Chapter 24
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: But I'm the Chairman?
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The next morning.
As the students' arrival time was winding down, a luxury sedan glided into Hwijeong Private Elementary School.
The car boldly came to a stop, blocking the center of the school gate.
Click―
The door opened, and out stepped Kim Mi-kyeong, draped in a luxurious fur coat.
"Ugh, why is the building so far away? Park the car right in front of it, Driver Kim. That way I can hop right in when I leave later."
"…Yes, ma'am. Understood."
The spot in front of the building was a lawn, so parking there didn't seem right, but Driver Kim followed orders anyway.
Backtalk would only earn him a swift slap across the face.
Clack, clack!
Kim Mi-kyeong dragged Kwon Daehyun along as she strode into the school.
"How can I help you?"
"Take me to the chairman's office."
"Pardon?"
Kim Mi-kyeong barked the order at the approaching school staff member without hesitation.
The staffer was flustered but spotted Kwon Daehyun in her grip and guessed who she might be.
"…Yes, of course. Allow me to offer you some tea first. This way, please."
'Sigh, a troublesome one's shown up.'
The staffer subtly signaled to a colleague without showing it.
The others contacted the principal and the chairman's office.
Of course, Kangyul had already gone to the office, so the chairman's room was empty. Only the principal he'd appointed had received the call and come down.
"Ah, Madam. What brings you all the way here?"
"Who are you?"
Kim Mi-kyeong rose from her seat, where she'd been sipping coffee imperiously.
"Ah, I'm the new principal who just started this time."
"I thought the chairman and principal here were all from the Mun family?"
Even as the woman, who looked twenty years younger, spoke casually, the principal's expression didn't change. Years of dealing with difficult parents as a teacher had toughened him.
"The school foundation has changed hands recently. Would you like to discuss the details in the principal's office?"
"Never mind that. I want to see the chairman. You're slower than I expected."
"…The chairman. He's out on a business trip today, of all days."
"Then just call him back! Do you think I came all the way here for nothing?!"
Kim Mi-kyeong exploded without warning.
Her sharp voice echoed down the school hallway.
"Uh, please… calm down for a moment."
"Calm down? There's been a violent incident at school! Can't you see my kid's nose is busted?!"
The principal startled and examined Kwon Daehyun's face. But no matter how he looked, nothing seemed wrong.
"Shut up and call the chairman now! I'm not budging until the brat who hit my kid gets expelled!"
The principal was visibly flustered.
He might catch an earful from the chairman for calling over something like this that he couldn't handle.
'Ugh, but she doesn't seem reasonable. No choice.'
The principal dialed the chairman's number from his contacts.
Ring― Ring―
After a few rings, someone picked up.
―Yes, Principal. What is it?
"Sorry to bother you so early in the morning when you're busy. We might need you to come to the school briefly. One of the parents showed up claiming there's been a school violence incident."
―…Is that so? Hmm. I'll head over right away.
"Yes, we'll be waiting."
The principal hung up and let out a short sigh.
Bad luck that this happened so soon after he started.
'Gotta handle it well until the chairman arrives.'
The principal remembered the top-grade tea set he'd bought recently. It was selected to suit the tastes of ladies like her, just for times like this.
Jang Deokcheol received the principal's call and headed to the president's office.
Kangyul had gone straight to work and was in the middle of a Sudden Attack match with Kim Min-a.
"President! It's A-side! Go around the back!"
"Okey-dokey!"
Jang Deokcheol glanced at Kangyul cautiously before speaking.
"President. I need to head to the school for a bit."
"Huh? Why the school?"
"Seems one of the parents came in saying their kid was assaulted."
"Assaulted?"
Kangyul jumped in surprise and looked at Jang Deokcheol.
'Is it because of the nosebleed I caused yesterday?'
"Who're the victim and the perp?"
"Didn't hear that far."
Kangyul shut down his computer and stood up immediately.
"I'll come with you."
If it was about yesterday, he had to go no matter what.
Im Myeonggi was pulled out of class.
He'd been enjoying the morning without Kwon Daehyun in sight, but anxiety started creeping in.
As he headed to the teachers' office, a fierce-looking lady yelled straight at him.
"Was it you? The one who hit my kid?"
"I-I didn't hit anyone."
"What? So you're saying my kid lied with his face all messed up?!"
Im Myeonggi startled and glanced at Kwon Daehyun, but he looked away innocently.
Kim Mi-kyeong unleashed on the young boy without mercy. She didn't lay a hand on him, but her tirade wrinkled the faces of all the nearby teachers.
Im Myeonggi hung his head and said nothing.
"Hah, kids from Seonjin Group are all like this. Sneaky liars strutting around like they're hot stuff."
At that, Im Myeonggi snapped his head up.
"Don't badmouth Seonjin Group! I didn't lie!"
"How dare you talk back to an adult!"
Kim Mi-kyeong shoved Im Myeonggi's head with her palm.
He staggered but stared straight back at her.
'…Kangyul said not to back down!'
"Well, well? Look at this rude little punk."
Kim Mi-kyeong shoved his forehead hard with her palm.
