I Will Raise This Family to Greatness - Chapter 356

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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 356
“Hyung!!!”
The moment I opened the practice room door, Min-guk came rushing toward me.
I could guess why.
Min-guk must have just heard the news that Jeon Tae-guk had sent.
“Hyung, we just made it into the trending video rankings in the Middle East on YouTube.”
“We hit number one on the trending videos.”
“Either way! We haven’t even debuted yet… this is really something incredible.”
Jae-hee, Jung-woo, and Dohyung standing behind, along with the other trainees of Sevens, were all wearing bright smiles.
“Sung-guk, the kids really love it.”
Bang Mu-hyuk laughed good-naturedly.
But this wasn’t the time to celebrate.
Debut was still nearly a year away, and the domestic Korean media wouldn’t cover a story like this at all.
“Everyone, this isn’t the time to be laughing. You’re debuting in Korea, not the Middle East.”
I poured cold water on the cheerful atmosphere.
Everyone scratched their heads awkwardly at that. Everyone except Jeon Min-guk!
“Hyung really does have a talent for killing the mood every single day.”
I handed Min-guk a card.
“You all worked hard today, so go buy meat for you and the other trainees.”
“Hyung!”
Min-guk’s face lit up with gratitude in less than a second.
Seeing him like this, I slightly regretted not making him act it out.
“If you use this card for anything else—”
“I know! I know! No funny business. Don’t worry, Hyung. We’ll just buy meat and come back.”
Min-guk turned around and gestured to the trainees.
“Let’s go grab lunch!”
* * *
The trainees rushed out, and Bang Mu-hyuk approached me with a smile.
“Sung-guk, you really know how to balance the carrot and the stick. These kids are at the age where they should be eating well, but they also need to diet, and the company’s finances are tight, so I can’t afford to buy them meat often.”
“I’m an investor too, so this much is necessary.”
“Sung-guk, you know as well as I do that even if we hit number one on trending videos in the Middle East, we won’t get a single line of coverage in our domestic media, right? That’s why you spoke so harshly just now, isn’t it?”
Bang Mu-hyuk asked subtly.
In the idol world, it’s difficult to become an issue unless you’re one of the big three agencies like Park Jin-soo’s JP Entertainment.
On top of that, to get even a single article published, you need to essentially lobby the media. Money is required for even a single line of coverage.
Bang Mu-hyuk’s agency didn’t have that kind of money, and our positions on this matter were identical.
“Isn’t that something you already prepared yourself for?”
“Of course. I was at JP for a long time, after all. I saw and learned things back then, so when I started my own agency, I really wanted to do things differently. But honestly, when I think about the kids, sometimes I wonder if I’m just being stubborn about my own beliefs.”
“It’s partly because of Min-guk, but I’m investing in this company because I believe in your philosophy. I was a trainee at JP too, after all. Of course, under a well-established system, there’s a system that allows you to grow into an excellent singer, but I want Min-guk and the trainees to become idols who have their own voices. That’s your philosophy too, isn’t it?”
Honestly, if I just used Jeon Tae-guk properly, getting articles about Min-guk would be nothing.
There wasn’t a single media outlet in South Korea that could escape Samjeon’s influence.
But an idol born with a silver spoon before debut was never part of the future I envisioned for Sevens.
Bang Mu-hyuk gripped my shoulder.
“No matter what the world says, Sung-guk… I feel so reassured having you here.”
[Of course you do, Bang Mu-hyuk.]
“Sung-guk, want to listen to the new song we just produced?”
“Sure.”
“Oh, and I’m thinking about changing our company name too. I’ve narrowed it down to a few options—cast your vote for me.”
“I’d be happy to.”
Bang Mu-hyuk’s Talent Agency had existed under the rather provincial name “Bang Planning” all this time, which was precisely why trainees avoided joining it.
* * *
Bang Mu-hyuk played several songs assigned to Min-guk and the trainees.
But none of them resonated with me.
They were all the same mediocre idol music trending these days.
