The Conglomerate Family Became A Villain [EN]: Chapter 31

31. Becoming a Villain in a Chaebol Family – A Haven for Geniuses 04 –

“Does anyone at MIT *not* know Professor Feynman’s quantum theory?”

Since he planned to attend MIT, his natural answer was that he knew it.

“That’s not what I’m asking. I’m asking about your *relationship* with Richard.”

Jung Hyun-woo understood the question’s intent. However, lacking a personal connection, he had to answer as he did.

He adjusted his posture and replied, “I don’t have a personal relationship with Professor Feynman.”

“Then, are you suggesting that someone who guided you *is* close to Professor Feynman?”

Jung Hyun-woo had no idea.

‘Who could be close to someone as famous as Richard Feynman?’

Sarah had a wide network, but a connection to a Nobel laureate and America’s most famous scientist seemed unlikely.

‘I have no idea at all.’

He had entered the interview room determined, but a series of baffling names kept arising.

Even Professor Thomas Norn, initially critical of Jung Hyun-woo, was taken aback after the fourth name.

“To think Richard would recommend him.”

Richard Phillips Feynman was an MIT graduate, attending during the same era as Professors Norn and Dampier.

“Let’s see the last recommendation letter.”

The fifth and final recommendation letter.

Richard Phillips Feynman’s appearance felt somewhat anticlimactic.

‘Ha… I wouldn’t be surprised if the actual President of the United States showed up now.’

Jung Hyun-woo sighed inwardly.

“This recommendation letter isn’t from a person, but from a company.”

A company?

Robert from Activision could have written a recommendation letter in the company’s name.

‘It’s just one recommendation letter split into two.’

However, Jung Hyun-woo’s guess was immediately proven wrong.

“This recommendation letter was sent by Atari.”

Atari.

The undisputed powerhouse of the American game industry.

They developed the world’s first video game, sparking the American game industry’s revival.

Atari, in other words, brought both the light and the darkness to the American gaming scene.

“Atari, you say?”

Professor Dampier nodded at Professor Norn’s question.

“It means Atari recognizes Jung’s talent.”

Jung Hyun-woo could guess why Atari had recommended him.

‘Is it a reward for Zero Space’s contribution to Atari’s market expansion? Or an expression of hope that I’ll continue working for Atari in the future?’

Either way, it seemed related to the Zero Space series.

“We’ve reviewed all five recommendation letters. Chen, you mentioned receiving a separate recommendation letter?”

Physics Professor Win Chen nodded.

“The recommendation letter I received stated: ‘Drop that student immediately. Then Stanford will be happy.’”

Professor Norn tilted his head.

“Stanford, you say?”

“It’s a recommendation letter from Professor Laura Hilton of Stanford.”

Laura Hilton.

A physics professor at Stanford and a leading figure in the American physics community.

The three professors knew her by another name.

‘The Witch of Stanford recommended him?’

‘Talent the witch covets?’

Laura was strikingly beautiful, but her nickname was “Witch,” not “Beauty.”

“‘Drop him immediately’—Laura always has a sense of humor.”

“Six recommendation letters—no, all seven are significant.”

The other two professors agreed with Professor Dampier.

“Excellent.”

“Jung knows his path, and many are guiding him.”

Professor Dampier nodded, turning to Jung Hyun-woo.

“Jung, acceptance notices are usually mailed, but since there are no objections, I’ll tell you now: MIT welcomes you.”

He was accepted.

Jung Hyun-woo stood and bowed deeply.

“I will work hard.”

It wasn’t an elaborate gesture, but he felt it was enough.

‘I can’t believe I got in because of the recommendation letters.’

He had planned to impress them with his knowledge of the future or his ability to foresee events.

But his predictions were completely off.

***

Sarah couldn’t believe Jung Hyun-woo’s story.

“So many people sent recommendation letters?”

“It seems many people put in a good word.”

Sarah sipped her coffee and began discussing the first recommendation letter.

