The Rogue, Genius, Chaebol's Daughter is a Baby Master Detective! - Chapter 8
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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 conglomerate heiress walk into kindergarten — as a famous detective!
Chapter 8
Haru’s gloved hand tightened around Kang Tae-jun’s pinky finger. Kang Tae-jun glanced down at her.
Was she nervous?
Kang Tae-jun had carved time from his schedule to cheer on Haru’s first day of kindergarten enrollment, and now he surveyed the inconvenient obstacles blocking his path with visible displeasure.
Lee Hyun-woo and Gong Dae-in had shown up at dawn, refusing to miss Haru’s first kindergarten day. Kang Tae-jun’s gaze swept across Lee Hyun-woo’s face.
Bright yellow hair, piercings dangling from his ears — and the nerve to play Haru’s father.
“You’re trying to ruin her kindergarten experience?”
“What?”
Lee Hyun-woo crossed his arms and lifted his chin.
“Why would I wreck Haru’s future? You focus on yourself. Didn’t the news say Daehan Group’s stock is tanking? So you’ve got an inheritance left to pass on to Haru?”
“I still have more money than you.”
Kang Tae-jun brushed past Lee Hyun-woo’s pointed stare and opened his mouth.
“You said you’d be here to pick her up. You’re late.”
Gong Dae-in checked his wristwatch.
“Two minutes have elapsed. However, given that a kindergarten environment contains numerous variables, I propose we wait a moment longer.”
Regardless of what the three father candidates were saying, Haru gazed at the Lala Kindergarten building with a racing heart.
Someone came dashing out through the front gate. When she spotted Haru and the three men, she slowed her pace.
“I’m so sorry for being late. Are you Haru’s…father?”
In that instant, Haru’s Case Notebook flipped open before her eyes.
[Haru’s Case Notebook]
Ding!
Text suddenly blazed red across the page.
Warning! Something’s fishy!
A villain candidate has appeared!
☞Investigate the teacher
☞Let it slide
★Nurungji Candy★
You don’t have to use your ability
Time remaining: 1 hour 20 minutes
Candy remaining: 6/7
Haru’s eyes went wide. A villain candidate — this was new! Smart Haru knew what a “villain” meant: a bad person. Could this teacher really be a villain?
Haru’s gaze flickered between Kang Tae-jun and the kindergarten teacher. Maybe this was the moment to use the Nurungji Candy!
Haru’s eyes sharpened as she studied the teacher intently.
‘What would Dodo do?’
While Haru deliberated, the kindergarten teacher looked bewildered, her eyes darting between the three men.
“Which one of you…”
All three men spoke at once.
“I’m Haru’s father.”
“I’m sorry?”
The teacher’s eyes widened.
“All…all three of you?”
“Yes. It’s a complicated situation.”
Kang Tae-jun answered with an expressionless face. The teacher, hesitating at his crisp reply, straightened up and spoke with measured precision.
“Fathers…plural. Going forward, please have only one person handle enrollment and pickup. It’s better for Haru’s adjustment to kindergarten that way.”
Lee Hyun-woo, about to protest, fell silent at the teacher’s firm, professional tone.
“Understood, teacher. I’m Gong Dae-in, CEO of A Tech. For Haru’s consultations, please contact me. And if anything happens to Haru today or any day — if she gets sick or has any trouble — please call me first. I can arrive fastest.”
‘This bastard got there first?’
Lee Hyun-woo quickly reached for his business cards, but Kang Tae-jun was faster.
“I’m Kang Tae-jun of Daehan Group. I’d appreciate it if you called me first.”
“I’m Lee Hyun-woo of E Entertainment. Please contact me first. And if you need autographed merchandise from any of our artists, just say the word.”
“Should you need upgrades to the kindergarten security system, feel free to reach out.”
“We can replace your televisions and computers.”
……
The teacher took all three business cards and blinked blankly.
“Ah, yes. I’ll make sure to contact all of you…fathers. But Haru’s family name is Oh, isn’t it?”
“She took her mother’s surname.”
“Ah, then Haru’s mother is…”
The atmosphere turned awkward in an instant.
“She’s traveling.”
Kang Tae-jun gave a short reply.
Just then, two women passing by brushed against them, their eyes darting over with lowered voices.
“Mom’s away on a trip and there are three dads? That’s really weird.”
“Shh, they can hear you.”
Haru’s small hand clenched tight. Kang Tae-jun turned his head. The women fell silent the moment they saw his face.
He said nothing. Instead, he fixed them with the same piercing gaze he’d given dissenting board members at shareholder meetings—a look that applied pure pressure without words. One of the women recognized his face and swallowed hard.
“…Daehan Group?”
Lee Hyun-woo pushed his sunglasses up onto his head and broke into a broad grin.
“Why so tongue-tied all of a sudden? You were chatting away just fine.”
“E Entertainment’s Lee Hyun-woo…?”
One of the women snapped back to her senses and immediately apologized to Haru.
