I Will Raise This Family to Greatness - Chapter 493

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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 493
The blueprints for FaceNote were finally complete.
Four buildings rising across the expansive grounds. A public square nestled between them, with walking paths winding through the surrounding area.
It resembled a university campus in miniature.
Mark, Lim Mi-mi, Sam, Adam, and I stood together.
The team members who had poured everything into bringing FaceNote this far gazed at the blueprints with satisfied smiles.
“Sung-guk, will each of the four buildings house different departments?” Adam asked.
Adam posed the question.
“One building will contain the cafeteria and amenities. Two buildings will be used by FaceNote and Instagrim—one for the programming division and the other for marketing. But all four buildings are interconnected; the only difference is which building faces which. The remaining building will house YouTube and TikTok, plus a new business team dedicated to developing future SNS platforms and features for FaceNote.”
“What about the last building?” Adam asked.
“YouTube and TikTok, along with a new business division that will develop future SNS platforms and features for FaceNote.”
Adam’s eyes sparkled at my explanation.
“Sung-guk… you’re not just maintaining FaceNote, but planning to expand into diverse ventures going forward?”
“Exactly.”
I nodded in agreement.
I could understand why Adam’s eyes were gleaming.
Adam had worked as a programmer at FaceNote for years, then moved through Instagrim and TikTok, mastering every SNS platform. He naturally harbored deep interest in developing new ones.
“Adam, it seems you have something on your mind. Let’s discuss it separately next week.”
Salary negotiation season was approaching for Lim Mi-mi, Sam, and Adam.
Since Sam and Adam had suffered alongside me in Korea, this was the right moment to ensure they received proper compensation.
Mark draped an arm around my shoulder with a satisfied expression.
“Sung-guk, let’s not change these blueprints anymore. You know it costs money every time we modify them?”
“I’m completely satisfied now too.”
What lay ahead was creating something from nothing.
We had to build the FaceNote campus on land that was essentially empty.
* * *
After completing the Stanford University tour, Ji-hee frequently visited campus to study before classes began, and she had joined the Stanford Community to meet her classmates.
Everything proceeded smoothly thanks to Daniel, a senior at the school, lending his assistance.
As I prepared to leave work, Daniel approached me with a worried expression.
“Representative, if it’s alright, could I give Ji-hee a ride home? She has a meeting at school, and the timing coincides with my commute.”
“Tell her to find her own way.”
[Does she think she’s some chaebol heiress?]
I shook my head in disapproval.
Daniel’s expression turned troubled.
What was wrong?
“Representative, please look at this. It seems Ji-hee is having some difficulties because of it.”
Daniel showed me photos of Ji-hee on his phone.
“Where exactly were these posted?”
“These photos have been circulating for a while now. Ji-hee said she didn’t mind and thought it would die down, but… something feels off about this.”
The phone Daniel handed me displayed images of Ji-hee heading to school, conversing with friends, and even eating in the school cafeteria.
And there was a comment that infuriated me as well.
– Jeon Sung-guk’s siblings who surpass him in appearance. Jeon Min-guk from Sevens and Jeon Ji-hee, a Stanford University exchange student! In particular, Jeon Ji-hee possesses such impeccable fashion sense that she’s essentially a walking editorial spread.
“Sigh….”
I scrolled through the phone photos frantically, utterly dumbfounded.
“Representative, you must be quite upset, aren’t you? It seems that during the last Stanford tour, when students uploaded photos of Ji-hee, it became an issue. People were asking, ‘Who’s that beautiful girl standing next to Representative Jeon Sung-guk?’ And then when it was revealed that she was Jeon Ji-hee, the paparazzi apparently latched onto her.”
“Daniel… what upsets me is that people’s eyes seem to be malfunctioning.”
“Pardon? Representative, what do you mean by that?”
Daniel’s face showed complete bewilderment.
“Look at these comments. Surpassing my appearance? A walking editorial spread? Honestly… I’m at a loss for words. Daniel, even in your eyes, Ji-hee is beautiful and dresses well, right?”
