I Will Raise This Family to Greatness - Chapter 494

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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 494
Ji-hee’s Instagrim account had gained over 100,000 followers in a single day after she posted childhood photos of Min-guk and me.
Ji-hee, preparing for school early in the morning, showed me her Instagrim account, which now had over 600,000 followers.
“Oppa, look at this. Just one photo increased my followers by over 100,000.”
“Ji-hee, we’ve told you before—even if your mouth is crooked, your words should be straight. Right now, your follower count exists because of Min-guk and me. In fact, the 500,000 followers you had before that were also thanks to us. ‘FaceNote’ CEO’s younger sister. ‘Sevens’ member’s younger sister. You gained that number through those titles.”
“I won’t deny it. My older brothers’ help was significant, but maintaining this Instagrim going forward will depend on my own abilities, won’t it?”
“Exactly. Which is why you shouldn’t be acting proud with just that follower count right now.”
Ji-hee nodded.
She was the type to acknowledge things cleanly when she was in the wrong.
“You’re right, oppa. But people think I was born as Jeon Sung-guk’s younger sister and enjoy many privileges. What they don’t realize is that being born as Jeon Sung-guk’s younger sister means I have to live by different standards than others. You could call it my older brother’s halo, but couldn’t you also say that my efforts are the result of that very halo?”
“That’s something we’ll have to see play out over time.”
“Got it. I’ll work hard, so watch me. Oh, and I’ll conduct the manager interviews myself.”
“First, we need to draft a contract.”
The moment Ji-hee finished speaking, she left the house for school.
Min-guk was gradually building recognition through Sevens.
Of course, it wasn’t the result I was hoping for yet. But nothing is accomplished overnight. All I could do was be patient and wait.
And Ji-hee seemed to be finding her own path as well.
I finished my coffee and hurried to prepare for work.
Watching my younger siblings gradually earn their own keep made my heart feel a little lighter.
“Sung-guk!”
My younger brother from my past life appeared, calling my name loudly from early morning.
Jeon Tae-guk had come to our house unusually early and was breathing heavily.
[Why is Jeon Tae-guk here at this hour?]
Disheveled hair. A slightly swollen face. And a robe worn over his pajamas.
Jeon Tae-guk had clearly left home in a hurry.
“Hyung, what’s wrong?”
“Sung-guk, help me out.”
[How many times am I going to hear that phrase in this lifetime?]
I stared at Jeon Tae-guk indifferently while sipping my coffee.
“Hyung, what trouble did you get into this time?”
“Sung-guk, I didn’t get into trouble…”
“Then what is it?”
“Mi-jin is coming here.”
Jeon Mi-jin?
My brow furrowed sharply.
My younger sister from my past life.
My kindergarten classmate in this life and Jeon Tae-guk’s younger sister.
In both lives, she was equally foolish and troublesome.
I looked at Jeon Tae-guk as calmly as possible.
“Hyung, why is that a problem?”
“Sung-guk, doesn’t it strike you as odd? During all the time we’ve lived together or while I was at the neighboring house, Mi-jin never once came to see me on her own.”
I stroked my chin thoughtfully.
Jeon Tae-guk was right—Jeon Mi-jin had never sought him out of her own volition, not even once.
“Hyung, aren’t you going to ask why she’s coming?”
“No. Actually, I didn’t hear from Mi-jin directly. Her secretary contacted me saying she plans to visit this weekend.”
It was a communication style befitting the Samjeon Family siblings.
“Hyung, let’s stay calm and wait. We can’t know why Jeon Mi-jin is coming right now anyway.”
“Oh, and apparently she’s planning to throw a small party at our place.”
“What kind of party?”
“She’s sending invitations to you, Mark, and people around us. But… why is she doing all this without consulting me?”
“Well…”
Ji-hee’s words came to mind.
“Because if you told hyung, he’d obviously say no.”
“Anyway… younger siblings, I tell you…”
Jeon Tae-guk naturally wandered into our kitchen in his pajamas and poured himself a cup of coffee. Then he opened the refrigerator, pulled out an orange, and began peeling it.
“Sung-guk, this orange is delicious. Where did you buy it?”
“Hyung brought it when he had a barbecue with Lee Kyung-soo.”
“Why doesn’t it taste like this when we eat it at our place…”
* * *
Mark thrust the invitation email in front of my eyes with wide, astonished eyes.
“Sung-guk, did you see this? Mi-jin is Tae-guk’s younger sister, right? So why is she throwing a party at Tae-guk’s place? And why did she invite me?”
“Of all your questions, the only one I can answer is that Jeon Mi-jin is Tae-guk’s younger sister. As for the rest, I’m just as clueless as you are.”
Mark shook his head in bewilderment.
“Tae-guk doesn’t know the reason either?”
“Probably not.”
“Tae-guk’s family is strange, I’m telling you.”
“If you’re born and raised as a chaebol in South Korea, it’s entirely possible to be that way.”
“When I see you like this, you really do talk like someone who’s lived through everything.”
[Mark, in my previous life, I was a chaebol of the Samjeon Family.]
I quickly steered the conversation in a different direction.
“Mark, what do you think will be the biggest problem for FaceNote going forward?”
“Suddenly a problem? The whole world is in a FaceNote craze right now.”
Mark was right—the entire world was indeed caught in a FaceNote fever. Every age group was using FaceNote.
“A craze means its decline is coming soon. I think we need to prepare for that in advance… I believe we should allocate more personnel to Instagrim.”
“Yeah, let’s discuss that again once we move the headquarters.”
