The Rogue, Genius, Chaebol's Daughter is a Baby Master Detective! - Chapter 28

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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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A delinquent, a genius, and a wealthy heiress walk into kindergarten—and become baby detectives!
Episode 28
‘I need to put her in her place and transfer her to another kindergarten.’
Seol Ah’s mother finally spoke, her voice measured.
“I’m worried. Do you think it’s safe to keep a child like that in our kindergarten?”
Silent glances traveled across the table. An unspoken smile flickered across every face. None of them knew what future awaited their royal social circle, the Saeseok Class.…
***
Buzz.
The phone vibrated. Lee Hyun Woo, sprawled across the sofa, stretched a hand over his head and fumbled for his phone.
-Hello, Haru’s father. Many mothers are opposed to joining the group, so it’s become difficult. Have a pleasant afternoon ^^
Was he still half-asleep? He rubbed his eyes and read the message again. Same words.
“I got rejected?”
Lee Hyun Woo gripped his hair.
“Me? Rejected?”
He’d been so sure he’d get in that he’d boasted to Kang Tae Jun about it. Now this—a rejection from a group chat invitation.
Lee Hyun Woo called his secretary.
“I got rejected.”
-…Did you go on a blind date, sir?
“What are you talking about? I’m telling you I got rejected from the parent group chat.”
Silence crackled through the phone line.
“Is it normal to get rejected from this? What, do they think they’re so special they get to pick and choose?”
-Such closed-off groups often don’t accept new members, sir.
Lee Hyun Woo, who’d been gnawing his lip, finally opened his mouth after a long pause.
“If I can’t have it, I’ll destroy it.”
-…The group chat, sir?
“Never mind. How do I get in?”
***
-I’ve found the Lala Kindergarten parent group. It’s called the Saeseok Class. Membership screening is notoriously strict, and the president is Seol Ah’s mother.
“How do I get in?”
-The thing is… new memberships are currently suspended entirely. It’s a cartel formed since the children were three and a half. There’s no room to slip in.
“…A cartel.”
Kang Tae Jun tapped his fingers on the desk.
“Can’t I just buy my way in?”
But according to the parenting books, excessive parental involvement can impair a child’s social development—
The memory of Lee Hyun Woo’s mocking face when he’d dismissed the idea of learning parenting from books surfaced. Kang Tae Jun suppressed his irritation and asked his secretary.
“Didn’t Lee Hyun Woo try something? If he got in, shouldn’t I be able to too?”
-He was rejected as well, sir.
“…I see.”
A faint smirk appeared at the corner of Kang Tae Jun’s mouth before vanishing instantly.
“What’s the main purpose of these parent groups?”
-Facilitating friendship among the children and information exchange among parents.
Kang Tae Jun relaxed into his chair and spoke with an air of ease.
“Then Haru won’t need it.”
He thought back to his own childhood. What Haru needed was premium tutoring. And that was possible without shabby information exchanges.
“I’ve been neglecting Haru’s education, that much is true. I can’t put it off any longer.”
The intercom buzzed.
Kang Tae Jun glanced at the clock.
Who would visit at eight on a weekend morning? Kang Tae Jun stood before the intercom in his sharply pressed pajamas.
On the screen was Gong Dae In, holding a Robot at his side.
He remembered Haru asking after she got back from the field trip whether Dodo had arrived yet.
“The update must be finished.”
He wasn’t particularly fond of the robot, but if Haru liked it, what choice did he have? Kang Tae Jun, recalling the time he’d gotten badly caught when he’d tried to put Gomi in the washing machine, let out a thin sigh and pressed the unlock button.
Click.
The door opened. Just as he was about to greet Gong Dae In, someone burst out from behind him.
“Ta-da! I’m here too!”
Kang Tae Jun’s face darkened instantly. What he’d thought would be a quick visit to pick up the robot was going to stretch out. But he couldn’t let it ruin his carefully planned, peaceful weekend.
‘I have to start Haru’s tutoring today.’
Standing rigid in the entryway, Kang Tae Jun asked coldly.
“What are you doing here?”
“Obviously I came to see my baby! Did you think I came to see you?”
While Lee Hyun Woo kept failing in his attempts to duck under Kang Tae Jun’s arm and slip past him, Gong Dae In spoke up.
“Let’s go inside first. I think this conversation will take a while.”
When Kang Tae Jun didn’t respond, Gong Dae In added to his statement.
“It’s about Haru.”
Kang Tae Jun slowly stepped aside. Lee Hyun Woo immediately entered the living room and sprawled across the sofa. Kang Tae Jun’s displeasure was evident as he crossed his arms.
