Chapter 5
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: Kindergarten Teacher's Day
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Kangyul spaced out blankly in the middle of his meal.
'...Fuck. My 40.7 billion won.'
Even after six years, the thought of that money still left him dazed sometimes. At first, he'd insisted it was his, but eventually, swayed by his parents' promise of generous pocket money, he'd tearfully decided to donate it—like swallowing bitter mustard.
'...I couldn't even claim the prize money freely as a minor anyway.'
"Sigh."
The seven-year-old kindergartener Kangyul let out a sigh as he ate.
Even if he felt down, he made sure to eat every bite. If he didn't, he might end up smaller than his talented younger brothers.
Munch munch...
"I want more!"
"Me too!"
His two brothers each devoured an extra full bowl beside him. They were growing fast too—if you didn't know their ages, you'd guess they were six or seven.
"Yes, yes. Here you go, more for you."
The nanny scooped extra rice for the brothers.
"Why do you keep sighing, Young Master Kangyul? Missing your mom?"
"...Yeah, let's go with that."
The nanny gave an awkward smile at his old-soul way of speaking.
Park Jeong-a had jumped right back into work as soon as the triplets started kindergarten.
Not acting, her original career, but something in talent management.
'Thanks to that, I get more free time. Suits me fine.'
Kangyul finally stood up after polishing off two bowls, just like his brothers.
"Deokyul, Jiyul. Time to brush our teeth."
"Okay!"
Jiyul obeyed right away, unlike Deokyul, who pretended not to hear while messing around.
Deokyul hated brushing his teeth.
"...Lee Deokyul. Slacking off again?"
"Got it!"
Deokyul flinched at Kangyul's sharp glare and bolted to the bathroom.
He'd probably just pretend and come out half-done.
"Sigh, how long do I have to manage these little brats one by one? Such is my fate."
Kangyul shook his head and headed to the bathroom.
"Kang Deokyul! I said brush with toothpaste!"
"Toothpaste stings!"
"That's why we switched to strawberry flavor!"
The nanny paused on her way to the bathroom, dishes in hand from the kitchen. The young masters might squabble, but they always listened to Kangyul in the end.
"...How can they be the same age but so different?"
Sometimes Kangyul seemed ten years older. Of course, that made the nanny's job much easier.
"Jiyul, hands out of your mouth."
"Okay, brother. Hehe."
Jiyul pulled his thumb out of his mouth—it was soaked—and wiped it on Kangyul's clothes. Kangyul let it slide; it wasn't the first time.
"It's Teacher's Day today, so give your gifts right away and say thanks. Got it?"
"Yeah!"
"I'll go first!"
Deokyul dashed into the kindergarten clutching his gift.
"Teacher!"
"Our Deokyul's here!"
The triplets were in separate classes: Kangyul in Tiger Class, Deokyul in Fox Class, Jiyul in Bunny Class. They'd originally planned to put them together, but Kangyul had strongly objected.
He wanted a break at kindergarten.
'This is my one sanctuary. Heh.'
It was a shame only a year remained.
"Teaaacher!"
Deokyul and Jiyul ran to their teachers with their gifts.
Handwritten cards in crooked letters, carnations, and premium handmade chocolates.
Kangyul had picked modest, appropriate ones—not too pricey—and the nanny had bought them.
Kangyul approached his teacher, Im Mi-yeong, and handed over his gift.
"Teacher, Teacher's Day gift. Thank you for everything."
"Oh, no need. Good... good morning, Kangyul."
Im Mi-yeong greeted him awkwardly.
She always welcomed the kids in the morning, but Kangyul was the toughest.
He felt like a parent in consultation.
She straightened up without realizing it.
"I'll head inside now."
Kangyul bowed again and went to his class. Behind him, Jiyul and Deokyul waved wildly before heading to theirs.
"Big brother! See ya later!"
"Byeee!"
Slide—
Kangyul opened the Tiger Class door. The kids froze mid-play, toys in hand, tense.
"...Kangyul's here?"
"Hey, Kangyul!"
"Yeah. Everyone have a good weekend?"
"I went to the department store... um, hopping!"
"Hopping? You mean shopping."
The girl who'd shouted stuck out her tongue at Kangyul.
"Hehe, right. Shopping! Hye-mi messed up."
Hye-mi, oozing cuteness, was the granddaughter of Daedong Department Store's Chairman Park.
Most kids here were chaebol heirs—grandkids or kids of chairmen.
Even the little one picking his nose by the bookshelf was from Gangnam Milling's chairman family.
'Still, Seonjin Group is the best.'
"What'd you do this weekend, Kangyul? Shopping like Hye-mi?"
"Me? Ate and slept all day. Nothing much."
A mocking voice came from the kids.
