The Baby Seizes Fortune - Chapter 28

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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 28

* * *

When I heard about what happened at the film set, I internally shouted “Nice!”

My prediction that she would pull that stunt again had hit the mark.

“We managed to stop one, Noah.”

Noah wagged his tail like a propeller, looking proud.

[Hidden Quest ‘Guardian’s Growth’ Stage 2 Achieved]

[Reward: ‘Guardian’s Growth’ Special Entry Open]

[Reward 2: Guardian Capability (+70)]

Just then, a black star suddenly appeared in one corner of the status window.

Looking closely, it wasn’t completely black – the bottom part of the star was slightly filled with yellow.

“What’s this?”

[‘Guardian’s Growth’ stage-by-stage quests will be performed, and as you fill the star with capability reward points, the guardian’s star quality will increase. ૮₍ ✧ᴥ✧ ₎ა]

I could see the ‘Guardian’s Growth’ stage 3 and beyond quests that were still grayed out and inactive.

So this was about performing quests in this entry to develop Junho in my own way?

Though it seemed far off, if the star filled up completely, he might become the number one trending star.

‘It feels like a mini-game within a game.’

Since Junho’s dream was to become the best actor anyway, and I was supporting that dream, this was perfect.

‘I’ll have to succeed every time one opens. Hehe.’

Junho came out after changing clothes and explained the situation to me.

“Senior Yeong-il is stubborn too, and the PD is so disappointed in Senior Im Su-yeon that she might really be dropped from the show.”

“That’s so great!”

I spread my short arms and jumped into Junho’s embrace, hugging him tight. Junho stroked my head and said,

“If you hadn’t told me about Saebyeol older sister’s story, Chaea…”

Junho’s voice trembled at the end.

“…I would have inevitably become a thief.”

The one getting dropped would have been Junho, not Suyeon.

Moreover, being dropped while falsely accused of theft – if that had happened, opportunities to appear in other works would have become bleak.

“Thank you… sniff.”

Junho kept stroking my head.

I’m glad we managed to protect his dream.

“But…”

I pulled away from Junho’s embrace and raised my hand to touch the shallow scratch on his left cheek.

“This… still makes me upset.”

Im Su-yeon had slapped Junho’s cheek to provoke him.

What a vicious person!

“…”

Junho smiled faintly and shook his head.

“I’ll be careful from now on.”

I looked into Junho’s eyes and nodded.

But there was still something bothering me.

“And, even if Im Su-yeon older sister gets dropped, the reason we can’t let our guard down is…”

Just then, we heard knocking from outside the rooftop apartment.

“Hyung-nim, Chaea!”

This voice is…

“Uncle Seok-min!”

I ran over and opened the door for him.

Seok-min was wearing a thick jumper, facing the cold March wind.

Seok-min, the passionate manager.

With his easygoing personality, I quickly became close to him too.

Seok-min’s digital camera had played a huge role in this incident.

He was like a benefactor to us.

“I bought seasoned chicken. Our Chaea knows how to eat seasoned chicken, right?”

In Seok-min’s right hand was a thin paper box of seasoned chicken emanating warm energy.

Plus pickled radish packed in plastic bags and cabbage salad covered with ketchup and mayonnaise!

“Of course!”

“Of course?”

Ah, is that expression not used in this era yet?

“Not ‘of course’ but ‘obviously’ is what you should say.”

“Ehehe.”

When Seok-min came inside, Junho got up to greet him.

“Why are you buying chicken when your salary is so low?”

“Today is Frieza elimination day, so we should celebrate.”

“Frieza?”

“Yeah, he’s a really bad villain from uncle’s favorite manga.”

We sat facing each other around the round, bronze-colored dining table.

“You still like Dragon Ball these days.”

“For the next 100 years, no work will come out that’s impactful enough to surpass Dragon Ball.”

“Come on. No way.”

“Anyway, I was dying to see our hyung-nim not get eaten alive, and now I feel so relieved!”

“Seok-min, you really…”

“Why? Hyung-nim feels relieved too, don’t you?”

Two beer glasses and a plastic cup full of juice clinked together.

“Cheers!”

“Cheers!”

After enthusiastically shouting cheers, I grabbed the chicken leg that Junho had given me, gnawed on it deliciously, and drank my juice.

The batter is a bit thick, but this era’s chicken seems to have its own charm.

I also poked and ate the pickled radish – mm, delicious!

And the adults’ conversation gradually deepened.

