The Rogue, Genius, Chaebol's Daughter is a Baby Master Detective! - Chapter 38

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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’re baby detectives!
38
“Stop dodging the question. Is she yours?”
“Yeah. She’s mine.”
“Wow. You really made a mess of this.”
“So what if I did? If you’ve seen how cute Haru is, you should cough up some spending money.”
“What?”
“My adorable little girl’s face! Since it got worn out because of you, hand over some cash. Give me a card.”
Lee Hyun-woo held out his hand shamelessly. Lee Hyun-ah gave him a sharp slap and spoke.
“Stop joking around. Where’s the child’s mother?”
“This doesn’t seem like the right place to talk about it.”
Lee Hyun-ah closed her mouth and, still gripping Lee Hyun-woo’s pinky finger, looked down at the child watching her.
“Hand over your phone.”
“No way. Why would I contact my sister?”
“You crazy bastard. I’m telling your father everything.”
“Go ahead. Wasn’t the family register already severed anyway? If you won’t give me a card, I’m leaving. Don’t talk to me next time.”
Lee Hyun-ah shifted her target.
“Haru, sweetheart.”
“Sweetheart?”
Haru looked up at Lee Hyun-ah with wide eyes.
“How old is Haru?”
Haru spread all five fingers wide.
“I’m five years old!”
“Five years old, I see.”
She whirled around to glare at Lee Hyun-woo with piercing eyes. But the moment she turned back to Haru, her expression softened like spring snow melting in a gentle breeze.
“So which kindergarten does Haru attend?”
“Lala Kindergarten! Haru is in the Sprout Class!”
In that instant, cold sweat ran down Seol-ah’s Mother’s spine.
‘Lala Kindergarten, Sprout Class, Haru…?’
“Haru, you don’t need to answer. Let’s go.”
Lee Hyun-woo picked Haru up with a flourish.
“I can pick out cuter clothes for you than she can.”
Lee Hyun-woo paused mid-step.
The three of them continued their conversation as they moved away.
Seol-ah’s Mother bit her lip.
“There’s no way that child could be Dae Guk-il-bo’s granddaughter, right?”
Her eyes trembled as she denied the reality before her, as if an earthquake had struck.
But even as her mind resisted, her hand was already pulling out her phone.
Click.
After snapping a photo of the three receding figures, Seol-ah’s Mother scrolled through her contacts for a long time—a university friend who now worked as a reporter in the social affairs section: Dae Guk-il-bo.
—Long time no talk ^^ Does Lee Hyun-woo have a daughter? I just saw her at the Department Store with Lee Hyun-ah, and the girl said she goes to Lala Kindergarten, Sprout Class.
—Could she be that girl in the same class as our Seol-ah? haha
Her fingertips trembled slightly after she hit send.
She only meant to confirm. That was all.
***
At first, Haru was thrilled to go shopping with her pretty sister!
“Haru, try this on!”
“Okay!”
“Aw! So cute! Try this one too, and this one!”
“The little one looks adorable in everything!”
With the shop assistant’s encouragement added to the mix, Lee Hyun-ah’s wrist snapped rhythmically as she swiped the card.
“Honestly, I’ve always wanted an adorable little niece!”
Lee Hyun-ah hugged Haru tightly and rubbed her own face against the girl’s soft cheek.
“Stop it.”
Sensing trouble, Lee Hyun-woo managed to separate the two just in time. Overwhelmed by the mounting pile of shopping bags, Haru slumped lifelessly onto the sofa.
And she began to whine.
“I wanna go home now.”
“The kid’s exhausted. Don’t you think we should stop?”
“But she’s so cute, though.”
“…That’s not the point.”
“We need to buy more! Much more! And hire a photographer.”
“What?”
“Do you know how fast children grow? We have to capture every adorable moment on film!”
Sensing the crisis, Haru tugged at Lee Hyun-woo’s pant leg and shook it.
“Haru sleepy.”
In that instant, Lee Hyun-ah’s eyes gleamed with sudden cunning.
“Didn’t you say just a moment ago that you liked Detective Do-do? Would your aunt take you to see Do-do?”
Haru rubbed her eyes.
“…Sleepy though.”
“Don’t you want to eat Do-do Cake?”
Haru shook her head firmly. If Haru—who loved Do-do—refused, it really was time to go home.
Lee Hyun-woo scooped Haru into his arms. She buried her face in his shoulder and began breathing in soft, rhythmic puffs.
“Is she already asleep?”
Lee Hyun-ah sighed wistfully.
“She should cling to me instead. Her aunt can hold her too, you know.”
“Dream on.”
“…She’s adorable.”
Lee Hyun-ah gently touched Haru’s nose as she slept.
“Five years old already—how old was she when you had that reckless affair? Where have you been hiding her all this time?”
“Stop pestering the child. Let’s go.”
“Can I visit your place sometime?”
“Think that’s going to happen?”
