The Rogue, Genius, Chaebol's Daughter is a Baby Master Detective! - Chapter 33
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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 chaebol heiress make the perfect little detective!
Episode 33
“Huh? The CEO got engaged?”
“You didn’t know?”
Thump-thump!
‘Fiancée! Romance! Then what about Mom?’
Haru’s heart began to race. She’d seen it in the morning dramas—nobody wanted a widower with a child. But why was this guy trying to become Haru’s dad?
Haru’s expression turned serious.
‘In the dramas, if a guy has lots of money, he can romance even a single dad—and an engagement is a promise to marry!’
This guy had plenty of money.
So he would romance.
And then he would marry.
Haru’s large eyes wavered like ripples on water.
If this guy really became her dad, would she end up with two moms?
‘I don’t like that.’
Haru shook her head firmly.
‘Wait, I don’t even know if he’s really my dad yet.’
“Hmm.”
Haru stroked her chin.
“Should I use my Ability?”
A knowing smile played across Haru’s face.
“Hehe. What a pickle. Detective Haru is about to solve it all.”
“Baby?”
Haru spun around in alarm.
“What’s a baby doing here? Are you looking for someone?”
‘Oh no, I got caught already!’
“Oh my, is that sunglasses? How adorable!”
In an instant, Haru was surrounded by employees.
“Want some candy?”
“Try this too!”
Both her hands filled with sweets and chocolate.
“Wow! Thank you so much!”
“May I touch your cheek?”
“No.”
It wasn’t Haru who’d answered. Kang Tae-jun was walking down the hallway.
A small head peeked between the employees, both hands full of snacks, cheeks puffed out.
Kang Tae-jun narrowed his eyes to get a better look at the child. The employee standing right beside Haru stiffened and suddenly stepped in front of her.
“CEO, the child seems to be lost.”
Kang Tae-jun frowned.
“Move.”
‘I can’t see cute Haru.’
The employee’s face went pale. He quietly stepped aside.
“What are you doing here?”
“…It’s a homework assignment.”
Whoosh—
He picked her up by the scruff, and several chocolates scattered to the floor with a soft patter.
‘Oh no, Haru’s chocolate.’
The hallway stirred with tension.
“You shouldn’t pick up a child like that…”
“Shh, quiet!”
“Whose kid is that? We need to get her out of here fast. The CEO’s going to steal her at this rate!”
Haru dangled there, glancing around. Worry dangled just as plainly across everyone’s faces.
Slowly, she raised her eyes and met Kang Tae-jun’s gaze, startling slightly.
“…Eek.”
‘That scary look…’
Like a lion cub who’d been playful until its mother bit the back of its neck, Haru’s hands came together meekly.
Then she peeked up again with her eyes.
Looking closely, his expression wasn’t scary at all—worry was dangling from it instead.
Haru laughed softly and reached out her arms.
“Hold me, mister?”
Kang Tae-jun stiffened for a moment, then lifted Haru into one arm. The corridor fell silent.
Haru whispered into his ear.
“Your people are scared of you.”
“I know.”
“You should smile.”
Kang Tae-jun lifted the corners of his mouth slightly. The employees immediately averted their eyes.
Haru patted his shoulder.
“It’s okay. You’ll get better with practice.”
……
Kang Tae-jun turned and walked away. As his figure receded with long strides, the employees left behind exchanged uncertain glances.
“Kindergarten… homework?”
“Could she be the CEO’s niece?”
“They don’t look alike enough for that, though.”
The employees traded looks with one another.
“Sir.”
Kang Tae-jun’s steps halted.
“Haru is thirsty.”
“Would you like some water?”
“Yes.”
He let out a small sigh and spoke to a passing employee.
“A glass of lukewarm water, please.”
“Of course, sir!”
Haru glanced up at Kang Tae-jun.
“I want something cold.”
“No.”
“Just a little bit.”
“No.”
“But you drank cold coffee this morning.”
Kang Tae-jun faltered slightly.
“Children can’t have that. It’ll upset your stomach.”
Haru puffed out her cheeks.
The employees’ eyes widened as if they might pop out of their heads.
‘What’s with that gentle tone…?’
Back in the Office Room, Kang Tae-jun set Haru down and crouched to meet her eyes.
“I told you to wait for the secretary.”
Haru pouted.
She wrung her small hands together.
“I’m sorry.”
‘I can’t let my heart soften just because she looks dejected.’
