I Will Raise This Family to Greatness - Chapter 454

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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 454
It would be accurate to say that Lee Kyung-joo possessed the tongue of a serpent.
His appearance was impeccable—hair neatly combed back with meticulous precision.
He inspired considerable trust at first glance.
Lee Kyung-joo sat beside Jeon Sun-hee, maintaining distance from us while listening to our conversation in silence. He offered no answers unless directly questioned.
This was likely an instruction from Jeon Sun-hee herself.
Observe our faces, listen to our words, and discern our true character.
An investment specialist with a degree in economics from Seoul National University. Moreover, a physiognomy expert blessed with divine insight.
He was indeed a remarkably versatile asset to employ.
Like most conglomerates, Jeon Sun-hee struggled to trust others easily, which is why she always kept someone like Lee Kyung-joo at her side. The drawback was that once she placed her faith in someone, she remained loyal to the end—sometimes to her detriment.
Lee Kyung-joo had likely demonstrated his trustworthiness several times initially before earning Jeon Sun-hee’s complete confidence.
Jeon Sun-hee was now bombarding Ji-hee with questions.
“My, so Ji-hee is planning to study law at Seoul National University?”
“Yes, that’s my intention.”
“How admirable. At your age, I could think of nothing but parties and having fun….”
In my previous life, I had often been invited to the parties Jeon Sun-hee hosted.
They offered the chance to sample premium spirits and see famous celebrities in one place, but the blaring music wasn’t to my taste, so I rarely attended.
Jeon Sun-hee continued her interrogation of Ji-hee.
“Ji-hee, do you have a boyfriend?”
“Not yet.”
“Once you get to university, the boys will be lining up. You’re so beautiful and sharp…. Oh, you’re that little lady who filmed an advertisement with Kim Yeo-na before, aren’t you?”
“Yes.”
Ji-hee nodded with a satisfied expression.
That advertisement had earned her the nickname “Little Kim Yeo-na” for a while.
Of course, in my eyes, she fell far short of Kim Yeo-na herself.
“Ji-hee, is there any celebrity you particularly like?”
“I don’t have any particular favorite celebrities.”
“I can arrange any of them for you. What a shame. Oh, and this household has someone from Sevens, doesn’t it?”
“My second older brother.”
“Min-guk!”
“That’s right.”
Jeon Sun-hee rattled off information about idols as if reciting a list.
Her nature was optimistic yet aggressive.
And precisely because of that perpetual youthfulness, she had come to lead South Korea’s entertainment industry.
Jeon Tae-guk whispered from beside me.
“Noona, you’re completely smitten with Ji-hee.”
“Am I?”
I feigned ignorance.
But I could see Jeon Sun-hee’s true intention.
She was deliberately circling around the real topic of conversation.
Before we have the real conversation we need to have, I wanted to get a sense of who Ji-hee and I truly are.
And Lee Kyung-joo was catching every word that Ji-hee and I spoke, missing nothing.
It was a gathering filled with laughter and champagne, yet it felt like a battlefield without guns. We were now locked in a standoff, each waiting to see who would draw first.
At that moment, Lee Kyung-joo rose slightly from his seat.
“Excuse me for a moment. I need to use the restroom.”
This must be the signal, I thought.
I stood up and followed Lee Kyung-joo.
“I’ll go too. I think I’ve had too much champagne.”
“CEO Jeon, I was just about to ask you some questions. Please come back soon.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
I quietly followed Lee Kyung-joo toward the restroom.
* * *
The restroom door opened and Lee Kyung-joo emerged.
While waiting for him, I found myself washing my hands twice with soap out of nervous habit.
Lee Kyung-joo washed his hands with a polite smile.
“CEO Jeon, it seems you’re quite fond of your sister.”
“I appreciate that.”
Lee Kyung-joo had likely sent an assessment of us to Jeon Sun-hee while he was in the restroom.
Whether that assessment was positive or negative, I’d find out when we returned. But I had something else to accomplish first.
“Lee Kyung-joo.”
“Yes?”
“You run a separate investment team, don’t you?”
