I Will Raise This Family to Greatness - Chapter 455

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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 455
Jeon Sun-hee signed the contract.
I handed the contract to Ji-hee.
“Ji-hee, this is your first business deal.”
Ji-hee gazed at her first achievement with a satisfied expression on her face.
“Ji-hee, from now on, when this unnie asks you to play with her, you’ll do it, right?”
Honey dripped from Jeon Sun-hee’s eyes as she looked at Ji-hee.
“CEO.”
“Not CEO—call me unnie from now on. Please call me that. I want to have a pretty little sister like you, but I don’t have one.”
Jeon Sun-hee only had an older brother.
“Yes, unnie. But I have some things to do before I can play.”
“You just got into Seoul National University—you should play. What are you talking about?”
“I’ve only just gotten into Seoul National University.”
I nodded with my arms crossed.
[That’s right, you’ve only just gotten in. Jeon Ji-hee!]
“The bar exam is still a long way off, and my goal is to pass it while still in school. Could I play with you after that, unnie?”
At Ji-hee’s words, CEO Jeon Sun-hee broke into a bright smile.
“Yes, you absolutely have to play with me then. I’ll be cheering for your bar exam. Actually, Tae-guk, you push Ji-hee hard so she can pass the bar exam while still in school. If there are tutors for the bar exam like cram school instructors, connect her with them.”
“Does the bar exam have something like that?”
Jeon Tae-guk scratched his head.
“If it doesn’t exist, create it and connect her anyway!”
At that, Ji-hee shook her head.
“Unnie, I can pass on my own. And if our family uses shortcuts like that to pass, I’ll be teased by my oldest brother for life, so I’m absolutely going to pass the bar exam on my own strength!”
Ji-hee clenched her small fists tightly.
[Ji-hee, you don’t know this, but even if you pass on your own strength, your big brother won’t be particularly surprised. What’s so impressive about passing the bar exam in our family? One of us will become a world-class entrepreneur. Another will become a world-class idol… A domestic bar exam is nothing.]
* * *
Back at the hotel, Ji-hee paced around the room, busy with all sorts of plans for the film import company with exclusive Disney rights.
“Oppa, shouldn’t we come up with a name for our company too?”
“We should.”
“What should it be?”
“I’m not sure…”
“How about JJ Import Company?”
“Why JJ?”
“Jeon Ji-hee and Jeon Sung-guk’s import company.”
It was truly simple naming.
Ji-hee seemed far better suited to being a lawyer than an artist. She was intuitive and logical, but lacked artistic sensibility.
“JJ doesn’t seem that great.”
“Then you come up with one too. This is the best I can do.”
Ji-hee sighed softly and looked at me with a gaze that said, “Your turn.”
[Am I really going to be intimidated by that look, Jeon Ji-hee?]
I paused for a moment before speaking.
In truth, I had been thinking about this even before signing the contract.
“Hmm… naming is always the hardest part, whether it’s abroad or here in Korea. Entertainment companies tend to give their names a certain flair, don’t they?”
“So?”
“This is our first business venture together, so how about Family Business Production Company? Family business literally means a family enterprise or hereditary business, but in mafia movies, it carries this sense of a tight-knit family operation bound by blood, you know?”
“Family Business Import Company?”
I shook my head slightly.
“Ji-hee, are we only going to import films made by others?”
“Then, what do you mean?”
“We start with imports, but eventually we could become a film production company. We could produce dramas and other content. In other words, we could become a production company leading the Korean Wave. And this Disney exclusive rights purchase is the beginning of that. In that sense, how about Family Business Production Company?”
“I love it, oppa!”
Ji-hee’s face lit up with satisfaction. But then she looked at me with pleading eyes.
“Oppa, about Family Business Production Company. Can’t I be the one to run it?”
“No!”
I answered firmly.
I had naturally anticipated that Ji-hee would make this proposal.
The reason was simple. Jeon Ji-hee resembled me more than anyone else!
Ji-hee began trying to persuade me.
“Oppa, wasn’t it me who said Winter Palace was good? So this business started with me, and if I pass the bar exam, it would be perfect timing to run a company like this.”
“Jeon Ji-hee, you’re still a minor, and I’m the one who purchased the exclusive import rights from Jeon Sun-hee. Of course, I’m also the one who invested the money. So are you saying you want to grab an entire company for free just because of a few comments about a film?”
“That’s not it. I’m saying that I’ll become a lawyer specializing in this field in the future, and in that sense, I want to try running a film company too.”
[Sigh, Ji-hee lacks the hunger spirit far too much.]
I shook my head firmly.
Jeon Ji-hee was the only one in our family who had grown up without hardship.
“Jeon Ji-hee, listen carefully to what I’m about to say. You say you’re interested in the entertainment business and that you’ll become a lawyer handling this field, but you haven’t accomplished anything yet. You’re merely a prospective Seoul National University student. And let me be clear—I purchased the Disney exclusive import rights because I believed Winter Palace would succeed. Don’t think it was entirely because of your opinion!”
“Okay. Then, can I challenge this business again after I pass the bar exam?”
“Of course. But understand this too. Even if you want to jump into this business, you’ll have to work your way up from the bottom!”
“Oppa, you’re always so harsh only to me.”
Ji-hee’s voice turned sad as she trailed off.
[Jeon Ji-hee, do you really think I’ll fall for that sad voice?]
“Jeon Ji-hee, from now on, listen to every word your oppa says without missing anything. Our family wasn’t born with a silver spoon like Jeon Tae-guk or Jeon Sun-hee. Mom and Dad grew up in an orphanage without knowing their real parents, and they spent their entire lives in poverty. I was born when Mom and Dad were living in a single room, and from the time I could walk, I was doing forward rolls and cartwheels in front of cameras, laying the foundation for our family!”