When FaceNote enters its decline, Instagrim, TikTok, and YouTube will experience greater growth.
And soon, the era of Corona will arrive.
I pressed my temples gently.
[The era of Corona…]
Just then, my phone rang loudly. It was Bang Mu-hyuk.
I quickly answered the phone.
– Sung-guk, our kids’ album is out. Well, it releases this week, but I wanted you to hear it first.
Bang Mu-hyuk’s voice was brimming with excitement.
It seemed this album had turned out quite well.
“I’d be happy to.”
– Sung-guk, I don’t usually say things like this, but this album is really good. If this doesn’t become a massive hit, I’m quitting production and everything else.
“I understand completely, sir.”
[Is this finally where the legend of Sevens begins…?]
Bang Mu-hyuk spoke excitedly about sending me the album files by email, then hung up.
And I listened to Sevens’ third album in secret.
The album was genuinely excellent, matching Bang Mu-hyuk’s confident tone.
I called Bang Mu-hyuk back.
– Sung-guk, you’ve already listened to it all?
“Yes, sir. You were right—this album is really great. Sir, now we need to do some proper promotion.”
– Barack Obama is ready too, right?
“Of course.”
The timing for both TikTok and Sevens to skyrocket was finally approaching.
– I’m discussing with the kids right now. Which song catches your ear the most?
“Since Barack Obama needs to follow along, I’d prefer a song with choreography that anyone can easily replicate rather than overly intense moves. Ideally one with a meaningful message too.”
– What about the song called ‘Destiny’? People say life is already determined from the moment you’re born, but destiny is something you forge yourself. The kids’ personal experiences are woven into the lyrics too…”
“That sounds perfect. Please send me the choreography first. I’ll forward it to Barack right away.”
– Great! Sung-guk, are we really going to hit the Billboard charts like this?
“It could actually happen, so prepare yourself.”
– Haha. Just saying it makes me happy.
Bang Mu-hyuk hung up while laughing continuously.
* * *
Finally, March arrived.
Sevens’ album was released.
The title track was ‘Destiny’.
Though it was a dance song, the rhythm was upbeat and simple enough that anyone could hum along to it.
The lyrics were excellent too.
Jung-woo and Jae-hee calmly laid out their own childhood hardships and how they became Sevens trainees as if by fate.
Though they all became Sevens members by fate, the message was that you could change that destiny with your own strength.
The overall choreography was quite difficult, but the killing part that Barack Obama needed to follow was easy enough for anyone to replicate.
Sevens members’ TikTok challenge videos went up, and I called Barack Obama.
Barack Obama answered with an awkward laugh.
– Sung-guk, I really practiced a lot with my daughters. But they say we’re doing it weird.
“What Barack is doing has meaning.”
– By the way, my daughters explained the lyrics to me. Do Korean songs always have such good lyrics?
“Sevens is especially good. Barack, are you ready for the challenge now?”
– A promise is a promise. I’ll do it with my daughters too, so look forward to it.
“Thank you, Barack.”
After hanging up, an hour later, Barack Obama uploaded the “Destiny” challenge video with his daughters, just as promised.
But the moment Barack Obama posted the video, TikTok’s servers crashed.
I shook my head and walked toward the office where Sam and Adam were.
“Looks like Sam and Adam are going to have another all-nighter….”
I could see Adam rushing out with a panicked expression.
“Sung-guk, it’s TikTok….”
“I know, it crashed.”
“I never expected so many users to log in all at once.”
“Me neither. Adam, Sam… are you ready for an all-nighter?”
“Of course we are.”
And naturally, I brought up the salary negotiation.
“Adam, I’ve been thinking about this. I’m going to give you a 200% salary increase.”
“W-Sung-guk….”
“And stock options when TikTok goes public.”
Adam’s face flushed red.
“Adam, what do you think?”
“S-Sung-guk… that’s too much. Sam and I are just doing work we love.”
“Oh, Adam… that potted plant from before. It’s becoming a jungle now, right? You’ll take it with you when we move the headquarters?”
“Of course.”
“What if we transplant it in the garden at the new headquarters? The pot seems a bit cramped now.”
“Sung-guk….”
Adam was more moved by this than when I mentioned the salary increase.
Without dedicated employees like Sam and Adam, TikTok might not have existed at all.
There was nothing I wouldn’t do for them.
“Adam, you should be paid for the work you do. Sam and Adam have worked so devotedly that TikTok has reached the point where our servers crash like this.”
“Sung-guk… thank you. I don’t know what to say….”
Adam’s eyes grew red.
I patted his broad shoulder.
“Adam, and here’s a small bonus. I heard KCON is happening this month. Daniel already booked VIP seats for you. Just go with Sam that day and relieve some stress.”
Adam pressed his reddened eyes with his hand and looked at me.
“Sung-guk, while working in Korea, I saved up enough money to buy my parents a house. In the best neighborhood in Palo Alto.”
Buying a house in America, especially in an affluent area like Palo Alto, was quite an expensive endeavor.
“Adam, I sincerely congratulate you.”
“My parents are so happy. I thought the salary in Korea was already more than generous….”
“Adam, since you bought your parents a house, now we need to get you your own place.”
“I’m planning to live with my parents until I get married. But… it seems like getting married will be difficult.”
Adam brushed off the marriage topic with a smile.
“Adam, let’s keep doing well together from now on.”
“Yes, Sung-guk! I’ll get right to work!”
Adam rushed back to the office.
I watched his retreating figure with a wry smile on my face.
[Sigh… surely I’m not responsible for Sam and Adam’s wedding too?]

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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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