“Ah, yes, a small one. I spent many years in securities before this. Are you perhaps considering investments yourself?”
I nearly laughed inwardly.
The fact that he was running a loss-making investment team while trying to hook a big fish like me was so transparent it was almost amusing.
“Your investment team’s returns have been negative, haven’t they?”
I watched Lee Kyung-joo’s face stiffen at my words.
He clearly hadn’t expected me to know this much.
[Lee Kyung-joo, where did all that divine inspiration go?]
Lee Kyung-joo forced a smile and continued washing his hands.
“That’s the nature of investment—there are upswings and downswings.”
“Lee Kyung-joo, we’ve been in this restroom too long already, so let me be direct. I know you better than anyone, and while Jeon Sun-hee continues to trust those she’s once believed in, she’s equally ruthless with those who’ve disappointed her.”
I felt Lee Kyung-joo’s tension rising.
“What is it you want, CEO Jeon?”
“What advice did you give about Ji-hee and me?”
“You can trust Ji-hee completely. As for you, CEO Jeon, I think we should observe a bit longer. That’s all.”
“I see.”
Lee Kyung-joo looked confused at my response.
“CEO Jeon, is that sufficient?”
“Yes.”
I answered concisely.
The more I did, the more anxious Lee Kyung-joo became.
“Really, sir?”
“Lee Kyung-joo, two men lingering too long in the restroom invites unnecessary misunderstandings. This time, why don’t you exit first? I’ll follow in a moment.”
“Ah, yes… if there’s truly nothing else you need….”
“Lee Kyung-joo, just speak your mind freely.”
“Ah, well… understood.”
Lee Kyung-joo left the restroom with a reluctant expression.
From this point forward, Jeon Sun-hee would place complete trust in Ji-hee based on Lee Kyung-joo’s words, while I would remain vigilant.
And Lee Kyung-joo would speak his mind freely. My instruction for him to do so stemmed from the fact that he had already forfeited his qualifications as an investment analyst.
I sent a message to Ji-hee.
– Ji-hee, from now on, it’s your turn to take the lead rather than mine.
* * *
When I returned to the table, fresh champagne was already waiting.
Jeon Sun-hee seemed delighted, drinking champagne in quick succession.
“Representative Jeon, welcome back. Ji-hee, how are you so clever?”
“I’m simply grateful you see it that way.”
Ji-hee glanced at me and offered a subtle smile.
It was a signal that everything was proceeding as planned.
“Representative Jeon, I actually heard from Tae-guk about this. You want the exclusive Disney film import rights our company holds?”
“It’s not me—it’s Ji-hee.”
I looked at Ji-hee.
The beginning and end of this entire matter rested with her.
“Ji-hee?”
“Yes, at the Sundance Film Festival investment market, Ji-hee became quite interested in an animation called ‘Winter Palace.'”
Jeon Sun-hee’s eyes sparkled again as she looked at Ji-hee.
“Ji-hee, I know that animation too… but I didn’t think much of it. Do you really think it’ll do well?”
“I can’t predict box office success, honestly. I simply found the protagonist’s emotional wounds compelling. But truthfully, I’m uncertain how much such depth will resonate in animation. People might even react negatively.”
Ji-hee spoke candidly while maintaining appropriate restraint.
The fact that she didn’t make grand proclamations about guaranteed success seemed to appeal to Jeon Sun-hee.
Jeon Sun-hee glanced at Lee Kyung-joo.
“Lee, what do you think?”
“About what?”
Since leaving the restroom, Lee Kyung-joo had become noticeably dejected.
“What’s your take on our exclusive Disney import rights? Honestly, we’ve been running deficits all this time.”
“My assessment remains unchanged. I believe we’ll continue to operate at a loss.”
Lee Kyung-joo spoke his mind freely.
Jeon Sun-hee’s eyes sparkled again as she looked at me.
“I really enjoy discussing business over drinks. There’s something about it—you can make bold decisions, wouldn’t you say?”
[Which is also why you’ve botched so many ventures, Sun-hee.]