“Chaea has a shoot tomorrow?”

“Yeah, that preschool commercial I mentioned before. We don’t have filming tomorrow anyway, so I’m planning to go with her.”

“Hyung-nim, I’ll come too.”

“It’s your day off though.”

“Ah, what’s that matter? When Chaea is filming, of course uncle should drive her there.”

“Uncle is the best!”

When I gave a thumbs up, Seok-min puffed out his chest proudly.

“Right, uncle gets a thumbs up, right?”

“Yeah, thumbs up!”

So it was decided that both Seok-min and Junho would accompany me to tomorrow’s shoot.

* * *

“Miss Chaea, yes, put your hands together… look at the camera and smile.”

“…”

“No, not like that. How should I put it, a little…”

The corners of my mouth, as I looked at the camera and smiled, felt like they were about to cramp up.

Who knew filming would be such a demanding and difficult task!

[Hidden Quest: Achieve 30% increase in Edinburgh Kindergarten applicants through the best promotional shoot]

[Reward: Hidden Function Update]

A hidden function – that does sound appealing…

The photographer in charge of the shoot scratched his head, seemingly not getting the feeling he wanted.

Watching from behind, Misuk let out a small sigh.

Then she had the photographer pause the shoot for a moment and approached me.

“Are you okay, Chaea?”

“Yes, Director.”

Junho also approached with a somewhat darkened expression and gently patted my head.

“Chaea. If it’s too hard for you…”

He probably meant he wanted to stop the shoot.

But this was a promise I had made with Misuk, so I wanted to do well.

So I shook my head and looked at Misuk.

“Um, Director.”

After thinking for a moment, I opened my eyes clearly and spoke.

“The concept. Instead of doing it exactly like this…”

What I was wearing was Edinburgh Kindergarten’s uniform, and the photographer had requested that I sit at the desk with a mature and neat smile.

“…how about photos that look exciting and fun?”

“But the parents who choose Edinburgh want their children to focus on learning rather than playing.”

“Well, of course not just playing around. Remember what you said before, Director? That a first-generation Edinburgh graduate got early admission to an Ivy League university.”

And I subtly made my point.

“But Chaea thinks this way. When Chaea goes to university, will I be able to get into a good school just by doing well on tests?”

At my words, Misuk’s eyes wavered.

She looked at me with surprised eyes as if asking how I could know such things.

“You’re right. In American admissions, SAT scores are decisive now, but there’s a lot of talk that universities are feeling the need for change in their freshman selection criteria due to grade inflation. In the future, clubs, leadership, extracurricular activities—in other words, each student’s unique story will become important. In Korea too, while the college entrance exam is everything now, other opportunities will become important for admission.”

For example, early admission.

At Misuk’s words, I smiled brightly.

“Wow, I got it right again!”

“…Chaea.”

Misuk lowered herself to meet my gaze for a long moment.

“This is really amazing. How do you know such things?”

At Misuk’s admiring words, I giggled and changed the subject.

“Anyway, I think it would be good to show Edinburgh’s strengths too. And include the story about changing admissions.”

An image of preparing one step ahead of other famous kindergartens in the area could strengthen trust in Edinburgh, couldn’t it?

“That’s why I wanted to suggest it.”

I took a small step back, and Misuk seemed to be thinking deeply.

“Edinburgh’s differentiated strengths… I’m thinking we should take a risk.”

After a brief silence, Misuk’s eyes lit up as if she had thought of something.

Then she spoke to the photographer.

“Would it be okay if we change the concept a bit?”

“Yes, of course!”

* * *

In the center of Daechi-dong, a large banner was hung in front of Edinburgh Kindergarten, where competitive mothers were said to flock in droves.

Passersby also glanced at the banner, and some even stopped for a moment.

Inside the banner, a child model around five years old was standing on green grass.

Despite her young age, she was a lovely girl with distinct features and clear, bright eyes.

The child with her hair tied in pigtails was wearing a yellow tennis outfit and holding a tennis racket in one hand.

It was a radical banner for a kindergarten in this neighborhood that only emphasized academics, but it also aroused people’s curiosity.

[We nurture special children who will lead the way in the changing global admissions landscape, Edinburgh Kindergarten.]

Along with this promotional phrase.

Below were photos of the child doing various activities like art and experiments.

“The director here really knows something.”

Among the group of mothers who had gathered, one mother pushing an expensive stroller lowered her sunglasses and smiled knowingly.

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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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