Chapter 7
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: Kindergarten. Guardian Angels?
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Stepmom shot An Sojeong a glare with an awkward expression on her face.
Sojeong's face went pale as she nodded.
"Really? But Sojeong's sweating so much."
"...No. She'll be fine right away. And Sojeong's really shy. She hates it when her skin shows through."
Stepmom gripped her shoulder like she was about to drag her out any second.
"Ugh."
An Sojeong let out a small groan of pain.
Kangyul watched the scene and sneered inwardly at the stepmom.
'What you don't want to show is the wound you made, you bitch.'
"No helping it then. Kids, I'll hand out the cake!"
Kangyul agreed innocently, and Stepmom retreated with an awkward smile.
But the people around had already started giving suspicious looks.
The others weren't fools either.
Stepmom ground her teeth in irritation inwardly.
Kangyul immediately started handing out cake to the kids.
The cake was so huge that everyone got a generous, massive slice.
As he placed cake on An Sojeong's plate, Kangyul deliberately shook it.
Cream splattered onto An Sojeong's dress, completely ruining it.
"Oops! Sojeong, you okay?"
"Yeah. I'm fine."
An Sojeong shook her head with a glum expression.
She didn't want to cry on a day like today.
"It'll be all sticky. Want to change clothes?"
"...Looks like Sojeong needs to head home after all. Right, Sojeong?"
Stepmom pulled at An Sojeong again.
An Sojeong whimpered like she didn't want to go.
"Doesn't seem like Sojeong wants to leave though? She can borrow my clothes."
"...That'd be imposing."
"No, sis. Kangyul has tons of clothes. No need. The kids like her here—let her stay."
Stepmom scowled as she spoke.
"...Sis, I said it's fine. Suddenly remembered something. Gotta go."
"Oh, is it because of that bruise and cut on her arm?"
"What?"
Stepmom froze cold as ice for a moment, glaring daggers at Kangyul.
'Okay. Poker face cracked!'
Kangyul continued with an innocent smile.
"If that's the worry, don't be. I get scolded by Mom if I mess up too. Of course, not full-body bruises like Sojeong... or hiding it from Dad."
Kangyul's words hit like a bomb.
"No! Hitting from moms is bad!"
"Hitting makes you a bad grown-up."
Deokyul and Jiyul shouted their support from the side.
True to form as Kangyul's brothers.
"Huh? So is Sojeong's mom a bad grown-up then?"
Stepmom felt the stares piercing her like icicles.
Everyone here had major sway in chaebol circles.
If word reached Chairman An's ears, she was finished.
"...You, what the hell are you saying?!"
Stepmom lunged forward like she was about to smack Kangyul.
But Kangyul didn't flinch.
He even stepped forward, blocking her path to shield An Sojeong.
"Yeah. You didn't hit her?"
"What?"
"My friend. You didn't hit Sojeong?"
Kangyul's smile was gone.
His icy expression reminded everyone of Seonjin Group's Chairman Im Myeonghan for a split second, making them hold their breath and watch.
Stepmom could only glare back in silence.
But the frozen silence didn't last.
"Lee Kangyul! What kind of way is that to talk to a grown-up?"
Park Jeong-a scolded him sharply.
But the eyes she turned on Kangyul were incredibly warm.
The ones on Stepmom? Pure ice.
"Sorry, sis. Party's over for today. The kids... I'll handle their scolding."
"...O-okay."
Stepmom dragged An Sojeong away and fled the house.
The birthday party ended right there.
But no one seemed upset.
"Sorry, everyone."
"No, what a show. Hohoho."
"See you next time, you bold little gentleman."
"Yes. Take care."
Kangyul bowed politely as he saw the guests out.
They giggled delightedly one last time and left.
'Those big-mouthed aunties will spread the word. She's toast. Heh.'
Kangyul smirked as things unfolded just as planned.
"Lee Kangyul! Who told you to act like that?"
But getting chewed out was still getting chewed out.
He knelt before Park Jeong-a for ages, listening to her lecture, before finally being released.
'Whew. Exhausted.'
Kangyul staggered to the sofa and flopped down.
His eyes fell on the birthday gifts from his friends.
'A picture frame?'
It was a photo of Hye-mi striking a cute pose.
She'd given him a picture of herself as a gift.
'...What an eccentric friend. Who gifts their own photo for a birthday?'
Right below was An Sojeong's gift.
A transforming robot toy and a single letter.
[Kangyul, thanks for inviting me. I won't be naughty anymore.]
A lollipop was tucked inside the letter.
The kindergarten snack candy.
'Saved it just for me.'
Kangyul peeled off the wrapper and popped it in his mouth.
The sweetness spread pleasantly across his tongue.
'Sweet.'
Kangyul didn't usually like sweets, but this one hit different.
"Unfair! I want some too!"
"Hyung, candy for me too."
The twins came rushing over to Kangyul, who was relaxing alone.
