I Will Raise This Family to Greatness - Chapter 374

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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 374
– Is Jeon Tae-guk, head of Samjeon’s Strategic Planning Team, a lucky charm? Or is Jeon Sung-guk the lucky charm? The Samsung Lions, with Jeon Sung-guk’s direct attendance at Game 5 of the Korean Series, barely won 1-0. Korean Series Champions!
– Jeon Sung-guk’s charming moment drinking beer!
– Jeon Sung-guk tearing into chicken legs—a moment that captivates hearts!
[This is unexpected….]
I already knew the Samsung Lions would win this Korean Series, so I had even prepared champagne for Jeon Tae-guk to pop at the victory celebration.
For the first time in a while, feeling light-hearted, I headed to Jamsil Stadium with Dennis and Ji-hee in tow.
Of course, the concept I had orchestrated was Jeon Tae-guk as the lucky charm.
But the media focused more on me.
I tilted my head in confusion.
[Sigh… being handsome is tough, I suppose….]
Just then, Secretary Kim Mi-so walked into the office with a puzzled expression.
“Sir, we’ve been receiving some strange inquiries lately.”
“Strange inquiries?”
“Advertising offers have been pouring in—chicken commercials, beer ads, all sorts of things. I’ve been informing them that you’re currently serving in the military and declining everything.”
[Secretary Kim Mi-so, what’s strange about that? Isn’t that completely natural….]
I shrugged my shoulders.
Then I deliberately slid the internet article I’d been reading toward Kim Mi-so.
[Look at this. Jeon Sung-guk’s charming moment!]
Secretary Kim Mi-so quickly scanned the internet article as I intended. Yet she still had that puzzled expression.
“By the way, women are strange.”
What kind of reaction is this?
“Secretary Kim, what do you mean by that?”
“I wonder why people are so enthusiastic about you, sir.”
[You don’t understand even after seeing these photos, Secretary Kim?]
I stared at Secretary Kim Mi-so with bewilderment.
“From what I’ve observed, you’re self-centered and a workaholic—the worst choice as a romantic partner.”
In that moment, I looked at Kim Mi-so coldly.
“Secretary Kim Mi-so. Aren’t you my secretary?”
“Sir, what you said on my first day of work left a deep impression on me.”
[What did I say back then….]
Secretary Kim Mi-so smiled faintly and continued.
“You said you hate people who speak flattery. That you want me to always tell you the truth when you ask me something… and that the moment I try to dodge the issue or speak empty words, I should quit being your secretary.”
[Sigh…]
I let out a deep sigh internally.
In my previous life, when I lived as the successor to the Samjeon Group, I was surrounded only by sycophants. So in this life, I demanded nothing but the truth from those around me.
And I kept people who could speak only the truth.
This was the side effect of that decision.
Secretary Kim Mi-so looked at me and smiled wryly.
“Sir, would you like me to say something flattering now? For example, it’s true that you’re handsome. Though that’s not my type, of course.”
“Secretary Kim, that’s enough. Just tell me today’s schedule.”
“Yes, sir. You’re always most impressive when you’re working. This afternoon, Jeon Tae-guk, the head of the Strategic Planning Team, contacted us asking to have lunch together at the Company Cafeteria.”
“That happens all the time.”
It was Jeon Tae-guk who had summoned all of Alpha’s employees to Samjeon Group’s headquarters because he didn’t want to eat alone.
“And?”
“In the afternoon, you have a TikTok development meeting with Sam and Adam. Oh, and tonight there’s a company dinner to celebrate the Korean Series championship victory for Alpha employees.”
My brow furrowed.
“Samjeon won the Korean Series, so why is Alpha having a celebration dinner? And… why am I only hearing about this schedule today?”
“Well, I understand this was proposed by Team Leader Jeon Tae-guk to Sam and Adam. And he specifically instructed us to keep it absolutely secret from you. He said if you found out, he’d cancel it immediately.”
“I’m not that bad of a person.”
Secretary Kim Mi-so looked at me with an expressionless face.
