I Will Raise This Family to Greatness - Chapter 462

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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 462
Students and professors who had arrived by the reserved shuttle bus walked into the lobby.
The elderly professors seemed somewhat surprised to see our family lined up in a row.
After all, I was operating a global enterprise, and Jeon Tae-guk, the heir to Samjeon, had come in person.
Among them, the oldest-looking professor approached and extended his hand to Father for a handshake.
“What an honor to meet you like this… I live in Jamsil and I’m a regular customer at Uncle Won’s Bossam.”
“Ah… I thought your face looked familiar. You’re one of our restaurant’s regular customers.”
“My family loves it too, so we order delivery several times a month and pick up takeout as well.”
“Please take good care of our daughter, Professor.”
“The walls of the restaurant are covered with articles about your eldest son and then your second son. Now even your youngest daughter… You’ve truly done an excellent job raising your children.”
“We haven’t done much of anything.”
Father scratched his head sheepishly.
The professor naturally turned to greet Mother as well.
“Your wife is truly beautiful. The children have inherited features from both father and mother equally.”
The professor seemed to be the type who enjoyed light banter.
After that, younger professors greeted Father and Mother.
Among them, one professor who appeared quite young greeted me.
“Hello, I’m Kim Jin, a professor at Seoul National University’s Law School.”
Kim Jin?
Where had I heard that name before?
[Ah, that’s right! Kim Jin!]
I mentally snapped my fingers.
Kim Jin was one of the seniors I had known at Seoul National University in my previous life.
Since he was in the Law School, it made sense that he had become a law professor.
He should be in his mid-thirties, yet he was already a professor…
Seoul National University truly had many unrecognized geniuses.
“Hello, I’m Jeon Sung-guk. I’m Ji-hee’s older brother.”
“Of course I know. You’ve drawn attention since the entrance ceremony, and I’ve been curious. I’d like to discuss FaceNote with you sometime.”
“Let’s talk about it over dinner later.”
“Yes…”
And I exchanged greetings with all the professors and students.
Seoul National University’s Law School.
It was where the brightest students in South Korea gathered.
Most of them would become legal professionals or take important positions in society.
Although most of my business ventures were conducted overseas, the Family Business and Sevens would operate based in Korea.
In South Korea, the legal profession, politics, and business were inseparable.
The strangest thing in all this was Jeon Tae-guk.
I already knew that Jeon Tae-guk regarded Ji-hee more than a blood sibling, but today’s events seemed somewhat excessive.
The entrance ceremony was one thing, but to personally invite Seoul National University Law School professors and students… Could it be?
My brow furrowed slightly.
Just then, all the students entered the small hall of the Samjeon Hotel, and I could see Jeon Tae-guk smiling with relief.
“Sung-guk, aren’t you coming in?”
“Brother… could we talk for a moment?”
“Oh, sure….”
* * *
Though it was March, the outdoor air was quite chilly.
The evening temperature was no different from winter.
Jeon Tae-guk shuffled his feet restlessly.
“Sung-guk, speak quickly. I didn’t even bring a coat.”
“Brother, there’s something I’m curious about.”
“What is it?”
“Today’s gathering… what was the purpose of organizing it?”
“That’s to celebrate Ji-hee’s admission. Ji-hee is quite young, so I thought she might have difficulty fitting in with classmates who drink makgeolli and eat pajeon.”
“Is that all?”
As my eyes narrowed, Jeon Tae-guk smiled helplessly.
“You really do read my mind.”
Could it be that my suspicion was correct?
“Sung-guk, you came here with the same thoughts as me, didn’t you? Ji-hee is special, so I need to play my role as her older brother, but this is Seoul National University’s Law School. These are people who will lead Korea’s legal community in various ways in the future. The professors are already doing that. As Samjeon’s successor, I need to plant a good image of Samjeon in these people’s minds… and I can also meet talented people I’ll need here.”
Just as I thought!
