Chapter 6
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: Kindergarten. Club?
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Kindergarten. Club?
The children quickly gathered around when Kangyul called them.
"It's my birthday this week, so we're throwing a party at my house. You all wanna come?"
"Me!"
"Me too! Me too!"
Not a single one held back—they all said they'd come.
Kangyul hadn't originally planned on having a birthday party, but he figured this would be the most effective way to bring everyone together.
"Alright. So everyone's coming, right? Sojeong, you have to come. Got it?"
"Yeah! Got it!"
Watching the kids light up just from the invitation, Kangyul's mind raced at full speed.
"Nanny. We're having a birthday party this Sunday."
"Pardon? A birthday party for the young masters?"
"Yeah. It's set for this week, so get things ready."
The moment he got home, Kangyul told the nanny about the party and started making invitations by hand.
Deokyul and Jiyul were right there beside him.
"Do we really have to do this? We always just did it among ourselves before!"
"This year, we're inviting a ton of friends. Don't you wanna get lots of presents, Deokyul?"
"Presents?"
Deokyul's eyes sparkled at the word.
"If you want a ton of presents, you gotta invite a ton of friends."
"I'm inviting everyone! I'll invite the teacher and all the big teachers too!"
"Yeah, yeah. So let's hurry up and make these invitations."
After that, Deokyul stopped complaining and churned out a huge stack of them.
Whew. Finally done.
The handwriting was crooked and childish, but they'd put real effort into them.
If Seonjin Group's kids are inviting them, no parent will say no. Hell, maybe I should turn this into a club while I'm at it?
These were all kids from prominent families—they'd probably love banding together under the banner of a "club."
An Sojeong went straight home and ate her dinner quietly.
She used to chatter to the nanny about everything that happened at kindergarten, but ever since her stepmother yelled at her for being noisy, she stopped.
...Scary.
For some reason, lately her stepmother would just glare at her silently, even during meals.
Like right now.
Sojeong startled when her eyes met her stepmother's as she reached for her water.
The cup slipped from her hand and shattered on the floor.
Crash—
Glass shards scattered everywhere.
"Oh dear. Stay put, miss. I'll clean it up."
"Nanny. Stay right there."
Scrape—
The stepmother shoved back her chair and stood.
She stormed over, grabbed Sojeong's wrist roughly, and shoved her down to the floor.
"Aaaah!"
"Ah, miss!"
A shard of glass sliced into Sojeong's delicate arm, drawing blood.
"Waaah!"
"Don't you dare cry! What do you have to cry about? You broke it, so clean it up yourself!"
The stepmother's eyes blazed as she berated her.
"M-Madam! What are you doing? That's going too far!"
"...You're looking down on me too, calling me a bar wench under your breath?! You're fired! Get out—now!"
The stepmother hurled a plate at the nanny and screamed.
It was anything but normal behavior.
The nanny insisted it wasn't true right up to the end, but she was chased out of the house by the stepmother.
With Chairman An away, the stepmother held the most authority.
Sojeong swallowed her tears deep down and had to pick up every last shard and throw them away.
...K-Kangyul.
For some reason, Kangyul's face kept popping into her head.
The next day at kindergarten, Kangyul handed out the invitations right away.
The kids were thrilled to receive ones made and written by hand.
"Bring your parents if you can. Got it?"
"Yeah! Awesome! I'm definitely coming, Hye-mi!"
"Me too!"
"...I gotta ask my mom first, though?"
An Sojeong was happy to get hers, but not quite as excited as the others.
If her stepmother said no, she'd be stuck at home.
But Kangyul just stroked her head reassuringly.
"Don't worry. I'll make sure you can come somehow."
Time to cash in that mom-and-dad card. When else would I use it?
That evening over dinner with Park Jeong-a, Kangyul brought up the party.
Park Jeong-a already knew from the nanny.
"Mom, can I ask you for one favor?"
"Hm? A favor?"
Park Jeong-a blinked her big eyes at him.
Kangyul was always more mature than his triplet brothers—he'd never once whined or asked for anything.
Park Jeong-a set down her spoon nervously, her face tense as she looked at him.
"Yeah. Go ahead and tell me. Mom'll make it happen."
"...Well, there's this one friend I really want to come to the birthday party."
"A friend you want to come?"
Park Jeong-a tilted her head, then asked with a knowing look.
"Is it a girl, by any chance?"
"...Yeah."
Kangyul dipped his head shyly on purpose.
Park Jeong-a's eyes sparkled as he blushed.
"Which family's daughter has stolen my Kangyul's heart? Huh? Does Mom know her?"
Kangyul nodded.
"Her name's An Sojeong. She's in my class."
"An Sojeong? Chairman An's daughter from YK Group?"
"Yes, that's right, Madam."
The nanny answered from the side.