“Well… that is….”
Daniel was flustered.
In Daniel’s eyes, she wasn’t quite at that level, but since she was the representative’s sister, he couldn’t speak carelessly.
“Daniel, I understand. She’s not really at that level, is she?”
“That’s not what I mean. Ji-hee is definitely beautiful. Extremely so, actually. And she’s tall with excellent proportions… I know it’s not a good culture to critique appearances, but it seems you’re not maintaining an objective perspective when it comes to Ji-hee, so I’m compelled to tell you the truth.”
“Ji-hee is beautiful? She dresses well?”
I asked again, my expression one of disbelief.
“Yes, Representative. It seems Ji-hee hasn’t mentioned it to you, but her Instagrim account has surpassed 500,000 followers. It’s one of the accounts with the fastest-growing follower count recently. Various companies are apparently offering her sponsorship deals. Ji-hee shows absolutely no interest in those, so she’s been ignoring them.”
“Don’t tell me… Ji-hee has become some kind of influencer?”
“In a broad sense, since she’s influencing people through SNS, I suppose you could call her an influencer.”
At that moment, Daniel glanced at his watch and hurriedly grabbed my bag.
“Representative, let’s go now. There are so many paparazzi around Ji-hee that she asked if we could pick her up.”
“This is ridiculous….”
“It might be good if you could leave your sense of bewilderment behind as you go.”
I had no choice but to follow Daniel out.
* * *
As soon as we pulled up on the road near the Stanford Main Gate, I spotted Ji-hee running toward us in less than five minutes.
The moment Daniel opened the door, Ji-hee scrambled into the car, breathless.
“Are you alright, Ji-hee?”
“I think some paparazzi got onto me. I had a hard time shaking them off.”
I continued reading the documents I’d been looking at, not even glancing at Ji-hee.
“Ji-hee, it’s all temporary. In a little while, not a single one will remain, so don’t worry.”
“I think so too, but hearing you say it makes me a bit stubborn about it.”
“Fleeting popularity isn’t something you can maintain just because you want to.”
I finished reading the documents and stretched languidly.
“Daniel, let’s head home.”
“Yes, Representative. I’ll depart now!”
* * *
Not long after arriving home, Jeon Tae-guk came over from next door.
Since he lived in the neighboring house, it had long become routine for him to come over with his hands full of snacks around the time I got home, accompanied by Lee Kyung-soo.
[When will I ever be free of Jeon Tae-guk….]
While I was sighing for a moment, Jeon Tae-guk’s voice rang out.
“Sung-guk, we’re having eel rice bowls for dinner tonight.”
[Hmm, it looks like I won’t have to worry about escaping today.]
Either way, it seemed I would have to eat eel rice bowls today.
“Brother, I’ll wash up and come out. Please start eating first.”
“Sure!”
* * *
The moment I opened the door and stepped out, Ji-hee and Jeon Tae-guk were sitting together, exchanging what looked like a serious conversation.
What were they talking about?
As I approached quietly, Jeon Tae-guk quickly hid the tablet he’d been looking at.
“Brother, I saw that. What are you two doing?”
At that moment, Jeon Ji-hee looked at me.
“Thanks to you earlier, I realized something important, so I was consulting with Tae-guk about it.”
[There’s nothing in this world that would require consulting with Jeon Tae-guk.]
I looked between the two of them with a puzzled expression.
“Consulting about what?”
“You mentioned influencers earlier, remember? My followers have surpassed 500,000 now. And I’m getting a lot of sponsorship offers too.”
“I heard about it from Daniel earlier.”
“I was just uploading my photos occasionally on Instagrim, and posting things like me studying, that kind of stuff. Now I’m thinking of doing it more seriously.”
“On Instagrim?”
“And as an influencer at the same time.”
“You?”
My brow furrowed.
Jeon Tae-guk hurriedly interjected.