Thud―
Im Myeonggi fell to the floor. No matter how hard he resisted, he couldn't match an adult's strength. But he got right back up and glared at her.
"…A-Auntie, apologize!"
"What? Apologize? You little…"
Kim Mi-kyeong raised her hand.
She looked ready to smack the glaring boy's head. But her raised hand was stopped by someone entering the teachers' office.
"What's going on? Why all the commotion?"
"Ch-Chairman!"
It was Jang Deokcheol, who had just arrived at the school.
Next to him stood Kangyul, staring in disbelief.
"You're the chairman? How do you manage the kids that it's come to this?"
Jang Deokcheol frowned at Kim Mi-kyeong's sudden casual outburst.
"Hmm. Let's discuss this in the chairman's office first."
Jang Deokcheol gestured for her to follow and headed to the chairman's office.
Kim Mi-kyeong snorted and trailed after him.
"Daehyun, what are you doing? Come on."
"Y-Yeah."
Kwon Daehyun had been tense ever since Kangyul appeared.
He sneaked glances at Kangyul before sticking close to his mother and walking.
'…Mommy's boy, huh. Pathetic.'
Kangyul took Im Myeonggi and headed to the chairman's office.
"Kangyul."
"You did great not backing down."
Im Myeonggi grinned at the praise.
In the chairman's office, Jang Deokcheol and Kim Mi-kyeong sat and talked.
Mostly, she vented while he listened.
"That's why! That kid hit mine, so expel him or transfer him out—do something!"
"The boy's condition looks fine to me…"
"So assault's okay if the kid's fine? Are you sane?"
Talking to Kim Mi-kyeong was giving Jang Deokcheol a headache that piled up like fatigue.
It was several times worse than getting nagged by his wife.
Then Kangyul signaled from outside the door.
It meant to get rid of her.
"Hmm. As chairman, I'll speak with the children first. If there really was an assault, someone must be punished."
"Hmph, why bother? It's obvious who got hit."
Jang Deokcheol persuaded her, reaching the limit of his patience.
Kim Mi-kyeong scoffed and headed out.
"I'll be back in five minutes. Wrap it up by then."
Finally, Kim Mi-kyeong left the chairman's office.
To Kangyul, it looked like she was stepping out for a smoke.
Click―
As soon as she was gone, Jang Deokcheol shook his head and stood.
"You did well."
Kangyul walked to the head seat where Jang Deokcheol had been and sat down.
"Phew. Now, let's get to the point, shall we? Kwon Daehyun. Who assaulted who? Tell it straight to this chairman."
Kwon Daehyun froze, unable to grasp the situation.
The chairman had stood up, and now this devilish Kangyul was acting like the chairman.
"You're not the chairman!"
"What're you talking about? I am the chairman here. Can't you see the nameplate?"
The desk Kangyul pointed to had a nameplate reading 'Hwijeong Private Elementary School Foundation Chairman Kangyul'.
"So, tell the chairman everything clearly. Lie even a little, and I'll expel you instead."
As Kangyul glared with fierce eyes, Kwon Daehyun shrank back. Then, more kids filed in like frightened quails.
They were Kwon Daehyun's lackeys.
It was quite satisfying to see them all cowed.
"By the way, don't even think about lying. Other kids were there too, not just you. You get what I mean?"
Kwon Daehyun's face drained of color, turning ashen.
When Kim Mi-kyeong returned shortly after, Jang Deokcheol calmly recounted what happened.
Kwon Daehyun hadn't been bullied—he'd been the bully targeting Im Myeonggi and got hurt in the process. And it wasn't a direct hit; he'd gotten a nosebleed from bumping into a toy.
Of course, Kim Mi-kyeong ranted that it was all lies, but testimonies from the kids who were there made her face flush red then pale.
Jang Deokcheol delivered the final blow calmly.
"Im Myeonggi here has kindly agreed to forgive Kwon Daehyun, so I won't make a big issue of it. Though if Madam insists on sorting this out, as chairman, I'd have to side with punishing the bully. What do you say?"
Kim Mi-kyeong couldn't retort to the chairman and instead whacked Kwon Daehyun on the back.
Smack!
"…Why'd you lie?!"
"Waaah!"
"What do you have to cry about?!"
Kim Mi-kyeong yanked Kwon Daehyun's earlobe and stormed out.
Kangyul chuckled at the sight—like a dog tucking tail and fleeing.
Beside him, Im Myeonggi gazed at Kangyul with eyes full of admiration.
'…So cool!'
"Where's the car?!"
Kim Mi-kyeong called Driver Kim immediately when she couldn't spot it.
He'd been waiting in the first-floor lobby and came rushing out.
"Driver Kim! What're you doing? Where's the car?"
"…Huh? I definitely parked it here…"
Driver Kim looked around and startled upon spotting something.
"Towing notice? Madam, it looks like the car got towed."
Kim Mi-kyeong trembled with rage she couldn't contain and ended up walking out of the school.
Of course, Kangyul was the one who'd reported the illegal parking and had it towed.
'Serves you right. Tsk.'