The Baby Seizes Fortune - Chapter 23

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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 23

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A week ago, Kang Un-san, who had called Jo Mi-sook to Tomorrow Finance headquarters, sat facing her on the reception sofa.

No matter how much Jo Mi-sook dominated early childhood education in Daechi-dong, meeting with a figure like Kang Un-san of Tomorrow Finance, one of Korea’s top 10 corporations, was nerve-wracking.

“Chairman, it’s an honor to meet you.”

“Yes, please sit comfortably. I think I saw you at the Ilgwang charity event last year.”

“Oh my, you remembered. Yes, that’s right. I was deeply moved by how readily you donated a large sum for the young heads of households.”

“Yes, well. Have some tea.”

As Unsan tilted the teapot, clear, fragrant tea water rose into Misuk’s greenish-yellow teacup.

Misuk bowed gratefully and politely received the teacup.

“Actually, I remember Hee-jae as well. Back then, he was holding hands with the late president and his wife.”

A deep silence settled between the two.

It hadn’t even been a full year since the terrible aviation accident that took Unsan’s son and daughter-in-law.

Even now, when Unsan woke up at night, there were times he couldn’t tell if that incident was a nightmare or reality.

For his son and daughter-in-law to leave so meaninglessly, and for his beloved grandson to lose his parents. It felt empty, as if a large hole had been pierced through his chest.

“I’m sorry, Chairman.”

Seeing Unsan’s eyes grow melancholy, Misuk expressed her condolences.

“No. If we’re going to have an admission consultation for our Hee-jae, this is something we can’t avoid discussing.”

When Unsan gestured that it was fine to talk about it, Misuk nodded and said yes.

Soon Misuk opened her mouth.

“Originally, Edinburgh Kindergarten has entrance exams, but as far as I know, Hee-jae has already received excellent results on certified intelligence tests. In such cases, according to our school rules, the exam is waived… so you don’t need to worry about admission, but…”

Misuk glanced at Unsan for a moment before speaking.

“May I ask you something?”

“By all means, please do.”

“Is Hee-jae… receiving psychological counseling by any chance?”

At this, Unsan’s hand, which had been reaching for the teapot again, flinched.

Soon he slowly raised his eyes to look at Misuk.

Unsan hadn’t expected her to ask such a question.

Hee-jae was an excellent child and the one he had chosen as Tomorrow Finance’s successor, so as the director of a private educational institution wanting to establish connections with chaebol families, she would gladly accept him without question.

That’s what he had thought…

“Hmm…”

What escaped from Unsan’s lips was a slight admiration for Misuk.

So she’s not just a merchant who only knows money, he thought as he spoke.

“We tried several times, but all failed. The psychological counselors gave up, saying Hee-jae wouldn’t open his heart at all.”

“…I see…”

What must be the feelings of a child who lost both parents at once? How great must that wound be…

Misuk looked down at her teacup with a pitiful and troubled heart.

“But there’s no particular problem behavior, or rather, the problem is that he’s excessively mature rather than having problem behaviors. Anyway, we stopped the psychological counseling. It’s just…”

Unsan continued with deep eyes.

“Even when he’s by my side, even when he talks, I feel like he keeps burrowing into a cave… Yes, his emotions are dying. That’s why I thought I should send him to kindergarten.”

If Hee-jae’s parents hadn’t died suddenly in an accident, Hee-jae would have received private gifted education or gone abroad to study.

Because Hee-jae was such a smart child, experts recommended he receive special education.

However, in Unsan’s view, that wasn’t what was important for Hee-jae now.

If Hee-jae completely retreated into the cave, it seemed like the torch of the child’s human emotions would be extinguished forever.

Unsan wanted to hear his grandson’s laughter again.

“You made a good decision, Chairman. Friends will help the wounded Hee-jae.”

Unsan nodded with a bitter smile.

“Yes. But… how many friends Hee-jae’s age are there at the kindergarten? I’m a bit curious about that.”