“I’m sorry! Really, I’m so sorry! My apologies! Come on, let’s get out of here.”
She bowed her head and yanked the other woman’s arm, dragging her away.
Gong Dae-in adjusted his glasses and spoke up.
“If you post anything about the child’s personal details or family on the internet, we will pursue legal action.”
“We won’t say a word, we’re sorry!”
After the women hurried off, Gong Dae-in began patting the top of Haru’s head in an awkward, stiff motion.
“There’s nothing strange about it. They’re just envious because you have three dads.”
Haru nodded slightly.
The kindergarten teacher glanced briefly in the direction the women had disappeared, then bent down to meet Haru at eye level.
“Hello, Haru.”
“Hello.”
Haru greeted her warily.
“Our Haru has such good manners! Come on, let’s go to Ssaessak Class together!”
When the teacher reached for Haru’s hand, Haru quickly tucked herself behind Kang Tae-jun’s legs.
‘I can’t hold hands with a villain!’
Kang Tae-jun, with Haru clinging to his leg, spoke with unmistakable satisfaction.
“She’s a bit shy around strangers.”
He savored the jealous looks Lee Hyun-woo and Gong Dae-in shot his way with leisurely enjoyment.
“Also, she has a severe allergy, so please don’t remove her gloves without permission.”
Haru, hiding behind his leg like a tiny puppy, peeked up at Kang Tae-jun.
Mom had told her: when people ask, say you can’t take off your gloves because of allergies.
“My, is that so? What kind of allergy is it?”
“What kind of allergy is it?”
“Villain Allergy! If I touch a villain with my bare hands, something bad happens.”
“But you grabbed our hands—why didn’t anything happen?”
“It was a test. Nothing bad happened, so you passed!”
Kang Tae-jun answered matter-of-factly.
”
…
The root cause remains unclear.”
Lee Hyun-woo stifled a cough. Gong Dae-in nodded seriously.
‘Villain Allergy, is it.’
Haru was clearly deeply into famous detective comics. But he didn’t mind. It was fine to respect what the child wanted.
“I see. I’ll be careful too. Haru, shall we go say hello to your friends?”
The kindergarten teacher smiled warmly and offered her hand again.
Words were still floating above her head.
Warning! Suspicious!
A villain candidate has appeared!
Haru looked at each of the three dad candidates surrounding her in turn. She felt a reassuring warmth! Her courage swelled. Haru took a deep breath.
If she wanted to confirm whether someone was a villain, she’d have to hold their hand eventually.
‘I’m a famous detective. I can do this.’
Haru squeezed her eyes shut, then opened them and extended her gloved hand toward the Ssaessak Class teacher.
“Hold my hand?”
The Ssaessak Class teacher smiled and took Haru’s hand.
“Sure. Shall we go?”
As Haru walked alongside the teacher, she turned back and waved her hand grandly.
The three men awkwardly waved back in unison.
Kang Tae-jun watched Haru disappear completely into the building, then uncrossed his arms and released a long sigh.
“Why am I this anxious? I’ve never been this anxious in my entire life.”
“I worry too. I hope Haru manages all right.”
“It’s a process every parent goes through. You can’t keep your children at your side forever.”
“I’ve never kept Haru glued to me!”
“Neither have I.”
“What if Haru cries? What if the other children bother her? What if she gets sick all of a sudden?”
“Did I pack the thermometer? The first-aid kit? Extra clothes?”
Gong Dae-in answered flatly.
“Excessive protection isn’t good for a child.”
Yet the three of them found themselves unable to move away from the kindergarten entrance.
“We’re already so anxious about sending her to kindergarten—how did Jang-mi manage to leave her child behind?”
Just then, Kang Tae-jun’s phone rang.
“Director. Where are you? The board meeting starts in thirty minutes!”
Kang Tae-jun checked his watch. It was already well past nine.
“I’m on my way.”
Lee Hyun-woo’s phone began to ring as well.
“Director. Why didn’t you answer my calls? When are you coming to the office?”
At the sound of his secretary’s cold voice, Lee Hyun-woo flinched.
“Since you all seem to have your hands full, I’ll take care of picking Haru up from kindergarten today.”
The moment Gong Dae-in wore the smile of a victor, his own phone began to ring.
“Director. Where are you? The investor meeting is in an hour.”
“I’ll be there shortly.”
The three men hung up but remained rooted to the spot like stone statues. Lee Hyun-woo turned to Gong Dae-in. “You look pretty busy yourself.”
“You look pretty busy yourself.”
“I can finish everything before pickup time.”
“Well, I’ll finish first.”
“We agreed I’d handle it for a month, so quit the talk and get out of here.”
A security guard who couldn’t stand watching any longer approached them and said his piece.
“What are you doing here? Children adjust faster when their parents leave. Go on, get moving!”
The three men, who had been glaring at each other, reluctantly began to walk away, their steps slow and reluctant as they kept glancing back at the kindergarten.
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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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