“This one is probably from your father.”

Jung Hyun-woo agreed.

Andrew Hilton was a celebrity in the southern United States, wielding considerable influence in Texas and New Mexico.

“It was surprising it was from New Mexico, not Texas.”

“My father probably does business there, too.”

Andrew Hilton had shifted his focus to the oil industry, a different area from the Hilton Hotel Group.

“The second was from Citibank.”

“This must be Peter [likely referring to Peter Thompson, a contact at Citibank].”

Jung Hyun-woo could easily figure out the first two. The problem started with the third.

“I don’t know about the recommendation letter from the veteran named Sam.”

Sarah put down her cup, narrowing her brows.

“It’s like John.”

“John?”

John Hilton.

Sarah’s only brother, serving as a pilot in the U.S. Air Force.

“The military connections are John and Father, but Father already asked the senator for a favor.”

If it wasn’t John Hilton, Andrew Hilton must have intervened.

“I owe John a debt, too.”

“*We* owe the debt, Charlie, not just you.”

“Sarah.”

“It’s okay. I’ll repay my brother someday.”

Next was the fourth.

Richard Feynman’s recommendation letter.

Getting a recommendation from a Nobel laureate was no easy feat.

‘Frankly, it’s a family honor.’

Sarah picked up a spoon, stirring her coffee.

Swish.

A gentle ripple disturbed the black surface.

“I know this one, too.”

“I can guess, but is it really *that* person?”

“Because she’s such a flamboyant person.”

Jung Hyun-woo asked cautiously, “Is Laura Hilton acquainted with Richard Feynman, after all?”

Sarah nodded.

“Probably.”

Laura Hilton.

She likely used her friendship with Richard Feynman to get him to write a recommendation letter.

“I didn’t know Laura would do this much for me.”

“She must think highly of you, Charlie. I have to work hard so my sister doesn’t steal you away.”

The last words were a joke, but Laura Hilton clearly thought highly of Jung Hyun-woo.

‘To add her own recommendation letter on top of someone else’s… That’s not like Laura at all.’

The fifth was Atari’s recommendation letter, requiring no further guesswork.

“The sixth was Laura’s own recommendation letter.”

When Jung Hyun-woo told her the letter’s contents, Sarah shrugged.

“Just like my sister.”

“I was slightly surprised by Laura’s wit.”

Writing a recommendation letter that way was unusual.

“Sometimes a single, impactful line is more effective than a long sentence. My sister understands that.”

“Lastly, Robert’s recommendation letter?”

“The recommendation letter I thought would be most important ended up at the back.”

Sarah looked at Jung Hyun-woo with complicated eyes.

‘Has any student ever received so many recommendation letters?’

It was half jealousy, half surprise.

‘And Charlie never boasts.’

He was like the surface of a calm lake.

‘Old man.’

Sarah thought inwardly, then said with a bright smile, “Charlie, congratulations on your acceptance, even though it’s late.”

Jung Hyun-woo scratched his head at her congratulations.

“It’s not like I got in because I did well.”

“No matter how powerful the recommendation letters, you wouldn’t have been accepted if you hadn’t answered properly in the interview.”

Regardless of background, you needed to meet basic requirements to be accepted into prestigious American universities like MIT.

“I decided to start attending from the new year.”

Sarah’s voice rose slightly.

“Are you going to be okay?”

Jung Hyun-woo was about to begin developing Zero Space 3. Balancing MIT classes and game development wouldn’t be easy.

“I have to try it first.”

“By the way, what did Tom [Choi Kyung-min’s American name] say?”

Tom was Jung Hyun-woo’s secretary, Choi Kyung-min.

“He wasn’t as surprised as I thought.”

“Did you tell him everything about the recommendation letters?”

Jung Hyun-woo shook his head.

“No. I just told him I got in.”

“That’s what I thought.”

Sarah believed the surprising part wasn’t the acceptance itself, but the number and stories behind the recommendation letters.

