I Will Raise This Family to Greatness - Chapter 459

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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 459
I opened the door to my Pangyo home.
“Sam, Adam?”
I stared at Sam and Adam in our house with astonished eyes.
“What are you two doing here?”
“Ah… Sung-guk. Welcome home.”
Adam broke into a broad grin, his massive frame radiating warmth.
Looking closer, I saw Sam and Adam had unpacked something on the dining table.
“What is that?”
“Sung-guk, you seemed to be pushing yourself too hard, so we bought some porridge from nearby. Eat up and regain your strength. You’ve been so busy lately and unwell that you’ve been absent from the company often, and the employees really want to see you.”
My chest suddenly tightened with emotion.
I’d been so buried in the office like a workaholic that I hadn’t properly looked after my employees.
Sam chimed in from beside him.
“Sung-guk, you need to come out of the office more now. The employees are saying that maybe we’ve abandoned TikTok because you’re so busy.”
“That’s not it. Adam and Sam are like my right arm and left arm at the company, so I trust them and go on business trips.”
“We know that, but… the employees really want to see you that much.”
I smiled softly.
“Then once I feel better, let’s have a company dinner.”
“Sounds great!”
I watched Adam and Sam high-five each other.
[What is this, am I being played?]
But I didn’t dislike it.
The employees wanted to see me, and seeing that Sam and Adam had gone to the effort of buying abalone porridge despite barely knowing Korean showed they’d really made an effort.
“Sung-guk, come eat the porridge. The lady said it tastes bad if it gets cold.”
“Sam, Adam… I’ll enjoy it. Thank you!”
* * *
Secretary Kim Mi-so and I were looking at an empty office space next to the TikTok office in Pangyo.
“CEO, are you opening a Family Business Production Company office here?”
“Yes… it’s close to my home… and even closer to Alpha. I can’t think of a better place to save time and work efficiently.”
“The space isn’t large, so the monthly rent won’t be burdensome.”
“Mother will probably come in every other day, but I think we need to hire one full-time employee for the office. It’s still in the early stages, but since we’ve decided to invest in Dennis’s next film as well, we should hire someone who speaks English.”
“Yes, I’ll post a job listing. Should we hire someone with experience?”
“Yes, someone with about three to four years of experience in this industry would be ideal. I’ll give you CEO Kim Mi-young’s contact information—try to get recommendations from her side as well. And raise the salary to the highest level in the industry. For a while, there will be a lot of work for one person to handle.”
“Understood.”
Secretary Kim Mi-so grasped what I wanted immediately.
“And the contract your mother requested last time is ready. At the same time, I’ve scheduled a meeting with Director Bong Joon-ho for Saturday afternoon this week. Director Bong Joon-ho seemed very eager to meet you.”
“Yes, please reserve a private room at the Samjeon Hotel Chinese Restaurant. By the way, this is a secret from Executive Director Jeon Tae-guk.”
“Is there a particular reason?”
“If I tell him I’m meeting Director Bong Joon-ho, he’ll definitely try to come along.”
“Ah, understood. I’ll do that.”
Secretary Kim Mi-so offered a faint smile.
“By the way, Secretary Kim. Did you have a good Lunar New Year holiday?”
I asked about the holiday a bit late, but I asked nonetheless.
“Yes, I had a wonderful time meeting my parents and siblings after so long. And about my younger sibling’s language study program you helped arrange last time—my parents asked me to convey their gratitude.”
“Please, it was nothing.”
I spoke as matter-of-factly as possible.
Then I glanced around the office again.
A space just large enough for a few desks and a sofa.
Yet from this modest room, world-class masterpieces would soon flow forth in succession.
Dennis would open that door, but after him would come directors who would showcase South Korea to the world. The first of them was none other than Bong Joon-ho, director of 【Parasite】.
* * *
Tall, with tousled hair.
In my previous life, I’d sponsored film festivals several times and had conversations with Director Bong Joon-ho on a few occasions.
Director Bong Joon-ho possessed an unpretentious charm, and we shared many similarities. Namely, we were both workaholics.
I rose from my seat and greeted Director Bong Joon-ho.
“It’s an honor to meet you. I’m Jeon Sung-guk.”
[This is our first meeting in this life, Director Bong.]
Director Bong Joon-ho quickly extended his hand.
“The honor is mine. I’m Bong Joon-ho.”
We naturally took our seats.
The ordered dishes arrived, and we poured light drinks.
The conversation naturally drifted toward film.
“Director, you’re currently preparing a film, aren’t you?”
“I’m always preparing something. But until the moment we actually roll cameras, I can never predict whether the film will come together.”
“You’re in post-production now, correct?”
“Yes… 【Winter Train】 is set to release this year and we’re in post-production. But you seem to know quite a lot about filmmaking. Most people don’t even understand what post-production means.”
[Bong Joon-ho, believe it or not, I even dated an actress in my previous life. I picked up this much just from listening.]
I smiled ambiguously and took a sip of my drink.
“Actually, I produced a film in Hollywood.”
“What film?”
“It was made by Dennis, my Harvard roommate.”
“You don’t mean 【Whiplash】?”
“How did you know?”
The Sundance Film Festival wasn’t particularly well-known domestically.
“How did I know? Jeon Sun-hee, the CEO, came back from the Sundance Film Festival and mentioned watching 【Whiplash】. She even said a genius director had emerged.”
“I see. I actually saw CEO Jeon Sun-hee briefly there.”
Our conversation gained momentum.
In South Korea’s entertainment industry, CEO Jeon Sun-hee’s name was indispensable, and it seemed Director Bong Joon-ho had already agreed to work with her on his next project as well.
