I Will Raise This Family to Greatness - Chapter 84

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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 84
“Both of you, come with me right now.”
Mark grabbed me with a worried expression on his face.
“Sung-guk, what is this? Did we do something wrong?”
“Mark. Did we do anything wrong?”
“No….”
“Then that’s settled. So don’t panic. We didn’t do anything wrong.”
In the meantime, I quickly contacted Grace.
Grace had been aware of the general situation since she’d handled all the legal connections and documentation while I was developing Face Paper.
– Grace, the school is calling us in because of Face Paper. Please arrange a lawyer.
I quickly stuffed my phone back into my pocket.
* * *
The School Counseling Office had a solemn atmosphere.
Mark and I sat before an elderly middle-aged teacher we’d never seen before.
“Jeon Sung-guk.”
“Yes.”
I raised my hand promptly.
“Mark Zuckerberg?”
“Yes.”
Mark raised his hand slightly as well.
“Did the two of you jointly develop an SNS called Face Paper?”
“Yes, we are co-founders.”
I answered with confidence.
“Hmm… It’s still a non-profit organization, correct?”
“Yes. We created it to foster camaraderie among our schoolmates.”
I calmly explained Face Paper.
Even as I spoke, Mark nervously bit his nails, anxious.
The rules at American boarding schools were strict.
One misstep could result in expulsion.
Mark and I held our breath and waited for the teacher’s next words.
“Hmm… It’s quite remarkable that students have done something like this. However.”
Indeed, the most important thing in life is always what comes after “however.”
“However… Microsoft contacted the school today. They wanted to know who developed this program. So we looked into it.”
Microsoft?
Windows—the company that controlled most of the computers in South Korea.
I took a moment to calm myself.
Then I asked carefully.
It seemed Mark, still foolishly tapping his leg, hadn’t grasped the situation accurately.
“So the reason you called us in isn’t to discipline us over this program, but because of Microsoft’s inquiry, correct?”
“That’s right, Sung-guk. At first, I considered disciplinary action, but the program wasn’t harmful. That’s when Microsoft’s inquiry came in.”
Mark stared at me with a bewildered expression.
“Sung-guk, why would Microsoft contact us?”
I knew the exact reason.
They wanted to buy Face Paper, which Mark and I had developed.
I folded my arms and regarded Mark with composure.
“Mark, don’t worry. I’ll handle everything from here on out.”
* * *
The representative from Microsoft was a notably tall Caucasian man.
Mark and I met with the Microsoft representative, accompanied by the lawyer Grace had introduced.
The representative naturally extended his business card.
“I’m James Franco. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Hello. I’m Jeon Sung-guk. This is Mark.”
Mark kept his eyes fixed downward, his expression shy.
“The headmaster mentioned you’re both brilliant students. Sung-guk, you look quite young, but to be admitted to Phillips Academy is truly impressive.”
“Mark developed Face Paper.”
I gave the shy Mark a bit of a boost. It was necessary—this nerdy fellow would pout otherwise and wouldn’t cooperate well.
Mark, who had been staring at the ground, straightened his shoulders slightly at my words.
“That’s remarkable. So Mark came up with the idea too?”
“The idea came from Sung-guk.”
Mark, now somewhat more energized, began to speak.
“You two are a perfect combination. The ideaman and the programmer.”
James smiled warmly.
“By the way, what’s the reason you wanted to meet with us today?”
I asked directly.
“Ah… we’d like to purchase this program for our company.”
My prediction had been spot on.
“We wanted to meet you first to see what you’re like, and then our company would like to present an offer.”
The lawyer watched the situation keenly without saying a word.
James Franco smiled in a friendly manner.
“First, I wanted to see your faces… and next, I’d like to invite you to our company. How about it? Of course, we’ll cover all the round-trip airfare and accommodation.”
Mark’s expression showed he wanted to go.
But I had no intention of selling Face Paper.
I whispered softly to Mark.
“Mark, can you trust me completely with this matter?”
“Of, of course.”
Mark looked at me with a bewildered expression.
I regarded James with a composed face.
James maintained his poker face.
Coming here today to see us was clearly to gauge how much they could lowball the price. But the moment I showed up with a lawyer in tow, he straightened his posture and became more measured with his words.
In any case, it was an effort to eliminate all disadvantages in the negotiation.
And it was clear that he sensed I couldn’t be lowballed.
I opened my mouth slowly.
“James, I appreciate the offer, but Mark and I have no intention of selling Face Paper. I’m sorry.”
James let out a short laugh and looked at me.
“Sung-guk, you don’t need to make such a hasty decision. You don’t have to sell Face Paper to us. But would you at least visit our company? You’ll be on break soon anyway.”
“Really?”
Mark blurted out his answer.
His eagerness was unmistakable.
A tour wouldn’t be a bad idea.
“I’ll come. But with no strings attached.”
“Of course. Then I’ll head back to the office, report the situation, and send you a date within this week. Once you see our company, I think your mind might change.”
[As if that would happen.]
I was smiling on the surface, but my resolve was unshakeable.
[They’re trying to buy Face Paper on the cheap. This shameless company!]
* * *
The rumor that someone from Microsoft had come looking for Mark and me spread through the school in an instant.
The moment I stepped into the restaurant, Jessie approached me.