"Hmph. My dad says lazy people grow up to be pigs. You'll be one."
An Sojeong, YK Group's chairman's pampered youngest daughter.
'I was gonna let that slide out of pity, but she's at it again. Tsk.'
From what Kangyul knew, YK Group would shatter in the next presidential election scandal, backing a candidate deep in political corruption. The chairman would collapse from a heart attack, his young stepmom fleeing with everything.
'Then exile abroad, hooked on drugs?'
Whatever, An Sojeong's future was grim.
Im Myeonghan, Kangyul's dad, would buy the ruins against opposition, ballooning Seonjin Group into a global top-10 powerhouse in under five years.
"Pig? Better than a dog."
Kangyul unpacked his bag and sat down.
An Sojeong, ignored, stormed over fuming.
"Pigs are worse than dogs! Dogs are cute, pigs aren't!"
"Pigs fetch more money. You're a cheap dog. I'll be an expensive pig."
An Sojeong puffed her cheeks.
"Eek! Why am I a dog?!"
"I'm a pig!"
"Then I'll be a sparrow!"
"...I like hamsters."
Tiger Class turned into a zoo, animal noises echoing.
For some reason, Kangyul exuded a charisma beyond his years. Maybe that's why the kids treated their peer like a big brother.
'Watching them play is cute. Why do they turn out rotten later?'
Chaebol heirs often grew spoiled, tangled in drugs or power trips.
'Early education might help?'
Kangyul shook his head. Too much hassle. He was busy enough with his plans.
'Gotta make money.'
Reborn, his future knowledge was sports results or lotteries.
Offline lotteries? He couldn't claim prizes as a minor. No buying or payouts for kids.
Asking parents or others? Insane. Begging Mom for a toto account? He'd end up in therapy, beatings aside.
'Only I can be trusted.'
He'd bet online sports toto under his own name—Donghyun's, turning twenty and in the army.
'It's my original name anyway.'
He knew Donghyun's account, password, resident number. Issue: the certified certificate for banking.
'Just grab his phone from the place. Hmm.'
Donghyun's was in Cheongju. No way for Seoul-based Kangyul to go alone.
'Ask the landlord?'
No trouble wanted. If talking, recruit current Donghyun as an ally, but Kangyul doubted it.
'He's probably out partying foolishly...'
As Kangyul pondered, Im Mi-yeong entered Tiger Class.
She looked flustered at the kids running around making animal noises.
"Story time, everyone sit down."
"Yes, Teacher!"
They sat at her word.
Park Hye-mi and An Sojeong flanked Kangyul.
"Hehe. Love story time."
Hye-mi stared rapt at the teacher's reading.
An Sojeong, oddly, stared holes through Kangyul instead.
"Why stare like that?"
"What! I can look with my eyes. Pig!"
She flinched and whipped her head away—kinda cute.
After story time, snack time.
Soy milk packs and fruits.
'Whoa, melon? Rich kid kindergarten lives up to the hype.'
Kangyul picked out just the melon slices.
It melted smoothly in his mouth.
An Sojeong sidled up hesitantly and sat beside him, peeking at his face.
She had something to say.
'Sigh. What's her deal now.'
Kangyul swallowed his melon.
"What? Spit it out if you have something to say."
"...Nothing to say to a pig!"
"Really? If you're lying, I won't talk to you ever."
An Sojeong clamped her mouth shut.
"Speak now, and we'll be friends. I'll greet you every day. Come on, I'll listen."
Kids that age spilled easily to little threats like this.
A skill honed taming his brothers.
"...Promise?"
An Sojeong looked glum and opened up.
But her story was shockingly serious.
"Your stepmom's abusing you?"
"...Not abusing. She's nice. Good to me... when Dad's around."
"But alone, she hits you for no reason, curses, scolds?"
"...Yeah."
'Holy shit. Who hits a tiny kid?'
"Show me where."
"...Mom said don't show anyone..."
An Sojeong clutched her sleeve, hesitating.
"It's fine. Friends are okay."
She nodded and rolled up her sleeve.
Her arm was covered in dark bruises, thick as adult fingers.
'...Fuck. This ain't discipline.'
Kangyul seethed, eyes nearly sparking.
Malice, plain as day.
An Sojeong yanked her sleeve down, glancing nervously.
"...My butt and thighs too..."
"No need to show those."
"Okay!"
She stared blankly, relieved.
"Told your dad?"
"...Mom said no. And he's too busy to see."
"I see."
Kangyul got the chairman's side.
Even his triplets saw Im Myeonghan once a week max.
'Scared to tell Dad? Botch the reveal, she might torment worse.'
Kangyul thought it over, hit on a plan, and gathered all of Tiger Class.