The Rogue, Genius, Chaebol's Daughter is a Baby Master Detective! - Chapter 36
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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 tycoon’s daughter—they are baby detectives!
36
Still, Siu asked earnestly.
“How are you going to use Love Power? Can the villains tell what it is?”
Haru pondered for a moment.
“Hmm. Love isn’t invisible, is it?”
“Then you can’t use it.”
Siu pointed it out. Haru, who had been lost in thought, suddenly lifted her head. She gestured to the two children.
“Gather around.”
The three children pressed their heads together. Haru spoke in a hushed, conspiratorial whisper.
“Love is something you feel in your heart, so the villains will feel it too!”
Haru hugged the still-warm Cherry Tart closer as she spoke.
“A bad heart melts away. It becomes warm, just like the Cherry Tart.”
“That makes sense. When I eat something delicious, my mood gets better!”
Ho Jun swallowed hard.
“That’s just hunger talking.”
To Siu’s retort, an answer came—but not in words.
Grrrrowl.
Ho Jun’s face flushed with embarrassment as he clutched his belly. The aroma of the tart grew sweeter still. All three children swallowed in unison.
Ho Jun tore open the box first. He devoured a piece of the tart in one bite. Haru carefully nibbled at her own piece, chewing thoughtfully as she watched Siu stand motionless. Then she offered him another slice.
“Eat up, Siu. Love Power recharge station.”
Siu’s eyes froze in shock after the first bite.
His tongue tingled with sweetness. And at the same moment, as if someone had pierced his heart with a needle, pain bloomed there. Without thinking, Siu’s hand went to his chest.
“Siu. It’s good, isn’t it?”
“…It’s just okay.”
“You’re lying. The Boy Detective knows everything.”
“You got your Love Power recharged too!”
Ho Jun chimed in.
After finishing the tart and brushing the crumbs from her mouth, Haru spoke.
“Then let’s investigate our villain suspects by next meeting! Today’s session is adjourned!”
Warm spring sunlight and falling petals drifted over the three children.
Haru thrust her fist up again.
“Love!”
Ho Jun kept time with her.
“Rice!”
“…Peace.”
Haru dropped her arm with a sharp gesture and spoke.
“Meeting adjourned, members.”
Siu opened and closed his fist. Feeling was returning.
***
The house, which resembled a well-organized show model more than an actual home, gave off a cold atmosphere, perhaps because of all the marble used throughout.
The wide dining table positioned in front of the island-style kitchen sat in silence, undisturbed even by the clink of dishes. The man across from Siu asked without lifting his eyes from his newspaper.
“Are you settling in well at kindergarten?”
“…Yes.”
“I hear you’ve gotten close with a friend recently.”
“…”
Siu’s spoon, moving with careless rhythm, stopped.
Love, Rice, Peace… The foolish events of the afternoon flickered through his mind, but he kept his mouth shut.
The man set down his newspaper and looked at Siu—as if regarding not his own child, but some object that had fallen from nowhere. His eyes were devoid of warmth.
“Don’t get unnecessarily entangled. You know I’m doing my best for you, don’t you?”
Siu’s gaze skimmed the headline of the newspaper lying on the table.
Shilla Pharmaceuticals Receives Approval for Phase 1 Clinical Trial of Advanced Cell Therapy Substance for High-Risk Patients
“…It’s not a friend.”
A faint but satisfied smile played at the man’s lips.
“I spoke carelessly.”
He unfolded his newspaper again. The conversation was over. Siu resumed moving his spoon, swallowing rice in silence. It had no taste, but he chewed and swallowed anyway.
Not that taste had ever mattered.
When the rice bowl was half empty, the man rose from his seat.
“You have a checkup next week.”
Siu’s face hardened like stone.
“Don’t make things difficult like yesterday. Just hold on a bit longer.”
The man who had stepped close tapped Siu’s shoulder, as if demanding a response.
“…Yes.”
Siu bowed his head low. The man stared down at his dark crown for a long moment, then rose from the table and left.
The sound of his footsteps faded, then disappeared entirely. Siu lifted his head and stared at the ceiling with hollow eyes.
“…I’m tired of this.”
The quiet murmur never reached anyone. It scattered into the air and dissolved.
***
Gang Tae Jun paused mid-bite, watching Haru break into another grin.
“Did something good happen?”
Haru’s eyes sparkled as if she’d been waiting for exactly this question.
“We made the Cha Kan Children’s Meeting!”
“Really?”
“And Haru’s the leader!”
Haru’s small nose seemed to reach for the ceiling. Gang Tae Jun’s lips twitched as he fought back a smile.
“Congratulations.”
“But where’s Do Do? The surgery still isn’t over?”
His expression soured in an instant. Reluctantly, he reached down and lifted a shopping bag that had been sitting beneath the table.
“What is it?”
“The Glasses man left it. He said the update or whatever was finished.”
“Yay! Do Do!”
Haru lifted Do Do from the shopping bag and held her close. Light flickered to life in Do Do’s eyes.
“Hello, Miss Haru. It’s been a while.”
