The Regressed Chaebol Grandson Finds It Hard to Forgive - Chapter 64

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 64. The Crown Prince (3)

“Lee Jang-yong got expelled.”
“Why?”
“Did he commit some kind of misconduct?”

The New Building, where third-year students at Cheonghwa High School primarily spent their time.

Like other schools, Cheonghwa prioritized consideration for third-year students preparing for college entrance exams.

A space equipped with cutting-edge systems that provided third-year students with a perfect learning environment.

The other buildings were impressive enough, but the New Building was managed by AI smart care.

From minor details like temperature, humidity, and air purification.

Even the break areas were maintained to a standard rivaling a five-star hotel.

Hallways and classroom windows featured triple-glazing so that ordinary noise posed no distraction.

A space optimized purely for focusing on studies.

There was even a separate cafeteria for third-year students.

The only thing these students needed to worry about was concentrating on their academics.

Yet now, a small commotion had broken out in Class 1 of the third year.

Lunchtime—that brief window of respite amid the tense atmosphere.

Students who had finished eating early trickled back, exchanging light gossip among themselves.

A different air hung in a classroom that was otherwise quiet even during breaks.

The low murmur of chatter, so quiet in its restraint, rippled outward in all directions.

Click.

Someone’s hand, which had been busily moving over a problem book, came to a stop.

“No, I mean there was a perfect score among the second-year students on this midterm.”
“Perfect score? Really? Who? Lee Jeong-jun, the top second-year student?”

At Cheonghwa, only the cream of the crop gathered.

Yet not a single perfect score had ever been recorded in the school’s history.
The test difficulty was among the nation’s highest.

Even the most brilliant prodigies couldn’t achieve perfection across every subject.

“No.”
“Who then?”
“An Outcast.”
“What?? An Outcast?”
“Really an Outcast?”
“The school’s finished.”
“A second-year? There was still one hanging on?”

Students all around reacted to the gossip they’d overheard, which had spread like a local broadcast.

One and all, their voices rang with shock.
If the perfect scorer had been from a prestigious family, it would’ve been comprehensible.

But an Outcast was a different story entirely.

An Untouchable!
For the first time in Cheonghwa’s history, the perfect score title had gone to someone of unworthy status.

Though separate from the third year, anger surged regardless.

“Lee Jang-yong, refusing to accept it, fought this Outcast in the Grand Auditorium…”
“Fought?”
“Crazy…”
“Got his ass handed to him.”
“What?”
“Wow…”
“Lee Jang-yong? That mathematics freak?”

Lee Jang-yong—every student at Cheonghwa acknowledged him as a mathematics fanatic.

Because of him, the last hurdle on the path to a perfect score, countless students had tasted frustration.

And that same person had been defeated by an Outcast!

It was truly shocking news.

“But there’s something even more incredible.”

The boy spreading the rumor couldn’t hide his excitement, spittle flying.

Even some Class 1 students who’d maintained indifference pricked up their ears.

The tedious, grinding daily life of third-year high school.

For the first time in ages, news of something thrilling set hearts racing with vitality.

“What is it!”
“Tell us already!”

School news reached the third year late.

One reason was that first and second years couldn’t access the New Building.

The third-year students, in turn, had no reason to venture outside the New Building.

The New Building even had a café run by the school foundation.

It stocked specialty coffee and various teas, along with diverse snacks supplied from department stores.

That’s why news of the morning incident at Cheonghwa reached the New Building only at lunchtime.

“That Outcast’s surname is Ha.”
“Ha?”
“So?”
“Getting the picture?”
“No way—that Outcast is bloodline of the Harryun Group? What kind of nonsense is this?”
“Ding-ding-ding! Bingo!”
“What??”
“This is insane…”
“Is that even possible?”
“Oh my…”

Both male and female students stood dumbfounded.
An Outcast had suddenly transformed into Harryun Group royalty.

It was news too incredible to believe even upon hearing it.

“Is it real?”
“The teachers, the principal, even the first and second-year kids all witnessed it. What’s even more shocking is that Jo & Jang lawyers came and called him Young Master.”
“Jo & Jang lawyers?”
“That means he’s direct bloodline of the Harryun Group, right?”
“…”

In an instant, frost-cold silence blanketed the classroom.

The title of Young Master was only used for direct descendants of the top ten conglomerates.

And beyond that, another official title existed…

Crown Prince!
A nickname granted only to members of the royal family of a top ten conglomerate with history.

Currently, only one person at Cheonghwa bore the title of Crown Prince.

“…”

The figure seated in the very front of Class 1.

The one whose back, pen always in hand, showed unwavering focus on studies.

The students of the class carefully observed this almost motionless presence.

“What’s his name.”

Without pausing or turning around, the question came.

The thick weight carried in that voice spread through the silence-soaked classroom.

“I h-heard it was Ha Tae-ung.”