I took a deep breath.
“And Min-guk was born in a single room too, wearing diapers while earning money by smiling in front of cameras, and he spent years suffering in that moldy semi-basement practice room in Nonhyeon-dong, honing his skills for his Sevens debut. Jeon Ji-hee, what hardship have you ever endured?”
“Well…”
“Nothing, right?”
“It’s not that there’s nothing…”
“Have you ever smiled for hours under hot camera lights just to get a single banana?”
“Oppa. But…”
Ji-hee stared at me intently.
“Oppa, do you remember that? You were barely one year old then.”
Oh no!
“W-well, you see. I do retain a tiny fragment of that memory. That’s just how geniuses are, you know.”
“Sigh, I really can’t handle you, big brother. Fine. I won’t even glance at business until I pass the bar exam. And even then, if I’m still interested in this venture, I’ll start from the ground up. Deal?”
[That’s what I wanted to hear from the start!]
Ji-hee checked the time and tugged at my arm.
“Brother, Dennis’s film is about to start.”
Oh no!
I’d forgotten twice in a single day!
“Come on, let’s go!”
I pulled Ji-hee’s hand and rushed forward.
* * *
– “The Whip” wins Grand Prize at this year’s Sundance Film Festival!
– Director Dennis Chazelle’s debut “The Whip” receives standing ovation!
– The film’s sole investor is none other than Sung-guk Jeon, CEO of FaceNote!
– The film is brilliant, but will it appeal to the masses?!
– Will CEO Sung-guk’s undefeated investment record continue?
Dennis read through the articles with a bitter expression.
“Sung-guk, I feel like I’m tarnishing your track record.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Everyone’s writing as if they’re wondering whether the film will even be commercially successful. It feels like they’re all waiting to see if my film’s box office failure becomes your first investment loss.”
“Dennis, no one knows what will happen until the box office numbers come in. So don’t worry too much. Besides, everyone’s been praising the film itself. That alone makes me incredibly proud of you.”
These weren’t hollow words.
I truly was proud of Dennis.
Dennis had recreated this film in this life exactly as I’d seen it in my previous one.
Which meant this film would perform well commercially and sweep up awards.
I patted Dennis’s slumped shoulders.
“Dennis, you won the Grand Prize at the Sundance Film Festival. You have to attend the celebration party tonight.”
“Sung-guk, thank you. Honestly, it feels like I’ve gotten this far entirely because of you.”
Dennis pulled me into a tight embrace.
And I whispered quietly to him.
“Dennis, about your next film… you were planning to tell the story of young people who came to Hollywood chasing their dreams, right?”
“Yeah, you still remember that?”
Dennis looked at me with surprised eyes.
[Of course I do, Dennis. And I’m going to back your second project with full support.]
Because after this, Dennis’s films don’t hit it big.
Friend or not, investment decisions must be thorough and ruthless!
“I found that story incredibly compelling. But I was a bit concerned since it would require a larger budget than “The Whip.” Seeing how you made “The Whip,” though, I think it’s time we started preparing that film.”
“Sung-guk….”
Dennis looked at me with an emotional expression.
[Dennis, don’t get emotional. I’m investing in films that will make money.]
“Dennis, there’s no need to be so moved. Investing in a talented director is only natural. Besides, I’m planning to establish a production company now that I’m acquiring Disney’s exclusive Korean distribution rights.”
“Really?”
“Yes. And I want to formally participate in your films because of it. I’m actually securing my position with a talented director.”
“Sung-guk, I’d welcome that anytime! Honestly, you’re the one who led me—someone people only saw as a straight-laced Harvard graduate—down the path of filmmaking! Or rather, you made me into a film director!”
“Dennis, you got here through your own talent.”
“You’re usually so full of yourself, but whenever it comes to this, you turn modest again. Sung-guk, so shall we get absolutely wasted at the party?”
“Sounds good!”
Dennis and I discussed his next film, “Dreamland,” as we made our way to the closing ceremony party of the Sundance Film Festival.
* * *
The Sundance Film Festival was named after the character name “Sundance” from the globally successful film “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” in which the renowned American actor Robert Redford had starred.
At the closing ceremony, the now-elderly Robert Redford was also in attendance.
Robert Redford recognized Dennis and made his way through the crowd toward us. He extended his hand first for a handshake.
“I really enjoyed ‘The Whip’ so much. I’d dare say it’s the best film I’ve seen at the Sundance Film Festival in the past few years.”
“Thank you. I’m at a loss for words hearing praise from Robert.”
“No, Dennis. The star of this Sundance Film Festival is ‘The Whip’ and you. Come, shall we have a drink?”
“Oh, by the way, this is my friend who invested in ‘The Whip’ and the CEO of FaceNote, Sung-guk.”
Robert Redford’s gaze turned toward me. He extended his hand for a handshake as well.
“Of course I know. I actually wanted to talk with you. Your eye for discovering such a gem of a film is truly remarkable. And you’re so young.”
[Robert, if you live life twice, such discernment comes naturally.]
I smiled and replied.
“I’m embarrassed to call it discernment. I’m simply fortunate to have a good friend.”
“Now that’s what I call a perfect answer!”
I merely smiled, and Dennis looked at me with an expression of deep emotion.
Teacher Lee of Samcheong-dong had said it.
In this life, I should live helping those around me. They would lift me up.
Having brought Dennis—my Harvard roommate, talented yet indecisive and prone to blunders—this far… surely this too is a blessing to receive?
I walked into the party alongside Dennis, guided by Robert Redford.
After all, today’s party stars were Dennis and me!

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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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