“Did the surgery go okay? Does it hurt?”
Haru hugged Do Do tightly, her face radiant as if she held the whole world. Gang Tae Jun’s eyebrows twitched.
“I have become more intelligent.”
“How much smarter? Can you figure out who drank the strawberry milk now?”
Gang Tae Jun went rigid. Haru’s large eyes turned toward him.
“Beginning analysis. Reviewing refrigerator access logs….”
Haru’s sparkling eyes fixed on Do Do again.
“The culprit is…”
Gang Tae Jun’s Adam’s apple bobbed.
“Miss Haru.”
“You dummy!”
“…Unable to retrieve that data.”
“You’re supposed to say no comment in situations like that!”
Haru puffed out her cheeks indignantly.
“Stop playing around. You need to get ready for kindergarten.”
“Okay.”
Haru hopped down from her chair and handed her hair ribbon to Gang Tae Jun.
Haru opened the door to the Sae Ssak Class Room and looked around. The first meeting since forming the group! Her heart leaped with joy.
‘Hehe. What kind of case will happen today? I hope something fun comes up!’
She spotted Siu sitting in one corner of the classroom. Haru scurried over.
“Siu, hi!”
“…Hi.”
“Peace Power! Let’s go strong today!”
Siu’s brow furrowed.
“Don’t call me that.”
Ho Jun came running over too.
“Rice Power! Let’s go!”
Ho Jun threw his arm up. Haru raised hers to meet it.
“Love Power!”
Siu turned his head away, pretending not to see the sparkling eyes of the two children.
“Siu, peace.”
“….”
“Peace.”
Pressed by Haru’s insistence, Siu let out a long sigh and lightly touched his fingertips together, then pulled them apart.
“…Peace.”
Haru giggled. Just then, the teacher clapped her hands.
“Everyone, shall we take our seats now?”
All the children settled into their desks.
“This coming weekend, one of our classmates has a birthday. Whose birthday do you think it is?”
“Mine!”
Seol Ah’s hand shot up. She was wearing a pointed Crown Pin in her hair again today.
“That’s right. It’s Seol Ah’s birthday. Shall we all wish her a happy birthday?”
“Happy birthday, Seol Ah~”
The Sae Ssak Class Room children spoke in unison. Then came recess.
The other children gathered around Seol Ah.
“Wow. Is it your birthday, Seol Ah?”
“Happy birthday, Seol Ah.”
“Are you having a party?”
At their questions, Seol Ah lifted her chin with a smug expression.
“My mom’s throwing me a huge party. An enormous cake, balloons, and a magician’s coming too.”
“Wow! A magician!”
The classroom erupted.
‘I want to see a magician too,’ Haru thought.
“The food’s amazing too. Mom arranged a whole children’s Fine Dining course. You’ll regret it if you don’t come.”
The children murmured excitedly.
“What’s Fine Dining?”
“It’s expensive and delicious.”
Seol Ah held her head high.
Haru’s heart raced as she approached Seol Ah’s desk. Seol Ah pulled a stack of pink cards from her bag.
“Only people who get this card can come to Seol Ah’s birthday party. The party’s this Saturday. Who wants to come? Hands up!”
The children raised their hands eagerly. Haru’s shot up too.
Seol Ah began handing out cards with a large crown printed on them to her classmates.
The children gasped in admiration.
“Wow. The cards are so shiny!”
Seol Ah passed by Yun Ah, Ho Jun, and Siu before reaching Haru.
Haru held out both hands to receive the Invitation Card. But Seol Ah swept right past her without slowing down.
“Don’t I get one?”
At Haru’s words, Seol Ah turned around. She lifted her chin.
“You don’t get one.”
“Why? I want to go to your birthday party.”
“My mom says I shouldn’t play with you.”
“Why?”
Seol Ah glanced at Ho Jun once, bit her lip, and after a long pause, spoke.
“Because you’re a bad person.”
Haru’s voice burst out.
“I’m not a bad person! I’m kind! I found your Crown Pin for you, and I shared yummy things with you.”
“…W-who asked you to share?”
Seol Ah turned her head away and hurried off in quick steps.
Haru’s face flushed with shock.
“But I’m kind…”
Ho Jun gripped his Invitation Card tightly, watching Haru carefully.
“Haru. Should I not go either?”
Haru’s expression grew serious.
“No. You like eating anyway, so go and enjoy the food.”
Haru looked around the classroom. Her classmates each held a shimmering pink card. Haru’s hands held nothing.
But it was all right. Genius was inherently solitary, after all.
“Boy Detectives don’t go to parties anyway.”
Haru muttered softly, stroking her chin with her hand.
“Hmm. I’ll go. But only to parties where there’s a Case.”
And she nodded to herself. Her mood improved a little. Someone brushed past beside her.
“Siu?”
And he threw his Invitation Card into the trash. Haru’s eyes went wide.
“Siu, why are you throwing your card away?”
“Because I’m not going.”
“But throwing it away isn’t polite.”
Siu’s pale face looked directly at Haru.
“There’s no need to show courtesy to someone who has none.”
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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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