The Baby Seizes Fortune - Chapter 19

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 19

I raised my small hand and smoothed away the frown on Junho’s face. Soon his expression relaxed, and he fell back asleep peacefully.

I stared at Junho’s face for a long time.

‘He looked really troubled just now…’

Enough to make my heart skip a beat in surprise.

I flopped down next to Junho and burrowed into his embrace. Once he was completely calm, his breathing returned to a steady rhythm.

‘I wonder if something bad happened.’

I thought I should keep a close eye on him.

* * *

“A 35 percent viewership rating. That’s beyond expectations.”

Kang Un-san, sitting in the chairman’s office of the massive skyscraper that housed Tomorrow Finance Group headquarters, clicked his tongue as if he truly hadn’t expected this.

Tomorrow Finance’s investment in 【Typhoon Internal Medicine】 had been something of a whim. Rather than the chairman’s own whim, it had been chosen as educational material for young Hee-jae, whom he had marked as his successor.

If Hee-jae hadn’t chosen 【Typhoon Internal Medicine】, Un-san would have ultimately picked writer Kim Bong-cheol’s work. That would have been the most guaranteed, safe method.

While Hee-jae’s words about people liking sitcoms during these difficult times made sense, Chairman Kang had thought it would ultimately be hard to surpass writer Kim Bong-cheol’s viewership ratings.

He had planned to teach the lesson that data was more important than one’s instincts when making any investment.

But surpassing such predictions, 【Typhoon Internal Medicine】 was writing a perfect success story.

“The world is changing. I must be getting old now. I had no idea this work would do so well.”

The late 1930s when Chairman Kang was born was during Japanese colonial rule.

From that cruel and painful era, through the 1950s when the Korean War broke out, Kang Un-san had always stayed one step ahead of the times with his sharp mind and exceptional abilities, building and developing such a large company.

But as the digital age began and Generation X became the mainstream of society, he was feeling impatient.

In a competitive society, if you don’t lead the times, if you don’t think new thoughts, you fall behind.

“It was meant to teach you a lesson, but instead I learned one myself.”

“I was just lucky.”

Hee-jae bowed his head humbly, but his black pupils shone clearly like jewels in his unusually emotionless eyes for a child.

The two took the elevator that ran through the building and went down.

Employees in suits with stiff neckties bowed wherever Chairman Kang Un-san passed.

“Come to think of it, that child’s father must be quite happy too.”

“….”

“I mean the child we saw at Tomorrow Bank. The bank inside the computer.”

“…Yes.”

Hee-jae’s answer was dry, but the chairman continued speaking.

“You said earlier that it was just luck.”

“….”

“Yes, living life, I’ve learned that success is half skill, half luck. Even with good skills, you can’t achieve success if luck doesn’t follow. That child’s father must be a very lucky person.”

【Typhoon Internal Medicine】 was a new format sitcom drama that no one, including Un-san, had expected to become such a hit.

The actors appearing in that drama probably didn’t join with tremendous expectations for the work either.

But since the work did so well and everyone is rising to fame, you could call it winning the lottery.

“…Maybe it’s skill after all.”

Hee-jae muttered in a low voice.

The two went out to the company garden on the first floor and walked along the snowy path.

“Come to think of it, Hee-jae, it’s time for you to enter preschool too. While the private tutors are working hard, developing proper social skills through group life is just as important as studying.”

Footprints of Un-san and Hee-jae appeared one by one side by side on the snowy path.

Hee-jae answered with a thoroughly bored expression.

“Yes, Grandfather.”

Un-san looked down at his grandson with pitying eyes.

A child who was easily three or four years more mature than his peers, and whose intelligence test results showed an IQ over 140, indicating high intelligence.

This time it might have been luck, but even the drama investment was successful.

But after his parents became casualties in a plane crash, a shadow that the child would have to carry for life had fallen over his heart.

The child no longer laughs.

But perhaps if he met good friends… this child might smile a more childlike smile.

“How about Edinburgh Kindergarten? I heard that the children of Hyunsung Group also attended there. Il-hyun’s children too.”

“Anywhere is fine.”

Hee-jae answered as if he had no expectations for tomorrow.

The gently falling snow accumulated on the child’s small shoulders.

* * *

First floor, at the landlady’s place. I was sitting in front of the dining table the landlady had set for us, eating with Minsu while watching cartoons.

Hehe, X-Disney cartoon garden is definitely the best on Sunday mornings.

“But Mother, why is today’s side dish so good? You never gave me stuff like this when I was alone.”

Minsu pointed at the bulgogi on the plate with the tip of his metal chopsticks.

A piece of glossy bulgogi was placed on top of my steaming rice.

The landlady had put it there for me directly.