[What’s with that look?]
Then she continued speaking.
“I’ve served as secretary to many people, but you’re truly one of the finest. There are absolutely no additional demands beyond work-related matters.”
“Isn’t that what makes a good boss?”
“However, there’s virtually no personal communication, so I suspect you don’t understand what difficulties your employees face while working. That’s not just my issue—it’s evident in your communication with all Alpha employees as well.”
[Do I really need to know all that?]
The words rose to my throat, but I swallowed them back down.
Kim Mi-so continued in a slightly softer tone.
“While I’m not a secretary with extensive experience, it seems you communicate smoothly with a select few employees you trust, but struggle with communicating with the entire workforce. Alpha is a company of considerable size, and I believe it wouldn’t be a bad idea to create opportunities for communication with employees through formal gatherings like company dinners.”
Kim Mi-so was offering me genuine advice.
To be honest, company dinners were one of my least favorite occasions.
I was tired of the sound of grilling pork belly, and the atmosphere of pouring and drinking soju felt awkward.
And once alcohol entered the picture, I had no confidence in handling employees who started complaining.
“Secretary Kim, where is tonight’s dinner being held?”
“We’ve booked it at Wonpul Galbi.”
“Understood. As you suggested, Secretary Kim, let’s use the dinner as an opportunity for genuine communication.”
[Alright, a company dinner—let me give it a proper try!]
* * *
On my way to the Company Cafeteria to have lunch with Jeon Tae-guk, a woman approached me with an awkward smile.
Who was this?
“CEO Jeon, I’m Lee Hyun-hee from Samjeon Entertainment.”
“Yes, what is it?”
“I’m a fan of yours.”
[Sigh… this popularity of mine…]
Ever since I shouted “Dad!” while filming a commercial and appeared in “Five Men and a Baby Basket,” I had never escaped public attention for a single moment.
Lee Hyun-hee couldn’t even make proper eye contact with me while speaking.
“Lee Hyun-hee, is there anything else you’d like to say?”
“Actually, a fan club cafe has been created for employees at our Samjeon Group headquarters. If you’re interested, would you mind visiting it sometime?”
“A fan club for me?”
“Yes… We’ve already surpassed a thousand members. In terms of in-house fan clubs, we’ve exceeded Team Leader Jeon Tae-guk’s numbers.”
Wait a moment!
The truly astonishing revelation here was that Jeon Tae-guk had a fan club at all.
“Team Leader Jeon Tae-guk has a fan club?”
“Yes… His has three hundred members, but ours has surpassed a thousand. Plus, Team Leader Jeon Tae-guk’s fan club was established over six months ago. Please visit our fan club cafe sometime.”
Lee Hyun-hee quietly handed me a slip of paper with the internet fan club address written on it.
“I’ll stop by sometime.”
“Thank you so much!”
Lee Hyun-hee bowed politely and quickly disappeared among the crowd of people.
At that moment, Jeon Tae-guk approached, waving his hand.
“CEO, let’s grab lunch. I specially requested pork cutlet today—with plenty of cheese.”
“Team Leader Jeon, are you attending our company dinner today?”
“Secretary Kim already mentioned it? I told him to bring it up right before the dinner….”
Jeon Tae-guk wore an awkward expression.
“CEO, please attend this company dinner. Stop talking only to Sam and Adam all the time—you need to communicate with the other employees too.”
“Team Leader Jeon, Alpha is my company.”
Jeon Tae-guk stepped closer to my side and whispered.
“Sung-guk, this is advice from someone who was once an Alpha employee. Don’t forget that listening to your employees’ grievances and concerns is also part of a CEO’s role.”
A CEO’s role, huh….
I nodded. Then I spoke quietly to Jeon Tae-guk.
“Team Leader Jeon Tae-guk, now that you’ve left Alpha, it would be more appropriate if you didn’t interfere with Alpha’s affairs.”
Of course, Jeon Tae-guk’s expression grew melancholy.