“Sung-guk, this is another area where I’m an expert. When Ji-hee asked for help, I realized that with systematic management, she could grow into the kind of influencer she wants to be.”
“Big brother, don’t crumple your brow like you’re crumpling tissue paper. Just listen to what I have to say.”
“Fine, let me hear it.”
I crossed my arms and sat down.
“When people think of influencers, they think of the Kim Kardashian family, right? Glamorous, seemingly thoughtless. But they make a lot of money, so they buy luxury goods and wear them.”
“What kind of influencer are you trying to be?”
“Literally, I want to be an influencer who can have a positive influence on people. Study hard like a college student should, and spread awareness about what I can do. For example, things like ‘Dokdo is Korean territory!'”
I nodded.
Riding the momentum, Ji-hee laid out her plans.
“At first, I found paparazzi burdensome, and the growing number of Instagrim followers felt overwhelming too. But you climbed to where you are now while carrying all that burden, didn’t you? When I thought about it that way, I realized I shouldn’t just find this attention burdensome—I should use it appropriately.”
“Sung-guk, isn’t Ji-hee amazing?”
Jeon Tae-guk had already taken Ji-hee’s side.
I looked at Ji-hee coldly.
“Your ideals are admirable, but things might not work out the way you think. Even now, while there’s a lot of positive attention toward you, there’s plenty of negativity too. For instance, there are plenty of racist comments. Comments saying you’re getting cocky because you think you’re special. Isn’t that right?”
“I have to accept all of that. I’m prepared for it.”
“And… what about the promise you made with me to pass the bar exam while still in college?”
“Older brother, don’t worry. I’m Jeon Ji-hee.”
Ji-hee spoke with complete confidence.
“Older brother, I’m planning to start moderately without interfering with my studies. That’s why I consulted with Tae-guk about it… If I receive sponsorships that don’t make me uncomfortable, I won’t have to ask Father or you for money in the future. I’m earning my own keep.”
“Hmm….”
I pretended to think for a moment.
But my mind had already leaned in one direction.
The moment I heard the words “earning my own keep.”
Still, I couldn’t agree too easily. Even a stone bridge should be tapped before crossing it.
“What exactly did you discuss with Tae-guk?”
“Tae-guk knows this field well, so he gave me various advice. He said that with around 500,000 followers, it wouldn’t be bad to work with a company backing me. I was considering it because that way it wouldn’t interfere with my studies.”
Popular influencers and YouTube creators already had agencies representing them.
“As you said, I do hope you grow as an influencer as long as it doesn’t interfere with your studies. Just as you mentioned, you can naturally make statements on social media like ‘Dokdo is Korean territory’ and spread awareness to many people. So here’s what I’ll do—I’ll find you a manager. Famous agencies might force indirect advertising on you or demand posts you don’t want to make.”
“Older brother, are you approving of what I’m doing?”
“Yes, but with conditions.”
There’s no such thing as unconditional help. Not even in families.
“I’ll hire a manager, and we’ll split it 3 to 7. I take 3. You take 7.”
“Sung-guk, isn’t that too harsh for family? Just help me out.”
“Brother, there’s the manager’s salary, transportation and accommodation costs when attending various events, and other expenses the company has to cover. I can’t just do it unconditionally. And no matter how much we’re family, business is business.”
“Fine, older brother. But I have a condition too?”
“What is it?”
“Everything I post on Instagrim will be my final decision.”
I nodded.
“That’s what I want too. I’ll draw up a contract and send it to you within next week.”
“I’ll review it carefully with a law student’s eye and sign it.”
Our deal was cleanly concluded.
Jeon Tae-guk clicked his tongue from beside us.
“They say blood is thicker than water, but this is frighteningly thick.”
And right after our contract, the first Instagrim photo Ji-hee posted was of one-year-old Ji-hee crawling toward me while I was rolling Min-guk around. Below it, she wrote:
– In our family, we learn a great lesson from our older brother from the moment we’re born. There’s no such thing as a free lunch in this world, and you have to earn your own keep.

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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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