I Will Raise This Family to Greatness - Chapter 411

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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 411
I answered Mother’s call.
– Sung-guk, Min-guk sent me some article earlier… What is this about? Spending a night with Anne Hathaway?
“Oh, Mom. That article got published wrong. We just appeared together, but the paparazzi here in the United States are so aggressive that I protected her a bit. That’s how the article came out.”
– Sung-guk…
Mother’s voice was frighteningly composed.
“Yes, Mom…”
[Why do I always feel so small in front of Mother?]
I felt cold sweat beginning to form on my back.
– Sung-guk, you’re an adult now… I think it’s fine for you to meet and part ways with women freely. But… spending just one night and doing things like that isn’t right, is it?
“Mom, it’s really not that kind of relationship.”
– In any case, sigh…
Mother let out a deep sigh.
– You’re your mother and father’s son. You can’t forget that you’re Min-guk’s older brother and Ji-hee’s older brother. As the eldest son, you need to set an example.
“Mom, don’t worry. I’m really not doing anything strange.”
– When you come to Korea, your father wants to see you. Understood?
“Yes, Mom.”
I hung up the phone, wiping away cold sweat.
Jeon Tae-guk, watching from beside me, chuckled.
“The only people in the world who can control you are your parents. Anyway, Sung-guk… how was Anne Hathaway?”
“Please stop that!”
[It was a business relationship—I absolutely can’t say that!]
* * *
Sam and Adam were standing guard at the Expo Venue with dark expressions.
As I approached, Sam and Adam stood up from their seats.
“Sam, Adam. Why do you both look so gloomy?”
“Sung-guk… TikTok’s response has been really poor.”
Sam spoke with a dejected expression.
“TikTok’s time simply hasn’t come yet. Have you two eaten?”
Adam shook his head firmly.
The fact that Adam hadn’t even taken care of eating… his disappointment must have been considerable.
I patted Adam’s shoulder.
“Adam, let’s go eat hamburgers. Since we’re in the United States, let’s grab some American food for a change.”
“Okay, Sung-guk…”
Sam and Adam reluctantly followed me.
* * *
We ate hamburgers at a Hamburger Shop near the Expo Venue for the first time in a while.
Adam was on his second burger, saying he had no appetite.
[Adam really does seem to have lost his appetite… normally by now he would have easily eaten three…]
Just then, Sam, who had just returned from the Restroom, handed me a newspaper.
“Sung-guk, look at this. Something seems off.”
“What is it?”
“Both the newspapers and the internet are saying nothing but terrible things about our TikTok.”
I skimmed through the newspaper Sam handed me.
Since we were near the Expo Venue, it was an IT-related newspaper with large articles about this IT expo.
– CEO Jeon Sung-guk’s Major Failure! TikTok’s Disastrous Results Leave the TikTok Booth Deserted.
I shrugged my shoulders.
“There were plenty of articles like this before we went to Los Angeles.”
After the presentation ended, harsh criticism of TikTok followed.
In fact, the reason I had taken a photo with Anne Hathaway was precisely for this—to redirect people’s attention.
FaceNote was about to go public soon, and there was no need for TikTok to drag down FaceNote’s valuation.
“Sung-guk, look at this too.”
Sam thrust his phone toward me, displaying another article.
– CEO Jeon Sung-guk’s Failed Project, TikTok. Completely Shunned by Silicon Valley.
At this point, I sensed something was going on.
I quickly called Peter in New York. If anyone could uncover who was behind these articles, it would be him.
– Sung-guk… I was actually about to call you regarding your New York schedule.
“Peter, before we meet in New York, there’s something I’d like you to look into.”
– What is it?
“There are so many articles about TikTok and me.”
– Isn’t that just because you’re such a prominent figure?
“I don’t think that’s it. As you know, the media loves sensationalism, but this level of pure criticism is quite unusual. Even for a complete failure, usually at least one article among many would attempt to find some potential. But these TikTok articles have nothing like that at all.”