I fixed Bang Mu-hyuk with a serious gaze.
“Sung-guk, why the disappointment?”
“Sir, honestly—if you’re going to make music this similar to every other idol group, how do you expect to get even a single news article, let alone succeed?”
“….”
My words clearly struck Bang Mu-hyuk hard.
[If you were going to make generic idol music like this, I would’ve sent Min-guk to a major agency! Where did your original vision go, Bang Mu-hyuk?]
Bang Mu-hyuk studied my expression before speaking slowly.
“Sung-guk… what you’re saying is…”
“Sir, do you want your company’s idols to feel like nothing more than a JP Entertainment knockoff?”
“….”
Bang Mu-hyuk fell silent again.
I drove the point home as he wiped the sweat continuously beading on his forehead.
“Honestly, with this music, people would believe these were idols who debuted from JP Entertainment.”
“Ah… well…”
Bang Mu-hyuk stammered awkwardly. I’d clearly struck a nerve.
“Sir, I think you need to completely rethink your strategy for Min-guk and the trainees. I simply cannot understand how you expect a Talent Agency to survive in this industry while making generic idol music and failing to generate even a single headline.”
“Hmm… you’re right. I suppose I’ve been too afraid. Taking risks means risking everything if things go wrong.”
“Sir, whenever I hit a wall in business, I always ask myself why I started this venture in the first place. Remembering that helps tremendously when I’ve lost my way.”
Bang Mu-hyuk managed a smile and patted my shoulder.
“You’re right—I should be listening to a world-class entrepreneur. I’ve been too anxious lately. I haven’t even debuted the Girl Group yet, and it’s been costing me a fortune with no results for years.”
Bang Mu-hyuk spoke from the heart.
[Bang Mu-hyuk, I understand your frustration better than anyone. But I know this group will succeed—just hold on a little longer!]
And I offered him some encouragement.
“Sir, I believe in your abilities, so please start fresh.”
“You’re right… hearing you say that clears my head. Oh, I have a few new company name options—the legendary Midas touch CEO Jeon Sung-guk should cast his vote too.”
Bang Mu-hyuk displayed several new Talent Agency name candidates.
【BbangBbang】 【Mega Hit】 【The Hit】
“Hmm….”
I pretended to deliberate for a moment.
No matter how much of a tycoon I’d been in my past life, working ceaselessly twenty-four hours a day, I knew Bang Mu-hyuk’s talent agency name well enough.
“Tough choice?”
“It is tough… but I’m voting for 【Mega Hit】.”
“I like this one too, but 【BbangBbang】 got a lot of votes.”
“You’re the agency head. Push forward with what you believe in. Sometimes that kind of conviction is exactly what’s needed.”
“….”
Bang Mu-hyuk paused at my words, then nodded slowly.
“Sung-guk, thanks to you, I’m thinking about a lot of things today…. I really need to reconsider why I went independent in the first place and started this agency to develop idols.”
“Sir, you know I’m investing in you because I genuinely believe in you, right?”
“My goodness… I can’t let my investor down. I need to think even harder about this.”
[Of course, Bang Mu-hyuk. I don’t make losing investments.]
Just then, a message notification chimed.
It seemed Min-guk had finished eating and paid the bill.
The moment I saw the message, I couldn’t believe my eyes.
“A million won?”
[Did these guys eat beef?]
Bang Mu-hyuk saw it and burst out laughing.
“That’s why I can’t buy meat for the kids often, Sung-guk. Young guys are terrifying, absolutely terrifying. That’s probably not even beef. It must have been pork to rack up that bill.”
At the same time, a message came from Min-guk.
– Hyung, I wanted to eat beef but I held back. Did I do good?
Younger brothers were truly the karma of life.
* * *
Click.
As I opened the door and stepped inside, the rich aroma of fried chicken wafted through the house. Along with it, the smell of jjajangmyeon.
Jeon Tae-guk waved at me with a bright face.
“Sung-guk, welcome home. Hungry?”