“If you’re going to lie around, go do it at your own place.”
“Come on, cut me some slack. I’m exhausted.”
Kang Tae Jun clicked his tongue and turned his gaze toward Gong Dae In.
“What is it you want to tell me? Haru will be waking up soon.”
Gong Dae In set the Robot down on the table. Then he paused for a moment, choosing his words carefully.
“I heard that both of you were rejected from the parent association meeting.”
Kang Tae Jun’s and Lee Hyun Woo’s eyes met.
“You got rejected too?”
….
Without answering, Kang Tae Jun pressed his temples. Lee Hyun Woo suddenly bolted upright from the sofa and pointed accusingly.
“Kang Tae Jun rejected from a parent meeting? Hahahaha!”
“And what about you?”
At Kang Tae Jun’s retort, Lee Hyun Woo’s laughter cut short. He turned to Gong Dae In and asked.
“But how’d you know we got rejected? Don’t tell me you also got rejected?”
Gong Dae In adjusted his glasses carefully as he answered.
“I learned it while checking the membership criteria. As for myself, I never applied in the first place. The success rate was below three percent.”
Lee Hyun Woo stretched out on the sofa again.
“I mean, it’s just parents dropping their kids off at kindergarten and getting coffee at a café, right? What’s with the rejections? How could they reject me? Are they out of their minds? Huh? Do you think they’re out of their minds?”
Kang Tae Jun brushed off Lee Hyun Woo’s complaints lightly and spoke.
“So that’s why you wanted to meet? I’ve already made my decision.”
Both men’s eyes turned toward Kang Tae Jun.
“Haru doesn’t need to join some pathetic group like that.”
“…What are you talking about?”
At Lee Hyun Woo’s question, Kang Tae Jun uncrossed his arms.
“Parent associations exist to exchange information about children’s friendships and education. But that doesn’t mean it has to come only through an official parent meeting, does it?”
As though he’d just concluded a satisfying business meeting, Kang Tae Jun habitually reached for his neck. But his fingertips brushed only the button of his pajama top—no tie.
***
Saturday morning. Kang Tae Jun wiped his mouth with a napkin and spoke.
“Starting today, special training begins.”
“Huh?”
Haru lifted her head from her meal, her eyes widening.
“No opening your mouth while eating.”
Haru pursed her lips and chewed. Once Kang Tae Jun confirmed she’d swallowed everything properly, he continued.
“Haru, don’t you want to become an amazing person?”
Haru nodded.
“Who’s the most amazing person in the world?”
“Detective Dodo!”
Kang Tae Jun’s brow furrowed.
“No.”
Haru tilted her head, confused.
“The most amazing person in the world is someone with lots of money.”
Haru tilted her head the other way.
“And the richest person in Korea is none other than—”
“None other than?”
Haru echoed the end of his sentence.
“Me.”
The interest vanished from Haru’s eyes. Kang Tae Jun hurried to add on.
“But in the future, there will be Kang Haru.”
“Haru is Oh Haru.”
At her firm answer, Kang Tae Jun took a step back.
“No matter what your last name is, you’re going to be the only heir to Daehan Group.”
“Haru is the heir?”
“That’s right. You’ll become the most amazing person in Korea. Isn’t that fun?”
The corners of his mouth twitched. A forced smile! And beside the dining table—an enormous stack of papers!
Haru stole a quick glance at the title. The letters were too cramped to read. But Haru was quick-witted.
‘That ajossi is trying to get Haru to do something! I don’t know what it is, but it looks boring!’
Kang Tae Jun faltered when Haru’s expression turned indifferent.
“…Want to do special training with Dad to become a wonderful person?”
“What’s so good about being wonderful?”
‘She’s interested.’
“You’d have lots and lots of money. You could buy almost anything you wanted. Haru, if there’s something you’ve always wanted, tell me.”
‘If she does well with the training, it’d be fine to buy her a gift.’
“Mom.”
Kang Tae Jun went rigid.
“…I want Mom. When is Mom coming back?”
“Mom can’t… be bought.”
Haru’s face fell. Silence stretched between them.
“But I ate all my spinach this morning! So Mom will come back soon, right?”
“…I think I actually ate half of that spinach.”
“Shh! It’s a secret!”
With a solemn expression, Haru looked up at Kang Tae Jun and pressed her index finger to her lips.
“Even good children like Haru make mistakes.”
“…Right. A secret.”
Only then did Haru giggle.
“How do we do the special training to become wonderful? Haru likes being a good child better than wonderful anyway.”

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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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