I Will Raise This Family to Greatness - Chapter 423

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 423
The day of my departure to New York was drawing near.
But since that day, Secretary Kim Mi-so and I hadn’t spoken a word about it.
As always, Secretary Kim Mi-so arrived at my home at six in the morning, and after I finished my workout, she handed me a latte and sandwich from Starbucks.
Once I finished breakfast and got ready, we headed to the office together.
The only change was Secretary Kim Mi-so’s suggestion that we walk to the office from home.
“CEO, since the office is within walking distance from your home, it’s good exercise and seems beneficial.”
“Yes….”
I gave a brief response.
Secretary Kim Mi-so was my secretary, but she was three years older than me. She’d been hired directly into Samsung’s Secretariat right after graduation.
“Are there any special directives from Samsung at the moment?”
“Nothing significant currently. Since you mentioned going to New York, there was only a formal request to report on what happens there.”
“I see.”
Secretary Kim Mi-so delivered her work report as usual.
“CEO, this might not interest you, but…”
[What is it? I’m incredibly curious….]
I glanced at Secretary Kim Mi-so while walking, keeping my expression as disinterested as possible.
“What is it?”
“I’ve been deliberately getting close with Secretary Park Sung-hee.”
Deliberately?
“Since she works closely with Executive Director Jeon Tae-guk in planning and management, I thought I might be able to gather information.”
“That’s a good idea.”
“Based on Secretary Park Sung-hee’s recent movements, there doesn’t seem to be anything you need to be particularly wary of. Nothing beyond her scheduled activities. It seems she’s been keeping a lower profile lately due to Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung’s divorce proceedings.”
“Yes, continue gathering information closely going forward.”
[Just don’t get too close….]
“Yes, CEO.”
Secretary Kim Mi-so smiled softly.
“And CEO… I bought some boxer briefs and put them in your drawer. Are they the right size?”
“Secretary Kim….”
“Yes.”
“You don’t need to take care of such private matters.”
“I apologize. When I was at Samsung, Mi-jin wanted me to handle those kinds of things, so I took care of everything.”
[Jeon Mi-jin, seriously, buy your own underwear!]
“This isn’t Samsung. Secretary Kim.”
“Yes, CEO. I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Secretary Kim, I’d like you to become a secretary who supports me more effectively in my work, helping me accomplish things more efficiently.”
“What do you mean?”
“I can handle things like buying underwear myself, and my mother still buys me plenty anyway.”
[Does this make me sound like a mama’s boy? Did I say something unnecessary?]
Secretary Kim Mi-so nodded with a hardened expression.
“If you want to return to FaceNote’s headquarters with me, you’ll need to study English a bit more. Of course, I know you’re fluent in conversation, but working directly in the United States is a different matter entirely.”
“Yes, I’ll keep that in mind.”
I drew a clear line between Secretary Kim Mi-so and myself.
After all, we needed a firm distinction between work and personal matters!
“After work, Secretary Kim Mi-so, please feel free to spend time on your personal development. I’ve adapted well enough to Pangyo by now, and I’ve settled into my home.”
“Understood.”
“Oh, and… during this New York business trip, I’d appreciate it if you could look after Sam, Adam, and my family. I’ll be too busy to give it much attention.”
“Of course. And… this is something I heard from Secretary Park Sung-hee.”
It seemed to involve Jeon Tae-guk somehow.
“I imagine you already expected that Executive Director Jeon Tae-guk arranged this New York business trip.”
[I figured as much….]
I nodded.
“And… he’s apparently preparing to buy FaceNote stock personally. CEO, I’m thinking of buying some too.”
“Don’t overextend yourself.”
“Of course not.”
Secretary Kim Mi-so and I began walking back toward the company.
Life in Pangyo didn’t seem so bad after all.
* * *
On the airplane to New York.
With so many people traveling, everyone on this New York trip, including my family, flew business class.
Ji-hee was studying even on the plane, while Min-guk was sleeping straight through, refusing the in-flight meal in preparation for his debut stage.
My parents seemed to be enjoying wine and pleasant conversation on their first flight in a long time.