“Hyung, what is all this?”
“Adam and Sam said they wanted to eat, so I brought some fried chicken and jjajangmyeon from Samjeon Hotel.”
“What’s the occasion?”
“Well….”
Jeon Tae-guk’s lips twitched as he barely suppressed a smile.
“Hyung, what’s going on?”
“It’s your day of humiliation, Sung-guk. Today….”
“My day of humiliation? What are you talking about?”
“Muhammad bin Salah from Saudi Arabia or whatever—anyway, you weren’t the one he wanted to see. He wanted to see Min-guk.”
“How is that humiliating?”
“Until now, you had way more fans than Min-guk, but it looks like Min-guk’s going to have way more fans going forward….”
[Does Jeon Tae-guk really think I’m petty enough to be jealous over something like that?]
I opened my eyes narrowly.
“Brother, I don’t feel jealous about that sort of thing. Min-guk is an idol trainee, after all. The more people in the world who like him, the greater the profits that come back to me.”
“That’s true, but… when I watched Min-guk’s video again today, he really does look like a celebrity.”
“He’s still shorter than me, and his face isn’t that great either.”
“See? You were jealous after all.”
Jeon Tae-guk laughed heartily.
“Sung-guk, the comments under Min-guk’s video are insane. But… they’re all in English or Arabic.”
Adam handed me the laptop.
Well, it was something I’d already anticipated.
“Some groups do get reactions from overseas first. And it’s still a long way until debut, Adam.”
“Sung-guk, I thought you were the only handsome Korean man. But your brother and friends are incredible too. I think this could succeed in America as well.”
Sam agreed as well.
“The day Korean culture dominates the world is coming.”
At that moment, Jeon Tae-guk put a chicken leg in my mouth.
“Yes, yes. Enough with the prophecies—just eat your chicken leg.”
“But… have we decided who’s moving out?”
Three rooms. Four people.
One of them seemed like they should leave this place.
Just then, Jeon Tae-guk raised his hand.
“Sung-guk, I’ll move out.”
Really?
[Jeon Tae-guk, agreeing to leave this place just like that?]
Sam and Adam clearly looked surprised.
No one had expected Jeon Tae-guk to leave this place so readily.
“Actually, this meal is also my treat—a farewell celebration.”
“William, are you serious?”
Adam, who had grown attached over time, sounded disappointed.
“Brother, are you really leaving this place?”
I asked again.
“Yeah… but I’ll move out next week.”
“You already have a place at Samjeon Palace anyway. It doesn’t seem like you’ll need to pack much, so why stay a few more days?”
At that moment, someone came to mind.
Jin-seo.
Jin-seo had finished handing over her duties in Korea and decided to depart for the American headquarters next week.
“Brother, don’t tell me… you’re not moving to Samjeon Palace but going to America with Jin-seo?”
“Hehe. You caught me.”
Jeon Tae-guk slurped his noodles.
“William, so you’re really not moving out?”
“Adam, I took a leave of absence. I thought Jin-seo would need my help adjusting to America.”
[From what I can see, Jin-seo will adapt far better than you will.]
I shook my head in disbelief.
“Brother, so you’re saying you’ll go to the United States with Jin-seo and then move into Samjeon Palace?”
“No….”
Jeon Tae-guk shook his head as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
“You said you were moving out?”
“I took two weeks of vacation, so of course when I come back from the United States, I’ll return here to my home. Besides, Jin-seo won’t even be in Korea anymore, so why would I go lonely into Samjeon Palace by myself?”
Jeon Tae-guk slurped his noodles with complete composure.
“Brother, that’s not moving out at all!”
“Sung-guk, Teacher Lee of Samcheong-dong said I could overcome separation sickness, right? To get over that, I’m going to be flying back and forth to the United States constantly. So don’t worry. Just think of me as the pickled radish in this family.”
I grabbed my head in frustration.
What were these younger brothers of mine…. They were clearly the karmic debt of my life.

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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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