“You even got a new perm, something’s suspicious.”

At Minsu’s words as he narrowed his eyes, the landlady laughed “hohoho.”

“Well, I’m in a good mood because I’m making money.”

Her face was full of smiles.

“A week ago when the redevelopment plan for this area was announced, land prices went up tremendously. If I had sold to the real estate agent then, it would have been a real disaster. Thanks to Minsu telling me about that email, I didn’t sell…”

And she also patted my head vigorously as I sat there.

“Our Chaea is also a lucky charm. Ever since Chaea said those things, I didn’t want to leave this place. After that, I told the real estate agent firmly that I wouldn’t sell. Chaea, eat lots. There, there.”

I opened my mouth wide and stuffed both cheeks full of delicious white rice and bulgogi, then chewed.

Mmm, delicious!

“But who really sent that email?”

Minsu scratched his chin and muttered to himself with a puzzled expression.

“I tried replying but got no response… How did they know our house was here…”

‘Because I’m right here! Hehe.’

I didn’t want the landlady, who treats us so well, to miss out on the opportunity to make big money. As someone who knew this place would be redeveloped, that is.

I had created an anonymous email address and sent Minsu articles about the possibility of redevelopment in this area through Noah.

‘The redevelopment project is going well! Hehe.’

“Ah, thank you for the meal.”

Minsu, who finished eating a bit early, stretched.

“Mom, you don’t need to make any calls, right? I’m going to use the computer for a bit.”

“Just a little. You know how much the phone bill was last month, right?”

“Come on, you made a lot of money thanks to not selling the house.”

Soon Minsu was sitting in front of the computer in one corner of the living room, turning on the modem.

The characteristic electronic sound rang in our ears.

Ping- beep-beep- beep-

The sound of the phone line connecting to the computer was heard, and when the modem’s green LED blinked, a connection confirmation appeared on the computer screen.

* * *

“This is…”

Holding the package delivered today, I slowly opened it.

[Sender- Jo Mi-sook, Recipient- Gu Chaea]

Jo Mi-sook was the name of the principal of Edinburgh Kindergarten and Somang Preschool.

“Lucky you, Chaea. You received a wonderful gift. I should thank the lady through senior Yeong-il.”

Junho, who had come home and was changing clothes, glanced at the half-opened package and said.

Inside the unwrapped package was a pink box labeled ‘Children’s Stationery Set.’

When I opened that box, it was full of stationery good for children to use: five pencils, two erasers, a ruler, a pencil case, and several notebooks.

And there was also a note that seemed to be written by Misuk herself.

[I hope you like it.]

After I expressed my desire to attend Somang Preschool, Misuk hadn’t visited or contacted us separately, but she seemed to be expressing that she was thinking of me like this.

Junho, who had finished changing clothes, said.

“Now our Chaea is really going to preschool.”

His clear eyes seemed to shimmer.

“You’re so precious. If only older sister could see this too…”

…it would have been nice. Those same words seemed to be contained at the end.

I couldn’t bring myself to finish speaking and called out to Junho, who patted my head a few times before turning away.

“Appa.”

“…Yeah?”

“Why are you hurt there?”

I pointed to the pink mark I glimpsed on the inside of Junho’s right arm beneath his white t-shirt.

Then I quickly stood up and grabbed his arm to examine it closely.

It looked like there was a slight blister.

“Did you get burned?”

When I asked with furrowed brows and wide eyes, Junho seemed a bit flustered and tried to pull his arm away.

But I held on tight and wouldn’t let go as I pressed him.

“Why did you get hurt!”

“Well, that’s…”

Junho’s eyes sneakily drifted up and to the right as if he was making something up.

“…I spilled coffee while drinking it.”

“Hmm…? Coffee?”

When Junho lied, it was written all over his face.

“Y-yeah. Oh, you’re curious about coffee. The history of coffee in our country started during the enlightenment period when it was introduced through the Russian legation…”

Junho’s expression looked somehow anxious as he rambled on about things I didn’t even ask about.

‘Just like that time he was talking in his sleep, there’s definitely something going on!’

“I heard that a foreign coffee brand called Starbucks will soon enter our country. I’m really curious about how it will taste. The problem is I heard they’ll sell it for over 2,000 won per cup – will something that expensive really sell well in our country?”

But even if I ask now, it doesn’t seem like he’ll give me a proper answer.

‘Hmm, what should I do?’

Just then, as if reading my mind, the AI system Noah began to blink.

[Noah is now level 2! Let’s see what kind of help you can get! ૮₍´˶• ᴥ •˶₎ა ✧]

‘Right, should I try using Noah?’

There happened to be an interesting function that became available with the upgrade to level 2.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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