My prediction was spot on.
Jeon Tae-guk hadn’t organized this gathering solely for Ji-hee’s sake.
[They say a dog at a village school learns poetry after three years….]
Jeon Tae-guk grabbed my shoulder.
“Sung-guk, your eyes seem to be wary of me. But I learned all this from you. You never move without purpose. And the paths you and I are taking now are completely different. There’s no reason for you to be wary of me.”
As Jeon Tae-guk said, the directions we’re heading are completely different.
“Though our directions differ, without Samjeon’s phones and laptops, the world I’ve built wouldn’t exist either.”
“Don’t think too far ahead…. Sung-guk, let’s go in. I’m starving.”
Jeon Tae-guk hurried into the Samjeon Hotel with his shoulders hunched.
If I were the me from my previous life, I probably would have smoked a cigarette here.
But today, I swallowed the bitterness.
Is this what it feels like to witness a person’s growth?
The more Jeon Tae-guk grows, the more I feel I need to keep him close by my side.
* * *
Bang!
Ji-hee slammed the door shut as she entered.
Father, Mother, Min-guk, and I stared blankly at the closed door.
The freshman welcome reception at the Samjeon Hotel had been quite lively.
The food at the Samjeon Hotel was delicious as always, and the alcohol was just right.
Both professors and students enjoyed it.
Through this event, Samjeon, with its elite company image, seemed to have become more familiar to the students, and I even promised the department chair that I would select one student each semester and present them with a FaceNote scholarship.
The students cheered, and the mere sight of me and Jeon Tae-guk—figures they’d only seen in the media—captivated their interest entirely.
Everyone except one person: Jeon Ji-hee!
Soon the door opened again, and Ji-hee poked her head inside.
“Older brother, can we talk for a moment?”
“Ah….”
I opened the door and stepped inside.
Ji-hee exhaled a deep sigh.
“Older brother, I’d appreciate it if you’d stop taking an interest in my school life from now on.”
“Sure, I will.”
I spoke matter-of-factly.
I’d already made it clear to everyone at Seoul National University which family Ji-hee belonged to—my work here was done.
“Are you serious?”
“Of course. There won’t be a single student at Seoul National University who doesn’t know you’re Jeon Sung-guk’s sister by now. Ji-hee, today might feel overwhelming to you, but it’s something you’ll inevitably face simply by being born into our family.”
“I know….”
Ji-hee nodded her head in resignation.
“Ji-hee, you were born special—don’t try to live an ordinary life. Besides, by our family’s standards, you’re already ordinary, so please listen to your older brother.”
“Sigh… fine.”
“You’re still a minor, so don’t go drinking with classmates just to fit in. Come home early at night. Study at home as much as possible….”
At that moment, Ji-hee glared at me.
“Older brother, stop nagging.”
“Ah, okay.”
“And I have something serious to ask you.”
“What is it?”
“I… want to move out on my own. I’m a university student now, after all.”
[So it’s finally happening….]
“Alright, let’s discuss it with Mom and Dad. I think you should experience living independently too. Let’s find an officetel closest to campus but with good security and safety measures.”
When I agreed readily, Ji-hee’s eyes widened.
“Really, older brother?”
“Of course. The bar exam is harder than the college entrance exam. You’ll need to cut down commute time to study.”
“I thought you’d never let me move out without a specific purpose.”
“In exchange for moving out, pass the bar exam a bit earlier.”
“Huh? Passing the bar exam while still in school is already impressive.”
Ji-hee looked at me with trembling eyes.
“Ji-hee, there’s nothing impressive about our family. As for your older brother, I created the globally renowned company FaceNote while still a minor and became one of the wealthiest people even in America. What’s so special about passing the bar exam? You’d just become a judge, prosecutor, or lawyer. Does that even make money?”
“Older brother, I’m going to dedicate myself to the family business based on that knowledge.”