“Yes, Chairman. Five-and-a-half-year-olds have ten children per class. In Hee-jae’s class, there are many excellent students who would get along well with him. There are children from Myeongwon Trading and Dongil Foods. You know Judge Oh Seong-il, right? His late-born daughter is also there.”

“Myeongwon, Dongil…”

Unsan’s eyes suddenly narrowed.

“Myeongwon went bankrupt, and Dongil must have entered rehabilitation.”

“Ah… well, that’s true, but they’re still wealthy.”

Scenes of workers from both companies protesting without receiving wages had been on the news just yesterday.

And Judge Oh Seong-il had become an issue for giving unusually light sentences to financial criminals.

“…Hmm…”

Misuk watched Unsan’s contemplative face for a long time.

Unsan muttered to himself.

“The children are innocent. But…”

Could the children of those families, who wore moral corruption like clothing, become Hee-jae’s friends?

That child whose heart had been covered by cold darkness since his parents’ death…

“…”

It wasn’t good to have prejudices, but one corner of his heart felt uneasy.

Seeing such Unsan, Misuk carefully spoke up.

“If you don’t like the composition of children, there’s one more option, Chairman.”

Unsan looked at Misuk with suspicious eyes.

She slowly continued.

“There’s another kindergarten I operate…”

* * *

Misuk looked fondly at Hee-jae’s back as he gave the pledge as the representative of new students.

The grandmother who had passed down Somang Preschool had said:

“You must become a beacon for the children.”

Somang Preschool was established in 1955, a full 40 years ago.

The predecessor of Somang Preschool was ‘Somang Orphanage,’ which cared for children who lost their parents in the Korean War and became war orphans.

Even after changing to a kindergarten, Somang Preschool continued to receive many wounded and disadvantaged children, true to its former reputation.

There was a time when she felt rewarded caring for and raising such children. After opening Edinburgh Kindergarten, Misuk had long since cut off her interest in this place.

“The director just needs to take good care of it from now on! Both Edinburgh and Somang Preschool are the director’s kindergartens.”

Chaea’s spirited words, hoping to enroll in Somang Preschool, finally made Misuk reflect on her original intentions.

Grandmother’s legacy, which she had deliberately ignored, blinded by the economic prosperity gained from Edinburgh.

‘Children’s healing and cultivation of proper character.’

And so that day, she proposed to Unsan that he try entrusting Hee-jae to Somang Preschool.

Healing a child’s wounded heart ultimately comes down to people and love.

“To be honest, Somang Preschool cannot provide the same education as Edinburgh. We don’t give special treatment either. At Somang Preschool, parents’ wealth and family background mean nothing, so Hee-jae will have to make his own way.”

At this, Unsan’s eyes narrowed.

“But perhaps such a process might rekindle the spark of love in Hee-jae’s heart…”

She didn’t expect Chairman Kang Un-san to listen to her words. Rather, he might get angry and say he’d send him to another kindergarten.

Still, since the flawless greenhouse-like Edinburgh didn’t seem like it would help the current Hee-jae, Misuk pleaded.

“If you entrust Hee-jae to us…”

“Let’s do that.”

Unsan answered with conviction, as if he needed to hear no more.

“That’s the direction I want.”

I’ll trust the director, he said.

His gaze was firm.

“…I pledge.”

Hee-jae’s calm voice finished the new student pledge.

He turned toward the audience with an expressionless face. Murmuring voices could be heard.

Wow, that kid can read, said the grubby-faced students.

Just as Hee-jae was about to return indifferently to where he had been standing, his gaze turned somewhere.

“…”

A girl he had seen before.

The girl who had been looking around quickly makes a ‘don’ sound with her lips and grins while looking into the air.

She looks a bit strange at first glance, but her eyes are so clear.

For a moment, Hee-jae’s fingertips clenched.

‘That kid is…’

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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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