I Will Raise This Family to Greatness - Chapter 438

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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 438
– Mitt Romney wrote AMERICA as AMERCIA! The presidential candidate doesn’t even know how to spell his own country.
– Will Barack Obama recover from his first debate loss with Mitt Romney’s own goal?
– The second round will be livestreamed on YouTube!
– Mitt Romney gained the upper hand in the first TV debate and reversed Barack Obama’s approval rating for the first time. However, Barack Obama maintains the lead in electoral votes. The election race enters uncharted territory!
Though Mitt Romney was being mocked for writing AMERICA as AMERCIA, his approval rating was still formidable.
No matter how I thought about it, writing AMERICA as AMERCIA was undoubtedly a fatal mistake for a U.S. presidential candidate.
On top of that, various memes mocking this mistake had taken over the internet.
It was then that Secretary Kim Mi-so showed me a video.
“CEO, this somehow smells like Adam’s work.”
AMERCIA flowed beneath Mitt Romney’s face, with a South Korean Girl Group song playing in the background. It was clearly a mocking video.
[Secretary Kim is sharp.]
In fact, I had asked Adam, who loved these kinds of memes, to make one for me. To use it when Mitt Romney appeared during the YouTube debate.
“I’m not sure. Adam might have watched the debate from Korea. Either way, he’s American too.”
I shrugged my shoulders.
Secretary Kim Mi-so smiled faintly.
“CEO, you’re terrible at lying.”
[I’ve been caught.]
“Secretary Kim, what’s on my schedule today?”
In situations like this, changing the subject is the best approach.
“You have a meeting with Mitt Romney’s camp today.”
“I meant my schedule here, not my schedule in the United States. Your schedule, Secretary Kim Mi-so.”
“I’m planning to go look at maternity products with Mi-mi. But CEO, have you prepared a wedding gift for Director Mark?”
A wedding gift?
Secretary Kim Mi-so, reading my expression, asked kindly.
“I thought you might not have thought of it.”
[Isn’t my coming here itself a gift?]
“You’re not giving me that look like you think coming all the way here from Korea to attend the wedding is the gift, are you?”
Secretary Kim Mi-so saw right through me.
I answered as calmly as I could.
“I’ll think about it starting now.”
Click—the door opened and Mark shuffled into the living room with a disheveled face.
Secretary Kim Mi-so and I were each staying in spare rooms in Mark’s house.
“Did you all sleep well? But why are you both up so early?”
“Mark, is there anything you need for a wedding gift?”
I asked Mark directly.
“Yaaawn—”
Mark stretched languidly instead of answering.
“A wedding gift? Well, I don’t really need anything. Mi-mi and I decided to just take all the furniture we have here. We’re taking all the kitchenware too….”
[Wait, you’re taking this worn-out sofa to an 8-billion-won house?]
I fidgeted with the sofa beneath me.
This sofa was a Sakeya product I’d bought secondhand when I first moved into this apartment.
The previous owner had used it for over three years before I purchased it, so it already had scattered blemishes, but now it was completely worn and tattered.
“Mark, you’re really taking this sofa with you as is?”
“Yeah. Mi-mi is completely attached to this sofa. I like it too.”
“What about the bed?”
“The one Mi-mi and I have been using.”
Mark and Mi-mi’s bed was also a Sakeya product.
“There’s no time to go shopping, and it’s a hassle anyway….”
“You’re not seriously planning to take everything in this apartment to that place?”
“Of course! You shouldn’t just buy and throw away things carelessly…. That’s all resource waste.”
A sigh escaped me involuntarily.
[Mark, you’re a billionaire!]
Secretary Kim Mi-so quietly approached me and whispered in my ear.
“CEO, the outline of the gift is starting to become clear.”
“Secretary Kim, today when you’re shopping for maternity supplies with Lim Mi-mi, subtly probe what style she wants. And….”
I discreetly handed my card to Secretary Kim Mi-so without Mark noticing.
“Charge Lim Mi-mi’s maternity supplies to this card. If you tell Mark that he gave you the card, he’ll believe it.”
“Understood, CEO.”
Mark, who had been drinking water from the refrigerator in the kitchen, called out.
“You two, what are you whispering about behind my back?”
“Nothing at all!”
“Nothing at all, sir.”
Secretary Kim Mi-so and I answered simultaneously.
* * *
Knock. Knock.
The sound of knocking came from the door, and a tall, blonde man entered.
“It’s my first time meeting you. I’m Michael Joe, the publicity director for Mitt Romney’s campaign headquarters.”
“This is your first time at FaceNote, isn’t it?”
I quickly stood up to greet Michael Joe.
“Yes, I don’t often have reason to come to Silicon Valley. I didn’t know the YouTube Office was here as well.”
“I’m holding both positions concurrently.”
“I know a bit about CEO Jeon Sung-guk.”
They probably knew quite a lot.
They would have investigated me in detail.
Where I was born, which schools I attended, and who I had connections with.
“You must be busy, so let’s quickly discuss this YouTube debate.”
We promptly sat down across from each other at the table.
Michael Joe pulled out a file containing Mitt Romney’s profile from his briefcase and handed it to me.
“You still use paper?”
“The candidate prefers it that way.”
I skimmed through Mitt Romney’s profile.
It was ordinary information that could be found with a few internet searches.
“This profile isn’t much different from what’s circulating on the internet.”
“Rather than conducting a character verification on Mitt Romney, shouldn’t the YouTube debate also focus on policy discussion?”
Michael Joe spoke in a clipped tone.
[Michael, I appreciate it, but I’m more interested in issues than policy. Still, I’ll give you a response.]
I nodded calmly.
“We’ll need to strengthen Mitt Romney’s profile on our end.”