The boy who’d been spreading rumors answered in a trembling voice.

Even sharing the same space all day, it was rare to hear the solitary Crown Prince speak.

And yet he had opened his mouth to ask a question.

Swish. Scratch-scratch.

Having heard the answer, Cheonghwa’s Crown Prince returned to solving problems.

Observing his serene back, the students thought, as always, how befitting of a Crown Prince he was.

But they hadn’t actually seen his expression.

A single time, his thick brows had twitched sharply before settling back into place.

* * *

“Can I come?”
“No. You can’t.”
“Hey! Lee Hyo-rin!”
“An A-ram. You’re out!”
“…”

An A-ram, someone most people at Cheonghwa didn’t fear.

Yet before Lee Hyo-rin, she was cowed.

She wouldn’t be a match physically, but she was outmatched in sheer presence.

The murderous intent she radiated paid no heed to age.

Her direct gaze suppressed first.

By contrast, Kang A-ri, who appeared delicate on the surface, was different.

She stood her ground against Lee Hyo-rin boldly.

‘Like a fox!’

Rage kindled hot inside Lee Hyo-rin.

Kang A-ri, one of the Three Beauties of Cheonghwa.
One beauty was selected from each grade.

Lee Hyo-rin believed that if not for Kang A-ri, she herself would naturally have taken the spotlight.

The foolish students all misunderstood Kang A-ri.

A music girl who played a cello as large as herself with effortless grace.

Most of the first-year Class 10 students adored Kang A-ri.

Because of the smile always gracing her face.

But Lee Hyo-rin knew Kang A-ri’s true nature.
She was a member of a family no less powerful than the Korean Group.

“Tch.”

Lee Hyo-rin stepped back slightly.
Like a lioness who’d lost her prey, her tail drooped.

“Let’s go to the cafeteria.”

Kang A-ri led the way.
Her eyes sparkled with unusual brightness.

Their first meeting with Ha Tae-ung, burned into memory.

As coincidences piled up, she felt the color of fate deepening.

“A-ri…”

An A-ram, who’d been following, shook her head.

Her friend Kang A-ri, with those absorbed, gleaming eyes.

An A-ram’s head throbbed thinking of whatever unpredictable situations might unfold.

* * *

“Eat.”
“You’re actually hungry right now?”
“Why?”
“Everything you did today. Do you have any idea what kind of waves it’s making?”
“No, I don’t.”
“Y-you don’t?”
“Should I care?”
“This is driving me crazy… Were you always this cool under pressure?”

It was the cafeteria.
Coming late, it was more relaxed.

Today’s menu featured Korean beef short ribs, mushroom soup, salad, and grilled pomfret.

With basic side dishes and various desserts and fruits provided buffet-style.

We plated the food with care and ate.

In the past, at this hour, I’d avoided the place—too conspicuous, too self-conscious.

The humiliation Park Ji-ung had suffered here not long ago was too fresh in mind.

But now, everything had changed.

“…”

Here and there, first and second-year students eating in scattered spots began to eye me.

“Isn’t that Lee Hyo-ju?”
“Oh my god…”
“He must really be Harryun Group direct line. Lee Hyo-ju’s with him.”
“I already mentioned it to Mom, so I’ll know for sure when I get home.”

Whisper-whisper.

My ears itched so bad I wanted to scratch them raw.

My gossip was being broadcast live across the cafeteria.

“Tae-ung! I’m your eternal fan!”

Park Ji-ung, now fully loaded with confidence, gave me a thumbs up from beside me.

Lee Hyo-ju, seated across, kept chattering to me with concerned eyes.

Was she always this talkative?

Searching my memory, I found no data to support it.
A smile spread across my face without intention.

“You’re smiling?”
“Is that not allowed?”
“Tae-ung… By now, the high society of Gangnam is probably stirring. Word about you has spread everywhere.”

There was nothing to be done about that.
The secret couldn’t be kept any longer, anyway.

Had we not settled it at once, there would have been endless squabbles.

This much was enough to completely dominate the school.

“Hyo-ju.”
“What…”

I called to her quietly.
Only then did she seem to sense the situation, her face flushing slightly.

She hadn’t noticed herself being so chatty.

“If you fear your choices… life won’t change either.”
“…??”

This was a life truth I’d learned from having lived it once before.

Knowledge carved bone-deep through university, military service, and work experience.

Dark history from my teenage years at Cheonghwa that time could never erase.

In a second life, making the same choices would be disqualifying.

“Tae-ung’s right. For a future of bold choices… we must choose with courage.”

Park Ji-ung, too, seemed to have grasped something meaningful recently.

“…”

Lee Hyo-ju fell silent, seeming to digest my words.

Wisdom of life obtained through direct experience cannot be bought with money.

The air at the cafeteria table where the three of us sat grew calm.

“Oppa~ can I sit next to you?”
“…??”

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