Sam and Adam worked even on the plane, and Jeon Tae-guk used the New York business trip as an excuse to sit next to me, sipping drinks and chattering away.
“Sung-guk, it feels strange flying business class after so long.”
“After so long? Isn’t this your first time?”
“Maybe… but business class is worth taking. By the way, Sung-guk, I’m planning to buy FaceNote stock. I’m about to become a shareholder, you know?”
“Yes, Shareholder. Now please put down the drink and get some work done.”
I returned my attention to my laptop.
But honestly, I couldn’t focus on work.
In two days… FaceNote will be listed on the American stock market.
I gazed quietly out the airplane window.
I remembered that time when I first came to study abroad in this life.
Back then, I never imagined I’d come this far after meeting Mark.
Of course, I had carefully planned to meet Mark once I arrived in America….
[Sigh… has the day finally come to realize my dream….]
“CEO.”
I heard Secretary Kim Mi-so calling quietly from behind.
I turned around, and Secretary Kim Mi-so held out an itinerary.
“This is your family’s schedule for New York. I thought you might be curious about it.”
“You’re going to have your hands full, Secretary Kim.”
“It’s no trouble at all. Ji-hee said she’d study at the hotel. Min-guk mentioned his debut is right around the corner, so he’ll be living at the hotel’s fitness center. Your parents wanted to visit local restaurants, so I’ve arranged the schedule accordingly.”
Secretary Kim Mi-so was as meticulous as ever.
“I trust you completely, Secretary Kim. Thank you for everything.”
At that moment, Jeon Tae-guk looked at me with envious eyes from beside me.
“Sung-guk, can’t you bring Secretary Kim Mi-so back to Samsung?”
[What are you talking about, Jeon Tae-guk?]
“I want to have a secretary like Kim Mi-so assisting me too.”
This conversation needed to end quickly.
“Hyung, I’m going to get some sleep. Once we’re in New York, I won’t have time to rest.”
“You’re just saying things I don’t want to hear…. Go on, sleep.”
Jeon Tae-guk pouted, but I quickly closed my eyes.
* * *
“Sung-guk, I can’t believe this day is finally here.”
Peter, his face even more moved than mine, handed me a glass of whiskey.
“We should save the champagne for after the IPO, don’t you think?”
“Let’s do that, Peter.”
Mark, Peter, and I stood in Peter’s office, overlooking Central Park.
Mark’s nervousness was plainly visible.
“Sung-guk, I haven’t slept in days.”
“Neither have I….”
I took a sip of whiskey.
Peter chuckled at the sight.
“I remember when Sung-guk only drank water… and now here you are, having whiskey with me.”
“Peter, when I first met Sung-guk, he was just a kid who couldn’t even carry a backpack properly.”
[Go ahead, all of you. Talk about me however you like. I’ll forgive everything today….]
We lost ourselves in old memories for the first time in a while.
From our Phillips High School days when I first met Mark, to the Harvard party where I first met Peter.
All of it became our drinking stories.
“Sung-guk, remember? You said if you ever failed in business, you’d live on thirty dollars a month, so you bought hot dogs and ate them?”
“Of course I remember. We even posted it on FaceNote and got some attention.”
“That’s when I thought, ‘This kid Sung-guk is really tough.'”
Mark also recalled those days.
“Mark, you had a crush on Jessie for all three years of Phillips High School.”
“That was all youthful foolishness. Now there’s only Mi-mi for me.”
“By the way, what’s that blonde beauty doing these days?”
At Peter’s question, both Mark and I shrugged.
Honestly, we could have found out by searching FaceNote, but we didn’t really care.
“Sung-guk, Jessie was really interested in you back then.”
“There aren’t many women who aren’t interested in me.”
“Wow, Jeon Sung-guk. You’ve grown up quite a bit.”
Whenever I met Mark, we played around like high school kids.
Peter watched us fooling around with an amused expression, then set his whiskey glass down on the table. He folded his arms and looked us both up and down.
“But you know what, Sung-guk and Mark.”
“What is it, Peter?”
“You’re not actually planning to ring the opening bell at the Stock Exchange dressed like that, are you? I know you might call me old-fashioned for saying so.”