“By any chance… could we know the questions before the debate? We need to prepare on the policy side as well.”
“Of course, we’ll notify both candidates in advance about the common questions.”
Michael Joe glanced around cautiously before broaching the main topic.
“Actually, our campaign headquarters has some concerns.”
“What kind of concerns?”
“We understand that you have quite a close relationship with President Barack Obama.”
Our connection was something anyone on social media would know about.
“We’re worried the debate might unfold in a way that disadvantages our candidate.”
“Hmm…”
I stroked my chin thoughtfully.
It was a natural concern for the Mitt Romney camp to have.
“Michael, before my relationship with Barack Obama, I’m a businessman. This YouTube debate is more important to me than anything else.”
Even as Michael listened to my words, suspicion didn’t leave his eyes.
“In other words, you’re more interested in the more compelling candidate.”
“The more compelling candidate?”
“Do you watch YouTube broadcasts?”
“Yes, I watch everything. Especially when our candidate appears.”
[I thought as much.]
I stared at Michael with my chin resting on my hand.
“Michael, try watching some other popular YouTube channels and study the differences between television broadcasts and YouTube. Then, I think you’ll understand the direction of this debate. Oh, and the filming for this debate will take place outdoors. Just wear casual attire.”
“You’re saying the debate atmosphere should be that free as well?”
“What I want is something different from regular broadcasts, but there needs to be an issue compelling enough to capture attention.”
Michael nodded, but it didn’t seem like he fully understood what I was saying.
“As the organizer of this debate, I’ll give you one tip. You should study social media more. What people want these days and what they like. If you research that, it’ll be quite helpful for this debate.”
“Yes, then… when will the location be announced?”
“We’re coordinating it now. I’ll contact you as soon as it’s finalized.”
Michael Joe bowed respectfully and left the office.
I immediately called Peter.
– Sung-guk, you’re swamped even after coming to America? When are you coming to New York?
“How did the YouTube debate venue work out?”
– I just spoke with the New York mayor. Two weeks from now, Thursday morning at 7 AM. We got permission to film at Central Park.
“Perfect.”
– We’ll come together with Mark then and shoot the Time Magazine cover too.
“That’s the plan. Peter, I’ll see you then.”
I hung up the phone.
This time, YouTube’s U.S. presidential debate venue was none other than Central Park, a symbol of America itself.
* * *
“Lim Mi-mi, I’ll charge this to this card.”
Secretary Kim Mi-so quickly gathered the maternity supplies Lim Mi-mi had piled up and headed to the register.
Lim Mi-mi quietly followed behind her.
“Secretary Kim, it’s okay. I’ll use my card.”
“Actually, CEO Mark gave me this. He said to use it for today’s shopping.”
In that moment, Lim Mi-mi burst out laughing.
Why is she doing this?
Secretary Kim Mi-so’s brow furrowed slightly when Lim Mi-mi finally stopped laughing.
“Secretary Kim, don’t lie. That’s from the Restaurant Owner, isn’t it? How long has it been since Mark and I got together? Mark isn’t the type to casually hand his card to someone else. He’d only do it if he came and approved it himself.”
“Ah, well….”
“The Restaurant Owner trusts you, Secretary Kim Mi-so, so that’s why he told you to do it.”
Lim Mi-mi smiled and quickly snatched the shopping basket from Secretary Kim Mi-so’s hands.
“I understand the Restaurant Owner wants to buy this for me, but I’ll pay for it myself.”
“Ah… I’ve been caught.”
Secretary Kim Mi-so scratched her head.
“Both the Restaurant Owner and Secretary Kim seem to have no talent for lying.”
“Then… may I… be honest with you about something?”
“What is it?”
Secretary Kim Mi-so hesitated for a moment about whether to say this, but Lim Mi-mi was quite perceptive, and she felt like she’d figure it all out once they went to the furniture section.
“The CEO wants to give you appliances and furniture for your new home as a wedding gift. Mark said he’ll just use what’s already there.”
“I see….”
Lim Mi-mi nodded and smiled.
“Secretary Kim, actually, I want to throw out that sofa too.”
“Really?”
“The bed’s springs are completely shot.”
“Then why didn’t you say anything?”
“Mark kept stopping me, so I was planning to quietly load everything onto a truck on moving day and send it all to the dump.”
Secretary Kim Mi-so smiled.
“Then you’ll accept the appliances and furniture as a gift, right?”
“Of course. But I have no eye for design.”
Lim Mi-mi made an awkward expression.
“Don’t worry. I’ve arranged to get an interior designer introduction through Grace in New York.”
“Really?”
“She works with wealthy people in Manhattan, so I’m sure she’ll do a great job. And the CEO mentioned that the card has no limit.”
Lim Mi-mi couldn’t hide her joy.
“I’m sorry to trouble you, CEO, but I’ll gratefully accept this!”
“Of course!”
* * *
The airplane bound for New York took off.
Mark was with us to photograph the Time Magazine cover.
“Sung-guk, but there’s something suspicious about Mi-mi and Secretary Kim Mi-so.”
“What is?”
“I asked them to come to New York with me. But they waved me off, saying they had a lot to prepare here.”
“It’s probably because of wedding preparations. Going back and forth to New York is exhausting. The wedding is coming up soon anyway….”
I played innocent without a sound.
While we headed toward New York, Grace and the interior designer were heading to San Francisco from New York.
And at this very moment, in Mark’s apartment, his beloved sofa and a bed with springs poking out, along with all the junk in the house, were being discarded.
“Haha— Sung-guk, I need to get some sleep. Wake me up when we arrive in New York.”
“Sure, Mark. Don’t worry about anything and rest.”
Mark fell into a deep sleep, completely unaware of what was happening.

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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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