Mark’s expression stiffened again, and he pretended not to see Jessie.
I quickly acknowledged Jessie.
“Jessie!”
“Sung-guk, let’s eat together.”
“Sure.”
“But is it really true that Microsoft came looking for you two?”
“Yeah.”
I nodded calmly.
“Why?”
“They’re interested in Face Paper that we created.”
“That’s amazing! You’re so cool, Sung-guk.”
“Mark and I developed it together. Mark worked incredibly hard on it.”
As I praised Mark in front of Jessie, color returned to his face.
How is someone with such poor control over his expressions going to become the CEO of Face Paper later?
“Sung-guk, are you going to sell Face Paper?”
“No.”
My answer was definitive.
“Does Mark feel the same way?”
“Yeah. But Microsoft invited us. They’re providing plane tickets and accommodations. They want us to come see the company.”
“That’s so cool. You two could become millionaires in your teens.”
[Jessie, I’m already a millionaire.]
As of today, my Samjeon stock holdings had surpassed 400,000 won.
What I’d bought at 50,000 won had increased eightfold. My assets had skyrocketed eightfold as well, and the land in Pangyo quietly sleeping in Gyeonggi Province continued to rise in value each day.
Amazon is really tiring to hear about.
Mark was already excited just from the fact that Jessie was talking to him, and he started rambling about this and that.
“Jessie, do you want to know how many hours it took me to create this program?”
[Please, Mark. Girls hate that kind of talk.]
I felt like crying, and Jessie’s expression gradually stiffened.
I decided to quickly change the subject and help Mark out a bit more.
After all, this guy and I were business partners.
“Jessie, it might be difficult for us to have dinner together in New York during the break. I need to go to Korea for a bit. If I can’t make it, would you two like to have dinner together instead?”
“I… like that.”
Mark answered quickly, while Jessie hesitated.
“Sung-guk, are you really sure you can’t make it? I was going to ask my father to book a really nice restaurant…”
“I’m sorry, I can’t give you a definite answer. So let’s set a date, and Jessie, don’t be disappointed if I can’t go.”
“I think I’ll really be disappointed.”
Jessie was sincere.
[This popularity of mine…]
Mark looked at me with a pleading gaze.
It seemed like if I didn’t go, Jessie would cancel the promise entirely. To persuade my business partner properly, I needed Jessie’s help.
“Jessie, should we set it for the evening we return from Microsoft? We’ll probably need to take a plane to get to Microsoft anyway.”
“Is that so? Then I’ll book a New York restaurant for that day.”
“Yes!”
Both Jessie and Mark were relieved at my answer.
* * *
Microsoft sent first-class airline tickets.
It was a way to tell how they viewed us.
And it also meant they valued Face Paper that highly.
Mark’s face was brimming with excitement on his first first-class flight.
“Sung-guk, my legs can stretch out completely.”
I was tall for a ten-year-old, but of course I was still smaller than seventeen-year-old Mark.
Microsoft’s headquarters was located near Seattle.
I lay back in my seat, put on an eye mask, and watched the excited Mark.
“Mark, I’m going to sleep. Wake me when we land.”
“Okay, Sung-guk. I’ll just play some games.”
Mark opened his laptop.
I put on the eye mask and lay down, but sleep wouldn’t come.
My mind was somewhat complicated.
Mark Zuckerberg betrays even his closest friend when founding Face Paper and monopolizes the company.
There were numerous lawsuits in that process, and most were settled for undisclosed amounts. In any case, he claims the throne of ultimate victory.
On top of that, a new variable called Microsoft has appeared.
Face Paper is a company where Mark and I each own fifty percent of the shares.
What choice will Mark make in this life?
* * *
“Wow—”
Mark kept exclaiming in amazement.
To my eyes as well, Microsoft for a company in the year 2000 possessed a remarkably refined and liberated atmosphere.
Compared to Samjeon now, it was truly American in style.
I too found aspects worthy of admiration.
The free workplace atmosphere and the sight of people immersed in their own work rather than bound by hierarchy.
Yes, the moment a workplace becomes shackles, work efficiency inevitably plummets.
As I walked with my hands clasped behind my back, James smiled down at me.
“Sung-guk, you’re young, but sometimes you carry yourself like an old soul.”
[Well, inside me lives a forty-year-old.]
But I simply smiled bashfully.
“Sung-guk, when I looked you up, you turned out to be quite a famous child in Korea?”
“I was just a little famous.”
This was news to Mark as well.
“Sung-guk, what do you mean by that?”
“You didn’t know either, Mark?”
“It’s an embarrassing past.”
“Sung-guk, what on earth is this past of yours?”
[Mark, with that face of yours, you’ll never know in your lifetime.]
I touched my chin and answered briefly.
“I was a TV commercial model when I was young, so I became somewhat famous. I also appeared on TV reality shows for quite a long time.”
“Why didn’t you mention that?”
“I was only famous in Korea. Besides, this is America.”
“Well, you’ve seen most of the company now—would you like to meet our boss?”
Our boss?
Could it be Bill Gates?
Mark’s eyes widened in surprise as well.
“Bill Gates is going to meet with us?”
“Yes. Our boss holds the value of Face Paper in very high regard.”
James naturally concluded the company tour and led us toward the meeting place with Bill Gates.

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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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