“Ji-hee, I’ve already made sure the family business runs smoothly. So you don’t need to dedicate yourself. Let me say this once more: don’t you dare take credit for merely passing the bar exam in our family!”
Only then did Ji-hee back down.
“Sigh, my sisters were really making a fuss today asking me to introduce them to you, but I wonder if they’d still want to after knowing your real personality.”
“Ji-hee, there’s a saying in our country: spitting on your own face. Even if I told people your real personality, they’d just hear the words. Family secrets should stay within the family. I don’t go around telling people about your real nature either.”
“You really are impossible, older brother!”
[Of course. I was born first, and I’m the one who built this family up.]
* * *
Secretary Kim Mi-so showed me several officetel units near Seoul National University.
“Chairman, I believe this officetel was recently built and has excellent spatial layout. Most of the tenants are current Seoul National University students.”
“Please confirm that CCTV is installed on each floor.”
“I’ve already verified it. CCTV is installed in the elevators and hallways.”
“Hmm… Please also install additional CCTV in front of Ji-hee’s door. A female student living alone needs safety as the top priority.”
“Understood. I’ll handle it without worry. And there’s one more matter I need to report.”
Secretary Kim Mi-so moved on to the next item.
“What is it?”
“Son Jung-hoon, the chairman of Hardbank, the famous ethnic Korean investor in Japan, is coming to Korea and contacted us asking if we could meet.”
Son Jung-hoon.
It had been quite a while since I’d heard that name.
When I decided to invest in Ma Yun’s Alibaba, it was Son Jung-hoon, the chairman of Hardbank, who introduced me to the ethnic Korean investor that Ma Yun had invested in.
Son Jung-hoon had maintained an undefeated investment record in Japan up to now.
And my investment in Alibaba was generating nearly 3,000 times the returns as expected.
“Secretary Kim, please arrange the appointment right away.”
“Yes, Chairman.”
* * *
“Wait… who is this?!”
Son Jung-hoon looked me up and down the moment he saw me.
“Where did that boy I met back then go?”
“Chairman, I’m 22 years old now. In Korean age.”
“You were handsome back then too… but now I’m genuinely afraid to stand next to you. I might look like a squid next to you.”
Son Jung-hoon was still as cheerful as ever.
“By the way, the reason I came to Korea is because there’s someone I wanted to introduce to you.”
The way Son Jung-hoon specifically mentioned wanting to introduce someone to me suggested this was quite a significant investment opportunity.
“As you know, I invest based on people, not just ideas. It was the same with Alibaba… and somehow I feel like something great has come this time.”
“What is it?”
“You’ve probably heard of it too. iWork. It’s a kind of shared office space, and it’s been creating quite a sensation centered around New York, hasn’t it?”
“Ah, iWork. Of course I’ve heard of it.”
iWork was the very company that would drag Hardbank’s Son Jung-hoon down to ruin.
“That person is also a young entrepreneur like you. Young, talented, and clever. Of course, he’s not quite at your level as a person. But the moment I met him, I wanted to introduce him to you.”
“I’d really like to meet him too.”
[That con artist!]
I smiled while hiding my true thoughts.
iWork had created a sensation with its concept of shared office spaces in expensive New York.
But eventually, it became mired in reckless investments, the owner’s extravagance, and backroom dealings, leading to the brink of bankruptcy.
It was one of the worst investments Son Jung-hoon had ever made.
[Is it now time to repay the debt I owe to Son Jung-hoon?]
Son Jung-hoon declared that while everyone else was deliberating over investing in FaceNote, he would never invest in it under any circumstances.
The massive investor said that if he had the power to remove the representative in times of crisis, he advised me to lead FaceNote forward on my own strength.
While buying me ice cream in San Francisco.
Thanks to Son Jung-hoon’s sincere advice as an investment genius, Mark and I were able to come this far by resisting countless temptations.
Just then, the door opened and Adam Neumann, his hair grown down to his shoulders, walked in.
[Fraud! Welcome!]

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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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