… it’s hard to imitate Jeon Sung-guk.”
[Did I just imitate myself? Our faces are completely different!]
“Mark, that wasn’t even close.”
“I knew you’d say that. Anyway, right now the FaceNote craze is causing chaos in schools and workplaces alike. We’re getting tons of complaints from parents. So you don’t need to worry too much about the female users who quit because of you.”
That was actually good news—it meant FaceNote was truly embedding itself in the public consciousness.
“Still… there shouldn’t be any owner risk.”
“As long as you don’t do drugs, cheat on Emma Watson, or embezzle company funds… basically, as long as you avoid those kinds of things, there’s no owner risk to worry about.”
“Those things will never happen.”
Mark patted my shoulder.
“I don’t think they will either.”
“By the way, Mark… that app we’re developing. Instagrim. How’s that coming along?”
“I was planning to show you when you came in this time. But… FaceNote is just starting to create a storm in America, so launching another SNS feels premature.”
Of course, it was premature.
“Mark, the SNS market is already becoming saturated. In that sense, launching an SNS with even slightly unique features ahead of others has strategic value for market dominance. We really do need to get it out as quickly as possible. Competitors are probably already attracting capital and building SNS platforms with similar ideas.”
“Hmm… I see your point, but… I’m worried. With our current workforce at FaceNote, we’re already expanding into YouTube aggressively, so honestly, it’s going to be really tough.”
“Mark… we can supplement our workforce anytime. I’ll discuss the funding issue with Peter.”
“Actually… even with our current staff, the office feels like it’s about to burst at the seams. We might need to either expand the office or separate YouTube and Instagrim into different divisions.”
“Hmm… I think we need to expand the office. After all, FaceNote’s core team is connected to both YouTube and Instagrim. If we suddenly split them up, it could disrupt our workflow.”
“That’s true, but… Mi-mi is the same way. Sam and Adam are literally living buried in work. And…”
Mark suddenly showed me several posts from internet forums with a serious expression on his face.
– FaceNote is absolutely the worst. They make you work without any set hours.
– Jeon Sung-guk, you date a famous actress while making your employees work like that?
– No matter how much money they pay, I could never work at a company like that!
“Actually, the work-life balance issue among FaceNote employees has become controversial in IT industry communities lately.”
“Work-life balance? Our employees work hard, and they’re paid accordingly for their efforts.”
“That’s true, but… some people are saying they’re being overworked. I mean, Sung-guk is a workaholic, but he’s the founder, so we can overlook that. But when it extends to the employees, people call it exploitation. If the company’s reputation deteriorates like this, we might face a talent shortage. We posted job openings recently, and honestly, we’ve gotten fewer applicants than before.”
I shrugged my shoulders.
“Mark, I don’t quite understand.”
“Understand what?”
“A day has 24 hours, and there are 365 days in a year. So how can anyone run out of time? I’m managing FaceNote’s Asia division, flying back and forth between the United States and Korea, running YouTube, doing various interviews, and dating Emma Watson on top of all that! Shouldn’t people blame themselves for not allocating those 24 hours and 365 days properly?”
Mark grabbed my shoulder firmly with an expression that said this wasn’t getting through to me.
“Sung-guk, never say things like that to anyone but me. Got it?”
[I know, jeez.]
I reluctantly nodded.
“Sung-guk, everyone at the company knows Sam and Adam are workaholics, but from the outside, it looks like they’re being exploited. Please, just tell those two to stop voluntarily working overtime, go home on weekends, and take their vacation days. They won’t listen to me!”
“Hmm… okay. I’ll meet with those two. And let’s put out recruitment notices right away. I’ll discuss the office building issue with Peter.”
* * *
I headed toward the development team where Sam and Adam were.
While most of the office was open-concept, the development team, which required a lot of equipment, preferred working at fixed desks, so they occupied a dedicated section of the FaceNote Office Building.
Sam, with his short hair and glasses, and Adam, a sturdy man with shaggy hair and a beard, were sitting at the center of the development team, hard at work.
The area around Adam had transformed from a single potted plant into a jungle.
I checked the time.
“Sam, Adam. Haven’t you eaten lunch?”
“Sung-guk, we should. We’ve been seeing all the news articles about you and Emma.”
“This is just the beginning.”
“We’re jealous, Sung-guk!”
“Sam and Adam, let’s grab lunch together.”
Both of them stood up with confused expressions on their faces.
* * *
I deliberately drove Sam and Adam to an upscale restaurant nearby.
“Sam, Adam. You two must have worked hard while I was away.”
“There’s been a lot of work. But now that YouTube has fully transferred authority to us, we can’t stop working because we’re so excited about it.”
Sam was beaming.
As YouTube’s lead developer, I had already promised him substantial incentives. In other words, despite wearing a checkered shirt and horn-rimmed glasses right now, he was a millionaire.
The same applied to Adam, who had shaggy hair, an unkempt beard, and wore an outdated metal band t-shirt.
“But… aren’t you two too absorbed in work? Mark said you both only work.”
“There’s nothing to do even if we go home.”
Adam answered.
“Adam, that doesn’t mean you should turn the office into a botanical garden.”
“That’s my only hobby. And… thanks to those plants, I think I stayed at this company and got to take on bigger projects. I want to put down roots here like those plants do, Sung-guk.”