– Hmm… I’ve been neglecting TikTok because of FaceNote’s listing. Someone might be stirring things up behind the scenes. I’ll look into it and get back to you.
“Thank you, Peter.”
I hung up and picked up my hamburger again.
Adam and Sam were staring at me with wide eyes.
“Sung-guk, is there really some kind of conspiracy against you?”
Honestly, I didn’t know.
Perhaps TikTok wouldn’t succeed in this life either.
I took a bite of my hamburger.
“Adam, Sam. Everything is still uncertain. For now, let’s just eat our hamburgers. We’re hungry, aren’t we?”
At that moment, my phone rang.
It was Jeon Tae-guk.
What was this about?
* * *
“Sung-guk, here….”
Jeon Tae-guk, who was supposedly on a business trip but actually resting, raised his hand with an urgent expression.
“Hyung, why did you suddenly call me to your hotel room?”
Jeon Tae-guk had called me and then immediately summoned me back to his hotel room.
“Sung-guk… I’ve obtained some strange information. It’s difficult to discuss it outside….”
“Strange information? First, where did you get this information from, hyung?”
“Our mother.”
The Iron Lady?
Right now the Iron Lady must be swamped with divorce proceedings against Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung….
I looked at Jeon Tae-guk with a puzzled expression.
“Sung-guk, the reason I called you like this is… our mother isn’t someone who usually shares news like this, but it seems she’s doing it because she’s in the middle of divorce proceedings with Father.”
“Hyung, can you just tell me the main point? I already have a lot on my mind because of TikTok.”
“Right, TikTok! That’s what this is about!”
The Iron Lady gave information about TikTok?
[This is getting thrillingly interesting.]
I looked at Jeon Tae-guk.
“Hyung, tell me quickly.”
“According to Mother, Father is conducting a comprehensive review of his investment in TikTok.”
“A comprehensive review means he’s planning to pull out of TikTok, right?”
“Yeah….”
I stroked my chin.
Negative articles about TikTok had been coming out one after another, and now Samsung was reviewing its investment in TikTok?
“Hyung, this is really strange….”
“What is?”
“Honestly, even if Samsung withdraws its investment from TikTok, I’m not worried.”
Hyojin Group had invested, and Chairman Koo Soo-young’s trust remained unwavering.
“I find that strange too. Why would Father suddenly do this?”
“It seems like he’s trying to train you.”
“Me?”
I let out a small laugh.
Honestly, I didn’t have massive wealth to show publicly.
From Samsung’s perspective, I was merely the CEO of an SNS company that hadn’t even gone public yet.
They likely thought I didn’t have the capital to move investments independently.
[Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung underestimated me.]
But personally, I held Bitcoin and Tesla stock that was bound to skyrocket soon—in a little while, I’d likely possess far more liquid assets than Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung’s personal wealth.
Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung seemed to think that if Samsung withdrew from TikTok, I’d panic and come running.
“Sung-guk, but here’s the thing. According to Mother… it’s not just a review, but Samsung is apparently transferring its stake to a foreign company.”
“What?”
“To a foreign company?”
“Yes.”
“Which company is it?”
“Mother doesn’t know that much either. But she said something—it seems Father is trying to train you and me as a package deal.”
[Then it makes sense.]
Samsung was planning to transfer its stake in TikTok to another company.
So that neither I nor Hyojin Group could acquire it.
If I find out about this, I’ll likely try to acquire Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung’s stake myself. So he’s probably planning to test me by deciding whether to hand over his shares to another foreign company instead.
[Sigh… Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung really does seem like a karmic adversary in this life….]
Then my phone rang.
It was Peter.
“Peter, it’s me.”
– Sung-guk, about that thing you asked me to look into.
“Yes, Peter. Did you find something?”
– There’s a company trying to acquire Samsung’s stake in TikTok.
“Which company?”
