Chapter 3
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: Establishing the Hierarchy
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From birth until seven months later, Donghyun was miserable. He couldn't walk, just lay there all day nursing and sleeping—that was his routine.
At first, he'd put on a cute smile for his parents' faces, but even that only lasted a day or two. Now he just accepted it. And those two little brothers of his? They wailed nonstop. A hint of hunger, and they'd cry. The slightest boredom, and tears. Constant crying.
'Sigh... Sometimes I wish I'd been a normal six-month-old.'
That's when things started to change.
Suddenly, the brothers were grabbing onto things and trying to stand on their own two feet.
Their parents were stunned.
"Nanny, when do normal babies start standing?"
"...Around ten months."
"Our kids really are exceptional, aren't they?"
The parents beamed proudly at the second and third sons.
The problem was Kangyul. He'd been content following normal development, but now he risked being labeled slow.
"...The firstborn, Kangyul, is awfully quiet."
"Yeah. Haven't even seen him cry. Nothing wrong, right?"
"He's just a good, calm boy. Don't worry too much, Chairman."
Kangyul was Donghyun's new name.
'Damn, having these prodigies for brothers is a problem.'
That's when Kangyul's grueling efforts began.
He couldn't lag behind his brothers—that was the goal.
Whenever he had a moment, he'd grab the sofa or chair legs and try to stand.
Thud—
His legs and core had no strength; he'd topple before even getting up.
'Damn head's too big! Balance is killer.'
He hadn't expected instant success anyway.
Kangyul kept trying nonstop.
Of course, if the nanny or parents came by, he'd sit quietly like a good boy.
'A genius who doesn't even need to try.'
That's the image he wanted.
Meanwhile, Deokyul the second and Jiyul the third could stand shakily before plopping down.
'I could do that now too, but as the eldest, matching them exactly won't cut it.'
Kangyul cut back on sleep for intensive training.
More movement meant more eating.
"Mae-mae! (Food!)"
"Young Master Firstborn, you just ate."
"Mae-mae-mae-mae-mae-mae!! (Gimme food nowwww!)"
"Oh dear, alright. Just a little, though."
Kangyul's body gradually plumped up and grew.
And finally, weekend dinner arrived.
The family always gathered for weekend dinners.
The triplets could only have baby food, but their father, Im Myeonghan, insisted the whole family eat together.
'Seems strict on the outside, but he's a softie deep down.'
As dinner wound down, Deokyul crawled to Mom, grabbed the chair leg tight, and wobbled to his feet.
"Oh my! He stood up!"
Park Jeong-a scooped him up in surprise. Then Jiyul crawled over and did the same—shaky, but he stood.
"Oh my goodness! My little cuties!"
Park Jeong-a lifted Jiyul with her free arm.
'Guess I'm the last one standing...'
Kangyul sighed lightly and glanced at his parents and brothers.
Suddenly, everyone in the room was watching him.
'Fail here, and I'm done. Go big or go home!'
Kangyul planted his hands on the floor and powered his legs.
Success rate from practice: 30%.
Not bad odds.
'Nail the balance first.'
He lifted his butt slightly, timing it.
"What's Kangyul doing?"
"Waving hello?"
'Hello my ass. One, two! Three!'
Kangyul straightened his legs and rose. His heavy head made him sway, but he held.
"He... he stood?"
"...All by himself?"
'Yes!'
Kangyul stood without holding anything, grinning smugly at his brothers and parents.
But he wasn't done.
Step—
He started walking—precariously, but steadily—toward his father, Im Myeonghan.
'You guys only love Mom. Dad's lonely.'
"Ah-oo!"
"Ah-ooo!"
Deokyul and Jiyul watched wide-eyed.
Finally, Kangyul reached Im Myeonghan.
'Here's the finale!'
He threw his arms wide and shouted.
"...Dada!"
"Wh-what? What did Kangyul just say? Did he...?"
Kangyul yelled again, perfectly.
"Dada! Dada!"
"Yes! That's my boy! My son!"
Im Myeonghan swept him into a crumbling hug.
The heavy charisma was gone. Just a doting dad remained.
"Our Kangyul... he's a genius."
Kangyul smirked victoriously from his dad's arms, eyeing his brothers.
'Heh, see that? That's class difference.'
Afterward, Im Myeonghan begged Kangyul to say "Dada" over and over.
Kangyul found it annoying inwardly but obliged the beaming father, tossing in cute smiles for good measure.
'These kids.'
From then on, he slowly trained his brothers.
Play too rough? He'd bolt up and pat their heads.
Deokyul and Jiyul tried copying his walk but kept stumbling.
'Haha, think it'll happen overnight?'
It took a full month for them to walk like Kangyul.