It was a symbolic tradition in American securities circles for the CEO of a company going public on NASDAQ to ring the bell that marked the opening of trading that day.
I was wearing my usual gray hoodie and jeans, while Mark had on a blue checkered shirt and jeans. For both of us, these clothes were like a uniform.
“I’ve never really thought about it. Mark, did you bring different clothes?”
“No… should I wear a different checkered shirt instead of the blue one?”
“FaceNote is blue anyway, so blue works fine for me.”
As Mark and I seriously debated our outfits, Peter shook his head in disapproval.
“This won’t do. Let’s go to the department store together after lunch tomorrow.”
* * *
Peter took us to a luxury department store—the same one where I’d bought the Tiffany ring.
It was lined with high-end designer boutiques.
“Sung-guk, Mark… we don’t have time for custom tailoring, so let’s just pick something you like from here today.”
In my previous life, this would have been an exciting shopping experience, but in this one, I’d completely lost interest in shopping.
[Peter, the completion of fashion is the face. Don’t you get it when you look at mine?]
As Mark and I hesitated, Peter pushed us forward.
“Come on, let’s go in. Where should we start… Prada? Gucci?”
Mark and I reluctantly entered Prada.
The staff member looked between Mark and me, then quickly brought out suits and briefcases.
“These are this year’s new arrivals. Would you like to try them on?”
Mark and I took the new suits and headed to the changing room.
After so long, putting on a well-fitted shirt and suit felt a bit constricting.
“Sung-guk, are you done?”
“Yeah. Mark, how about you?”
“I’m buttoning up… why are there so many buttons?”
I could easily imagine Mark fumbling with the buttons.
“Come out once you’re dressed.”
I put on the jacket and stepped out.
Peter looked at Mark and me with satisfaction, alternating his gaze between us.
“You both look like real businessmen in those suits.”
“You look absolutely wonderful.”
The staff member was equally pleased.
“If I suggested you try on other clothes at different stores, you’d both hate that, wouldn’t you?”
[Of course, Peter.]
Mark and I nodded vigorously.
“Good, let’s go with these. I’m giving them to you both as a gift for tomorrow.”
“Peter… we can’t possibly—”
“No, I really want to give it to you as a gift.”
Peter was firm in his resolve.
* * *
Finally, the morning of May 18th, 2012 arrived.
Mark and I had barely slept a wink.
I knew the future would turn out well, but the nervousness was unavoidable nonetheless.
“Sung-guk, you were tossing and turning all night too… you didn’t sleep either, did you?”
“Yeah. I barely got any sleep. You?”
“Yeah….”
Mark nodded with disheveled hair and a tired face.
“Sung-guk, I still can’t believe it. That we’ve made it this far….”
“Mark, maybe this is just the beginning….”
Mark broke into a grin at my words.
“Sung-guk, but… I feel bad toward Peter. Do we really have to wear suits?”
“Actually, I was thinking the same thing. FaceNote is a casual SNS platform, and showing up in suits doesn’t feel right for us.”
“Then I’ll wear my blue checkered shirt today too.”
“And I’ll wear my hoodie.”
“Yeah, that’s who we are.”
Mark spoke as if reciting lines from a campaign advertisement, then grabbed his blue shirt.
* * *
Peter looked at us with astonishment in his eyes.
“Both of you right now… what about the suits I bought for you?”
“Peter, FaceNote just doesn’t seem to go with suits.”
Peter chuckled helplessly at my words and nodded in resignation.
“Really, you young people these days… there’s no helping it. Well then… shall we go ring the bell?”
“Yes!”
* * *
Mark and I stood in the center of the Stock Exchange, ready for the opening.
We were dressed as usual in our hoodies and blue checkered shirt, and every employee at the Stock Exchange watched eagerly for us to ring the bell.
The moment for the stock market opening drew near.
I extended my hand to Mark.
“Mark….”
Mark grasped my hand firmly.
And before everyone watching, we rang the bell to signal the opening of the stock market!
Today was the historic day FaceNote listed on NASDAQ!

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————