I Will Raise This Family to Greatness - Chapter 320

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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 320
– Jeon Sung-guk and Emma Watson parting ways at the airport.
– The kiss between Jeon Sung-guk and Emma Watson sets the internet ablaze. A century-defining airport farewell!
FaceNote Conference Room.
The moment I finished the meeting on marketing strategies for the Asian region, Mark began rattling off today’s newspaper article about Emma Watson and me parting ways at the airport.
“Sung-guk, you totally planned that kiss scene, didn’t you?”
The photograph of me holding Emma Watson’s waist as we shared a farewell kiss looked like a scene straight out of a fashion editorial.
“What are you talking about? My everyday life is a photoshoot.”
“I really wish Emma could hear you say that.”
Mark shook his head while continuing to read the article about me.
“CEO Jeon Sung-guk is scheduled to return to Korea next week for FaceNote’s Asian branch operations… Will the two of them be able to continue their relationship? There’s even an article like this.”
“Meeting and parting are just part of life’s natural cycle.”
“You’re so cool about it. If you cried and complained after breaking up with Emma, I wouldn’t listen to your grievances.”
“That will never happen.”
I stated it with absolute certainty.
Living through my second life, I’ve come to understand something.
If it’s not meant to be, nothing will connect you; if it is meant to be, you’ll stay connected no matter what.
I stretched languidly and stood up from my seat. Then I checked the time.
Before heading to Korea, there was someone I absolutely had to meet today.
As I reached for my car keys, Mark looked at me with a puzzled expression.
“Sung-guk, aren’t you going to grab lunch with me?”
“I have a parent-guardian conference at Min-guk and Ji-hee’s school today. They’re leaving tomorrow.”
“Don’t be too hard on your siblings. Why am I the one worrying about this?”
Mark was more nervous than I was.
* * *
The day finally arrived when Min-guk and Ji-hee would complete their language studies.
Just before their departure, both of their boarding schools held something like a parent visitation day.
It was a day when parents were informed through counseling sessions about how diligently their children had studied and how much their skills had improved over the month.
Though there were no parents, I headed to Min-guk’s school first in my capacity as guardian.
I learned from the Dormitory Supervisor that while Min-guk had caused some minor trouble initially, he had since managed well through the grueling classes that ran until midnight without any significant issues.
But I had no way of knowing how much his skills had actually improved.
As I opened the door to the counseling room at Min-guk’s school, a tall, blonde middle-aged woman greeted me warmly.
“My goodness, it’s such an honor to meet someone so famous! I’ve been following your relationship in the internet articles.”
“Ah, yes. I’m here today as the guardian of student Jeon Min-guk.”
[I need to keep professional and personal matters separate.]
“Oh my, I feel like I’ve just seen a celebrity… I’m sorry. Well then, shall we look at Min-guk’s academic achievement report?”
The woman handed me Min-guk’s academic achievement report, organized into several pages.
“Min-guk had quite a solid foundation in English compared to the other students who came with him.”
“What about the other students? I’m the guardian for all of them, so please speak freely.”
“I’ve actually prepared the academic achievement reports for the other students as well.”
The woman handed over the academic achievement records of the other trainees as well.
“Take a look through all of them.”
I carefully reviewed Min-guk’s academic achievements first.
Wait, what is this?
“Um… Teacher. Is it possible for Min-guk’s English proficiency to have actually declined compared to his initial test when he first enrolled?”
[He was even receiving private tutoring until midnight!]
The woman smiled awkwardly.
“Well… the problem arose because Min-guk actually adapted too well to dormitory life.”
“What kind of problem?”
“Min-guk has been teaching Korean to his friends constantly.”
“Pardon?”
The woman’s face showed equal bewilderment.
“I’ve warned him multiple times. As you know, our language training program is quite famous and expensive in this region. We get students not just from Korea, but from other parts of Asia and Europe as well. But because Min-guk taught Korean to those students, the children’s grades this semester have been absolutely disastrous. I’ve worked here for over ten years… but this is the first time I’ve encountered such a situation.”