‘So many recommendation letters aren’t always beneficial. The more there are, the higher people’s expectations become.’

If Jung Hyun-woo failed to meet those expectations, they would turn into disappointment, then frustration.

***

Daewoon Group Chairman’s Office.

Daewoon Corporation executives were giving Chairman Jung Woo-sun a quarterly report.

Knock. Knock.

Secretary Hong Won-ik knocked, speaking softly.

“Chairman, may I come in?”

A report during a meeting meant the matter was significant.

Chairman Jung Woo-sun frowned slightly.

“Come in.”

Secretary Hong Won-ik entered and bowed deeply.

“Chairman, there’s a call from Boston.”

Boston.

Chairman Jung Woo-sun knew Boston meant Jung Hyun-woo.

“Good news? Or bad news?”

There was more bad news than good news regarding Jung Hyun-woo.

‘I hope it’s not a big accident.’

Since Secretary Hong Won-ik interrupted the meeting, it was likely a major issue if an accident had occurred.

“It’s good news.”

Chairman Jung Woo-sun’s frown eased.

“Good news, you say?”

How good could the news be for Jung Hyun-woo to warrant interrupting the meeting?

His question was soon answered.

Secretary Hong Won-ik raised his voice so everyone could hear.

“Hyun-woo has been accepted into MIT.”

MIT.

The Daewoon Corporation executives’ expressions changed instantly.

“Young Master Hyun-woo has been accepted into MIT?”

“What a joyous occasion!”

“A great figure has emerged in the Korean economic world!”

“We must inform the newspaper immediately!”

These were the people who had treated Jung Hyun-woo as a troublemaker until yesterday.

But one word—MIT—changed their attitude completely.

Chairman Jung Woo-sun didn’t look as pleased as they did.

“Secretary Hong, I know MIT is a good university, but how good is it?”

MIT was unfamiliar to Chairman Jung Woo-sun, who was from the pre-liberation generation [referring to the period before Korea’s liberation from Japanese rule in 1945].

Secretary Hong Won-ik briefly explained.

“MIT is one of the few universities in the United States—no, in the world—comparable to Harvard. It boasts dozens of Nobel laureates.”

Chairman Jung Woo-sun smiled brightly at the comparison to Harvard, even without understanding the other details.

“Our Hyun-woo went to a university similar to Harvard?”

“That’s right.”

Chairman Jung Woo-sun clenched his fist tightly.

“Good! I knew Hyun-woo would do it!”

The Daewoon Corporation executives praised Jung Hyun-woo’s acceptance again.

“Chairman, congratulations.”

“MIT… Daehyun or Samjung Group [fictional Korean conglomerates] don’t have anything like this.”

“This is worth informing the Blue House [the executive office and official residence of the South Korean president].”

“It would be good to announce this widely in the company newspaper.”

Chairman Jung Woo-sun turned to Secretary Hong Won-ik.

“What do you think, Secretary Hong?”

He was asking how widely Jung Hyun-woo’s acceptance should be publicized.

Secretary Hong Won-ik answered cautiously, “I initially considered leaking it to the media, but wouldn’t that interfere with Hyun-woo’s studies? It would be better to handle this quietly.”

He meant excessive attention would only increase the pressure.

Chairman Jung Woo-sun nodded.

“Well, Hyun-woo is a student.”

He unclenched his fist.

“Secretary Hong, handle this matter yourself.”

Secretary Hong Won-ik bowed deeply.

“Then I will quietly inform only a few places.”

Even after he left, the Daewoon Corporation executives continued praising Jung Hyun-woo.

Chairman Jung Woo-sun didn’t frown, even at their excessive praise.

‘To think Hyun-woo would be accepted into a prestigious American university.’

Was it because he inherited his father’s intelligence?

‘It means there may be wandering, but there will be no frustration.’

Jung Hyun-woo’s acceptance into MIT.

It was the best news he had heard in a long time.

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