Kangyul started to say he was already eating it, but suddenly his vision spun.
'Huh? Why so dizzy?'
Thud.
Kangyul collapsed onto the sofa and couldn't get up.
Hot breaths poured from his mouth.
'...Damn. Can't move.'
"Hyung? What's wrong?"
"H-Hyung!"
The twins grabbed him and burst into tears.
Kangyul's whole body burned like it was on fire.
"Oh—Young Master!"
Kangyul was rushed straight to the hospital.
Thankfully, the diagnosis was just a simple cold.
"...Give him fever meds at home and let him rest 2-3 days. He'll recover."
The cold he'd used as an excuse had become real.
The moment they got home from the hospital, Kangyul swallowed his meds and crashed into bed.
That evening.
Park Jeong-a stroked Kangyul's hair for a long while as she gazed down at him.
"...Who does he take after to be so nosy and kind?"
Watching today's events, Park Jeong-a realized Kangyul hadn't invited An Sojeong for no reason.
'He wanted to speak up about the abuse.'
Kangyul had always been like that.
Looking after the twins since he was little. Mature. Reliable.
Maybe that's why.
She often forgot he was only four.
'...Pushing himself until he got a fever because of me.'
Park Jeong-a felt guilty toward Kangyul.
She'd been so busy tending to Deokyul and Jiyul, knowingly or not.
"Mommy'll do better from now on."
"Mmm."
Kangyul stirred like he was answering.
Park Jeong-a planted a kiss on his cheek and left the room.
Chairman Im Myeonghan was preparing for bed after washing up.
"How's Kangyul?"
"He's fine. Fever's way down."
"Phew. Sorry. Should've been there, but work's been crazy."
"It's okay."
Park Jeong-a smiled like she understood completely.
She hesitated a moment, then spoke.
"Actually, about today..."
Park Jeong-a told Chairman Im Myeonghan everything about An Sojeong.
The abuse suspicions, how Kangyul had covered for her as a "friend"—all of it.
"Huh. Chairman An hates family drama. Wonder if..."
Im Myeonghan thought for a second, then picked up his phone.
He scrolled contacts, found the one, and hit call.
Ring— Ring—
"Chairman An? Im Myeonghan here. Haha. Doing well? Just calling to apologize for that unfortunate incident today."
—Unfortunate incident? What's that?
"Oh, you didn't know? Guess Madam An didn't mention it. Well..."
Im Myeonghan recounted exactly what happened, no sugarcoating.
Chairman An went silent, like he could hardly believe it.
—...I'll look into it. Let's grab drinks later.
"Sure. Good night."
Im Myeonghan hung up and looked at Park Jeong-a.
His expression screamed How'd I do? She chuckled.
"Like father, like son."
"Hey, it's the other way around. Like son, like father."
They embraced tightly and lay down in bed.
Kangyul took his meds and rested a few days straight. He bounced back quick.
'Kids have weak immunity? Body's always aching.'
On the fourth day, he finally headed back to kindergarten.
"Kangyul! You okay?!"
The moment he entered Tiger Class, the kids swarmed him with greetings.
Every one scrambling to say hi first.
'What's this about?'
It was all because of how he'd acted at the birthday party.
Shielding An Sojeong like that had melted the hearts of those sentimental chaebol moms.
The kids had gone home and gotten strict orders from their moms: Befriend Kangyul, no matter what.
"Yeah. Worried about me? That's why I got better fast. Thanks."
"No way! Kangyul, play dolls with me?"
"Nah, gonna unpack first. You guys play."
Kangyul sorted his bag and plopped into his seat.
An Sojeong sat next to him, glancing nervously.
Even more timid than before.
"...Why the long face? Stepmom still picking on you?"
"No! She's gone now."
Kangyul nodded like he'd expected as much.
From what An Sojeong said, Chairman An had come home after ages and turned the house upside down.
The nanny Stepmom had fired was back. Stepmom herself? Booted out penniless.
"...Thanks."
"Psh. That's what friends do."
"Hye-mi too! Hye-mi's friends with Kangyul, right?"
Hye-mi, eavesdropping from the side, jumped in.
The other kids playing nearby swarmed Kangyul's desk too.
"Me too! I'm your friend, right?"
"Yeah. We're all friends. So when we grow up, we help each other out. Got it?"
"Yeah!"
Kangyul watched their bright nods and got a great idea.
"To that end, how about we start a club?"
"Club? What's that?"
"If anyone's getting bullied or in trouble, the rest help out. Club name... Guardian Angels! Whaddya think?"
It was a spur-of-the-moment idea, but Kangyul thought it was solid.
He had no plans to inherit Dad's company anyway.
With his lottery knowledge, he'd rake in cash and live easy.
Building ties with chaebol heirs now? Could only help down the line.
'Gotta lock 'em in while they're still kids.'
The clueless kids nodded eagerly.
And so, Kangyul founded the "Guardian Angels" club—a group destined to hugely impact Korea's future.