The moment Kang Tae-jun resolved this, Haru looked up at him with large eyes, and his firm expression crumbled.
“But sir.”
“What?”
“Are you engaged?”
Kang Tae-jun’s spine stiffened. His mouth tightened again.
“If you have a fiancée, what about my mom?”
Silence fell. He didn’t know where she’d heard it, but this was a complicated adult matter to explain to a five-year-old. Kang Tae-jun placed his hand on top of Haru’s head.
“I promise you. There will be no other woman in my life besides your mother.”
At his earnest words, Haru’s eyes grew wide. But a stern voice immediately followed.
“And don’t try to slip this past me. Why did you leave without listening when I told you to wait for the secretary? You promised your dad you wouldn’t do anything dangerous.”
“It’s your company.”
At Haru’s unexpected remark, Kang Tae-jun’s eyebrow twitched.
“I thought since it’s your company, it wouldn’t be a dangerous place.”
“A child wandering alone is always dangerous, no matter what.”
At his firm response, Haru stuck out her lower lip.
“I wanted to investigate more, but you said to go home early, so I snuck out. I want to do my homework perfectly! I’m even going to do a presentation.”
‘Should I consider private tutoring instead of kindergarten?’
At the Zoo and now—Haru’s sudden recklessness made his heart drop to the floor more than once.
‘Lala Kindergarten would be better for social development, and the curriculum is excellent….’
The expression drained from Kang Tae-jun’s face.
‘No. She’s only been there less than a month. I can’t pull her out. First, I need to discipline her strictly when she misbehaves.’
Kang Tae-jun dragged a hand across his face.
‘I understand the desire to complete the homework perfectly, but…’
Kang Tae-jun himself had once fallen victim to the compulsion of being nothing less than first in his school days—years spent pursuing perfection in every evaluation and exam. It was a point of pride he couldn’t let go of.
‘And this little one already…’
Perhaps starting her Successor Training too early had been a mistake. It might have been the result of his anxiety about time running out, combined with his own ambitions.
“Haru.”
“Yes?”
“You don’t have to do your homework perfectly.”
“But…”
“You’re only five years old. Five-year-olds are still babies. If you try to be perfect, this is an age where you can’t grow.”
Kang Tae-jun gently patted the hand he’d placed on her head.
“I’d like for you to grow up healthy and strong. But if you act on your own like you did earlier, you could get hurt. So, shall we make a promise?”
Haru nodded.
“From now on, whenever you go somewhere, you have to tell me or another grown-up first.”
Haru stared intently at Kang Tae-jun’s pinky finger.
This was an investigation opportunity!
“Just a moment.”
Crinkle—
Haru unwrapped one of the Nurungji Candies she kept in her pocket for emergencies and popped it into her mouth.
‘This time I’ll be able to observe for longer.’
The sweet, nutty flavor spread across her tongue. Kang Tae-jun raised an eyebrow as if asking why he didn’t get one.
“Don’t I get one?”
“This one’s special—Haru’s treasure.”
“…”
“Close your eyes now.”
“Why my eyes?”
“A true promise is made with eyes closed.”
Kang Tae-jun’s eyebrows twitched, then he closed his eyes. Haru fumbled out of her gloves and hooked her small finger around his.
Her vision spun and whirled. And in the next moment, she was standing in a dark room.
Books were stacked high on the desk.
—One Hundred Nutritionist Mother’s Recipes
—Children’s Encyclopedia Q&A Included
—Everything You Need to Know Before Elementary School
But the man with dark hair was focused on his phone, not the books.
“Please braid my hair like this, split down the middle.”
A man with yellow hair sat before the dark-haired one.
“How long do I have to keep doing this?”
But his face belonged to the yellow-haired man, with short hair about the same length as Haru’s…
The dark-haired man answered the dissatisfied voice.
“It’s all for Haru.”
‘So that alien hairstyle only took one try…?’
Haru jerked her hand back. Her nose stung, but her head didn’t hurt. It seemed to be thanks to the candy. She put her gloves back on and pondered.
‘He was practicing in secret without Haru knowing.’
As Kang Tae-jun opened his eyes with a soft sound, Haru giggled at him.
‘Villains don’t practice tying hair.’
Come to think of it, he’d done her hair this morning too—rolling up his sleeves, putting the hair tie between his teeth, then expertly fashioning her locks into something pretty.
Ding♪
[Dark-Haired Man] File Unlocked♪
Haru’s eyes widened.
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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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