I silently inscribed the character for patience in my mind.
“The silver lining is that while Min-guk’s academic achievements have declined… his conversational English has actually improved significantly.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Min-guk got along very well with the staff working at the dormitory. They use a lot of slang and colloquial language rather than formal English. You could say his grasp of that aspect has become very authentic.”
The woman laughed sheepishly at her own explanation.
“Ah, and to clarify so there’s no misunderstanding—we warned Min-guk countless times. We really did our best.”
I wanted to ask this woman something.
There’s a Korean saying that if you inscribe the character for patience three times, you can even escape murder charges. So then, when you’ve escaped murder, what is the greatest punishment?
I suppressed my feelings as much as possible and smiled.
“Thank you for everything. Should I pick him up tomorrow morning?”
“There’s a farewell dinner prepared for all the students this evening. And Min-guk will also be performing with his friends.”
“Then I’ll pick him up tomorrow.”
* * *
Ji-hee came in first place overall on the final language training exam.
At least Ji-hee had properly completed the language training program, which was a relief.
[Min-guk really isn’t cut out for studying…]
I suppose I should at least commend his insane sociability and adaptability.
[I need to push Ji-hee harder in her studies going forward…]
While I was designing my siblings’ futures, Sam approached me.
“Sung-guk, I heard you were looking for me?”
“Yes, Sam. Adam is coming next week, right? I was thinking you should take a trip somewhere.”
“I’m fine, Sung-guk. I’m serious!”
Sam waved his hand dismissively.
“Adam said he had a hard time just working at the Paris Hotel and getting meals. Plus… he said it was difficult even uploading photos to FaceNote.”
“Sam, you still need to take a vacation. I’ll reduce posting photos.”
“Sung-guk, I’m really fine.”
Sam still looked reluctant.
“Then, what about this idea?”
“What is it, Sung-guk?”
“My younger brothers are moving out of the Dormitory tomorrow. In a few days, I’ll be heading back to Korea with them, but how about we all go to Disneyland together before that?”
“Oh, well… Sung-guk, but why me specifically?”
“Susan will probably come along too.”
“Susan as well?”
Sam’s face showed complete bewilderment.
“Yes, both you and Susan graduated from prestigious universities, after all. You both only studied through high school, and the same continued in college.”
Sam nodded.
“I’d like the two of you to enjoy Disneyland with my brothers and speak only in English.”
“But I speak some Chinese, Sung-guk. And Susan is quite fluent in French. Should we use Chinese and French too?”
“No, I want only English. If you do that, I’ll provide VIP passes to Disneyland and hotel accommodations for two nights and three days.”
Of course, I knew perfectly well that Sam wouldn’t refuse this offer.
It was something written in Sam’s “Things I Want to Do” note on FaceNote. And Susan was one of the people who had liked that post.
Sam hesitated for a moment, then looked at me with determination.
“Sung-guk, so I just need to speak only English for two nights and three days, right?”
“Of course. And if they don’t understand your English, absolutely don’t let them on any rides!”
Sam looked flustered.
“But… aren’t you coming with us, Sung-guk?”
“I have someone I need to meet.”
I couldn’t tell anyone about this meeting.
We were bound by a very important secret oath.
* * *
“I wanted to treat you to lunch at a nicer place today.”
“I’m not used to being treated by someone younger, and I really love the sandwiches here. I never get tired of them, no matter how often I eat them.”
James Sakamoto smiled warmly.
We first met in 2004, before Bitcoin even existed in this world.
Through Elon Musk’s introduction, I visited James Sakamoto’s laboratory to discuss Bitcoin. And at that time, we made a very interesting contract.
– As a secret condition of this conversation, James Sakamoto will unconditionally gift 100 units of virtual currency to Elon Musk and Jeon Sung-guk the moment he invents virtual currency.