Adam smiled shyly, which didn’t match his large frame.
In truth, when I restructured the workforce and set salaries and incentives for the remaining employees, Adam, who worked quietly without standing out, had been excluded.
It was when Adam brought a potted plant and tried to give it to me as a gift, thanking me for letting him stay, that I realized how diligently he had been working all along.
“But seriously, you two aren’t dating at all?”
My blunt question made both of them blush.
“Sung-guk… to date, you need to have time, don’t you?”
“Sam, even if I had time, I couldn’t do it. Women scare me when I meet them.”
A sigh rose from the very depths of my being.
What on earth was I going to do with these two?
[Even I, who seemed like I’d never date in my entire life, am dating! Sam, Adam!]
* * *
I deliberately ordered a bottle of wine. Of course, I stuck to mineral water.
Sam and Adam talked endlessly about company matters before moving on to their current obsession with anime characters.
To a layperson, it was practically an alien language.
I stared at them intently.
“Sam, Adam… anime characters can’t be your companions.”
“What are you talking about, Sung-guk? They’re the only ones with me during my free time.”
Adam bristled.
“Sung-guk, that’s true. Nerds like us get excluded even when we go to clubs, and dating is incredibly difficult.”
Sam added his thoughts.
“You both earn good salaries at our company, and with this bonus, you’re wealthy. Try using that as an appeal.”
“Sung-guk… honestly, we don’t even have time to spend money.”
That sounded like they were saying it was because I gave them too much work.
“Then, let’s be honest. I think of Sam and Adam not just as employees, but as people I want working at FaceNote and YouTube for a very long time. If you keep going like this with only work, I don’t know when burnout will hit. So let’s talk comfortably about what you two really want.”
I sighed and spoke honestly.
“Actually, lately on the IT industry blind forum, posts keep appearing saying our company is an unethical business with no work-life balance. I think Sam and Adam’s roles are largely responsible for that.”
Sam and Adam drank their wine with bewildered expressions.
“Sung-guk, you know too. We just stayed at the company because we enjoy working….”
“Of course I know that. But the problem is that people outside don’t see it that way. I noticed on the way here that you both only post about your daily life at the company on FaceNote.”
“Because that’s really our daily life.”
Adam said awkwardly.
“Adam, where was the last place you traveled to?”
“Hmm… I went to Laos and Thailand during college.”
“What about you, Sam?”
“I was an exchange student in China during college. For about a year.”
“And after that?”
Both of them shook their heads.
“Then, when was your last blind date?”
“That’s….”
“Sung-guk, I’ve never been on a blind date.”
At Adam’s words, I gave up on everything and gulped down my mineral water.
* * *
“Sung-guk, did you have a talk with Adam and Sam?”
“Yeah. Mark… how much would work be disrupted if those two took time off?”
“Both at the same time?”
“Or staggered.”
“If Adam and Sam alternate their vacations, it’s manageable. Why do you ask?”
“I think I need to force those two to take a vacation. Mandatory!”
I spoke with firm resolve.
Mark laughed and placed a hand on my shoulder.
“Sung-guk, do you really think they’ll go?”
“Mark, let’s book first-class tickets to Paris for Adam right now.”
“You’re really going to force them?”
“Yeah. It’s all company welfare.”
* * *
I handed the airplane ticket to Adam, who happened to be watering the potted plants.
“Sung-guk, what’s this?”
“Adam, it’s a first-class ticket departing for Paris next Tuesday at 9 a.m. I’ve already booked a hotel for you.”
“What?”
“Starting next Tuesday, you’re on mandatory vacation for a month. Go to Paris, clear your head, and come back.”
“Sung-guk….”
“Don’t worry, Adam. Sam will handle your work in the meantime, and we’ll be expanding our staff soon.”
“That’s not it… who’s going to water my plants?”
“Don’t worry about that either. Just show me the watering schedule before you go, and Mark will take care of it.”
“Still… I’ve never really taken time off before. I don’t even know how to relax.”
I quickly pressed the ticket into Adam’s hands and whispered quietly.
“Adam, right now you and Sam are so buried in work that it’s damaging our company’s image. So go on vacation first, and you can handle company matters remotely from your hotel room. And I’ll give you another task.”
“Anything.”
“Post photos on your FaceNote every morning, afternoon, and evening showing everyone that you’re vacationing in Paris. Got it?”
“Yes, Sung-guk!”
Adam answered without hesitation.
* * *
Adam left for Paris safely, and from that day on, his FaceNote was flooded with countless photos of Paris landmarks and restaurants.
“Mark, what’s the reputation like in the IT community?”
“Well, they’re not entirely convinced. But still, giving full-paid vacations to hardworking employees… it seems we’ve at least managed to shake off the image of being an unscrupulous company.”
I let out a sigh of relief.
And at that moment, my phone rang loudly.
“It’s Mom….”
I answered the call calmly.
“Mom, what’s going on?”
– Sung-guk, are you dating that actress Emma Watson?
Oh no, I hadn’t told my family about my relationship with Emma Watson.
“Well….”
– Sung-guk! Your mother and I shouldn’t have to find out about your love life from the news!
“Mom… I was going to tell you….”
– You come straight home the moment you arrive in Korea!
Click.
The call ended.
Mark barely suppressed his laughter as he spoke.
“So the great Sung-guk has finally met his match—his own family.”

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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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