– Winklevoss Investment. Sung-guk, doesn’t that name sound familiar?
Winklevoss Investment?
I barely managed to suppress a laugh that was about to burst out.
“Is that the company run by Cameron and Tyler Winkle?”
– Yes. They’re your Harvard classmates, after all.
“They’re also seniors from the Lyan Club.”
I recalled the Winklevoss Brothers after a long time.
Blonde hair, tall stature. Cold faces.
They were traditional American wealthy heirs who had inherited far more from their predecessors than they had accomplished themselves.
“Peter, did the Winklevoss side also orchestrate the media play about TikTok?”
– It seems so. The Winklevoss family has deep connections with Wall Street and the media, after all. I’m not entirely sure, but it seems like a planned move from the moment you officially announced TikTok’s participation in the IT Expo.
“Peter, what do you think the Winklevoss Brothers’ next move will be?”
– They’ll try to acquire Samsung’s stake. And perhaps in my opinion… if the media situation deteriorates further, it could be disadvantageous for FaceNote’s IPO. Isn’t this their operation to completely acquire TikTok themselves?
“So they want to add a spoonful, but if they can’t, they’ll take the whole bowl.”
– That seems to be the case.
Peter let out a low sigh.
“And the biggest variable in all this is ultimately Samsung.”
– That’s right. If Samsung doesn’t hand over their stake to the Winklevoss Brothers, they’ll have to make a direct proposal to you… and of course you won’t.
“I won’t hand it over.”
– Sung-guk, when are you coming to New York?
“The day after tomorrow. With Mark.”
– Let’s talk about it then.
“Yes, Peter.”
I hung up the phone and stroked my chin.
It felt like I was about to start an interesting game after a long time.
Jeon Tae-guk looked at me with a worried expression.
“Sung-guk, are you okay?”
“Hyung, I’m not okay. If Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung hands over Samsung’s stake in TikTok to the Winklevoss Brothers… it becomes the worst-case scenario.”
“But you look incredibly excited right now.”
“Yes, hyung. I’m incredibly excited right now. Fighting the Winklevoss Brothers is always fun.”
[Of course, I have to win….]
Jeon Tae-guk looked at me with concern etched across his face.
“Sung-guk, but… why is Father really doing this? He’s using the poor TikTok evaluation as an excuse to train you and me together, isn’t he?”
“Probably. And in the worst case, he can always sell the TikTok shares.”
“Why is Father like this….”
“Brother, you stay in San Francisco and continue with the remaining schedule. I think Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung will come to New York himself.”
“Father will?”
“Yes….”
Prolonging a conflict like this would serve no purpose.
Given Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung’s temperament, he would certainly resolve this matter quickly and personally.
* * *
As I stepped out of the New York Airport, Grace greeted us.
“Sung-guk… Mark… it’s been such a long time.”
“Grace, I hope you’ve been well.”
“I have. I’m always the same.”
“How about Peter?”
“He’s waiting at the office. Apparently, some important guests are coming today.”
Grace, as always, guided us with her characteristic warmth.
“Oh, by the way, Sung-guk… the meeting with today’s guests is at 3 PM. Peter said to meet up then.”
“Important guests?”
“Yes. Peter said they’re all people you already know….”
Peter hadn’t given me any advance notice before I left San Francisco. But I had a rough idea of who they were.
“Mark, while Sung-guk’s in the meeting, let’s go on a long-overdue New York date.”
“Sounds good, Grace.”
* * *
I arrived at Peter’s Office.
Peter’s investment firm was located where Central Park spread out in full view below.
A waiting staff member guided me inside.
“The CEO is waiting for you.”
Click.
The door to Peter’s office opened, and familiar faces turned to look at me.
As expected….
“Sung-guk, you remember us, right? It’s been a while.”
Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss Brothers. And.
“CEO Jeon, it’s quite different seeing you here.”
It was Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung.
I adjusted my hoodie and walked inside.
[Now, shall we begin?]

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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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