I downed my champagne in one gulp and fixed my gaze on Jeon Sun-hee.
“CEO, why don’t you tell us the amount you’re looking for?”
“Wow, a handsome guy who gets straight to the point? I’m actually having fun with this.”
Jeon Sun-hee also downed her champagne in one gulp.
“How much do you want, CEO?”
“Hmm… we purchased it for 3 billion won….”
In that instant, Ji-hee’s eyes widened.
“3 billion won?”
Then she looked at me.
“Oppa… 3 billion? Then we don’t need to buy it. It’s way too expensive.”
[Jeon Ji-hee, you cunning thing!]
The fact that everyone except me was moved by those words was utterly astounding.
* * *
Ji-hee and I exchanged knowing smiles.
This evening, through our coordinated operation, we had acquired Jeon Sun-hee’s exclusive Disney film import rights for 1 billion won.
It was practically a steal.
Jeon Sun-hee was moderately intoxicated from the champagne she’d consumed in succession.
And while I could get drunk, Ji-hee was at an age where she couldn’t.
Ji-hee had competently even drafted a provisional contract.
“Oppa, I did well, didn’t I?”
“Ji-hee, you’re finally earning your keep.”
I smiled knowingly.
Min-guk was gradually starting to earn his keep too, and now Ji-hee was doing the same….
[It’s rewarding to raise a younger sibling!]
* * *
The sound of knocking on the hotel door rang out loudly from early morning.
Who could it be?
When I opened the door, Jeon Tae-guk was standing there.
There was no way Jeon Tae-guk would be awake at this hour.
“Hyung, what’s the matter?”
“Sung-guk, get the contract drawn up before noona changes her mind!”
Jeon Tae-guk seemed even more anxious.
But I knew something about Jeon Sun-hee that Jeon Tae-guk didn’t.
Jeon Sun-hee couldn’t be disturbed in the morning.
Waking up a party enthusiast in the morning!
It was almost like poking the nose hairs of a sleeping lion.
“Hyung, you were drinking late into the night yesterday. Even though it’s a provisional contract, the CEO’s signature is on it, and it’s a contract we can’t ignore.”
“I know that… but noona’s personality is such a roller coaster anyway. She might sell it for 1 billion and buy it back for 10 billion.”
“Then we’d profit even more.”
“No… this is what Ji-hee really wants to do.”
“Brother, just trust me. Let me reserve a nice brunch restaurant for noon, and everything will work out. Of course, with champagne.”
Jeon Tae-guk stared at me as if I’d lost my mind.
“Sung-guk, are you perhaps….”
Running background checks on the Samjeon Family? Of course I had. In my previous life.
“Perhaps what?”
“Can you read faces?”
[As expected from a dog at a village school….]
“Brother, you don’t need to read faces to know that waking someone up in the morning after they’ve been drinking late into the night won’t make them happy!”
“Fair point….”
* * *
True to my word, Jeon Tae-guk reserved the finest brunch restaurant in the area.
And after I’d gotten Jeon Sun-hee to drink several glasses of champagne, I presented the formal contract.
“CEO Jeon, you’re as thorough and diligent as I’ve heard.”
“It’s what Ji-hee wanted.”
Jeon Sun-hee drained her champagne and picked up a pen. Then she looked at me.
“CEO Jeon, actually I wanted to verify this myself.”
What did she mean by that?
“You’re buying the distribution rights just because your sister wants you to? That doesn’t make sense. But I became incredibly curious. An investment prodigy like you picking up a dying distribution right? If you pull this off too, I’ll trust you implicitly from now on! That’s the kind of competitive spirit that kicked in.”
“I suppose I’ve gone to considerable lengths for this contract.”
I’d used Ji-hee and even subtly coerced Team Lead Lee Kyung-joo to secure this deal.
But it seemed Jeon Sun-hee had already wanted to test me.
[Truly, the blood of the Samjeon Family runs true….]
Jeon Sun-hee smiled with a wink.
“Let’s test your luck, CEO Jeon.”
“By all means, CEO.”
Jeon Sun-hee signed the contract.

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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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