Still fast compared to other babies, but Kangyul's impact cemented his big-brother status.
And time passed. The triplets' first birthday party approached.
"What about Madam's outfit?"
"...Hanbok? Or something simple?"
Park Jeong-a showed uncharacteristic anxiety, fretting over every detail for the party.
Kangyul overheard the nanny muttering and pieced it together.
"Sigh. Madam's worried about her sister-in-law. That vicious woman's bound to act up behind the Chairman's back. Madam's too kind for her own good."
'Sister-in-law? Little uncle's wife? That bitch's bullying Mom?'
Kangyul scowled at the nanny; she hurried over, thinking he'd pooped.
"When will our Young Master grow up and defend Madam?"
She checked his diaper—clean—then moved to the others.
'Hmm, little uncle and his wife, unseen for a year. What a mess.'
And the party day arrived.
The doljanchi was in a private room at Seonjin Group's hotel. Only close family, so not crowded.
The triplets, including Kangyul, sat at the table in hanbok.
'Everyone looks so dressed up.'
Deokyul and Jiyul tensed amid the crowd, sticking close to Kangyul.
'These guys. Stick with big bro.'
Kangyul patted their heads.
"Sis, doing well? Long time no see."
"Oh, Myeongseon. Just arrived in Korea?"
"Yeah, had to for my nephews' dol."
'Studying abroad, right?'
Her bright smile highlighted her cute looks. She faintly resembled Im Myeonghan—must be Aunt Im Myeongseon.
Im Myeonghan had two siblings: a younger brother and baby sister.
He'd occasionally gripe about the brother, Im Myeongho.
'Not on great terms.'
"My nephews. All three so chubby and cute."
"Right? They eat too well—it's a handful."
Im Myeongseon pinched Kangyul's cheek—middle seat.
"Listen to Mom, okay?"
"Yeah."
"Oh, he talks already?"
"...A few words."
Im Myeongseon looked down in surprise.
Kangyul shook his head, prying her hand off.
"Ow."
"Ah, s-sorry."
She apologized, startled by his clear protest.
"Were kids ever this verbal?"
"My son, so of course."
Father Im Myeonghan arrived. He and Im Myeongseon greeted warmly, laughing amiably.
'Huh? What's that?'
From the side, a shady-looking kid—four-ish?—approached holding Mom's hand, robot toy in his other.
"Myeongho, you're here."
"Yeah. Happy dol."
He resembled Im Myeonghan but sharper.
Im Myeongho glanced at the triplets, then went inside with Im Myeonghan and Im Myeongseon.
Park Jeong-a visibly tensed at his wife.
'That the vicious bitch nanny mentioned?'
The sister-in-law eyed the triplets and smirked.
"They take after you, sis? All so delicate. Train 'em as idols like you?"
"...No plans, but if they want."
Park Jeong-a replied stiffly, but the bitch laughed mockingly. Then the shady kid approached Deokyul and smacked his head with the toy.
Crack—
Deokyul winced and flailed, but the brat kept going, enjoying it.
'This little shit?'
Worse: Mom did nothing to stop it.
Park Jeong-a hardened, about to intervene, but the bitch taunted.
"Oh, so fragile like you, sis. Kids playing—why interfere?"
"What?"
Park Jeong-a started to snap back, but Kangyul beat her to it.
'Fuck that. I tolerate a lot, but not messing with mine.'
Kangyul had bulked up from constant eating and moving—looked two or three.
He shot up, snatched the toy, and shoved the kid hard.
Thud.
'Fights are about momentum.'
Kangyul hurled the toy at the brat's face. It nailed his nose perfectly.
Smack!
Kangyul leaned in close and whispered coldly.
"Fuck off, you little shit. Wanna die?"
Big for four or not, the kid broke down from the intimidation and pain.
"Waaahhh!"
"...Don't bully my brother."
Kangyul stated it clearly from above, then returned, rubbing Deokyul's head.
"...Big bro!"
Deokyul hugged him. Jiyul piled on too.
"...Myeonggi! What the hell! How'd you raise him to hit already?!"
The bitch shrieked, checking his face. But Park Jeong-a calmly threw her words back.
"So fragile like his auntie. Kids playing—why fuss?"
"What?!"
Her own line verbatim. The bitch glared daggers, but Park Jeong-a stared right back.
"Tch, fine."
She dragged Myeonggi inside.
Scolding echoed from afar.
"You're four, crying from a one-year-old?!"
"Waaah!"
Kangyul snickered.
'Fucking idiots acting up. Next time, crush his balls.'
Park Jeong-a checked Deokyul's head—fine—then hugged all three tight.
Kangyul felt her trembling hands.
'Don't fear trash like her anymore. I'll handle it.'
He hugged back with his tiny arms, vowing silently.