The Baby Seizes Fortune - Chapter 31

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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 31

 

“We’re going on a field trip tomorrow! Can we bring snacks as part of our supplies?”

 

At this, the other children in the classroom also chimed in one by one.

 

“I want to bring jelly!”

 

“I need to ask Mom to buy me snacks!”

 

At this, Teacher Noh Ji-hye said “Ah” and came forward to start writing the field trip supplies on the blackboard.

 

“…O-our Rabbit Class’s field trip supplies for tomorrow are… lunch boxes, one bag of snacks… and…”

 

I turned my gaze to look at Hee-jae, and Hee-jae, who was likewise looking at me, slowly turned his gaze back to the blackboard with an expressionless face.

 

* * *

 

‘This is bothering me.’

 

Before possessing this body, I was an employee of Tomorrow Securities, a subsidiary of Tomorrow Finance Holdings,

 

and Chairman Kang Hee-jae of Tomorrow Finance was a young CEO who grew his company with outstanding abilities, but he wasn’t entirely well-regarded due to repeated character controversies.

 

Since he was someone who lived in a completely different world, his past wasn’t really my concern, but…

 

‘Losing both parents in a plane crash on the same day… and as a four-year-old child at that…’

 

After learning about those circumstances, my perspective changed.

 

It’s not that I sympathize with that kid enough to actively comfort him.

 

The reason my heart goes out to him more is probably because I have a similar past.

 

Before possessing this era, I too had the pain of losing my family in a major disaster.

 

It was a heartbreaking accident that was nobody’s fault, but it caused my family to fall apart.

 

As a mere high school student who couldn’t do anything, I was left with wounds and pain that I would have to carry forever.

 

If I were to gain wealth here, the first thing I’d want to do would be to prevent that accident.

 

‘So… this must be a kind of kinship.’

 

I didn’t want to remind that child, even for a moment, of losing his family.

 

Just as every moment was painful for me, I felt that child would be the same.

 

I shook my head and packed my after-school bag. As I was about to leave the classroom to take the after-school bus, a blue notification appeared before my eyes.

 

It was a notification I had set up with Noah using keywords.

 

‘What is this…?’

 

* * *

 

Running into the bookstore, I grabbed a magazine and came to the counter.

 

【Weekly Entertainment News】

 

“I’ll take this one!”

 

The bookstore owner tilted his head as he looked at me standing on my tiptoes.

 

“Don’t tell me you’re going to read this, little one?”

 

“Oh, Mom asked me to buy it as an errand!”

 

“I see.”

 

I pulled out two crumpled thousand-won old bills from my pocket, bowed politely, then ran out of the bookstore with the magazine.

 

Finding a quiet spot, I quickly opened the magazine and read.

 

[【Typhoon Internal Medicine】 Suk-hee’s Departure Truth… Im Su-yeon: “I couldn’t bear it anymore.”]

 

Amid various speculations surrounding the sudden departure of actress Im Su-yeon, who was beloved for her role as Suk-hee in the sitcom 【Typhoon Internal Medicine】, the person involved has directly spoken out.

 

In an exclusive interview with 【Weekly Entertainment News】, Im Su-yeon revealed that “it wasn’t personal circumstances, but rather problems on the filming set that I could no longer endure.”

 

Im Su-yeon mentioned her conflict with junior actor Gu Jun-ho as the direct reason for her departure. She claimed, “While he appears to have an innocent image on broadcasts, his actual attitude toward seniors was completely different.”

 

Im Su-yeon also brought up a sensitive topic.

 

She stated, “I learned on set that Gu Jun-ho is actually an unmarried father raising a young daughter alone,” and “It’s not that his personal life was the problem, but rather that it caused frequent mood swings on set, and there were moments when those emotions were transferred to those around him.”

 

She added that as such situations repeated, she experienced great emotional stress and couldn’t concentrate on her acting.

 

Im Su-yeon concluded by saying, “I don’t want to blame the production team,” but “I decided that to continue acting, I needed to protect myself first. That’s why I chose to leave.”

 

Although 【Typhoon Internal Medicine】 continues to maintain high ratings even after ‘Suk-hee’s’ departure, this revelation seems to make damage to actor Gu Jun-ho’s image inevitable.

 

What is the truth hidden behind the modifier ‘innocent newcomer’?

 

“Hah…”

 

The 【Weekly Entertainment News】 magazine crumpled in my small hands.

 

With cold eyes, I closed the cover.

 

Then I shoved the magazine into a nearby trash can and went home.

 

As soon as I opened the entrance gate, the landlady from the first floor warmly greeted me.

 

“Our Chaea, did you come back from preschool?”

 

“Yes, I’m back!”

 

When I greeted her with a bright expression as if I knew nothing, the landlady patted my head.

 

“How can you be so smart and cute. Come in, I’ll give you a snack. Minsu bought ice cream.”

 

I couldn’t help but notice the worry on the landlady’s face.

 

She probably heard about today’s article.

 

“Your father called earlier, and it seems he needs to have some meetings at his agency today. So he said he might be late and asked me to take care of Chaea’s dinner.”

 

Since an article that could destroy the rising newcomer Junho’s image had appeared, his agency would be in emergency mode too.

 

Especially the fact that Junho is an unmarried father is still unknown to the public.