Park Jeong-a knew Chairman An's wife well.
She'd gone from celebrity to madam herself, while the other had climbed from bar girl to madam.
They'd been compared plenty of times.
It'd be better not to get involved with her side.
Beyond that, YK Group was a frequent rival to Seonjin Group.
Their heated competition often sparked conflicts.
Park Jeong-a pondered for a moment before speaking.
"...Got it. Mom'll make sure she comes."
I can't let adult rivalries mess with kids' friendships. Especially when it's a girl Kangyul likes.
After dinner, Park Jeong-a called the stepmother's number from her phone.
Luckily, she'd exchanged contacts at that dinner gathering last time.
Ring— Ring—
A few rings later, the stepmother picked up.
Click—
—...Unnie Jeong-a?
"How've you been?"
—Oh, yeah. Doing great. What brings you to call, unnie?
The stepmother sounded flustered, but her voice pitched high with excitement.
Shunned in other chaebol circles over her background, calls like this were rare.
Especially from Seonjin Group's Chairman Im Myeonghan's wife.
Her excitement was obvious.
"Oh, nothing much. Just that we're having the kids' birthday party this weekend, and Kangyul really wants Sojeong to come."
—Our Sojeong?
"Yeah. This weekend—can she make it? It'll be a good chance to see you too."
The stepmother paused, then replied happily.
—Of course. We'll be there.
"Great. See you then."
Park Jeong-a hung up with a sigh of relief.
She'd invited Kangyul's pick—now it was time for a spectacular party.
Can't let my kids be outshone.
Her face set with determination, she clenched her fist.
She called her secretary right away.
"Yeah, Secretary Kim. I'm taking vacation starting tomorrow, so don't bother me unless it's urgent. What? Reason? Birthday party prep!"
Kangyul's birthday party grew bigger by the day, fueled by Park Jeong-a's passion.
It was because parents were coming along with the kids.
Can't let our kids be embarrassed.
And the big day arrived.
The triplets were up early, scrubbed clean, and dressed sharply.
...What, did they turn the house into a party hall?
Kangyul was stunned by the transformed home.
It looked like a full-on venue—play areas for kids, champagne bars for adults.
Mom really went all out. Whew.
He shook his head discreetly.
"Nanny. I think I'm coming down with a cold—can you crank up the indoor heat?"
"Oh my. Really?"
"No fever, though? Maybe rest in your room, First Young Master?"
The nanny touched his forehead worriedly.
"Nah. Mom went to all this trouble for the party—I can't miss it. I'll be fine after a bit. Just... turn it way up."
"...Yes, sir."
...Damn, almost said 'way up' like old times.
Kangyul's pre-regression habits slipped out sometimes.
But luckily, the nanny hadn't caught it clearly—she tilted her head but bumped the heat up.
Kangyul smirked as the room grew stiflingly hot.
Soon, guests started arriving.
Among them was today's real star: An Sojeong.
Kangyul approached her with a smile.
"Sojeong! You made it. Cute dress."
"...Really?"
She wore a dress with long sleeves down to her wrists.
It was adorable, but imagining the bruises hidden underneath made his stomach turn.
Kangyul greeted her stepmother too.
"Hello. You're Sojeong's mom, right? Nice to meet you. I'm Kangyul."
"...Uh, yeah. So you're Kangyul. I've heard a lot about you."
The stepmother seemed thrown by his maturity but smiled brightly.
He could feel Sojeong stiffen beside her.
"Yes. Mom's over there. I'll go play with Sojeong and the friends."
"...Sure."
Kangyul bowed politely and stepped away.
Too bad Chairman An didn't come.
Most kids came with moms or drivers.
He'd hoped on a weekend slim chance, but nope—too busy for a kids' party.
"Sojeong, let's hit the garden and play with everyone."
"Okay!"
The garden had huge playground sets and a ball pit.
The other kids were already diving in and bouncing around.
"Yaaah! I'm the best!"
Deokyul leaped from the highest point into the pit.
"Oh no! Young Master Deokyul, that's dangerous!"
The kids giggled at the nanny chasing the fleeing Deokyul.
Catching the lively vibe, even Sojeong joined Kangyul in romping around.
After a while, hunger hit.
Right on cue, the nanny called everyone inside.
"Cake time now! Let's go!"
"Yay! I'll eat the most cake!"
"I love cake too."
The triplets dashed in.
As Kangyul predicted, three cakes awaited.
Tables stretched out with a buffet of foods.
The triplets sat before their cakes for birthday cheers.
Whew. So muggy.
The kids who'd played outside all shed their outer layers before sitting.
"Hot in here?"
"Yeah? It is."
Sweat beaded on Sojeong's face too.
"If it's hot, roll up your sleeves."
Kangyul reached to help with her sleeve.
At that moment, someone blocked his hand.