“So after 【Winter Train】 releases, you’ll be working on your next film with CEO Jeon Sun-hee?”
“That’s already part of the contract.”
“Then, how about we work together on the next film?”
At my direct question, Director Bong Joon-ho seemed taken aback.
“Ah… that’s… the next film after this one?”
“Yes….”
Director Bong Joon-ho would produce a film called 【Oksu】 after 【Snowpiercer】, and the one after that was precisely 【Parasite】—the film I’d been waiting for.
Director Bong Joon-ho seemed uncertain about how to respond.
“Director, first, please accept a drink from me.”
“Ah, yes.”
I quickly refilled Director Bong Joon-ho’s empty glass.
And I subtly dropped hints about 【Parasite】.
“I’ve always wanted to make films with social awareness about wealth and poverty.”
At my words, Director Bong Joon-ho leaned forward.
“That’s a theme I’m always thinking about. But it’s surprising to hear someone like CEO Jeon Sung-guk discussing wealth and poverty.”
It seemed Bong Joon-ho didn’t know much about me.
He must have been too busy with post-production work to research my background.
I relaxed my shoulders slightly.
[I suppose I’ll have to share my story after all.]
“The truth is, both my parents were orphans, so we were extremely poor. When I was born, we lived in a one-room apartment. Well, calling it a one-room apartment is generous—it was really a single room where four of us lived until I was about four years old.”
“Ah… I see. When I only looked at CEO Jeon Sung-guk’s profile, I thought you were a genius who studied abroad in America, naturally intelligent, and came from a wealthy family. And you’re even handsome like this.”
[Of course, people always think that when they see my face….]
I laughed shyly, afraid that if I revealed my true thoughts, I’d lose Director Bong whom I’d almost secured.
“No, I was simply fortunate.”
“I don’t usually read news articles about others, but I did read that Director Steven Spielberg is planning a biographical film about you. Steven Spielberg is my childhood idol.”
“I’ll arrange a meeting sometime.”
“Really?”
“We meet often because of film work. My investment in Dennis’s film was also heavily influenced by the director.”
“Wow, I feel like I’m being deceived right now. I’m sorry. I don’t mean to offend you, but it’s just so hard to believe. CEO Jeon Sung-guk has connections with Barack Obama too. Well, I thought of that as a story from another world, but hearing the name of someone I admire is really bewildering.”
“Many people in Korea already regard Director Bong Joon-ho as an idol, but I believe you’ll become recognized that way globally in the future.”
Director Bong Joon-ho laughed heartily.
“Haha. Don’t make me fly too high. I’m getting dizzy.”
We returned to discussing my next project.
I subtly dropped several hints to Director Bong Joon-ho.
“A story about ordinary people living off a wealthy household… I think it would be interesting to explore something like that. What do you think?”
“Let me be honest with you.”
Director Bong Joon-ho straightened his posture.
“Once people find out I’m a film director, everyone from the restaurant owners I frequent to the hairdressers at the salon ask me about ideas like this.”
I nodded slightly.
“But… among all of them, this particular story is, how should I say, the most intriguing….”
[Well, that’s because it’s a story you’ll write in the future.]
“It’s still rough, but it’s a theme I’ve wanted to explore. CEO, would you like to work on that story with me?”
“That’s…”
“Oh my, I was too hasty with my proposal. I apologize. My enthusiasm got ahead of me.”
Bong Joon-ho was doing all the proposing and apologizing himself.
From what I could see today, he was quite an impatient person.
“Director, please listen to what I have to say. That proposal is actually something I should be making to you. Would you be willing to discuss this with me? We can adjust the contract terms right away.”
“CEO, my contract condition is just one thing.”
“What is it?”
“Since 【Winter Train】 is already filmed and can’t be helped, could you appear in a small role in my next film, 【Ok-soon】?”
“Pardon?”
This was an unexpected contract condition.
“Don’t be surprised. The moment I walked into this room today, I thought it! I absolutely have to cast this person! Hehe. Of course, only in my head.”
“Then, shall we draw up a contract?”
“Really? You’re agreeing?”
“Director Bong Joon-ho’s contract is on the line, and you’re even giving me the honor of appearing in his film. If I don’t accept, I’d be unfit as an investor.”
“Wow, really… How old are you, CEO?”
“I’m 22 years old.”
Bong Joon-ho’s jaw dropped.
“I really can’t believe it. Now I instantly understand why Director Steven Spielberg is producing a biographical film about you. First, please send me a draft contract.”
“Of course. For now, please finish the post-production work on 【Winter Train】 well.”
“You must come to the premiere.”
“Of course.”
* * *
A desk was placed in the Family Business office.
And Jeon Ji-hee was sitting at that desk.
“What are you doing here?”
“I have free time before starting school, and Secretary Kim said he was looking for staff, so I applied as a part-timer. But oppa, did you really sign a contract with Director Bong Joon-ho for the film after next?”
“Yeah. On the condition that I appear in the next one.”
“So when will you work with us?”
“With this film and the next one already under contract, maybe in about 3 to 4 years?”
At that moment, Ji-hee’s eyes sparkled.
“Oppa, then I’ll definitely pass the bar exam before that.”
“Ji-hee, don’t just say it—show me through action. You know your oppa only believes in results, right?”
“Don’t worry. I’m Jeon Ji-hee. I’ll definitely pass the bar exam before working with Director Bong Joon-ho!”
Ji-hee clenched her small fist tightly.
[Indeed, the right carrot does help with motivation!]

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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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