“Where’s the child’s mother?”
“She… had somewhere to be, but she’ll come back.”
“So you’re taking care of her alone? What about the company? How long have you been raising her? Can you even manage a child?”
“Of course I can. What do you take me for!”
“Just move back home. Dad will be thrilled to death to hear he has a grandchild. Raising her will be easier that way. I can help too.”
The smile faded from Lee Hyun-woo’s face.
“That’s enough.”
“Think of the child. You’re not alone anymore.”
“I can raise Haru on my own.”
Lee Hyun-woo adjusted his grip on Haru.
“I can raise her well, just by myself.”
Lee Hyun-ah opened her mouth to say something, then closed it. She knew better than anyone that once he dug in his heels like this, there was no talking sense into him.
Lee Hyun-woo patted Haru’s back and walked on.
The next day, the moment he opened the door to Sprout Class, an Invitation Card was thrust directly into Haru’s line of sight. When Haru looked up, she saw Seol-ah’s solemn expression.
“I’m inviting you to my birthday party too.”
“Huh? Yesterday you said Haru was a bad kid—”
“Seol-ah made a mistake.”
Seol-ah cut Haru off sharply.
“You can come to the birthday party. If you don’t want to, don’t.”
Seol-ah thrust the Invitation Card into Haru’s hands. Haru’s face lit up.
“Haru wants to go! Want to see magic trick!”
The memory of yesterday’s events rose up in Seol-ah’s chest as a wave of wounded feeling. Her mother’s face, pressing her to invite Haru.
“Fine then. Don’t forget the birthday gift.”
Haru nodded vigorously. She ran over to Ho-jun and fanned out the Invitation Card between her fingers.
“Ho-jun! Haru’s going to the birthday party!”
“Did you get an Invitation Card?”
“Yes!”
“That’s great!”
Haru, grinning at Ho-jun, suddenly caught Si-woo’s eye.
Oh no—Si-woo said he couldn’t go to the birthday party.
What if Si-woo feels left out?
Just as Haru was about to go over, Seol-ah spoke to Si-woo first.
“Si-woo. You really can’t come to the birthday party? You don’t even have to bring a gift!”
Si-woo replied slowly.
“If my schedule ends early, I’ll try to stop by.”
Seol-ah’s face brightened at once.
“Please come, even if you’re late!”
Saturday had finally arrived.
Lee Hyun-woo set Haru down in front of Seol-ah’s House and repeated his warning.
“If anything comes up, call Dad right away. You understand?”
“Yes!”
As Haru stepped inside, she let out a gasp of wonder. A magician was just pulling a dove from his hat.
“Wow!”
Two long tables were arranged side by side—children sat at one, mothers at the other, chatting pleasantly.
“Haru!”
Ho-jun came running over, cream smeared around his mouth.
“Did you see the dove?”
“I saw it! It was so cool.”
Seol-ah, dressed in a pink gown, was surrounded by her friends, basking in their birthday wishes.
Haru gripped the gift in her hands tightly. She’d spent all last night thinking about it. The man with yellow hair had offered to buy an expensive toy, but she’d learned that a real gift was one that gave someone what they truly needed.
‘I hope Seol-ah likes it!’
Haru trudged forward with the heavy gift, grunting with effort, making her way toward Seol-ah.
“Seol-ah, happy birthday!”
“Ugh, why is this so heavy?”
Seol-ah stumbled slightly as she took the gift. The moment she tore open the wrapping, her expression shifted strangely.
“What is this?”
“You want to be a princess, so I thought about what a princess really needs.”
“What does an encyclopedia have to do with being a princess?”
“Well, a princess has to rule a kingdom someday. And to do that, she has to be really smart.”
“Are you saying I’m dumb right now?”
Haru shook her head firmly.
“No! But I was thinking about what a princess would need most to become an even more amazing queen.”
Seol-ah’s expression grew complicated. She’d only wanted to marry someone as handsome as a prince.
“…Thank you.”
Haru grinned. When Seol-ah’s Mother spotted her, she made a fuss.
“Oh my! Haru, you came!”
“Hello.”
Haru gave a bow with her hands clasped.
“My goodness, you brought an encyclopedia! How did you know our Seol-ah needs to study hard? It’s exactly what she needs, isn’t it?”
Seol-ah nodded, feeling oddly taken aback.
“Have you had something to eat, Haru? Come eat plenty, and if you ask the magician, he’ll make balloons for you too. Just tell him what shape you’d like.”
“Yes, thank you so much!”
“By the way, did your father come with you?”
“He dropped me off.”
“I see. If there’s anything you need, just tell me. Okay?”
“Yes!”
Watching this unfamiliar side of Seol-ah’s Mother, her face twisted again. When had she ever told Seol-ah not to play with a girl like Haru?
But now it seemed she liked Haru more than Seol-ah.
‘Anyone would think it’s Haru’s birthday.’

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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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