“Sung-guk, I’m just visiting my former workplace and having a meal with my colleagues. Can’t I even do that?”
“Just that much. That would be appropriate.”
[Boundaries exist for a reason, Jeon Tae-guk!]
At my words, Jeon Tae-guk nodded vigorously.
* * *
I finished lunch quickly and opened my laptop at the office.
With time remaining from the lunch hour, employees gathered in small groups, drinking coffee or chatting, and many hadn’t yet returned to their desks.
My average lunch break was around thirty minutes.
I typically returned to the office right after eating at the company cafeteria and started working.
Jeon Tae-guk kept pestering me to have a cup of coffee with him, but I had no time for that.
I had to review various ongoing projects at Alpha and FaceNote and make decisions with Mark.
Working while accounting for the time difference with the United States, I often found myself remaining in the office after everyone else had left.
In fact, “often” was an understatement—it was practically every day.
Since the employees had promised punctual arrivals and departures without worrying about my schedule, I had almost no time for casual conversation outside of meetings with regular staff.
I rolled my slightly stiff shoulders.
And I gazed blankly at the employees chattering away in small groups.
[What are they talking about right now?]
In that moment, the employees who felt my gaze smiled and greeted me, then quickly took their seats.
[I was just looking at them….]
The employees reacted as though they’d been scolded by the Dormitory Supervisor.
I’d learned long ago that the position of CEO was inherently solitary.
Was I becoming an island again in this life as well….
Ding.
A message had arrived.
Who could it be?
– Sung-guk, it’s Michael Sandel…. I just arrived in Korea, and I thought of you….
Michael Sandel!
The one professor from my brief time at Harvard whose conversations had left a lasting impression on me.
A few years later, he would become a worldwide bestselling author renowned across South Korea and beyond, but that hadn’t happened yet.
I immediately called Michael Sandel.
Soon, his voice came through—calm yet sharp-edged.
– Sung-guk, I didn’t expect you to call back so quickly.
“Professor, what brings you to Korea?”
– A Korean company invited me to give a lecture this weekend. I accepted partly because I was curious about Korea as a nation….
“Are you very busy with your schedule?”
– Well, the fact that I sent you a message suggests my schedule isn’t quite that packed, doesn’t it?
Michael Sandel chuckled warmly.
“I’ll come pick you up right away. Where are you?”
– I’m at… Samjeon Headquarters.
* * *
I waited for the elevator descending from the apex of the Samjeon Group pyramid.
It was Samjeon Group itself that had invited Michael Sandel to Korea. Though the educational foundation had spearheaded the initiative, it seemed Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung had heard of Michael Sandel’s reputation and arranged a separate meeting.
The elevator doors opened, and Michael Sandel emerged.
“Sung-guk!”
“Professor!”
We greeted each other warmly after so long and shook hands.
“Sung-guk, I’ve seen your photos through FaceNote, but you look even more impressive in person….”
“I didn’t know you were capable of flattery, Professor.”
“Life is all the same everywhere.”
Michael Sandel smiled gently.
He was certainly warmer than when I’d seen him at school, and he joked more frequently.
I guided Michael Sandel to a nearby park.
“Michael, would it be alright if I looked after you while you’re in Korea?”
“I actually requested plenty of free time before the lecture. We’ll see each other often then. I’m genuinely curious about Korea.”
Then Michael Sandel placed his hand on my shoulder.
“Sung-guk…. Is something troubling you?”
“How did you… know that?”
“Sung-guk, you seem different from how I remember you at school. During my Harvard lectures, you always carried an air of absolute confidence. But today, you seem… exhausted, I’d say. It’s a look you shouldn’t see on someone in their early twenties. It’s the face of someone who’s lived through many years, Sung-guk. That’s what I see now.”
[Michael, I’ve been living for over 60 years now….]
I smiled weakly and looked at Michael Sandel.
“Michael, what exactly is communication? People keep saying I’m someone who can’t communicate.”
[Well, Michael. Now it’s your turn to answer this question.]

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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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