 

Given the conservative atmosphere of this era, it would be quite shocking.

 

‘That’s why I prepared a method in advance.’

 

I swept my hair behind my ear and my eyes gleamed.

 

There was one thing that bothered me.

 

‘…Junho might dislike it a little, but it can’t be helped.’

 

Because that’s the best method.

 

“Noah, execute the protocol we prepared.”

 

At my words, Noah barked playfully.

 

[Understood! ૮⍝• ᴥ •⍝ა]

 

* * *

 

Inside the Westree building, President Jin Ho-yeong, Junho, and Junho’s manager Seok-min were sitting at a table.

 

Hoyeong’s eyes were hardened, and Junho’s were the same.

 

Seok-min spoke as if he was incredulous.

 

“Im Su-yeon is really a crazy woman. She left after being caught trying to frame Junho hyung for theft, and now she’s spouting such nonsense. Ha, this is really ridiculous.”

 

“You said you deleted the photos?”

 

“Yes. That woman promised to leave in exchange for deleting the photos, so we had no choice…”

 

He regretted not keeping them, but it was too late now.

 

While they could get testimony from other actors and staff, Junho’s position was that he didn’t want to cause harm to others over his problem with Im Su-yeon.

 

“Maybe we should ask actor Oh Young-il…”

 

“Seok-min. This is something I need to resolve.”

 

“But hyung.”

 

Seok-min pressed Junho as if frustrated.

 

Hoyeong let out a deep sigh.

 

“Yeah, that’s one thing, but right now the most important issue is the unmarried father story.”

 

Junho’s eyes flinched.

 

Soon he looked at Hoyeong with determined eyes and clearly conveyed his intentions.

 

“President, I’m not ashamed of being Chaea’s father.”

 

“Yeah, Junho, whatever your circumstances, you’d be confident about it. But you have to acknowledge that the public’s view of you is different.”

 

Hoyeong, who had been working in the entertainment industry for a long time and running an agency, spoke in a serious voice.

 

“Realistically, we all know what the perception is in our society about having children without marriage.”

 

“…That’s…”

 

At Hoyeong’s cold words, Junho couldn’t argue back. Seok-min also kept his mouth shut with a sullen expression.

 

While the younger Generation X enjoyed rock and idol culture and pursued free love and relationships, most home viewers couldn’t understand this.

 

Moreover, the perception of unmarried mothers or fathers was even colder.

 

“Phew…”

 

After letting out a deep sigh, Hoyeong thought about something for a while before speaking.

 

“I’ll apply for an appearance on Truth Talk Box.”

 

“But President, that’s…!”

 

Seok-min jumped up from his seat.

 

That show, a terrestrial live broadcast program hosted by a famous MC, features celebrities who come on to reveal many things about themselves.

 

There have been cases where celebrities who had publicly dated and then broken up each appeared separately to make statements about their feelings and public apologies to the audience, and there was even a time when a female celebrity stepped on a scale to reveal her weight in front of the public.

 

In the late 90s when celebrities were treated as public property, this was naturally a program that celebrities themselves would find reluctant and burdensome. However, this was now the only option left.

 

“You have to show your sincerity there and hope for the public’s acceptance. That’s our last move.”

 

* * *

 

Inside the study of Seungcheol’s house, a top-tier law firm’s representative lawyer.

 

Heavy walnut wood bookshelves filled the walls completely.

 

In the study, framed photographs stood at regular intervals at slight angles, containing scenes of Seungcheol shaking hands with veteran politicians behind election campaigns, and standing with business figures at hotel banquet halls.

 

On the other wall stood trophies engraved with phrases like ‘Outstanding Legal Professional Award’ and ‘Young Legal Professional Grand Prize’, and on the lower shelf, gifted premium whiskey and cognac were neatly arranged.

 

On the glossy mahogany desk placed in the center of the study, a 1996 model computer, a landline phone, and a luxury fountain pen were organized.

 

“Yes, Mr. Mayor.”

 

Seungcheol, holding the landline phone, adjusted his silver-rimmed glasses and moved his lips.

 

The mayor’s voice came through the receiver, and after nodding several times, Seungcheol answered in a calm voice.

 

“Understood. We’ll proceed as you’ve instructed.”

 

Soon another voice came through the receiver, and the corners of Seungcheol’s mouth turned up.

 

“No. Our next field schedule is… a week away. Yes, I’ll see you then.”

 

Seungcheol hung up the phone and put down the receiver.

 

Then he slowly raised his gaze and picked up the 【Weekly Entertainment News】 he had bought on his way home from work.

 

After flipping through several pages, he saw an article featuring Suyeon’s photo.

 

The reporter who wrote that article was Seungcheol’s middle school classmate.

 

“Well written.”

 

Although it was written that he had interviewed Im Su-yeon, there was actually no interview.

 

Seungcheol had simply instructed him on how the article should be written.

 

Suyeon was quite cute and charming, but since her head didn’t work very well, she would have surely just babbled a bunch of useless things, so this way was cleaner.

 

After finishing reading the article, Seungcheol closed the magazine.

 

Hoping he would never again see on the CRT screen that commoner girl’s father – Gu Jun-ho or whatever his name was – who had dared to make his child leave Edinburgh.

 

‘I should give Edinburgh a good shake-up too…’

 

Just then, a knock-knock sound came from outside.

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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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