And when Bitcoin finally emerged in 2008 without anyone paying attention, James Sakamoto truly gave 100 Bitcoin to Elon and me without any conditions whatsoever.
Of course, the value of Bitcoin at that time was essentially nothing.
“I saw an article recently about someone in Florida buying two pizzas with 10,000 Bitcoin.”
Using 10,000 Bitcoin just to buy two pizzas…
This person would surely shed tears of regret ten years from now, but as of 2010, Bitcoin was merely an obscure virtual currency that no one paid attention to.
“After reading that article, I lost my appetite for pizza.”
James Sakamoto smiled warmly.
“James, virtual currency will definitely have a future ahead.”
“I wish everyone had your confidence, Sung-guk. By the way, I keep seeing articles about your romantic life every day.”
“That’s embarrassing.”
“I really envy someone like you, Sung-guk.”
James Sakamoto stared at me intently.
“Me?”
“You’re handsome, brimming with confidence… and you show no fear about stepping into the spotlight.”
[That’s because I’m a former chaebol heir, after all.]
In my previous life, I’d been trained from childhood to handle media exposure. And wherever I went, the title of being from the Samjeon family naturally drew everyone’s attention.
“James, if Bitcoin becomes established, won’t you eventually have to reveal your face?”
“I’m not sure….”
James Sakamoto took a bite of his sandwich with a contemplative expression. Unlike Elon, James Sakamoto was an exceptionally cautious person.
“Honestly, I lack confidence in that.”
“Confidence in what?”
“Confidence in becoming a target for people. Bitcoin is virtual currency—in other words, it’s money. Someone could order pizza with ten thousand of them. For entrepreneurs like you and Elon, sure, the company’s valuation and your salaries become issues, but I don’t think that’s luck—I think it’s something you’ve achieved through your own efforts.”
James Sakamoto took a long sip of his coffee. Then he exhaled deeply.
“But… Bitcoin is a liquid virtual currency, so the mere fact that I hold a certain amount will become dangerous. Especially as its value rises. If I reveal myself as Bitcoin’s creator, people will focus on Bitcoin’s value rather than the effort and time I invested in developing it. They’ll see me as someone who got lucky and ended up holding a lot of Bitcoin.”
I nodded in understanding.
I could grasp what James Sakamoto meant.
Of course, Elon and I face threats from unsavory people too, but the moment James Sakamoto—who’s sitting on actual money in the form of Bitcoin—reveals his face, he’ll face threats incomparable to ours.
“James, so you’re planning to live forever as a faceless genius?”
“A faceless genius… when you put it that way, it does sound cool.”
James Sakamoto smiled softly.
And I know better than anyone that James Sakamoto will indeed live forever as a faceless genius.
“By the way, Sung-guk. Should I give you some Bitcoin? I mined quite a lot while fixing the bugs, and I have no use for it.”
“James… you’re saying this meeting should remain secret too, right?”
“It means you’ll keep the fact that you know me a secret forever.”
“Then I should receive more than a hundred.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll give you enough Bitcoin to buy pizza in Florida.”
Ten thousand right now?
My heart raced wildly.
Though it’s currently the price of two pizzas, in ten years, ten thousand Bitcoin will become an unimaginable sum.
I answered as calmly as I could.
“James, you know I’m not keeping secrets just for pizza, right?”
“I do. Sometimes when I see you… it reminds me of when Elon first introduced me to you. The moment I saw you then, I had this feeling. Did this kid come from the future…?”
James was truly a genius.
But I couldn’t acknowledge that fact.
“James, I’ll keep it a lifetime secret that you’re not just a faceless genius, but also a dreamer.”
“My goodness… knowing this many of my secrets, I should probably buy you a few more pizzas.”
“James, I’ll enjoy the pizza!”
And we parted ways, looking forward to our next meeting.
Shortly after we parted, James Sakamoto sent one hundred thousand Bitcoin to my wallet.
And he left this message.
– Sung-guk, enjoy the pizza.

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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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